Page:Memoirs of a Trait in the Character of George III.djvu/39

xxxii of the Manager—some counterpart of whom in Shakespear's time, probably enabled the poet to seize that forcible idea— Man's but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. And then is heard no more.— The rest of the Board, we cannot doubt, however they might incline this way or that, would have disavowed any participation in so aggravating and useless a stretch of power; why then did they not check this audacity, so much in want of a bridle?—is a question that immediately occurs. It is evident they were responsible (but, as it has happened, to posterity only) for the conduct of the individual, to whom they had delegated their authority, or by whom it was assumed on a sufferance not ascertained, but consonant to the opposition he continued to manifest after he had lost his seat at the Board of Longitude.

The Earl of Morton was not now living, but