signal for the assertion of new rights and liberties, on the part of the people. Sudden fall of a The fall of the king's favored minister was even more sudden than his rise. He shrank from the diffiLord Bute. culties of his position, a disunited cabinet, formidable opposition, doubtful support from his friends, -the bitter hatred of his enemies, -a libellous press, and notorious unpopularity.1 Afraid, as he confessed, "not only of falling himself, but of involving his royal master in his ruin," he resigned suddenly, to the surprise of all parties, and even of the king himself, — before he had held office for eleven months. But his short administration had indulged the king's love of rule, and encouraged him to proceed with his cherished scheme for taking an active part in the direction of public affairs. influence ministry, Nor did Lord Bute propose to relinquish his own power His continued together with his office. He retreated to the intewith the king. rior cabinet, whence he could direct more securely the measures of the court; having previously negotiated the appointment of Mr. George Grenville as his successor, and arranged with him the nomination of the cabinet. The The Grenville ministry of Mr. Grenville was constituted in a 1763. manner favorable to the king's personal views, and was expected to be under the control of himself and his favorite. And at first there can be little doubt that Mr. Grenville found himself the mere agent of the court. "The voice was Jacob's voice, but the hands were the hands of Esau." "The public looked still at Lord Bute through the curtain," said Lord Chesterfield," which indeed was a very transparent one." But Mr. Grenville was by no means contented with the appearance of power. He was jealous of Lord Bute's superior influence, and complained to the king. 1 He was hissed and pelted at the opening of Parliament, 25th Nov., 1762, and his family were alarmed for his personal safety. 2 Mr. Grenville to Lord Egremont; Grenville Papers, ii. 85. 8 Grenville Papers, ii. 32, 33. that his Majesty's confidence was withheld from his minister. As fond of power as the king himself, - and with a will as strong and imperious, - tenacious of his rights as a minister, and confident in his own abilities and influence, he looked to Parliament rather than to the Crown, as the source of his authority. Bute to Mr. The king finding his own scheme of government opposed, and disliking the uncongenial views and hard The king temper of his minister, resolved to dismiss him sends Lord on the first convenient opportunity.2 Accord- Pitt. ingly, on the death of Lord Egremont, he commissioned Lord Bute to open negotiations with Mr. Pitt, for the formation of a new administration. And now the king tasted the bitter fruits of his recent policy. He had proscribed the Whig leaders. He had determined " never upon any account to suffer those ministers of the late reign, who had attempted to fetter and enslave him, to come into his service, while he lived to hold the sceptre." "8 Yet these were the very ministers whom Mr. Pitt proposed to restore to power; and stranger still, - the premier, in whom the king was asked to repose his confidence, was Earl Temple, who had recently aroused his bitter resentment. His Majesty was not likely so soon to retract his resolution, and refused these hateful terms: "My honor is concerned," he said, "and I must support it." 4 The Grenville ministry, however distasteful, was not so hard to bear as the restoration of the dreaded Whigs; and he was therefore obliged to retain it. Mr. Grenville now remonstrated more strongly than ever against the influence of the favorite who had been employed to supplant him: the king promised his confidence. to the ministers, and Lord Bute retired from the court." 1 Grenville Papers, ii. 84, 85, 89. 2 Ibid., ii. 83, 85. 8 Letter of Lord Bute to the Duke of Bedford, 2d April, 1763; Duke of Bedford's Correspondence, iii. 224; see also Grenville Papers, ii. 93, 105, 196. 4 Grenville Papers, ii. 96, 107. 5 Grenville Papers, ii. 106, 483, 500; Chatham Corresp., ii. 236; Parl. Hist., xv. 1327. Active inter in the meas gov Though George III. and Mr. Grenville differed as to their relative powers, they were but too well est of the king agreed in their policy. Both were arbitrary in ures of their views, impatient of opposition, and resolute ernment. in the exercise of authority. The chief claims of the Grenville ministry to distinction were its arbitrary proceedings against Wilkes, which the king encouraged and approved, and the first taxation of America, which he himself suggested.1 In the policy of proscription, which had disgraced the late administration, the king was even more forward than his ministers. Earl Temple's friendship for Wilkes was punished by the erasure of his name from the list of privy councillors, and by dismissal from the lord-lieutenancy of his county. General Conway, Colonel Barré, and Colonel A'Court were, for their votes in Parliament, deprived of their military commands,3 and Lord Shelburne of his office of aide-de-camp to his Majesty. of the privi 2 The privileges of Parliament were systematically violated His violation by the king. In order to guard against the arleges of Par- bitrary interference of the Crown in its proceedliament. ings, Parliament had established, for centuries, the constitutional doctrine that the king should not hear or give credit to reports of its debates, and that no member should suffer molestation for his speaking or reasoning.