everywhere along the coast, try every method to draw the attention of the public, give themselves as much as possible the air (though out of office) of Roman Consuls who were to take care Ne quid detrimenti Respublica capiat; they should watch events, seize favourable moments, and perhaps catching the crisis when the balance of England stands trembling on its beam, by some bold and daring measure, stun the Court, awake the People, and then take the reins of Government into their own hands.
"It may be said in defence of the doctrine 'That we should let them who brought us into this situation get us out of it,' that should they make a dishonourable peace, the country will not bear it, and the consequence will be the overturn of the present Administration and the ruin of the system. The former is not a very great object, unless the latter is the absolute consequence. But I doubt both. Corruption and cowardice will be probably for the present very effectual protectors.
"We are rather a vain-glorious talking people, but our bottom has been great and our name high. We may skulk under a veil however thin from the great cause of defending our country; but when means are held out, when men of great rank, character and property call upon us loudly and publicly to unite and save the kingdom, we have no excuse, we can't give the lie to all our boastings. No, the measure itself will make us brave."[1]
Fortunately the approach of the stormy season and the outbreak of disease on board the crowded ships of the enemy saved England from a greater danger than any which she had run since the days of Beachy Head. The Prime Minister when Parliament met was able to say that the immense armaments of the enemy had paraded to no purpose, and that their millions had been spent in vain. But while using the language of confidence, North was himself despairing of final success, and he was deserted by two of his ablest colleagues, Gower and Weymouth, both of whom refused to endeavour to preserve a system any longer which they foresaw must end in
- ↑ Barré to Shelburne, 1779.
