house, you will have the goodness to let me know, and I shall be at your commands.

66

Sincerely and faithfully yours,

"W. PITT."

In the forenoon of Monday the 30th, the Lord Chancellor called upon Mr. Pitt, by the King's orders, to inform him of Mr. Addington's impending resignation, and of His Majesty's desire to receive from Mr. Pitt, in writing, the plan of a new administration.

At the meeting of the House of Lords that evening, and in anticipation of the Marquis of Stafford, Lord Hawkesbury, one of the Secretaries of State, rose and said that "he had reasons of the highest and most weighty importance which induced him to request the noble Marquis to postpone his motion." With that request, after some discussion, Lord Stafford complied, and the House adjourned.

In the House of Commons, the same evening, Addington brought forward the Budget for the year; following, in that respect, the precedent of Pitt, who, in 1801, had also brought forward his Budget after he had tendered his resignation. "Addington did it well," says Lord Malmesbury; "sixteen millions loan, and seven millions new taxes." When the Minister concluded his speech and sat down, a question of Mr. Fox elicited from him some expressions similar to those which Lord Hawkesbury had already used in the House of Lords. His language might be vague, but his meaning was well understood; and the House, at his suggestion, readily agreed to postpone all disputed points before them.

In this and in some of the preceding chapters I have traced the course of Mr. Pitt from the hour when he left the Cabinet to the hour when once again he stood upon its threshold. Within a recent date a whole flood of light has been poured upon his conduct during these three years. His views all through that time are laid bare in abundant and authentic records. His most familiar letters have been carefully preserved, his most secret conferences have been minutely noted down, and both have been sent to press without stint or reserve of any kind. No statesman perhaps was ever yet exposed to so searching an ordeal. Had he, in these years out of office, dipped into any intrigue unworthy of the public eye, and intended for lasting concealment, his very celebrity would here have turned against his fame. But, on the contrary, as it appears to me, his career, even when thus closely pried into, stands forth unsullied and pure. In every transaction of the period, he will be found, as I conceive, to combine a lofty regard for the public interests with a nice sense of personal honour. Nay, I will even venture to assert that the various charges which have formerly been brought against him in referring to this time, can only be sustained on imperfect information, and will be found to wane and fade away in exact proportion as more light is brought to bear upon them.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

1804.

Pitt's views respecting a new administration transmitted to the King— His Majesty's letter to Pitt Pitt's reply — His interview with the King - Pitt undertakes the formation of a new Government, excluding Fox - Communications to other party chiefs — Fox's generous course - Lord Grenville's negative answer - Pitt receives the Seals- The new Cabinet - Other changes of office - Precarious state of the King's health.

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ON the 2nd of May Mr. Pitt, in conformity with the King's commands, transmitted to His Majesty his views respecting a new administration. The form which he adopted was a letter to the Chancellor. It will be found in the Appendix to this volume. It pointed out in the strongest terms the advantages, both to England and to Europe, that would ensue from a strong and comprehensive Government, mentioning especially the names of Lord Grenville and Mr. Fox; and it was accompanied by the following private note:

Mr. Pitt to Lord Eldon.

"MY DEAR LORD,

"York Place, Wednesday, May 2, 1804, past 1, P.M.

"I enclose a letter addressed to you, which I

shall be much obliged to you if you will lay before His

you sooner.

Majesty. I am sorry not to have been able to make it shorter, or to send it As I think it may probably find you at the Court of Chancery, I will, at the same time that I send it, ride down to Mr. Rose's, at Palace Yard, in order that I may be easily within your reach, if anything should arise on which you may wish to see me before you go to the Queen's House. If you should not be at the Court of Chancery, I shall order my letter to be carried to your house, unless my servant should learn where it can be delivered to you

sooner.

"Ever, my dear Lord, &c.,

"W. PITT."

The written representation of Mr. Pitt for a strong and comprehensive Government was most distasteful to George the Third, and not less so to Lord Eldon. His Majesty's answer, at full length, was returned on the 5th of May. The great harshness and exasperation which it displays throughout are best explained or best excused by his recent malady. To his former Minister he shows no part of his former regard. To Lord Grenville, and also to Lord Melville, he gives a sharp touch in passing; and he then proceeds to deal blows on Mr. Fox, expressing his astonishment that, after what had passed, such a name should even be brought before him. He declares that unless Mr. Pitt will relinquish his idea of concert with Mr. Fox, and also with Lord Grenville, Mr. Pitt cannot be trusted to form a new administration. Finally, he seems to refuse, since he fails to notice, the request which Mr. Pitt had preferred for a personal interview.

But His Majesty's sentiments are perhaps still more

clearly shown in a private note which he on the same day addressed to the Chancellor :

"May 5, 1804.

"The King is much pleased with his excellent Chancellor's note: he doubts much whether Mr. Pitt will, after weighing the contents of the paper delivered this day to him by Lord Eldon, choose to have a personal interview with His Majesty; but whether he will not rather prepare another essay, containing as many empty words and little information as the one he had before transmitted.

"His Majesty will, with great pleasure, receive the Lord Chancellor to-morrow, between ten and eleven, the time he himself proposed. "GEORGE R.”

Mr. Pitt could not fail to be grieved and hurt by the letter which the King had sent him. But his reply on the 6th is marked by forbearance and dignity; forbearance due to his Sovereign after his late affliction -dignity derived from his own character and services. He shortly adverted to each of the points which the King had raised, and respectfully renewed his application for an audience. If this were not granted, he wrote, "I am grieved to say that I cannot retain any hope that my feeble services can be employed in any manner advantageous to your Majesty's affairs."

All this time Mr. Pitt, to nearly all his friends, maintained, as was his duty, a strict reserve. Lord Malmesbury observes in his Diary: "The only proof I could collect this week of Pitt's opinion, was from his telling Fitz-Harris, who dined with him on the 3rd of May at Lord Carrington's, that he would not be wanted