servants, in the course of which he reprobated the spirit of ambition
which provoked the native powers, in the hope of profiting by their
conquest; the perfidy which produced violations of treaty; the
prodigality which had induced embarrassment and distress; and the
misgovernment which generally prevailed in our Asiatic establishments.
The reports led to a bill of pains and penalties against Sir Thomas
Rumbold, for high crimes and misdemeanours committed in the Carnatic;
to a vote of censure on Warren Hastings and Mr. Hornsby, president of
Bombay; and to an address to his majesty, praying the removal of Sir
Elijah Impey from the office of chief-justice at Bengal.

CHANGE IN THE MINISTRY.

During these proceedings in parliament Mr. Fox, who, before he became
foreign secretary, had insinuated in the commons that he possessed
the means of detaching the Dutch from the French, offered to Holland a
renewal of amity on the terms of the treaty of 1674. Mr. Fox had also
been endeavouring to conclude a peace with the Americans, the chief
terms of which were the recognition of the independence of the thirteen
American colonies, and for the rest _a status quo ante bellum_. No
progress had been made in these negociations--for they were obstructed
by the great powers of Europe--when the Marquess of Rockingham died,
which put an end to the cabinet. Immediately after his decease the king
sent for Lord Shelburne, and placed him at the head of the cabinet,
which so deeply offended the Rockingham party that they resigned: Fox,
Burke, Lord John Cavendish, John Townshend, the Duke of Portland, as
governor of Ireland, and others at the boards of treasury and
admiralty instantly threw up office in disgust. In consequence of their
resignations, Mr. Thomas Townshend was made foreign secretary; Lord
Grantham obtained the secretaryship, which had been held by Lord
Shelburne; William Pitt was raised to the post of chancellor of the
exchequer; Colonel Barre was made paymaster of the forces, while Mr.
Dundas was appointed treasurer of the navy in his room; Sir George Yonge
succeeded Mr. Townshend as secretary of war; Lord Temple undertook the
lieutenancy of Ireland; and Mr. Pepper Arden was made solicitor-general.
The promotion which attracted most attention was that of William Pitt,
who was only twenty-three years of age, and wild, by his promotion to
the post of the chancellor of the exchequer, became leader of the
house of commons; and th