按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nothing might be wanting to the scandal； the great orators； who had；
during seven years； thundered against the war； determined to join with the
authors of that war in passing a vote of censure on the peace。
The Parliament met before Christmas 1782。 But it was not till January
1783 that the preliminary treaties were signed。 On the 17th of February
they were taken into consideration by the House of Commons。 There had
96
… Page 97…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
been； during some days； floating rumours that Fox and North had
coalesced； and the debate indicated but too clearly that those rumours
were not unfounded。 Pit was suffering from indisposition： he did not rise
till his own strength and that of his hearers were exhausted； and he was
consequently less successful than on any former occasion。 His admirers
owned that his speech was feeble and petulant。 He so far forgot himself as
to advise Sheridan to confine himself to amusing theatrical audiences。
This ignoble sarcasm gave Sheridan an opportunity of retorting with great
felicity。 〃After what I have seen and heard to…night；〃 he said； 〃I really feel
strongly tempted to venture on a competition with so great an artist as Ben
Jonson； and to bring on the stage a second Angry Boy。〃 On a division； the
address proposed by the supporters of the government was rejected by a
majority of sixteen。
But Pitt was not a man to be disheartened by a single failure； or to be
put down by the most lively repartee。 When a few days later； the
opposition proposed a resolution directly censuring the treaties； he spoke
with an eloquence； energy； and dignity which raised his fame and
popularity higher than ever。 To the coalition of Fox and North he alluded
in language which drew forth tumultuous applause from his followers。
〃If；〃 he said； 〃this ill…omened and unnatural marriage be not yet
consummated； I know of a just and lawful impediment； and； in the name
of the public weal； I forbid the banns。〃
The ministers were again left in a minority； and Shelburne
consequently tendered his resignation。 It was accepted； but the King
struggled long and hard before he submitted to the terms dictated by Fox；
whose faults he detested； and whose high spirit and powerful intellect he
detested still more。 The first place at the board of Treasury was repeatedly
offered to Pitt； but the offer； though tempting； was steadfastly declined。
The young man； whose judgment was as precocious as his eloquence； saw
that his time was coming； but was not come； and was deaf to royal
importunities and reproaches。 His Majesty； bitterly complaining of Pitt's
faintheartedness； tried to break the coalition。 Every art of seduction was
practised on North； but in vain。 During several weeks the country
remained without a government。 It was not till all devices had failed； and
97
… Page 98…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
till the aspect of the House of Commons became threatening； that the King
gave way。 The Duke of Portland was declared First Lord of the Treasury。
Thurlow was dismissed。 Fox and North became Secretaries of State； with
power ostensibly equal。 But Fox was the real prime minister。
The year was far advanced before the new arrangements were
completed； and nothing very important was done during the remainder of
the session。 Pitt； now seated on the opposition bench； brought the question
of parliamentary reform a second time under the consideration of the
Commons。 He proposed to add to the House at once a hundred county
members and several members for metropolitan districts； and to enact that
every borough of which an election committee should report that the
majority of voters appeared to be corrupt should lose the franchise。 The
motion was rejected by 293 votes to 149。
After the prorogation； Pitt visited the Continent for the first and last
time。 His travelling companion was one of his most intimate friends； a
young man of his own age； who had already distinguished himself in
Parliament by an engaging natural eloquence； set off by the sweetest and
most exquisitely modulated of human voices； and whose affectionate heart；
caressing manners； and brilliant wit； made him the most delightful of
companions； William Wilberforce。 That was the time of Anglomania in
France； and at Paris the son of the great Chatham was absolutely hunted
by men of letters and women of fashion； and forced； much against his will；
into political disputation。 One remarkable saying which dropped from him
during this tour has been preserved。 A French gentleman expressed some
surprise at the immense influence which Fox； a man of pleasure； ruined by
the dice…box and the turf； exercised over the English nation。 〃You have
not；〃 said Pitt； 〃been under the wand of the magician。〃
In November 1783 the Parliament met again。 The government had
irresistible strength in the House of Commons； and seemed to be scarcely
less strong in the House of Lords； but was； in truth； surrounded on every
side by dangers。 The King was impatiently waiting for the moment at
which he could emancipate himself from a yoke which galled him so
severely that he had more than once seriously thought of retiring to
Hanover； and the King was scarcely more eager for a change than the
98
… Page 99…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
nation。 Fox and North had committed a fatal error。 They ought to have
known that coalitions between parties which have long been hostile can
succeed only when the wish for coalition pervades the lower ranks of both。
If the leaders unite before there is any disposition to union among the
followers； the probability is that there will be a mutiny in both camps； and
that the two revolted armies will make a truce with each other； in order to
be revenged on those by whom they think that they have been betrayed。
Thus it was in 1783。 At the beginning of that eventful year； North had
been the recognised head of the old Tory party； which； though for a
moment prostrated by the disastrous issue of the American war； was still a
great power in the state。 To him the clergy； the universities； and that large
body of country gentlemen whose rallying cry was 〃Church and King；〃
had long looked up with respect and confidence。 Fox had； on the other
hand； been the idol of the Whigs； and of the whole body of Protestant
dissenters。 The coalition at once alienated the most zealous Tories from
North； and the most zealous Whigs from Fox。 The University of Oxford；
which had marked its approbation of North's orthodoxy by electing him
chancellor； the city of London； which had been during two and twenty
years at war with the Court； were equally disgusted。 Squires and rectors；
who had inherited the principles of the cavaliers of the preceding century；
could not forgive their old leader for combining with disloyal subjects in
order to put a force on the sovereign。 The members of the Bill of Rights
Society and of the Reform Associations were enraged by learning that
their favourite orator now called the great champion of tyranny and
corruption his noble friend。 Two great multitudes were at once left without
any head； and both at once turned their eyes on Pitt。 One party saw in him
the only man who could rescue the King； the other saw in him the only
man who could purify the Parliament。 He was supported on one side by
Archbishop Markham； the preacher of divine right； and by Jenkinson； the
captain of the Praetorian band of the King's friends； on the other side by
Jebb and Priestley； Sawbridge and Cartwright； Jack Wilkes and Horne
Tooke。 On the benches of the Hou