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！
Tooke。 On the benches of the House of Commons； however； the ranks of
the ministerial majority were unbroken； and that any statesman would
venture to brave such a majority was thought impossible。 No prince of the
99
… Page 100…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Hanoverian line had ever； under any provocation； ventured to appeal from
the representative body to the constituent body。 The ministers； therefore；
notwithstanding the sullen looks and muttered words of displeasure with
which their suggestions were received in the closet； notwithstanding the
roar of obloquy which was rising louder and louder every day from every
corner of the island； thought themselves secure。 Such was their confidence
in their strength that； as soon as the Parliament had met； they brought
forward a singularly bold and original plan for the government of the
British territories in India。 What was proposed was that the whole
authority； which till that time had been exercised over those territories by
the East India Company； should be transferred to seven Commissioners
who were to be named by Parliament； and were not to be removable at the
pleasure of the Crown。 Earl Fitzwilliam； the most intimate personal friend
of Fox； was to be chairman of this board； and the eldest son of North was
to be one of the members。
As soon as the outlines of the scheme were known； all the hatred
which the coalition had excited burst forth with an astounding explosion。
The question which ought undoubtedly to have been considered as
paramount to every other was； whether the proposed change was likely to
be beneficial or injurious to the thirty millions of people who were subject
to the Company。 But that question cannot be said to have been even
seriously discussed。 Burke； who； whether right or wrong in the
conclusions to which he came； had at least the merit of looking at the
subject in the right point of view； vainly reminded his hearers of that
mighty population whose daily rice might depend on a vote of the British
Parliament。 He spoke； with even more than his wonted power of thought
and language； about the desolation of Rohilcund； about the spoliation of
Benares； about the evil policy which had suffered the tanks of the Carnatic
to go to ruin； but he could scarcely obtain a hearing。 The contending
parties； to their shame it must be said； would listen to none but English
topics。 Out of doors the cry against the ministry was almost universal。
Town and country were united。 Corporations exclaimed against the
violation of the charter of the greatest corporation in the realm。 Tories and
democrats joined in pronouncing the proposed board an unconstitutional
100
… Page 101…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
body。 It was to consist of Fox's nominees。 The effect of his bill was to give；
not to the Crown； but to him personally； whether in office or in opposition；
an enormous power； a patronage sufficient to counterbalance the patronage
of the Treasury and of the Admiralty； and to decide the elections for fifty
boroughs。 He knew； it was said； that he was hateful alike to King and
people； and he had devised a plan which would make him independent of
both。 Some nicknamed him Cromwell； and some Carlo Khan。 Wilberforce；
with his usual felicity of expression； and with very unusual bitterness of
feeling； described the scheme as the genuine offspring of the coalition； as
marked by the features of both its parents； the corruption of one and the
violence of the other。 In spite of all opposition； however； the bill was
supported in every stage by great majorities； was rapidly passed and was
sent up to the Lords。 To the general astonishment； when the second
reading was moved in the Upper House； the opposition proposed an
adjournment； and carried it by eighty…seven votes to seventy…nine。 The
cause of this strange turn of fortune was soon known。 Pitt's cousin； Earl
Temple； had been in the royal closet； and had there been authorised to let it
be known that His Majesty would consider all who voted for the bill as his
enemies。 The ignominious commission was performed； and instantly a
troop of Lords of the Bedchamber； of Bishops who wished to be translated；
and of Scotch peers who wished to be re…elected； made haste to change
sides。 On a later day； the Lords rejected the bill。 Fox and North were
immediately directed to send their seals to the palace by their Under
Secretaries； and Pitt was appointed First Lord of the Treasury and
Chancellor of the Exchequer。
The general opinion was； that there would be an immediate dissolution。
But Pitt wisely determined to give the public feeling time to gather
strength。 On this point he differed from his kinsman Temple。 The
consequence was； that Temple； who had been appointed one of the
Secretaries of State； resigned his office forty…eight hours after he had
accepted it； and thus relieved the new government from a great load of
unpopularity； for all men of sense and honour； however strong might be
their dislike of the India Bill； disapproved of the manner in which that bill
had been thrown out。 Temple carried away with him the scandal which the
101
… Page 102…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
best friends of the new government could not but lament。 The fame of the
young prime minister preserved its whiteness。 He could declare with
perfect truth that； if unconstitutional machinations had been employed； he
had been no party to them。
He was； however； surrounded by difficulties and dangers。 In the House
of Lords； indeed； he had a majority； nor could any orator of the opposition
in that assembly be considered as a match for Thurlow； who was now
again Chancellor； or for Camden； who cordially supported the son of his
old friend Chatham。 But in the other House there was not a single eminent
speaker among the official men who sate round Pitt。 His most useful
assistant was Dundas； who； though he had not eloquence； had sense；
knowledge； readiness； and boldness。 On the opposite benches was a
powerful majority； led by Fox； who was supported by Burke； North； and
Sheridan。 The heart of the young minister； stout as it was； almost died
within him。 He could not once close his eyes on the night which followed
Temple's resignation。 But； whatever his internal emotions might be； his
language and deportment indicated nothing but unconquerable firmness
and haughty confidence in his own powers。 His contest against the House
of Commons lasted from the 17th of December 1783； to the 8th of March
1784。 In sixteen divisions the opposition triumphed。 Again and again the
King was requested to dismiss his ministers。 But he was determined to go
to Germany rather than yield。 Pitt's resolution never wavered。 The cry of
the nation in his favour became vehement and almost furious。 Addresses
assuring him of public support came up daily from every part of the
kingdom。 The freedom of the city of London was presented to him in a
gold box。 He went in state to receive this mark of distinction。 He was
sumptuously feasted in Grocers' Hall； and the shopkeepers of the Strand
and Fleet Street illuminated their houses in his honour。 These things could
not but produce an effect within the walls of Parliament。 The ranks of the
majority began to waver； a few passed over to the enemy； some skulked
away； many were for capitulating while it was still possible to capitulate
with the honours of war。 Negotiations were opened with the view of
forming an administration on a wide basis； but they had scarcely been
opened when they were closed。 The opposition demanded；