ffered: that of Lord Liverpool was
formed on the principle of maintaining the laws as they now were, whilst
that of Mr. Canning was founded on the principle of subverting them.
"Those," remarked his grace, "who formed part of Lord Liverpool's
cabinet knew well what it was to which they pledged themselves, for they
knew that his lordship was conscientiously opposed to all changes in the
existing form of government; but those who coalesced with Mr. Canning
had no idea how far their coalition was to carry them,--for he was the
most able, active, and zealous partisan of those changes with which the
country was at present threatened. The principles of the noble earl were
principles by which any man might safely abide; the principles of
Mr. Canning fluctuate daily, and depend upon transitory reasons of
temporary expediency. These are the conscientious reasons of my
resignation." As for the absurd calumny, that he had threatened the king
with his resignation unless he was made prime minister, the duke said
it hardly deserved an answer. "Could any man believe," asked his grace,
"that after I had raised myself to the command of the army, I would have
given it up for any but conscientious reasons? I say, raised myself,
because I know that, whatever his majesty's kindness had been towards
me, he could not have exalted me through all the grades of military
rank to the very highest if I had not rendered him and my country some
service of which he entertained a high sense. Will any man then believe
that when I was in a situation which enabled me to recommend to the
notice of his majesty all my former friends and companions in arms, and
to reward them according to their merits for the exertions which they
had formerly made under my command in the field, I would voluntarily
resign a situation so consonant to my feelings and habits for the mere
empty ambition of being placed at the head of the government?" In regard
to his resignation of the command of the army, his grace said, that
although it was not a cabinet office, yet it was one which placed its
possessor in a constant and confidential relation with the king and
his government. With the prime minister the commander-in-chief is in
communication every day, he has not a control even over the army, the
chief direction of which is placed in the minister's hands; at the same
time the premier himself cannot withdraw any part of the army from a
foreign station without consulting the command