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ed they adopted such measures as could satisfy them, and particularly the capital measure of asserting and establishing the sovereignty of Great Britain over America; lastly, that if this were the case, though they did not mean to take places themselves, they would use their best offices with their friends to accept of honourable and becoming situations in government.

It must not be forgot, that the Duke of Newcastle said precisely the same. Thus, these four great and respectable persons, of acknowledged ability and great experience, agreed to sacrifice themselves in order to restore tranquillity to the public, unanimity to the King's councils, and to establish an able and permanent administration, composed of men of talents, judiciously selected from all parties. Lord Rockingham impressed with this idea, and following, as he had done, in his conferences with the Duke of Bedjord, the advice and direction of his friend Lord Albemarle, returned to London, with full power to treat upon formation of a new administration, upon a broad and comprehensive system. The Duke of Grafton was made acquainted with this, and desired to report it to the King, which he did on the 15th of July. His Majesty took two days to consider of it. On Friday the 17th, an answer was returned to the Duke of Grafton to this effect, "That the

the

King adopted and approved of the idea of a comprehensive system, and hoped it was not meant to exclude his friends, and those about his person, for the rest he entirely agreed."

This answer being given to Lord Rockingham, his Lordship sent for the Duke of Bedford, who came to London on Sunday evening, the 19th of July.

On Monday, July the 20th, it was agreed that there should be a meeting of the several persons in town, at Newcastle-house that day, and accordingly there came the Dukes of Bedford, Newcastle, Richmond, and Portland: the Marquis of Rockingham; the Earl of Sandwich; Viscount Weymouth; Mr. Dowdeswell, Mr. Rigby, and Admiral Keppel.

Mr. Rigby read a letter from Mr. Grenville, wherein that gentleman promised his support to the new administration, out of office, provided the dependance and obedience of the colonies were asserted and maintained. Much altercation instantly arose upon reading this letter. The Marquis of Rockingham was warm: the Duke of Bedford remarkably cool and temperate. At length, Lord Sandwich said, "that it was needless to debate about that letter, for he was certain they all meant the same thing; that their conduct respecting the

colonies must be regulated by the future behaviour of the colonies, and not by any regard or retrospect to former transactions. If the colonies, added his Lordship, are dutiful and loyal, there will be no occasion to exercise any extraordinary power over them; and if they should be otherwise, he did not doubt but all present, as well as their friends, would join in every proper and necessary measure to enforce obedience. This reasoning being approved of, and all uniting in the same sentiment, Mr. Dowdeswell took up the letter, and struck out the two words asserted and maintained, and put in supported and established. Here all altercation upon this subject entirely ended, Mr. Rigby folded up the letter, and put it into his pocket, and there was not another word uttered concerning it,

They then came to the arrangement of men to the great offices; the subject upon which they met. The Marquis of Rockingham proposed himself for the first Lord of the Treasury; with the powers usually annexed to that post, and Mr. Dowdeswell for his Chancellor of the Exchequer; to all which the Duke of Bedford agreed. The Marquis next proposed Mr. Conway for Secretary of State, and Minister of the House of Commons. To which the Duke of Bedford said, “ that he had for two sessions seen sufficient proofs of Mr. Conway's inability in a civil capacity, ever to agree to that proposal;

that he thought the military was Mr. Conway's proper line; that he had always entertained a very high opinion of him as a military officer; that he had not the least objection to Mr. Conway's being amply provided for on the military establishment; nay, to his being gratified to the utmost of his wishes. "

The Marquis of Rockingham said, “that it was a proposal from which he could not recede; and other words to the same effect. Upon which Mr. Rigby said, “ that they stopt at the threshold, and that it was needless to go any further into the matter."

Here the conference ended.-No other particulars or conditions were even mentioned,

In a corrupt system of government, the Mi nister of the House of Commons, or Manager, as he is sometimes called, is the first efficient* minister in the state. His consequence cannot be more clearly shewn than by the abrupt conclusion of the preceding conference. After so many opposite interests had been reconciled, and so many great sacrifices had been made, to remove indivi

* A distinction first made use of by Lord Mansfield—between efficient and official-between confidential and ostensible.

dual jealousies, and to establish public harmony all these were but a phantom-they all vanished in a moment-when the appointment of this new Minister came under discussion. Each party wished to nominate him. They differed, and separated upon that point only-not in a contention for places, but in a contention for power. Whoever is the minister of the House of Commons, has the power of supporting the measures of government. Lord Rockingham wanted Mr. Conway, because he intended to persevere in his own system, with respect to America. The Duke of Bedford intended to have nominated Mr. Rigby, because he intended to pursue the Court system, which Mr. Grenville had adopted, of taxing America. America was therefore the true cause of this conference breaking off. Subsequent events have proved, whose policy was right. Had Lord Rockingham been minister, America would still, in all probability, have belonged to the crown of Great Britain. Or had this system of appointing a minister of the House of Commons been abandoned, that, and other important benefits, would, no doubt, have continued; because the members would have been left to the free exercise of their own judg

ment,

It is impossible to dismiss this point without a short apostrophe on the alarming state of British

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