บ
ARTES
LIBRARY
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
QUALMIY-PT NOE BUKAMANDE :
PRESENTED BY
THE HEIRS OF
NATHAN B. HYDE
มโ
1
DA
32
R223
1757
V.6
Q
"
THE
CONTINUATION
OF
Mr
RAPIN's
HISTORY
O F
ENGLAND;
From the REVOLUTION to the
Prefent Times.
By N. TIN DAL, M. A. .
Rector of ALVERSTOKE, in HAMPSHIRE, and
Chaplain of the Royal Hofpital at GREENWICH.
ILLUSTRATED WITH
MAPS, GENEALOGICAL TABLES, and the HEADS
and MONUMENTS of the KINGS.
The FIFTH EDITION, corrected.
VOL. XVIII. VIth of CONTINUATION.
LONDON:
Printed, by Affignment from Mr KNAPTON, for
T. OSBORNE, H. WOODFALL, W. STRAHAN, J. RI-
VINGTON, R. BALDWIN, W. OWEN, W. JOHN-
STON, J. RICHARDSON, B. LAW, G. KEITH,
T. LONGMAN, T. FIELD, T. CASLON, S. CROW-
DER, H. WOODGATE, J. HINXMAN, and C WARE.
MDCCLXIII.
THE
HISTORY
O F
ENGLAND.
BOOK XXX.
PART I.
From the Year 1712. to the Death of Queen Anne.
CHA P. I.
Great firmness of the Dutch. Admiſſion of King Philip's mini-
fters to the congrefs refufed-Bolingbroke fent to France.
Sufpenfion of arms proclaimed at Paris.—Stop put to the pro-
ceedings at Utrecht.-The French infift on the reftitution of
Tournay.-Endeavours to bring the duke of Savoy into the
Queen's meaſures.-Which are refufed by the Elector of
Hanover.-Mifunderſtanding at court-King Philip renoun-
tes the crown of France.-The Spaniards invade Portugal.-
Forces in Spain called home.-Conference between the duke of
Ormond and a Dutch deputy.-Duke Hamilton and lord
Mohun killed in a duel.-Death and character of the earl of
Godolphin.-The duke of Marlborough retires beyond fea.-
A new plan of peace propofed to the States, who confent to it.
-Death and character of the King of Pruffia.-The French
try to elude their engagements with Great-Britain.-Affairs
of the North.-The British plenipotentiaries fcruple to fign a
Separate peace. The treaty brought into England. The
Queen's Speech upon it.-Peace proclaimed.-Subftance of the
treaties of peace.-Clamours against it.-Proceedings of the
parliament about it.-A demand of money for the civil lift
granted.- Addreſſes for the removal of the Pretender.— And
in favour of lineal fucceffion. The parliament prorogued.-
A 2
216710
Remarks
4
THE HISTORY
Remarks on the Queen's Speech.-Death of bishop Sprat.-
Duke d'Aumont's ambaffy.-Letters in favour of the Preten-
der.-A dangerous mistake rectified in regard to the regency-
bill.-Affairs of Ireland.-Account of the book called He-
reditary right. The crifis publiſhed.—The Queen's illneſs.-
Run upon the bank.
}
Great firm-
nefs of the
Dutch.
the duke of
Crmond.
T
29. ANNE.
HE loffes in the Netherlands created a great dif-
traction in the counfels at the Hague, and it was
expected by the courts of Great-Britain and
France, that the turn of affairs in the field, after
the misfortune at Denain, would occafion an alteration in
the negotiation at Utrecht; and that the Dutch would at
laft agree to a ſuſpenſion of arms, for which the Britiſh
minuters made very preffing inftances. The Marquis de
Torcy would have perfuaded the British court to force the
Conduct of States to come into their meaſures. In a letter to Mr
St John upon the news of the earl of Albemarle's defeat
at Denain, he took notice of the advantage which the
Queen had at this time over the Dutch, and infinuated,
That he might give the law to thoſe people, provided
fhe made the right ufe of Ghent and Bruges, which the
• duke of Ormond was in poffeffion of.' Marſhal Villars
Report of
alfo at the fame time fent a letter to the duke of Ormond,
the Com. of about the action at Denain, wherein he afcribes the victory
to the feparation of the brave English, and infults the al-
lies as common enemies, who must be now fenfible what
wrong meaſures they had taken. He likewife defires the
duke to tranfmit this account to the plenipotentiaries at
Utrecht, and to make a thoufand compliments from him.
to lord Strafford. This letter the duke of Ormond caufed
to be made known to his army, feveral copies of it being
handed about, which indeed ought rather to have been
burnt
; for it made thoſe, who wiſhed well to the allies,
believe, he had not acted fairly by them (a). The Dutch,
though
Sec.
* Kane's
memoirs.
*
(a) And, that there might be
no part of the world, where it
was in the power of the Engliſh
Miniftry to affift their new friends
at the expence of their old allies,
Torcy further propoſed, 'That
the Queen fhould put a stop to
count Staremberg's projects in
⚫ Catalonia, by fending orders to
her troops in Terragona not to
let
OF
5
ENGLAND.
though the earl of Strafford continued to preſs them, and
that with great imperioufnefs, to agree to a ceffation of
arms, fhewed on this occafion a remarkable firmness. The
ftates of Holland and Weft-Frifeland, having agreed to take
upon them the paying most of the auxiliaries lately in
Britiſh pay, and refolved to treat of peace, fword in hand,
the States General ordered their plenipotentiaries at Utrecht
to infilt upon feveral points, as further preliminaries of the
treaty, particularly the restoring of Straſburgh to the Em-
pire, and the demolition of all the fortified places poffeffed
by France on the Rhine. The payment and fubſiſtance of
the German and Danish troops in the fervice of Great Bri-
tain, who had joined the forces under prince Eugene, be-
ing the most preffing affair, feveral conferences were held
about it between the minifters of the Princes, to whom
thofe troops belonged, the deputies of the States, and the
imperial minifters. Theſe laft were not wanting to repre-
fent the great difficulties, which their maſter had laboured
under fince the death of the late Emperor, his brother;
and the vast charge he had been indifpenfably obliged to be
at by his coronation at Francfort and Prefburg, and other
growing expences, for the prefervation of the principality
of Catalonia, whereby the imperial treaſury was quite ex-
haufted. That, however, his Imperial Majefty offered to
contribute three hundred thouſand crowns towards the fub-
fiftance of the auxiliary troops, provided the city of Am-
fterdam would advance that fum under the fecurity of the
States, for the payment of which he was willing to mort-
gage the funds in Silefia, which had punctually answered.
both the principal and intereſt of the loan made fome years
before by the Engliſh. But, though no poſitive anſwer was
then returned to the imperial minifters, yet fome months.
after their propofal was clofed with. The King of Pruffia
offered to maintain his troops at his own charge, provided
the States would give him fatisfaction as to his pretenfions
to the inheritance of the late King William; and the elec-
tor of Hanover offered, in the firit place, to maintain dur-
ing the war, at his own expence, one half of the troops
<
let the Germans into that
place; and, not content with
this, he further defired, that
exprefs orders might be fent
(and through France, as the
fhortest way) to the English
men of war, that were then
6
cruifing in the Mediterranean,
to fuffer the French fhips, that
were then returning from the
Levant, to pass unmolefted,
which was immediately com-
plied with,'
1712.
A 3
he
6
THE HISTORY
}
1712. he had in the fervice of Great Britain, befides the regiment
of dragoons of Bothmar, and to agree for the maintaining
of the rest upon eafy terms. The King of Denmark took
no lefs vigorous refolutions than any of the Princes of the
Empire, it being his intereft not to diſoblige the Empe-
ror and his allies, at a juncture, when he and the Czar of
Muscovy were threatened with a powerful confederacy of
France, Spain, Great-Britain, and Sweden, in order to re-
ftore the King of Sweden to all his dominions.
Admiffion
of King
On the other hand, the Britiſh minifters in Holland pro-
Philip's mi- pofed and infifted on the admiffion of King Philip's pleni-
nifters to potentiaries to the congrefs at Utrecht; and it was given
the congrefs out, that, if this was not fhortly agreed to, the congrefs
refuſed.
fent to
France.
Report of
the Com. of
Sec.
would be transferred to a town, where the Spaniſh miniſters
might repair without any oppofition; and Dunkirk was faid
to be the place. But, the States not thinking it their in-
tereft to diſoblige the Emperor fo far, as to yield a point
fo derogatory to his title to the Spanish throne, the court
of Great-Britain refolved to purſue other meaſures, to bring
the Dutch to compliance; or, if that failed, to conclude
the peace upon the fcheme near agreed on with France and
Spain. To this end, it was judged neceffary to renew the
fufpenfion of arms, now expiring; and, the lord Boling-
Bolingbroke broke having had the chief management of the prefent ne-
gotiation, he was pitched upon to go incognito to the court.
of France, to remove, as his inftructions expreffed it,
all difficulties and differences, that might obftruct the ge-
neral fufpenfion of arms between England and France
from taking place, or fettling the treaty of peace in
fuch a courſe, as may bring it to a happy and fpeedy con-
'clufion. But to declare, that he does not imagine there
will be any poffibility to prevail with the Queen to fign
the peace with France and Spain, unless full fatisfaction
be given to the duke of Savoy, and unless they can take
him along with them in the doing thereof. He is there-
fore to take particular care to fettle his barrier, and to pro-
5 cure Sicily for him; to fettle the renunciation in fuch a
manner, that there may be as little room left as pof-
fible for difpute or delay: That the elector of Bavaria
may have Sardinia, and be reftored to his dominions in
the Empire, except the Upper Palatinate, and the fift
electorate (b); and, when he has had fatisfaction in
• theſe
C
<
(b) It feems the French had
demanded Sicily alfo for the
elector of Bavaria, as appears
from the following particulars:
The
4
OF ENGLAN D.
C
thefe points, he is to proceed to ſpeak to ſuch articles, as 1712.
relate particularly to the intereft of Great-Britain, and en-
deavour to have fuch of them, as there may appear to be
any doubt concerning, explained in the moſt advantage-
The conftant compliances in the
English miniftry encouraged
monfieur de Torcy to believe,
that they would now ſtick at no-
thing, that could be propofed.
He preffed, on the 18th of July,
the concluding the feparate peace
between England and France,
as what they both agreed in to
be the moſt effectual way to
make the reft of the allies com-
ply. He defires, that the troops
in Flanders, under the com-
mand of the duke of Ormond,
may be left there to make a
good uſe of the towns, which
he was in poffeffion of; but as
the King of France could not
confent to the duke of Savoy's
having Sicily, except the elec-
tor of Bavaria had alfo the Ne-
therlands befides his electorate,
he thinks the Queen's having a
good army in Flanders, under
the duke of Ormond, may ren-
der this very practicable; and,
as the Queen has done a great
deal for her own ungrateful al-
lies, it will be for her glory now
to contribute to the good of a
Prince of fo much merit as the
eleâor of Bavaria, whofe ac-
knowledgments will be equal to
the benefits he fhall receive.
But this would not pafs, even
with the miniftry of Great Bri-
tain. The giving Flanders to
the elector of Bavaria was not
only contrary to all the pro-
pofitions of peace, that had
been made between England
and France, but was what would
abfolutely engage England in a
ous
new war, to oblige the Impe-
rialifts and Dutch to agree to it :
And they could not think it for
the honour or intereft of the
Queen, to make war upon her
allies, as ungrateful as they had
been, in favour of the elector
of Bavaria; and eſpecially, con-
fidering, that, although Ghent
and Bruges were for him, the
allies had yet an army in Flan-
ders fo confiderable, both for
the number and goodneſs of
their troops, that they were able
to defend the conquests they
had made. And to give him
Sicily, which was likewife de-
manded, lord Bolingbroke hop-
ed, that it would not be infifted
on; 'becauſe it might be the
' occafion of continual jealou-
'fies; it might, in particular,
'be the fource of difputes and
quarrels betwixt England and
France, whofe ftrict union
and indiffoluble friendſhip
were the points in view, to
which all our meaſures had
· been directed for fo long a
"
'
time. The Queen's minifters
think, that, when the King of
France has made all reaſonable
efforts for his allies, he muſt do
fomething for the love of peace.
and that a particular intereſt
fhould yield to the general.
C
C
<
You cannot, fays lord Boling-
broke, but feel the force of
this argument, becauſe you are
not at all ignorant, that this
negotiation was begun and
carried on upon a fuppofition,
that the Queen must defift
A 4
· from
THE HISTORY
<
<
<
1712. ous manner. And then he is to do his best to discover
upon the feveral parts of the general plan of peace, what
the real ultimatum of France may be; and, when the peace
between England and France fhall be figned, that it may
be expedient to fix the allies a time to come in, wherein
the Queen will ufe her good offices, but will not be under
any obligation to impofe upon the allies the fcheme offered
by France, or to debar them from obtaining better terms
for themſelves.' By thefe inftructions it appears, that lord
Bolingbroke was impowered to conclude a feparate peace
with England, France, Spain, and Savoy: That at this
time there was fome doubt concerning feveral articles re-
lating to the particular interefts of Great-Britain, which
he was to endeavour to get explained; but no inftruction,
if his endeavours prove ineffectual in behalf of Great-Bri-
tain, not to conclude the treaty, which in theſe very in-
ftructions is exprefsly provided for in favour of Savoy; and
he is ordered to do his best to diſcover the ultimatum of
France, which hitherto, it feems, the miniftry were igno-
rant of; but, whether France condeſcended fo far or not,
as to let him into this fecret, the treaty was concluded;
and the miniftry feemed to think, they had fufficiently dif
charged their duty, in declining to be engaged to impoſe
what terms France fhould think proper upon the allies,
thoſe allies, to whom the Queen was bound by the faith of
treaties, and all the moft folemn engagements and publick
declarations, to procure all juft and reafonable fatisfaction,
according to their feveral alliances. But now it ſeemed
fufficient, that the British miniftry did not debar them from
the liberty of endeavouring to obtain ftill better terms for
themſelves.
'from many conditions, which
in right fhe was obliged to
procure for her allies.' He
very ftrongly urges the neceffity
of concluding immediately the
peace between England, France
and Spain; but abfolutely in-
fifts upon Sicily for the duke of
Savoy; which at laft the King
of France confented to, upon
certain conditions, wherein very
ample provifion was made for
fatisfaction to the elector of Ba-
varia; and one exprefs condi-
tion was, that a peace be con-
cluded between England, France,
Spain, and Savoy. In anfwer
to this letter, lord Bolingbroke
acquaints monfieur de Torcy,
that he had received the Queen's
orders to go immediately to
France; and he hoped, under
the auspices of the abbot Gaul-
tier, in a week's time, to falute
him at Fontainebleau. Rep. of
the Com. of Secr.
With
OF
9
ENGLAND.
1712.
With theſe inftructions the lord Bolingbroke fet out for
Dover on the ſecond of Auguft, accompanied by Mr Prior
and the abbot Gaultier. The next day he landed at Ca-
lais, and was received with all imaginable demonftrations
of joy from the inhabitants, and particular marks of re-
fpect from the governor. On the 17th of Auguft, N. S.
he arrived at Paris, and alighted at the houſe of the mar-
quis de Torcy, where an apartment was prepared for him.
The French minifter received the British with uncommon
civility, and affured him, That the King his maſter had
• ever entertained a great efteem and refpect for the Queen
of Great-Britain; to which fentiments he now added fo
'perfect a friendſhip, that, notwithstanding the late fuc-
ceffes of his arms in Flanders, he was ftill willing to make
her Britannick Majefty the umpire of the general peace.'
Compliments being paffed on both fides, the two minifters
entered upon bufinefs, and having adjuſted the principal
interefts of the duke of Savoy, and of the elector of Ba-
varia, and fettled the time and manner of the renunciations,
agreed to a treaty for a fufpenfion of arms between Great Aug. 19.
Britain and France, both by fea and land, for the ſpace of N. S.
four months. The next day the lord Bolingbroke was con-
ducted by the marquis de Torcy to Fontainebleau, where
the King of France then was with his court; and the
apartment formerly belonging to the marfhal de Boufflers
was magnificently fitted up for him, and he was received
with greater marks of diftinction than were ever ſhown to
any perſon of his character, who made no publick appear-
ance. He was the next morning introduced to a private au- Aug. 21.
dience of the King, to whom he prefented the Queen's
letter. The French King received him in a very gracious
manner, and affured him, That he ever had the highest
• eftcem for the Queen: That ſhe had proceeded in fuch a
manner, as to turn that eſteem into the fincereft friendſhip;
and he hoped, fhe was fatisfied he had done every thing on
his part, which might facilitate the peace: That he was
pleaſed to find it fo near a conclufion: That there were
• fome indeed, who ufed all endeavours to obſtruct it; but
that, God be praifed, they would not be long able to do
fo; and that the fuccef of his arms fhould make no
alteration in him; for he would make good all he had
offered.' The elector of Bavana, who arrived at Paris
on the 16th of Auguft, and repaired to Fontainebleau
the fame day, the lord Bolingbroke went thither, was
alfo in conference with him, whom he defired to re-
commend both his and his brother the elector of Cologne's
•
6
concerns
10
HISTORY
THE
1712.
claimed at
Paris.
concerns to her Britannick Majeſty. The French cour-
tiers, in imitation of their fovereign, vied with each other,
who fhould beft entertain the British minifter; and, among
the reft, the duke of Noailles gave him a moft magnifi-
cent fupper, to which the perfons of the firſt rank were
invited; as was alfo general Stanhope, who, being lately
exchanged for the duke of Efcalona, took Fontainebleau
in his way to England. The lord Bolingbroke offered that
general to prefent him to the king of France; but Mr
Stanhope thought fit to decline it. What was tranfacted
in the private conferences between the King, or his mini-
fters, and the lord Bolingbroke, befides the treaty for a
fufpenfion of arms, was kept very fecret; except only,
that it was agreed, that the court of Great Britain ſhould
pay the annual fum of threefcore thoufand pounds by
way of dower to the late king Jarnes's Queen; and that
the chevalier de St George fhould retire out of France.
