The spirit in which he took office was exemplified in one of his first speeches to the queen.

Knowing that he was not the minister whom she would have preferred, he made it his especial business to win her confidence; and he had not been long installed in office when she expressed to him her wish that he would find means of accomplishing some object which she desired to promote.

"Madame," was his courtly reply, "if it is possible, it is done already.

If it is impossible, I will take care and manage it." But being very unscrupulous himself, he overshot his mark when he sought to propitiate her further by offering to represent as hers acts of charity which she had not performed.

The winter of 1783 was one of unusual severity.