Chapter One
"The Honorable the Member for Molton." The Speaker of the Commons, in his
full-bottomed wig, gave the floor to Edmund Burke in the crowded chamber.
Rubbing his long nose, the orator stood and glanced across to the opposite
benches at the slumped figure of the Prime Minister, Pitt the Younger, who
seemed resigned to events. It would not do, however, to underestimate Pitt, even
if, as a man of peace, he seemed unsure of his direction in this new war with
the French.
Burke drew himself up and spoke effortlessly above the disorderly hum. "Is this
House aware that at this very moment, in a time of crisis without parallel in
the history of these islands, His Majesty's government sees fit to let its chief
means of defense, the Navy, its sure shield" — he paused and looked impressively
about him — "rot at anchor in its ports, while the enemy is at liberty to issue
forth on his awful missions of destruction?" He was aware that behind him, ready
for any excuse to interject, was the fat, mustard-waistcoated figure of Charles
Fox. Discredited for his earlier support of the French Revolution, he was
nevertheless leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition — and a liability.
"No doubt th ... read full excerpt from: Kydd ebook
