this without writing him a few lines to aver how very near he will always be to my heart, and that I have ever esteemed him since I have thoroughly known him in another light than any of his companions in ministry. What days it has pleased the Almighty to place me in! when Lord Dartmouth can be a man to be removed but at his own request. But I cannot complain. I adore the will of Providence, and will ever resign myself obediently to his will. My heart is too full to say more."

The King to Lord North.

"March 27, 1782.

"At length the fatal day is come which the misfortunes of the times, and the sudden change of sentiments of the House of Commons, have driven me to, of changing my ministers, and a more general removal of other persons than, I believe, ever was known before. I have to the last fought for individuals, but the number I have saved, except my bedchamber, is incredibly few. You will hardly believe that even the Duke of Montagu was strongly run at, but I declared that I would sooner let confusion follow than part with the late governor of my sons and so unexceptionable a man; so that he and Lord Ashburnham remain. The effusion of my sorrows has made Master of the horse from December, 1780, to December,

1790.

I

I

'John, second Earl of Ashburnham, groom of the stole, died 8 April, 1812, at the age of eighty-eight.

me say more than I intended; but I ever did, and ever shall, look on you as a friend, as well as a faithful servant."

It will be seen by this letter that, although the king, in the height of his distress, may possibly have been provoked into expressing himself in language of irritation on parting with Lord North, his affections had not been alienated from his old servant. One of the few conditions, indeed, for which he had stipulated with Lord Rockingham, had been a pension for his retiring favourite. "I have declared," writes the king to Lord North, "to those who are to form an administration, that no provision will be made except for you and Mr. Robinson." Considering, indeed, the long and intimate intercourse which had existed between the king and Lord North, it is difficult to believe that they could have parted without feelings of affectionate regret on both sides. Their intimacy had, from many causes, been of a much closer nature than usually exists between a sovereign and the chief of his councils. As boys they had associated among the lilacs and syringas at Kew, and had performed in the same juvenile dramatic performances at Leicester House.' In some re

'In 1741 we find George the Third, then Prince George, performing the character of Portius to Lord North's Syphax, in Addison's classical play of "Cato." In the course of the performance each had to repeat some lines prophetic of their friendship in after years.

spects they resembled each other, not only in countenance, but in disposition. Lord North, on his part, could scarcely fail to be grateful to his sovereign for the flattering confidence, support, and affection, which he had so long extended to him; while, on the other hand, we know that the king never ceased to acknowledge the great obligations under which he lay to Lord North, for having come to his assistance when the Duke of Grafton had deserted him in 1770. Finally, during the last eventful twelve years of their lives, they had fought the same battles, incurred the same odium, and shared the same hazards. "If I was asked," writes the late King of Hanover, "which minister the king during my life gave the preference to, I should say Lord North. But the coalition broke up that connection, and he never forgave him."

"Portius. . . . the friendships of the world are oft
Confederacies in vice, or leagues of pleasure;

Ours has severest virtue for its basis,

And such a friendship ends not but with life."

And again,

- Act iii. Sc. 1.

"Syphax. Our first design, my friend, has proved abortive,

Still there remains an after-game to play."

·Act iii. Sc. 1.

CHAPTER XI.

The New Ministers in the House of Commons

The King's Dislike to His New Advisers, Especially to Mr. Fox - The Prince of Wales - His Pursuits and Associates His Intimacy with Fox - His Support of Opposition in the House of Lords His Dissolute Habits and Undutiful Conduct to His Father - The New Administration Ministerial Jealousies and Dissensions - Pitt's Motion for Inquiry into the State of the Representation of the People in Parliament — Death of the Premier, Lord Rockingham - Lord Shelburne Appointed Premier - Resignation of Fox - Fox's Political Influence Impaired by This Proceeding.

As

Ir was on the afternoon of the 8th of April that the new ministers took their places on the treasury benches of the House of Commons. they walked, one by one, up the House, their appearance attracted a good deal of observation and even mirth. In those days, etiquette prescribed that the ministers of the Crown should present themselves in Parliament in court dresses; and accordingly, when Lord North and his late colleagues took their seats on the opposition benches, wearing greatcoats and boots, and when, on the other hand, the new servants of the Crown appeared on the ministerial side of the House

arrayed in the livery of a court of which they had been so long the systematic opponents, the sensation which the contrast presented may be readily imagined. Most remarkable among them were the figures of Fox and Burke, who, in lieu of their former blue and buff uniforms, the distinguishing colours of the American patriots, now appeared in their new places pranked out in lace ruffles, swords, and perfumed hair-powder. This double transformation, according to an eye-witness, presented one of the most amusing scenes he had ever witnessed. It produced, among other pleasantries, a joke from Lord Nugent, which rapidly circulated through, and occasioned much merriment in, the House. It happened that his lordship's house in Great George Street had recently been broken into by thieves, on which occasion, among other articles carried off, had been several pairs of laced ruffles, which, having been publicly and extensively advertised and minutely described, had rendered the robbery familiar to every reader of a newspaper. When, therefore, in the course of the evening, a friend happened to inquire of Lord Nugent whether he had discovered any trace of his stolen property, the eye of the wit naturally glanced toward the new ministers. Why," he said, "I cannot exactly say that I have; yet I shrewdly suspect that I see some of my ruffles on the hands of the gentlemen now occupying the treasury benches."