* Yet, during the proceedings of the Commons against Wilkes, the king obtained from Mr. Grenville the most minute and circumstantial reports. Not only did he watch the progress of every debate, and the result of each division, but he kept a jealous eye upon the opinions and votes of every member; and expressed his personal resentment against all who did not support the government. It was he who first proposed the dismissal of General Conway, "both from his civil and military commissions:" it was he who insisted on the re 1 Wraxall's Mem., ii. 111. 2 May 7th, 1763; Grenville Papers, ii. 55. 3 Chatham Correspondence, ii. 275; Walp. Mem., ii. 65. moval of Mr. Fitzherbert from the Board of Trade, and of all placemen who took a different view of parliamentary privilege from that adopted by the court. Mr. Grenville endeavored to moderate the king's severity: he desired to postpone such violent measures till the proceedings against Wilkes should be concluded; 2 and, in the mean time, opened communications with General Conway in the hope of averting his dismissal. But at length the blow was struck, and General Conway was dismissed not only from his office of Groom of the Bedchamber, but from the command of his regiment of dragoons. Mr. Calcraft was also deprived of the office of Deputy Muster-Master. The king himself was, throughout, the chief promoter of this policy of proscription. To commit General Conway or Colonel Barré to prison, as James I. had committed Sir Edwin Sandys, and as Charles I. had committed Selden and other leading members of the House of Commons, could not now have been attempted. Nor was the ill-omened venture of Charles I. against the five members likely to be repeated; but the king was violating the same principles of constitutional government as his arbitrary predecessors. He punished, as far as he was able, those who had incurred his displeasure, for their conduct in Parliament; and denied them the protection which they 1 Grenville Papers, ii. 162, 165, 166 (letters from the king to Mr. Grenville, 16th, 23d, and 24th Nov., 1763); ibid., 223, 228-9. 2 Ibid., 224, 229, 230, 266, 267, 484 (Diary, 16th, 25th, and 30th Nov.; 2d Dec., 1763; 19th Jan., 1764). 8 Ibid., 231-233. 4 Grenville Papers, ii. 296. "Mr. Grenville never would admit the distinction between civil and military appointments." Grenville Papers, ii. 234, 507. It has been stated that General Conway voted once only against the ministry on General Warrants, having supported them in the contest with Wilkes (History of a Late Minority, 291; Rockingham Mem., i. 178); but this was not the case. Mr. Grenville in his Diary, Nov. 15th, 1763, speaks of Mr. Conway's vote both times with the minority.- Grenville Papers, ii. 223. 5 Ibid., 231. 6 Ibid., 297; Walp. Mem., i. 403; Rockingham Mem., i. 178. claimed from privilege, and the laws of their country. Yet the Commons submitted to this violation of their freedom, with scarcely a murmur.1 Public dis The riots and popular discontents of this period ought to have convinced the king that his statesmanship contents. was not successful. He had already sacrificed his popularity to an ill-regulated love of power. But he continued to direct every measure of the government, whether of legislation, of administration, or of patronage; and by means of the faithful reports of his minister, he constantly assisted, as it were, in the deliberations of Parliament.2 Grenville 4 -- In 1765, differences again arose between the king and the King's differ- Grenville ministry. They had justly offended him ences with the by their mismanagement of the Regency Bill,— ministry. they had disputed with him on questions of patronage and expenditure, they had wearied him with long arguments in the closet; and, in the month of May, having completely lost his Majesty's confidence, he intimated to them his intention of dispensing with their services. But the king, after vain negotiations with Mr. Pitt through the Duke of Cumberland, finding himself unable to form another administration, was again compelled to retain them in office. They had suspected the secret influence of Lord Bute in thwarting their counsels; and to him they attributed their dismissal.5 The first condition, therefore, on which they 1 Parl. Hist., xvi. 1765. 2 Grenville Papers, iii. 4-15, 21-37. The king's communications were sometimes sufficiently peremptory. Writing May 21st, 1765, he says: "Mr. Grenville, I am surprised that you are not yet come, when you know it was my orders to be attended this evening. I expect you, therefore, to come the moment you receive this." - Grenville Papers, iii. 40. 8 See infra, p. 144. 4 Walp. Mem., ii. 161. 5 So great was the jealousy of Mr. Grenville and the Duke of Bedford of the influence of Lord Bute in 1764, that they were anxious to insist upon his remaining in the country, though he said he was tired of it, and had daughters to marry, and other business. Mr. Grenville's Diary, 16th and 28th Jan., 1764; Grenville Papers, ii. 483, 488. |