登陆注册
4705400000192

第192章

But other elements generally predominated. The confidence and admiration of the nation might make a statesman formidable at the head of an Opposition, might load him with framed and glazed parchments and gold boxes, might possibly, under very peculiar circumstances, such as those of the preceding year, raise him for a time to power. But, constituted as Parliament then was, the favourite of the people could not depend on a majority in the people's own House. The Duke of Newcastle, however contemptible in morals, manners, and understanding, was a dangerous enemy. His rank, his wealth, his unrivalled parliamentary interest, would alone have made him important. But this was not all. The Whig aristocracy regarded him as their leader. His long possession of power had given him a kind of prescriptive right to possess it still. The House of Commons had been elected when he was at the head of affairs, The members for the ministerial boroughs had all been nominated by him. The public offices swarmed with his creatures.

Pitt desired power; and he desired it, we really believe, from high and generous motives. He was, in the strict sense of the word, a patriot. He had none of that philanthropy which the great French writers of his time preached to all the nations of Europe.

He loved England as an Athenian loved the City of the Violet Crown, as a Roman loved the City of the Seven Hills. He saw his country insulted and defeated. He saw the national spirit sinking. Yet he knew what the resources of the empire, vigorously employed, could effect, and he felt that he was the man to employ them vigorously. "My Lord," he said to the Duke of Devonshire, "I am sure that I can save this country, and that nobody else can."

Desiring, then, to be in power, and feeling that his abilities and the public confidence were not alone sufficient to keep him in power against the wishes of the Court and of the aristocracy, he began to think of a coalition with Newcastle.

Newcastle was equally disposed to a reconciliation. He, too, had profited by his recent experience. He had found that the Court and the aristocracy, though powerful, were not everything in the State. A strong oligarchical connection, a great borough interest, ample patronage, and secret-service money, might, in quiet times, be all that a Minister needed; but it was unsafe to trust wholly to such support in time of war, of discontent, and of agitation. The composition of the House of Commons was not wholly aristocratical; and, whatever he the composition of large deliberative assemblies, their spirit is always in some degree popular. Where there are free debates, eloquence must have admirers, and reason must make converts. Where there is a free press, the governors must live in constant awe of the opinions of the governed.

Thus these two men, so unlike in character, so lately mortal enemies, were necessary to each other. Newcastle had fallen in November, for want of that public confidence which Pitt possessed, and of that parliamentary support which Pitt was better qualified than any man of his time to give. Pitt had fallen in April, for want of that species of influence which Newcastle had passed his whole life in acquiring and hoarding.

Neither of them had power enough to support himself. Each of them had power enough to overturn the other. Their union would be irresistible. Neither the King nor any party in the State would be able to stand against them.

Under these circumstances, Pitt was not disposed to proceed to extremities against his predecessors in office. Something, however, was due to consistency; and something was necessary for the preservation of his popularity. He did little; but that little he did in such manner as to produce great effect. He came down to the House in all the pomp of gout, his legs swathed in flannels, his arm dangling in a sling. He kept his seat through several fatiguing days, in spite of pain and langour. He uttered a few sharp and vehement sentences; but during the greater part of the discussion, his language was unusually gentle.

When the inquiry had terminated without a vote either of approbation or of censure, the great obstacle to a coalition was removed. Many obstacles, however, remained. The King was still rejoicing in his deliverance from the proud and aspiring Minister who had been forced on him by the cry of the nation. His Majesty's indignation was excited to the highest point when it appeared that Newcastle, who had, during thirty years, been loaded with marks of royal favour, and who had bound himself, by a solemn promise, never to coalesce with Pitt, was meditating a new perfidy. Of all the statesmen of that age, Fox had the largest share of royal favour. A coalition between Fox and Newcastle was the arrangement which the King wished to bring about. But the Duke was too cunning to fall into such a snare. As a speaker in Parliament, Fox might perhaps be, on the whole, as useful to an administration as his great rival; but he was one of the most unpopular men in England. Then, again, Newcastle felt all that jealousy of Fox, which, according to the proverb, generally exists between two of a trade. Fox would certainly intermeddle with that department which the Duke was most desirous to reserve entire to himself, the jobbing department. Pitt, on the other hand, was quite willing to leave the drudgery of corruption to any who might be inclined to undertake it.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 楼观道源流考

    楼观道源流考

    《楼观道源流考》是一部见解独到、特色鲜明、风格别具的书,是一部有重要学术价位的书籍。新版不但增加厂不少新资料、新内容,而且它使初版的著述风格得到了进一步强化。我觉得,这种著述风格可以概括为一个字,就是“实”。本书内容包括:研究楼观道的史料依凭、楼观道的历史演变和道法承传、楼观道的宗派特征。
  • 攻略那个差生

