"Secondly, A party under thefe leaders was to be formed in favour of the court against the miniftry: this party was to have a large share in the emoluments of government, and to hold it totally feparate from, and independent of, oftenfible adminiflration.

"The third point, and that on which the fuccefs of the whole fcheme ultimately depended, 'was to bring parliament to an acquiefcence in this project. Parliament was therefore to be taught by degrees a total indifference to the perfons, rank, influence, abilities, connections, and character, of the minifters of the crown. By means of a difcipline, on which I fhall fay more hereafter, that body was to be habituated to the most oppofite interefts, and the most difcordant politicks. All connections and dependencies among fubjects were to be entirely diffolved. As hitherto bufinefs had gone through the hands of leaders of whigs or tories, men of talents to conciliate the people, and engage their confidence, now the method was to be altered; and the lead was to be given to men of no fort of confideration or credit' in the country. This want of natural importance was to be their very title to delegated power. Members of parliament were to be hardened into an infenfibility to pride, as well as to duty. Thofe high and haughty fentiments, which are the great fupport of independence, were to be let down gradually. Points of honour and precedence were no more to be regarded in parliamentary decorum, than in a Turkish army. It was to be avowed as a conftitutional maxim, that the king might appoint one of his footmen, or one of your footmen, for minifter; and that he ought to be, and that he would be, as well followed as the firft name for rank or wisdom in the nation. Thus parliament was to look on, as if perfectly unconcerned; while a cabal of the clofet and back-ftairs was fubftituted in the place of a national adminiftration.

"With fuch a degree of acquiefcence, any measure of any court might well be deemed thoroughly fecure. The capital objects, and by much the most flattering characteristicks of arbitrary power, would be obtained. Every thing would be drawn from its holdings in the country to the perfonal favour and inclination of the prince. This favour would be the fole introduction to power, and the only tenure by which it was to be held fo that no perfon looking towards another, and all looking towards the court, it was impoffible but that the motive which folely influenced every man's hopes must come in time to govern every man's conduct; till at laft the fervility became univerfal, in spite of the dead letter of any laws or inftitutions whatsoever.

"How it fhould happen that any man could be tempted to venture upon fuch a project of government, may at firft view appear furprizing. But the fact is, that opportunities very inviting to fuch an attempt have offered; and the fcheme itself was not deftitute of fome arguments not wholly unplaufible to recommend it. Thefe opportunities and thefe arguments, the ufe

that

that has been made of both, the plan for carrying this new fcheme of government into execution, and the effects which it has produced, are in my opinion worthy of our ferious confideration.

His majelly came to the throne of these kingdoms with more advantages than any of his predeceffors fince the revolution. Fourth in defcent, and third in fucceffion of his royal family, even the zealots of hereditary right, in him, faw fomething to flatter their favourite prejudices; and to jullify a transfer of their attachments, without a change in their principles. The perfon and caufe of the pretender were become contemptible; his title difowned throughout Europe, his party dif banded in England. His majesty came indeed to the inheritance of a mighty war; but victorious in every part of the globe, peace was always in his power, not to negociate, but to dictate. No foreign habitudes or attachments withdrew him from the cultivation of his power at home. His revenue for the civil eftablishment, fixed (as it was then thought) at a large but definite fum, was ample, without being invidious. His influence, by additions from conqueft, by an augmentation of debt, by an increase of military and naval eftablishment, much strengthened and extended. And coming to the throne in the prime and full vigor of youth, as from affection there was a strong diflike, fo from dread there feemed to be a general averfenefs, from giving any thing likeoffence to a monarch, against whofe refentment oppofition could not look for a refuge in any fort of reverfionary hope.

Thefe fingular advantages infpired his majefty only with a more ardent defire to preferve unimpaired the fpirit of that national freedom, to which he owed a fituation fo full of glory. But to others it fuggefted fentiments of a very different nature. They thought they now beheld an opportunity (by a certain fort of ftatefmen never long undifcovered or unemployed) of drawing to themselves, by the aggrandifement of a court faction, a degree of power which they could never hope to derive from natural influence or from honourable fervice; and which it was impoffible they could hold with the leaft fecurity, whilft the system of administration refted upon its former bottom. In order to facilitate the execution of their defign, it was neceffary to make many alterations in political arrangement, and a fingle change in the opinions, habits, and connections of the greatest part of thofe who at that time acted in publick.

