Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 49.djvu/234

 a year. The king paid him a short visit in June 1789 on his way to Weymouth. At the general election of 1790 he was returned for Christchurch, and held that seat during the remainder of his life. In April 1791 he was sued in the court of king's bench by George Smith, a publican of Westminster, for 110l. 5s. for payment for work done for him as secretary of the treasury in discovering proofs of bad votes polled at the late Westminster election for Lord John Townshend, and was ordered to pay that sum. As it was then not unusual for the treasury to take means of this sort to prevent the return of an opponent, there was nothing discreditable to Rose in the business, though it was of course used against him (Trial of G. Rose, Esquire). Lord Marchmont, who died in 1794, made him his executor, and, besides a money legacy, left him a fine collection of books, which he lodged at Cuffnells.

A letter from Pitt, dated 5 Feb. 1801, made Rose the first person to receive the news of the minister's intended resignation, which Rose considered 'absolutely unavoidable.' He declined Addington's offer that he should continue at the treasury; and, on receiving a promise that he should be made a privy councillor, replied that he could not accept that honour except through Pitt. He was much with Pitt during the next few I weeks, and on 21 March retired from office with him. The king again visited him at Cuffnells on 29 June, and stayed four days at his house on his way to Weymouth. He was occupied in July and the following months with a scheme for the payment of Pitt's debts, and contributed 1,000l. for that purpose. During the autumn he made strong efforts to persuade Pitt to withdraw his support from Addington's administration, representing to him his conviction that there was a systematic plan to lower him in the esteem both of the king and of the public (Diaries, p. 436). The offer that he should be made a privy councillor was renewed in December, and as Addington allowed the communication to pass through Pitt, he accepted it, and was sworn on 13 Jan. 1802. During the two following years he constantly offered Pitt advice on the political situation.

On the formation of Pitt's second administration in 1804 Rose took office as vice-pre-sident of the board of trade in March, and on 7 July as joint paymaster-general with Lord Charles Henry Somerset. He was vexed at Pitt's political reconciliation with Addington, and their constant communication with each other was for a short time interrupted. It was, however, resumed by September 1805, when Pitt was at Cuffnells, and during Pitt's ensuing visit to Weymouth Rose again ineffectually represented to the king the necessity of strengthening the government by the admission of some members of the opposition. He saw Pitt for the last time on 15 Jan. 1806, and was deeply affected by his death. On the 27th he gave an account in a speech in the House of Commons of Pitt's last hours and dying words (Parl. Debates, vi. 58). Lord Holland afterwards described this account as fabricated by Rose, whom he calls an 'unscrupulous encomiast' (Memoirs of the Whig Party, i. 207-8). It was, however, substantially correct. He eagerly forwarded a scheme for the payment of Pitt's debts by private contribution. On 3 Feb. he resigned the offices of joint paymaster-general and vice-president of the board of trade.

Rose again took office in the Duke of Portland's administration in 1807, as vice-president of the board of trade on 30 March, and treasurer of the navy on 15 April. In 1808 the Duke of York appointed him deputy-warden of the New Forest. Being in accord with Canning in April 1809 as regards the necessity of a change in the business of the war department, and the substitution of Lord Wellesley for Lord Castlereagh as war secretary, he promised Canning that if he was not satisfied on these points he would resign with him. Canning's resignation in September, however, seemed to him to proceed from disappointed ambition, and to be an attempt to break up the government, and he therefore refused to follow. Owing largely to the wishes of his wife and family, he continued in office under Perceval conduct, which his friendship with Canning rendered distasteful to his feelings (ib. pp. 354, 376). Perceval on 23 Oct. offered him the post of chancellor of the exchequer. Rose declined on the ground that he was too old to take cabinet office for the first time (Diaries, ii. 414, 423-4). He was a warm advocate of vaccination, and promoted the establishment of the National Vaccine Institution in 1809 (ib. pp. 338-9). In 1811 he exerted himself to redress the grievances of the Spitalfields weavers, who warmly acknowledged their obligations to him. In the early spring of 1812 he resigned—office probably from displeasure at the admission into the government of Lord Sidmouth (Addington) and some of his friends.

On Perceval's death Rose resumed his place as treasurer of the navy, to which no appointment had been made on his retirement (Book of Dignities, p. 269). Complaints were made of neglect in Rose's office. Rose defended himself, but he apparently was attempting to fulfil the duties of his office at