found support in Pitt, who took the unprecedented course of remaining in office for no less than five weeks after the Cabinet had been virtually destroyed by the resignation of the Premier. The time thus gained was used by the King in making incessant efforts to construct an administration which should not include Fox. He wanted Pitt to form a Ministry; he vainly endeavoured to induce North to betray and desert his newly-made colleague. All, however, was in vain; North was faithful, and the majority unbreakable. A resolution was passed on the 24th of March, by the House of Commons, calling upon the King to form a Ministry. A similar resolution was proposed on the 31st, but was withdrawn on Pitt's announcement that he had resigned; and on the 2nd of April the Coalition Ministry was formed. Of this Cabinet the Duke of Portland was nominally the head, but the real power was divided between the two secretaries, Fox and North.
It was soon to be seen how little permanent strength could be possessed by a Ministry supported by a mechanical majority in the Commons, not united by any devotion to common principles, and not in harmony with public feeling in the country which could either impress the court or make effective an appeal to the nation. By these events both the possible arms of an actively Liberal party were disabled: Pitt by his alliance with the court and his obedience to the wishes of the King, and Fox by the alienation from him of popular sympathy and affection. As regards the last-named consequence, the proceedings of the Westminster committee form an illustration. During the early period of its existence all the Parliamentary struggles of Fox had been marked by corresponding action on the part of the committee. There had been the most perfect unison between the active party in Parliament and public feeling outside. That was now changed. The committee still continued, and was, indeed, in its greatest numerical force, for it was in the month of February in this year (1783) that the long list of members before referred to was compiled. But there was no sympathy shown with Fox on the present occasion, and no desire
