‘Jord North as his own, because for t 
242 
“The theory of an interior cabinet was 
revived ; and it was asserted, that lord North, 
though ostensibly nrinister, was really com- 
elled to obey the dictates of a secret junto. 
ra however, no satisfactory evidence 
that such a cabal existed, nor that an able 
and estimnable nobleman submitted to such a 
disgraceful mancipation, I cannot record 
conjecture as a historical truth, and must 
narrate the measures proposed or ime ms by 
em he 
declared himself responsible.” ; 
The third volume opens with the par- 
\iamentary session of 1777; when the 
hostile interference of France in behalf 
of American independence began to be 
apprehended. A fine piece of narrative 
is the final appearance of Lord Chatham 
in the house of peers, on the duke of 
Richmond’s motion upon the state of 
the nation. 
“« His lordship had that session frequently 
attended the house of peers, less from the 
relaxation of distemper than from the calls 
of duty, which the increasing calamities of 
his country made him consider as every day 
more imperious. In a bodily state fitted 
only for the stillness and quiet of a bed of 
sickness, he encountered the active warfare 
of the senate, hoping his counsels might at 
length be admitted by those who were expe- 
riencing such evils from former rejection and 
intractability, and that, in his old age, he 
might contribute to restore part of the pros- 
perity, greatness, and glory, which he had 
acquired for his country in the vigour of his 
life, and which left her when he ceased to 
guide her affairs. Tis exertion, in the for- 
mer. part of the session, so niuch beyond 
his bodily strength, had increased, his dis- 
temper; but, intormed of the business that 
was to be agitated, and aware of the doc- 
trines which wonld be brought forward, he 
thought it inenmbent on himself to render 
it manifest to the world, that though he 
agreed with the marquis of Rockingham 
and his adherents in reprobating the system 
of ministry, he totally differed from them on 
the question of American independence. He 
accordingly betook himself to the senate, of 
by representing him as merely his majesty’s 
eellor of the exchequer, instead of the prime 
HISTORY, POLITICS, AND STATISTICS. 
which, for near half a century, he had been 
the brightest luminary. Having arrived in 
the house, he refreshed himself in the lord 
chancellor’s‘room, until he learned that bu- 
siness was about to begin. The infirm 
statesman was led into the house of peers, 
attended by his son-in-law, lord Mahon, 
and resting on the arm of his second son, 
Mr. William Pitt. He was richly dressed 
in a superb suit of black velvet, with a fulk 
wig, and covered up-to the knees in flannel. 
He was pale end emaciated, but the darting 
quickness, force, and animation of his eyes, 
and the expression of his whole countenance, 
shewed that his mind re/ained its primeval 
sg ae brillianey, and strength. The 
ords stood up, and imade a lane for him to 
pass through to the bench of the earls, and 
with the gracefulness of deportment for which 
he was so eminently distinguished, he bowed 
to them as he proceeded. 
seat, he listened with the most profound 
attention to the speech of the duke of Rich- 
mond. When his grace had finished, Jord 
Chatham rose; he lamented that, at so im- 
ortant a crisis, his bodily infirmities had 
interfered so often with his regular attendance 
on his duty in parliament. ‘I have this 
day (said he) made an effort beyond the 
powers of my constitution, to come down 
to the house, perhaps the last time I shall 
enter its walls, to express my indignation 
against the proposition of yielding the so- 
vereignty of America. My lord, I rejoice 
that the grave has not closed upon me, that 
I am stili alive to lift up my voice against 
the dismemberment of this ancient and noble 
monarchy. Pressed down as I am by the 
load of infirmity, I am little able to assist 
my country in this most perilous eonjune- 
ture; but, my lords, while [ have sense and 
memory, I never will consent to tarnish the 
lustre of this nation by’an_ignominious surs 
render of its rights and fairest possessions. 
Shall a people so lately the terror of the 
world, now fall prostrate before the house 
of Bourbon? It is impossible. Iam not, I 
confess, well informed of the resources of- 
this kingdom ; but [ trust at has’ still suffh- 
cient to maintain its just mghts, though 
know them not; and any state, my lords, 
is better than despair. Let us at least make 
~ 
first commissioner of the treasury and chan- 
po’ cal counsellor. Persons of very consi- 
derable respectability, of very high veneration for the character of lord North, and whe 
with inviolable fidelity adhered to him in every vicissitude of fortune, have giyen their 
opinion, ciat he was not really minister, bat the official executor of positive commands, 
J am aware also, that in this assertion they 
inferences, but on specific evidence 
well that if they exist, they cannot at present be made public: 
From the nature of the alleged documents, 2. 
If the truth of this ac- 
are said to proceed, not merely on general 
know 
count were established, we should, mdeed, have to consider his lordship as officially 
obeying orders, but not as voluntarily proposing counsels: this, perhaps, might excuse 
him as the servant of a master, but would not be sufficient to acquit him as member of a 
aclibevate assembly. 
tven in this last view, palliations might be found to apologize to, the 
indulgent, though it would-be more dillicult to discover facts and arguments which would 
satisfy the rigidly just.” 
Having taken his. 
