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Under Addington those liberties were again enjoyed。 Pitt had wasted the
public resources。 Addington was carefully nursing them。 It was sometimes
but too evident that these compliments were not unpleasing to Addington。
Pitt became cold and reserved。 During many months he remained at a
distance from London。 Meanwhile his most intimate friends； in spite of his
declarations that he made no complaint； and that he had no wish for office；
exerted themselves to effect a change of ministry。 His favourite disciple；
George Canning； young； ardent； ambitious； with great powers and great
virtues； but with a temper too restless and a wit too satirical for his own
happiness； was indefatigable。 He spoke； he wrote； he intrigued； he tried to
induce a large number of the supporters of the government to sign a round
robin desiring a change； he made game of Addington and of Addington's
relations in a succession of lively pasquinades。 The minister's partisans
retorted with equal acrimony； if not with equal vivacity。 Pitt could keep
out of the affray only by keeping out of politics altogether； and this it soon
became impossible for him to do。 Had Napoleon； content with the first
place among the Sovereigns of the Continent； and with a military
reputation surpassing that of Marlborough or of Turenne； devoted himself
to the noble task of making France happy by mild administration and wise
legislation； our country might have long continued to tolerate a
government of fair intentions and feeble abilities。 Unhappily； the treaty of
Amiens had scarcely been signed； when the restless ambition and the
insupportable insolence of the First Consul convinced the great body of
the English people that the peace； so eagerly welcomed； was only a
precarious armistice。 As it became clearer and clearer that a war for the
dignity； the independence； the very existence of the nation was at hand；
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men looked with increasing uneasiness on the weak and languid cabinet
which would have to contend against an enemy who united more than the
power of Louis the Great to more than the genius of Frederick the Great。 It
is true that Addington might easily have been a better war minister than
Pitt； and could not possibly have been a worse。 But Pitt had cast a spell on
the public mind。 The eloquence； the judgment； the calm and disdainful
firmness； which he had； during many years； displayed in Parliament；
deluded the world into the belief that he must be eminently qualified to
superintend every department of politics； and they imagined； even after the
miserable failures of Dunkirk； of Quiberon； and of the Helder； that he was
the only statesman who could cope with Bonaparte。 This feeling was
nowhere stronger than among Addington's own colleagues。 The pressure
put on him was so strong that he could not help yielding to it； yet； even in
yielding； he showed how far he was from knowing his own place。 His first
proposition was； that some insignificant nobleman should be First Lord of
the Treasury and nominal head of the administration； and that the real
power should be divided between Pitt and himself； who were to be
secretaries of state。 Pitt； as might have been expected； refused even to
discuss such a scheme； and talked of it with bitter mirth。 〃Which
secretaryship was offered to you？〃 his friend Wilberforce asked。 〃Really；〃
said Pitt； 〃I had not the curiosity to inquire。〃 Addington was frightened
into bidding higher。 He offered to resign the Treasury to Pitt； on condition
that there should be no extensive change in the government。 But Pitt
would listen to no such terms。 Then came a dispute such as often arises
after negotiations orally conducted； even when the negotiators are men of
strict honour。 Pitt gave one account of what had passed； Addington gave
another： and though the discrepancies were not such as necessarily implied
any intentional violation of truth on either side； both were greatly
exasperated。
Meanwhile the quarrel with the First Consul had come to a crisis。 On
the 16th of May； 1803； the King sent a message calling on the House of
Commons to support him in withstanding the ambitious and encroaching
policy of France； and； on the 22d； the House took the message into
consideration。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Pitt had now been living many months in retirement。 There had been a
general election since he had spoken in Parliament； and there were two
hundred members who had never heard him。 It was known that on this
occasion he would be in his place； and curiosity was wound up to the
highest point。 Unfortunately the short…hand writers were； in consequence
of some mistake； shut out on that day from the gallery； so that the
newspapers contained only a very meagre report of the proceedings。 But
several accounts of what passed are extant； and of those accounts the most
interesting is contained in an unpublished letter； written by a very young
member； John William Ward； afterwards Earl of Dudley。 When Pitt rose；
he was received with loud cheering。 At every pause in his speech there
was a burst of applause。 The peroration is said to have been one of the
most animated and magnificent ever heard in Parliament。 〃Pitt's speech；〃
Fox wrote a few days later； 〃was admired very much； and very justly。 I
think it was the best he ever made in that style。〃 The debate was adjourned；
and on the second night Fox replied in an oration which； as the most
zealous Pittites were forced to acknowledge； left the palm of eloquence
doubtful。 Addington made a pitiable appearance between the two great
rivals； and it was observed that Pitt； while exhorting the Commons to
stand resolutely by the executive government against France； said not a
word indicating esteem or friendship for the Prime Minister。
War was speedily declared。 The first consul threatened to invade
England at the head of the conquerors of Belgium and Italy； and formed a
great camp near the Straits of Dover。 On the other side of those Straits the
whole population of our island was ready to rise up as one man in defence
of the soil。 At this conjuncture； as at some other great conjunctures in our
history； the conjuncture of 1660； for example； and the conjuncture of 1688；
there was a general disposition among honest and patriotic men to forget
old quarrels； and to regard as a friend every person who was ready； in the
existing emergency； to do his part towards the saving of the state。 A
coalition of all the first men in the country would； at that moment； have
been as popular as the coalition of 1783 had been unpopular。 Alone in the
kingdom the King looked with perfect complacency on a cabinet in which
no man superior to himself in genius was to be found； and was so far from
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
being willing to admit all his ablest subjects to office that he was bent on
excluding them all。
A few months passed before the different parties which agreed in
regarding the government with dislike and contempt came to an
understanding with each other。 But in the spring of 1804 it became evident
that the weakest of ministries would have to defend itself against the
strongest of oppositions； an opposition made up of three oppositions； each
of which would； separately； have been formidable from ability； and which；
when united； were also formidable from number。 The party which had
opposed the peace； headed by Grenville and Windham； and the party
which had opposed the renewal of the war； headed by Fox； concurred in
thinking that the men now in power wer