misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第34章
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Parliament； and torn by internal dissensions。 The Chancellor was disliked
and distrusted by almost all his colleagues。 The two Secretaries of State
regarded each other with no friendly feeling。 The line between their
departments had not been traced with precision； and there were
consequently jealousies； encroachments； and complaints。 It was all that
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Rockingham could do to keep the peace in his cabinet； and； before the
cabinet had existed three months； Rockingham died。
In an instant all was confusion。 The adherents of the deceased
statesman looked on the Duke of Portland as their chief。 The King placed
Shelburne at the head of the Treasury。 Fox； Lord John Cavendish； and
Burke； immediately resigned their offices； and the new prime minister was
left to constitute a government out of very defective materials。 His own
parliamentary talents were great； but he could not be in the place where
parliamentary talents were most needed。 It was necessary to find some
member of the House of Commons who could confront the great orators of
the opposition； and Pitt alone had the eloquence and the courage which
were required。 He was offered the great place of Chancellor of the
Exchequer； and he accepted it。 He had scarcely completed his twenty…third
year。
The Parliament was speedily prorogued。 During the recess； a
negotiation for peace which had been commenced under Rockingham was
brought to a successful termination。 England acknowledged the
independence of her revolted colonies； and she ceded to her European
enemies some places in the Mediterranean and in the Gulf of Mexico。 But
the terms which she obtained were quite as advantageous and honourable
as the events of the war entitled her to expect； or as she was likely to
obtain by persevering in a contest against immense odds。 All her vital
parts； all the real sources of her power； remained uninjured。 She preserved
even her dignity： for she ceded to the House of Bourbon only part of what
she had won from that House in previous wars。 She retained her Indian
empire undiminished； and； in spite of the mightiest efforts of two great
monarchies； her flag still waved on the rock of Gibraltar。 There is not the
slightest reason to believe that Fox； if he had remained in office； would
have hesitated one moment about concluding a treaty on such conditions。
Unhappily that great and most amiable man was； at this crisis； hurried by
his passions into an error which made his genius and his virtues； during a
long course of years； almost useless to his country。
He saw that the great body of the House of Commons was divided into
three parties； his own； that of North； and that of Shelburne； that none of
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those three parties was large enough to stand alone； that； therefore； unless
two of them united； there must be a miserably feeble administration； or
more probably； a rapid succession of miserably feeble administrations； and
this at a time when a strong government was essential to the prosperity
and respectability of the nation。 It was then necessary and right that there
should be a coalition。 To every possible coalition there were objections。
But； of all possible coalitions； that to which there were the fewest
objections was undoubtedly a coalition between Shelburne and Fox。 It
would have been generally applauded by the followers of both。 It might
have been made without any sacrifice of public principle on the part of
either。 Unhappily； recent bickerings had left in the mind of Fox a profound
dislike and distrust of Shelburne。 Pitt attempted to mediate； and was
authorised to invite Fox to return to the service of the Crown。 〃Is Lord
Shelburne；〃 said Fox； 〃to remain prime minister？〃 Pitt answered in the
affirmative。 〃It is impossible that I can act under him；〃 said Fox。 〃Then
negotiation is at an end；〃 said Pitt； 〃for I cannot betray him。〃 Thus the two
statesmen parted。 They were never again in a private room together。
As Fox and his friends would not treat with Shelburne； nothing
remained to them but to treat with North。 That fatal coalition which is
emphatically called 〃The Coalition〃 was formed。 Not three quarters of a
year had elapsed since Fox and Burke had threatened North with
impeachment； and had described him； night after night； as the most
arbitrary； the most corrupt； the most incapable of ministers。 They now
allied themselves with him for the purpose of driving from office a
statesman with whom they cannot be said to have differed as to any
important question。 Nor had they even the prudence and the patience to
wait for some occasion on which they might； without inconsistency； have
combined with their old enemies in opposition to the government。 That
nothing might be wanting to the scandal； the great orators； who had；
during seven years； thundered against the war； determined to join with the
authors of that war in passing a vote of censure on the peace。
The Parliament met before Christmas 1782。 But it was not till January
1783 that the preliminary treaties were signed。 On the 17th of February
they were taken into consideration by the House of Commons。 There had
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been； during some days； floating rumours that Fox and North had
coalesced； and the debate indicated but too clearly that those rumours
were not unfounded。 Pit was suffering from indisposition： he did not rise
till his own strength and that of his hearers were exhausted； and he was
consequently less successful than on any former occasion。 His admirers
owned that his speech was feeble and petulant。 He so far forgot himself as
to advise Sheridan to confine himself to amusing theatrical audiences。
This ignoble sarcasm gave Sheridan an opportunity of retorting with great
felicity。 〃After what I have seen and heard to…night；〃 he said； 〃I really feel
strongly tempted to venture on a competition with so great an artist as Ben
Jonson； and to bring on the stage a second Angry Boy。〃 On a division； the
address proposed by the supporters of the government was rejected by a
majority of sixteen。
But Pitt was not a man to be disheartened by a single failure； or to be
put down by the most lively repartee。 When a few days later； the
opposition proposed a resolution directly censuring the treaties； he spoke
with an eloquence； energy； and dignity which raised his fame and
popularity higher than ever。 To the coalition of Fox and North he alluded
in language which drew forth tumultuous
