XXVII. 1775. CHAP. continued in adminiftration when that meafure was rejected. On the first day of the feffion, he feized the opportunity of claiming popu 4th Nov. larity by oppofing the addrefs; in a fhort period he refigned the privy feal, and became an active member of oppofition. General Conway alfo abandoned the caufe of adminiftration, but was not removed from the go10th Nov. Vernment of Jerfey. The earl of Dartmouth Lord received the privy feal, and lord George GerGeorge Germaine, maine, uncle to the Duke of Dorfet, fucceedfecretary of ed to the fecretary fhip of the American depart ftate for America. His character. ment. This nobleman, defcended from the illuftrious race of Sackville; dukes of Doriet, fupported the ftamp act under Mr. Grenville's adminiftration. His perfon tall and dignified, added force to a manly elocution: his harangues were rather argumentative than florid: without reforting to the artificial graces of oratory, he addreffed the judgment; conftantly confining himself to the fubject under debate, he was concife; and as he never rofe to fpeak but upon a weighty queftion, he was heard with attention, and fpoke with effect. By him the operations of the war are fuppofed to have been generally planned, and to him their fuperintendency was principally intrufted." But the great talents of this able minifter were counteracted by the unpopularity of his name, and the ftigma, whether juft or unjuft, affixed to his military character. It is almost unneceffary to remind the reader, that lord George Sackville, who had taken the name of Germaine, having in the preceding reign, after the battle of Minden, demanded a court-martial to inquire into his conduct, was declared incapable of any mili Hiftory of lord North's Adminiftration, p. 212, tary tary employment. This fentence was enforced, CHAP. even with afperity; and when it was confirmed XXVII. by his majefty, a fevere ftigma was added, and 1775 commanded to be given out in public orders; and the fame day his majesty in council ordered the name of lord George Sackville to be struck out of the lift of privy-councillors. By the Rockingham adminiftration, he was reftored to his feat at the council board, and appointed joint vice-treasurer of Ireland. Without entering into the merits of the question refpecting his difgrace, his appointment to his new office was undoubtedly very unpopular. Lord George poffeffed great dignity of mind, and fterling fenfe; his manners were rather diftant than attractive; he was a fevere check on those who fuffered a lavil expenditure through neglect, or to gratify dependents, or with a view to power, popularity, or ambition. changes. THE earl of Rochford retiring about the 10th Nov. fame time, was fucceeded by lord vifcount Other Weymouth, who thus refumed the office he vacated at the time of the difpute relative to Falkland's Ifland. Lord Lyttleton, who, on 17th Nov. the first day of the feffion, had oppofed the addrefs, was gratified with a feat at the council board, and the office of chief justice in Eyre beyond Trent. Adminiftration gained, or rather, for a time, fixed on their fide a florid, ready, and eloquent speaker; but the reproach of verfatility, often repeated, prevented the beneficial effects of his exertions. adminiftra THE efforts of oppofition, though unfuc- Defponcefsful in parliament, threw a gloom, approach- dency of ing to defpondency, over the miniftry: the tion. affairs of America became daily more perplexed and unpromifing, and the probability that the caufe of congrefs would become more gene 2 4 rally XXVII. CHAP. rally popular, indicated a neceffity for increafing energy. Treaties were concluded with 3775. the duke of Brunswick, and fome other continental princes, for troops; but the empress of Ruffia, whofe affiftance was expected, and in a certain degree promifed, refused to permit her forces to be engaged in a foreign fervice as mere mercenaries; and though the ftill continued on the most amicable terms with Great Britain, and held out a profpect of future cooperation, no immediate affiftance could be obtained." * See Gibbon's Mifcellaneous Works, v. i. p. 495. 497. y From private information. Alfo fee Euvres du Roi de Pruffs, tom. iv. p. 291. CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH: 1775-1776. State of Ireland. - Effect of the American tria. the city. Ireland. RELAND fhared in the fenfations excited by CHAP. I the American difpute, and during the go- XXVIII. vernment of lord Harcourt, ftrong parties were 1775formed, and great exertions growing to matu- State of rity. The public was frequently alarmed by accounts of the defection of manufacturers, the migration of labourers, and the fuccefsful operations of rioters, but for feveral years no important tranfaction occurred. As Effect of CHAP. As the American conteft advanced, the parXXVIII. liament of Ireland, and the people of Dublin, 1775- began again to embarrafs government with opthe Ameri pofition and cabals. The diffenters were active can contest. and violent; and the guild of merchants of the metropolis, befides their addrefs of thanks to lord Effingham on his refignation, voted a fimilar compliment to thofe peers, who, " In "fupport of the conftitution, and in oppofi"tion to a weak and wicked adminiftration, protefted againft the American reftraining "bills." The theriffs and common-council were alfo defirous of imitating the city of London, by tranfmitting petitions against the meafures relating to America, but were reftrained 28th Aug. by the lord mayor and aldermen. Indignant at this impediment, they declared their anxiety to preferve their names from the odium which all pofterity muft attach to thofe who promoted the acts carrying on in America, their grief for the injured inhabitants of that continent, and their own brave countrymen fent on the unnatural errand of flaughtering their fellow-fubjects; and refolved, that whoever refused his confent to a dutiful petition tending to undeceive the king, and by which the effufion of one drop of fubject blood might be prevented, was not a friend to the conftitution. 3975. soth Oct. rejected. THE lord lieutenant met the parliament with Money bill afpeech in which he recapitulated the benefits lately derived from the liberality of Britain, reprobated the rebellious fpirit of the Americans, and recommended attention to the dif Gibbon's Pofthumous Works, vol. i. p. 496. ▸ Annual Register, 1776, p. 43. The addrefs was presented under the corporation feal, and published with the feveral answers of each peer. 9 charge |