Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/71

Rh that such a set could not suffer, without a very jealous eye, such men as either Mr. Fox or Mr. Pitt to come about the Duke of Newcastle, nor could they from their situation play them one against the other like Mr. Pelham, while the Duke of Newcastle's inefficiency tempted the ambition of both to aspire at the whole. Mr. Fox besides had found means to obtain the favour and confidence of the Duke of Cumberland. The King's known predilection for His Royal Highness, the Duke's own dignity, force of character, the great appanage voted him by parliament after the, his connections among the nobility, whom he cultivated with a great spirit of magnificence and condescension, his contempt of money and well-judged generosity upon many occasions, his numberless military dependants (having been so long Commander-in-Chief with powers which knew no limits), made him since the death of the Prince the object of every one's attention: while the greatness of his situation and his known implacability of temper covered his severity, which approached to brutality wherever his power extended, by preventing the poor victims of his passion from complaining or, if they did complain, from being heard. His connections among the nobility covered his bad choice of favourites among the army, and the dignity of his deportment made it difficult for the mass of mankind to comprehend an unfortunate disposition which he had to encourage the lowest tattling, and to rejoice in every little ridicule or slander which could be cast on any officer. Mr. Fox avowed himself, and was avowed, as his Minister; he canvassed members of Parliament in the Duke's name; he promised or threatened in the same, and upon all occasions was ready to interfere and intercede with the Duke, when his passions led him, as they often did, to acts of severity and not unfrequent injustice, upon the suggestions of and a string of ill-natured smooth sycophants, who made the conversation of the Duke's table even when commanding, consist of a perpetual