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[325] ‘If you will not comply,’ said the King, ‘it must
Chap. XLII.} 1770. Jan.
make an eternal breach between us.’ Yorke gave way, was reproached by Hardwicke his brother, and by Rockingham; begged his brother's forgiveness, kissed him and parted friends; and then with a fatal sensibility to fame1 went home to die by his own hand. His appalling fate scattered dismay among the Ministry, and encouraged the opposition to put forth its utmost energies.

On the twenty-second of January, Rockingham, overcoming his nervous weakness, summoned resolution to make a long speech in the House of Lords. He turned his eyes, however, only towards the past, condemning the policy of George the Third, and defending the old system of English government, which restrained the royal prerogative by privilege. While the leader of the great Whig party cherished no hope of improvement from any change in the forms of the Constitution, the aged and enfeebled Chatham, once more the man of the people, rose to do service to succeeding generations. ‘Whoever,’ said he, ‘understands the theory of the English Constitution and will compare it with the fact, must see at once how widely they differ. We must reconcile them to each other, if we wish to save the liberties of this country. The Constitution intended that there should be a permanent relation between the constituent and representative body of the people. As the House of Commons is now formed, that relation is not preserved, it is destroyed;’ and he proceeded to open before the House of

1 Burke, i. 303.

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