A HISTORY OF IRELAND, CHAPTER III. Administration of the EARL of HARDWICKE, under Mr. PITT. -000000 THE disgraceful efforts of Mr. Addington, and his inexpert journeymen, to execute the ruinous projects of Mr. Pitt, had so disgusted the thinking and independent, and so alarmed the wavering and interested part of the nation, that that imbecile minister could no longer hold together the majority in Parliament, which was necessary to support a Government even of the King's friends. Mr. Addington had, during a considerable part of his administration been so intoxicated with parliamentary majorities, that he foolishly attributed to his own strength, what arose out of the occasional support of the old opposition, or the internal disunion, forbearance or craft of the seceders. When Mr. Pitt from personal observation, and the busy suggestions of his creatures had been induced to believe the earnestness of Mr. Addington in main VOL. II. 1804. 1804 taining his post against him, who had raised him to it, that ambitious dictator rallied his much diminished forces, and peremptorily summoned to his rank every individual, whom he had originally enlisted in his service by art, fear or largess. Mr. Addington, the weak dupe of the all-venturous craft of Mr. Pitt, tendered his resignation to the King, which was with reluctancy accepted. In the sober hour of reflection he found his triumphs visionary, his impotency real. Whatever were the principles, springs and conditions of Mr. Pitt's return to power, certain it is, that, much negocia A letter dated on the 8th of May 1801, written by Lord Grenville to Mr. Pitt found its way to the public eye, which let in much light upon, those negociations. Lord Grenville and several persons, whom by Mr. Pitt's desire he had consulted. refused to engage in the administration, which he was then employed in forming. For says his Lordship, "No considera"tion of personal ease, no apprehension of responsibility, nor "reluctance to meet the real situation, into which the country "has been brought, have any weight in this decision; nor are we "fettered by any engagement on the subject either expressed or implied: we rest our determination solely on our own strong ́ sense of the impropriety of our becoming parties to a system " of Government, which is to be formed at such a moment as "the present, on a principle of exclusion. It is unnecessary to "dwell on the mischiefs, which have already resulted from "placing the great offices of Government in weak and incapable "hands. We see no hope of any effectual remedy for these "mischiefs, but by uniting in the public service as large a pro"portion as possible of the weight talents and character to be "found in public men of all descriptions, and without any "exception. This opinion I have already had occasion to express to you in the same words, and we have for some time "past been acting in conformity to it; nor can we, whilst we tion preceded it: great difficulties were raised against it at St. James'. Lord Grenville, Mr. Windham and other respectable Seceders refused to come into power under them, 1804. The new arrangements were announced in the New MinisGazette on the 14th May: and an inspection of "remain impressed with that persuasion, concur in defeating an Sir Philip Stevens, Sir H. Burrard Neale, Sir John Colpoys, terial ar rangements, 1804. the names shews, that Mr. Pitt now more than ever considered himself the soul and spirit of the administration, allowing some share of co-ordinate influence to his accommodating friend and veteran in the system, Lord Viscount Melville. The rest were tools, which he wielded at pleasure. The motley selection was attempted to be justified upon new principles. A general doctrine was inculcated. into the numerous mal-contents with the choiceof the new ministers, that there was inherent in Parliament a constitutional right to interfere with the King's nomination by withdrawing its confidence from any administration, which they might. think from experience inadequate to the exigencies of the country; but that the will of the crown was not to be thwarted by anticipation, by presumption to dictate or object, before the new LORDS OF THE TREASURY. Lord Fitzharris, Lord Louvaine, the Hon. Henry Wellesley, SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY. Mr. Huskinson and Mr. Sturges Bourne. BOARD OF CONTROUL. Chan. of the Duchy of Lancaster Lord Mulgrave. Lord Chamberlain Master of the Mint Comptroller of the household Attorney General Solicitor General Earl of Dartmouth. Mr. Rose. Lord George Thynne. Mr. Dallas. appointees should have entered upon their functions. Thus did Mr. Pitt endeavour to acquire credit under his new appointment, by reconciling. the public mind to the parliamentary expulsion of Mr. Addington. These principles were substantially inapplicable to the new arrangements. Mr. Addington's administration had certainly forfeited the confidence of Parliament. But neither Mr.. Pitt nor Lord Melville were new men: they professed no principle, they proposed no system differing from those of their predecessors. Such of the old, as retained power in the new administration offered no change either of principle or conduct. The new subordinate appointments were bottomed either upon long tried subserviency, or strongly pledged fidelity to Mr. Pitt. But in Ireland so little claim could be set up by the new Government, not to be prejudged, till they should have entered upon the exercise of their offices, that the only change was the appointment of Mr. Foster to be Chancellor of the Exchequer: the man, who had risen into consequence from his lust for the system, under which his country had so long writhed. 1804. Napoleon, The actual return of Mr. Pitt and Lord Mel- Mr. Pitt's ville to power without Lord Grenville, Mr. Wind- rivalry with ham, and some other seceders in 1801 bespeaks a difference between them in the principles and conditions either of their abdication or of their return, or of both. The particular points of difference may not be known to posterity, but certain it is, that, Mr. Pitt did not carry back with him into |