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 ard military commissions: " it was he who insisted on the removal 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 endeavoured to moderate the king's severity: he desired to postpone such violent measures till the proceedings against Wilkes should be concluded2; and, in the meantime, 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.5 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, 1 Grenville Papers, ii. 162, 165, 166 (letters from the king to Mr. Grenville, 16th, 23rd, and 24th Nov., 1763); ibid., 223, 228-9. 2 Ibid., 224, 229, 230, 266, 267, 484 (Diary, 16th, 25th, and 30th Nov.; 2nd Dec. 1763; 19th Jan., 1764). 3 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 Public discontents. King's differences with the ministry. 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 claimed from privilege, and the laws of their country. Yet the Commons submitted to this violation of their freedom, with scarcely a murmur.1 The riots and popular discontents of this period ought to have convinced the king that his statesmanship 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 In 1765, differences again arose between the king and the Grenville ministry. They had justly offended him by Grenville their mismanagement of the Regency Bill 3,they had disputed with him on questions of patronage and expenditure, they had wearied him with long arguments in the closet 4; and, in the month of May, having completely lost his Majesty's confidence, he intimated to them his intention of dispensing with their services. 1 Parl. Hist., xvi. 1765. 2 Grenville Papers, iii. 4-15, 2137. 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 3 See infra, p. 142. 4 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. 1 The first condition, therefore, on which they 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."2 To this the king pledged himself3, 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 1 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. 2 Minute of Cabinet, 22nd May, 1765; Grenville Papers, iii. 41; ib., 184; Adolphus, i. 170. "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. 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 influ- 999 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. Negotia the Whigs. counsels of his favourite.' 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 sorely against his will, as he had promised the office for life.2 Meanwhile the breach between the king and his ministers became still wider. They had been forced 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 favour to go together;"3 and these remonstrances were represented by the king's friends as insolent and overbearing. 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. The negotiations for a new ministry were again tions with 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 favour. The rebellious Scots had been treated as they deserved; and he who had already chastised them, was not the man to favour their pretensions at July, 1765. court. These negotiations were protracted for seven weeks, 1 Bedford Corresp., iii. 264. 2 Walp. Geo. III., ii. 175; Grenville Papers, iii. 185. He was afterwards restored in 1766 by the Earl of Chatham.-Ib., 362. 3 12th June, 1765; Bedford Cor respondence, iii. Introd., pp. xliii. xlv. 286; Grenville Papers, iii. 194. 4 Junius, Letter xxiii.; Burke's Works, ii. 156; Walp. Geo. III., ii. 182; Bedford Corresp., iii. 286. while the country was virtually without a government.1 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. nistry. The Marquess of Rockingham, the leader of the ob- Rockingnoxious Whig aristocracy, the statesman whom he had ham mirecently 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 and condemned. Mr. Pitt, when solicited by the Dismissal Duke of Cumberland to take office, had named as one condemned of his conditions, the restoration of officers dismissed on political grounds. This the king had anticipated, and was prepared to grant.2 The Rockingham administration insisted on the same terms; and according to Mr. Burke "discountenanced, and it is hoped for ever abolished, the dangerous and unconstitutional practice of removing military officers, for their votes in Parliament." 3 of officers of the try. The Whig leaders were not less jealous of the in- Conditions fluence of Lord Bute, than the ministry whom they Rockingdisplaced; and before they would accept office, they ham minisinsisted that the thought of replacing Mr. Mackenzie 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 1 Walp. Mem., ii. 192. 3 Short Account of a Late Short 2 Ibid., ii. 165; Duke of Cum- Administration. berland's Narrative; Rockingham Mem., i. 193-196. |