Page:Defence of Shelburne.djvu/74

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[68]

tions of Jeremy the prophet; but fortunately for him the magic monosyllable decided his fortune.

The Colonel however is a grateful man. He retired twice with Mr. Pitt, and I thought his countenance told me, as he returned by the Speaker's chair, that the recruit must be sent to drill. At length the Atlas of the hour did start up, but not a syllable fell from him in defence of the Earl of Shelburne. On the contrary he sunk the noble Lord deeper in the mire than all his enemies. Would Cato have taken Cataline for his colleague, laid Mr. Pitt (admitting the implication in its full force)—Yes, replied Mr. Burke, "A good man, for a great end, will suffer the less to avoid the greater evil. Cato might have taken Cataline for his colleague, as Cicero absolutely united with Antony, there are seasons of public peril when the greatest opposites must be reconciled for the public safety. The Earl of Shelburne was the messenger to us from his Majesty, and we admitted him, not from choice but necessity."

It is said, that Mr. Pitt (whose merit seems to consist much more in a selection of elegant

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