the post of Prime Minister. This was the justification which Lord Shelburne made of his conduct; adding, "I passed my eldest to Lord Rockingham, which I had no occasion to do, for I might have been Prime Minister myself." But the parties hated each other they could not conceal this hatred even on the day on which they kissed hands for their several appointments. On that day, they found that Mr. Dunning was to be created a Peer. This had not been previously notified to Lord Rockingham. Mr. Burke was furious: "What," said he, "shall Lord Shelburne make a Peer, and you not name one? Think of somebody, whom you may recommend for a peerage." They at length fixed on Sir Fletcher Norton, a man who had never done their party any service. And when Lord Rockingham went in to the King, he recommended Sir Fletcher Norton for a peerage. The King had sufficient discernment to perceive the motive which induced Lord Rockingham to recommend Sir Fletcher Norton: he saw that it was purely to enable him to appear to have equal influence with the Earl of Shelburne. It is reported that the King said to Lord

Rockingham, "Is it your Lordship's particular wish that Sir Fletcher Norton should be made a peer ?" Lord Rockingham declined answering in the affirmative; but said he thought Sir Fletcher Norton ought to be a Peer. He accordingly was made a Peer, and voted against the Rockinghams in the ensuing session.

But every day brought forth new proof of the hatred of the parties to each other. The Rockinghams every where abused Lord Shelburne for want of good faith. The reply of the Shelburnes was, that they were no ways pledged to Lord Rockingham. If any man applied to Lord Rockingham for an employment, and failed to obtain it, he had but to signify this the next day to the Earl of Shelburne, who immediately got the place for him. On the other hand, if a man went first to the Earl of Shelburne, his answer was, "You should not apply to me, I am not the Minister. Lord Rockingham is the Minister: he is the man to whom you should apply." I had an acquaintance who succeeded with both of them; it was

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shire. He applied to Lord Rockingham for a writership, in Bengal, for a younger son. Lord Rockingham answered, "After the support which you have uniformly given us, Mr. Sturt, you certainly are entitled to ask for such a favour; you shall have it." A few days after, Mr. Sturt met the Earl of Shelburne riding in the Park. Why, Sturt," said the Earl," how could you think of applying to the Marquis of Rockingham for a writership for your son? I thought it would suit you, and I kept a Bengal writership for you."—" My Lord, I have another younger son: give me your writership for him." Lord Shelburne could not disengage himself from this voluntary offer, and Humphry Sturt got both the writerships.

After this motley Cabinet had existed about three months, an epidemic disease broke out in London: they gave it the name of the influenza. The Marquis of Rockingham was seized with it. His bodily frame had for many years been weak. From the formation of his Cabinet he had been constantly agitated, partly by the conduct

of Lord Shelburne, more perhaps by the violence and arrogance of Mr. Burke; and was possibly vexed with himself for having suffered others to prevail on him to accept of office against his own better judgment. He sunk under the disease. I will not say that the Marquis of Rockingham had a strong mind, but he loved his country, and all his actions promoted its interests. I never received any personal favours from Lord Rockingham; but approbation of his conduct has uniformly influenced my political life.

Within three hours after the Marquis of Rockingham's death was known, a friend of mine called on Charles Fox. The question which naturally occurred was, "Who is to succeed Lord Rockingham as First Lord of the Treasury ?" Mr. Fox replied, “I think it must be the Earl of Shelburne; he is first oars, and I do not see how we can resist his claim." But Mr. Burke had afterwards sufficient influence with Mr. Fox, and the other leaders of the Rockingham party, to prevail on them to resist the appointment of the Earl of Shelburne. He insisted that

the Duke of Portland should be sent for from Ireland, where he was at that time Lord Lieutenant, and appointed First Lord of the Treasury. This proposal was offensive, even to some of the Rockingham party, particularly to the Duke of Richmond; who said, that, as the Duke of Portland was provided for in Ireland, he himself had a better right to be considered as the head of the Rockingham party. But this was not acceptable to Mr. Burke; for the Duke of Richmond was not sufficiently under his guidance. At a meeting held soon after at Earl Fitzwilliam's, Mr. Burke used such coarse language respecting the Earl of Shelburne, that intercourse, even in appearance friendly, could no longer exist between the parties. The Earl of Shelburne was made First Lord of the Treasury, and the Rockinghams resigned their employments. The Earl of Shelburne then opened a negotiation for peace, and at the close of that year, or the beginning of the next, the peace was signed. This peace was certainly made against the wishes of the King; who, though he probably had no desire to remove the Earl of Shelburne,