Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/93

i Soy.] From Irish Union to Dismissal of Grenville. 79 The state of affairs in Europe was enough to damp the ardour of Parliament, as it was evidently wearing away the life of the Premier. Everywhere during this fatal year of 1806 Napoleon was triumphing over the coalitions formed by Pitt, defeating armies, overthrowing thrones, and finally alienating allies. The universal gloom was pierced only by the dazzling ray of victory which shot from Trafalgar ; but that victory, although it secured the safety of Great Britain from invasion, could do little to affect the fortunes of France on the continent. In the midst of the depression and almost despair which fell upon the minister from these causes, he received a blow which struck alike at his sense of official honour and his warmest personal friendship. His colleague and friend Lord Melville was accused of gross misconduct in his office of treasurer of the navy. When he was impeached by the Commons, Melville was acquitted by the Peers of the high crimes and misdemeanours of which he was accused ; but he was convicted of great irregularities and of conduct in office which led to his dismissal from the Ministry, and even to the striking of his name off the list of privy councillors. It was evident to all who saw him that Pitt was grievously hurt by these proceedings, the bitterness of which he had to bear almost without sympathy. They led to further com- plications and troubles in the Cabinet. Sidmouth and his friends had gone with the opposition in the attack on Melville, yet they selected that time to ask for appointments which would have strengthened their own position in the Ministry. These concessions Pitt would not make, and a division was the consequence. Parliament was prorogued on the I2th of June, and two days afterwards Sidmouth and three of his friends resigned their offices. How the minister would have met Parliament, and what permanent arrangements he would have made in his Cabinet in consequence of these resignations, cannot be known. There were rumours of efforts to induce the King to accept Fox, but George III. was then in a terrible condition. Nearly blind and scarcely sane, it was difficult to give him information, and quite impossible to reason with