Interposition of Spain in behalf of France.--The Duke of Bedford
and Bussy.--Mr. Pitt’s indignation at the demands of Spain.--
Resignation of Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple.--Exultation of Lord
Bute and other Ministers.--Lord Talbot’s advice to the Duke of
Newcastle.--Effect on the Nation of Mr. Pitt’s Secession from
the Cabinet.--His acceptance of a Peerage for his wife, and of a
pension.--Insidious conduct of the Court.--Mr. Pitt’s Successors
in Office.--George Grenville.--Injudicious Conduct of Mr.
Pitt.--Address to him from the Common Council of London, and from
Provincial Towns.--Mrs. Anne Pitt’s sarcasm against her brother.--
Meeting of Parliament.--Choice of a Speaker.--Sir John Cust.--
The King’s Speech.--The Address.--Lord Temple’s Speech.--The
King and Royal Family dine in the City with the Lord Mayor.--Mr.
Pitt’s reception in Guildhall.--Riots.
It was not without reason that the nation took an alarm, when almost
all who conducted our affairs were determined to take none. Spain
for some time had interposed officiously in behalf of France, which,
said the Spaniards, was sufficiently humbled, and must not be ruined.
It was known that they had furnished her with money; and, as if they
sought an open breach with us, they demanded for all Spain the same
privilege as Biscay and two other provinces enjoyed, of fishing on
the coasts of Newfoundland. This was peremptorily refused; and had
Mr. Pitt’s influence been equal to his spirit, Lord Bristol[113] had
been immediately recalled from Madrid. But the other ministers, who
desired nothing better than an excuse for their pusillanimity, begged
to temporize. They pretended to dread being overpowered, but were more
afraid of a new field being opened to success. The Spanish ministers
of the French faction had blown up their opinionative and ignorant
Prince[114] with ideas of holding the balance between England and
France: but the old Spaniards lamented a system so abhorrent from the
true interest of their country. The King of Spain was possessed with
a notion that his lights were equal to his grandeur. He listened, or
thought he listened, to no advice: but if anything is more fatal to
a nation than a foolish indolent Prince, it is a foolish one that
is active and obstinate. Our ministers cried out against a war with
Spain as unnatural; but when the interest of Spain did not direct
Spain, were we to act as if it did? The Duke of Bedford, who, like Don
Carlos, could be made to take half of what he meant for the whole, was
clamorous against a Spanish war; and as he always compensated for the
arguments he leaped over, by excess on the other side, he told Bussy
he was sorry for his departure, as we were no longer in a situation to
make war.[115]
Bussy, however, still lingered, and invented frivolous excuses to
palliate his delay. Lord Hardwicke, considering a treaty in the light
of a bill in Chancery, begged some _binding_ words might be inserted
in the treaty. But Mr. Pitt had fixed his resolution. It was by
one bold stroke to assert the honour of his country, or to quit the
rudder. He insisted that a fleet of twelve or fourteen men-of-war
should be instantly sent to Cadiz; and that Lord Bristol should be
ordered to demand a sight of the treaty between Spain and France;
and if not accorded, to leave Madrid without delay. When Spain had
given such indications of her partiality to France, nothing could
be more justifiable than this measure. But Spain had not restrained
herself within the bounds of favour. In the midst of the negotiation
between us and France, to which Spain pretended to offer herself as
guarantee, she had committed a most flagrant and unheard-of instance
of taking part, nay, of adding herself as a party to the grievances
complained of. Bussy, tolerated here as a negotiator, and without even
a character from his own Court, presented to Mr. Pitt a cavalier note
in the name of Spain, demanding restitution of some prizes we had
made on Spain during the war, satisfaction for the violation of their
territory by the navy of England, liberty of fishery on Newfoundland,
and destruction of our settlements on the Spanish territory, in the
bay of Honduras. A power in amity with us, and affecting to act as
mediator, selects our enemy’s agent to convey their complaints!--what
could surpass this insult?--the patience of our ministers under such
indignity--not of Mr. Pitt. He replied with the majesty of the Crown he
served,--the vengeance of that Crown slept in other hands.
His hands tied, the nation affronted, and duped by the partial breaking
off of the treaty with France, no proper resentment permitted against
Spain, Mr. Pitt found he could do no farther good. His character had
been lost by acquiescence; and nothing could rouse the nation, but
his quitting the sphere of business, where he was so treacherously
controlled. He had desired to enter his protest in the council books
against the temporizing advice of his colleagues. He and Lord Temple
delivered to the King their reasons and advice for a war with Spain;
and October 2nd Mr. Pitt took leave of the Council, thanking the
ministers of the late King for the support they had given to the war;
and on the fifth he resigned the Seals. Lord Temple quitted on the
ninth following.
