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 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 adjournm