On the 27th of Auguft, N. S. the lord Bolingbroke took
his leave of the king of France, who prefented him with
a fine diamond-ring, valued at about 4,000l. fterling,
which formerly belonged to his fon the Dauphin, and on
the 25th his lordship returned to Paris, being ſtill accom-
panied by the marquis de Torcy.
-
Sufpenfion On the 24th of Auguft, N. S. the fufpenfion of arms.
of arms pro- for four months was proclaimed at Paris with the fame ce-
remonies uſually obferved at the proclaiming of peace, ex-
cept that there were no publick rejoicings. Two days after,
one of the Queen's Meflengers, who attended the Lord
Bolingbroke, brought the treaty to Whitehall; and, the
Lord-Treaſurer, having, the next day, carried it to the
Queen at Wind for, to be ratified, her Majefty, in coun-
cil, figned a proclamation, declaring the fufpenfion of
Aug. 18.
O. S.
C
<
arms, as well by fea as land, and injoining the obler-
vance thereof. This proclamation was published both by
itſelf, and in the London Gazette, in which an order of
council was fubjoined, importing, That for preventing
any inconveniencies, to which her Majeſty's fubjects might
be liable, by miſapprehending the purport or effect of this
proclamation, and for the improvement and fecurity of
the commerce of her loving fubjects, her Majefty was
pleafed to declare, that, as foon as paffes could be inter-
changed, they would be delivered to fuch of her fub-
jects, as fhould defire the fame.' Upon perufal of this
order, which laid the English Merchants under a neceffity
of buying French paffes, many were at a lofs to diſcover
C
•
4
wherein
OF ENGLAND.
If
wherein the benefit of the fufpenfion confifted, unless it
were in gratifying the avarice of the ſecretaries of ſtate, who
fold, at a dear rate, what had coft them nothing. Befides,
it is obfervable, that, the French court not having fent
over the paffes fo foon as the Engliſh minifters tranfmitted
theirs, it happened, that feveral French fhips, which were
taken by Sir Thomas Hardy, were releaſed upon producing
of the English paffes, while feveral English fhips were, at
the fame time, made prize for want of French paffes.
This good difpofition of lord Bolingbroke to the French
Nation appears from his own letter to Mr Prior, of the
29th of September, wherein he fays, I have got at laft
the affair of the Griffin [a rich French Eat-India fhip]
compounded, not without very great difficulty: And
though the fum paid to the captors was fo large as 35,000l.
the fhip was plainly prize, and the pafs, fent over hi-
ther, might have been proved to have been numerically
one of thofe I delivered at Fontainebleau, four days af-
ter the Griffin was in Sir Thomas Hardy's power; though
Gaultier was ready to fwear, that he received it fome
' months before; which part of the abbot has, I confeſs
to you, done him no good, in my opinion.' Hence it
appears, that, though this pafs was none of them, paffes
had been granted fome months before the fufpenfion was
concluded.
C
6
1712.
It may here be obferved that while the peace was ne- Various re-
gotiating, various reports were ſpread about the Pretender, ports about
who, after the ftile ufed in the Queen's fpeech of the 6th of der.
June, was now called, the perfon, who has pretended to
difturb the fettlement of the proteftant fucceffion of the
• houfe of Hanover.' About the latter end of June, the
publick was informed from Utrecht, that he had been ob-
liged to leave St Germain's, and was already on his way
to Lorrain. However, about the middle of Auguft, he
made a vifit to the king of France at Fontainebleau; but,
upon the news of lord Bolingbroke's landing at Calais, it
was thought fit, that the Chevalier fhould again retire
from St Germain's, without his ordinary guard, and go
to the caſtle of Livry. Not many days after he came to
Paris, and, going to the opera, fat in the French king's
box, which had been appointed for the lord Bolingbroke,
who thereupon fat in another box; which, when known,
occafioned no fmall noife in England. It was alſo adviſed
from Paris, that the British minifter had a private inter-
view with the Queen-dowager of England; which, toge-
the Preten-
:
ther
12
HISTORY
THE
1712. ther with the rumour of the chevalier's taking upon him
the title of duke of Glocefter, and retiring to Rheims in
Champagne, occafioned various fpeculations. Whatever
ground there was for thefe and other reports, it is certain,
that the pretender's friends in Great-Britain were, at this
juncture, extremely elated with the hopes of his reftora-
tion; and fome news-writers in Holland, and, after them,
others in London, did not fcruple to take notice of what
was faid in Paris, That the pretender was to be affociated
with her Majefty in the fovereignty.'
A ſtop put
ceedings at
Utrecht.
On the 19th of Auguft, the lord Bolingbroke fet out
from Paris, where he left Mr Prior to take care of fome
private affairs ftill under negotiation; and with Mr Hare,
and the abbot Gaultier, proceeded to Dunkirk, and,
imbarking for England, arrived at London the 21st of
Auguft.
France was now become intire mafter of all future ne-
to the pro- gotiations, and did not fail to make ufe of the power
put into their hands: And upon occafion of a trifling
quarrel, which happened at Utrecht between the fervants
of monfieur Mefnager, and of count Rechteren, one of
the Dutch plenipotentiaries, the French made ufe of it as
a pretence to keep the negotiations in fufpence, as long as
it ferved their purpofe (c). The Venetian minifters im-
mediately offered their mediation to accommodate the mat-
ter; and at the fame time meffieurs de Randwyck and
Buys engaged the bishop of Bristol to interpofe his good
(c) It ſeems, as count Rech-
teren was paſſing by the houſe
of monfieur Mefnager, his foot-
men were laughed and hiffed at
by Mefnager's fervants that were
ſtanding at the door: Which
being complained of by count
Rechteren, Mefnager promifed
the fervants fhould be confront-
ed; but afterwards fent word,
he had examined his domeſticks,
and that they denied the fact.
Upon this, Rechteren infifting
that the fervants fhould be con-
fronted according to his pro-
mife, and Mefnager ftill refu-
fing it, the count told his peo-
ple, fince he could get them no
reparation, they might decide
their own quarrels themfelves.
Prefently after, one of count
Rechteren's footmen ftruck one
of monfieur Mefnager's, and
owned the fact, faying, It was
true, he had given him a blow
or two on the face; but that it
was alſo true, he was one of
thofe who had hiffed at him;
which was not denied by the
other. This was fo highly re-
fented by the French king, and
fuch reparation demanded, that
the Dutch would not comply
with it: So a full ftop was put
to all the proceedings at Utrecht
for fome months.
offices
OF
13
ENGLAND.
1712.
offices in this affair. But the French minifters having con-
fulted together, refuſed to hearken to any private accom-
modation, before they had received inftructions from their
court; by which they were directed to infiſt upon a pub-
lick fatisfaction, and on the recalling of count Rechteren;
and appointing another plenipotentiary in his place. The
States not thinking it confiftent with their dignity to fub-
mit to thoſe demands, the negotiations at Utrecht were
fufpended, whilft the earl of Strafford, and fome other mi-
nifters, ufed their endeavours at the Hague to find out an
expedient to remove that obftruction; but, the French
king's pride being now again in exaltation, he was in-
tracable. On the other hand, the States feemed refolved
not to comply with fo extravagant a reparation, being
defirous of drawing this difpute into length, that they
might avoid entering into a negotiation of peace, which
they thought must be detrimental to their intereft, and the
common cauſe, and ſtill hoping, that fomething might
happen, which would occafion fome favourable turn in the
affairs of Europe. To this purpoſe it was obſerved, that The Penfio-
at the opening of the affembly of the ftates of Holland on nary's fpeech
againſt a
the 13th of September, N. S. penfionary Heinfius, in a very peace.
pathetick ſpeech, fhewed the impoffibility of concluding a
peace at this juncture, without lofing the fruits of all
the blood and treaſure they had expended in the preſent
quarrel, and expofing their country and the liberties of
all chriftendom, to imminent danger: Urging, that as,
of two evils, they ought to chufe the leaft, ſo they must
make extraordinary efforts to carry on the war, till at
fafe and honourable peace fhould be obtained: And
concluding, that, thanks to the Almighty, they were not
wholly deſtitute of means for that purpoſe, provided
they would act with the fame conftancy and harmony,
which the republick had exerted on fo many occafions.'
This fpeech had its effect, both with the ftates of Hol-
land, and the States-General; for the earl of Strafford
hiving fignified to them, That the Queen was willing to
• endeavour to engage France to admit them, or any other
of the allies, into the fufpenfion of arms; they answer-
ed they could not refolve any thing upon it, without the
Emperor and the other allies; and that it would be too
great a difgrace to the confederacy, to afk a fſuſpenſion of
arms, without being affured of obtaining it. As to the
earl of Strafford's propofition of granting paffports to the
plenipotentiaries of king Philip, the States alledged, they
<
6
<
C
could
14
HISTORY
THE
1712. could not comply with it, without doing a manifeft injury
to the Emperor, who had at leaſt an equal title with king
Philip to the crown of Spain.
Infult on the
Strafford.
About this time another accident happened at Utrecht,
Marquis del which was like to prove a new obſtruction to the negotia-
Borgo and
the earl of tion of peace. The earl of Strafford had, by his lofty
carriage, made himfelf very obnoxious to the Dutch; and,
it being given out, that the duke of Savoy had abandoned
the allies, and agreed to a fufpenfion of arms, ſome of
the common people, in the night-time, broke the win-
dows, both of the marquis del Borgo, one of the duke's
plenipotentiaries, and of the earl of Strafford; and, as a
farther indignity to the earl, they fet up a wheel on the
rails before his houſe, with a paper on it, in which was
written the Dutch word, Straff-art, alluding to the earl's
name, and implying, that he deferved the puniſhment de-
noted by the wheel; the word Straffen in Dutch ſignify-
ing, to puniſh or chaſtiſe. This infult was highly re-
fented by the Britiſh plenipotentiaries; but the magiftrates
of Utrecht having publifhed a reward of four hundred
gilders to any one, who fhould difcover the authors of it,
and that the name of the informer fhould be concealed;
the Britiſh court thought fit not to take any notice of the
affront at this juncture, the rather, becauſe it was by many
fufpected, that the French emiffaries were at the bottom of
this infult, in order to irritate the Britiſh nation againſt the
Dutch.
The French
infift on the
The afcendant, which France had now gained in all the
reftitution of negotiations of peace, was evident from their infifting up-
on the reftitution of Tournay, which deferves to be par-
Rep. of the ticularly fet forth. On the 30th of Auguft the Britiſh
Tournay.
Com. of
Secr.
plenipotentiaries at Utrecht acquainted the lord Bolingbroke,
that in fome difcourfe with the minifters of the allies they
had carried matters fo far as to tell them, that though her
Majeſty would endeavour to promote their intereſt in a peace,
and obtain for them the beſt terms, that ſhould be poffible;
yet, if thoſe endeavours fhould not procure more than the
contents of her Majefty's fpeech, or even in fome degree.
fall fhort of that plan, the fault would be intirely theirs, who
had rendered things difficult and uncertain, which other-
wife would have been eafy and practicable. And, having
thus far complied with their late orders to lay all the blame
upon the allies, they further informed his lordship, that they
had however obtained the confent of the minifters of the
allies to come to a conference with thoſe of France, in or-
der
OF ENGLAN D.
15
<
der to renew the negotiations; the time to be fixed be- 1712.
tween the British and French plenipotentiaries, who, meet-y
ing to have fome difcourfe previous to the general confe-
rences, parted without coming to any conclufion. The oc-
cafion of their difference, that prevented renewing the con-
ferences, aroſe upon propofals made by the Britiſh minifters
in relation to Tournay. They, in a letter of the 2d of
September, N. S. to lord Bolingbroke, ftate the caſe in
this manner: In her Majefty's speech it is expreffed,
That the Dutch are to have the intue barrier, as demand-
ed in 1709, except two or three places at moſt.' The
French minifters infift, that they muſt have Lifle as an equi-
valent for Dunkirk; and that the fame is not to be under-
ftood as one of the three places mentioned in the fpeech;
and confequently that they muft, in all have four of the
places mentioned in the demands of 1709. This to us
appears to be altogether inconfiftent with what her Majeſty
has declared; and we accordingly think it contrary to our
duty to bring on a conference, in which fuch an explication
is to be made. The French minifters, on the other hand,
have ſhewed us their orders, which pofitively require them
to infift upon the reftitution of Tournay as well as Lifle;
and that they can by no means confent to the ceffion of
Maubeuge or Condé. The Britiſh minifters then preffed
the French to ſpeak at firft in terms as general, as their
propofal was conceived in; but the French thought it ne-
ceffary to be particular and expreſs in that point above all
others, becauſe they fhall otherwife have tied themfelves
up, and given the Dutch an advantage. The refult of this
debate was, not to proceed to a conference, till this point
be determined; the French infifting, that their orders were
fo plain, as neither to need nor admit any explication; and
the British minifters thinking the matter is plain on their
fide. They hoped, their zeal for her Majeſty's honour
would be graciously approved, and defire to be directed.
what further they are to do in this matter, which they ap-
prehend to be of a decifive confequence; becauſe they
find even thoſe among the Dutch, who appear to be moſt
cordially diſpoſed to ſuch a peace, as may re-eſtabliſh a good
harmony between her Majefty and the States, as abfolutely
neceffary for their mutual preſervation, fully refolved, either
to retain Tournay, and have Condé yielded to them; or to
take one of theſe two courfes, either to come into any terms,
that France offers, or to continue the war at all hazards.
The language, which our plenipotentiaries had ufed to the
allies,
16
THE HISTORY
<
<
.
(
1712. allies, is very much approved of by lord Bolingbroke, in
his letter of the 26th of Auguft, who fays, they had ſpoke
the ſentiments of the Queen's heart, in what they de-
clared the 30th of Auguit, N. S. and that, if the allies
did fall fhort of the plan laid down in the Queen's fpeech,
the fault was intirely their own. His lordſhip fays, Sure
it is, that this plan was nothing more than an ultimatum
of what France would offer; but he wifhed, that the
Imperial and Dutch policy had not rendered it the ulti-
matum of what France will grant. The fame general
reflections might be applied to the particular cafe men-
•tioned in their lordships letter. France would have
yielded Tournay, though much against the grain. If
France has now any advantage, and refufes flatly to yield
what he only begged to have restored, the fault is in-
tirely theirs.' But the difpatch of the plenipotentiaries
of the 2d of September, relating to Tournay, having not
yet been confidered by the lords of the council, his lord-
thip could not give any pofitive inſtructions about it till the
next opportunity; but, in the mean time, recommended
to them two confiderations: That the keeping of the Dutch
in hopes of her Majefty's good offices will prevent them
from taking any defperate refolutions; and the French in-
fifting to have count Rechteren difavowed, before any fur-
ther treaty, will put off, for fome time, the decifion of
that great point. The earl of Strafford, in the mean
time, by his letters of the 13th and 16th of September,
N. S. reprefented the States as mightily funk with their
misfortunes, and not knowing well what meaſures to
take; but that they infifted upon Tournay as fo effential
to their barrier, that they had actually none without it:
And his lordship was fo much of that opinion, that he
wifes they might have Tournay, though they were
forced to truck Ypres, for it: That if he could pofi-
tively affure them they fhould have Tournay, he believed
they would fubmit to the plan of the Queen's fpeech.'
This opinion of his lordſhip is not very eafily reconcile-
able to what he afterwards wrote to Mr Prior upon this
fubject, Octob. 12, 1712: 'If we had a mind to have
Nick Frog fign, with us, we might, for he is ready to do
it for Tournay; which, if we fign together, we cannot
• well refuſe him: But I expect you will cut that matter
fhort, and I long to hear from you.' But this affair of
Tournay was not fo foon fettled in England; although
the difficulty does not feem to be, whether the French or
<
Dutch
OF ENGLAND.
17
rem
1712.
