"You were in the House of Lords," writes Chatham to Calcraft; "was ever such a state of things, or two such things as omnipotence and imbecility ever joined before? Lord Temple declined attending, and Lord Camden, you perceived, stayed away. Matters are hastening to some crisis, in the interior of the thing called Opposition. I think all is ruined, and am determined to be found in my post when destruction falls upon us. The times are pollution in the very quintessence, and the little manœuvres in opposition behind the scenes are deplorable. I will bring matters before it is long to an explanation; and if Burke's picture of juries and of that mode of justice be to be adopted, I will separate from so unorthodox a congregation."[1]
Conscious of the divisions of his opponents, North vigorously pushed the advantage they gave him. There is nothing so successful as success. The fall of Choiseul in 1770, on whose co-operation Spain had reckoned, enabled him to make a convention on the subject of the Falkland Islands. War was thereby avoided. Wilkes continued to grow in unpopularity, while the illiberal policy pursued towards the American Colonies undoubtedly met with the approbation of the country. The Bedford connection was practically broken up by the death of the Duke; but his followers, led by Sandwich and Rigby, the former of whom now became Secretary of State in the place of Weymouth, continued to support the Administration, and were gradually absorbed into the majority. At the same time the acceptance of the Privy Seal by Suffolk, and the retirement of Temple, was followed by the transfer to the Court of the support of the former friends of George Grenville.[2] The desertion of Wedderburn from the party of Rockingham, in order to become Solicitor-General, marked clearly which way the tide was running. By February 17th, 1771, of the three great
- ↑ Chatham to Calcraft, November 28th, 1770.
- ↑ Lord Sandwich became Secretary of State on December 19th, 1770; but on January 11th, 1771, was transferred to the Admiralty in the place of Lord Hawke. Lord Halifax then became Secretary of State, but dying in the June following, was succeeded by Lord Suffolk. The Privy Seal was then given to the Duke of Grafton, who, however, refused to attend the meetings of the Cabinet.
