public opinion, was generally subservient to the min-
isters but with all its defects, it was still a popular
institution. If not freely elected by the people, it was
yet composed of men belonging to various classes of
society, and sharing their interests and feelings. The
statesmen, who were able by their talents and influence
to command its confidence, became the ministers of the
Crown; and power thus proceeded from below, instead
of from above. The country was governed by its ablest
men, and not by favourites of the court. The
The proper
authority of Parliament was recognised, and nothing
was wanting in the theory of constitutional government,
but an improved constitution of Parliament itself. This
system, however, the king was determined to subvert.
He was jealous of ministers who derived their authority
from Parliament rather than from himself, and of the
parliamentary organisation which controlled his power.
The policy which he adopted, and its results are among
the most critical events in the history of the Crown.

terest

general

The dissolution of Parliament, shortly after his King's inaccession, afforded an opportunity of strengthening the strengthparliamentary connexion of the king's friends. Parlia- ed at the ment was kept sitting while the king and Lord Bute election. were making out lists of the court candidates, and using every exertion to secure their return. The king not only wrested government boroughs from the ministers, in order to nominate his own friends, but even encouraged opposition to such ministers as he conceived not to be in his interest.1

1 The Duke of Newcastle thus wrote at this time to Lord Rockingham:-"My Lord Anson has received orders from the king himself to declare to the docks (at Portsmouth) that they may vote for whom they please at the Hampshire election, even though the Chan

cellor of the Exchequer is a candi-
date." Lord Bute complained to
the First Lord of the Admiralty,
that he had disposed of the Admi-
ralty boroughs without acquainting
the king.-Dodington's Diary, 433;
Rockingham Mem., i. 61-64.

Measures

At the meeting at the cockpit, the night before the assembling of the new Parliament, to hear the king's speech read, and to agree upon the choice of a speaker, not only the Whigs and parliamentary supporters of the government attended; but also the old Tories in a strong body, though without any invitation from the ministers.1 The speaker selected by Lord Bute was Sir John Cust, a country gentleman and a Tory.

taken to
break up
the minis- tion.

try.

Lord Bute, the originator of the new policy, was not personally well qualified for its successful promoHe was not connected with the great families who had acquired a preponderance of political influence; he was no parliamentary debater: his manners were unpopular: he was a courtier rather than a politician his intimate relations with the Princess of Wales were an object of scandal; and, above all, he was a Scotchman. The jealousy of foreigners, which had shown itself in hatred of the Hanoverians, was now transferred to the Scottish nation, whose connexion with the late civil war had exposed them to popular obloquy. The scheme was such as naturally occurred to a favourite; but it required more than the talents of a favourite to accomplish. While only in the king's household, his influence was regarded with jealousy: remarks were already made upon the unlucky circumstance of his being a "Scot;" and popular prejudices were aroused against him, before he was ostensibly concerned in public affairs. Immediately after the king's accession he had been made a privy councillor, and admitted into the cabinet. An arrangement was soon afterwards concerted, by which Lord Holdernesse retired from office with a pension, and Lord Bute succeeded him as Secretary of State.2

1 Rockingham Mem., i. 68; Dodington's Diary, 433.

2 25th March, 1761.

It was now the object of the court to break up the existing ministry, and to replace it with another, formed from among the king's friends. Had the ministry been united, and had the chiefs reposed confidence in one another, it would have been difficult to overthrow them. But there were already jealousies amongst them, which the court lost no opportunity of foment'ing. A breach soon arose between Mr. Pitt, the most powerful and popular of the ministers, and his colleagues. He desired to strike a sudden blow against Spain, which had concluded a secret treaty of alliance with France, then at war with this country.2 Though war minister, he was opposed by all his colleagues except Lord Temple. He bore himself haughtily at the council,

declared that he had been called to the ministry by the voice of the people, and that he could not be responsible for measures which he was no longer allowed to guide. Being met with equal loftiness in the cabinet, he was forced to tender his resignation.3 The king overpowered the retiring minister with Pension to kindness and condescension. He offered the barony of Chatham to his wife, and to himself an annuity

