SECTION III FIRST YEARS IN PARLIAMENT 1784-1793 CHAPTER I The downfall of the Coalition Ministry: Pitt Prime Minister : T HE opposition of the King to Fox's India Bill having brought about the downfall of the Coali tion Ministry in December 1783, Pitt became Prime Minister. As, however, the followers of Fox and Lord North still formed a majority in the House of Commons, Parliament was dissolved in the following March. Windham was again nominated for Norwich, and; after a fierce contest, was returned as junior member on April 5 by a majority of sixty-four votes over the Hon. Henry Hobart,1 being one of the few supporters of the unpopular Coalition Ministry who were returned to Westminster. 1 The figures were: Sir Harbord Harbord, 2305; Windham, 1297; Hobart, 1233. THE DUKE OF PORTLAND to WILLIAM WINDHAM London: April 7, 1784 I am most sincerely obliged to you and give you my most hearty thanks for having caused the only very satisfactory event that has happened since this cursed Dissolution has taken place, and I desire you to accept my best congratulations on your Election which you have obtained with no less honor to yourself than with advantage to the Publick Cause. You have undergone much trouble, fatigue, uneasiness and vexation of every kind, but you have succeeded, and succeeded with every circumstance that should give you comfort and make you satisfied with yourself. As a publick man I must again repeat my thanks to you, and in the private and more grateful capacity of a Friend I share with you the joy which you ought to feel, and which ought to be the effect of the Conduct you have observed. I cannot like Westminster, nor can I say that my mind is at ease respecting York and Yorkshire (but this is to yourself). I trust Norfolk will afford me a better prospect. No pains shall be wanting on my part to realize this hope, but I desire that you will suggest any thing in which my endeavours can be thought to be of service.1 Now more than ever before Windham stayed in London, and in these years of his life he found the metropolis a very pleasant place. Previous to going abroad in 1778 he had been elected a member of the Literary Club, and now he was a regular attendant at its meetings. He made the acquaintance of the whole circle, and Dr. Johnson had a great liking for him. When it was that Windham first made Johnson's acquaintance is not known; but it is clear from Boswell's "Life," that as early as 1776 they 1 Add. MSS. 37845 f. 3. |