Temple was
again appointed to the government of Ireland. Mr. W. Grenville and Lord
Mulgrave became joint paymasters of the forces; Mr. Dundas, treasurer of
the navy; Mr. George Rose and Mr. Steele, secretaries of the treasury;
Mr. Lloyd, attorney-general; and Mr. R. P. Arden, solicitor-general. In
the first instance Lord Temple had been made one of the secretaries of
state, but he resigned this post under pretence of meeting the charge of
tampering with the royal confidence, which was laid against him by the
recent cabinet, more freely. It was predicted, that the new ministry
would not exist one month; and looking at the formidable array of
opponents which sat on the opposition benches on the evening of their
acceptance of office, this prediction seemed certain of fulfilment. Pitt
himself was conscious of his weakness, and doubtful of the result; but
his administration, though commenced under such unfavourable
circumstances, proved in the end one of the most memorable in the
British annals.

EFFORTS OF THE OPPOSITION AGAINST THE NEW MINISTRY.

The first measure after the change in the cabinet was to issue a new
writ for the borough of Appleby. This done, Mr. Dundas, treasurer of the
navy, moved, that in order to carry the Land-tax Bill through the house
in time to meet large payments that were to be made by the treasury on
the 5th of January, the house should meet on the next day, Saturday,
instead of being adjourned till Monday. As it was imagined that
government meant to hurry over the voting of supplies, that it might
proceed to a dissolution, this was opposed by Fox, and rejected without
a division. On the Monday no opposition was made to the land-tax, but
on the same evening Mr. Erskine moved an address to his majesty, not to
dissolve the present parliament, but to be graciously pleased to hearken
to the advice of his faithful commons, and not to the secret advices
of particular persons, who might have private interests of their own,
separate from the true interests of the king and his people. The
house was assured that Pitt would resign if either a dissolution or a
prorogation took place; but the motion was pressed and agreed to without
a division. The answer of his majesty to this address was reported on
the 24th, and it contained an assurance that he would not interrupt
their meeting by any exercise of his prerogative, either by prorogation
or dissolution. Opposition now seemed certain of the fall of Pit