Matters did not wear a more promising aspect in the House of Commons, where Mr. Bunbury, who had already spoken strongly against the war, was threatening a motion for a cessation of hostilities in Germany, which it was understood was to receive the support of Barré.
Fox exerted his utmost influence to procure a reconciliation and a withdrawal of Mr. Bunbury's motion.
"Pushing it now," he writes to Shelburne, "in the House of Commons, will certainly be imputed to you, and all this gives me great concern. Indeed, my dear Lord, you never judg'd better for yourself than in trying to dissuade. Lord Digby, who says little, hears a great deal, and is impartial as man can be, is of the opinion I wrote you this morning. Lord Bute is hurt, many think he ought to be so. And you push it, for when you shall have tryed ever so much to dissuade it, it will be called your doing. Lord Digby takes likewise a coolness between the Duke of Bedford and Lord Bute into consideration. Mr. McKenzie very friendlily advised me to speak lest I should be said to be conspiring with the Duke of Bedford in a measure so detrimental to Lord Bute."[1]
It will be seen that Fox was successful in his efforts, as later in the day he was able to write as follows:
Fox to Shelburne.
February 13th.
My dear Lord,—Mr. Bunbury was here this morning, and with good nature and good sense, for his friends' sake, not his own, though I truly think it is best for him too, consented to put off his motion.
I immediately wrote the following letter to Lord Bute: "My Lord,—I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that Mr. Bunbury has laid aside his intended
- ↑ Fox to Shelburne, February 13th, 1762. On the withdrawal of Mr. Bunbury's
otion Mr. Fox wrote the following epigram:
"A cock-match at Westminster lately was made,
The cock-pit was crowded, great wagers were laid;
The people impatient heard at last that the Fox,
Had stole over night both the beautiful cocks."
