[236] William Burke was M. P. for Bedwin, in Wiltshire. He shared all his cousin’s fortunes, and lived with him on terms of the most intimate friendship. When the prospects of the Whigs seemed to be hopeless, he went to India; and through the support of Mr. Francis, obtained some lucrative offices. He was a person of considerable accomplishments. He survived Mr. Burke, and died in 1798.--E. [237] This division was the result of a junction of the friends of the late ministers with the friends of Lord Bute.--(Chatham Correspondence, vol. ii. p. 380.)--E. [238] Eldest son of Lord Bute. [239] Lord George Sackville was intimate with Wedderburne, who had been counsel for him on his trial. [240] Sir William Burnaby had been Admiral and Commander-in-Chief on the West India station. He was knighted in 1754, and made a baronet in 1767.--E. [241] I have not been able to find another report of this important debate.--E. [242] The fall of the Ministers was so much expected, that it was said, “They were dead, and only lying in state; and that Charles Townshend [who never spoke for them] was one of their mutes.” [243] Walpole takes no notice of the debate in the House of Lords on the American Resolutions. It took place on the 10th of February, and will be found in the Parliamentary History, vol. xvi. p. 168. The speeches of Lord Camden and Lord Northington are eloquent and interesting.--E. [244] Prime Minister of Portugal. [245] Mr. Frederick Vane, M. P. for Durham.--E. [246] Whatever might be Lord Rockingham’s exultation at having carried a measure on which he considered the safety of the empire to depend, he was so far from being blind to his own precarious position, that a few days after, on the 26th, he made overtures to Mr. Pitt expressing an earnest desire to transfer the Government to him. The letters that passed on this occasion are given in Lord Chatham’s Correspondence, vol. ii. p. 397.--E. [247] Mr. Fuller, no doubt, was a hearty well-wisher of the repeal. He was a sensible man, and his opinion carried additional weight from the decided and independent tone in which he delivered it; and Almon says, that after his death it was discovered that he had been for many years in the receipt of a pension from the Government of 500_l._ a year, a fact that explains the sudden decline of his zeal mentioned by Burke, Correspondence, ii. 8.--E. [248] Dr. Hay was a man given up to his pleasures.