previous consent of Parliament. The speech of Thurlow upon this occasion is generally considered to have settled the question in the affirmative.
At half-past four in the morning the House divided on the question, "that the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the address." The Contents and proxies were 72, the not Contents and proxies were 59. There was consequently a majority for the Address of 13. It was observed that of the Bench of Bishops only thirteen were present, and only seven voted with the Ministry. Their consistency may however be admired in not desiring to associate their names with the conclusion of a war which they had done so much to excite and embitter.
The event in the House of Commons was different. There Lord John Cavendish's amendment was carried by 224 to 208, and the Coalition triumphed.
"Blessed are the Peacemakers," Caleb Whitefoord wrote from Paris; "so it is written, and so it might have been in ancient times, but in those of modern date on a changé tout cela, and changed too with a vengeance; for of all mankind none are so apt to be traduced, vilified and misrepresented as your Peacemakers. Is it not amazing that one man who plunges a nation into all the horrors of a ruinous war should be universally applauded, and another man who extricates them out of it should be cursed and abused."[1]
Next day there were reports that Shelburne was about instantly to resign, and men began at once to write the epitaph of the fallen Minister. "Lord Shelburne," said Johnson, "is a man of coarse manners, but a man of abilities and information. I don't say he is a man I would set at the head of a nation, though perhaps he may be as good as the next Prime Minister that comes; but he is a man to be at the head of a club—I don't say our Club—for there's no such Club." "But," said Boswell, "was he not a factious man?" "O yes Sir," replied Johnson, "as factious a fellow as could be found; one who was for sinking us all into the mob." "How then Sir," said Boswell, "did he get into favour with the King?"
- ↑ Whitefoord Papers, 180.
