"Though Lord Shelburne had the confidence of the King from March 27th, when the Administration was dismissed,"—so he writes himself in an unfinished memorandum on these times—"yet from the influence of the Rockingham party, their number in the Cabinet, and their numbers in Parliament, it was impossible for him to do much good. He found it easier to prevent evil. He made to them three propositions,—(1) for a Reform of Parliament, (2) for a general reform of the receipt and expenditure of the Publick Revenue, (3) to bring Lord North to a Publick Trial for the American War and other measures."[1] These proposals were rejected by the Cabinet. The reform of the Civil List and the diminution of Royal influence in Parliament were however points which Rockingham had insisted upon before accepting office, and these he at once proceeded to carry out. Hardly however was his scheme framed before the King began to raise difficulties, and appealed to Shelburne to support him.
In order to spare the feelings of the King as far as possible Shelburne suggested that the latter should of his own accord abolish the doomed offices, and that the abolition should in every instance have the subsequent sanction of an Act of Parliament. This was not however settled without a warm debate in the Cabinet. "I told them," says Fox writing to Fitzpatrick, and speaking of the Chancellor and Shelburne, "that I was determined to bring the matter to a crisis, as I am, and I think a few days will convince them that they must yield entirely. If they do not, we must go to war again. This is all; I am sure I am ready."[2]
The following letters which passed between the King and Shelburne illustrate the respective positions of the two parties in the Cabinet.
