s
interest maturely to consider them, and that after this consideration he
felt it his duty to obey them. The union which had taken place, he
said, was not the result of a sudden impulse; for three years ago he
had supported the just views of government in repairing the finances,
widening the resources, improving the commerce and navigation of the
country, and in cultivating relations of amity and friendship with that
new world whose treasures were now opening to them. In conclusion, he
admitted in their full extent the reasons which had been given by the
noble lords for their several resignations, and the statements which
they had made in accounting for that remarkable coincidence; but he
could not help expressing his surprise that government had been able to
go on so long, being conducted, as it now appeared, by ministers who did
not think proper to communicate with one another upon the most important
question which could be agitated among them. Other noble lords, as the
Earls of Mansfield and Winchilsea, and Lord Ellenborough, expressed
their determined hostility to the new government, and a total want of
confidence in its leader. Lord Ellen-borough remarked, that it appeared
clear to him, and he believed to others, that some deceit was about to
be practised. Either his majesty, who had permitted this administration
to be formed with the understanding that the Catholic question was to be
given up, was deceived, or the hopes held out to Ireland, that the new
administration was to extend to that country the peace and tranquillity
which that boon alone could bestow, were fallacious. Earls Mansfield and
Winchilsea expressed a determination of bringing the principles of
the new cabinet at once to the test; and gave notice of motions on the
Catholic question and the state of the nation. Neither of these motions,
however, was ever brought to a hearing; and the retired ministers
exhibited as little concert out of office as they had displayed in
their resignation. In one matter, however, they were all agreed, that of
hostility to the present government. In both houses a desultory warfare
was carried on against it: single individuals taking upon themselves at
intervals the task of castigating its members. In the commons Sir Thomas
Lethbridge chiefly undertook this task; but, although he performed it
with much pertinacity, he was unfortunately deficient in speech. In the
lords the most powerful assistance on the side of the seced