consented to remain in office, was that Lord Bute should not be suffered to interfere in his Majesty's councils "in any manner or shape whatever." To this the king pledged himself, and though suspicions of a secret correspondence with Lord Bute were still entertained, there is every reason for believing that he adhered to his promise. Indeed, he had already acquired so much confidence in his own aptitude for business, that he no longer relied upon the counsels of his favorite. He was able to rule alone; and wanted instruments, rather than advisers. The second condition was the dismissal of Mr. Stuart Mackenzie, Lord Bute's brother, from the office of Privy Seal in Scotland, and from the management of the affairs of that country. In this, too, the king yielded, though solely against his will, as he had promised the office for life. Meanwhile the breach between the king and his ministers became still wider. They had been forced

1 Minute of Cabinet, 22d May, 1765; Grenville Papers, iii. 41; ib., 184; Adolphus, i. 170.

2" At eleven o'clock at night the king sent for Mr. Grenville, and told him he had considered upon the proposals made to him: he did promise and declare to them that Lord Bute should never, directly nor indirectly, have anything to do with his business, nor give advice upon anything whatever." Diary; Grenville Papers, iii. 185.

8 Mem. of C. J. Fox, i. 65-68, 111; Mr. Mackintosh to Earl Temple, Aug. 30th, 1765, Grenville Papers, iii. 81. Wraxall's Mem., ii. 73, &c. Mr. Grenville was still so suspicious of Lord Bute's influence, that being told in November, 1765, by Mr. Jenkinson, that Lord Bute had only seen the king twice during his illness in the spring, he says in his diary: "Which fact Mr. Grenville could not be brought to believe. He owned, however, to Mr. Grenville that the intercourse in writing between his Majesty and Lord Bute always continued, telling him that he knew the king wrote to him a journal every day of what passed, and as minute a one as if, said he, 'your boy at school was directed by you to write his journal to you.' Grenville Papers, iii. 220.

It was not until Dec. 1768, that Mr. Grenville seems to have been persuaded that Lord Bute's influence was lost. He then concurred in the prevailing opinion of "the king being grown indifferent to him, but the princess being in the same sentiments towards him as before." - Diary; Grenville Papers, iv. 408.

4 Bedford Corresp., iii. 264.

5 Walp. Geo. III., ii. 175; Grenville Papers, iii. 185. He was afterwards restored in 1766 by the Earl of Chatham. - Ib., 362.

upon him by necessity; they knew that he was plotting their speedy overthrow, and protested against the intrigues by which their influence was counteracted. The Duke of Bedford besought the king "to permit his authority and his favor to go together;' "1 and these remonstrances were represented by the king's friends as insolent and overbearing.2 An outcry was raised against the ministers that they "desired to enslave the king," who was now determined to make any sacrifices to get rid of them.

Negotiations with the

Whigs.

The negotiations for a new ministry were again conducted on behalf of the king, by his uncle the Duke of Cumberland. Such was the popular hatred of Lord Bute and his countrymen, that the Duke's former severities against the Scotch, which had gained for him the name of "the Butcher," were now a claim to popular favor. The rebellious Scots had been treated as they deserved; and he who had already chastised them, was not the man to favor their pretensions at court.

8

These negotiations were protracted for seven weeks, while July, 1765. the country was virtually without a government. Mr. Pitt was again impracticable: the further continuance of the Grenville ministry could not be endured; and, at length, the king was reduced to the necessity of surrendering himself once more to the very men whom he most dreaded.

Rockingham

The Marquess of Rockingham, the leader of the obnoxious Whig aristocracy, the statesman whom he ministry. had recently removed from his lieutenancy, — the king was now obliged to accept as Premier; and General Conway, whom he had deprived of his regiment, became a Secretary of State, and leader of the House of Commons. The policy of proscription was, for a time at least, reversed

1 12th June, 1765; Bedford Correspondence, iii. Introd., pp. xliii. xlv. 286; Grenville Papers, iii. 194.

2 Junius, Letter xxiii.; Burke's Works, ii. 156; Walp. Geo. III., ii. 182; Bedford Corresp., iii. 286.

8 Walp. Mem., ii. 192.

demned.

and condemned. Mr. Pitt, when solicited by the Duke of Cumberland to take office, had named as one of his Dismissal of conditions, the restoration of officers dismissed on officers conpolitical grounds. This the king had anticipated, and was prepared to grant. The Rockingham administration. insisted on the same terms; and according to Mr. Burke "discountenanced, and it is hoped forever abolished, the dangerous and unconstitutional practice of removing military officers, for their votes in Parliament." 2

the Rocking

The Whig leaders were not less jealous of the influence of Lord Bute, than the ministry whom they dis- Conditions of placed; and before they would accept office, they ham minisinsisted" that the thought of replacing Mr. Mac- try. kenzie should be laid aside; and also that some of the particular friends of the Earl of Bute should be removed, as a proof to the world that the Earl of Bute should not either publicly or privately, directly or indirectly, have any concern or influence in public affairs, or in the management or disposition of public employments." These conditions being agreed to, a ministry so constituted was likely to be independent of court influence: yet it was soon reproached with submission to the "interior cabinet." Mr. The king's Pitt said, "Methinks I plainly discover the traces friends. of an overruling influence;" and while he disavowed any prejudice against the country of Lord Bute, he declared that "the man of that country wanted wisdom, and held principles incompatible with freedom." This supposed influence was disclaimed on the part of the government by General Conway: "I see nothing of it," said he, "I feel nothing of it: I disclaim it for myself, and as far as my discernment can reach, for the rest of his Majesty's ministers."

