Shelburne's views "of becoming Prime Minister, and being determined never to consider him but as holding the principal office in the Cabinet."[1]
Shelburne now sent for Dundas. On the latter entering the room he asked "whether he had ever heard the story of the Duke of Perth." Dundas answered "No." Shelburne then said, "The Duke of Perth had a country neighbour and friend, who came to him one morning with a white cockade in his hat. 'What is the meaning of this?' said the Duke. 'I wish to show your Grace,' replied his country friend, 'that I am resolved to follow your fortunes.' The Duke snatched the hat from his head, took the cockade out of it, and threw it into the fire, saying, 'My situation and duty compel me to take this line, but that is no reason why you should ruin yourself and your family.' I find," he continued, "that it will now be necessary for me to quit the Government; and as you are beloved by all parties, I wished you to have early notice of it, that you might be prepared for what must happen. Fox and the Duke of Portland will make up a Government with Pitt, for I cannot hear of Pitt's high notions of not taking part in any Government where I am not one. He shall not think of resigning with me. Lady Shelburne is so distressed that I cannot think of remaining longer in this situation; and having worked the great work of peace, I am not desirous to remain"; and he ended by expressing his own belief that a junction would take place between Pitt and Fox, to the exclusion of North. This conversation was at once reported by Dundas to Adam, in the hope that it would frighten North into giving some support to the Government. It had precisely the opposite effect, as might have been expected, for Fox could not offer less to North than Shelburne had proposed, or than Pitt was
- ↑ Shelburne to Grafton, February 1783. Autobiography of Grafton, 361. Sir William Anson observes that "it is difficult to understand the Constitutional aspect of the Cabinet as conceived by the Whigs of 1783. Fox maintained that the Cabinet was to choose the Prime Minister. Grafton teemed to think that a Prime Minister might be dispensed with, but that the Cabinet should be consulted before any addition was made to its numbers. How the Cabinet was to be chosen in the first instance does not appear. Autobiogriaphy of Grafton, 361, note.
