misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第30章
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parliamentary leader。 During the first part he was a fortunate and； in many
respects； a skilful administrator。 With the difficulties which he had to
encounter during the second part he was altogether incapable of
contending： but his eloquence and his perfect mastery of the tactics of the
House of Commons concealed his incapacity from the multitude。
The eight years which followed the general election of 1784 were as
tranquil and prosperous as any eight years in the whole history of England。
Neighbouring nations which had lately been in arms against her； and
which had flattered themselves that； in losing her American colonies； she
had lost a chief source of her wealth and of her power； saw； with wonder
and vexation； that she was more wealthy and more powerful than ever。 Her
trade increased。 Her manufactures flourished。 Her exchequer was full to
overflowing。 Very idle apprehensions were generally entertained； that the
public debt； though much less than a third of the debt which we now bear
with ease； would be found too heavy for the strength of the nation。 Those
apprehensions might not perhaps have been easily quieted by reason。 But
Pitt quieted them by a juggle。 He succeeded in persuading first himself；
and then the whole nation； his opponents included； that a new sinking fund；
which； so far as it differed from former sinking funds； differed for the
worse； would； by virtue of some mysterious power of propagation
belonging to money； put into the pocket of the public creditor great sums
not taken out of the pocket of the tax…payer。 The country； terrified by a
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danger which was no danger； hailed with delight and boundless confidence
a remedy which was no remedy。 The minister was almost universally
extolled as the greatest of financiers。 Meanwhile both the branches of the
House of Bourbon found that England was as formidable an antagonist as
she had ever been。 France had formed a plan for reducing Holland to
vassalage。 But England interposed； and France receded。 Spain interrupted
by violence the trade of our merchants with the regions near the Oregon。
But England armed； and Spain receded。 Within the island there was
profound tranquillity。 The King was； for the first time； popular。 During the
twenty…three years which had followed his accession he had not been
loved by his subjects。 His domestic virtues were acknowledged。 But it was
generally thought that the good qualities by which he was distinguished in
private life were wanting to his political character。 As a Sovereign； he was
resentful； unforgiving； stubborn； cunning。 Under his rule the country had
sustained cruel disgraces and disasters； and every one of those disgraces
and disasters was imputed to his strong antipathies； and to his perverse
obstinacy in the wrong。 One statesman after another complained that he
had been induced by royal caresses； intreaties； and promises； to undertake
the direction of affairs at a difficult conjuncture； and that； as soon as he
had； not without sullying his fame； and alienating his best friends； served
the turn for which he was wanted； his ungrateful master began to intrigue
against him； and to canvass against him。 Grenville； Rockingham； Chatham；
men of widely different characters； but all three upright and high…spirited；
agreed in thinking that the Prince under whom they had successively held
the highest place in government was one of the most insincere of mankind。
His confidence was reposed； they said； not in those known and responsible
counsellors to whom he had delivered the seals of office； but in secret
advisers who stole up the back stairs into his closet。 In Parliament his
ministers； while defending themselves against the attacks of the opposition
in front； were perpetually； at his instigation； assailed on the flank or in the
rear by a vile band of mercenaries who called themselves his friends。
These men constantly； while in possession of lucrative places in his
service； spoke and voted against bills which he had authorised the First
Lord of the Treasury or the Secretary of State to bring in。 But from the day
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on which Pitt was placed at the head of affairs there was an end of secret
influence。 His haughty and aspiring spirit was not to be satisfied with the
mere show of power。 Any attempt to undermine him at Court； any
mutinous movement among his followers in the House of Commons； was
certain to be at once put down。 He had only to tender his resignation； and
he could dictate his own terms。 For he； and he alone； stood between the
King and the Coalition。 He was therefore little less than Mayor of the
Palace。 The nation loudly applauded the King for having the wisdom to
repose entire confidence in so excellent a minister。 His Majesty's private
virtues now began to produce their full effect。 He was generally regarded
as the model of a respectable country gentleman； honest； good…natured；
sober； religious。 He rose early： he dined temperately： he was strictly
faithful to his wife： he never missed church； and at church he never missed
a response。 His people heartily prayed that he might long reign over them；
and they prayed the more heartily because his virtues were set off to the
best advantage by the vices and follies of the Prince of Wales； who lived in
close intimacy with the chiefs of the opposition。
How strong this feeling was in the public mind appeared signally on
one great occasion。 In the autumn of 1788 the King became insane。 The
opposition； eager for office； committed the great indiscretion of asserting
that the heir apparent had； by the fundamental laws of England； a right to
be Regent with the full powers of royalty。 Pitt； on the other hand；
maintained it to be the constitutional doctrine that； when a Sovereign is； by
reason of infancy； disease； or absence； incapable of exercising the regal
functions； it belongs to the Estates of the realm to determine who shall be
the vicegerent and with what portion of the executive authority such
vicegerent shall be entrusted。 A long and violent contest followed； in
which Pitt was supported by the great body of the people with as much
enthusiasm as during the first months of his administration。 Tories with
one voice applauded him for defending the sick…bed of a virtuous and
unhappy Sovereign against a disloyal faction and an undutiful son。 Not a
few Whigs applauded him for asserting the authority of Parliaments and
the principles of the Revolution； in opposition to a doctrine which seemed
to have too much affinity with the servile theory of indefeasible hereditary
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right。 The middle class； always zealous on the side of decency and the
domestic virtues； looked forward with dismay to a reign resembling that of
Charles II。 The palace； which had now been； during thirty years； the
pattern of an English home； would be a public nuisance； a school of
profligacy。 To the good King's repast of mutton and lemonade； despatched
at three o'clock； would succeed midnight banquets； from which the guests
would be carried home speechless。 To the backgammon board at which the
good King played for a little silver with his equerries； would succeed faro
tables from which young patricians who had sate down rich would rise up
beggars。 The drawing…room； from which the frown of the Queen had
repelled a whole generation of frail beauties； would now be again what it
had been in the days of Barbara Palmer and Louisa de Querouaille。 Nay；
severely as the public reprobated the Prince's many illicit attachments； his
one virtuous attachment was reprobated more severely still。 Even in grave
and pious circles his Protestant mistresses gave less scandal than his
Popish wife。 That he must be Regent nobody ventured to deny。 But he and
his friends were so unpopular that Pitt could； with general approbation；
propose to limit the powers of the Regent by restrictions to which it would
have been impossible to subject a Prince beloved and trusted by the
country。 Some interested men； fully expecting a change of administration；
went over to the opposition。 But the majority； purified by these desertions；
closed its ranks； and presented a more firm array than ever to the enemy。
In every division Pitt was victorious。 When at length； after a stormy
interregnum of three months； it was announced； on the very eve of the
inauguration of the Regent； that the King was himself again； the nation
was wild with delight。 On the evening of the day on which His Majesty
resumed his functions； a spontaneous illumination； the most general that
had ever been seen in England； brightened the whole vast space from
Highgate to Tooting； and from Hammersmith to Greenwich。 On the day on
which he returned thanks in the cathedral of his capital； all the horses and
carriages within a hundred miles of London were too few for the
multitudes which flocked to see him pass through the streets。 A second
illumination followed； which was even superior to the first in
magnificence。 Pitt with difficulty escaped from the tumultuous kindness of
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an innumerable multitude which insisted on drawing his coach from Saint
Paul's Churchyard to Downing Street。 This was the moment at which his
fame and fortune may be said to have reached the zenith。 His influence in
the closet was as great as that of Carr or Villiers h
