The prorogation of the Parliament prevented any farther open war. Mr. Fox seemed wantonly and unnecessarily to have insulted the Chancellor, and had even manifested some fear at having done so. Indeed, he who had always been rash and resolute, now first discovered some symptoms of irresolution; and the time advanced but too fast, when the provocation offered to Yorke, and the suspicion of his want of a determined spirit, were of essential detriment to him. He could not but feel the Chancellor’s haughty scorn of the atonement he had offered; yet, though he let slip both sentences of resentment and indications of an ambition that began to aspire higher, he soon yielded to a silent pacification. Mr. Pelham affected to be rather ignorant of the heights to which the rupture had openly been carried; and on the King’s being told, that Mr. Fox’s behaviour had been concerted with the Duke of Bedford, Mr. Pelham protested to Fox, that he had assured the King that the latter, on some proposal of union about elections from that Duke, had refused any such connexion while he should remain in the King’s service. For the storm between Fox and the Chancellor, Mr. Pelham said it would blow over, “Yet neither of you,” said he to the former, “will forgive.” Mr. Fox, in return, who gave no credit to this affected candour, reproached him in strong terms with the Chancellor’s (and by necessary implication, with the Duke of Newcastle’s) treachery to Sir Robert Walpole. The Duke’s conversation on this occasion with Mr. Fox was remarkable. “The Chancellor meaned me,” said he, “by arbitrary force.” Mr. Fox thought not. “Why,” said the Duke, “do you think that he imagines you would govern by an Army without me?” “Sir,” said Fox, “how will the King act on what has happened?” “The King,” replied the Duke, “would part with you, or even with me, to satisfy them: but if you can maintain yourself for six months, he will like you the better for what has passed, for he thinks you a man, and he knows none of the rest have the spirit of a mouse.” Mr. Fox said, “If they turn me out, I shall not acquit Mr. Pelham, nor shall I spare him. Let him raise up Murray; Mr. Pelham knows he has betrayed him, but is willing to forget it. I know he fears me still more; he has often told me I was like Mr. Pulteney. It may be vanity, but if I am stronger than Murray, I am ten times stronger than Mr. Pelham.” “Mr. Pelham,” replied the Duke, “has neither candour, honour, nor sincerity. Fox, how do you think I have been entertaining myself this morning? It was poor pleasure, but I had no better. The Duke of Newcastle asked me how I would have the warrant for Cranborn[233] drawn. I thanked him, but heard Mr. Pelham was uneasy that I had not thanked him; so to-day I met them together, and thanked the Duke of Newcastle again, and only asked t’other when he went to Esher.” The Duke concluded with advising Fox to speak to the King, and not let him brood on it: “He will