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Treasury bench。 Lord George Germaine； the Secretary of State； who was
especially charged with the direction of the war in America； had held
language not easily to be reconciled with declarations made by the First
Lord of the Treasury。 Pitt noticed the discrepancy with much force and
keenness。 Lord George and Lord North began to whisper together； and
Welbore Ellis； an ancient placeman who had been drawing salary almost
every quarter since the days of Henry Pelham； bent down between them to
put in a word。 Such interruptions sometimes discompose veteran speakers。
Pitt stopped； and； looking at the group； said； with admirable readiness； 〃I
shall wait till Nestor has composed the dispute between Agamemnon and
Achilles。〃
After several defeats； or victories hardly to be distinguished from
defeats； the ministry resigned。 The King； reluctantly and ungraciously；
consented to accept Rockingham as first minister。 Fox and Shelburne
became Secretaries of State。 Lord John Cavendish； one of the most upright
and honourable of men； was made Chancellor of the Exchequer。 Thurlow；
whose abilities and force of character had made him the dictator of the
House of Lords； continued to hold the great seal。
To Pitt was offered； through Shelburne； the Vice…Treasurership of
Ireland； one of the easiest and most highly paid places in the gift of the
crown； but the offer was； without hesitation； declined。 The young
statesman had resolved to accept no post which did not entitle him to a
seat in the cabinet： and； in a few days later； he announced that resolution
in the House of Commons。 It must be remembered that the cabinet was
then a much smaller and more select body than at present。 We have seen
cabinets of sixteen。 In the time of our grandfathers a cabinet of ten or
eleven was thought inconveniently large。 Seven was an usual number。
Even Burke； who had taken the lucrative office of paymaster； was not in
the cabinet。 Many therefore thought Pitt's declaration indecent。 He himself
was sorry that he had made it。 The words； he said in private； had escaped
him in the heat of speaking； and he had no sooner uttered them than he
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
would have given the world to recall them。 They； however； did him no
harm with the public。 The second William Pitt； it was said； had shown that
he had inherited the spirit； as well as the genius； of the first。 In the son； as
in the father； there might perhaps be too much pride； but there was nothing
low or sordid。 It might be called arrogance in a young barrister； living in
chambers on three hundred a year； to refuse a salary of five thousand a
year； merely because he did not choose to bind himself to speak or vote for
plans which he had no share in framing； but surely such arrogance was not
very far removed from virtue。
Pitt gave a general support to the administration of Rockingham； but
omitted； in the meantime； no opportunity of courting that Ultra…Whig party
which the persecution of Wilkes and the Middlesex election had called
into existence； and which the disastrous events of the war； and the triumph
of republican principles in America； had made formidable both in numbers
and in temper。 He supported a motion for shortening the duration of
Parliaments。 He made a motion for a committee to examine into the state
of the representation； and； in the speech； by which that motion was
introduced； avowed himself the enemy of the close boroughs； the
strongholds of that corruption to which he attributed all the calamities of
the nation； and which； as he phrased it in one of those exact and sonorous
sentences of which he had a boundless command； had grown with the
growth of England and strengthened with her strength； but had not
diminished with her diminution or decayed with her decay。 On this
occasion he was supported by Fox。 The motion was lost by only twenty
votes in a house of more than three hundred members。 The reformers
never again had so good a division till the year 1831。
The new administration was strong in abilities； and was more popular
than any administration which had held office since the first year of
George the Third； but was hated by the King； hesitatingly supported by the
Parliament； and torn by internal dissensions。 The Chancellor was disliked
and distrusted by almost all his colleagues。 The two Secretaries of State
regarded each other with no friendly feeling。 The line between their
departments had not been traced with precision； and there were
consequently jealousies； encroachments； and complaints。 It was all that
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Rockingham could do to keep the peace in his cabinet； and； before the
cabinet had existed three months； Rockingham died。
In an instant all was confusion。 The adherents of the deceased
statesman looked on the Duke of Portland as their chief。 The King placed
Shelburne at the head of the Treasury。 Fox； Lord John Cavendish； and
Burke； immediately resigned their offices； and the new prime minister was
left to constitute a government out of very defective materials。 His own
parliamentary talents were great； but he could not be in the place where
parliamentary talents were most needed。 It was necessary to find some
member of the House of Commons who could confront the great orators of
the opposition； and Pitt alone had the eloquence and the courage which
were required。 He was offered the great place of Chancellor of the
Exchequer； and he accepted it。 He had scarcely completed his twenty…third
year。
The Parliament was speedily prorogued。 During the recess； a
negotiation for peace which had been commenced under Rockingham was
brought to a successful termination。 England acknowledged the
independence of her revolted colonies； and she ceded to her European
enemies some places in the Mediterranean and in the Gulf of