896 
the adherents of the earl- of Shel- 
burne, who headed the party acting: 
in opposition, though not in junc- 
tion with Fox, Burke, and Sheridan. 
He exhibited at once great talents, 
and followed his father in reprobat- 
ing the idea of American independ- 
ence, though he disapproved the 
war. He took his seat for Poole. 
Mr. Sheridan was elected for 
Stafford, and first distinguished him- 
‘self by a motion relative to the em- 
ployment of the military in the 
riots, 
The continued want of success in 
the war, combining with the views 
of opposition, as the Christmas recess 
approached, it was determined that 
Mr, Fox should attack the ministry 
immediately after, in the ordinary 
mode of accusation, and lord Sand- 
wich was again assailed by them 
repeatedly, Such was the en. 
ergy of this attack, that the leader, 
for such he had by this time unques- 
tionably become, being fora few days 
indisposed, Mr. Burke declared, 
*¢ of so much importance is this 
enquiry to the public, that no bad 
use would be made of the skin of 
my departed friend, (should death 
be his fate) if, like that of John 
Zisca, it be converted into a drum, 
and used for the purpose of sound. 
ing an alarm to the people of Eng. 
land,” 
On the 7th of February, how. 
ever, Mr. Fox was able to make 
his promised attack, supported by 
his party, which tended to a reso- 
lution declaratory of mismanage- 
ment in naval affairs. It was nega- 
tived but by asmall majority. On 
the 22d general Conway moved an 
address to his majesty, for peace, 
which was strongly supported, and 
Jost by a majority only of one, On 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
the 27th the same gentleman repeat. — 
ed the motion in a different form, — 
and carried it, the country gentle. — 
men withdrawing their support from — 
the minister. Lord John Cavendish 
next made a motion, declaratory, 
that the country could no longer 
repose confidence in ministry, and — 
it was defeated by a small majority. 
On a similar motion, a few days after, — 
lord North, with much dignity, 
arose, and declared himself no longer . 
minister. 
Of the new administration, the 
marquis of Rockingham was the 
nominal, and Mr. Fox the real | 
leader, with the appointment of mi- 
nister for foreign affairs. Mr She. 
ridan was his under-secretary ; Mr. 
Burke paymaster-general of the 
forces. Mr, Fox tiow came into” 
power with a character of the most 
popular kind, and supported gene- 
rally by the two parties who had 
unwillingly joined in opposition ; 
these were the ‘ king’s friends, 
or Rockingham and Newcastle 
whigs ;”? and the ** Pitt and Gren- 
ville whigs.”” : 
The new administration proceed. 
ed with vigour to the protection of 
their favourite measures, and the 
reversal of those of the ministry they 
had just conquered. Overtures of 
peace were made to America and 
Holland ; a plan, recommended by 
the king, for retrenching the public 
expenditure,which led to passing Mr. 
Burke’s bill ; contractors were ex- 
cluded from the house of commons ; 
officers of customs and excise dis- 
qualified from voting at elections 5 
the resolutions ef 1769, against 
Wilkes, expunged from the jour- 
nals ; and even Pitt moved for a 
reform in parliament. But, alas! 
death interrupted their progress, by 
the 
