upon the general question, aroused the suspicions of the king, and gave those who differed from the minister an opportunity of concerting an opposition at court.1

His subse

not to revive.

Resolute as was Mr. Pitt on this occasion, yet being deeply affected, a few weeks afterwards, by hearing that the king had imputed his illness to the quent plege recent conduct of his minister, he conveyed an assurance to his Majesty, that he would not revive the Catholic question.2

confidence in

Mr. Addington enjoyed the confidence, and even the affection of the king, whose correspondence at The king's this period resembles, — both in its minute at- Mr. Addingtention to every department of business, foreign ton. or domestic, and in its terms of attachment - his letters to his former favorite, Lord North.1

The king was rejoiced to find himself free from the restraints which the character and position of Mr. Pitt had imposed upon him; and delighted to honor the minister of his own choice, - who shared his feelings and opinions, .who consulted him on all occasions, whose amiable character and respectful devotion touched his heart, and whose in.

1 Lord Malmesbury's Corresp., iv. 2; Rose's Corresp., i. 308.

2 Lord Malmesbury's Corresp., iv. 34; Gifford's Life of Pitt, vi. 599; Rose's Correspondence, i. 394.

8 Lord Sidmouth's Life, i. 365, 387, 395, 410, 411.

4 Lord Sidmouth's Life, i. 301, 303. On the 13th Feb., 1801, the king writes: "I mean to have his affection as well as his zeal."- Ibid., 305. On the 5th March, he writes: "The king cannot find words sufficiently expressive of his Majesty's cordial approbation of the whole arrangements which his own Chancellor of the Exchequer has wisely, and his Majesty chooses to add, most correctly recommended."— Ibid., 353. Again, on the 19th May, and on other occasions, he terms Mr. Addington "his Chancellor of the Exchequer." — Ibid., 394. Sometimes he addresses him as "My dear Chancellor of the Exchequer." Ibid., 395. On the 14th June, he writes: "The king is highly gratified at the repeated marks of the sensibility of Mr. Addington's heart, which must greatly add to the comfort of having placed him with so much propriety at the head of the Treasury. He trusts their mutual affection can only cease with their lives." — Ibid., 408. On the 8th July, he writes: "The messenger who returned from Cufinals, agreeable to order, called at Winchester that Mr. Addington might hear of his sor."— Ibid.. 428.

tellect was not so commanding as tc overpower and subdue

his own.

Mr. Pitt re

er, 1804.

But this administration, - formed under circumstances unfavorable to its stability, and beset, from its very stored to pow- commencement, with jealousies and intrigues,1after concluding a peace with France, prepared the way, in less than three years, for Mr. Pitt's restoration to power. It was not without reluctance that the king found himself obliged to part with his favorite minister, and to submit himself again to the loftier temper of Mr. Pitt: but he was convinced of the impracticability of upholding any longer the administration of Mr. Addington.2

Mr. Pitt urged upon the king the necessity of forming a strong government, by a union with Lord Grenville The king's refusal to admit and Mr. Fox; but such was his Majesty's repugMr. Fox. nance to the latter, that he absolutely refused to

admit him into the cabinet. So inveterate was his aversion to this statesman, aggravated, at this period, by mental

disorder,

- that he afterwards declared "that he had taken a positive determination not to admit Mr. Fox into his councils, even at the hazard of a civil war." Mr. Fox being proscribed, the Opposition would listen to no propositions for an arrangement; and Mr. Pitt was obliged to place himself at the head of an administration, weak in talents as well as in parliamentary support.

5

Meanwhile, Mr. Addington took up a position in the House of Commons, as leader of the "king's friends,"

Lord Sidmouth's relations to the

a party numbering sixty or seventy members." king and the He was still supposed to be in communication 7 with the king; and his supporters were some

ministers.

1 Lord Sidmouth's Life, i. 335–340; ii. 107, 117, &c. &c.; Lord Malmesbury's Corresp., iv. 36, 40, 42, 49, 91, 97, 102, 167, 297, &c. &c.; Rose's Corresp., i. 292, 317, 329, 449; ii. 52.

2 Twiss's Life of Eldon, i. 437-450. See also infra, p. 170.

8 Twiss's Life of Eldon, i. 446-450; Rose's Corresp., ii. 118, 122.

4 Rose's Corresp., ii. 156, 182.

5 Ibid., 124-126; Court and Cabinets of Geo. III., iii. 352; Mem. of Fox, iv. 53.

Rose's Corr, 119.

7 Ibid., 141.

times ranged against the Government. He professed per sonal adherence to the king to be the rule of his political conduct. Writing soon after his retirement from office, he says: "I shall keep aloof from all parties, adhere to the king, and take a course that I can conscientiously justify to myself." 2 His attitude was so formidable, that Mr. Pitt was soon obliged to admit him and his followers to a share of the government. The king earnestly desired his union with Mr. Pitt, which the renewal of friendly intercourse between them easily brought about. He accordingly joined the administration, as Viscount Sidmouth, and President of the Council; and induced his friends, who had been lately voting against the Government, to lend it their parliamentary support. But being dissatisfied with the share of influence conceded to himself and his allies in the cabinet, he shortly afterwards threatened to resign. And when, on the impeachment of Lord Melville, Mr. Hiley Addington, and Mr. Bond, who had been promised places, spoke and voted against the Government, differences arose between himself and Mr. Pitt, which led to his resignation.