It is difficult to say which exulted most on this occasion, France,
Spain, or Lord Bute, for Mr. Pitt was the common enemy of all three.
Newcastle, Hardwicke, Bedford, Devonshire, Mansfield and Fox were not
less pleased,[116] for they had all concurred to thwart his plan. Lord
Talbot alone, though of the same faction, seemed to see farther than
any of them. He advised the Duke of Newcastle, “not to die for joy on
the Monday, nor for fear on the Tuesday.”
The nation was thunderstruck, alarmed, and indignant. The City of
London proposed to address the King to know why Mr. Pitt was dismissed?
but it being replied, that the King would tell them he had not
dismissed Mr. Pitt, but had wished him to continue in employment,
the motion dropped. Some proposed a general mourning; others, more
reasonable, to thank Mr. Pitt for his services; but this too was
damped; for the Favourite’s agents were not idle, and insinuated that
Mr. Pitt had acted with mischievous views; for they who were incapable
of great views, were excellent in undermining. The King was advised to
heap rewards on his late minister. The Princess pressed it eagerly.
A peerage, a vast pension, the government of Canada (as a mark that
it was not to be restored at the peace), were offered to him. He had
the frailty to accept a peerage for his wife, and a pension of three
thousand a year for three lives!
The Court, impatient to notify their triumph, and to blast his
popularity at once, could not resist the impulse of publishing
in the very next night’s Gazette, Mr. Pitt’s acceptance of their
boons[117]--the first instance, I believe, of a pension ever specified
in that paper.[118] At the same time, to decry his councils, and to
stigmatize them with rashness, they added an article from Spain,
setting forth the pacific intentions of that Court. But in this
instance their ardour outran their discretion, for the article
published was dated September 4th. Other letters had been received from
thence of the 8th, which not being divulged, implied that the letters
of the 8th were of a hostile cast, and consequently justified Mr.
Pitt’s sentiments. Subsequent events were a still clearer vindication
of his conduct.
The Seals, which Mr. Pitt had resigned, were given to Lord Egremont;
and his brother-in-law, George Grenville, was entrusted with the
management of the House of Commons. Grenville had been destined for
Speaker; an office to which his drudgery was suited; and which being
properly the most neutral place in government, would have excused him
from entering into the contest between Mr. Pitt and the Favourite.
But Grenville’s temper, though plodding and laborious, had not the
usual concomitant, prudence. He lent himself to the views of Lord
Bute, to promote his own. Lord Temple, who had as little decency as
his brother George had judgment, was exasperated beyond measure; broke
out in bitter invectives against him, and threatened to leave from him
the paternal estate and give it to James, the third brother, who had
resigned with him and Mr. Pitt.
The public, though staggered by the pension, did not abandon their
idol. At first the Common Council, which had been summoned to thank him
for his services, dropped the intention, and separated, after voting an
address to Parliament for widening the streets. But on one hand, Lord
Temple’s zeal kept alive the flame; and on the other, the rancour with
which Lord Bute’s and Fox’s partisans pursued Mr. Pitt, only served to
alarm the nation, and to endear the man to them who they saw suffered
for his patriotism. Yet his own conduct was not judicious. Incensed at
the abuse thrown on him, he wrote a letter into the City to explain his
resignation, pleading that he had no longer been allowed to _guide_. A
term so engrossing gave offence, and handle to ridicule. Fox’s agents
did not overlook it, but published some cutting pamphlets on Pitt’s
arrogance. Yet his condescending to appeal to the City against the
Court bore down all opposition. The Common Council agreed to thank him,
and to instruct their members; and though Paterson, an agent of Fox,
opposed the motion, it was carried by 109 to 15. The contagion soon
spread, even to part of Scotland. Stirling, Exeter, York, Chester, and
other cities and towns, complimented Mr. Pitt on his conduct.
His own sister, Mrs. Anne Pitt, who was of the opposite faction,
furnished his enemies with a severe sarcasm. She had been Maid of
Honour to Queen Caroline, and was warmly attached to her brother, with
whom she lived. On his promotion to the Pay-office, he had shaken
her off in an unbecoming manner. She had excellent parts and strong
passions. Lord Bolingbroke had recommended her to the late Prince, on
whose death she had been made Privy-purse to the Princess: but being
of an intriguing and most ambitious nature, she soon destroyed her own
prospect by an impetuosity to govern her mistress, and by embarking
in other Cabals at that Court. Her disgrace followed, but without
dismission; on which she had retired to France. On her return, though
she could never recover the favour of the Princess, she so successfully
cultivated the patronage of Lord and Lady Bute, that she kept her
ground at Leicester Fields, and obtained a large pension. This she
had notified by letter to her brother. He had coldly replied, that he
congratulated her on the addition to her fortune, but was grieved to
see the name of Pitt in a list of pensions.[119] On his accepting
one, she copied his own letter, turning it against himself; and though
restrained by her friends from sending it to him, she repeated what she
had done, till it became the common talk of the town.
