in the same way, and determine accordingly; he would think that America had as good a right to pay taxes as Britain; he would think, as England had the power, England ought to employ it, to enforce what appeared to him to be fair and equitable terms; and when the measures of enforcing obedience to the laws were resisted, and attended with great difficulty in the execution, he would probably wish for peace; but yet be tempted to go on, sooner than forego the attainment of the grand object he had first in view, namely, alleviating his old and new burdens.* 66 The outspoken language and conduct of Shelburne greatly exasperated both the Whigs and the King. "I have no confidence in Lord Shelburne's professions," the Duke of Portland wrote to Rockingham, and the King habitually spoke of him as Malagrida" and the "Jesuit of Berkeley Square."† So notorious did this become, that one Dignam having given information of a plot to assassinate the King, and to seize the Tower, thought it worth his while to place the names of Shelburne and Sawbridge, the Lord Mayor of London, at the head of a list of twenty-five persons, whom he denounced. "For a few days it was believed, and the chief accused were "Parliamentary History," xix. 500. "Rockingham Memoirs," ii. 320. George III. to Lord North, in Lord Brougham, "Statesmen of the Reign of George III.,” i. 108, 109. watched, and the King was afraid to ride out; but the man being taken up for forging the sale of a place, the plot was found to be his forgery too.' Notwithstanding this exposure, Lord Suffolk, then Secretary of State, declared his story to have been "worthy of attention, plausible, and full of every appearance of truth;" and said in the House of Lords that he would not sit down without once more repeating, that "the conduct of those called the Opposition was detestable; and that though Dignam was an impostor, the Government had other proofs and those of a nature not to admit a doubt, that the Opposition deserved that public detestation, which they were notoriously known to be held in."† At the moment that the fortunes of the Opposition were at their lowest ebb, it became known that Chatham was once more about to appear upon the scene. On May the 30th he broke his long silence, by moving an address to the Crown, to put a stop to hostilities in America. This motion was supported by Shelburne, in a speech which the younger Pitt, who was present as a spectator, declared "one of the most interesting and forcible that he had ever heard, or even could imagine." ‡ * Walpole, "Journals," ii. 104. The chief features of it seem to have been a restatement of the dangers to be apprehended from foreign powers, and a fierce attack on the Archbishop of York, for having said in a sermon that resistance to the law could not under any circumstances be justified, a proposition which Shelburne had already once protested against in his speech on the Civil List. So exasperated was the Archbishop at the attack, that he rose in his place, and declared that he refused to be insulted by even the proudest Lord in that House; whereupon Shelburne again rose, and congratulated the King on having at least removed from the tuition of his son, a man who would not allow "the word liberty to be pronounced without a qualification," a taunt which was followed by a scene of great confusion.* The motion of Chatham was easily defeated, and the Ministry grew more and more elated, when notwithstanding the assistance which the American army in the field gained from the assistance of Lafayette, Steuben, Kosciusko, and other distinguished foreign volunteers, the battles of Brandywine and Germantown were won, and Philadelphia was captured. It was now hoped in ministerial circles that by the success of the expedition which was being led from Canada under Burgoyne, a final blow would be struck at the rebellion. Burgoyne "Parliamentary History," xix. 344-350. was to co-operate with Clinton and Howe, but owing to the extraordinary negligence with which the instructions were sent out to the various com * manders, and to the natural difficulties which stood in the way of the expedition, this great military operation ended in one of the most memorable disasters which has ever befallen the British arms. The fatal news had not arrived when Parliament again met on the 18th of November, 1777. The tone of the royal speech was still all exultation, and an amendment moved to the address by Chatham was rejected by a large majority. Lord Sandwich was especially confident, although it was already practically known that Burgoyne's expedition was, to say the least, a failure. "The noble Earl," said Shelburne, who was in possession of authentic information from the army,† "speaks with great confidence of the expected success of our military operations, but upon what rational foundation I am yet to learn. The issue of Mr. Burgoyne's expedition is too melancholy to be made a subject of conversation; his army, by every appearance, is destroyed; but supposing the contrary, and that not finding it practicable to push forward, he has been so fortunate See "The Character of Lord George Germaine," by Lord Shelburne, vol. i. pages 358-9. † Shelburne to Price, 4th Aug., 1776, 24th Sep., 1777. Carleton to Shelburne, August, September, 1777. as to effect a retreat to Ticonderoga, or any of the other posts he left behind him; nay, granting more than the modesty of Administration will permit them even so much as to suggest, that by subsequent successes he has formed a junction with General Clinton, and has reached New York; what end would this answer? At the expense of many millions, and two campaigns, he has reached a place by land, which he could without the least trouble or interruption have reached by sea, in almost as many weeks." On the 3rd of December Barré called upon Lord George Germaine "to declare upon his honour what was become of General Burgoyne and his troops." Lord North admitted in reply that very disastrous information had reached him from Canada. A fierce outburst against the Ministry followed. Motions were made in both Houses of Parliament for papers. They were however successfully resisted, on the ground that as yet no official information had been received. The Ministers succeeded in adjourning Parliament on the 11th. "They could not meet," said Shelburne, "the force of their opponents' objections. Talk to them about the truth! Like Pilate they waived the question and adjourned the court."* On the 12th the official intelligence of the disaster arrived. "Parliamentary History," xix. 614. |