1
Dutch were to have it; but in what manner it was to be
procured for France, without a manifeft contradiction to and
what was faid by the Queen, in her fpeech concerning the
Bairler. Lord Bolingbroke, on the 10th of September,
O. S. writes three letters upon this fubject, to monfieur
de Torcy, to Mr Prior, and to the plenipotentiaries. In
that to monfieur de Torcy, he defires him to
member the propofition, which was often laid down by
him when in France, and infifted upon as a fundamental
in all their future proceedings upon the general peace:
That the conduct of the Queen, in regard to the intereſts
of her allies, was in a great meaſure determined by their
behaviour: That the violent meaſures, which they had
taken to obſtruct the peace, had put the Queen in a con-
dition to make her peace, without waiting for their con-
currence; in which cafe the Queen would declare, that
ſhe had figned the treaty with France and Spain, and would
propoſe the plan brought over by abbot Gaultier, and de-
livered the 29th of April 1712, for the allies to treat upon,
and could do no more than by her good offices, as a com-
mon friend to both parties. But, in cafe the Dutch in par-
ticular, or the other allies, fhould, before the conclufion
of her peace with France, enter into concert with her Ma-
jefty, we fhould have more meaſures to keep with them;
the compaffion of our people would be moved in their be-
half; and the Queen's minifters obliged to make fome fteps,
which otherwiſe they would abfolutely refuſe to do. Upon
this foundation, continues his Lordfhip, the King's mini-
fters ſeem to exact fomething more, when they infift the
Queen's minifters fhould propoſe the holding a conference,
in which the first propofitions ſtarted would appear, in fome
meaſure, contrary to what the Queen faid in her fpeech,
touching the barrier of the ſtates. The point in diſpute be-
tween your plenipotentiaries and ours is not to know,
Whether Tournay fhall be restored to the king or not?
For, to obtain that place, it is not neceffaty you fhould be-
gin by making this fpecific declaration. But the queftion
is, Whether the Queen ought formally, and at prefent, to
declare that Tournay fhall be reftored to France? Which
would be to confent to the explanation, which your mini-
fters give to this article of the Queen's speech. His lord-
fhip then fays: Not to fwell my letter too much, which
may already feem tedious, I refer myfelf to what Mr
Prior fhall have the honour to explain to you upon this
point; and I fhall content myſelf with faying, that as it
VOL. VI.
B
•
•
is
18
HISTORY
THE
1712.
is not difficult to find a temperament, I hope we fhall
avoid all things, that may occafion a difpute between the
minifters of Great-Britain and France.' This tempera-
ment is to be found in his letter to Mr Prior of the fame
day, which he ſays, is to be looked upon only as a letter
<
6
6
<
<
from Harry to Mat, and not the fecretary to the minifter.'
He fends him incloſed an extract of his letter to Monfieur
de Torcy, which, he fays, relates to a matter, that has
given lord treaſurer and himſelf no ſmall trouble in the ca-
binet. He likewiſe fends him a copy of the plenipoten-
tiaries diſpatch of the 2d of September upon the fame
< fubject; wherein, as he will obferve, their lordships are
very warm about the difputes. He can affure him, we
have thoſe, who are not a jot cooler. His lordſhip goes
on: The folution of this difficulty must come from you;
which is a matter of management and appearance, more
◄ than of ſubſtance. The method of doing it is by mak-
ing monfieur de Torcy fenfible of the propofition ſettled
• between them in France, that the Queen can never do
any thing, which fhall look like a direct reftraint on her
• allies from demanding what they judge neceffary; but as
long as they act the part, which they now do, fhe can
very juftly be paffive and neuter as to their interefts,
This his lordship thinks is advantage enough for France,
and fuch a one, fairly fpeaking, as a year ago they
would have given more than Tournay to be fure of.
They must not therefore prefs us to go further than this,
nor to do any thing, which may feem contradictory to
what the Queen delivered from the throne. In a word,
the ufe, which the French will make of the unaccount-
able obftinacy of the Dutch, and the other allies, may,
in feveral refpects, and particularly, for aught I know,
in the inftance of Tournay, give them an opportunity
of faving and gaining more than they could have hoped.
for; and the Queen may in the prefent circumstances
• contribute paffively to this end, but actively he never
can in any circumftances.' His lordship then very plainly
gives his advice how this matter is to be managed, in
thefe words: I think in my opinion, and I believe I
fpeak the Queen's upon this occafion, it were better the
• French fhould in the courfe of the treaty declare, that,
whatever they intended to have given the Dutch, when
the Queen fpoke from the throne, their conduct has
• been fuch, and the fituation of affairs is fo altered, that
the King is refolved to have Tournay restored to him:
C
C
ร
•
•
6
G
C
I fay,
OF ENGLAND.
19
•
C
.
Let
I fay, I believe this were better, than to expect, that
we should affent to an expofition of the Queen's words,
by which her Majefty would yield the town up.
the conferences begin as foon as they will, I dare fay,
bufinefs will not very fpeedily be difpatched in them.
We ſhall go on to ripen every thing for a concluſion be-
tween us and Savoy, France, and Spain, and this is the
true point of view, which the French ought to have be-
•fore their eyes.' This fcheme being concerted here,
and tranfmitted to France, lord Bolingbroke on the fame
day writes to the plenipotentiaries, in anfwer to theirs of
the 2d of September, N. S. upon which he had before
told them, he could give no infiructions, till their letter
was confidered by the lords of the council; neither does
his lordship now fend them any directions, but inlarges
upon the fame general topicks of imputing all the mif-
chiefs, that had happened, and in particular this affair of
Tournay, to the obftinacy of the allies. His lordfhip ob-
ferves, That, in the plan brought over by abbot Gaultier,
the king of France begged for Tournay, rather than
infifted upon it; but was now encouraged to refuſe what
he only endeavoured to fave: And, in fhort, that France
had now gathered ftrength by our divifions, and was
grown fanguine enough to make that plan the ultimatum
of her conceffions, which was at firft nothing more than
the ultimatum of her offers; but that the Dutch had ro
body to blame for all this but themfelves.' His lordship
adds, Her majeſty is very fenfible of the concern you ex-
prefs for her honour, and will not, you may be fure,
fuffer herſelf to be a party to any thing, which may ap-
pear contradictory to what he has once advanced: And
although perhaps the yielding of Tournay might be re-
conciled to the terms of her fpeech; jet, fhould the
queen conſent to this expofition of it, fuch confent
• would be almoſt a formal reſtoration of this place to
France: And this, my lords, is what her majefty will
• avoid. But I hope the folution of this difficulty will come
from France; and that, when they have ſo many other
fo
quarrels to decide, that court will go back from a mea-
fure, which muft involve them in a difpute with the queen.'
Among Mr Prior's papers, the committee of fecrecy in
1715 found one, which feemed to be the draught of a let-
ter from him to monfieur de Torcy, purfuant to what lord
Bolingbroke had written to him upon the fubject of Tour-
nay; which is in fubftance the fame, and almoft in the
C
C
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<
ເ
1
B 2
very
1712.
$
20
THE HISTORY
'
1712. very words of lord Bolingbroke's letter to Mr Prior of the
10th of September, with this addition, that it begins
thus: There is more appearance than fubftance in this
• affair, that is now under agitation at Utrecht; and my
• lord-treaſurer does not at all doubt but the court of
• France will find a remedy.' And his lordfhip was not
miſtaken in his expectations. For monfieur de Torcy
very readily followed the advice, that was given by the
Engliſh miniftry; and on the 27th of September, N. S. fends
lord Bolingbroke a declaration to be made by the French
plenipotentiaries at Utrecht, wherein the king's minifters
are ordered to declare to thoſe of Great Britain, That
the king did confent to treat of the peace upon the plan
laid down in the queen's ſpeech to her parliament; but
at the fame time they were to fay, that the Dutch hav-
ing refuſed to conform to the fentiments of that prin-
cefs, having rejected the fufpenfion of arms, and given.
opportunity to the feveral changes in affairs, that had
happened; it is but juft, that his majeſty ſhould be re-
' compenſed for the expence he has been obliged to make
during the courfe of this campaign. Upon this founda-
tion his majeſty orders his plenipotentiaries not to fign a
peace but upon condition, that Tournay fhould be re-
ftored to him, befides the other places, which he has
• demanded, and which he had reafon to believe the queen
• of Great-Britain did defign to comprehend in her ſpeech.'
However the meafares and counfels relating to this affair
were afterwards altered upon great conceffions made to
France, and advantageous terms procured for the elector
of Bavaria. But that Tournay was, at laft, obtained for the
Dutch, was principally owing to the firmnefs and refolu-
tion of the States, and to the affiftance of the earl of Straf-
ford, who refuſed to fign the treaty without the ceffion of
that place to the States, on which account he received their
folemn thanks.
Mr Prior
tiary at Pa-
ris.
C
6
6
Mr Prior having been left by lord Bolingbroke at Paris,
plenipoten- as the queen's plenipotentiary, he was introduced by the
marquis de Torcy to a private audience of the king; and
obtained a favourable interpretation of a clauſe inferted in
the late treaty for a fufpenfion of arms, which had raiſed
a clamour among the merchants in London. For it having
been ftipulated, That none of the queen's men of war,
or merchants fhips, fhould transport or convoy into Por-
'
€
tugal or Catalonia, or any of the places where they made
war at prefent, any troops, arms, cloaths, provifions,
• or
OF
21
ENGLAND.
< or ammunition: The English traders were juftly appre- 1712.
henfive, that under that pretence they might be debarred
from their ufual traffic of corn and fifh, of which there are
great demands at Liſbon and Barcelona, in time of peace as
well as in war.
$
that a
;
The French
deſtroy our
of Secr.
While Mr Prior was in France, news came,
French fquadron in the Weft-Indies was taking the fugar- fugar-
islands belonging to the Engliſh, deftroying their planta- lands. Rep.
tions, carrying away their negroes, and making hoftages of of the Com.
the planters. Upon notice of this invafion of the Lee-
ward-iflands by the French, the lord Bolingbroke wrote
thus to Prior, September the 19th, O. S.
• This proves a
very untoward contretempts. It gives a theme to the
whigs, and ferves to awaken the paffions that were al-
moft lulled afleep. We expected that Coffart's fquadron
might have gone to the coaſt of Brazil, or to Surinam
but we never imagined our colonies would have been at-
tacked by him, at a time when we were knitting the
• bonds of friendſhip between the two nations with all poffi-
ble induſtry. Could this ill opinion of our new friends.
have entered into our heads, I do affure you, he ſhould
• have been accompanied by a fleet of the queen's, which
'would have kept him in reſpect.' He remembers the or-
ders that were fo punctually and chearfully obeyed by the
duke of Ormond, which, as he thinks, faved the French a
beating, and then adds: In a word, we depended ſo much
upon the good underſtanding, which we thought eſtab-
lifhed, and were so earnest to prevent any thing, which
might break in upon it, that we not only avoided to forti-
fy our ſquadron, as we might have done, but we alſo
neglected to put in execution fome defigns, which would
have annoyed the French and Spaniards perhaps more
than any which have been effected in the courſe of the
• war.'
'
C
6
6
England.
Secr.
Mr Prior was fo entirely devoted to the French court, Prior re-
that, towards the latter end of October, without either turns to
leave or orders from the queen, he came over into England, Rep. of the
at the defire of the king of France, who thought him a Com. of
pra-
per perſon to be intrufted with the great fecret of prevailing
with the queen, by her credit, to obtain what he demanded
for the elector of Bavaria, for which purpofe he brought a
credential letter to the queen, importing, That his con-
duct was very agreeable to that monarch.' About the
middle of November he was fent back to France with new
inftructions, wherein the propofal of a neutrality in Italy
B 3
was
22
HISTORY
THE
1712. was one of the chief articles: And, that he might have a
perfect knowledge of the queen's prefent refolutions and
counfels, in relation to the prefent treaty of peace, a copy
of the laft inftructions to the plenipotentiaries at Utrecht.
was given him, that, as occafion fhould require, he might
act in all things conformable to the queen's intentions there-
in expreffed. He carried likewife a letter from the queen to
the king of France, wherein, among other things, it is faid
that, Mr Prior continuing to behave himſelf fo, as that his
conduct may be intirely agreeable to the king of Fiance,
he does but literally execute the order the queen had given
him, and is a proof of his duty and zeal for her fervice.
Endeavours
to bring the
queen's
meafuies.
About this time, in order to conquer the obstinacy of
duke of Sa- the Dutch, it was induſtriouſly given out in England and
voy into the Holland, that the duke of Savoy had agreed to a fufpenfion
of arms; which report had, as yet, no other foundation,
than the earneſt endeavours of the British minifters to bring
him into the queen's meaſures; for which the emperor's
backwardness to give him fatisfaction about fome claims,
not ill-grounded, gave them a very plaufible handle. The
differences, which had been long depending between the
courts of Vienna and Turin, having been very prejudicial
to the confederate intereft, becauſe the duke of Savoy ra-
ther choſe to ſtand ſtill, than, by going into the field, to
promote the intereft of an ally, who ftill put off the per-
formance of his engagements to him: The maritime
powers uſed their utmoſt endeavours to put an end to
thefe fatal difputes. Both parties were at laft prevailed.
with, to refer the controverfy to the arbitration of the
queen and the States, whofe envoys, Mr Stanyan and
monfieur Vander Meer, having met at Milan the pleni-
potentiaries of the emperor and the duke of Savoy, and
maturely weighed the allegations on both fides, they agreed
on a ſentence of arbitration, importing in fubftance, that
either the town of Vigevano, or an equivalent for it,
fhould be given to the duke, together with feveral other
diftricts. The duke of Savoy readily acquiefced in this
decifion, for which he returned thanks to the British and
Dutch minifters; but the imperial commiffioners folemnly
protefled againſt it; which was very ill relished at the
court of Great-Britain. While this affair was depend-
ing, the duke of Savoy ordered count Maffei, his firft
plenipotentiary at Utrecht, to repair, about the middle of
May, to London, to follicit the arrears of fubfidies due
to him; and, the better to fucceed in his negotiation,
June 27,
N. S.
that
OF ENGLAN D.
23
<
C
.
that minifter did not fail infinuating, that his mafter was
inclinable to enter into the Britiſh meaſures. Upon this
hint, Mr St John, who feized all opportunities to mor-
tify the houſe of Auftria, ftarted the propofal of giving the
kingdom of Sicily to the duke of Savoy, in order to en-
gage him in his views. And therefore, though the
French plenipotentiaries at Utrecht had early offered that
ifland to the emperor, yet the British minifter declared to
the marquis de Torcy, that the queen abfolutely demanded
it for the duke of Savoy. It is, however, obfervable,
that the duke was fo far from reliſhing this propofition,
that he declared to the earl of Peterborough at Turin,
That he was not fo vainly impatient for the title of a
king, as to loſe or hazard any real intereft for an empty
name; but that he thought it much more extraordinary,
that a prince defeated ten years together by his enemies,
'fhould remain, at laft, with the prize contended for, and
which fo often, by parliament, had been declared the
juft and unavoidable motive of the war.' To calm the
uneafineſs of mind the duke of Savoy was in, the earl of
Peterborough reprefented in a memorial to him, That,
in refufing thofe offers, he muſt fall out with the queen
and the English minifters, whom he endeavoured to ex-
'cufe from the reproaches caft upon them, as if they were
perfons devoted to France. That, for the fupport of
what was propofed, a fufficient fleet would be furniſhed,
either by England or France, or by both powers jointly;
and that he fhould be guaranteed and protected againſt
any power, that fhould oppofe this project, or fhould in-
fult him for having accepted thefe offers.' The argu-
ments of the British minifters prevailed at length with the
duke; and, if their defign was effectually to difable the
emperor from fupponing himself againſt France, after the
feparation of the English, by forcing into the intereſt of
France an ally fo confiderable as the duke of Savoy, thefe
meaſures were certainly extremely well calculated for fuch
an end. This forwardness of the Britiſh miniſtry to make
England a guarantee for conditions advantageous only to
France, and which muft naturally have engaged the nation
in a war with the emperor, was the more extraordinary,
in that, during the whole courfe of this negotiation, no
endeavours were ufed to procure a guaranty of the allies
to fecure the proteftant fucceffion, which had been ad-
dreffed for by both houfes of parliament. While the
earl of Peterborough was alluring the duke of Savoy with
C
B 4
the
1712.
24
HISTORY
THE
1712. the promife of Sicily, the French endeavoured to draw him
off by open force. But the duke of Berwick, after an un-
fucceſsful attempt to furprize fort Edmund and Conti, and
the plundering of the neighbourhood of Saluffes, which
occafioned a warm fkirmifh, was obliged to repafs the
Alpes with an inconfiderable booty. On the other hand,
count Maffei having, with great addrefs, obtained from
the British court a large fum of money, in part of the
arreais due to his mafter, he returned to his poft at
Utrecht, towards the end of September, O. S. by which
time the emperor had fent orders to his minifters at Milan,
to give the duke of Savoy intire fatisfaction. But this
condefcenfion had no effect upon a prince, who was already
biaffed by the gold and promifes of Great-Britain.
The elector
of Hanover
refuſes to
come into
the British
meaſures.
The English minifters, and their agents, were not e-
qually fuccefsful in fome courts of Germany. Mr Tho-
mas Harley, a near relation of the lord treaſurer, who, a-
bout the beginning of this year, had been appointed to go
to Hanover with a fecret commiffion, having ftaid fome
months in Holland, to watch the progrefs of the Negotia-
tions at Utrecht and the Hague, fet out, at laft, about the
beginning of July for Germany. On the 12th of that
month, N. S. he arrived at Hanover, accompanied by
Mr St John, brother to the lord Bolingbroke, and fome
other young English gentlemen, who were all entertained
at the elector's expence. Three days after, Mr Harley,
who from the ſtation of coadjutor to the ſecretary of the
treaſury, was now raiſed to the character of ambaſſador ex-
traordinary, had a publick audience of the elector, and after-
wards of the princefs Sophia, electreſs dowager, and of the
electoral prince and princef, by whom he was received
with diftinguishing marks of favour, as one fo nearly re-
lated to the prime minifter of Great-Britain. The defign
of this ambaffy was to perfuade the elector to come into the
Britiſh meaſures, which Mr Harley preffed strongly, and,
amongst other arguments, told him, That the contrary.
would do him an injury in the minds of the people, who
were ſet upon peace.' But the clector remained firm in
the fentiments, which he formerly expreffed in the memo-
rial prefented about a year before by baron Bothmar, and
anfwered Mr Harley to this effect: I do not put myself
upon the foot of one pretending immediately to the
• Great-Britain.
throne of Great Britain. The queen is a young wo-
man, and, I hope, will live a great many years.
