224 GRATTAN. of getting a minority to vote for them, I brought the ma jority to give an efficient sanction to their truth, by entering into office upon that occasion, and acting as I did; I acted the part of an honest minister between the prince and the people; in doing so, I think I was more a patriot, than i f , out o f office, I had made empty declama tions o n empty subjects, without any advantage t o the public. Most o f those who hear me can recollect the state o f this kingdom a t the close o f Lord Townshend's admi nistration. I appeal t o thein all, and I ask, what was then my repute i n the nation ? I will not say i t was the first, o r the second, o r the third, but did i t not stand i n a n honour able rank, and among the former rather than among the last I n Lord Harcourt's government, the vice-treasurer ship was offered t o me, accompanied with every declara tion that could render i t acceptable t o a n honourable mind. . When that office was offered t o me, was my situation that o f a reprobated man 2 Did the administra tion o f England send over a n office usually reserved for the parliament o f England, and offer i t o f their own accord t o a reprobated man f I take the facts o f both countries t o disprove this calumny. I s i t since I have become a mark o f obloquy I flatter myself not. Lord Buckinghamshire's administration succeeded. With re gard t o Lord Harcourt's administration, the objection i s , I did too much; the charge with regard t o the other i s , I did too little for it; those two accusations run a little i n contrary directions, and, like a double poison, each may cure the operation o f the other; but the fact i s this, I acted not upon visions and imaginations, but o n sound common sense, the best gift o f God t o man; which then told me, and still whispers, that some administrations deserve a more active support than others; that some administrations deserve little o f either: I adapted my conduct t o those three conditions; I did not run headlong against govern ment a t one time, and with government a t another, but adapted my conduct a s I ought t o do, t o what I saw, and what I felt. Did I support Lord Harcourt? Why t Be I
