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198 much longer. The navy was never in greater strength; the revenue was very little affected; and the supplies for the present year would be raised with perfect ease.

The effect of this statement has been well described in the "Annual Register" of that year, in an article supposed to be from the hand of Burke:—"A dull, melancholy silence for some time succeeded this speech.



It had been heard with profound attention, but without a single mark of approbation of any part, from any description of men, or any particular man in the house. Astonishment, dejection, and fear overclouded the whole assembly. Although the minister had declared that the sentiments he had expressed that day had been those which he always entertained, it is certain that few or none had understood him in that manner, and he had been represented to the nation at large as the person in it the most tenacious of those parliamentary rights which he now proposed to resign, and the most adverse to the submissions which he now proposed to make."

If there was any party in the house to which this exposition gave pleasure, it was the opposition. To them it was an unquestionable triumph. The ministerial supporters were confounded and abashed at being thus, as it were, laid at the feet of their enemies, compelled to justify all their assertions. Some of them were perfectly frantic at the idea of offering to the rebels terms like these. They declared that it was little short of treason, and worse than simple cowardice. They exclaimed that they were betrayed and disgraced. On the other hand, the opposition hurled upon them whole showers of taunts and raillery. They could not sufficiently express their satisfaction at seeing this obstinate administration reduced to the necessity of thus confirming all their prophecies. Fox congratulated lord North on his conversion, and, complimenting his friends of the opposition on the acquisition of such an ally, he only lamented that he had awaked to the truth too late—it was now useless. He announced that there was a very strong report that, within the last ten days, France had actually signed a treaty with America, fully