chap. XII.} 1765. May 19. |
‘Thus,’ says the duke, ‘I left him.’ Bedford was blunt, as suited his open nature, warm as one who felt himself wronged, excited, as the bravest man might have been, after the risk of having his house torn down about his family. Unabashed, he meant to be plain-spoken, but not to be insolent, and, if he had been so, he did not know it. He was more independent than his royal master. The latter must have a ministry; the former was under no necessity of being of it. He went about, vowing vengeance on the courtiers who had exposed him to such unworthy treatment, and resolved to remain in power in spite of the king. ‘I can depend,’ said he, ‘on all my friends as well as colleagues. There have been examples of new ministries that have not been able to last more than four-and-twenty hours.’
Meantime, the royal envoy at Hayes was making the Great Commoner every offer. ‘I am ready to go to St. James's,’ said Pitt, ‘if I can carry the constitution along with me.’ Since his health was no longer equal to the post of secretary of state, he might select any station. For measures, he might balance the Bourbon alliance by any alliance that he should