The dies, my mother is before me. Whenever it pleaſes
When
God
OF ENGLAND.
25
God to call me to that ſtation, I hope to act as becomes
me, for the advantage of the people. In the mean time,
* fpeak to me, as to a German prince, and a prince of the
• empire. As fuch, I muft tell you, I cannot depart from
what I take to be the true intereft of the empire and the
• Dutch.' Mr Harley, having continued above two
months at Hanover, fet out from thence to return to Great-
Britain.
Endeavours were likewife ufed about this time to bring
the king of Pruffia into pacific meaſures, with no better
fuccefs than at the court of Hanover. But, notwithſtand-
ing theſe and other difappointments, the Britiſh minifters
purſued their ſcheme with ſteadineſs and refolution; which
being chiefly founded on king Philip's renunciation of the
crown of France, the lord Lexington was appointed to go
to Spain, to prefs and be witness of the performance of that
important preliminary.
1712.
Though the public negotiation at Utrecht was, for fome New fcheme
months, at a ſtand, upon account of the difpute between of peace pro-
pofed by the
Mefnager and Rechteren; yet, fome private fteps were Dutch.
made in the mean while for bringing the war to a conclu-
fion: For on the 9th of October, N. S. the miniſters of
the States declared to thofe of Great-Britain, That, for
6
6
the good of peace, the States were willing to yield Lifle
to France, and recede from their pretenfions to have Do-
way, Valenciennes, and Maubeuge, which they had
hitherto infifted upon; provided Condé and Tournay
were included in the barrier, the Tariffs of 1664 reftor-
ed, and that Sicily be yielded to the emperor, and Straf-
burg to the empire.' This propofal was immediately
tranfmitted to the court of Great-Britain, where it was
looked upon as more reaſonable than any of the former
fchemes. On the other hand, the imperial minifters find-
ing the States inclined to yield up Spain and the Weft-In-
dies to King Philip, to which they knew their mafter was
unwilling to confent, count Zinzendorf propofed a plan,
according to which the emperor, and the States of the
empire fhould furnifh four millions of crowns, which were
fuppofed to be fufficient to put their forces in a condition to
act offenfively, and to maintain most of the auxiliaries lately
in the British pay. But, it having been found by long expe-
rience, that there was no great dependance to be made on fuch
promiſes, fome of the princes, to whom thofe troops belong-
cd, refolved to recal them upon various pretences.
On
26
HISTORY
THE
1712.
Strafford
On the 4th of October, one of the queen's meffengers
arrived at Utrecht with difpatches for her minifters; and
The earl of after a conference with thofe of the States, the earl of
Strafford, the next morning, fet out for England, and on
the 13th arrived at Whitehall.
comes to
England.
Various
about it.
court.
The earl's fudden departure from Holland occafioned va-
conjectures rious conjectures both at home and abroad. The general
opinion was, that he was fent for to give the Queen and her
minifters a verbal account of the difpofition, in which he
left the Dutch as to peace and war, and to receive the
Mifunder- Queen's inftructions in relation to their late ſcheme. But
ftanding at those, who obferved what paffed at court, afcribed his com-
ing over to a miſunderſtanding, which, about this time,
appeared to be among the Queen's fervants. It is evident
(from the lord-treasurer's account of publick affairs, fent to
the queen in Auguſt 1714) that there had been ſeveral mif-
underſtandings between him and the lord Bolingbroke. He
obferves particularly, that, when it was found neceffary to
create fome new peers in the feffion of parliament in 1711,
fo many having been brought formerly out of the houſe of
commons of thofe, who ufed to manage publick affairs, it
was propoſed to Mr fecretary St John, that, if he would
be contented to ftay in the houſe of commons that feffion,
the queen would create him a peer, and he ſhould not lofe
his rank accordingly, after the feffion was ended, the
queen ordered a warrant for him to be a viſcount; which
put him into the utmoft rage against the lord-treaſurer and
lady Mafham. It availed but little to tell him, how much
he had got in place; for, had he been created with the
other lords, it would have fallen to his fhare to have come
next after lord Trevor. But the treaſurer, with great pa-
tience, bore all that ftorm, of which lady Maſham was
ofien a witneſs; and Mr Arthur Moore, a confiderable
time after, told the treaſurer, that lord Bolingbroke faid to
him, he owed him a revenge upon that head. This dif-
content continued, till there happened an opportunity
of fending him to France, of which there was, fays the
treaſurer, not much occafion; but it was hoped, this
would put him in good humour; which it did, till, in Oc-
tober 1712, there were knights of the garter made; which
occafioned a new refentment from lord Bolingbroke, which
frequently broke out in outrageous expreffions publickly
against all then made; who were the dukes of Beaufort, Ha-
milton, and Kent; the earl Paulet, and the earls of Ox-
ford and Strafford. The duke of Hamilton made a private.
appli-
OF ENGLAND.
27
application to the queen, defiring, he might be permitted
to wear both the garter and the order of the thiftle; but
was answered, the fame was unprecedented; and that the
duke of Argyle had laid down the thistle, upon his being
made knight of the garter.
1712.
ciation to
Hift. of Eur.
The lord Lexington, who was appointed to go to Spain, King Phi-
to prefs the renunciation of king Philip to the crown of p's renun-
France, having embarked at Portſmouth on the 15th of the crown
September, arrived, October the 7th, at Madrid, where of France.
he was received with great marks of honour and diſtinction.
Before his arrival, upon information, that Sir--Burke
refided there, as minifter of the king of England, whofe
arms he had fet up before his houfe; the lord Lexington
complained of it to the court, and demanded, that he
ſhould depart from Madrid, which he was immediately or-
dered to do. The lord Lexington had then feveral confe-
rences with king Philip's minifters about that prince's re-
nunciation; which being drawn up in form, and agreed to,
his majefty figned it on the 5th of November, N. S. and
fwore upon the holy evangelifts, to obferve it, in prefence.
of the council of ftate, and of the chief nobility. The cor-
tez, or ſtates of Spain, having been fummoned to meet at
Madrid, in order to enact this renunciation into a law,
king Philip, attended by the prefident of Caftile, and
council of state, went to that affembly, and told them,
That the cfforts, which the nation made with ſo much
zeal and fidelity, to fecure his crown in two perilous oc-
cafions, were of fuch a nature, as never to be forgot.
And to fhew his gratitude, to procure peace for his people,
and to be never feparated from them, he renounced all
pretenfions, which either himfelf, or his fiue, might
have to the crown of France; and defired them to
give
• their confent to it.' Upon this the cortez confirmed and
approved the renunciation, and the crown of Spain, after
king Philip's pofterity, was limited to the houfe of Savoy.
The queen, and prince of Aflurias, and the lord Lexing-
ton, were prefent at the whole folemnity. But it is to be
obferved, that his lordfhip did not yet take upon him any
character; and that fome time before king Philip fent or-
ders to the marquis de Monteleone, who was then at Paris,
to repair to the court of Great Britain.
C
The like enunciation was made fome months after, by
the princes of France to the crown of Spain: and king
Philip was declared incapable of fucceeding to the crown of
France. It was fomething ftrange, to fee fo much weight
laid
28
HISTORY
THE
1712. laid on theſe renunciations, fince the king of France had
ſo often, and fo folemnly declared (upon his claiming, in
the right of his queen, the Spanith Netherlands; when the
renunciation made by his queen before the marriage, pur-
fuant to the treaty of the Pyrenees, of all rights of Succeffion
to her father's dominions, was objected to him) that no re-
nunciation, which was but a civil act, could deſtroy the
rights of blood, founded on the laws of nature: But this
was now forgot, or very little confidered.
The Spani-
ards invade
Portugal.
Sept. 22.
N. S.
While theſe things were tranfa&ling, endeavours were
ufed to bring the crown of Portugal into the prefent mea-
fures of peace; and, left perfuafion fhould fail, it was
thought proper to uſe more forcible arguments.
The mar-
quis de Bay, who commanded king Philip's forces in Eftre-
madura, marched with his army, and encamped within.
half a league of Elvas. To encreafe the jealouſy, which
by this match he had given the Portuguefe, as if he de-
figned to befiege that place, he went to take a nearer view
of it, and then returned to his camp. On the other hand,
the Portugueſe, deceived by thefe appearances, worked
hard in repauing the fortifications of Elvas, and conveyed
into it two batallions, drawn out of Campo-Major; which
being the town the marquis de Bay had a defign upon, he
marched with the whole army, and invefted that place.
This irruption of the Spaniards, to the number of near
twenty thousand men, at a juncture, when Great-Britain
(the main fupport of Portugal for many years paft) had
reduced all her forces in that country, except two regi-
ments, could not but make the court of Portugal very
uneafy, Their confternation was very much encreaſed,
upon the news, that the Spaniards had invefted Campo-
Major, the moſt regular fortification on the frontiers of
Portugal; but which, at that time, was not provided either
with a fufficient garrifon, or with ammunition and provi-
fions for a long fiege. However, on this occafion, the
Portuguese exerted themfelves with vigour and refolution,
which was in great meaſure owing to the conduct of major
general Hogan, an Irifh gentleman, and of brigadier Maf-
fey, an experienced French proteſtant engineer, who formed,
in conjunction with the count de Ribeira, and feveral other
officers of note, the defign of getting into Campo- Major,
which was executed with very good fuccefs at the head of
two or three hundred Portugueſe grenadiers, a day or two
after the enemy had opened the trenches. Hogan having
alfo got into the town with a fupply of four or five hundred
men,
OF ENGLAND.
29
1
men, the count de Ribeira, who commanded there in chief,
made the neceffary difpofitions to defend the place to the
laft extremity, and was fo well feconded by the officers and
troops under him, that he obliged the marquis de Bay to
raife the fiege. Notwithſtanding this fuccefs, the expedi-
tion of the Spaniards had the effect defired by the courts of
France and Great-Britain. For, the Portugueſe finding
they were like to be left by England, if they continued the
war against Spain, the count de Tarouca, the Portugueſe
minifter at Utrecht, was prevailed upon by the bishop of
Bristol to come into the queen's meafures, and fign the fuf-
penſion of arms the 7th of November. He excufed this
proceeding to the minifters of the allies as a pure effect of
neceffity.
1712.
}
Thus ended the war in Portugal. As to the army in The forces
Spain, the latter end of September, brigadier Price, who led home.
in Spain cal-
commanded the English, received a letter by a trumpeter M. S.
of the enemy, from Mr fecretary St John, with orders
from the queen to leave immediately the army of count
Staremberg, and march to the fea-fide near Barcelona, and
there to wait the arrival of Sir John Jennings, who was to
transport them to Port-Mahon. This furprifing news (fays
the author of the manufcript account) caufed a great con-
fternation among our confederates, and very much enraged
the Catalans, who found, they were going to be forſaken
by thoſe they had most reafon to truſt. To prevent the ef-
fects of their refentment, and our being molefted upon our
march by the miquelets and other country people, the queen
of Spain fent four perfons of diftinction, to be as fafe-guards
to us, and to take care we ſhould be fupplied with provi-
fions. We came to Barcelona and encamped by the fea-
fide, on the very ſpot of ground where king Charles land-
ed with the troops, when he belieged and took that city.
Here we continued fome time before Sir John Jennings ar-
rived. With him came over colonel Kane, with a com-
miffion to break Lepel's regiments, that they might fell
their horfes, and to fee the men on board, with the regi-
ments of foot, and the train of artillery; which orders.
were executed in a very fhort time, and we were all carried
to Port-Mahon.
miten am-
The duke of Hamilton (who had been made mafter of Duke Ha
the ordnance, vacant by the death of carl Rivers) was ap- bafador to
pointed ambaffador extraordinary to the court of France. France.
The choice of the duke for that ambafly gave melancholy Bernet.
fpeculations to thofe who thought him much in the preten-
der's
30
THE
HISTORY
1712. der's intereft, and knew, that he was confidered, not only
in Scotland, but likewife in England, as the head of his
party. On the other hand the king of France named the
duke d'Aumont, firft gentleman of his bed-chamber to go
into England with the fame character of ambaffador ex-
traordinary which was likewife agreeable to the pretender's
friends, to whofe intereft he was openly attached.
duke of Or-
ty.
Cond. of the
mond.
All this while the duke of Ormond continued in his
Conference quarters in Ghent, where one of the Dutch field-deputies
between the came to him the 7th of September, N. S. being fent by his
mond and a collegues, to found him upon feveral points. He afked firft,
Dutch depu- Whether the English troops were to stay at Ghent and
Bruges the winter, or how long? To which the duke an-
duke of Or- fwered, He could not tell, but faw no appearance of their
being withdrawn as yet. He asked next, Whether the
duke would confent to the States putting fome of their
troops into Ghent, to take care of their convoys, and
eſcorte them to their frontier garrifons? The duke faid,
He thought himself obliged not to fuffer any troops, but
thofe of the queen, to continue in the town. However he
had no intention, by taking or keeping poffeffion of that
place, to obftruct their convoys; and that the Dutch troops
might ſtill come to the counterfcaip of the town, and re-
ceive whatever was to be carried to the camp, as had been
practifed ever fince Ghent was in our hands. The depu-
ty's next queſtion was, Whether the duke would let part
of the Dutch troops take their winter quarters in Bruges,
as they had done ever fince the reduction of that place?
The duke anſwered, He could not admit of any troops
whatever, befides thofe of the queen, either in Ghent or
Bruges, till he had her majeſty's orders. The lord Boling-
broke highly applauded the duke's conduct on this occa-
fion, and told him in a letter, That the queen had re-
ceived fo much ill ufage with refpcct to the commerce of
her fubjects in the Netherlands, and had fo much reafon
to expect more of the fame kind, that he was refolved
to treat upon that head with thofe pawns in her hand.'
But, upon recollection, the lord Bolingbroke, in a fecond
letter, acquainted the duke, That the poſitive order, con-
tained in his firſt, was not fent to prevent the admiſſion of
other troops befides her majefty's, into Ghent and Bruges.
That the queen was enough fatisfied, that his grace
would take effectual care to preferve thofe cautionary
places, which could alone fecure to her any tolerable
conditions, with refpect to the Netherlands, in the terms
Sep. 9.
O. S.
6
.
· of
OF ENGLAND.
3 I
'
•
<
८
of peace. But he confeffed he thought, it could be no
ways unneceffary to give his grace a very pofitive and
clear order, in an affair, which might perhaps make a
great
deal of noife.' The duke not only punctually obey-
ed the orders, which he received from England, but was
alſo very forward in affifting the queen's new friends, the
French, even at the expence of her old allies. For being
informed of a defign, which the Dutch, from the late
fuccefs of their enterprize upon fort Knocque, had been
encouraged to form, for furprifing Newport or Furnes;
and that the fortifying Dixmuyde was made ufe of as a
pretence for drawing together a body of troops fufficient
to put the defign into execution, the duke knew not, but
the queen might think it for her fervice, that the defign
fhould not fucceed, fince, if the Dutch were not fuffered
to take poffeffion of thoſe garrifons, the queen would not
only have a greater influence towards fettling the commerce
of the Netherlands on a good foot, but would be able to
fecure, what was of the highest confequence at that time,
a free communication between her troops, which were in
Ghent, Bruges, and Dunkirk. He therefore, in a letter
of October the 21ft, acquainted the fecretary with this af-
fair, and left his lordship to judge of the importance of it,
and the uſe, that was to be made of it. But, if the queen
thought it moſt for her ſervice to prevent it, he was hum-
bly of opinion, fome means fhould be found out to give
advice of it to the marshal de Villars, who might poffibly
think, we owed him that good office, in requital of fome
informations, his lordfhip knew had been fent by the marshal,
with a defign to ferve her majefty and the nation.
queen was of the fame opinion concerning the uſe to be
made of the intelligence mentioned in this letter; but, the
campaign being by this time at an end, the duke afked and
readily obtained leave to return to England; and, having
taken a view of Dunkirk, embarked there, landed at Dover
the first of November, arrived in London the next day, and
on the fourth waited on the queen at Windfor, where he
met with a moft gracious reception (d).
(d) Burnet fays, our army
continued this winter about
Ghent and Bruges; and we kept
a fort of garrifon in Dunkirk:
but that was fo ill fupplied with
The
An
artillery and ammunition, that
it was viſible they were not in a
condition to keep the place, any
longer than the French were
willing to let them ftay in it.
And,
1712.
*
>
32
THE HISTORY
1712.
Duke Ha-
milton and
killed in a
duel.
An accident happened about this time, which the minif-
ters laid hold of, to improve a private animofity, if not into
a conſpiracy againſt the government, at leaſt into a party
lord Mohun quarrel. A law-fuit, which for about eleven years had
been depending between the duke of Hamilton and the lord
Mohun, had created a great animofity between theſe two
noblemen; ſo that, on the 13th of November, at a meet-
ing at Mr Orlebar's, a mafter in Chancery's chambers in
the rolls, the duke having reflected on Mr Whiteworth
(father of lord Whiteworth, late ambaffador to the Czar)
who was examined as a witnefs on the lord Mohun's de,
faying, He had neither truth nor juftice in him; the lord
Mohun thought himſelf obliged to vindicate that gentle-
man, which he did, by faying, He had as much as his grace.
