ors saw a gleam of hope.[779]

In reality there was only one faint chance of recovery, that good news
might arrive. The chief cause of physical collapse was the torture of
the brain; and it was possible that the whole system might even now
rally under the vitalizing thrills of hope. But as day by day passed by
and brought nearer that dreaded occasion, the opening of Parliament on
22nd January, this last chance vanished. The news which reached the
Foreign Office became more and more gloomy. On 10th January Mulgrave
decided, when recalling Harrowby, to entrust his mission at Berlin to
the Earl of Harrington, in the hope that that Court would keep
troth.[780] But all negotiation was useless. By the 19th the conduct of
Prussia respecting Hanover appeared so threatening that Ministers
ordered the immediate recall of the whole British force.[781] Thus,
England had sent forth some 60,000 troops in order to bring them back
again. She had paid a million sterling to Austria, and the results were
Ulm and Austerlitz. Nearly as much had gone to Russia, and the outcome
was the armistice. A British subsidy had been claimed by Prussia, and in
return she was about to take Hanover as a gift from Napoleon. It is to
be hoped that Ministers kept the last bitter truth from Pitt; but from
their silence he must have augured the worst. Surely death itself was
better than to be driven from power by the combined attacks of Fox,
Grenville, and Windham, the success of which was now assured.

A touching instance of Pitt's thoughtfulness during these days of waning
strength is recorded by Robert Plumer Ward. He had accepted office as
Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs; but, in the event of the overthrow
of the Ministry, he would be in a far worse position than before. Pitt
remembered this fact, and whispered to Farquhar the words "Robert Ward."
He also made signs for paper and ink and sought to pen a request for a
pension; but he succeeded only in tracing strokes which could not be
deciphered.[782] His thoughts were also with his nieces, especially Lady
Hester Stanhope. Farquhar sought to prevent a parting interview with
her; but during his temporary absence she slipped into the bedroom,
there to receive the blessing of her uncle and an affectionate farewell.
To her brother James, who then came in, he said; "Dear soul, I know she
loves me. Where is Hester? Is Hester gone?" Early on the 22nd he
dictated these words to the bishop: "I wish L1,000 or L1