lity of Britain, with her dearest, most natural, CHAP. and cordial allies.

I.

DURING the whole time of this long adminiftration, fince the commencement of the oppo- 1742. fition in the year 1725, incendiary pamphlets against this minifter, were the numerous product of every week; all aiming to defame his reputa tion, expose his conduct, and vilify his integrity. Never was a man, whofe actions, conduct, and character, have been more earnestly and openly canvaffed and attacked; and feldom can hiftory furnish any example, where fuch a potent. oppofition was fo long and fo formidably profecuted and refifted.

THE flow and lingering manner, in which the war against Spain was conducted, had been strongly represented to the nation, by the political writers; this irritated the whole people, who confidering how long the Queen of Hungary had been left without affiftance, when furrounded by her enemies; and perceiving how tardily fhe procured relief, made the loudest exclamations against the conduct of the ministry: they were taught to believe, that the spring of this unhappy train of conduct, took its rife from the treachery of the ministry, abetted by a band of corrupt mercenaries, and fupported by the defects of a conftitution which had conveyed too much power to the crown; none of which is true: it was the embarraffment of the national affairs, firft by the peace of Utrecht; here the foundation was naturally laid: and the disorders arifing afterwards from the unfettled ftate of Europe, produced the quadruple alliance; that, in procefs of time, brought on the treaty of Hanover; and from the treaty of Hanover, by the fatal mifconduct of joining with France against the

houfe

PART houfe of Auftria, Sir Robert Walpole became III. involved in fuch difficulties as he could never re

cover; for fince that time, this misconduct was 1742. continued by an immutable, timid, and obftinate character in the minifter, ftill treading in the fame difficult and trackless paths. But prejudicial as all his future measures were to the nation, they were of fuch a nature, as could not be imputed to any corrupt engagements with any foreign power; his imprudence was illimitably remote from any defign to betray the honour and intereft of his royal mafter; who had not, throughout the whole circle of his extenfive dominions, a man of greater private honour or integrity, or a fubject who bore him a truer allegiance and a more loyal affection: the whole mifmanagement of his adminiftration, was owing to the unavoidable confequences of the treaty of Hanover, and a chain of fatal circumftances, neither derived from a greater degree of corruption, than will be found in any opulent state upon earth; nor from any defects, but what are to be met with in the pureft constitution under heaven.

In this crifis of affairs, the ruin of the house of Auftria appeared almoft impoffible, highly improbable, to prevent: the whole nation were naturally difpofed, and fuffered, to think, that a change of the minifter, and the introduction of fome of the principal leaders in the oppofition, into the chief employments, was the fole aim of the parliament, as well as it was the utmost object of the wishes of the people: they were unanimous for affifting the Queen of Hungary, and in fuch a ferment, that nothing but confufion was expected by every rational man. To avert this confufion, it was obvious that the minifter

must

I.

must be removed, for the public would not CHAR. engage in thofe expenfive undertakings, which were the only refource left, under the conduct of the prefent administration; and there is reafon to 1742. believe, that his majefty was as much convinced of the neceflity of a revolution in the ministry, as Sir Robert was convinced it was high time to prepare for it; being certain to find the royal protection extend as far as it conftitutionally could, to fecure his perfon from the rage and fury of the time.

THE oppofition in the houfe of commons, finding their afcendancy, immediately began to experience the force of their fuperiority, which was foon manifefted in the debates on the controverted elections for Boffiney in Cornwall, the city of Westminster, the fhire of Berwick, and Chippenham in Wiltshire; which, being all decided in favour of the oppofition, evidently demonstrated to Sir Robert Walpole, the declenfion of his intereft, and the conclusion of his influence in the house of commons, who prudently provided against the impending blow, by retiring from a place, where the majority of a fingle vote might have fent him to the tower.

A Change of the adminiftration being now become abfolutely neceffary, the equality of parties being fuch that no bufinefs could be carried on, this change was refolved; and as it required fome time to deliberate upon the first changes, and for those other members of the oppofition, who were to be first taken in to be rechofen; for this purpose it was requifite to adjourn the house: accordingly, on the 3d of February, his majesty came to the parliament, and adjourned both houses to the 18th.

VOL. I.

Y Y

ON

PART

On this occafion Sir Robert Walpole, on the III. 8th of February, was ennobled with the title and dignity of Baron of Houghton in the county of 1742. Norfolk, Viscount Walpole, and Earl of Orford in the county of Suffolk; and, on the 11th, refigned all his employments.

THE character of a true politician may be justly defined to be, "A man of probity, converfant in hiftory and law, particularly the law of nations; perfectly understanding the "prefent ftate of affairs at home, as well as abroad; and, above all, acquainted with the humour of different nations, and their man"ner of thinking." That Sir Robert was a ftatefman of great abilities, cannot be refuted; and had his comprehenfion of foreign affairs, been equal to his knowledge of the ftate and temper of the British nation, his reputation would have been fuperior to any of his predeceffors: therefore, to his deficiency in the first, may be ascribed his reluctancy to a land war; which he conjectured, would be neceffarily produced by strongly affifting the houfe of Auftria: and to his accomplished capacity in the latter, may be obviously difcerned his reafon for avoiding a war with Spain. In the earlier part of his adminiftration, he too much neglected popularity, and always ftudied how to avoid a war, as the means to procure the continuance and cafe of his adminiftration he knew, that in war, if unfucceff ful, the ill fuccefs is always attributed to the minifter; if fortunate, that it must be unavoidably attended with great expence, at which, in the long continuance, the people generally murmur: he likewife faw, that in war, military men, and active fpirits, muft gradually obtain some share

of power, which he was determined wholly to CHAP. engrofs.

I.

Is a man looks through the depth of ages, and cafts am eye round the habitable world, 1742every hour of life will demonftrate to him the imperfection and weakness of human judgment; as alfo, the imminent danger to which mankind are every moment exposed: an immutable uniformity of conduct, and a conftant equality in temper,ois really above the reach of man ; perfection dwells only in fuperior beings: therefore, as every man is liable to human frailty, common charity fhould bind all to excufe imperfections, from which, as the wifeft and greateft of men. are not exempted, they should also meet with the fame good-nature and remiffion as the meaner and inferior part of mankind; and to this Sir Robert Walpole was well intitled, as his perfonal qualities were very commendable, and worthy the character of the honourable and virtuous man, always generous to a friend, never severe to an enemy.

On the refignation of Sir Robert Walpole, the Duke of Newcastle continued in his office of principal fecretary of ftate; Sir Robert was fuc-. ceeded by Samuel Sandys, Efq; in the office of chancellor and under treasurer of the exchequer ; Lord Harrington was advanced to the dignity of an Earl, and made prefident of the council; Lord Carteret fucceeding him as one of the principal fecretaries of state; the Marquis of Tweedale was conftituted fecretary of ftate for Scotland, a poft which had been fuppreffed during the late administration; his grace John Duke of Argyle was promoted to the rank of field marfhal of his majefty's forces in South Britain, and made master general of the ordnance, Y y 2 William