"In the firft place, they proceeded gradually, but not flowly, to deftroy every thing of ftrength which did not derive its principal nourishment from the immediate pleafure of the court. The greatest weight of popular opinion and party connection were then with the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pitt. Neither of thefe held their importance by the new tenure of the court; they were not therefore thought to be fo proper as others for the fervices which were required by that tenure. It happened very favourably for the new fyftem, that under a forced coalition there

rankled

rankled an incurable alienation and difguft between the parties which compofed the adminiftration. Mr. Pitt was first attacked. Not fatisfied with removing him from power, they endeavoured by various artifices to ruin his character. The other party feemed rather pleased to get rid of fo oppreffive a fupport; not perceiving, that their own fall was prepared by his, and involved in it. Many other reafons prevented them from daring to look their true fituation in the face. To the great whig families it was extremely difagreeable, and feemed almoft unnatural, to oppofe the adminiftration of a Prince of the Houfe of Brunfwick. Day after day they hefitated, and doubted, and lingered, expecting that other counfels would take place; and were flow to be perfuaded, that all which had been done by the cabal, was the effect not of humour, but of fyftem. It was more ftrongly and evidently theintereft of the new court faction, to get rid of the great whig connections than to deftroy Mr. Pitt. The power of that gentleman was vaft indeed and merited; but it was in a great degree perfonal, and therefore tranfient. Theirs was rooted in the country. For, with a good deal lefs of popularity, they poffeffed a far more natural and fixed influence. Long poffeffion of government; vaft property; obligations of favours given and received; connection of office; ties of blood, of alliance, of friendfhip (things at that time fuppofed of fome force ;) the name of whig, dear to the majority of the people; the zeal early begun and fteadily continued to the Royal Family all these together formed a body of power in the nation, which was criminal and devoted. The great ruling principle of the cabal, and that which animated and harmonized all their proceedings, how various foever they may have been, was to fignify to the world, that the court would proceed upon its own proper forces only; and that the pretence of bringing any other into its fervice was an affront to it, and not a fupport. Therefore, when the chiefs were removed, in order to go to the root, the whole party was put under a profcription, fo general and fevere as to take their hardearned bread from the loweft officers, in a manner which had never been known before, even in general revolutions. But it was thought neceffary effectually to deftroy all dependences but one; and to fhew an example of the firmness and rigour with which the new fyftem was to be fupported.

Thus for the time were pulled down, in the perfons of the whig leaders and of Mr. Pitt (in fpite of the fervices of the one at the acceffion of the Royal Family, and the recent fervices of the other in the war,) the two only fecurities for the importan.e of the people; power arifing from popularity; and power arifing from connection. Here and there indeed a few individuals were left ftanding, who gave fecurity for their total eftrangement from the odious principles of party connection and perfonal attachment; and it must be confeffed that most of them have religiouf ly kept their faith. Such a change could not however be made without a mighty fhock to government.

Τα

To reconcile the minds of the people to all these movements, principles correfpondent to them had been preached up with great zeal. Every one must remember that the cabal fet out with the most aftonishing prudery, both moral and political. Those who in a few months after foufed over heard and ears into the deepest and dirtiest pits of corruption, cried out violently against the indirect practices in the electing and managing of parliaments, which had formerly prevailed. This marvellous abhorrence which the court had fuddenly taken to all influence, was not only circulated in converfation through the kingdom, but pompously announced to the publick, with many other extraordinary things, in a pamphlet* which had all the appearance of a manifefto preparatory to fome confiderable enterprize. Throughout, it was a fatire, though in terms managed and decent enough, on the politicks of the former reign. It was indeed written with no small art and addrefs.

