ABSTRACT
The Chatham administration was conceived as a non-party administration whose ministers would be individually responsible to the Crown. The position of First Lord of the Treasury, having been declined by Earl Temple, was given to the Duke of Grafton; but Chatham as Lord Privy Seal was to exercise prime-ministerial authority. In December 1766 Chatham went to Bath for the sake of his health; and in February 1767 he suffered an attack of gout which was to exclude him from active politics for more than two years. The administration was further weakened by Grafton’s lack of authority, Conway’s indecision, and the boldness with which Charles Townshend as Chancellor of the Exchequer developed his own plans for taxing the colonies. When Parliament re-convened on 9 January 1770, the opposition leaders were eager to mount a concerted attack on a tottering administration.
