to come to the Marquis of Rockingham, then on his death-bed. Having arrived, he was soon ushered into the sick room. On seeing him, his Lordship expressed much pleasure; and desired they might be left alone. After a few words on some other subject, my dear Lee,' said the Marquis,

there is a piece of business I wish you to execute immediately, as there is no time to be lost. Various pecuniary transactions have passed between me and my admirable friend Edmund Burke. To the best of my recollection, I have given him up every bond or other document, and also added the fullest discharges; but, lest my memory should have failed me, I, a dying man, but in the full use of my reason, desire you, as a professional man, will make out a codicil to my will, cancelling every paper that may be found containing any acknowledgement of a debt due to me from Edmund Burke. Mr. Lee drew up the codicil to the desired effect, and related the circumstance to a brother' counsellor, who lately communicated the anecdote to the writer. With Earl

Fitzwilliam, the Marquis's heir, as is well known, Mr. Burke continued through life on terms of the most intimate friendship.

A circumstance, which happened about this time, exposed Burke to a good deal of detraction. Powel and Bembridge, formerly stewards to Lord Holland, when PaymasterGeneral, 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 patronized 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 displeased with the mode of Shelburne's appointment, as it had been private, after they considered him as having agreed that the Duke of Portland should be in

vested with the office, and that the plans of the Rockingliam 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 embraced the sentiments of his father respecting the independence of America; sentiments different 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 engagements to the late Administration.

Military operations were in a great degree suspended in America. Admiral Rodney

had gained a great victory in the WestIndies. 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 impracticable; whilst the ability and skill of Lord Howe relieved the garrison from the evils of a blockade. In the East-Indies, though Britain had to contend with the French, the Dutch, and the national powers from the northern parts of the hither peninsula to the southern, yet was she victorious, through the abilities of Hastings.

During the winter a negociation was opened between the belligerent powers, tired with a war wasteful to all parties; and, as there was nothing in the system of either to prevent tranquillity, a peace was concluded in January, 1783.

the

When the session opened, the terms of peace were very severely arraigned by Opposition, now consisting of the friends of