misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第34章
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bear himself evenly between contending factions。 He had taken no part in
the war of words； and he had always been addressed with marked
deference by the great orators who thundered against each other from his
right and from his left。 It was not strange that； when； for the first time； he
had to encounter keen and vigorous antagonists； who dealt hard blows
without the smallest ceremony； he should have been awkward and unready；
or that the air of dignity and authority which he had acquired in his former
post； and of which he had not divested himself； should have made his
helplessness laughable and pitiable。 Nevertheless； during many months；
his power seemed to stand firm。 He was a favourite with the King； whom
he resembled in narrowness of mind； and to whom he was more
obsequious than Pitt had ever been。 The nation was put into high good
humour by a peace with France。 The enthusiasm with which the upper and
middle classes had rushed into the war had spent itself。 Jacobinism was no
longer formidable。 Everywhere there was a strong reaction against what
was called the atheistical and anarchical philosophy of the eighteenth
century。 Bonaparte； now First Consul； was busied in constructing out of
the ruins of old institutions a new ecclesiastical establishment and a new
order of knighthood。 That nothing less than the dominion of the whole
civilised world would satisfy his selfish ambition was not yet suspected；
nor did even wise men see any reason to doubt that he might be as safe a
neighbour as any prince of the House of Bourbon had been。 The treaty of
Amiens was therefore hailed by the great body of the English people with
extravagant joy。 The popularity of the minister was for the moment
immense。 His want of parliamentary ability was； as yet； of little
consequence： for he had scarcely any adversary to encounter。 The old
opposition； delighted by the peace； regarded him with favour。 A new
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
opposition had indeed been formed by some of the late ministers； and was
led by Grenville in the House of Lords； and by Windham in the House of
Commons。 But the new opposition could scarcely muster ten votes； and
was regarded with no favour by the country。 On Pitt the ministers relied as
on their firmest support。 He had not； like some of his colleagues； retired in
anger。 He had expressed the greatest respect for the conscientious scruple
which had taken possession of the royal mind； and he had promised his
successors all the help in his power。 In private his advice was at their
service。 In Parliament he took his seat on the bench behind them； and； in
more than one debate； defended them with powers far superior to their
own。 The King perfectly understood the value of such assistance。 On one
occasion； at the palace； he took the old minister and the new minister aside。
〃If we three；〃 he said； 〃keep together； all will go well。〃
But it was hardly possible； human nature being what it is； and； more
especially； Pitt and Addington being what they were； that this union should
be durable。 Pitt； conscious of superior powers； imagined that the place
which he had quitted was now occupied by a mere puppet which he had
set up； which he was to govern while he suffered it to remain； and which
he was to fling aside as soon as he wished to resume his old position。 Nor
was it long before he began to pine for the power which he had
relinquished。 He had been so early raised to supreme authority in the state；
and had enjoyed that authority so long； that it had become necessary to
him。 In retirement his days passed heavily。 He could not； like Fox； forget
the pleasures and cares of ambition in the company of Euripides or
Herodotus。 Pride restrained him from intimating； even to his dearest
friends； that he wished to be again minister。 But he thought it strange；
almost ungrateful； that his wish had not been divined； that it had not been
anticipated； by one whom he regarded as his deputy。
Addington； on the other hand； was by no means inclined to descend
from his high position。 He was； indeed； under a delusion much resembling
that of Abon Hassan in the Arabian tale。 His brain was turned by his short
and unreal Caliphate。 He took his elevation quite seriously； attributed it to
his own merit； and considered himself as one of the great triumvirate of
English statesmen； as worthy to make a third with Pitt and Fox。
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Such being the feelings of the late minister and of the present minister；
a rupture was inevitable； and there was no want of persons bent on making
that rupture speedy and violent。 Some of these persons wounded
Addington's pride by representing him as a lacquey； sent to keep a place
on the Treasury bench till his master should find it convenient to come。
Others took every opportunity of praising him at Pitt's expense。 Pitt had
waged a long； a bloody； a costly； an unsuccessful war。 Addington had
made peace。 Pitt had suspended the constitutional liberties of Englishmen。
Under Addington those liberties were again enjoyed。 Pitt had wasted the
public resources。 Addington was carefully nursing them。 It was sometimes
but too evident that these compliments were not unpleasing to Addington。
Pitt became cold and reserved。 During many months he remained at a
distance from London。 Meanwhile his most intimate friends； in spite of his
declarations that he made no complaint； and that he had no wish for office；
exerted themselves to effect a change of ministry。 His favourite disciple；
George Canning； young； ardent； ambitious； with great powers and great
virtues； but with a temper too restless and a wit too satirical for his own
happiness； was indefatigable。 He spoke； he wrote； he intrigued； he tried to
induce a large number of the supporters of the government to sign a round
robin desiring a change； he made game of Addington and of Addington's
relations in a succession of lively pasquinades。 The minister's partisans
retorted with equal acrimony； if not with equal vivacity。 Pitt could keep
out of the affray only by keeping out of politics altogether； and this it soon
became impossible for him to do。 Had Napoleon； content with the first
place among the Sovereigns of the Continent； and with a military
reputation surpassing that of Marlborough or of Turenne； devoted himself
to the noble task of making France happy by mild administration and wise
legislation； our country might have long continued to tolerate a
government of fair intentions and feeble abilities。 Unhappily； the treaty of
Amiens had scarcely been signed； when the restless ambition and the
insupportable insolence of the First Consul convinced the great body of
the English people that the peace； so eagerly welcomed； was only a
precarious armistice。 As it became clearer and clearer that a war for the
dignity； the independence； the very existence of the nation was at hand；
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
men looked with increasing uneasiness on the weak and languid cabinet
which would have to contend against an enemy who united more than the
power of Louis the Great to more than the genius of Frederick the Great。 It
is true that Addington might easily have been a better war minister than
Pitt； and could not possibly have been a worse。 But Pitt had cast a spell on
the public mind。 The eloquence； the judgment； the calm and disdainful
firmness； which he had； during many years； displayed in Parliament；
deluded the world into the belief that he must be eminently qualified to
superintend every department of politics； and they imagined； even after the
miserable failures of Dunkirk； of Quiberon； and of the Helder； that he was
the only statesman who could cope with Bonaparte。 This feeling was
nowhere stronger than among Addington's own colleagues。 The pressure
put on him was so strong that he could not help yielding to it； yet； even in
yielding； he showed how far he was from knowing his own place。 His first
proposition was； that some insignificant nobleman should be First Lord of
the Treasury and nominal head of the administration； and that the real
power should be divided between Pitt and himself； who were to be
secretaries of state。 Pitt； as might have been expected； refused even to
discuss such a scheme； and talked of it with bitter mirth。 〃Which
secretaryship was offered to you？〃 his friend Wilberforce asked。 〃Really；〃
said Pitt； 〃I had not the curiosity to inquire。〃 Addington was frightened
into bidding higher。 He offered to resign the Treasury to Pitt； on condition
that there should be no extensive change in the government。 But Pitt
would listen to no such terms。 Then came a dispute such as often arises
after negotiations orally conducted； even when the negotiators are men of
strict honour。 Pitt gave one account of what had passed； Addington gave
another： and though the discrepancies were not such as necessarily implied
any intentional violation of truth on either side； both were greatly
exasperated。
Meanwhile the quarrel with the First Consul had come to a crisis。 On
the 16th of May； 1803； the King sent a message calling on the House of
Commons to support him in withstanding the ambitious and encroaching
policy of France； and； on the 22d； the House took the message into
consideration。
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