There was one leader to whom the nation looked in this grave crisis.

The genius of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, had won the last war against France and he had promoted the repeal of the Stamp Act.

In America his name was held in reverence so high that New York and Charleston had erected statues in his honor.

When the defeat of Burgoyne so shook the ministry that North was anxious to retire, Chatham, but for two obstacles, could probably have formed a ministry.

One obstacle was his age; as the event proved, he was near his end.