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310 forming him of these fresh difficulties, extremely apprehensive that the principle on which the Act was based would be reduced into practice by taxing them. His letter concluded by warning Chatham that he did not expect that the temporary agreement patched up between the ministers, who were waiting to know his opinion, could last beyond the 14th of February.

Everything now depended on Chatham. Never at any moment of his career had he been so completely the arbiter of the whole situation. The ablest members of his Cabinet were at variance, the others were hesitating and waiting only for his slightest nod. But in a few days Charles Townshend was justified. The strange illness, which soon practically removed Chatham from the scene of affairs, had already begun when Shelburne on the 16th of February appealed to him a third time against his colleague.

"The King's commands," he wrote, "and the importance of whatever determination is taken in regard to America, must excuse me to your Lordship for breaking in upon you, when I know your intention is to be in town if well enough; if not, that the same reason which detains you, may make business altogether inconvenient. In the last case I hope you will make no scruple to lay aside my letter. It is the general opinion that the present packet should not go to America without some determination of government after the imprudent conduct of New York, as well on account of appearance here, as effect there. I have therefore stopped its sailing in order to submit my own thoughts to your Lordship, before I execute the rest of the King's commands by laying it before the rest of his servants. I wish I could at the same time acquaint you with the opinions of the other ministers, but though everybody is strongly for enforcing, nobody chooses to suggest the mode. I presumed to ask the King whether any occurred to His Majesty, but I could not find that any had, except that it should be enforced. Enclosed I send your Lordship all that I have received from Lord