being always defensible, the press teemed with invectives against him. He was stiled the Father of Corruption,' and a strong party was formed to displace him; but having secured an interest, beyond the favour of the existing Monarch, in the heir apparent, his adversaries had the mortification to see him enjoy an increased degree of power upon the accession of George II.

*

The new King had, originally, been prepossessed against Walpole by the artifices of Pulteney; and Bolingbroke with the Tories had, also, been intriguing for a return to power by his dismission: but in Queen Caroline he possessed a steadfast friend, attached by his prudent attentions to her when Princess, and partly also (it is said) by his offers of procuring for her from parliament a larger jointure than that proposed by Sir Spencer Compton, who stood first in the favour of her royal consort. At the time, therefore, when the fall of Walpole was regarded as certain, and he had experienced all the desertion which attends a sinking minister, he was suddenly re-appointed First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer; and his levee instantaneously recovered it's former numbers. His power became greater than ever; and though Lord Townshend still retained the name of Prime Minister, the post of Walpole at the head of the finances, and his sway in

* It was a remarkable circumstance, that George I. being unable to talk English with fluency, and Walpole being equally unskilled in French, the conversations between the Sovereign and his minister were carried on in a classical language, not however very classically spoken. Hence Walpole used to say, that 'during that reign, he governed the kingdom by means of bad Latin.'

the House of Commons (the centre of the national business) placed the administration of affairs virtually in his hands. But he had to encounter an opposition, formidable from it's strength, talents, and animosity; and, notwithstanding it's discordant materials, united in hostility against his person and measures. It consisted of some eminent Whigs headed by Pulteney, a man of abilities, who from an associate was converted to a bitter enemy of Walpole; of a large body of Tories, among whom the most conspicuous was Sir William Wyndham; and of a numerous squadron of Jacobites, then, and long afterward, almost indistinguishably blended with the Tories. To contend with this host of foes, the minister was provided with the two weapons, of argument and corruption; and though he wielded the former with great force and skill, it is allowed that he placed the greatest reliance upon the latter: so that the period of the Walpole administration is usually regarded as that, in which the system of governing by means of the principle of venality acquired it's full perfection. Educated as he was amidst contending factions, and early made acquainted with the mercenary motives of their principal leaders, it was natural that he should adopt an opinion of the general corruptibility of public men; and being of a frank disposition, without either enthusiasm or delicacy in his own feelings, he made no scruple of avowing his opinion of mankind.*

* Lord Chesterfield says, "He laughed at and ridiculed all notions of public virtue, and the love of one's country; calling them the chimerical school-boy flights of classical learning," and declaring himself at the same time no Saint, no Spartan, no Reformer.' He would frequently ask young fellows, at their

In 1730, Lord Townshend resigned his office as Secretary of State. He had long been dissatisfied with the superiority, which his collegue and kinsman Walpole was gradually assuming. Their tempers were radically different, and the time arrived, in which a separation was unavoidable. Townshend, however, did not join the ranks of opposition, but passed the remainder of his days in a dignified and honourable retreat. The session of parliament, in 1733, was distinguished by two financial measures of Walpole. The first was, that of taking half a million from the sinking fund for the service of the current year. This, though warmly opposed by all who adhered to the principle of the fund, was carried through a cooperation of the landed, monied, and popular inte rests; all swayed by motives of temporary advantage. In the following year, the whole produce of the fund was seized, and in the two succeeding years it was even mortgaged! No one at present denies, that this was one of the great stains on Walpole's administration.

The other was the famous Excise-Scheme, the purpose of which was to abolish the land-tax; and, in order to prevent frauds on the revenue and simplify

first appearance in the world, while their honest hearts were yet untainted; 'Well, are you to be an old Roman, a Patriot? You'll soon come off that, and grow wiser.' And thus he was more dangerous to the morals, than to the liberties of his country, to which I am persuaded that he meant no ill in his heart. The means were, undoubtedly, odious (it is somewhat amusing, to hear Lord Chesterfield advocating the cause of morality); but we must remember, as some little extenuation of them, that the throne was then ill-assured, and the great part of the nation was to be bribed into the support of it's own best interests.

VOL. VI.

the collection of the taxes, to convert the customs into duties of excise, and to meliorate the excise-laws by obviating their abuses and oppressions. The experiment was first tried by a proposal of subjecting the duties on wine and tobacco to the excise: but so odious was the very word Excise'* at that time, that the most violent opposition was kindled; and notwithstanding all the arguments and influence of the minister, his majorities in the House were so inconsiderable, and the clamor abroad was so loud, that it was found expedient to drop the bill. Notwithstanding this defeat, however, by the firm support of the crown he was enabled to dismiss from their places several persons of high rank, who had resisted his

measures.

In 1737, the death of Queen Caroline deprived him of one, who had chiefly sustained his interest with his royal master. Under this disadvantage, coupled with the hostile disposition of the Prince of Wales, he had soon afterward to combat the remonstrances of the court of Spain on account of the commerce in South America; where the pertinacity of British adventurers in carrying on an illicit traffic, and the arbitrary rigour of the Spaniards in repressing it, occasioned mutual complaints. The dissatisfactions at home were violently inflamed by the opposition: a convention, procured by the moderation of Walpole, proved ineffectual to settle the matters in dispute; and war was declared against Spain, in 1739, in the midst of the most indecent rejoicings. Divisions.

*It is scarcely necessary to remark, that the Excise has subsequently been extended far beyond any idea entertained at that time; and that, though it's name still continues unpopular, it has been strenuously defended by many high financial authorities

now took place in the cabinet; and Walpole, thwarted by the King, ineffectually requested permission to resign. The remainder of his ministry he passed in trouble and perplexity, pressed upon by inveterate enemies, and ill-supported by jarring friends. The resistance which he encountered in the Council, provoked him once to exclaim; "I oppose nothing, I give into every thing, am said to do every thing, and to answer for every thing: and yet, God knows, I dare not do what I think right." In 1740, a direct attack was made upon him in the House of Commons, ending in a motion for his removal from the King's councils and presence; but, as the Tories disapproved it's principle, it was negatived by a large majority. The clamors against him, however, increased his majorities grew less and less, and at length became minorities; and in February, 1742, he was created Baron Houghton, Viscount Walpole, and Earl of Orford, and resigned.

His first object after he had been divested of power was, by dividing his enemies, to secure himself. With this view he employed his influence, which was still considerable, to form a Whig ministry with Pulteney at it's head, in which he succeeded. A parliamentary inquiry was then instituted into his conduct. In March, 1742, Lord Limerick moved the Lower House, that a Committee might be appointed to investigate the management of affairs, at home and abroad, for the preceding twenty years' (the space, during which Sir Robert had presided at the helm); but his motion being thought too general, both as to time and matter, was rejected after a long debate by a majority of two voices. Not discouraged by his disappointment, the same nobleman