CLXV. to be one of the most flagrant cases of ratting recorded in our CHAP. party annals. There not only was no change in the Government, but there was no change of circumstances or of policy, and a solitary patriot was to cross the floor of the House of Commons that he might support the measures which he had been so loudly condemning. His own saying was now in everybody's mouth: "Bit by the tarantula of Opposition, he is cured by the music of the Court." Perhaps there was nothing more cutting than Lord Camden's remark in sending the intelligence to Lord Chatham: "I am not surprised, but grieved." * * Chatham Correspondence, iv, 72. A.D. 1771. CHAPTER CLXVI. СНАР. CLXVI. Wedder burn's em barrassment in crossing the House of Commons. CONTINUATION OF THE LIFE OF LORD LOUGHBOROUGH TILL THE ALTHOUGH it was said that "Lord Clive was full of indignation at the desertion of Wedderburn," Mr. Solicitor vaA.D. 1771. cating his seat, was re-elected for Bishops Castle without opposition ; but he had before him the disagreeable prospect of walking up to the table between two Treasury members, his liberal associates now shunning him, and to slink floor of the down on the Treasury bench between Lord North and John Robinson. He dreaded that opposing parties, suspending their general hostility, would, on this occasion, interchange well understood looks, occasioned by mutual wonderment at his apostasy. When the time came he is said virtuously to have blushed, and to have appeared much distressed, till his colleague Thurlow shook him by the hand, and with an oath welcomed him to that side of the House which he ought never to have quitted. He, for some time, wore an embarrassed air, and when he had any thing to say, he seemed to have lost all his fluency. It was probably with reference to these exhibitions that Junius remarked, "To sacrifice a respected character, and to renounce the esteem of society, requires more than Mr. Wedderburn's resolution; and though in him it was rather a profession than a desertion of his principles (I speak tenderly of this gentleman, for when treachery is in question, I think we should make allowance for a Scotchman), yet we have seen him in the House of Com P. 62. Chatham Corresp. iv. 80. The new writ was moved 25th Jan. 1771. Com. Journ., vol. xxxiii. This famous job-master, then Secretary to the Treasury, was probably active in bringing him over. Soon after, Sheridan, alluding to a Government agent by whom members were corrupted, and a cry arising, "Name him! name him!” said, "Sir, I could name him, as easily as say JACK ROBINSON." mons overwhelmed with confusion, and almost bereft of his faculties." CHAP. CLXVI. A.D. 1771. tacked as a renegade Barré. He was much aided by an attack made upon him, which gave him an opportunity for a dexterous explanation, and He is atenabled him to recover to a considerable degree his position in the House. Having given notice of motion for a com- by Colonel mittee to inquire into the riots near the Houses of Parliament, on the commitment of Bras Crosby, the Lord Mayor of London, and Alderman Oliver, to the Tower, Colonel Barré rose and said very irregularly: "I thank the honourable and learned gentleman for his intention of moving for a committee to inquire into the causes of these riots. He will be the fittest man to conduct such an inquiry, seeing that he knows more of such matters than any of the King's present servants. I hope he will inquire not only into the causes of the assembling of recent mobs, but of those which have alarmed the public for the last three or four years, as I know that the honourable and learned gentleman has frequently declared in this house and in other places, that this wicked Administration has been the cause of all the misfortunes that have befallen the country that nothing but the removal of this wicked Administration, and the dissolution of this profligate Parliament, could restore the peace and happiness of the kingdom.' I am persuaded that all his powers of eloquence will be directed to those great objects. This inquiry will afford him the finest possible opportunity of discharging the debt which he still owes to his country. As no man is better able, so no man, I am sure, can be better inclined to do it; for I have heard him declare from this bench that the King's chief minister ought to be impeached. The honourable and learned gentleman has kept exceeding good company I do not say great company - but what I consider very honest company - the freemen of the corporation of London! If I am not mistaken, he did not disdain himself to become a member of that body; and I believe he was pleased to receive the freedom of the city in a gold box. Although since that time the honourable and learned gentleman has formed new connections, he cannot have altogether CHAP. CLXVI. abandoned the sentiments by which he was formerly actuated. Of all men, therefore, he is the fittest to bring the causes and A.D. 1771. the occasions of these disturbances to public light." Mr. Solicitor General Wedderburn. "I hope the House will permit me to express my obligations to the gallant officer who has thought fit to make my political conduct the subject of his argument. Of that conduct, Sir, I shall always be ready to give an account. It may easily be summed up,- and in a very few words. With regard to the measures which I have supported in this House, and the public part I have taken out of it, - I have not repented of any measure I have ever supported— I have not learned to approve of any measures I ever opposed. I shall be extremely happy to have my future conduct tried by any principles I may at any time hitherto have professed. As to personal connections, I stand up, with great frankness and great truth, to declare that I had a personal connection which I infinitely valued and respected, and by which I held myself sacredly bound till death dissolved it - a connection founded upon friendship, founded upon gratitude, founded upon a conviction of the many virtues public and private of him with whom my lot was cast. It is a misfortune, not only to me but to this country, that we are deprived of the services of that excellent man (George Grenville). In point of personal connections, he left me a solitary unconnected individual. In following the line of conduct which seems to me most consistent with my public duty, no one can say that I have broken any private engagement into which I have ever entered." This dexterous use of Mr. Grenville's death misled many, and made the more knowing regard with a feeling approaching to respect the tact of him who could so defend himself by such a fallacy.† * 2 Cavendish's Debates, 474. Calcraft in a letter to Lord Chatham, referring to this debate, says, "that Wedderburn was fully paid off for his insolence by Barré, who dressed him with dignity, propriety, and great severity.' Chatham Correspondence, iv. 138. But Lord Commissioner Adam in his MS. sketch of Wedderburn, CHAP. CLXVI. A.D. 1771. When he had got over the disgrace which, even in those days, was for a time incurred by such a sudden change of party, he proved to be a brilliantly effective supporter of the Government. "It was a proud day for the bar," says Praise of Matthias", "when Lord North inade Thurlow and Wedderburn Attorney and Solicitor General; for never before that day were such irresistible, overbearing talents and powers displayed by the official defenders of Ministers. him and Thurlow as law officers of the Crown, by Matthias. Tooke. "The minister," observed Horne Tooke †, "sat secure By Horne between his two brazen pillars, Jachin and Boaz, to guard the Treasury bench." Said Gibbon, giving an account of his entrance into the By Gibbon. House of Commons, "The cause of Government was ably vindicated by Lord North, a statesman of spotless integrity, a consummate master of debate, who could wield with equal dexterity the arms of reason and of ridicule. He was seated on the Treasury bench, between his Attorney and Solicitor General, magis pares quam similes; and the minister might indulge in a short slumber whilst he was upholden on either hand by the majestic sense of Thurlow, and the skilful eloquence of Wedderburn.” ‡ Mr. Adolphus, in contrasting them, says, "Thurlow was By Adol nervous, impressive, and majestic; he delivered the resolute phus. dictates of a superior intellect without soliciting applause. From him truth appeared above the aid of art; and the judgment was summoned to yield without an appeal to the intervention of fancy. Wedderburn was acute, perspicuous, elegant, and persuasive; he alternately essayed the force of reason and the charms of eloquence; sometimes attacking the judgment with refined argument, at other times appeal says,- Pursuits of Literature. † State Trials. Memoirs, p. 146. |