Whether Lord Bute had, at this time, any influence at

1 Walp. Mem., ii. 165; Duke of Cumberland's Narrative; Rockingham Mem., i. 193-196.

2 Short Account of a Late Short Administration.

8 Paper drawn up by Duke of Newcastle, Rockingham Mem., i. 218.

4 Debate on the Address, 1766, Parl. Hist., xvi. 97, 101.

court, was long a subject of court and controversy. It was confidently believed by the public, and by many of the best informed of his contemporaries; but Lord Bute, several years afterwards, so explicitly denied it, that his denial may be accepted as conclusive. The king's friends, however, had become more numerous, and acted under better discipline. Some of them held offices in the government or household, yet looked to the king for instructions, instead of to the ministers. These generally had obscure but lucrative offices, in the gift of the king himself and other members of the royal family. But the greater part of the king's friends were independent members of Parliament, whom various motives had attracted to the personal support of the king. Many were influenced by high notions of prerogative, by loyalty, by confidence in the judgment and honesty of the king, and by personal attachment to his Majesty, and many by hopes of favor and advancement. They formed a distinct party, and their coherence was secured by the same causes which generally contribute to the formation of party ties. But their principles and position were inconsistent with constitutional government. Their services to the king were no longer confined to counsel, or political intrigue; but were organized so as to influence the deliberations of Parliament. And their organization for such a purpose, marked a further advance in the unconstitutional policy of the court.

The king continued personally to direct the measures of

1 His son, Lord Mountstuart, writing Oct. 23, 1773, said: "Lord Bute authorizes me to say that he declares upon his solemn word of honor, he has not had the honor of waiting on his Majesty, but at his levée or drawing-room; nor has he presumed to offer any advice or opinion concerning the disposition of offices, or the conduct of measures, either directly or indirectly, by himself or any other, from the time when the late Duke of Cumberland was consulted in the arrangement of a ministry in 1765, to the present hour." - Tomline's Life of Pitt, i. 452, n. See also Rockingham Mem.. i. 358-360; Lord Brougham's Sketches of Statesmen, Works, iii. 49; Edinb. Rev. cxli. 94; Quart. Rev., cxxxi. 236. Lord John Russell's Introduction to vol. iii. of Bedford Correspondence, xxxiii.

2 Burke's Present Discontents, Works, ii. 254.

Parliament.

the ministers, more particularly in the disputes with the American colonies, which, in his opinion, involved the The king's inrights and honor of his crown.1 He was resolutely fluence in opposed to the repeal of the Stamp Act, which the ministers had thought necessary for the conciliation of the colonies. He resisted this measure in council; but finding the ministers resolved to carry it, he opposed them in Parliament by the authority of his name, and by his personal influence over a considerable body of his parliamentary adherents.2 The king affected, indeed, to support the ministers, and to decline the use of his name in opposing them. "Lord Harcourt suggested, at a distance, that his Majesty might make his sentiments known, which might prevent the repeal of the act, if his ministers should push that measure. The king seemed averse to that, said he would never influence people in their parliamentary opinions, and that he had promised to support his ministers." But, however the king may have affected to deprecate the use of his name, it was unquestionably used by his friends; and while he himself admitted the unconstitutional character of such a proceeding, it found a defender in Lord Mansfield. In discussing this matter with the king, his lordship argued "that, though it would be unconstitutional to endeavor by his Majesty's name to carry questions in Parliament, yet where the lawful rights of the king and Parliament were to be asserted and maintained, he thought the making his Majesty's opinion in support of those rights to be known, was fit and becoming." In order to counteract this secret influence, Lord Rockingham obtained the king's written consent to the passing of the bill.®

1 The king said his ministers" would undo his people, in giving up the rights of his crown; that to this he would never consent." - Grenville Papers, iii. 370, 371.

2 Walp. Mem., ii. 259, 331, n. Rockingham Mem., ii. 250, 294.

3 Mr. Grenville's Diary, Jan. 31, 1766; Grenville Papers, iii. 353.

4 Grenville Papers, iii. 374; Walp. Mem., ii. 288; Rockingham Mem., i. 277, 292.

5 Grenville Papers, iii. 374.

6 Rockingham Mem., i. 300.