Precarious state of the Ministry 252 Lord Grenville takes Fox’s resignation to the King 253 Fox, irresolute, applies to the Author 254 Author’s motives in declining to interfere 255 Fox has an Audience 256 Pitt’s objections and demands 257 Prince of Wales’s new Household 258 Pitt visits Lady Yarmouth 259 State of Parties 260 Duke of Newcastle determines to resign 262 Pitt declines acting with Fox _ib._ Negotiations for the formation of a new Ministry 263 Fox labours to obstruct the formation of a Ministry 268 The designs of Fox defeated 269 Duke of Devonshire accepts the Treasury _ib._ New Ministry 270 Duke of Newcastle resigns 272 The Chancellor resigns 273 The changes settled 274 Pitt Minister 275 Parliament meets 276 CHAPTER IX. 1757. Character of the Times 278 Contest between the Parliament and Clergy in France 279 France 280 King of France stabbed 281 Torture and execution of Damiens 282 The King compliments Louis on his escape 283 Trial of Admiral Byng 284 Admiral Byng’s sentence, and the behaviour of the Court-Martial 287 Author’s impressions 288 Sentence of Court-Martial on Byng 289 Representation of Court-Martial 292 Remarks on Byng’s case 293 Two Highland Regiments raised 300 Ordnance Estimates 301 Guinea Lottery _ib._ Militia Bill 302 Ordnance 303 CHAPTER X. 1757. Baker’s Contract 304 Parliamentary Inquiries limited to Minorca 305 Byng’s Sentence produces various impressions 306