arrangement was
proposed by Lord North for himself; and, to say truth, those of
his friends for whom he wished provision to be made, were at
least as unexceptionable as many, I may even add as most of
those whom Lord Shelburne had collected from the two former
Administrations. The infatuation, however, which pervaded the
whole of his Government, operated most forcibly in this
instance. The affectation of holding the ostensible language of
Mr. Pitt, in 1759, is only mentioned to show the ridiculous
vanity of the Minister who, unsupported by public success, or by
the parliamentary knowledge and man[oe]uvre of a Duke of
Newcastle, not only held it, but acted upon it, professing, in
his own words, to "know nothing of the management of a House of
Commons, and to throw himself upon the people alone for
support." This farce operated as it might be expected; and
although the negotiation between Lord North and Mr. Fox was
matter of perfect notoriety for several weeks, those moments
were suffered to pass away without any attempt to avail himself
of the various difficulties which presented themselves, at the
different periods of that discussion, till, at the very eve of
the ratification of it, Mr. Pitt was employed by his Lordship to
open propositions, through Mr. Fox, to that party. This was
rejected _in toto_; and the events which followed the meeting of
Parliament, are too well known to make a detail of them
necessary.

Before I proceed I wish to add, that although I have treated the
vanity and personal arrogance of Lord Shelburne as it deserves,
yet I will do him justice in acknowledging his merit, as one of
the quickest and most indefatigable Ministers that this country
ever saw. Many of his public measures were the result of a great
and an informed mind, assisted by a firm and manly vigour. And I
must ever think the Peace, attended with all its collateral
considerations, the most meritorious and happiest event for a
kingdom exhausted of men and of credit. I was not pledged in the
slightest degree to the measure; for, by my absence in Ireland,
and my little connection with his Lordship, I was enabled to
judge of it with coolness and impartiality; and from the
knowledge of the various difficulties attending it, I am
convinced that better terms could not be obtained, and that