The duke having made no reply, all feemed to end amicably;
for they both continued in the fame place above half an
hour, and, at parting, the duke, going out firſt, made a
low bow to the lord Mohun, who, in like manner, return-
ed his civility; fo that none of the perfons there prefent
fufpected any confequence from what had paffed. But, the
next day, general Maccartney went twice to the duke of
Hamilton's houſe, with a challenge to him from the lord
Mohun; and, in the evening, the duke, accompanied by
colonel John Hamilton, went to meet general Maccartney
at the Rofe-Tavern, and was a few minutes in private with
him; whilst the lord Mohun and the colonel were in fepa-
rate rooms, Mr Maccartney went feveral times between
the duke and lord Mohun; from which, and other cir-
cumftance, his enemies took occafion to give out, that he
had rather inflamed, than endeavoured to compofe the quar-
rel. But all that can be fairly conjectured is, that the time
and place of the duel were there fixed and agreed on.
The
lord Mohun and general Maccartney lay that night at the
Bagnio in Long-Acre; and, on Sunday the 15th of No-
vember, about feven o'clock in the morning, went in a
hackney-coach to the lodge in Hyde-park, where being
foon after met by the duke of Hamilton, and his fecond
colonel Hamilton, they all leaped over a ditch, into a place
called the nurſery. Lord Mohun would not have had the
feconds engage; but the duke infifted, that Mr Maccart-
And, during that time, they
were neither allowed to have a
place to worship God, nor to
bury their dead in, though by a
mortality that raged there fome
thouſands died. Burnet, II. 615.
ney
1
}
OF
ENGLAND.
ney ſhould have a fhare in the dance; from whence the ge-
neral's enemies ftrengthened their fuggeftion, that he had
been the inftigator of the duel. All having drawn, the two
principals made fuch a violent and defparate paffes at each
other, being rather intent to give than to parry thrufts, that
they foon fell down, both mortally wounded; fo that the
lord Mohun died on the ſpot; and the duke, as his fervants
were carrying him to his coach (e). The two feconds did
not fight at all, as one of the witneffes depofed, or fought
with fuch caution that colonel Hamilton received only a
fmall wound in the inftep, which, he faid, happened by
his own fword, as he was parrying down a full paſs, that
Maccartney made at him (f).
(e) Burnet, on this occafion,
fays: I will add no character of
him: I am forry I cannot fay fo
much good of him as I could
wifh, and I had too much kind-
nefs for him, to fay any evil
without neceffity. Nor fhall I
make any reflections on the de-
plorable effect of thoſe unchrif-
tian and barbarous maxims,
which have prevailed ſo univer-
fally, that there is little hope
left of feeing them rooted out
of the minds of men; the falſe
notions of honour and courage
being too ftrong, to be weighed
down by prudent or religious
confiderations. Burnet, II. 6:2.
(f) The high-church men
and the Jacobites were fo fen-
fibly touched with the lofs of
one of their principal champi-
ons, that they charged this un-
fortunate duel on the whole
Whig party; fuggefting, That,
having tried all other methods
in vain, they returned to their
expedient of murder, and em-
*ployed treachery and violence.
at once. That their general
(the duke of Marlborough]
fet the example of party du-
els, which was only to give
VOL. VI.
<
•
C
The
' them a fanction; and deputed
that infamous meffenger of
his challenge to be the gene-
'ral bully of the faction. That
'the preſent lord treaſurer had
almoft miraculouſly escaped
their laſt engine of affaffination
[meaning the band-box.] That
'the bravo, Maccartney, who
depended for his fupport on
the lord Mohun, was forced'
to keep up his patron's cou-
rage with wine, till within a
< very few hours of their meet-
ing in the field: and that the
' mortal wound, which the duke
received, after his adverſary
was run through the heart,
'could not be given by any but
<
33
1712.
Maccartney.' This laft accu-
fation being like to lay an in-
deliable odium on the Whigs,
great indultry, and indeed all
indirect means were uſed to pro-
pagate the belief of it.
In or-
der to that, colonel Hamilton Examiner,
depofed before the privy-coun-
cil, That, feeing lord Mohun
;
fall, and the duke upon him,
he ran to the duke's affiftance
and, that he might with the
more cafy help him, he flung
• down both their fwords; and,
C
as
}
५
Nov. 20.
34
HISTORY
THE
1712.
character of
The earl of Godolphin died of the ftone, on the 15th
of September, this year. He had ferved in confiderable
Death and employments under four princes of very different tempers
the earl of and defigns. Oppofite opinions have been delivered of his
Godolphin, merit and character. Great abilities and integrity have
been afcribed to him by fome; while others have freely
cenfured
6
C
up,
as he was raifing the duke
he faw Maccartney make a
push at his grace'. Upon
Upon
which an advertiſement was pu
bliſhed by the government, for
the diſcovery of lieutenant-ge-
neral Maccartney, fuggefting,
that it had appeared upon oath,
that the wound, whereof the
duke died, was given him by
Maccartney. On the other
hand it was alledged, in vindi-
cation of the whigs in general,
and of general Maccartney in
particular, • That the duke of
•
Hamilton and the lord Mohun
purſued their private animofi-
'ties, occaſioned by the law-
fuit before-mentioned, which
had been depending many
years; which plainly appear-
ed from the duke's having
⚫ often been forewarned to
• avoid the lord Mohun's com-
pany. That the latter might
probably have been inclined
to decide the matter by the
fword, upon an apprehenfion,
• either that the duke would at
laft remove the cauſe to the
* houſe of peers, where he might
hope to ſupply by friends and
• intereſt what he wanted in ju-
• ftice and equity; or that, up-
on his return from his am-
baffy in France, he might beg
• and obtain from the crown
the late earl of Macclesfield's
،
6
<
eſtate, which was the prize
'contended for, upon a pre-
• tence, that the outlawry a.
gainſt that earl was not reverf-
'ed in due form' As to the
fuggeftion, that general Mac-
cartney ftabbed the duke of
Hamilton, the falfity of that
horrid imputation fufficiently
appeared, both from the feve-
ral depofitions taken at the co-
roner's inqueft, and from the
reports and declarations of two
or three eminent furgeons, who
were unanimous, That the
'wound the duke received in
his right arm, and which was
• allowed on all hands to have
'been given by the lord Mo-
hun, was the immediate oc-
'cafion of his Grace's death.'
Colonel Hamilton foully preva-
ricated at his trial on account
of this duel, and perfifted in
accufing general Maccartney.
But his filence at the place
where they fought, and where
they both continued a confider-
able time, taking care of their
refpe&ive principles, raiſed an
unanswerable objection to the
colonel's evidence, and fixed up-
on him an infamous character,
either for charging a murder
upon an innocent man, or for
fuffering the murderer of the
noble perfon, whofe fecond he
was, to make his eſcape, when
it was in his power to fecure
him. Under this juſt imputa-
tion colonel Hamilton lived ob-
fcurely the remainder of his
days, becoming fo odious to all
men of honour, that he was
obliged
OF
35
ENGLAND.
cenfured him for notorious defects in the latter, and allow-
ed him to have been great by the chance of place and di-
tinction. The treaſurer's ftaff was attended with the ill-
will and averfion of the tories; for his rival, the earl of
Rochefter, by his turbulent zeal, had gained the higheſt
place in their favour. As he had commonly acted in op-
pofition to the whigs, they likewife entertained great
fears
and jealoufies of him. His whole miniftry was embarraſ-
fed with both thefe circumſtances; and even prudence,
good-temper, and fuccefs, could not fecure him a general
good-will and confidence. However, the objections which
have been made to him, will, when every thing is duly
weighed, be filenced, or perhaps turned to his advantage.
He had concurred with the worst of king Charles II's
minifters, and adherred to the laft to king James. In thefe
two reigns he gave no oppofition; but the fame active and
paffive obedience was not practifed by him under king
William. This was afcribed to his retaining principles,
very inconfiftent with an entire approbation of his go-
vernment; to which has been added a paffionate admira-
tion of and attachment to king James's queen. The
higher efteem therefore feems due to his memory, when we
review his conduct in the fulness of his power: in this
fituation it will appear, how truely fuperior he became to
all prejudices and prepoffeffions. His deliberations were
conſtant and determined for our profperity at home, and
our fuccefs abroad. If his difficulties and difaðvan-
tages, particularly thofe with the queen, were duly ex-
plained, his attention to the welfare of the nation wou'd
be the fubject of great admiration. The union of the two
kingdoms was his work; and, though this tranfaction has
been often condemned by great numbers of both parties,
yet that does not leffen the merit of their performance. All
obliged to fell his company in
the guards, and died October
the 17th, 1716, of a fudden
vomiting of blood, which could
not be flopped. Strict fearch
was made after lieutenant gene-
ral Maccartney; and, befides
the five hundred pounds pro-
mifed by the queen's procla-
mation, three hundred more
were offered by the dutchefs of
Hamilton, as a reward to whom-
foever frould difcover him But
Mr. Maccartney having, after
the fatal duel, walked to Ken-
fington, and thence to Chelfea,
went from thence to the duke of
Richmond's houfe in the Privy-
Garden, near Whitehall; lay
there that night; and, early
the next morning, croffed the
Thames; and then, in a dif
guile, went over to Flanders.
C 2
changes
1712.
1
36
HISTORY
THE
}
1712. changes and alterations, tho' conducted with the utmoft
honesty and ſkill, must be attended with feveral inconve-
niences; and it is too common with mankind to infiſt only
upon theſe, while they paſs over in filence the moſt ſub-
ftantial advantages. By means of this union, the pro-
teftant fucceffion was fecured; the influence of France on
the affairs of Scotland was much weakened; many occa-
fions of fueds and animofities were removed; and the be-
nefits refulting to the whole island were immediate and
important, and likely to be perpetually increaſing. Our
accounts of the manner of carrying on this affair are not
fufficiently full and exact; for which reafon the great in-
ftrument of it cannot have its juft praife. Alliances, and
the force of recommendations, impofed upon him in fome
inſtances; but his great concern was to employ men of
capacity and integrity; and fuch were fure of his kindeſt
regards. This became the more remarkable, becauſe ano-
ther great man was not fo fkilful and cautious, or very
unlucky. He had a true fenfe of the nation's welfare,
and of the proper methods of promoting it. Rude and
infolent reproaches from a certain quarter, on the account
of his former attachments and correfpondencies, were clear
proofs of his having renounced them. No perfon was
more earnest and fkilful in projects for annoying the
enemy by attempts on France, Spain, Dunkirk, and the
Weft-Indies; but many of them were defeated by winds,
and other accidents. Late and expenfive experiments have
convinced us of the difficulties and hazards of Weft-India
expeditions; and fuch attempts became improper, when
encouragement was given to fend king Charles into Spain.
Had we ſecured that monarchy for the houfe of Auſtria,
when it was in our power, we ſhould have been intitled to
advantages fuperior to any conqueft. The piece upon the
management of the war, and the four answers to the con-
duct of the allies, have clearly proved, that there was no
partiality to the duke of Marlborough; but that every part
of the war was attended to in the moft proper manner;
and we have there accounts given of the advantages of the
minifter's treaties, and our alliances with Savoy and Por-
tugal. Our military co-operations with Portugal were
embarraffed with many difficulties and inconveniences.
But what muſt have been the cafe, had the French party
prevailed there? No impreffions could have been made on
Spain; which would have been a great difadvantage to
the common caufe. Without their ports, our fleet muft
have
OF ENGLAND.
37
He
have been expofed to many dangers and diftreffes. The 1712,
prodigious benefits of the commerce then opened are well
known, but have not been fufficiently acknowledged.
Thofe, who ftudy detraction, obferve how many circum-
ftances concurred to his fucceſsful management of_the_trea-
fury. The fecurity and ſafety of the bank, punctual pay-
ments, and the ready command of money in the funds,
had been experienced feveral years, and moft effectually
filenced popular objections. Many defective ways of raif-
ing the fupply in king William's time had fuggeſted pro-
per methods of caution; but, above all, our great fuccefs
abroad was the life and fupport of public credit. But
might not our advantages in fome degree be afcribed to the
treaſurer's exact care in payments? By his attention to
our trade and commerce, did not he lay the foundation for
a due and full fupply? When all the marks of prudence
and regularity are attended with fuccefs, the chief con-
ductor hath a fair claim to a large portion of merit.
is faid to have preferved great appearances of wifdom by
filence and referve, which are particulars of behaviour
ſuppoſed to be inconfiftent with a great and generous
mind. But this was not owing to any thing mean and
unworthy; for in all confultations of bufinefs, he dif-
covered a ſurpriſing greatnefs of courage, and a quick and
moft exact difcernment, His kind, equal, and obliging
temper endeared his memory to all, who had the pleaſure
and advantage of his converfation. His behaviour to the
queen was fo faultless, that, when he was influenced to
diſmiſs him, fhame and concern would not allow her to ad-
mit him into her prefence; and therefore inſtead of per-
mitting him to refign into her hands the treaſurer's ſtaff, a
letter was ſent to order him to break it. Unbecoming in-
ſtances of behaviour may be produced in the lives of great
men of all ages and all imployments. Had this been duly
confidered, fuch fevere reproaches had not been caft upon
this minifter for his love of play and horferaces; by which
indeed he became too much, and too frequently engaged
with the moft worthlefs of men, gameiters and jockies.
But after all, when this objection is thoroughly examined,
nothing will appear but a faulty choice of improper amufe-
ments; and there were no imputations upon him of any
fraudulent practices, tho' fuch were then not unfamiliar to
perfons of his rank. Nor did his love for thefe diverfions
ever draw him off from the duties of his high ſtation. Com-
plaints have perhaps been too juftly made against thofe,
C 3
wha
38
HISTORY
THE
C
گویی
man.
1712. who have the chief power in difpofing of places, that the
merit of perfons of low rank, though very fignificant, is
feldom duly confidered. And therefore inftances of this
kind fhould not be deemed the peculiar fault of this great
His letter to the queen juſt before his difmiffion fur-
niſhes us with the fullest ideas of his worth and character
and time hath abundantly verified the reprefentations, which
he therein made with dignity and decency, a becoming
warmth, and an honeft freedom. Such a fenfe of affairs,
and fuch expreffions, could only proceed from a mind truly
great and truly good.
The duke
rough retires
Burnet.
Upon his death the duke of Marlborough refolved to go
of Marlbo- and live beyond fea. He went away in the end of Novem-
bevond fea. ber, and his dutchefs followed him in the beginning of Fe-
bruary following. This was variouſly cenfured ; fome
pretended it was the giving up and abandoning the concerns.
of his country; and they reprefented it as the effect of fear,
with too anxious a care to fecure himſelf. Others were
glad he was fafe out of ill hands; whereby, if the nation
ſhould fall into the convulfions of a civil war, he would be
able to affiſt the elector of Hanover, as being fo entirely be-
loved and confided in by all our military men: whereas, if
he had ftaid in England, it was not to be doubted, but,
upon the leaft fhadow of fufpicion, he would have been im-
mediately fecured; but now he would be at liberty, being be-
yond fea, to act as there might be occafion for it.
There were two fuits begun against him: the one was
for the two and a half per cent. which the foreign princes
were content fhould be deducted for contingencies, of
which an account has been given. The other was for ar-
rears due to the builders of Blenheim-houſe. The queen
had given orders for building it with great magnificence;
all the bargins with the workmen were made in her name,
and by authority from her; and in the preambles of the
acts of parliament, which confirmed the grant of Wood-
flock to him and his heirs, it was faid the queen built the
houfe for him. Yet now, that the tradefmen were let run
into an arrear of 30,000l. the queen refuſed to pay any
more, and fet them upon fuing the duke of Marlborough
for it, though he had never contracted with any of them.
Upon his going beyond fea, both thofe fuits were ftaid,
which gave occafion to people to imagine, that the miniftry,
being disturbed to fee fo much public refpect paid to a man,
whom they had ufed fol, had fet thefe profecutions on
foot, only to render his ftay in England uneafy to him.
The
OF
39
ENGLAND.
The duke fet out for Dover the 24th of November; im-
barked on board the North-Britain packet boat; and, on
the ift of December, landed at Oftend, under a triple dif
charge of all the cannon on the ramparts. At his landing,
he was received by géneral Cadogan and Brigadier de
Caris, governor of the place, and conducted by a vaft con-
courſe of people to captain Brown's, where he dined. He
fupped with the governor; lay that night at the burgo-
mafter's; and, the next day, fet out for Antwerp. He
was received with extraordinary marks of reſpect in all the
Dutch garrifons, particularly at Maeftricht, from whence.
he repared to Aix la Chapple. But general Cadogan paid
dear for the civilities, he fhewed the duke, being foon af-
tér difmiffed from all his employments.
