service at home, he would have thought of his Lordship for Spain "first not last"; and he went on to "own that the incident made no small impression upon his mind, and gave him abundant room to think that he was not likely to be of much use."[1] It is difficult not to see in this strange and perverse complaint the first symptom of the malady which afterwards destroyed the Administration. Other circumstances besides the constant ill-health of Chatham were already beginning to weaken it. An apprehended scarcity had occasioned the issue of an Order in Council on the 24th of September laying an embargo on corn. When Parliament met, fierce debates arose on the constitutional character of this proceeding. These debates, in which Richmond and Mansfield appeared as the assailants and Chatham with Shelburne and Camden as the defenders of prerogative, were not of advantage to the Administration.[2] Quarrels about an appointment at Court, caused mainly by the arrogance of Chatham in the distribution of patronage, had at the same time alienated Conway, and led to the resignation of the greater part of the Whigs, who had not left office with Rockingham in July. On the other hand, the Duke of Bedford refused to give the support which was now asked of him.
These early signs of weakness were eagerly scanned by the astute diplomatists of France and Spain, but as yet the injury done was slight. "On the whole," said Walpole, "the session has ended very triumphantly for the great Earl."[3] Choiseul thought so too. Early in November he told Rochfort that he had dissuaded Masserano[4] from presenting a very strongly-worded memorial under the influence of the excited feelings which prevailed at Madrid on the subject of the Falkland Islands,[5] adding that if the question were left to him "he could settle it in half an
- ↑ Chatham to Shelburne, October 19th, 1766.
- ↑ From a letter of September 23rd from the King to Shelburne, it appears that both Camden and Northington opposed the issue of the Order in Council, of which Chatham was the chief adviser. See Chatham to Townshend, September 24th, 1766. It was the defence made by Camden in the House of Lords, that this stretch of the prerogative "was at worst but a forty days' tyranny" which excited the most clamour.
- ↑ Walpole to Montagu, December 12th, 1766.
- ↑ Rochfort to Shelburne, November 5th, 1766.
- ↑ Devisme to Shelburne, September 15th, November 10th, 1766.
