Interposition of Spain in behalf of France.--The Duke of Bedford and Bussy.--Mr. Pitt’s indignation at the demands of Spain.-- Resignation of Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple.--Exultation of Lord Bute and other Ministers.--Lord Talbot’s advice to the Duke of Newcastle.--Effect on the Nation of Mr. Pitt’s Secession from the Cabinet.--His acceptance of a Peerage for his wife, and of a pension.--Insidious conduct of the Court.--Mr. Pitt’s Successors in Office.--George Grenville.--Injudicious Conduct of Mr. Pitt.--Address to him from the Common Council of London, and from Provincial Towns.--Mrs. Anne Pitt’s sarcasm against her brother.-- Meeting of Parliament.--Choice of a Speaker.--Sir John Cust.-- The King’s Speech.--The Address.--Lord Temple’s Speech.--The King and Royal Family dine in the City with the Lord Mayor.--Mr. Pitt’s reception in Guildhall.--Riots. It was not without reason that the nation took an alarm, when almost all who conducted our affairs were determined to take none. Spain for some time had interposed officiously in behalf of France, which, said the Spaniards, was sufficiently humbled, and must not be ruined. It was known that they had furnished her with money; and, as if they sought an open breach with us, they demanded for all Spain the same privilege as Biscay and two other provinces enjoyed, of fishing on the coasts of Newfoundland. This was peremptorily refused; and had Mr. Pitt’s influence been equal to his spirit, Lord Bristol[113] had been immediately recalled from Madrid. But the other ministers, who desired nothing better than an excuse for their pusillanimity, begged to temporize. They pretended to dread being overpowered, but were more afraid of a new field being opened to success. The Spanish ministers of the French faction had blown up their opinionative and ignorant Prince[114] with ideas of holding the balance between England and France: but the old Spaniards lamented a system so abhorrent from the true interest of their country. The King of Spain was possessed with a notion that his lights were equal to his grandeur. He listened, or thought he listened, to no advice: but if anything is more fatal to a nation than a foolish indolent Prince, it is a foolish one that is active and obstinate. Our ministers cried out against a war with Spain as unnatural; but when the interest of Spain did not direct Spain, were we to act as if it did? The Duke of Bedford, who, like Don Carlos, could be made to take half of what he meant for the whole, was clamorous against a Spanish war; and as he always compensated for the arguments he leaped over, by excess on the other side, he told Bussy he was sorry for his departure, as we were no longer in a situation to make war.[115]