I79I- CrjARACTERISTlCAr, SKETCHES—LORD NORTH. lOt 

 Swavity of niaaner, and gentleaefs of difpolition were 

 the moft ftriking features in the charadler of this noble- 

 man. Before he entered into office, a fort of anarchy 

 had prevailed in the government of Britain, that be- 

 came highly diftrefTing to the well-difpofed part of the 

 community ; and the public were well pleafed to fee, 

 that by a Iteadinefs of conduct, without any a6ts of un- 

 becoming feverity, a flop was put, by him, to thofe tur- 

 bulent proceedings, which, if not etFectually checked, 

 did threaten the well-being of the flate. This foon 

 conferred upon him a degree of p-opularity, which till 

 then he had not poiTefled, and which laid the founda- 

 tion of that power he long exercifed, with the entire 

 good-will of the nation at large ; a power greatly aug- 

 mented by the mild manner in which he exercifed it, — 

 and that native good humour, with which he repelled* 

 thofe rude attacks to which he was fo often expofed. 



Indolence, however, and its native concomitant, a 

 reludlance to difoblige thofe whofe oppofition feemed 

 likely to produce trouble to him, formed the bafis of 

 his charadier. Thefe laid the foundation of thofe er- 

 rors in admlniftration, which, at length, efFe£tually 

 overturned his power. From certain fundamental er- 

 rors that had taken place under former miniilers, re- 

 fpefting colonial government. Lord North found him- 

 felf placed in fuch critical circumftances with re- 

 gard to this particular, that though it became ne- 

 ceflary to aft, the moft intelligent men on all fides, 

 at the time, confefled it was a difficult matter to 

 choofe how to aS: with propriety. Inftead of tem- 

 porifing, as others had done, and endeavouring to leave 

 matters in the fame ftate of indecifive uncertainty he 

 had found them. Lord North, in an evil hour for him- 

 felf, and as it is confidently aflerted, much againft his 

 own wilhes, was impelled, by the influence of a higher 

 power, to adopt a line of condu£l that required talents 

 and difpofitions of mind in a minlfter very different 

 from thofe that fell to his fliare. — From that moment; 

 Vol. III. + C c 



