ends. He had no doubt, but that to secure themselves in the power which they had by the labours of others obtained, they would now strive to strengthen themselves by any means which corruption could procure; and he expected to see that, in a very short time, they would be joined by those men whom that House had precipitated from their seats."
This violent attack called up Conway, who sarcastically declared that beyond small and nice shades of difference, he knew of no disagreements or divisions in the Cabinet; and denied that there had been any departure from the principles on which the Administration had been originally formed. Those principles were: that they should offer to America unlimited and unconditional independence as the basis of a negotiation for peace; that they should establish a system of economy in every department of government; that they should adopt the spirit and carry into execution the provisions of the Bill of Reform introduced into that House by Mr. Burke; that they would annihilate every kind of influence over any part of the legislature; and that they would secure to the Kingdom of Ireland the freedom now settled by Parliament.
Fox replied by again asserting that the differences in the Cabinet arose on questions of the utmost importance. He then in his turn passed on to a sarcastic review of the political conduct of Conway since 1765, accusing him of weakness and want of foresight; forgetful that only a few months had passed since he had himself congratulated Conway on having twice saved his country, once in 1766 at the time of the passing of the Stamp Act and again more recently in 1782.[1] He denied that the present Cabinet was determined to give full, unconditional, and unlimited independence to America; he asserted that Lord Shelburne was anxious to screen from punishment those delinquents who had destroyed the English Empire in the East; he said further that his promises of economy and retrenchment
- ↑ During the debates which immediately preceded the fall of the Ministry of Lord North.
