not the only one that paid court to me while I could give them strawberries, but turn their backs upon me when I have none to give them."

Although, no doubt, Lord North's administration was in many points objectionable; although his indulgence to his friends led him to too great profusion of donative, his own private integrity stands unimpeached. Fox and Burke, as the leaders of a party, might inveigh against his continuance in office; as patriots of extraordinary ability might censure some of his measures; but neither they, nor any one, ever accused him of applying the public money to his own use. As public men, they opposed his public conduct; as private, they could not per sonally dislike a man whose open and amiable dispositions and manners resembled their own.

The first measure proposed by Fox as Minister, and supported by Burke, appears to have been somewhat precipitate:-an offer of peace to the Dutch, which they received very coldly.

Mr. Fox brought a message from the King, recommending the adoption of a plan for the retrenchment of expences. The object of this was to pave the way for the revival of Burke's reform bill, which, after several modifications, passed. Several popular propositions were made by the new Ministry or their adherents, and adopted. The resolution of 1769, respecting

the Middlesex election, and against which Burke had displayed such eloquence, was expunged from the journals of the house. Such measures were proposed as tended to satisfy Ireland, by rendering the parliament of that country independent of that of Great Britain. The only party measure with which this Administration was chargeable was the appointment of Admiral Pigot to supersede Rodney, who had, on the famous 12th of April, gained a most celebrated naval victory. July 1, 1782, the Marquis of Rockingham died.

Burke wrote the following inscription for the mausoleum erected to the Marquis's memory in Wentworth Park, in which Lord Fitzwilliam has also placed a bust of the author.

Charles, Marquis of Rockingham,—a statesman, in whom constancy, fidelity, since, rity, and directness, were the sole instruments of his policy. His virtues were his arts.

A clear, sound, unadulterated sense, not perplexed with intricate design, or disturbed by ungoverned passion, gave consistency, dignity, and effect to all his measures. In Opposition, he respected the principles of Government; in Administration, he provided for the liberties of the people. He employed his mo-. ments of power in realizing every thing which, he had proposed in a popular situation. This was the distinguishing mark of his conduct. After twenty-four years of service to the pub

lic, in a critical and trying time, he left no debt of just expectation unsatisfied.

By his prudence and patience, he brought together a party, which it was the great object of his labours to render permanent, not as an instrument of ambition, but as a living deposi tary of principle.

"The virtues of his public and private life were not, in him, of different characters. It was the same feeling, benevolent, liberal mind, which, in the internal relations of life, conciliated the unfeigned love of those who see men as they are, which made him an inflexible patriot. He was devoted to the cause of liberty, not because he was haughty and untractable, but because he was beneficent and humane.

"Let his successors, who from this house behold this monument, reflect that their conduct will make it their glory or their reproach. Let then be persuaded that similarity of manners, not proximity of blood, gives them an interest in this statue.

REMEMBER, RESEMBLE, PERSEVERE."

A circumstance, which happened about this time, exposed Burke to a good deal of detraction. Powel and Bembridge, formerly stewards to Lord Holland, when Paymaster-general, had been summoned by the House of Commons to account for a balance remaining in their hands. Their account appeared to most people

a very lame one. Burke, however, undertook to vindicate their conduct and character. Some of his friends, particularly Colonel Barré, thinking very unfavourably of Powel and Bembridge, strenuously dissuaded Burke from interfering. He, however, was not convinced, and pa. tronized them. As their defalcation soon became very evident, Burke's defence of them was imputed to the meanest motives. There is no evidence adduced, to prove that he vindicated them, on really knowing them to be guilty; but he is certainly chargeable with listening to wrong information, or being guided by erroneous judgment; a charge which merely proves that he was not infallible.

It was understood by Burke, Fox, and their adherents, that the Duke of Portland was to succeed the Marquis of Rockingham. Lord Shelburne, however, found means to procure the appointment for himself, without consulting with the other members of Administration. Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke immediately resigned. Each, in a very able speech, assigned the motives of his resignation. Lord Shelburne was known to be against the independence of America.

Burke and Fox considered it as a necessary preliminary to peace, because it could not be withheld, and the Americans would not treat unless it were previously acknowledged. Burke and Fox, who were both open, and above the petty artifice of court intrigue, were dis

pleased with the mode of Shelburne's appointment, as it had been private, after they consi. dered him as having agreed that the Duke of Portland should be invested with the office, and that the plans of the Rockingham Administration should be pursued. Pitt, though offered a high appointment in the Rockingham Ministry, would not accept of it; and abstained from much connection with Fox and Burke. He had eni braced the sentiments of his father respecting the independence of America; sentiments dif, ferent from those of Burke and Fox. During the Rockingham Administration, Pitt made a motion for a reform in parliament, which he supported by very ingenious arguments; arguments, however, the strength or weakness of which depends entirely on the circumstances of the times.

Pitt, when Lord Shelburne was made First Lord of the Treasury, was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer; an appointment to which the same objections could not be made as to that of Premier, Pitt being under no engage. ments to the late Administration.

Military operations were in a great degree suspended in America. Admiral Rodney had gained a great victory in the West-Indies. In Europe, Gibraltar was the principal scene of

war.

There the courage, conduct, and genius of Elliot destroyed the works of the Spaniards, and so rendered the continuance of a siege im