ELEMENTS OF OPPOSITION. 
into different official situations. To this 
proposition Mr. Pitt repiied, that he would 
not enter upon the question of arrangements, 
until he was distinctly informed by a mes- 
sage from the highest quarter, that his ser- 
vices were thought essential; that if so call- 
ed upon, in spite of the precarious state of 
his healih, he should not decline the offer of 
his best advice and assistance; that he was 
fully aware of the great and increasing difli- 
culties of the country ; and that he saw the 
necessity of a strong, vigorous, and efficient 
government. ‘That if called upon by his 
majesty, he should feel it to be his duty to 
propose an administration consisting princi- 
pally of the members of the present and of 
the Jate government; that in the general ar- 
‘rangement which he should submit for his 
majesty’s consideration, he should, if they 
assented, include the Lords Grenville and 
Spencer, but that he should press no person 
whatever upon his majesty, only reserving 
to himself the power of declining the under- 
taking altogether, if he could not form such 
“a government as would enable him, in his 
judgment, .to conduct the affairs of the na- 
tion with a fair probability of success, No 
Art, XLVII. L£lements 
THIS is by far the most acute party 
pamphlet that has appeared since the ac. 
cession of Mr. Addington to the mini- 
sterial throne. It consists of fifty-three 
tules, by the due observance of which, 
the young senator may become a com- 
plete oppositionist: the examples are 
ee oat taken from the speeches of 
ord Grenville, Mr. Windham, and the 
other leaders of the anti-jacobins, whose 
political profligacy and shameless in- 
_ consistencies are exposed with no incon- 
siderable effect. We select the follow- 
ing, as a favourable specimen both of 
the style and matter. 
“« RuLE 20. 
** How to describe a new minister, 
« However, as the country may not like 
the exclusive claims of one family, and as 
'_another candidate has been proposed, it is 
every way fair and proper to state his quali- 
fications. His particular friends, indeed, to 
_ whom he lends the weight of his talents, are 
content with promising the country that he 
is more fit for the eminent station of first 
minister, than any other person; that Mr. 
Pitt is jealous of his ascendancy ; and that 
all the sound part of the nation look to him 
at this crisis, &c. This too is modest, and 
it ought to be shewn by particulars, how 
just, as well as disinterested, such a recom- 
“mendation is. The qualifications, therefore, 
‘for a first minister ought to be the follows 
ang: 
of Opposition. 
347 
sine qua non was insisted upon, as the 
‘* Near Observer” alledges, with respect to 
the admission of Lord Grenville, or of an 
other person, into the cabinet. All that Mr, 
Pitt required was, that he should be at 
liberty to submit to his majesty whatever he 
thought best for his majesty’s service, un- 
fettered by any previous condition ; and he 
positively declined committing himself upon 
the question of particuiar arrangements ‘until 
his majesty’s pleasure had been distinctly 
signified to him.” 
We pretend not to reconcile these 
palpable contradictions, nor to decide 
whether the ex-minister or Mr. Adding- 
ton, by these their representatives, is 
attempting to impose upon the public : 
they have been both brought up in the 
same school of intrigue and falsehood, 
et cantare pares et repondere parati; but 
from the proverbial candour and vera- 
city of Lord Melville, we may, no 
doubt, expect, at the proper time, comy 
plete satisfaction. 
Svo. pp. 99. 
«© 1, He should be himself alarmed, and 
fond of alarms in other men. Sucha man 
will compliment Lord Mornington for hav- 
ing described things ‘*in so masterly and 
alarming a manner.” Accordingly we find, 
that these very words were used by Mr. 
Windham, Jan. 1794. 
«© 2, Such a man, if accused of incon- 
sistency, will immediately allow it, and dis- 
arm an opponent at once ; for where is the 
use of urging a man upon a point which he 
readily grants, and about which he appears 
to be utterly careless? 
TELE had no objection to suppose incon- 
sistency in his language on two occasions 
of a similar nature,’ viz. voluntary contribu- 
tions. 
«« He would not answer how far “an 
eager desire to carry his immediate purpose 
might have hurried him in the assertions he 
.made use of.” And, < perhaps, in the eager- 
ness of debate, he had employed expressions 
with inconsiderate warmth.’ Mr. W. April 
7, 1794. 
“« After this, Mr. Grey had no need to ex 
press the ‘pain he felt, that a gentleman 
should treateven his own opinions so lightly, 
as to say he had inconsiderately taken up ar- 
guments which he could not justify, for the 
sake of carrying his pues for the moment ; 
and that he should do this at a solemn 
meeting of his county. And what must be 
thought of a gentleman acting with such 
levity ?” 
«« Mr. Grey, we all know, is very pros 
erly tenacious of an-opinion once expressedg 
ut the future minister of this country is 