    攻略那个差生

    如果赌上前世和今生也无法消除你的恨意,那我只好把来世、生生世世也赌上了。魂穿的裴婴怎么也没想到,自己早已掉入别人编织好的网里,随时被那张开的血盆大口吞没。如果一切还来得及,他一定要跟顾信之说一声:“我绝不原谅你,也绝不放弃你。”啥也不说了,耽美文
  • 意外得个老婆

    意外得个老婆

    第一天上班因为走错门,她从设计师助理变成了当红偶像团体的助理。“白清言,你这辈子都休想甩掉我们!”明明三个性格迥异的人,却对她说了同一句话。更可悲的是,她遇到了那个恶魔般的男人。他逼迫,设计,逼着她一步步跌入他的圈套。逼着她和自己心爱的男友越走越远,甚至在她毫无防备的情况下狠狠的贯穿了她的身子。从此……她再也无法摆脱他。“白清言,我说过的,你终究……逃不掉的!”逃不掉么?是呵……一直以来,她总是从一个圈里逃到另一个圈里。即便是五年后,她依旧没法逃得过那些人……
  • 青崖集

    青崖集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 当下的修行:要学会淡定

    当下的修行:要学会淡定

    本书从八个方面详尽地论述了如何学会淡定。淡定是一种示现于外的状态,淡定是一种一心不乱的心境。淡定是泰然处之,正确抉择。淡定是正视磨难、正视挫折。淡定是随遇而安,正视得失。淡定是谋定而动,正确地面对挑战。淡定学会面对压力,轻松生活。淡定是放下恩怨,正确地面对是非功过。淡定是淡泊宁静,看淡名利。  这个时代需要“淡定”。我们每个人都需要这种心态,才会在生活中处之泰然,不会过于浮躁而迷失自我、过于兴奋而忘乎所以、过于悲伤而痛不欲生。淡定不是平庸,它是一种生活态度,是一种人生境界,是智慧的不争,是宠辱不惊,是对简单生活的一种追求。
  • 顶级销售的111条军规

    顶级销售的111条军规

    为什么你的客户会弃你而去?怎样才能获得更多的约见机会?怎样才能找到那些准备慷慨解囊,赞助你的产品的客户?怎样才能让销售经理把你分配到一个更大的,或者全新的销售领域?怎样才能提升自己的销售佣金?如何提问才能获知客户的潜在需求?如何才能在被动的处境下重新赢得主动权?处于幻想情境的人停滞不前,唯有寻找对策的人才能做出成绩。这本书提出了创造销售佳绩的111个最有效的成功法则和注意事项。这位独树一帜的销售专家讲述了如何成为顶尖销售的具体方法。他的法则同时也是他个人实践经验的精髓:清晰的价值观、绝对诚实、公平交易和可持续的关系是他成功进行销售的秘诀。这本书一定能帮助那些想要更高效成交的销售人员更有针对性地锻炼自己的专业技能,全面提升销售力。
  • 桂林抗战文化城奇闻异事

    桂林抗战文化城奇闻异事

    在桂林这片土地上曾经发生过许许多多惊心动魄、离奇曲折的故事,尤其在抗日战争时期,桂林因特殊的地理位置,重要的政治、军事地位,“文人荟萃,文化繁荣”,成为当时国统区著名的进步文化中心,被誉为战时“文化城”而影响全国,震动世界。之前电视上热播的谍报剧《江南锄奸》,其实就是以李克农为代表的“龙潭三杰”打入敌人内部从事谍报工作的历史事实为基础拍摄的。
  • 不死者之王番外

    不死者之王番外

    承接overlord章节之后剧情,尽量不接触到主线。
  • 天才毒妃:逆天四小姐

    天才毒妃:逆天四小姐

    震天帮的第一女杀手,在一次重要任务中被伙伴背叛,死于枪下,醒来竟发现自己穿越成了简太师府最不受宠的庶女四小姐。什么?几个姐姐欺负她?没关系,她要让她们知道什么叫以牙还牙!什么?要她嫁给残废王爷?嫁就嫁,反正王爷残废了,她正好可以逃之夭夭。可是,这个残王,好像有点厉害……宇文徵掐住她的下巴:“嫁给本王这个残废,你是不是很不甘心?”简云苓讥笑:“王爷是残了,不过不是身残,而是心残!”
  • 元气骑士之曙光

    元气骑士之曙光

    天象异变,地牢突然出现无数的嗜血生物,元气星面临着一场灾难……