is little
calculated to teach, he could not have entered Parliament at a better
season. The high character and truly English politics of Mr. Pitt had
united very different parties to support him in carrying on a just and
necessary war; but when the bond which he had afforded to his party was
removed by his going out of office, and peace had deprived them of their
common object, former principles of repulsion regained their influence;
and the uncertainty whether the premier was the rival or the _locum
tenens_ of Pitt increased the confusion. It was still more embarrassing
when, at a later period, Mr. Pitt threw himself into avowed opposition
to a government, of which the premier was his friend and pupil, and the
other ministers, one of whom was his own brother, might all be regarded
as his nominees. Indeed, six remained in office when he returned to
power, and the ex-premier himself joined the administration in a few
mouths after.

Sir Edward had not long been in Parliament, before he expressed a
confident opinion that Mr. Pitt would soon come in. Succeeding events
strengthened this conviction; and when the peace, or rather armed truce,
of Amiens was evidently drawing to a close, he said in one of his
letters, "Pitt _must_ now be the minister." He gave a general support to
the Government in the very small part which he took in the business of
the House, but he availed himself of the earliest opportunity to escape
from it; and on the very day when the King's message was delivered,
which indicated the renewal of hostilities, he solicited and obtained
employment.

On the 11th of March, 1803, he was appointed to the eighty-gun ship
_Tonnant_, in which, after some delay, occasioned by the general
difficulty of procuring men, he joined the Channel fleet. Anxious to
take part in the important naval operations to be expected, he wished to
sail with Nelson, whose reputation gave a just presage that the most
decisive blow would be struck where he commanded; but after he had been
appointed to a station, his sense of naval obedience forbade any attempt
to change it. With that care for the improvement of his young officers
which was always a prominent feature of his conduct, he advertised for a
superior schoolmaster for the _Tonnant_, to whom he offered 50_l._ per
annum, in addition to his pay, that he might obtain for them better
instructions than the regulations of the service would afford.

Early in the summer, he was detached