Lord LYTTELTON (who were now in the moft cordial and firm union) were got into the chaife in order to go and confult Mr. PITT, the Duke of CUMBERLAND went to the Queen's palace, and advised his Majefty to recall his old Minifters. Upon what caufe, or with what view, this was done, is not very easy to discover. Certain it is, that that was the fact; and that it put an end to the negotiation for the present.

In the mean time, Lord TEMPLE and his brother, the Rt. Hon. GEORGE GRENVILLE, through the mediation of feveral noble perfons, became reconciled. This event was at firft greatly approved of by the Minority; many of whom repeatedly declared, “ they did not doubt but it would have very good confequences." The principle of this reconciliation was no more than private friendship, as brothers; and in politics, only as to measures in fu ture. It had nothing to do with the past. His Lordship remained the fame firm friend to the public caufe, that he always had been.

The

The fubfifting Adminiftration were now determined to act as firmly against the Favourite, as thofe who had been folicited to accept their places. They had laboured a confiderable time under the fufpicion of being his implicit inftruments; they therefore refolved to clear themselves of that fufpicion at once, by giving a fignal mark of their authority, in direct hoftility to him. When recalled, they infifted- upon thefe conditions, viz, The difmiffion of Lord NORTHUMBERLAND from the lieutenancy of Ireland; of Mr. STUART MACKENZIE, Lord BUTE's brother, from his poft of Privy Seal of Scotland; and of Lord HOLLAND from the pay office. To Lord WEYMOUTH they gave the firft, to Lord FRED. CAMPBELL the fecond, and to Mr. CHARLES TOWNSHEND the laft. When these were fettled, the Parliament, which had been kept fitting in expectation of iffuing writs for re-elections upon the lately intended change of Minifters, was now prorogued.

CHA P.

CHA P. XXIII.

Second negotiation with Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple: it breaks off. Adminiftration

changed. Remarks.

power fill the fame.

T

The Favourite's

HE avowed and daring marks of hoftility which the adminiftration lately fhewed towards the Favourite,by difmiffing his particular affociates and friends, were fuch high and heinous offences against his power, that they were confidered as acts of rebellion; for which abfolute death must be the punifhment. From that moment it was again refolved to change the administration: though, as ufual, it was not known whether any body would accept of their places. For this reason therefore, and this only, they were afterwards difmiffed. All former offences, which seem to have been pardoned, for the present at leaft, with the recall, were revived by this avowed and open act of rebellion;

which

which was not to be forgiven. A ne gotiation was fet on foot with Mr. PITT. And he had a conference with his Majefty at the Queen's palace on the 20th of June, and another on the 22d. The confequence of which were, that Lord TEMPLE was again fent for from Stowe: and on the 25th they went to the Queen's Palace; when the following conditions appeared; viz. that Mr. STUART MACKENZIE fhould be reftored to office; that Lord NORTHUMBERLAND fhould be made Lord Chamberlain; and that the Favourite's friends fhould remain. Upon which Lord TEMPLE declared, he could not accept.* And here the negotiation entirely broke off. It has been faid, that Mr. PITT was willing to go into office upon those terms; but if he was, it would not have been with an adminiftration formed at Windfor

*The motive of this refufal the reader will find amply explained in a little tract entitled, The principles of the late changes examined; which contains many things worthy his attention.

Windfor Lodge and Claremont; for he declared he had no opinion of fuch an one. And it is certain that if ever he was willing, he afterwards altered his mind upon maturer confideration.

The Duke of CUMBERLAND, who had not hitherto appeared in this laft negotiation, now came forward; and applied to the Duke of NEWCASTLE, Lord ROCKINGHAM, and others. This was the last resource. There was no other fet of men to be found who had not refused. And if thefe had been poffeffed of virtue fufficient to follow their example, and adhere to their friends, the Favourite must have departed, as he would then have found the objections of all were purely against him; and fo thoroughly was he convinced of the neceffity and prudence of fuch a measure in cafe none would accept, that he had then actually in contemplation a journey beyond the Alps; when this last set of men, after fome doubts and hesitation, arifing from a consciousness of their own inability, confented to his continuance at home, by accepting the great offices of state. In that critical moment which