Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 2).djvu/298

262 impossible that the country should be any longer left without a Government, and knowing the great value attached by the King to the opinion of Lord Ashburton, sent him a note he had received from the latter to the same effect. The King replied with the following letter, the last addressed by him to his retiring Minister:—

"Lord Ashburton's note gives me sincere concern; I have had within these few weeks sufficient proof of the sensibility of his feelings; the cause of my having wished to see him. From my finding, on the coolest reflection, that at an hour when the supplies are not yet found for the navy, army and unfunded debt, a bankruptcy must ensue, if I did not sacrifice myself to the necessities of my people, I have taken the bitter potion of appointing the seven Ministers named by the Duke of Portland and Lord North to kiss hands, who are after that to form their plan of arrangements; I do not mean to grant a single peerage or other mark of favour. Those cannot be called matters that regard the conduct of public affairs, and if they fly out at that, I think torpid as all collectively have seemed, I cannot fail in such a case to meet with support."

Thus was formed the Coalition Ministry. The Duke of Portland became First Lord of the Treasury, Lord North and Mr. Fox Secretaries of State, Lord Stormont President of the Council, Lord Carlisle Privy Seal, Lord Keppel First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord John Cavendish Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Great Seal was put in commission, much to the vexation of Lord Loughborough, who had taken an active share in the intrigues which had led to the downfall of the late Administration, and expected to be the successor of Thurlow. Fitzherbert and Oswald were both recalled from Paris, and the Duke of Manchester and Mr. Hartley were appointed to fill their places.

One of Shelburne's last acts before finally retiring was to recommend the King to raise the liberal Bishop of St. Asaph,, to the see of Canterbury, vacant by