e sure that the Prince never forgave Pitt for his
uncompromising assertion of the rights of Parliament.

So dark was the outlook at home and abroad that Pitt was persuaded,
probably by Dundas, Tomline, Rose, and Canning, to re-consider the whole
question with a view to continuance in office, provided that some
suitable position were found for Addington. The bishop penned some notes
of sharp criticism on the conduct of Addington, affirming that, if he
had been patriotic and sincere, he would have pressed Pitt to remain in
office. The following words are remarkable: "Mr. Pitt, Mr. Dundas and
myself had a long conversation upon this point at Wimbledon; and I am
satisfied that, if Mr. Addington had entered into the idea cordially,
Mr. Pitt's resignation might have been prevented." He adds that they
drew up a tentative scheme of a Cabinet, Pitt remaining as chief, while
Addington was to be a Secretary of State; but the latter rejected this
indignantly.[603] Pitt also finally deemed the plan "utterly improper,"
and threatened to hold aloof from those who would not support the new
Administration or croaked about its instability. The action of Dundas
and the bishop was unfortunate; for it gave rise to the report that Pitt
was intriguing with them for a shuffling of offices in which he would
again come out at the top; and, as usually happens, the meanest version
overshadowed the truth.

Fortune willed that the new Ministry, by far the weakest Ministry of
recent times, should win two brilliant successes and secure a not
inglorious peace. So bewildering a change seemed impossible in the dark
days of February-March 1801, when it was the bounden duty of every
strong man to remain at his post, and of under-studies to stand aside.
The fates and Addington willed otherwise. Pitt resigned on 14th March,
nineteen days before Nelson triumphed at Copenhagen.

Meanwhile Pitt had endeavoured to place the nation's finance on a sound
footing. His Budget speech of 18th February has a ring of confidence and
pride. True, the expenses were unprecedentedly heavy. Great Britain had
to provide L12,117,000, and Ireland L3,785,000, for the army alone. The
navy cost L15,800,000; the Ordnance L1,938,000. The bad seasons or other
causes having lessened the yield of the Income Tax and the Malt Tax, he
proposed further imposts upon sugar, raisins, tea, paper, timber, lead,
and all exports without exception. He increased the Excise duty on
horses, even thos