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d after。 The King must have those on whom he could always depend。 He controlled offices and pensions。 With these things he bought members and he had to keep them bought by repeating the benefits。 If the holder of a public office was thought to be dying the King was already naming to his Prime Minister the person to whom the office must go when death should occur。 He insisted that many posts previously granted for life should now be given during his pleasure so that he might dismiss the holders at will。 He watched the words and the votes in Parliament of public men and woe to those in his power if they displeased him。 When he knew that Fox； his great antagonist； would be absent from Parliament he pressed through measures which Fox would have opposed。 It was not until George III was King that the buying and selling of boroughs became common。 The King bought votes in the boroughs by paying high prices for trifles。 He even went over the lists of voters and had names of servants of the government inserted if this seemed needed to make a majority secure。 One of the most unedifying scenes in English history is that of George making a purchase in a shop at Windsor and because of this patronage asking for the shopkeeper's support in a local election。 The King was saving and penurious in his habits that he might have the more money to buy votes。 When he had no money left he would go to Parliament and ask for a special grant for his needs and the bought members could not refuse the money for their buying。
The people of England knew that Parliament was corrupt。 But how to end the system？ The press was not free。 Some of it the government bought and the rest it tried to intimidate though often happily in vain。 Only fragments of the debates in Parliament were published。 Not until 1779 did the House of Commons admit the public to its galleries。 No great political meetings were allowed until just before the American war and in any case the masses had no votes。 The great landowners had in their control a majority of the constituencies。 There were scores of pocket boroughs in which their nominees were as certain of election as peers were of their seats in the House of Lords。 The disease of England was deep…seated。 A wise king could do much； but while George III survivedand his reign lasted sixty yearsthere was no hope of a wise king。 A strong minister could impose his will on the King。 But only time and circumstance could evolve a strong minister。 Time and circumstance at length produced the younger Pitt。 But it needed the tragedy of two long warsthose against the colonies and revolutionary Francebefore the nation finally threw off the system which permitted the personal rule of George III and caused the disruption of the Empire。 It may thus be said with some truth that George Washington was instrumental in the salvation of England。
The ministers of George III loved the sports； the rivalries； the ease； the remoteness of their rural magnificence。 Perverse fashion kept them in London even in April and May for 〃the season；〃 just when in the country nature was most alluring。 Otherwise they were off to their estates whenever they could get away from town。 The American Revolution was not remotely affected by this habit。 With ministers long absent in the country important questions were postponed or forgotten。 The crisis which in the end brought France into the war was partly due to the carelessness of a minister hurrying away to the country。 Lord George Germain； who directed military operations in America； dictated a letter which would have caused General Howe to move northward from New York to meet General Burgoyne advancing from Canada。 Germain went off to the country without waiting to sign the letter； it was mislaid among other papers； Howe was without needed instructions； and the disaster followed of Burgoyne's surrender。 Fox pointed out； that； at a time when there was a danger that a foreign army might land in England； not one of the King's ministers was less than fifty miles from London。 They were in their parks and gardens； or hunting or fishing。 Nor did they stay away for a few days only。 The absence was for weeks or even months。
It is to the credit of Whig leaders in England； landowners and aristocrats as they were； that they supported with passion the American cause。 In America； where the forces of the Revolution were in control； the Loyalist who dared to be bold for his opinions was likely to be tarred and feathered and to lose his property。 There was an embittered intolerance。 In England； however； it was an open question in society whether to be for or against the American cause。 The Duke of Richmond； a great grandson of Charles II； said in the House of Lords that under no code should the fighting Americans be considered traitors。 What they did was 〃perfectly justifiable in every possible political and moral sense。〃 All the world knows that Chatham and Burke and Fox urged the conciliation of America and hundreds took the same stand。 Burke said of General Conway； a man of position； that when he secured a majority in the House of Commons against the Stamp Act his face shone as the face of an angel。 Since the bishops almost to a man voted with the King； Conway attacked them as in this untrue to their high office。 Sir George Savile； whose benevolence； supported by great wealth； made him widely respected and loved； said that the Americans were right in appealing to arms。 Coke of Norfolk was a landed magnate who lived in regal style。 His seat of Holkham was one of those great new palaces which the age reared at such elaborate cost。 It was full of beautiful thingsthe art of Michelangelo； Raphael； Titian； and Van Dyke； rare manuscripts； books； and tapestries。 So magnificent was Coke that a legend long ran that his horses were shod with gold and that the wheels of his chariots were of solid silver。 In the country he drove six horses。 In town only the King did this。 Coke despised George III； chiefly on account of his American policy； and to avoid the reproach of rivaling the King's estate； he took joy in driving past the palace in London with a donkey as his sixth animal and in flicking his whip at the King。 When he was offered a peerage by the King he denounced with fiery wrath the minister through whom it was offered as attempting to bribe him。 Coke declared that if one of the King's ministers held up a hat in the House of Commons and said that it was a green bag the majority of the members would solemnly vote that it was a green bag。 The bribery which brought this blind obedience of Toryism filled Coke with fury。 In youth he had been taught never to trust a Tory and he could say 〃I never have and； by God； I never will。〃 One of his children asked their mother whether Tories were born wicked or after birth became wicked。 The uncompromising answer was： 〃They are born wicked and they grow up worse。〃
There is； of course； in much of this something of the malignance of party。 In an age when one reverend theologian； Toplady； called another theologian； John Wesley； 〃a low and puny tadpole in Divinity〃 we must expect harsh epithets。 But behind this bitterness lay a deep conviction of the righteousness of the American cause。 At a great banquet at H