6

George, "I should be disgraced." "I informed him," says Grenville," that Mr. Mackenzie's absolute removal was considered too essential an object to be waived, a circumstance which evidently appeared to pain and distress him. He then asked me if 'I concurred with those gentlemen in thinking the whole indispensably necessary?' To which I answered, He should do me the justice to suppose I should never offer him any advice of which I did not approve.' Upon this he told me that it was 'with the greatest reluctance that he would give way to it.' Observing that he continued to show marks of distress, I most humbly asked him to let me kiss his hand and leave his service, as I could not bear to be the channel of anything which so evidently distressed him. He answered, 'I have said I will do it, can you expect more?' My entreaties to retire and these expressions in return were more than once repeated."1

"I will not," added George, "throw my kingdom into confusion. You force me to break my word, and must be responsible for the consequences. I have desired you to stay in my service; I see I must yield; I do it for the good of my people." This interview took place between three and four o'clock in the morning of the 23rd of May.

That same evening, while Bedford and his colleagues were rejoicing at their victory, the King sent for Mackenzie, and broke to him the unpleasant news with a pathetic dignity. "I was a very considerable time with him," wrote the innocent victim of 1 Townshend MS.

MACKENZIE'S ENFORCED DISMISSAL Bedford's hatred of Bute, "and if it were possible to love my excellent Prince more than I ever did before, I should certainly do it, for I have every reason to feel his goodness to me. But such was his Majesty's situation at that time, that had he absolutely rejected my dismission he would have put me in the most disagreeable situation in the world, and what was of much higher consequence, he would have greatly distressed his affairs.”

It is a pity that certain other courtiers were not more respectful to and considerate of a sovereign who well merited all their respect and consideration.

CHAPTER VII

ROCKINGHAM AND THE STAMP ACT

THESE proceedings as may well be supposed exerted a most baneful effect on George's health and disposition. Could it be wondered at that he preferred to court seclusion sooner than expose himself further to the indignities which his Ministers wished to put upon him: rather than tempt the idle curiosity of the vulgar? But although his health showed signs of again breaking down, he continued even in seclusion to devote himself to business. "There is one man in the kingdom," he said, "who has nothing to expect in the way of bribes and rewards." Complaints were perpetually reaching him of the great neglect of public business. Albeit the Ministers had again been confirmed in office, yet strict attention to duty was the last thing that entered their minds. There was no unanimity; the King himself observed that the only point in which Bedford and Grenville were in agreement was that of laying down the law to him! They proceeded to quarrel about the spoils of office. Neither Halifax nor Sandwich," complained George, "do any business, and are extremely dilatory in public affairs."

66

Three weeks after their triumph Bedford de

BEDFORD'S AUDACITY

manded an audience of the King, and actually had the effrontery to read his sovereign a long lecture. He and his friends were not yet satisfied with the degree of favour which he accorded to them; they were going out of town to enjoy the diversions of the country, and would give him a month to consider his conduct. They hoped he would agree to smile on his Ministers and frown on their adversaries. Allusions to the King's mother and Lord Bute were audaciously introduced. George spoke not a word. Only when the Duke had gone he permitted himself an observation: "If," said he, "I had not broken out into a profuse perspiration, my indignation would have suffocated me!" The King's conduct certainly redounds very much to his self-control. Had the Duke's charges of perfidy and falsehood been made by one private gentleman to another, the scene would have had a somewhat violent interruption. George III. listened "coolly and temperately" to the Duke. Macaulay's significant comment is that George II. would have kicked him out of the room.

Clearly enough now did the King see that it was impossible to go on in such fashion. The capricious Pitt must be appealed to again, and if Pitt refused, the old Whigs must be asked to put their shoulders to the wheel of Government. The "Great Commoner" came to town, and two further interviews took place at Buckingham House. Pitt wrote that the King's manner to him was most gracious. "I am indeed touched with the manner and royal frankness which I had the happiness to find." But once

again the interviews resulted in nothing. Temple, whom Pitt desired to be First Lord of the Treasury, absolutely refused to take office. Pitt pleaded that without the support of his two brothers-in-law his health and increasing years made the task of forming a vigorous administration quite hopeless.

An appeal to the Opposition Whigs now remained. Once all-powerful, this party had fallen through death and defection from its high estate. Nevertheless the old Duke of Newcastle remained, and he consented to serve as a go-between for the purpose of forming a Ministry. In the Marquis of Rockingham a leader was found who was chiefly distinguished by his wealth, manners, and untarnished character. The Duke of Grafton and General Conway were made Secretaries of State. Newcastle, although only given the office of Lord of the Privy Seal, yet obtained, much to his satisfaction, the Church patronage. The Whig nobles, such as the Cavendishes, gave their support to the Ministry, which, although not strong, yet promised to make up by zeal and energy what it lacked in ability and experience. Lord Chesterfield said that "The Ministry was an arch which wanted its keystone," meaning Pitt. There was absolutely no excuse for Pitt's obstinacy; but all that could be got from the "Great Commoner" was, that although the characters of the new Ministers were good, he could not give them his confidence. He was sorry, vastly sorry, but he could not support them.

These arrangements were a blow to Grenville and his friends. Still believing themselves all-powerful,