5

Catholic

Meanwhile, the only matter on which Mr. Pitt and the king were at variance, was not suffered again to Evasion of the disturb their friendly relations. Mr. Pitt had re- Question by newed the assurance which he had given the king Mr. Pitt. in 1801, that he would not revive the question of Catholic emancipation, during his Majesty's life. Not satisfied with this assurance, the king required "an explicit declaration that he would never, at any time, agitate or support the question of Catholic emancipation, or the repeal of the Test Act." This latter pledge Mr. Pitt, it would seem, contrived to

1 Rose's Corr., 153.

2 Lord Sidmouth's Life, ii. 315.

8 Court and Cabinets of Geo. III., iii. 388; Lord Sidmouth's Life, ii. 325, 348.

4 Lord Sidmouth's Life, ii.

5 Rose's Corresp., ii. 358, 360–364.

Ibid., 368-375

7 Ibid., 114, 157–174.

8 Ibid., 117

1

evade; but he was careful to avoid the forbidden ground, and was even obliged to oppose others who ventured to trespass upon it. Though Mr. Pitt recovered the king's confidence, his Majesty continued to form his own independent opinions, and to exercise a large influence in the government and patronage of the State.

Grenville ministry, 1806.

4

66

The death of Mr. Pitt, in the midst of defeats, and disas ters to the European cause in which he was en gaged, once more forced upon the king an administration, formed from a party in whom he had no confidence. It was necessary to accept the ministry of "all the talents," under Lord Grenville and Mr. Fox; and personal intercourse soon overcame the king's antipathy to the latter. Lord Sidmouth having a strong body of parliamentary friends, who, to use the words of his biographer, constituted a species of armed neutrality, far too powerful to be safely overlooked," and being "understood to enjoy the favor and confidence of the king, and to be faithfully devoted to his Majesty's interests," was induced to join a party with whom he had neither connection, nor political sympathies. The king's friends were not to be neglected, and were amply provided for. Lord Sidmouth himself, "not wishing to excite jealousy by very frequent intercourse with the king," declined the Presidency of the Council, and accepted the less prominent office of Privy Seal.8

1 Lord Sidmouth's Life, ii. 464.

2 Hans. Parl. Deb., v. 1013; see also Chap. XII., on Civil and Religious Liberty.

3 Rose's Corresp., ii. 122, 124, 141, 158, 160. Mr. Pitt was anxious that his friend and biographer, Dr. Tomline, Bishop of Lincoln, should be promoted to the See of Canterbury; but the king insisted upon appointing Dr. Manners Sutton, Bishop of Norwich, notwithstanding all the solicitations of his minister. Rose's Corresp., ii. 82-91, &c.

4 Rose's Corresp., ii. 236.

5 Twiss's Life of Eldon, i. 510.

6 Lord Sidmouth's Life, ii. 412.

7 Ibid., 424.

8 Ibid., 416; Mr. Abbot's Diary, 421. On the death of Mr. Fox he became President of the Council.

Lord Ellen

borcugh to

As there was a difficulty in admitting any of Lord Sidmouth's political friends to the cabinet, Lord Ellen- Admission of borough, the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench, was associated with him, in order to the cabinet. give weight to his counsels.1 This arrangement was open to grave constitutional objections. It had been the policy of our laws to render the judges independent of the Crown; and now the first criminal judge became one of its confidential advisers. Though the appointment was successfully defended in Parliament, where the precedent of Lord Mansfield was much relied on, it was generally condemned by public opinion, and no similar appointment has since been made.3

on the admin

the army.

Before the new ministry was completed, the king was alarmed at a supposed invasion of his preroga- Difference tive. On the 1st February, Lord Grenville pro- with the king posed to his Majesty some changes in the ad- istration of ministration of the army, by which the question was raised whether the army should be under the immediate control of the Crown, through the Commander-in-Chief, or be subject to the supervision of ministers. The king at once said that the management of the army rested with the Crown alone; and that he could not permit his ministers to interfere with it, beyond the levying of the troops, their pay and clothing. Lord Grenville was startled at such a doctrine, which he conceived to be entirely unconstitutional, and to which he would have refused to submit. For some time it was believed that the pending ministerial arrangements would be broken off; but on the following day Lord Grenville presented a minute to his Majesty, stating that no changes in

1 Wilberforce's Life, iii. 256. Lord Rous said: "Lord Sidmouth, with Lord Ellenborough by his side, put him in mind of a faithful old steward with his mastiff, watching new servants, lest they should have some evil designs against the old family mansion." - Lord Sidmouth's Life, ii. 417.

2 13 Will. III. c. 32; 1 Geo. III. c. 23.

8 Hans. Deb., vi. 308; Lord Campbell's Lives of Chief Justices, ii. 451; Lives of the Chancellors, vi. 584; Lord Sidmouth's Life, ii. 417; Chapter on Administration of Justice.