1712,
ng mad
Amballador
Upon the death of duke Hamilton, it was for fome days The duke of
uncertain, who fhould fucceed him as embaffador to the Shrewsbury
court of France, the lord Bolingbroke being very much a- to France.
gainſt the duke of Shrewſbury's being employed in that fta- Burnet.
tion; but, however, he was named by the queen for that
employment, and went over to France in the end of De-
cember. The fame yatcht, which carried him to Calais,
brought over the duke d'Aumont, the French ambaffador,
who was a good-natured and generous man, of profuſe ex-
pence, throwing handfuls of money out of his coach, as he
went about the ftreets. He was not thought a man of bufi-
nefs, and feemed to employ himſelf chiefly in maintaining
the dignity of his character, and making himself acceptable
to the nation.
On the 20th of November, the earl of Stafford was fent The earl of
back to the Hague with the French plan, which came to Strafford
be called the queen's new plan of peace (g). The fubftance Propcies a
(g) A deputation being made.
to him on the 8th of Decem-
ber, N. S. (to whom were add-
ed the penfionary and the regi.
fter Fagel) the earl of Strafford
affured them, That he was
never more pleaſed with being
' there than on this occafion,
as wishing nothing more than
fee the antient friend-
'fhip and good correspondence
' between hei majeſty and that
State revived; and flattering
C
<
❝ to
•
(
new plan of
of peace to the
himſelf, that as he was charg-
'ed with orders and inftruc-
tions, which tended to pro
cure a good peace for all
Europe, and the firm fecurity
' of that ſtate; fo a folid and
lafting friendship and corre-
fpondence might thereby be
• eſtabliſhed between her ma-
jefty and their high mighti-
'neffes. That he could not for-
bear faying, he wished the
love of war, and the private
C 4
"in-
States.
Annals of
Q. Anne.
40
THE HISTORY
C
1712. of this plan is contained in the conclufion of what the earl
faid to the deputies of the ſtates and the penfionary, preff-
< ing for a speedy refolution, whether the States were will-
ing or not to fign the peace jointly with her majefty, im
•
.
interefts of fome perfons, had
never given occafion for a
coldnels in that friendship,
which might have proved,
• and ftill might prove fatal to
that State, if the lafl offers
now to be made on the part
of her majefly ſhould not be
' accepted That the reflect-
ing on what had paffed might
ferve to prevent inconvenien-
•cies for the future, fince the re-
fufal to agree to the ſuſpenſion
of arms propofed by her ma-
jeſty might have brought ruin
6
on that State, and had coſt
them fo dear; and that there
was reafon to fear much great-
er evils, in cafe their high
mightineffes thould now refufe
to conclude the peace jointly
with her majefty. That the
lait propofition or overture
about peace, made by their
high mightineffes, contained
one point, which was contra-
ry to the engagements her
majeſty had before entered in-
to; namely, that Sicily ſhould
be given to the duke of Sa-
voy. Thar, as to fome other
points, infurmountable obſta-
cles had now rifen, which
might have been got over,
had not fo ftrong oppofition
been made to her majefty's
meaſures, and had not her
1 majefty been contrained to
agree feparately to a fufpen-
‹ fion of arms. That the irre-
folution of that State had
been auended by very un-
happy accidents; and there-
+
mediately
fore her majefty was very de-
firous they would at length
come to fix upon fome propo-
fitions, reaſonable in them-
felves, and of fuch a nature,
that, in the unlucky conjunc-
• tare, wherein affairs now
flood, they might be obtain-
ed of France. That her ma-
jefty had given him permif-
fion to declare further, That
he well knew her majefty
'was determined to infiſt upon,
• and even to procure from
C
C
France, the ceffion of Tour-
nay, to ftrengthen the bar-
'rier of that ftate with a place
of fo great importance; but
that he knew likewife, that
her majeſty's conduct in this
matter would wholly depend
upon that of the States: And
that, after the making fo
'confiderable a ſtep in their
favour, it was expected, that,
.
on their part, they ſhould
'forthwith concur with her ma-
jeſty in concluding the peace,
without ſtarting new objec-
tions, and without making
' other demands. And that
as foon as that flate fhould
' declare themſelves in an au-
'thentic manner, fo that her
majefty could depend upon
it; then her majetty would
'caufe a declaration to be
made in full congrefs, that
the article of the ceflion of
Tournay fhould be one of
'the conditions of peace, fine
That he was like-
qua non.
wife to inform their high
mightineffes
OF
ENGLAND.
42
immediately and without delay, for otherwife her majefty
• would be obliged to fign her peace, without waiting for
them to come into it any longer than a fortnight or three
• weeks at fartheft. That her majeſty, affuring herſelf
•
•
mightineffes, that the king of
• France had made very ftrong
• inftances for his ally, the elec-
<tor of Bavaria; and that the
leaft, which his moft chriftian
majefty pretended to ask for
him, was, that the faid elec-
tor ſhould continue in the pof-
• feffion of Luxemburg, Na-
mur, and Charleroy; fubject
• however to the terms of the
barrier for the States-general,
till the faid elector were re-
• ftored to his electorate of Ba-
• varia (exclufive of the upper
• Palatinate) and placed in the
rank and dignity of ninth
• elector. That the king of
• France would alfo propofe,
that the kingdom of Sardinia
be given to that elector, for
effacing by the title of king,
the difgrace and mortification
of being degraded from the
• rank of firft ele&or: and that
her majefty judged, that this
point might be granted; that
fo the poffeffion of Tournay
may be fecured to the States,
and a peace made, which will
be ſafe and laſting. That he
was alfo to repreſent to their
high mightineffes, in her ma-
jeity's
's name, that her majesty
• was defirous both to re-eſtabliſh
and to maintain an intire union
⚫ between her and that ftate;
and hoped and affuredly be-
hieved, that their High Migh-
? tineffes were of the fame fen-
ftiments with her in this mat-
C ter. That therefore it was
neceffary, without any lofs of
(
<
6
،
• that
• time, to remove all, that that
State might feem to have
gained, either to the immedi-
⚫ate prejudice, or to the future
danger, of her majefty's and
her kingdoms interefts. That
he had brought with him a
plan of a new treaty of fuc-
ceffion and barrier; and muſt
infift, that it might be figned
• before the conclufion of the
peace. That, upon a difcuf-
fion of the now exifting bar,
rier treaty, he would make it
appear to the minifters of this
State, that many things were
therein inferted, which in Eng-
' land were looked upon as dif-
advantageous to her majeſty's
fubjects, and which certainly
• could not be reconciled either
to the letter, or the deſign of
• the grand alliance; nor were
• conformable to any principles
upon which the prefent confe-
deracy was made, and the war
begun. That he would fur-
ther thew, that the alterations
• and additions now propofed
were only fuch, as were ne-
ceflary to rectify the mistakes,
and explain what was du-
bious, and to fupply fome
• omiffions in that treaty, and
to take away fome obftruc-
tions thence arifing to the
commerce of Great-Britain.
That, the particular guranty
of the fucceffion and barrier
being thus explained and rec-
tified, it would not only be an
additional fecurity for both
nation, and be cordially exe-
<
<
cuted,
1712.
1!T
4.2
HISTORY
THE
1712.
}}
.
<
that the States would not delay to conclude the peace
' with her, would procure Tournay for them, which, with
many other places, were not to be expected from France,
if the queen ſhould ſign her peace feparately. That, as
< to the empire, there would be no alteration in what is
⚫ contained in the queen's fpeech relating thereto, nor in
any thing with respect to the emperor, only that Sardinia
fhould be given to the elector of Bavaria, and that the
⚫ duke of Savoy fhould have Sicily. That her majesty was
6 very defirous to have the concurrence of the States in all
that related to that duke, as well as to the elector of Ba-
varia, and to oblige the emperor to conſent to the neutra-
•lity of Italy, and to withdraw his troops from Catalonia.
That the further defired, that the plenipotentiaries of the
< States at Utrecht might be furniſhed with full powers to.
• conclude forthwith the new treaty of barrier.' This new
barrier treaty, of which he delivered a copy to regiſter Fa-
gel, and by which the former was to be fet afide, was de-
figned
cuted, whenever the occafion
fhould happen, but would
⚫ unite the two nations in ftrict-
• er bounds of friendſhip and af-
*fection: whereas, on the other
C hand, that ftate could not but
·
•
expect a flow execution of a
treaty, which, by the Britiſh
* nation, had been declared
• diſhonourable and difadvanta-
←
G
geous to it. And, in short,
that to pretend to hold the
faid nation under an en-
gagement of fuch a nature as
this could have no other ef-
fect, than to foment jealoufy
and miſunderſtanding, which,
one time or other, might
• break out into an open rup-
ture. That among the terms
of the new plan, the fourth
C
article of the treaty of barrier
imported, that her majeſty
C
C
C
..
namely, Furnes, Fort, Knocque,
Ypres, Menin, the town and
caftle of Tournay, Mons,
Charleroy, the town and caſtle
of Namur, the caftle of Ghent,
the forts, Pearl, Philip, and
• Damme: That fort St Dhona
being joined to the fortifica-
tions of Sluys, ſhall be yielded
' in propriety to the States; and
that the fort of Rodenhuysen,
on this fide of Ghent fhall be
razed. That in the ninth ar-
ticle it is ftipulated, that all
the revenues of the places to
be yielded up by France,
which did not belong to the
"crown of Spain at the time of
the death of king Charles II,
C
ſhall be given to the State, to-
'wards maintaining the barrier,,
except only fo much as is ne-
ceffary for the civil govern-
• confented to the States putting.ment of the faid towns, places,
•
garrifons, providing, chang-
ing, augmenting, or diminish-
ing them, as they fhould think
fit, in the following places;
⚫ and caftellanies; as alfo a mil-
lion of guilders yearly out of
the clearest revenues of the reft
of the Spanish Netherlands.
• That
OF ENGLAND.
43
figned for drawing the States in the more. By it the States 1712.
were to maintain the fucceffion to the crown, when required
by the queen, but not otherwife. This gave ftill new occa-
fion for jealouſy. For, whereas, by the former treaty, they
were strictly bound to maintain the fucceffion, fo that they
were obliged to oppoſe any attempts they faw made againſt
it, they were by this treaty obliged to ftay till they were fent
to: And, if our minifters fhould come to entertain ill de-
figns that way, they would take care no notice ſhould be
given to the States.
The new plan being communicated to the States of the The States
reſpective provinces, the members of thofe affemblies were conſent to it.
variouſly affected. The ceffion of Tournay, after the trea-
furer and fecretary in England had put France upon infifting
to have it reſtored, was a great bait to the Dutch; and the
threat, that they would looſe it, with feveral other places,
if the queen figned her peace feparately, changed the minds
of many of them, and difpofed them to give a favourable ear
*
That what related to Bon,
Huy, and Liege, fhould be
• fettled with the minifters of
the emperor and the empire:
but that her majefty's opinion.
was, that the first of thoſe
•
places ſhould be garriſoned by
the Imperialifts, and the o-
• ther
two by the States.
That, in the laſt place, not-
withſtanding all the provoca-
⚫tions, and all the delays on
the part of that State, the
queen had hitherto kept the
negotiation open: that her
majesty thought ſhe had retard-
⚫ed it long enough, and poffi-
<
•
bly too long in good policy.
That therefore the offers,
which her majeſty now made
by him were her ultimate re-
• folutions: and that this was
the laſt time ſhe would addrefs
herfelf to their high mighti-
neffes, in cafe they fhould
form new delays, and not an-
fwer her majeſty's good in-
tentions for their own inte-
• rests.
<
<
to
That, in the mean
while, her majefty had judged
herſelf obliged, in confiderati-
on of the great fervices done
by the duke of Savoy for the
common caufe, and of the
danger, to which he was ex-
pofed by his firm adherence
thereunto, to take care, not
only for his fecurity, but like-
wife for his grandeur, by pro-
curing for him Sicily, and the
tracts of the country on this
fide the Alps; which were ne-
ceffary to ſecure Exilles and
Feneftrelles, and to cover
• Piedmont. That his fuccef-
fion, after that of king Phi-
lip, was acknowledged by the
• renunciation. That her ma-
jefty defired the concurrence
of this State in all that had
been promif.d to his royal
highness; and that her maje-
ty defired likewife, that the
States fhould join with her, to
oblige the empeior to a nea-
trality for Italy, and to with-
draw
"
..
44
THE HISTORY
1712. to the lord Strafford's propofals. That lord went incognito
to Amfterdam, where he had feveral fuccefsful conferences
with the leading magiftrates. Amfterdam has always great.
influence on the ftates of Holland, as the ftates of Holland
have on the States-general, and the difpofition of that city is
generally a rule for the cities and provinces in the affairs of
war and peace. But the ftates of Utrecht (where the biſhop
of Bristol was not idle in the abſence of lord Strafford) were
the firſt that confented to the new plan, for the peace and
the barrier; and nine days after the ftates of Holland did the
Decem. 19.
N. S.
fame; by which time the other provinces had tranfmitted
their feveral opinions to the States-general on that fubject.
All of them were unanimous in one point, to come into the
queen's meaſures, but every province (except Utrecht) gave
their confent with fome reftrictions. Upon this the States,
wrote a letter to the queen, fignifying their refolution to
enter into her meaſures, and to conclude and fign a peace
jointly with her, as alfo to take with her new engagements
on the proteftant fucceffion and barrier treaty. However
they defired her to interpofe for reftoring Strafburg to the
empire for adding Condé to their barrier, and for fettling
•
"
હું
draw his troops from Catalo-
nia: And that her majefty was
• refolved to make the neutrali-
•ty a condition of tranſporting
the faid troops, which her
majefty would do at her own
expence; for, without that
neutrality, the emperor might
• diſturb all Italy, and particu-
larly the duke of Savoy, on ac-
• count of his treaty in the year
1703; one of the imperial mi-
• niſters having already threat-
• ened a miniſter of the duke of
Savoy therewith, which would
⚫ certainly engage the queen
• and the States in the troubles
• and wars in Italy.' Then the
earl of Strafford communicated
to the deputies an anſwer, on
the part of her majeſty, to the
laft memorial of the emperor's
miniſter in England, by which
her majeſty's fentiments in this
matter were confirmed,
€
His
،
<
lordſhip further reprefented,
That her majefty, being in-
formed of the prefent diforders
in the Spaniſh Netherlands
• had fent over the earl of Or-
rery to the Hague, to redreſs
them, to concert thereupon
with the deputies of this State,
' and to refume the adminiftra-
tion in common with their
high mightineffes deputies,
‹ and to keep the fame till the
emperor ſhould accept the
• Netherlands on the condi-
tions, which the queen and
their high mightineffes fhould
agree upon;' adding, That
the earl of Orrery had orders
not to do any thing in this af-
fair, but according as he
• fhould find a difpofition in
their high mightineffes to act
in concert with the queen.'
Annals of queen Anne,
<
'
•
the
OF ENG LAN D.
45
the commerce on the foot of the ancient tariff*; as alfo 1712.
for obtaining more reaſonable terms for the emperor: But
things were ſo fixed between the courts of France and * Of 1664.
Great-Britain, that there was no room for interceffion.
The demand of Strafburg was rejected by the French with
fo poſitive an air, that the Britiſh court did not move in it
more; nor did it appear that we obtained any one condition
of the French, but was offered in their own project.
In conclufion, the States were forced to yield in every par- The barrier
ticular; and then our minifters, to give fome feeming con- treaty fign.
tent to the nation, and to bring the States into fome confi- ed.
dence with them ordered the new barrier treaty to be ſign-
ed: And it was given out by their creatures, that the
French were highly offended at their figning this; making
it previous to a general peace, and a fort of guaranty for it.
Thus, after all the declamations that were made on the firſt
barrier treaty, the minifters came in to a new one, which,
though not ſo ſecure as the former, yet was liable to all the
objections, which were made againſt that (h).
(h) Thofe readers, that defire.
a larger account of what paffed
at Utrecht, may fee it in the
following particulars :
6
The plenepotentiaries of the
four affociated circles of Ger-
many laid, the fame day, a pro-
pofition before the Britiſh mini-
fters at Utrecht, wherein they
reprefented, That they enter-
ed into the grand alliance,
upon an invitation of king
William, by a folemn treaty
• concluded at Nordlingen, and
• afterwards ratified by the pre-
fent queen of Great-Britain.
That the circles had on their
part, punctually performed all
the conditions of that treaty,
and had borne all the calami-
'ties of fo bloody and ruinous a
war at their own expence,
without troubling her majefty
for one penny fubfidy, with
an intire confidence, that, as
fhe always declared her fatis-
•
Soon
faction with the firmness and
• conduct of the circles, her ma-
affociated
circles.
jeſty would not fail remem-
bering the good fervices they
did the public; and that they Complaint
'fhould reap the fruits of their of the four
• labours, fufferings, and expen-
ces: But that, notwithſtand-
ing her majesty's gracious af-
• furances,
they heard with
grief, that the perfifted in the
opinion, that an univerfal
peace might be made, without
the circles enjoying the leaft
• comfort or effect of their alli-
ance; no amends, no barrier,
no fecurity; which would
bring the utmolt defolation
upon the Circles, and leave a
• fatal remembrance to pofteri-
ty. Wherefore they made
their addreffes to the justice
and goodness of her majetty,
to the wisdom and equity of
her minifters, and to the ge-
nerofity and honour of the
• whole
*6
HISTORY
THE
1712.
Pruffia dies.