On the 3rd of November the Parliament met. George Grenville made a very
handsome panegyric on the late Speaker; and then the House proceeded to
the election of his successor. The choice had been very difficult: not
from the number of competitors, but from a total deficiency of proper
subjects. Grenville, who would have filled the chair with spirit and
knowledge, had been taken off to a province, for which he was far less
qualified. Lord Bute had solicited Prowse[120] to accept the office,
who was the most knowing and the most moderate of the Tories, but
he had declined from bad health. The Duke of Newcastle had proposed
Bacon,[121] who had more Whiggism than abilities; but the Favourite
determined on Sir John Cust,[122] who was a Tory, and had nothing but
industry; he was indeed a very poor creature. Lord Barrington named
him, his friend Lord Egmont praised him, and he was chosen.
Two nights before, at a meeting of the principal men in the House
of Commons, to hear the King’s Speech, and the respondent Address,
read, Charles Townshend, who was offended at the lead being assigned
to Grenville, found fault that there was no mention of the militia.
Grenville said, it was not usual to insert anything in the Address
which was not touched upon in the Speech; and added, that he found
there were very different opinions in members of Parliament on the
usefulness of the militia. Lord Barrington and Charles Yorke supported
Grenville: Stanley agreed with Townshend, who again debated the
point with much warmth. The next night, at a larger meeting at the
Cockpit, Townshend recanted to Grenville all he had said, professed
he believed he had been infatuated, begged it might be forgotten, and
that Grenville would not take it to himself. Grenville replied, he had
not: that for himself he forgot it; as the King’s servant, he could not
forget it.
On the 6th, the King made his speech. Lord Northumberland[123] and Lord
Berkeley[124] of Stratton moved and seconded the Address. Lord Temple
rose, and opened on his own and Mr. Pitt’s resignations, the motives
to which he explained; found fault that no mention was made of the
militia, and that the Parliament had not been thanked for establishing
it. He talked on Court favour, and on those who disposed of all things;
endeavouring to provoke Lord Bute to rise. He said, the crisis for a
war with Spain had been most advantageously held out to this country,
and complained of those who had betrayed the secrets of our situation
to Bussy. It was a time, he said, when a first minister was necessary;
but now, _who_ remained fit for that office? _Who_ thought himself
capable of _guiding_? He uttered this in his usual languid manner,
though the matter was not ill conceived; nor, though indiscreet, was
he so intemperate as had been expected. The Duke of Bedford replied
with much applause, and said, he did not know why the militia deserved
more thanks than the grant of regular troops. He declared,[125] upon
his honour, that he had told no such thing, as had been hinted at, to
Bussy; and concluded with hoping never to see a first minister. Lord
Shelburne, attached to Fox, and profuse of application to Lord Bute,
spoke against the German war. The Duke of Marlborough[126] and Earl
Gower moved the congratulation to the Queen.
The decency of Lord Temple’s prelude to new opposition soon changed its
hue in a manner more suited to his factious turbulence. On the 9th, the
King and all the Royal family dined in the City with the Lord Mayor.
Thither, too, went Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple in a chariot together,--a
step justly censured, and very nearly productive of fatal consequences.
To _them_ all acclamations were addressed; and the distinctions paid in
the Guildhall to Mr. Pitt, to the total neglect of the King, bestowed
all the honour of the triumph on the former. Little was wanting to
turn the pageant into a tragedy. Riots ensued, and many persons were
insulted. The Favourite had taken the precaution of having a guard of
butchers and bruisers; and by the defence of that convoy alone, escaped
mischief. Sir Samuel Fludyer, the Lord Mayor, caused diligent inquiry
to be made into the proceedings of the day, and learned that Beckford
himself had visited several public-houses over night, and had appointed
ringleaders to different stations, and had been the first to raise the
huzza in the hall on the entrance of Mr. Pitt. _His_ joining himself to
a pomp, dedicated to a Court that he had just quitted, was not decent.
The ambition of drawing to himself the homage of the people was not
modest. To offer himself as an incentive to civil tumult, and to how
dangerous consequences he could not tell, was not a symptom of very
innocent intentions.