cal reformer, to be opposed by the retainers of a former system,
and distrusted by all who could not appreciate his innovations.
Thoroughly acquainted with his own service, he had introduced
everywhere, and especially into the dockyards, a bold and unsparing
reform, which no ingenuity could evade, and which was felt the more from
being coincident with the reductions of peace. All who were thus cut
off, and others whose emoluments he curtailed, naturally became hostile;
and the inconvenience always created by a change, and which it was the
direct interest of so many to aggravate, afforded too favourable
opportunities for the prejudiced to misrepresent, and the candid to
misunderstand him. In abolishing the practice of building line-of-battle
ships in private yards, he took a step of which all subsequent
experience has proved the wisdom; but it united against him an extensive
and most powerful interest. It was contended that his measures displayed
great and unnecessary harshness, and were calculated to break down the
effectiveness of the navy. Very many persons of the highest integrity,
too little acquainted with the facts, were thus deceived; and even Mr.
Pitt, though he had recommended Earl St. Vincent for the Admiralty,
believed that he was weakening the most important arm of the country.
Under such circumstances, Sir Edward Pellew was recalled, ostensibly,
that the Admiralty might confer with him upon these disputed questions.
Nothing could be more flattering to him, or indeed more honourable to
both parties, than this confidence; for there had never been much
cordiality between Earl St. Vincent and Sir Edward, who was both
politically and personally an admirer of Mr. Pitt; and it was clear to
every one that the ministry was about to fall. But the Earl was too
conscious of the wisdom of his measures to fear the judgment of a candid
opponent; and he too well appreciated Sir Edward's character not to feel
assured that he would allow no private motive, or political
predilection, to interfere with the discharge of his duty.

Thus, when Mr. Pitt gave notice of a motion for inquiry into the state
of the navy, of which the avowed object was to censure the naval
administration, a mutual friend was employed by the Admiralty to learn
Sir Edward's opinion of the subjects it embraced, and on finding that
his judgment condemned them, to induce him to express his sentiments in
the House. To this proposal he readily assented. They ha