elburne. His
majesty was still reluctant to acknowledge the independence of the
colonists, and he, therefore, naturally looked to Lord Shelburne as the
successor of Lord North. Accordingly Shelburne was sent for, and had the
first post offered him; but his lordship informed his majesty that, in
his opinion, no one could at present fill that situation except Lord
Rockingham. A negociation was therefore set on foot with the Marquess,
whose appointment was soon afterwards announced, with Lord Shelburne
and Mr. Fox as secretaries of state. The other new ministers were Lord
Camden, as president of the council; the Duke of Grafton, as keeper
of the seal; Admiral Keppel, created viscount, as first lord of the
admiralty; Lord John Cavendish, as chancellor of the exchequer; General
Conway, as commander-in-chief; Mr. Dunning, created Lord Ash-burton,
as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; and the Duke of Richmond, as
master-general of the ordnance. Lord Thurlow retained the great seal.
The other departments of the state were filled by persons eminent for
rank or talent. The Duke of Portland was sent out as lord-lieutenant of
Ireland; Mr. Burke was made paymaster of the forces; Mr. T. Townshend
became secretary at war, and Colonel Barre treasurer of the navy; Mr.
Sheridan was under-secretary of state; Lord Howe, created viscount, was
appointed to the command of the grand fleet; Mr. Kenyon and Mr. John Lee
were made attorney and solicitor-general; and Sir William Howe was made
lieutenant-general of the ordnance. The usual changes, also, took place
in the royal household; at which the king was far more affected than he
was by the total change in the ministry. It is said that William
Pitt was offered the place of a lord of the treasury, which office
he rejected with disdain. Be this as it may, Pitt, who had largely
contributed to the overthrow of Lord North's cabinet, remained without
post or situation. Pitt, however, probably consoled himself with the
idea that the new ministry would not retain the reins of government
for any length of period, and that on their ruin he might rise to the
highest office in the state. From the very conditions, indeed, upon
which the Marquess of Rockingham consented to form the new ministry, and
to place himself at the head, it was clear that his administration
would not be of long duration. These conditions were:--"Peace with the
Americans, and the acknowledgment of their independence not to be a bar