The repeal of the Stamp Act was the chief measure of Lord Rockingham’s Government.  But that Government is entitled to the praise of having put a stop to two oppressive practices, which, in Wilkes’s case, had attracted the notice and excited the just indignation of the public.  The House of Commons was induced by the ministers to pass a resolution condemning the use of general warrants, and another resolution condemning the seizure of papers in cases of libel.

It must be added, to the lasting honour of Lord Rockingham, that his administration was the first which, during a long course of years, had the courage and the virtue to refrain from bribing members of Parliament.  His enemies accused him and his friends of weakness, of haughtiness, of party spirit; but calumny itself never dared to couple his name with corruption.

Unhappily his Government, though one of the best that has ever existed in our country, was also one of the weakest.  The King’s friends assailed and obstructed the ministers at every turn.  To appeal to the King was only to draw forth new promises and new evasions.  His Majesty was sure that there must be some misunderstanding.  Lord Rockingham had better speak to the gentlemen.  They should be dismissed on the next fault.  The next fault was soon committed, and his Majesty still continued to shuffle.  It was too bad.  It was quite abominable; but it mattered less as the prorogation was at hand.  He would give the delinquents one more chance.  If they did not alter their conduct next session, he should not have one word to say for them.  He had already resolved that, long before the commencement of the next session, Lord Rockingham should cease to be minister.

We have now come to a part of our story which, admiring as we do the genius and the many noble qualities of Pitt, we cannot relate without much pain.  We believe that, at this conjuncture, he had it in his power to give the victory either to the Whigs or to the King’s friends.  If he had allied himself closely with Lord Rockingham, what could the Court have done?  There would have been only one alternative, the Whigs or Grenville; and there could be no doubt what the King’s choice would be.  He still remembered, as well he might, with the uttermost bitterness, the thraldom from which his uncle had freed him, and said about this time, with great vehemence, that he would sooner see the Devil come into his closet than Grenville.

And what was there to prevent Pitt from allying himself with Lord Rockingham?  On all the most important questions their views were the same.  They had agreed in condemning the peace, the Stamp Act, the general warrant, the seizure of papers.  The points on which they differed were few and unimportant.  In integrity, in disinterestedness, in hatred of corruption, they resembled each other.  Their personal interests could not clash.  They sat in different Houses, and Pitt had always declared that nothing should induce him to be First Lord of the Treasury.