1 Lord Hardwicke said, "He (Lord Bute) principally availed himself with great art and finesse of the dissensions between the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pitt: he played off one against the other till he got rid of the popular minister, and when that was compassed, he strengthened himself in the cabinet, by bringing in Lord Egremont and Mr. Grenville, and never left intriguing till he had rendered it impracticable for the old duke to continue in office with credit and honour."-Rockingham Mem., i. 6. See the duke's own letters, ib., -109.

VOL. I.

102

C

2 Grenville Papers, i. 386.

3 Ann. Reg., 1761 [43]. Grenville Papers, i. 391, 405. Mr. Pitt, in a letter to Mr. Beckford, October 15th, 1761, says, "A difference of opinion with regard to measures to be taken against Spain, of the highest importance to the honour of the Crown, and to the most essential national interests, and this founded on what Spain had already done, not on what that court may further intend to do, was the cause of my resigning the seals."-Chatham Corresp., ii. 159.

Mr. Pitt.

Influence of Lord Bute.

of 3,000l. a year for three lives. The minister had deserved these royal favours, and he accepted them, but at the cost of his popularity. It was an artful stroke of policy, thus at once to conciliate and weaken the popular statesman, whose opposition was to be dreaded, -and it succeeded. The same Gazette which announced his resignation, also trumpeted forth the peerage and the pension, and was the signal for clamours against the public favourite.

On the retirement of Mr. Pitt, Lord Bute became the most influential of the ministers. He undertook the chief management of public affairs in the cabinet, and the sole direction of the House of Lords.2 He consulted none of his colleagues, except Lord Egremont and Mr. George Grenville. His ascendency provoked the jealousy and resentment of the king's veteran minister, the Duke of Newcastle: who had hitherto distributed all the patronage of the Crown, but now was never consulted. The king himself created seven peers, without even acquainting him with their creation.4 Lord Bute gave away places and pensions to his own friends, and paid no attention to the recommendations of the duke. At length, in May 1762, his grace, after frequent disagreements in the cabinet and numerous affronts, was obliged to resign.5

And now, the object of the court being at length Lord Bute attained, Lord Bute was immediately placed at the as premier head of affairs, as First Lord of the Treasury. Rapid had been the rise of the king's favourite. In thirteen months he had been groom of the stole, a privy councillor, ranger of Richmond Park, secretary of state, and premier'; and these favours were soon followed by his installation as a Knight of the Garter, at the same time as the king's own brother, Prince William. His sudden elevation resembled that of an eastern vizier, rather than the toilsome ascent of a British statesman. But the confidence of his royal master served to aggravate the jealousies by which the new minister was surrounded, to widen the breach between himself and the leaders of the Whig party, and to afford occasion for popular reproaches. It has been insinuated that he was urged forward by secret enemies, in order to insure his speedier fall2; and it is certain that had he been contented with a less prominent place, the consummation of his peculiar policy could have been more securely, and perhaps more successfully, accomplished.

conduct of

new minis

The king and his minister were resolved to carry Arbitrary matters with a high hand3, and their arbitrary attempts the king to coerce and intimidate opponents disclosed their and the imperious views of the prerogative. Preliminaries of ter. a treaty of peace with France having been agreed upon, against which a strong popular feeling was aroused,

ingham, May 19th, Rockingham Mem., i. 111. Yet Lord Bute, in a letter to Mr. Grenville, May 25th, 1762, says, "The king's conduct to the Duke of Newcastle to-day was great and generous."- Grenville Papers, i. 448.

1 His countess also received an English barony.

Walpole Mem., i. 44.

3" The king, it was given out, would be king,-would not be dictated to by his ministers, as his grandfather had been. The prerogative was to shine out: great lords must be humbled."-Walp. Mem., i. 200.