lliance was adjusted with
America; and the affairs of the East India Company demanded instant
attention. Seeing that there was no prospect of a new ministry being
formed, on the 24th of March, Mr. Coke, one of the members for Norfolk,
moved an address to the king, "that he would be graciously pleased
to take into consideration the unsettled state of the empire, and
condescend to comply with the wishes of this house, in forming an
administration entitled to the confidence of the people." Coke's motion
was carried with only four dissentient voices; and his majesty replied
to the address, that it was his "earnest desire to comply with the
wishes of his faithful commons." Still nothing was done; and on the 31st
of March, Lord Surrey moved another address, "assuring his majesty that
all delays in a matter of such moment have an inevitable tendency to
weaken the authority of government; and most humbly entreating his
majesty, that he will take such measures towards this object as might
quiet the apprehensions of his faithful subjects." This motion was,
however, withdrawn, on the assurance of Mr. Pitt, that he had that day
resigned as the chancellor of the exchequer. The king was now obliged to
yield: two days after this a new ministry was formed from the ranks of
the coalition. In its arrangement the Duke of Portland became first
lord of the treasury; Lord North secretary for home affairs; Mr. Fox
secretary for foreign affairs; the Earl of Carlisle obtained the privy
seal; Lord John Cavendish was re-appointed chancellor of the exchequer;
Admiral Keppel was again placed at the head of the admiralty; Lord
Stormont became president of the council; the great seal was given in
commission to Lord Loughborough, Mr. Justice Ashurst, and Mr. Baron
Hotham: while Lord Mansfield accepted the temporary office of speaker
of the house of Lords; Lord Townshend became master-general of the
ordnance; Burke was reinstated as paymaster of the forces; Charles
Townshend became treasurer of the navy; Colonel Fitzpatric was made
secretary at war; and Lord Northington was appointed to the government
of Ireland. The usual changes took place likewise in his majesty's
household. The seven ministers who formed the new cabinet were,
Portland, North, Fox, Cavendish, Keppel, Carlisle, and Stormont, the
majority of whom were of the old Whig or Rockingham party. But, although
the king had consented to this heterogeneous ministry, no pains were
taken at court t