Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/129

Rh address. "The Duke of Bedford," writes Fox, "has in form declared his resolution to move, as soon as the House meets, for the recall of the troops from Germany. Lord Bute is of the same opinion, but as it should seem not in concert with the Duke of Bedford. The Duke of Newcastle and the Duke of Devonshire firm on the other side." Shelburne resolved to support Bedford, and informed Fox that such was his intention. Fox replied in these terms:

"I think the Duke of Bedford's motion will suit very well with the mode you propose to debate in. What His Grace's mode of debating it will be, I neither know nor can anybody direct. I fancy it will be full and entering into past, present, and to come; but probably taking care not to censure the measure ab origine too much, because, though your Lordship did not, His Grace did, at times at least, acquiesce in it.

"The motion speaks of the enormous expense, impossibility of having an army equal to the French, or of carrying on the war in Germany to any good purpose, of the great use the men and money employed there might be to the carrying on the wars we yet are engaged in, and must carry on with vigour against France and Spain to support publick credit, and to bring about a safe and honourable peace.

"These are not the words exactly, but I think it precisely the sense of the question.

"The only mode necessary to be settled among you, I think is, whether you will divide against the previous question, and that can't be judged of quite well, but in the House. As to the mode of debating, follow your own; it never happened that three or four speakers ever kept to the same. And if they agreed to do so, two or three of them would speak the worse for it. You'll speak very well, and I am glad it will not be against this Ministry, and I'll come and hear you. Lady Caroline is