Soon after the figning of the barrier treaty, the Pruffian
minifters at Utrecht received advice, that their king, whơ
The king of for fome time had been indifpofed, but afterwards was
thought out of danger, had a relapfe and his diftemper in-
creaſed to fuch a degree, that on the 25th of February,
about noon, he expired as he was fpeaking to the prince his
fon, and ſome of his minifters; having preferved his ſenſes
to the very laft. He was in the fifty-fixth year of his age,
Anſwer of
the British
minifters.
whole English nation, not to
• abandon fo good and faithful
C
allies, nor leave them in the
• miferable condition, in which
they had been plunged by for-
mer treaties. To this repre-
ſentation the Britiſh minifters
returned the following anfwer,
That if the affociated Circles
"_did not obtain all they defir-
*ed, and all her majeſty could
6
6
with them, the blame was by
< no means to be laid at her
door: First, becauſe, during
the war, the empire had very
• much neglected the profecuti-
on of it on that fide; and the
emperor and other princes and
• ftates had been very deficient
in furnishing their refpective
quota's of troops, and other
• neceffaries; which if they had
done, the war had been long
<
G
6
fince at an end, and they in
poffeffion of that, which was
now impoffible to obtain:
But that they had left the
whole burden of the war to
fall upon her majesty and the
• States General in Flanders;
the getting whoſe money, by
exorbitant bargains for their
troops, they feemed to have
more at heart, than the pro-
viding their contingents for
their own army. That, be-
fides their negligence and re-
mifnefs in the profecution of
the war, the oppofition, they
·
<
C
<
the
had made to her majefty's
meaſures for peace, had put it
out of her power to ferve
them. That, when a ceffati-
on of arms was found neceffa-
ry, they were told from her
majeſty, that, if they ſhould
enter into it, the allies being
united in their councils, might
⚫ have obtained from the ene-
my any thing they could rea-
fonably have infifted upon;
but that they rejected that
propofal, and defeited her
majefty, to follow prince Eu-
gene's chimerical projects,
which had already been, and
might prove more fatal to the
' common cauſe, if they did not
prevent another campaign by
reafonable propofals of peace.
That her majefty's cafe was
therefore very hard, that,
while fhe profecuted the war
with the utmoft vigour, fome
⚫ of the allies acted with almoft
as much coldness and indiffer-
cnce, as if they had been at
peace, or had no concern in
the war; and, when the found
a peace neceffary, they ſhould
then only begin to think of
war: And, after all, when by
• this unaccountable way of
afting, they had brought
themfelves into inextricable
difficulties, they fhould cry out,
that they were deferted, and
endeavour to throw the odium
⚫ and
<
،
OF ENGLAND.
47
the twenty-fifth of his government, as elector of Branden- 1712.
burgh, and the thirteenth of his reign as king of Pruffia.
Four days before his death he gave a ſignal inſtance of his
compaffion for the perfecuted proteftants of France, whom
he recommended to the queen of Great-Britain's protection
by a very moving and affectionate letter. He was a virtu-
ous man, and full of zeal in the matters of religion. He
raiſed above two hundred new churches in his dominions.
He was weak, and much in the power of his minifters and
flatterers;
6
• and blame of it upon her,
• But, that, nevertheleſs, fhe
• would ftill do for the four
Circles, as well as for the reſt
of her allies, all that he was
obliged to by treaty, and
⚫ whatever more they had, by
• their conduct left in her pow-
⚫er.' Both from this anfwer,
and the late ſteps of the States,
it was generally believed, that
the negotiations at Utrecht
would fpeedily be brought to a
conclufion: But fome unfore-
feen difficulties, ftarted by the
court of France, made it necef-
fary. to renew the ceffation of
arms for four months longer;
which was done by an agree-
ment figned at London the 26th
of November, and Verfailes
the 14th of December, N. S.
The marquis de Monteleone,
appointed by king Philip to be
one of his plenipotentiaries at
Utrecht, being about this time
come to London, and the queen
returned from Windfor to St
James's, he had the next day a
private audience, wherein he
told her, That his mafter had
• fent him to return her a thou-
fand thanks for the great pains
ſhe had been pleaſed to take
to procure peace to Europe,
And that the whole Spanish
nation in particular owed
·
their lives to her majeſty;
for, had the war continued,
there was not one true Spa-
niard, who would not have
fpent the last drop of his
blood in his maſter's quarrel.'
The queen thanked her brother,
the king of Spain, for this com-
pliment, and faid, 'She thought
herfelf very happy in being
His charac
ter. Burnet,
queen
tries to pre-
turning pa-
pift.
⚫ able to contribute to the fafe- The ceffati-
ty
of fo brave a nation and on of arms
fo loyal a people.'
prolonged.
In the mean time, the queen The
being informed, that the electo-
ral prince of Saxony was expect- vent the
ed at Rome in order to make punce of
there public profeffion of the Saxony
popish religion, the thought
proper to renew her good offi-
ces with king Auguftus, to per-
fwade him to recall his fon out
of Italy, and difmifs the popiſh Menteleone
fervants about him; and at the comes IO
fame time invited the king of Londen.
Pruffia, the elector of Hanover,
Dec 3.
and the States-General, to join
their efforts with her's to engage
his Polish majeſty not to induce
his fon
his fon to change his religion.
But all theſe endeavours were
rendered fruitlefs by the power-
ful allurements offered by the
Roman catholics to engage the
young prince, namely, the prof
pect of a marriage between him
and one of the archducheffes,
which
48
THE HISTORY
1712. flatterers; but was fo apt to hearken to whispers, that he
changed twice the whole fet of his miniftry. His affuming
the title of a king, and his affecting an extraordinary mag-
nificence in his court, brought a great charge on himſelf,
and on all about him, which made him a fevere mafter to
himſelf, and ſet him on many pretenfions, chiefly thoſe re-
lating to the prince of Frifeland, which were not thought
well grounded. He was fucceeded in his dignities by his
only for, father of the prefent king of Pruffia.
which would open him the way
to the imperial throne, in caſe
the preſent emperor ſhould die
without male iffue.
Negotiations The expreſs fent by count
at Utrecht. Zinzendorf to Vienna, with the
Annals.
queen's laſt plan of peace, being
returned to Utrecht on the 3d
of January N. S. the emperor's
plenipotentiaries had, at their
own defire, a long conference
with thoſe of Great-Britain, in
which they declared, that their
mafter was very well difpofed to
promote a general peace; and
the fame day they acquainted
alſo the miniſters of the States
with the emperor's intentions.
The ratifications of a treaty for
a fufpenfion of arms between
France and Spain on the one
fide, and Portugal on the other,
were now exchanged, having
been delivered into the hands of
the British plenipotentiaries,
who long before this time had
little elfe to do in the congrefs,
than to act as mediators.
this capacity they had, on the
8th, a long conference with the
plenipotentiaries of France, in
which they delivered to them
the draught of a project for
bringing the empress home
from Barcelona, and withdraw.
ing the imperial troops out of
Catalonia. On the 15th count
Zinzeudorf had a long confer-
In
Though
ence with the Portugueſe mini-
fters, about the terms of peace
offered by France to that crown,
which the emperor did not in-
tirely approve. The marſhal
de Bieberstein arrived at U
trecht the 17th, from the court
of Berlin had a long conference
with the earl of Stafford, by
particular orders from the king
of Pruffia his maſter. The
fame day the miniſters of France
were in conference with thoſe
of Great-Britain; and the next
day monfieur Buys was alſo
with the British minifters, by
whofe interpofition the differ-
ence between monfieur Mefna-
ger and count Rechteren was
brought into a fair way of be-
ing accommodated, in order to
the refuming of the general con-
ferences. There was alſo that
day a confultation at the biſhop
of Bristol's houfe, between the
proteftant miniflers, about the
abolition of the claufe relating
to religion in the fourth article
of the treaty of Ryfwick, and
the meaſures to be taken, that
the Protestants in Silefia and
Hungary might for the future
enjoy intire liberty of confci-
The minifters of Great-
Britain preffed this affair more
earnestly than all the rest, and
exclaimed against the imperial
court for profecuting the prote
cnce.
ftants
OF ENGLAND.
49
their en-
Though the treaty of peace was now almoft concluded, 1712.
yet the advantages, which Great-Britain was to expect
from her endeavours to affift and fupport the caufe of France, The French
were in a great meaſure unfettled and undetermined. try to elude
France began to cavil, and, as lord Bolingbroke faid, go gagements
back from what the king had promifed the queen; and his to Great-
Britain. Rep.
lordſhip could not be perfuaded, as he told Mr Prior, of the com.
That the French acted either fairly or wifely. They of fecr.
prefs
ftants of the empire and Hun-
gary. But they ſpoke in a lefs
vehement ftile of the perfecuti-
ons, which the proteſtants had
fuffered in France. Soon after
the Britiſh plenipotentiaries
conferred with the imperial
minifters, who feemed at laft
inclined to come into the
queen's meaſures for procuring
a general peace. To that end,
count Zinzendorf drew up
fome propofals for fetting on
foot a negotiation between the
imperial and French minifters,
which were delivered to the lat-
ter by the lord privy feal, who
the next day acquainted that
count and baron Kirchner, how
far they had proceeded in that
affair. The plenipotentiaries of
Pruffia had alſo a long confer-
ence with the Britiſh minifters,
in which they expreffed their
mafter's inclination to conclude
a peace, whenever the queen
fhould think fit. On the other
hand, the minifters of Savoy re-
turned thanks to the British ple-
nipotentiaries on the behalf of
their matter, for the great care,
that had been taken of his in-
terefts ; and gave aifurances,
that they were ready to concur
in whatever ſteps the queen of
Great-Britain thould judge pro-
per for the bringing the peace
to a happy conclusion.
VOL. VI.
All this while the minifters of Annals.
the proteftant powers continued
their private confultations about
the abolition of the clauſe rela-
ting to religion, in the fourth ar-
ticle of the treaty of Ryfwick;
and were very preffing with the
Roman catholic minifters on
that affair. But the imperial
and French plenipotentiaries (a-
greed, perhaps, in this point on-
ly) found means to draw it out
into length, referring it from
the one to the other The for-
mer pretended, it was the French
inferted that clauſe into the trea-
ty, and therefore ought to get it
abolished: To which the French
anſwered, That, it being an
"
affair, which concerned the
empire, it was the buſineſs of
the imperialiſts to look after
it.' The Roman catholic mi-
nitters of the empire having de-
manded, that the proteltants
ſhould, by a deputation, com-
municate to them the refoluti-
on they had taken about that
affair, the counts Wertheren
and Metternich were named to
reprefent to them the justice of
abolishing that claufe, and put
them in mind of the difputes,
jealoufies, and other ill conte-
quences, with which it had been
attended in the empire. Count
Zinzendorffignified, he was rea-
dy to return them an anſwer on
D
the
蝦
​50
THE HISTORY
1712.
Jan. 25.
N. S.
C
prefs us, fays he, to conclude, that they may have others
at their mercy; and at the fame time they chicane with
us concerning the moſt effential article of all our treaty,
• and endeavour to elude an agreement made, repeated
• and confirmed.' The two great points of moment, in
difpute, were concerning the fishery at Newfoundland, and
in what manner the ceffion of Cape-Breton was to be
made. The other was about the treaty of commerce. As
the part of the emperor; and,
a meeting being held for that
purpoſe, he affured them, That
his mafter did not intend to
oppofe the abolition of the
clauſe, but would acquiefce in
the relief, that fhould be
given to the proteſtants in a
general treaty of peace.'
The fame day the queen of
Great-Britain's anfwer to the
letter of the States-General ar-
rived at the Hague, but, being
directed to her plenipotentiaries
at Utrecht, it was not brought
to the affembly of the States
till the next day, when it was
read there, and alſo in the af-
ſembly of the States of the pro-
vince of Holland, wherein were
the following paragraphs:
By the real and folid proofs
we have given of our friend-
fhip for your ſtate; by the
• continued efforts we have
made to defeat the intrigues.
of thoſe, who, either through
private paffion or intereft,
• have endeavoured to divide
you from us; and, laftly, by
the grief we have been afflic-
ted with, when any attempt
• has been made to break the
⚫ good intelligence, that was be-
<
6
tween us and your republic,
it will be eafy for you to
to
'judge of the fatisfaction,which
your letter of the 29th paft
has given us.
6
• Our conduct has ever run
⚫ upon the conftant principle of
a fincere defire of preſerving
the balance of Europe, and
to procure, not only the fafe-
ty, but also the augmentation
' of your ſtate.
<
6
• Your refolution to enter
⚫ with us into new engagements
' about the fucceffion and bar-
rier, to make a new treaty
thereupon, and to conclude
and fign it before the peace,
'cannot but be attended with the
⚫ beft confequences. And, when
• all occafions of difpute about
the reciprocal intereſts of the
two nations fhall be removed,
we ſhall then be in a condition
to concert with you the pro-
viding for thoſe of our allies,
and to treat more effectually
with the potentates, against
• whom we have made war.
<
<
The declaration you have
lately made, that you are re-
folved to join with us, to en-
ter into the meaſures we have
taken for a peace, and to
• conclude and fign it jointly,
and at the fame time with us,
will, in fome meaſure, make
• amends for the misfortunes,
• that have been occafioned by
the difunion of the allies, and
• pie.
OF ENGLÅND.
to the firft, it is to be obferved, that, in the queen's in- 1712.
ftructions to the duke of Shrewsbury, he is directed to pro-
pofe, as the queen's laſt reſolution, that he will confent
to give and yield up to his moft chriſtian majesty the entire
poffeffion and propriety of the iſland of Cape Breton ; but,
with this exprefs condition, that his majefty fhalls on his
part, in confideration of the fame, relinquish all manner of
right to fishing and drying fifh on the coaft of Newfound-
land,
prevent thofe, that were to pened without the knowledge
⚫ be feared for the future.
< own;
We fhall take your inter-
efts to heart equally with our
and we ſhall be ready
to do all that lies in our power
to advance them, being forry,
that we are not in a condition
to ſupport both yours and thoſe
of our common allies, as cf-
fectually as we could have
done the laft fpring. Done
at our court at St James's the
of January 1712-13.
ANNE REGINA.
This letter quickened the
paces of the negotiation; but,
previous to the general confe-
rences, it was abfolutely necef-
fary, that the difference, which
had fo long obftructed them,
fhould be adjufted; which, by
the mediation of the British mi-
nifters, was at laft brought to
país on the 29th of January in
this manner: Three of the ple-
nipotentiaries of the States, viz.
monfieur Vanderduffen, the ba-
ron de Renswoude, and count de
Kniphuyfen, went to the mar-
fhal d'Uxelles's houfe; where,
in the prefence of the three ple.
nipotentiaries of France, they
were to declare, that the difpute
between monfieur Mefnager and
count de Rechteren had hap-
or approbation of the States Ge-
neral. But monheur Vander-
duffen, who was the ſpokefman,
had fcarce with gravity pro-
nounced theſe words, 'Our maf-
<
C
ters, the States General,' when
the mar fhal d Uxelles interrup-
ted him, and told him, Sir,
the king, my mafter, is tho-
roughly perfuaded, that mef-
fieurs the States General had
no knowledge of monfieur de
Rechteren's behaviour; and
that they have too much re-
fpect for his majeſty to ap-
prove it.' This difficulty be-
ing removed, the Dutch pleni-
potentiaries went to the lord.
bithop of Bristol's houſe, where
they were in conference with
him and the earl of Strafford
from cleven at night till between
four and five the next morning,
when the new treaty of barrier
and fucceffion was figned by the
minifters of Great-Britain, and
thofe of the States-Gencral;
and,
about an hour after,
Mr Harriſon was fent over to
England with it, for her maje-
fty's ratification and approba-
tion of fome explanations, that
were infested by the Dutch ple-
nipotentiaries. The next day,
January the 31ft, the emperor's
plenipotentiaries had for the firit
time a private conference with
D 3
thoic
52
HISTORY
THE
r
1712. land, or any part, referved to his fubjects by the articles
figned at London the 27th of September, and 8th of Octo-
ber, 1711.
}
Several repreſentations were fent backward and forward,
fhewing the fatal confequences of what was demanded by
France and though lord Bolingbroke, in his letter to
Mr Prior of the 19th of January, 1712-13, infifted, that
the queen had never yielded what France pretended to,
which then remained an unfurmountable difficulty; yet, in
his
thofe of France at the bishop of
Briſtol's houſe, where an agree-
ment was propofed concerning
the tranſporting of the emprefs,
the evacuation of Catalonia, and
the amnefty for the Catalans:
ſo that all things ſeemed now to
tend to a general peace.
On the 4th of February, N. S.
the plenipotentiaris of France
and Pruffia met, for the firſt
time, at the lord privy-feal's
houfe, and the following days
the miniſters of the emperor and
the queen of Great-Britain had
feveral conferences together, in
which count Zinzendorf com-
municated a fecond plan, which
was faid to come very near the
contents of the queen's fpeech
from the throne. The 9th the
plenipotentiaries of France were
in conference with thoſe of Por-
tugal, and afterwards with the
miniſters of Savoy, at the houſe
of the lord privy-feal. But the
negotiations were for fome days
put to a ſtand by the fudden de-
parture of the abbot de Polig-
nac, who the night between
the 10th and 11th of February
ſet out for the court of France,
on pretence of his being lately
named cardinal by the pope, at
the recommendation, as was faid,
of the chevalier de St George.
Before his departure, he receiv.
