Lord Strange said the King must know what force was wanting, and if necessary it must be granted; but if the King would give it up, it showed it was not necessary; and therefore himself should be for the lesser number. Sir John Philipps, Lord George Sackville, and Rigby tried in Parliament to obtain the additional six thousand, but could not carry the point, though they endeavoured to prove that the King was not limited by the act of King William to but twelve thousand men in Ireland.
Mr. Pitt’s opinion on the Army Reductions.--Address to the King.-- Symptoms of disunion among Ministers.--Fox’s rage.--Apprehensive of treachery, he seeks to propitiate his old connections.--Sir Francis Dashwood’s Budget.--Tax on Cider.--Discussion on Ways and Means.--Pitt and George Grenville.--Ardent opposition to the Cider-tax.--Petition from Newfoundland.--Humiliation of Fox.-- Debate in the House of Lords on the Cider-bill.--Passing of the Bill.--Lord Bute’s alarm.--His resignation.--Its effect on Fox.--George Grenville first Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer.--Removal of Sir Francis Dashwood.--Ministerial changes and promotions.
When the day came for voting the army, Mr. Pitt attended. He approved the measure, he said, as far as it went, but wished more troops were allotted to America. That he had a very different opinion from many of the peace: thought it hollow and insecure, _and that it would not last ten years_. He showed no acrimony to Fox, he and Lord Temple both seeming more hostile to Lord Bute; but he dropped, that if any body would point out the right way to inquire what was the cause of so many dismissions, he would second the motion. Beckford having wished the army more reduced, Pitt said, such reductions had hurt us formerly. After the peace of Ryswick the army was lessened to seven thousand; but war followed in three years. After the treaty of Utrecht, but eight thousand men were kept up, but that reduction produced a rebellion and an army of fifteen thousand. Charles Townshend, dreading the lash of Pitt on his late inconsistencies, retired early in the debate; but the General, his brother, just arrived from Portugal, was lavish in encomiums on the peace and peacemakers.