Fox, keeping thus almost wholly on the defensive, was chiefly to be admired for his great command of himself, which the warmth he had used to show now made remarkable. Murray, who had laid in wait to profit of any slips that Pitt might make in this contest, rose with an artful air of affected doubt; hinted at the irregularity of the Debate; observed that Mr. Pitt’s proposal of more seamen was unnecessary; “do not all estimates come from the Crown? The Ministers must know what supplies they shall want, and what to demand; invectives to be slighted--how great the power of eloquence that could dress up the want of 2000 men, in 1751, into the source of the war!--that there never was an honester man than the Minister who determined that reduction; thought he had died in friendship with _that_ gentleman.” Pitt could not stand this severe reflection, but interrupted him to say, his friendship for Mr. Pelham had been as _real_ as Murray’s. The latter, as if corrected, continued coolly, that Mr. Pelham had wanted to introduce a system of economy: were he alive, perhaps, we should have fewer struggles, if all who supported under him did still. He begged to ask one question; it was to clear up something to himself, and for the information of others: he believed those who sat near him understood that Mr. Pitt said he had refused Secretary of State;--pray had he? This cut still deeper. Pitt had certainly intended to insinuate so, but being pushed, replied, _no_, he had only refused to come into measures.[25] I have dwelt the longer on this Debate, (though so little was said to the question, and though indeed there scarce was a question,) as it greatly opened the characters of the speakers, and tended to confirm the accounts I have given above. FOOTNOTES: [4] [This is inconsistent with his own account of the matter in his correspondence with Lord Hartington, for which see the Appendix to Lord Waldegrave’s Memoirs, where letters from Mr. Fox relating the whole of the transactions between him and Mr. Pitt in 1755 have been lately printed.]--E. [5] It was strongly denied afterwards that Fox had any advantage from this, and Calcraft’s vast riches seemed to acquit Fox of that suspicion. Fox’s great fortune was accumulated during the time he was Paymaster, and at the peace in the next reign. (Author.) [6] [If the motives of Mr. Fox were as sordid as they are described in the text, would they have induced him to quit “so unlimited and so lucrative a traffic,” for an office higher in rank, and greater in importance, but infinitely less profitable than the Author pretends the Secretaryship at War to have been?]--E. [7] William Gerard Hamilton. [8] William Gerard Hamilton. [9] Mr. Pelham. [10] Fox. [11] Lord Egmont. [12] Alluding to the Duke. [13] Mr. Fox [14] Duke of Newcastle. [15] Lord Granville’s. [16] Duke of Newcastle. [17] Conduct of his Majesty’s affairs in the House of Commons.