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King； and disclosed it in the manner most likely to irritate and alarm a
weak and diseased mind。 His Majesty absurdly imagined that his
Coronation oath bound him to refuse his assent to any bill for relieving
Roman Catholics from civil disabilities。 To argue with him was impossible。
Dundas tried to explain the matter； but was told to keep his Scotch
metaphysics to himself。 Pitt； and Pitt's ablest colleagues； resigned their
offices。 It was necessary that the King should make a new arrangement。
But by this time his anger and distress had brought back the malady which
had； many years before； incapacitated him for the discharge of his
functions。 He actually assembled his family； read the Coronation oath to
them； and told them that； if he broke it； the Crown would immediately
pass to the House of Savoy。 It was not until after an interregnum of several
weeks that he regained the full use of his small faculties； and that a
ministry after his own heart was at length formed。
The materials out of which he had to construct a government were
neither solid nor splendid。 To that party； weak in numbers； but strong in
every kind of talent； which was hostile to the domestic and foreign policy
of his late advisers； he could not have recourse。 For that party； while it
differed from his late advisers on every point on which they had been
honoured with his approbation； cordially agreed with them as to the single
matter which had brought on them his displeasure。 All that was left to him
was to call up the rear ranks of the old ministry to form the front rank of a
new ministry。 In an age pre…eminently fruitful of parliamentary talents； a
cabinet was formed containing hardly a single man who； in parliamentary
talents； could be considered as even of the second rate。 The most
important offices in the state were bestowed on decorous and laborious
mediocrity。 Henry Addington was at the head of the Treasury。 He had been
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
an early； indeed a hereditary； friend of Pitt； and had by Pitt's influence
been placed； while still a young man； in the chair of the House of
Commons。 He was universally admitted to have been the best speaker that
had sate in that chair since the retirement of Onslow。 But nature had not
bestowed on him very vigorous faculties； and the highly respectable
situation which he had long occupied with honour had rather unfitted than
fitted him for the discharge of his new duties。 His business had been to
bear himself evenly between contending factions。 He had taken no part in
the war of words； and he had always been addressed with marked
deference by the great orators who thundered against each other from his
right and from his left。 It was not strange that； when； for the first time； he
had to encounter keen and vigorous antagonists； who dealt hard blows
without the smallest ceremony； he should have been awkward and unready；
or that the air of dignity and authority which he had acquired in his former
post； and of which he had not divested himself； should have made his
helplessness laughable and pitiable。 Nevertheless； during many months；
his power seemed to stand firm。 He was a favourite with the King； whom
he resembled in narrowness of mind； and to whom he was more
obsequious than Pitt had ever been。 The nation was put into high good
humour by a peace with France。 The enthusiasm with which the upper and
middle classes had rushed into the war had spent itself。 Jacobinism was no
longer formidable。 Everywhere there was a strong reaction against what
was called the atheistical and anarchical philosophy of the eighteenth
century。 Bonaparte； now First Consul； was busied in constructing out of
the ruins of old institutions a new ecclesiastical establishment and a new
order of knighthood。 That nothing less than the dominion of the whole
civilised world would satisfy his selfish ambition was not yet suspected；
nor did even wise men see any reason to doubt that he might be as safe a
neighbour as any prince of the House of Bourbon had been。 The treaty of
Amiens was therefore hailed by the great body of the English people with
extravagant joy。 The popularity of the minister was for the moment
immense。 His want of parliamentary ability was； as yet； of little
consequence： for he had scarcely any adversary to encounter。 The old
opposition； delighted by the peace； regarded him with favour。 A new
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
opposition had indeed been formed by some of the late ministers； and was
led by Grenville in the House of Lords； and by Windham in the House of
Commons。 But the new opposition could scarcely muster ten votes； and
was regarded with no favour by the country。 On Pitt the ministers relied as
on their firmest support。 He had not； like some of his colleagues； retired in
anger。 He had expressed the greatest respect for the conscientious scruple
which had taken possession of the royal mind； and he had promised his
successors all the help in his power。 In private his advice was at their
service。 In Parliament he took his seat on the bench behind them； and； in
more than one debate； defended them with powers far superior to their
own。 The King perfectly understood the value of such assistance。 On one
occasion； at the palace； he took the old minister and the new minister aside。
〃If we three；〃 he said； 〃keep together； all will go well。〃
But it was hardly possible； human nature being what it is； and； more
especially； Pitt and Addington being what they were； that this union should
be durable。 Pitt； conscious of superior powers； imagined that the place
which he had quitted was now occupied by a mere puppet which he had
set up； which he was to govern while he suffered it to remain； and which
he was to fling aside as soon as he wished to resume his old position。 Nor
was it long before he began to pine for the power which he had
relinquished。 He had been so early raised to supreme authority in the state；
and had enjoyed that authority so long； that it had become necessary to
him。 In retirement his days passed heavily。 He could not； like Fox； forget
the pleasures and cares of ambition in the company of Euripides or
Herodotus。 Pride restrained him from intimating； even to his dearest
friends； that he wished to be again minister。 But he thought it strange；
almost ungrateful； that his wish had not been divined； that it had not been
anticipated； by one whom he regarded as his deputy。
Addington； on the other hand； was by no means inclined to descend
from his high position。 He was； indeed； under a delusion much resembling
that of Abon Hassan in the Arabian tale。 His brain was turned by his short
and unreal Caliphate。 He took his elevation quite seriously； attributed it to
his own merit； and considered himself as one of the great triumvirate of
English statesmen； as worthy to make a third with Pitt and Fox。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Such being the feelings of the late minister and of the present minister；
a rupture was inevitable； and there was no want of persons bent on making
that rupture speedy and violent。 Some of these persons wounded
Addington's pride by representing him as a lacquey； sent to keep a place
on the Treasury bench till his master should find it convenient to come。
Others took every opportunity of praising him at Pitt's expense。 Pitt had
waged a long； a bloody； a costly； an unsuccessful war。 Addington had
made peace。 Pitt had suspended the constitutional liberties of Englishmen。
Under Addington those liberties were again