Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/380

354 The party alluded to by the Lord-Lieutenant consisted mainly of the friends and followers of the and, whom the ancient jealousies between the FitzGeralds and the Ponsonbys carried naturally to the side of opposition. But there were a few who more really deserved the appellation of "independent gentlemen." "I am to acquaint your Excellency," Shelburne wrote in reply to the question of the Lord-Lieutenant, "that neither the King nor his servants have any predilection for any men or set of men whatever; that having nothing else in view than to conduct the King's affairs honourably and safely to the mutual satisfaction of the Crown and people, they must naturally choose to see the public business carried on without being obliged to make any changes whatsoever among his servants, as long as they are both able and willing to serve; but if they should prove deficient in one or other respect, so as to leave your Excellency no reason to expect any solid support from them, I am to acquaint your Excellency that His Majesty not only sees no objection but highly approves of your sending for such gentlemen under the description of 'independent gentlemen,' or any other description not inconsistent with that character of duty and affection which every good subject owes the King, whom your Excellency shall have reason to believe equal to the execution of what you may wish them to undertake. If the conduct of His Majesty's present servants should make such a course appear to your Excellency necessary and prudent, you will not fail to transmit the result of any such communication as early and as particularly as possible for His Majesty's consideration."

At the same time he announced the return of the Bill for limiting the duration of Parliament, with the Septennial term made Octennial, so as to prevent a general election being held simultaneously in both countries. So excellent was the effect thereby produced that the motion regarding pensions and the Committee for inquiry into