"In this piece appeared the first dawning of the new system; there firft appeared the idea (then only in fpeculation) of jeparating the court from the adminiftration; of carrying every thing from national connection to perfonal regards; and of forming a regular party for that purpose, under the name of King's men.

"To recommend this fyftem to the people, a perfpective view of the court gorgeoufly painted, and finely illuminated from within was exhibited to the gaping multitude. Party was to be totally done away, with all its evil works. Corruption was to be caft down from court, as Atè was from heaven. Power was thenceforward to be the chofen refidence of public fpirit; and no one was to be fuppofed under any finifter influence, except thofe who had the misfortune to be in difgrace at court, which was to ftand in lieu of all vices and all corruptions. A fcheme of perfection to be realized in a monarchy far beyond the vifionary republick of Plato. The whole scenery was exactly difpofed to captivate thofe good fouls, whofe credulous morality is fo invaluable a treasure to crafty politicians. Indeed there was wherewithall to charm every body, except thofe few who are not much pleafed with profeffions of fupernatural virtue, who know of what stuff fuch profeffions are made, for what purposes they are defigned, and in what they are fure conftantly to end. Many innocent gentlemen, who had been talking profe all their lives withoutknowing any thing of the matter, began at laft to open their eyes upon their own merits, and to attribute their not having been lords of the treasury and lords of trade many years before, merely to the prevalence of party, and to the minifterial power, which had fruftrated the good intentions of the court in favour of their abilities. Now was the time to unlock the fealed fountain of royal bounty, which had been infamously monopolized and huckstered, and to let it flow at large upon the whole people. The time was come,

* Sentiments of an honest man.

to

to refore royalty to its original fplendour. Mettre le Roy hors de page, became a fort of watch-work. And it was conftantly in the mouths of all the runners of the court, that nothing could preferve the balance of the conflitution from being overturned by the rabble, or by a faction of the nobility, but to free the fovereign effectually from that minifterial tyranny under which the royal dignity had been oppreffed in the perfon of his Majesty's grandfather.

Thefe were fome of the many artifices ufed to reconcile the people to the great change which was made in the perfons who compofed the miniftry, and the ftill greater which was made and avowed in its conftitution. As to individuals, other methods were employed with them; in order fo thoroughly to difunite every party, and even every family, that no concert, order, or effect, might appear in any future oppofition. And in this manner an adminiftration without connection with the people, or with one another, was firft put in poffeffion of government. What good confequences followed from it, we have all feen; whether with regard to virtue, public or private; to the cafe and happiness of the Sovereign; or to the real ftrength of government. But as fo much trefs was then laid on the neceffity of this new project, it will not be amifs to take a view of the effects of that royal fervitude and vile durance, which was fo deplored in the reign of the late monarch, and was fo carefully to be avoided in the reign of his fucceffors. The effects were thefe.

"In times full of doubt and danger to his perfon and family, George the Second maintained the dignity of his crown, connected with the liberty of his people, not only unimpaired, but improved, for the fpace of thirty-three years. He overcame a dangerous rebellion, abetted by foreign force, and raging in the heart of his kingdoms; and thereby deftroyed the feeds of all future rebellion that could arife upon the fame principle. He carried the glory, the power, the commerce of England, to an height unknown even to this renowned nation in the times of its greatest profperity; and he left his fucceffion refting on the true and only true foundations of all national and all regal greatness; affection at home, reputation abroad, truft in allies, terror in rival nations. The most ardent lover of his country cannot wish for Great Britain an happier fate than to continue as he was then left. A people emulous as we are in affection to our present Sovereign, know not how to form a prayer to heaven for a greater bleffing upon his virtues, or an higher ftate of felicity and glory, than that he fhould live, and thould reign, and, when Providence ordains it, fhould die, exactly like his illuftrious predeceffor."

Befides the topics already infifted on there was another added in favour of the new fyftem, arising from the pretended terror of the growth of an aristocratic power prejudicial to the rights of the crown; but this is fo idle a topic that the friends of the new fyftem ought to be ashamed to infit on it, for it is well known that the generality of the peers far from fupporting themfelves

in