HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
every difficulty by the sacrifice 
of a small part only of it: friends,— 
a sacrifice which it thought 
amply compensated by the defeat 
and disappointment of its enemies. 
But, it too clearly foresaw, that to 
make overtures, on the present oc- 
casion, to the leaders of opposition, 
for their advice in forming a new 
administration, was to relinquish the 
advantages of the victory it had at 
that time gained; and perilous as 
was the state of the country, it de- 
termined to embark in a contest 
with opposition, rather than give 
up a point, which it esteemed of 
such importance to its dignity and 
interest. An offer was therefore 
made to lord Hawkesbury of the 
offices and situation vacant by the 
death of Mr. Pitt. This dazzling 
proposition, flattering as it was, 
deprived not the noble secretary 
of his ,habitual prudence. Fully 
sensibl of the value of the gift, but 
aware also of the difficulties and re- 
sponsibility attached to it, he re- 
quested to have some time for deli- 
beration. 
19 
struggle on the part of the crown 
than any period that had occurred 
since the end of the American war. 
The country was alarmed with the 
dangers of its situation, disgusted 
with the juggle practised on it in 
1804, and clamorous against a 
patched up administration, compos- 
ed of subalterns and clerks. Great 
and immediate advantages were 
universally expected from a change 
of system and union of parties. To 
frustrate these expectations by an 
obstinate resistance to the wishes of 
the people was a hazardous attempt, 
while to comply with their inclina. 
tions and gratify them with such a 
change of ministry as they unani- 
mously called for, was sure to con- 
ciliate their aflections. Nor could 
it escape an attentive observer of 
the usual course of popular opinion, 
that the most effectual expedient 
for destroying the influence and 
popularity of opposition was to in- 
vest them, for a short time , with the 
insignia of power. ‘To fulfil the 
expectations of the public by res- 
Had the circumstances. toring the country to its former 
of the moment been less unfavour- “eminence abroad, the court well 
able, he would probably have caught 
with eagerness at the high situation 
proposed to him; and, had he ac- 
cepted of it, such is the prodigious 
influence of the crown, when exert- 
ed in good earnest, and managed 
with ability, thaty unless he had 
fallen a victim to unfounded fears, or 
a sacrifice to antiquated scruples, or 
suffered from the treachery of some 
associate, who had access to the 
royal ear, he could hardly have 
failed to maintain himself in his 
post against all the efforts of oppo- 
sition, however numerous, respect- 
able and popular. But the present 
time was less favourable for such a 
- 
knew, in the present posture of 
affairs on the continent, was utterly 
impracticable. Such reforms as 
were expected from the past Ian- 
guage and declarations of opposition, 
it could easily frustrate and pre. 
vent, without any visible inter. 
ference. For, without the cordial 
support of the crown, or such an 
ebullition of zeal on the part of the 
people, as it would be neither rea. 
sonable to expect nor prudent to 
excite, no ministry could succeed 
in the herculean task of reforming 
abuses, unless by steps the most 
slow and gradual; and, while more 
pressing objects, of no less intrinsic 
importance to the country, were at. 
C 2 tainable 
