they all found their interest in prolonging a war, by which, though the public might be ruined, they were themselves rendered opulent.[1] The idea that the measures of the Ministers could be defended by saying that Parliament had called for them signified, he said, "just nothing." Parliament, in the first place, did not represent the nation; even if it did, it could be shown that the nation itself was deluded; and he related a conversation he had had with a Wiltshire farmer, who he said was a just picture of the majority of the people within and without doors. He had asked the farmer what he thought of the American war and the general state of public affairs. The farmer wished for peace with America, but thought the Colonies should be taxed as well as Great Britain. The man was one of the wealthiest farmers in the county of Wilts. Such men, he said, were sometimes sent to Parliament; men of extremely good natural understanding, but who did not trouble themselves much with abstruse researches into politics as a science. If such a man, he argued, was in the Parliament which had addressed the throne, declaring the Colonies in rebellion and pledging itself and the nation to all the consequences of an American war, it was extremely probable that he would reason precisely in the same way, and determine accordingly; he would think that America had as good a right to pay taxes as Britain; he would think, as England had the power, England ought to employ it to enforce what appeared to him to be fair and equitable terms; and when the measures of enforcing obedience to the laws were resisted, and attended with great difficulty in the execution, he would probably wish for peace; but yet be tempted to go on, sooner than forego the attainment of the grand object he had first in view, namely, alleviating his old and new burdens.[2]
The outspoken language and conduct of Shelburne greatly exasperated both the Whigs and the King. "I have no confidence in Lord Shelburne's professions," the
