3A6 
» The Near Observer begins by repre- 
senting the late ministry as voluntarily 
seceding from their oficial situations at 
the most critical and difficult period of 
the war; when, abandoned by our allies, 
mortified by defeat, weighed down with 
accumulated taxes, our sovereign indis- 
posed, and incapable of administering 
the affairs of his government, we were 
left to contend, single-handed, both 
with the French republic and the North- 
ern confederacy- “ At such a moment,” 
says the authar, “ his majesty’s late 
ministers thought proper to retire from 
his service,” &c. 
This charge is refuted by the More 
Accurate Observer, who affirms that Mr. 
Pitt and his friends had tendered their 
resignations “ days and weeks” before 
the king’s illness ; and that at the time 
of doing so, Mr. Pitt made a distinct offer 
to retain his situation until the war 
should be concluded, and the country 
relieved from its most pressing difficul- 
ties, provided that, in the mean time, no 
attempt should be made to prejudge the 
question, a difference of opinion on 
which had led to his resignation. Al- 
though this offer was not accepted, the 
king’s illness suspended the new ar- 
rangements, and Mr. Pitt actually re- 
mained in the full exercise of his official 
duties till the recovery of his majesty. 
The second accusation relates to the 
violation of a solemn promise of support 
made by the old ministers to the new. 
«‘ His majesty’s most gracious offer of 
his confidence to Mr. Addington could 
not have been, and was not, definitively 
accepted until a solemn authentic pledge 
of honour had been given by the late 
ministers for their CONSTANT, ACTIVE, 
and zEaLous suprort. I do assert that 
Mr. Pitt and Lord Grenville did sacred- 
ly and solemnly enter into this exact 
agreement, and in this precise form ¢ 
qords.”’ 
In reply to this serious charge, we 
find nothing satisfactory advanced by 
the more accurate Observer ; he says, m- 
deed, and says truly, that to give to any 
set of men a promise of constant sup- 
port, let their conduct be what it would, 
is inconsistent with every idea not only 
of public duty, but even of common 
sense, or common honesty. This, how- 
ever, appears to be rather an imprudent 
‘assertion, becausé, so long as the direct 
testtmony of his adVersary remams un- 
contradicted, it willfollow from his 
HISTORY, POLITICS, AND STATISTICS. 
own admission that Mr. Pitt and Lord 
Grenville are both fools and knaves. 
The last important subject in dispute 
between the Near Observer and the Ac- 
curate Observer, relates to the negoti- 
ation between Mr. Pitt and Mr. Adding- 
ton, on the readmission of the former 
to a place in thecabinet. This we shall 
present to our readers first in the words 
of Mr. Addington’s partizan. 
«« This negotiation originated with Lord 
Melville, and was conducted by him; not 
do [ at all fear being mistaken in stating, 
that the intentions and conduct of that noble 
lord were fair, honourable, and impartial. 
«© In the negotiation which his lordship 
conducted, I think it proper that it should 
be known, that there was no obstacle upon 
the part of ministry to his lordship’s return, 
with Mr. Pitt aad others of his friends; I 
do not say upon a footing of equality with 
Mr. Addington and others of the present ad- 
ministration, bat beyond it. It is proper 
that it should be known, that the treaty did 
not ¢o off (as has been pretended) on-aceount 
of the want ofa message from a quarter, too 
high to be mentioned, a communication 
which would not have been wanting in due 
time, if the negotiation could have been 
bronght to an issue upon the terms I have 
menuoned; but that it broke off upon the 
positive unalterable demand of Mr, Pitt him- 
self, to bring back with him the Lords Gren- 
ville and Spencey, with other noble and 
honourable persons, who had disapproved 
of every measure of the government, who 
were in the habit of personal ineivility and 
disrespect, anct who were adverse to the 
whole spirit and principle of the administra- 
tion.” 
The More Accurate Observer on the 
other hand, says: 
<« Towards the end of March, or at the 
beginning of April, upon the eve of war, 
after it was distinctly known to Mr. Adding- 
ton that Mr. Pitt strongly disa »proved of 
soine of the leading measures of ins govern- 
ment, and after an overture had been made 
on the part of Mr. Addington, too foolish, I 
had almost said, too insulting to be noticed, 
a distinct proposition (originating, not, as 
has been insinuated, with Lord Melville, 
but eatirely with Mr, Addington himself), 
was made to Mr. Pitt, the object of which 
was his return to the official situation he 
formerly held in the administration ; and, 
as I understand, the arrangement was to 
have taken place whenever the negotiation 
then pending with France should haye heen 
brought toa conclusion. It was also signi- 
fied, that vacancies woul! be made for the 
purpose of admitting Lord Melville into the 
cabinet, and some other of Mr.. Pitt's friends 
