Dismissal of officers. The king identifies himself even if they were silent, when he had expected them to speak. No" whipper-in" from the Treasury could have been more keen or full of expedients, in influencing the votes of members in critical divisions.2 He was ready, also, to take advantage of the absence of opponents. Hearing that Mr. Fox was going to Paris, he wrote to Lord North, on the 15th November, 1776 : "Bring as much forward as you can before the recess, as real business is never so well considered as when the attention of the House is not taken up with noisy declamation." 3 Military officers were still exposed to marks of the king's displeasure. In 1773, Colonel Barré and Sir Hugh Williams, both refractory members of Parliament, were passed over in a brevet, or promotion; and Colonel Barré, in order to mark his sense of the injustice of this act of power, resigned his commission in the army. The king, however, appears to have modified his opinions as to his right of depriving members of military commands, on account of their conduct in Parliament. Writing to Lord North, on the 5th March, 1779, he says: "I am strongly of opinion that the general officers, who through Parliament have got governments, should, on opposing, lose them. This is very different from removing them from their military commands." 5 Not without many affronts, and much unpopularity, the king and his minister long triumphed over all 1 King to Lord North, 7th Jan., 1770. "Surprised that T. Townsend was silent."-King to Lord North, 19th Dec., 1772. Ibid., 81. "I should think Lord G. Germaine might with great propriety have said a few words to put the defence in motion."-King to Lord North, 2nd Feb., 1778. Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 105. He was incensed against Dundas for the same reason, 24th Feb., 1778.-Ibid., 106. 2 King to Lord North, 9th Feb., 1775; 5th and 9th March, 1779. 3 Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 97. 4 Chatham Corr., iv. 243, 251. 5 Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 130. North's opposition in Parliament1; but in 1778, the signal failure with Lord of their policy, the crisis in American affairs, and the ministry. impending war with France, obliged them to enter into negotiations with Lord Chatham, for the admission of that statesman and some of the leaders of opposition into the ministry. The king needed their assistance, but was resolved not to adopt their policy. He would accept them as instruments of his own will, but not as responsible ministers. If their counsels should prevail, he would himself be humiliated and disgraced. In a letter to Lord North, on the 15th March, 1778, the king says: "Honestly, I would rather lose the crown I now wear, than bear the ignominy of possessing it under their shackles." 2 And, again, on the 17th of March, he writes: "I am still ready to accept any part of them that will come to the assistance of my present efficient ministers; but, whilst any ten men in the kingdom will stand by me, I will not give myself up to bondage. My dear Lord, I will rather risk my crown than do what I think personally disgraceful. It is impossible this nation should not stand by me. If they will not, they shall have another king, for I never will put my hand to what will make me miserable to the last hour of my life."3 Again, on the 18th, he writes: "Rather than be shackled by those desperate men (if the nation will not stand by me), I will rather see any form of government introduced into this island, and lose my crown, rather than wear it as a disgrace.” 4 The failure of these negotiations, followed by the death of Lord Chatham, left unchanged the unfortunate administration of Lord North. 1 Fox Mem., i. 115, 119. 2 Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 108; Fox Mem., i. 189. Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 110; Fox Mem., i. 191. Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 111; Fox Mem., i. 193. The king enforces his own policy. Overtures, indeed, were made to the Whig leaders, to join a new ministry under Lord Weymouth, which were, perhaps unwisely, declined1; and henceforth the king was resolved to admit none to his councils without exacting a pledge of compliance with his wishes. Thus, on the 4th February, 1779, writing to Lord North, he says: " You may now sound Lord Howe; but, before I name him to preside at the Admiralty Board, I must expect an explicit declaration that he will zealously concur in prosecuting the war in all the quarters of the globe." 2 Again, on the 22nd June, 1779, he writes: "Before I will hear of any man's readiness to come into office, I will expect to see it signed under his own hand, that he is resolved to keep the empire entire, and that no troops shall consequently be withdrawn from thence (i. e. America), nor independence ever allowed."3 It was not without reason that this deplorable contest was called the king's war.4 At this time it was openly avowed in the House of Commons by Lord George Germaine, that the king was his own minister; and Mr. Fox lamented "that his Majesty was his own unadvised minister."5 Nor was it unnatural that the king should expect such submission from other statesmen, when his first minister. was carrying out a policy of which he disapproved, but wanted resolution to resist 6,-and when Parliament had hitherto supported his ill-omened measures. Lord North did not conceal his own views concerning the continuance of the American war. In announcing to the king the resignation of Lord Gower, who was of opinion that the contest "must end in ruin to his Majesty and the country," he said: "in the argument Lord North had certainly one disadvantage, which is that he held in his heart, and has held for three years past, the same opinion as Lord Gower."1 Yet the minister submitted to the stronger will of his royal master. Is forced to treat with the Again, however, the king was reduced to treat with the opposition; but was not less resolute in his determination that no change of ministers should affect the opposition. policy of his measures. On the 3rd December, 1779, he was prevailed upon to give Lord Thurlow authority to open a negotiation with the leaders of the opposition; and expressed his willingness "to admit into his confidence and service any men of public spirit and talents, who will join with part of the present ministry in forming one on a more enlarged scale, provided it be understood that every means are to be employed to keep the empire entire, to prosecute the present just and unprovoked war in all its branches, with the utmost vigour, and that his Majesty's past measures be treated with proper respect." 2 Finding the compliance of independent statesmen less ready than he desired, he writes to Lord Thurlow, on the 18th December, " From the cold disdain with which I am treated, it is evident to me what treatment I am to expect from opposition, if I was to call them into my service. To obtain their support, I must deliver up my person, my principles, and my dominions into their hands." 3 In other words, the king dreaded the admission of any ministers to his councils, who claimed an independent judgment upon the policy for which they would become responsible. 1 King's Letters to Lord North; Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 151. 2 Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 139; Fox Mem., i. 237. 3 Lord Brougham's Works, iii. 140; Fox Mem., i. 238. Protests against the influence of the rown, 1779-80. 66 In the meantime, the increasing influence of the crown, and the active personal exercise of its prerogatives, were attracting the attention of the people and of Parliament. In the debate on the address at the opening of Parliament, on the 25th November, 1779, Mr. Fox said: " He saw very early indeed, in the present reign, the plan of government which had been laid down, and had since been invariably pursued in every department. It was not the mere rumour of the streets that the king was his own minister: the fatal truth was evident, and had made itself evident in every circumstance of the war carried on against America and the West Indies." This was denied by ministers 2; but evidence, not accessible to contemporaries, has since made his statement indisputable. Early in the following year, numerous public meetings were held, associations formed, and petitions presented in favour of economic reforms; and complaining of the undue influence of the crown, and of the patronage and corruption by which it was maintained.3 It was for the redress of these grievances that Mr. Burke offered his celebrated scheme of economical reform. He confessed that the main object of this scheme was "the reduction of that corrupt influence, which is itself the perennial spring of all prodigality and of all disorder; which loads us more than millions of debt; which takes away vigour from our arms, wisdom from our councils, and every shadow of authority and credit from the most venerable parts of our constitution." 4 1 Parl. Hist., xx. 1120. 2 See the speeches of the Lord Advocate, the Secretary-at-War, and Attorney-General, ibid., 1130, 1138, 1140. 3 Parl. Hist., xx.1370; Ann.Reg., xxiii. 85. 4 Feb. 11th, 1780; Parl. Hist., xxi. 2 (published speech). |