h the wild ambitions of a weak man, seems to have believed
that in succeeding to Pitt's place he could also succeed to Pitt's
genius. Pitt soon became aware of the strength of the cabal against
him. While some of his colleagues were disaffected, others were almost
openly treacherous. Bute's manner waxed more arrogant in Council. The
King's demeanor grew daily cooler. The great question of war or peace
was the question that divided the Cabinet. On a question of war or
peace Bute triumphed and Pitt fell.

Pitt was all for carrying on the war, which had thus far proved so
successful for the British flag. But Pitt was not powerfully supported
in his belief. If he had his brothers-in-law James Grenville and Lord
Temple on his side, he had ranged against him a powerful opposition
formed by Henry Fox and George Grenville, by Lord Hardwicke and the
Duke of Bedford. On the side of the peace party Bute ranged himself,
bringing with him all the enormous weight that his influence with the
King gave him. The case of the peace party was a simple,
straight-forward case. Why, they asked, should we continue to fight?
Our sweet enemy France is on her knees and ready to accept our terms.
Let us enforce those terms and make {27} a triumphant peace instead of
further bleeding our exhausted treasury in the prosecution of a war
from which we have now nothing more to gain. Chance gave the peace
party their opportunity. Pitt had become cognizant of the treaty
between France and Spain known as the "Family Compact," the secret
treaty which we have already fully described, by which the two Bourbon
princes agreed to make common cause against England. Pitt straightway
proposed that the hostile purposes of Spain should be anticipated by an
immediate declaration of war against Spain and the immediate despatch
of a fleet to Cadiz. Bute promptly opposed the proposal in the
Cabinet, and carried the majority of the Council with him in his
opposition. Pitt instantly resigned.

[Sidenote: 1761--Pitt's probity]

A curious thing had happened at the coronation ceremony. One of the
largest jewels in the royal crown got loose and fell from its place.
This was looked upon at the time by superstitious people as a sinister
omen. These now saw the fulfilment of their forebodings in the loss to
the state of the services of the great minister. The King himself had
no sense that his regal glory was dimmed in its lustre by the
resignation of Pitt.