*
C
C
ed from the Britiſh plenipoten-
tiaries a propofal of the emperor
and empire, importing, That
• Catalonia fhould be evacua-
ted, upon condition, that the
• inhabitants had a full pardon,
' and a confirmation of all their
privileges. That the elector
of Bavaria fhould have the
title of king, but not the iſland
' of Sardinia; and that his elec-
torate (but not the Upper Pa-
latinate) fhould be yielded to
his electoral highness's fon; fo
that he himſelf ſhould not fet
foot in the empire. That the
• electorate of Bavaria fhould
be the laſt of the nine. That
Landau fhould remain to the
empire and, in the laſt place,
that France fhould demoliſh
Saar-Louis, and ſeveral other
places: Which monfieur de
Polignac promiſed to lay before
the king his maſter.
The
plenipotentiaries of
France had almost from the be-
ginning of the negotiations de-
manded paffports of the Dutch
for the admiffion of the duke of
Offuna, the marquis de Montc-
leone, and the count de Berg-
heyk to the congrefs, as pleni-
potentiaries of Philip V king of
Spain; which the States Gene-
ral had ftill declined to grant,
for fear of diſobliging the em-
peror,
OF ENGLAND.
53
'
८
his letter to the duke of Shrewsbury of the fame date, he
tells him, • If the French cloſe with the overture he then
• made them with regard to the difputes concerning com-
merce, the queen is willing to accept the laft expedient,
propofed by monfieur de Torcy for adjufting our diffe-
rences about North-America, and to confent, that the
< king, in the ceffion of Newfoundland, do referve to his
fubjects a right of fiſhing and drying on the coaſt of
Newfoundland from Port Riche, north about, to Cape
Bonavista.' And here no direction is given concerning
Cape-Breton, of which the French got the entire ceffion
and propriety, although, in the duke of Shrewſbury's in-
ftructions, it is declared, That the queen looked upon
• Cape-Breton to belong to her; and reckoned that ifland a
part of the ancient territory of Nova Scotia, which is by
this treaty restored to her.' But, if the duke could not
prevail upon them to agree with him in the article of com-
merce, he was to declare, that neither would the queen
agree with them in their propofition concerning Newfound-
land. As to commerce, the great difpute about it is thus
reprefented in the lord Bolingbroke's letter to the duke of
Shrewſbury in Torcy's answer to lord Bolingbroke's me-
morial of the 24th of May, 1712, it was, among other
things agreed, that Britain and France fhould grant to the
fubjects of each reciprocally the fame privileges and ad-
vantages, which they fhall either of them grant to the
peror, with whom it was their
intereſt to keep firmly united.
But the imperial minifters hav-
ing by this time confented, in
their maſter's name, to the eva.
cuation of Catalonia, and neu-
trality in Italy, which was a kind
of tacit acknowledgment of
king Philip's title to the crown
of Spain and the Weft-Indies;
the States-General, by the me-
diation of the British minifters,
were at laſt prevailed with to
grant the paffports. The paff
ports, which the French pleni-
potentiaries demanded alfo for
the electors of Cologne and Ba-
varia, were granted with lefs
difficulty, and delivered to them
about the middle of March.
1712.
The courier, fent to the
French court, being come back
to Utrecht, the negotiation for
evacuating Catalonia, and for a
ceffation of arms in Italy, was
on the 19th of February ſet
again on foot. On the 27th
the imperial and French mini-
fters were together in conference,
in the preſence of the Britiſh,
by whofe mediation, they at laſt
agreed upon the ſubject of eva-
cuating Catalonia, and a con-
vention was ordered to be drawn
up for that purpoſe. On the fe-
cond of March, the miniſters of
France and Savoy conferred
about a convention for the neu-
trality in Italy. See annals of
queen Anne.
D 3
fub-
}
54
THE HISTORY
臀
​Jan. 19.
O. S.
'
1712. fubjects of any other nation whatfoever. Upon this foun-
dation was established the principal of treating and being
ticated, as gens amiciffima; and, purſuant to this prin-
ciple, the tariff of 1664, which was granted to Holland
(except the four fpecies of merchandize) was likewiſe to
be granted to England; and by the eighth and tenth arti-
cles of the project of the treaty of commerce it was fo
jettled. But France, pretending now, that this tariff
would be too beneficial to the English, refufed to grant it,
till another tauff fhould be made in Great-Britain, exactly
conformable to that of 1664, whereby the British duties
fhould be reduced as low as theirs were in France by that
tariff. This (lord Bolingbroke in his letter to the duke
of Shrewſbury fays) is an open violation of faith; and
by this (adds he) they are removing a corner-ftone,
which was laid carly in the foundation of a building
brought almost to perfection; the fall whereof muſt prove
at lait of as fatal confequence to them as to us.' He con-
feffes, I was ftrangely furpriſed, when I faw the prece-
dent of the Ryfwick treaty quoted, to perfuade us to re-
<fer our commerce, as the Dutch then did theirs, to com-
miffioners, to be treated of after figning the peace. The
behaviour of the French on that occafion has given us
warning; and it is from thence we have learned, that
whatever is referred is given up; and they muſt have a
mean opinion of thofe, whom they would perfuade to
purfue the fame method to get the tariff of 1664, by
• which the Dutch then loft it.' But it is very remarkable,
that his lordſhip on the 24th of May, had himſelf propoſed,
That, feveral points relating to commerce, requiring a
longer difcuffion than that crifis would admit, commiffa-
ries fhould be appointed to fettle and adjuſt the diffe-
<rences.' Indeed in his letter to the duke of Shrewsbury,
he offers an expedient, which was to folve all the difficul-
ties; and tells his grace, I am commanded to acquaint
you, that, having fully opened to the French minifters
her majefty's fenfe of the king's engagements to her upon
this head, you are to propofe to them, to frike out of
the project of the treaty of commerce the ninth and tenth
tiles, and, inftead ther cof, to infert one to the effect
of that, which I have drawn, and which comes here in-
• cloſed' And, as the acceptance of this amendment was
to put an end to all differences, and, at the fame time,
gave fuch ample advantages to France, the French readily
agreed to it; and inferted this article verbatim, as it was
C
6
..
.
4
•
fent,
OF ENGLAND.
55
fent, in the treaty of commerce, which makes the ninth
article of the treaty, as it now ftands, and is the fame,
that was afterwards rejected by the parliament. And this
article, which has been fince fo univerfally condemned, ap-
pears to be the work of the Engliſh miniftry, and the price,
for which they fold to France the fifhery of Newfound-
land.
This treatment of France could not but give the miniftry
the greateſt uneafinefs, though their apprehenfions, left the
circumſtances they were in fhould be known, far exceeded
their concern at the difappointment, which Great-Britain
was like to meet with. They had figned a feparate treaty
with France in September 1711, upon this fingle principle,
that the interefts of Great-Britain were in the first place to
be adjuſted; and, as long as they had this to ſay, they
were unconcerned at all other events. They had gone on
for fourteen months together, and acted in every thing as
the inftruments of France, and were at laſt in danger of
being difavowed by France in the moſt effential part of all
their treaty. One of the chief inducements and principal
conditions, upon which the fatal ceffation of arms was
granted, was, that no privileges or advantages relating to
commerce with France fhall be yielded to any foreign na-
tion, which ſhall not, at the fame time, be granted to the
fubjects of her Britannic majefty; but France had now
reaped the full benefit of the fufpenfion, and were at li-
berty to diſpute the principle of gens amiciffima.
In theſe circumſtances were the Engliſh minifters in Ja-
nuary 1712-13; and to extricate themſelves, they gave up
all points in difpute in North-America, and the fishery of
Newfoundland, upon the fingle confideration of the ninth
article of the treaty of commerce, which (as will be feen)
the parliament, with a juft indignation, rejected. How-
ever, to bring France to a compliance, even upon theſe
conditions, the duke of Shrewsbury, in the fame letter,
was inſtructed to prevail with France to come to this refo-
lution, without the lofs of one moment's time.
The par-
liament was fuddenly to meet; and it would be neceſſary
for the queen to communicate to both houſes the preſent
ftate of the negotiation. The duke is then to repreſent to
Torcy, How fmoothly every thing would glide along, if
the queen was able to ſpeak of her own interefts as abfo-
lutely determined with France; and, on the other hand,
what travails we fhall be expofed to, and what confufion
may ariſe, if our negotiation appears to be ftill open, and
1712.
D 4
if
55
HISTORY
THE
C
1712-13. if the fecret comes to be divulged, that France refufes to
make good in the treaty the full effect of former pro-
mifes to the queen. His lordship having finished what
he had to ſay concerning her majefty's particular intereſts,
he proceeds upon the general plan of peace, and inſtructs
the duke what he was to inform the French minifters would
be the meaſure of her majeſty's conduct, and what they
might expect from her. That as the French minifters
defire, that the queen would precipitate the conclufion of
her peace, and leave all the confederacy at their mercy;
they must be told, that, when the mutual interefts of
France and England are fettled, as they will be, if the
propofitions contained in the first part of this letter are
accepted, the plenipotentiaries of Great-Britain fhall
publickly declare in the congrefs, that they are ready to
fign with thoſe of France, and fhall call upon the allies
to quicken the negotiations, and conclude without lofs
of time. But, if they feek unneceffary delays, or make
• unreaſonable demands, her majefty, who had induced
them to treat, will, by the fame meaſures, engage them
to conclude, or at leaft fhe will fign without them. And,
the queen having once declared her interefts to be fettled,
• and her treaty ready to be figned, the general peace be-
< comes from that moment fure, and the remainder of
the negotiation eafy. It is therefore wife for the French
to comply with her majefty.'
'
<
<
-
<
The great diftraction, the miniftry was in, appears fuf-
ficiently from this long letter of lord Bolingbroke's to the
duke of Shrewſbury; but ftill more, from two letters writ-
ten by him about this time, and upon this fubject, to
Mr Prior; one of January the 19th, the other of the 22d,
O. S. The firft was of the fame date as his letter to the
duke, wherein he fays to Mr Prior, I have exhauſted all
my flock of arguments in the long letter, which, by the
queen's order, I write to the duke of Shrewſbury. To
you I can only add, we ftand upon the brink of a pre-
cipice, but the French ftand there too. Pray tell mon-
• fieur de Torcy, from me, that he may get Robin and
Harry hanged; but affairs will foon run back into fo
much confufion, that he will wifh us alive again. To
• ſpeak ſeriouſly, unless the queen can talk of her intereſts
as determined with France; and unleſs your court will
keep our allies in the wrong, as they are fufficiently at
this time, I forefee inextricable difficulties. My ſcheme
is this: let France fatisfy the queen; and let the queen
<
<
<
6
• imme-
OF ENGLAND.
57
immediately declare to her parliament, and in the con- 1712-13
grefs, that he is ready to fign; and, at the fame time,
let the French plenipotentiaries fhew a difpofition to con-
<clude with all the allies.' And then he enumerates
the feveral offers, which he would have France to make
to the feveral allies; and, though theſe were very general
and infufficient, he fays, If fuch overtures
• as theſe
(made to the allies) were not inftantly accepted, our
• ſeparate peace would, the parliament fitting, be ad-
dreffed for and approved; and the caufe of France, for
once, become popular in Britain. If they were accept-
ed, let monfieur de Torcy fit down, and confider what
a bargain would be made for France. Let him remem-
ber his journey to the Hague, and compare the plans of
< 1709 and 112. Monfieur de Torcy has a confidence in
< you make uſe of it once for all upon this occafion, and
convince him thoroughly, that we muft give a different
، turn to our parliament and our people, according to their
• refolution at this crifis.' The next letter from lord Bo-
lingbroke to Mr Prior was upon the ſame ſubject, and of
the fame ftrain: We are now (fays he) at the true cri-
fis of our diſeaſe: We die at once, or recover at once.
Let France depart from that ſhameful expedient, by
which they thought to bubble us out of the advantages,
which they had folemnly yielded, and all is well; other-
wife, by God, both they and we are undone. The queen
can neither delay the meeting of the Parliament longer
than the 3d, nor ſpeak to the houſes till we hear from you.
My compliments to monfieur de Torcy. Let him know,
that, if they do not agree with the queen, I may, perhaps,
be a refugee. If I am, I promife before-hand to behave
myſelf better in France, than the French refugees do here.
Make the French aſhamed of their ſneaking chicane. By
heaven, they treat like pedlars, or which is worfe, like at-
tornies.'
As all theſe publick tranſactions paffed through the hands
of lord Bolingbroke, who, although he was fecretary of ftate,
acted extra-provincially in all his correfpondence with
France; fo it appears, at the ſame time, that he was not
the only perfon in the fecret, but that a greater influence
chiefly directed and governed all thefe councils; and the lord-
treaſurer was in this tranfaction, as well as in the affair of
Tournay the chief conductor; as may very reaſonably be
concluded from feveral letters, which Mr Prior wrote about
this
58
THE
HISTORY
1712-13. this time to his lordship, though that gentleman did not
think fit to produce afterwards to the committee of fecrecy
one letter from his lordship to him. It is obferved, that
theſe letters to the lord-treaſurer were chiefly wrote on the
fame days, that Mr Prior fent difpatches to the fecretaries of
ftate, giving an account of his proceedings, and defiring the
queen's directions upon them; but, it feems, he did not
think that fufficient, without knowing his lordship's parti-
cular pleaſure upon them. Mr Prior's.difpatch to the fecre-
tary's office, giving a full account of the prefent ftate of the
treaty, together with feveral papers, memorials, and pro-
pofitions relating to the points in difpute, and concerning
commerce and North-America, is dated December 28, 1712.
The day after Mr Prior wrote to the lord-treafurer, and
told him, I have written a book inſtead of a letter to my
lord Bolingbroke, which I defire your lordfhip would be
pleaſed to run over, that, knowing what I have done, you
may honour me with your commands as to what I am to
do.' He hoped his propofal about Newfoundland, which
he fends his lordship inclofed, was fuch as may terminate
that affair to our advantage; and, if his lordfhip was of the
fame opinion, he fhould have entire fatisfaction.
<
C
I
;
On the 8th of January 1712-13, Mr Prior, having fent
another full account in form to the fecretary of ftate, wrote
the fame day to the lord-treaſurer, that he had been in con-
ference with the French minifters to adjuſt the points
undecided between her majefty and the king of France
that he had fent lord Bolingbroke the refult of thoſe
conferences, as well what was agreed to by the French
minifters, as his own remarks upon each particular head,
and fays, I hope your lordship will find the whole ad-
jufted fo far to your fatisfaction, as that our pleni-
I will not
< potentiaries may receive the final orders.
doubt, but the whole affair of Newfoundland is ad-
jufted to your defire. There were fome points in-
fifted upon by our plenipotentiaries, which the minif-
ters here thought very unreasonable; and to fay a truth
to my lord-treaſurer plainly, which I a little mitigate
to my lord Bolingbroke, I think not very reaſonable.'
He then gives an account, that Torcy was ſurpriſed,
that the Dutch had but in part complied with what
the earl of Strafford declared to them to be her ma-
jefty's refolutions, to which he hopes the queen will fend
fuch an anfwer, as may cut off all delays; and, upon this
occafion Mr Prior fays to the lord-treaſurer, This I
<
<
• only
OF ENGLAND.
59
C
·
<
only write to your lordship, it being a thing, that fhould 1712-13.
not be called in council; and I have promifed, that the
king should have her majeſty's anſwer upon it, as he de-
fires.' January 19, 1712-13. N. S. M. Prior writes.
again to the lord-treasurer, and acquaints lum, That
the duke of Shrewsbury now fends to lord Bolingbroke
the fubftance of their laft conferences with monfieur de
Torcy, upon the fubject of Newfoundland; to which I
take leave to add, That your friend Torcy is in the laſt
concern to find the duke's inftructions fo ftrict in a
point, which cannot be given up by France, at a time,
when we well hoped that difference was adjufted. Pray,
my lord, let us have your diftinct and pofitive orders
'hereupon by the firft. I fend your lordship incloſed a
copy of my letter to my lord Bolingbroke; and the duke
• of Shrewſbury defires, that we may have your orders to
finiſh. I believe Torcy writes himſelf to you.' On the
23d of the fame month, N. S. Mr Prior writes once more
to the lord-treaſurer, and tells him, I have already wrote
fo amply to your lordship on the two great points of
Newfoundland and the Tariff of 1664; and fo expect
C daily your laft orders upon thefe two points, that I will
not trouble you at preſent further than to fay, if theſe
two are fettled, the peace may be determined here to-
< morrow, and fent the next day to Utrecht to be figned.'
And, on the 2d of Fubruary, Mr Prior writes to his lord-
ſhip, If I defire you to write to me, it is, becauſe I
really think it for the queen's fervice, that in this great
poft, where you have put me, I may be able to fay, I
have the immediate commands of my lord-treaſurer;
and, in regard to that friendship, with which you have
fo publickly honoured me, and which, by the bye, does
all the bufinefs here.' And, on February the 4th, I
fhall direct myſelf as you fhall be pleaſed to inftruct me
* privately.'
C
C
$
If the committee of fecrecy had found, among the pa-
pers delivered by Mr Prior, the lord-treafurer's anfwers to
theſe letters, it is highly probable, that it would have ap-
peared from them, how far the giving up the fifhery of
Newfoundland, and the accepting of the ninth article of
the treaty of commerce, was owing to his immediate or-
ders. It feems however to be a very extraordinary pro-
ceeding, that the queen's minifters in France acting by
her authority, and under, her inftructions, fhould apply to
the lord-treafurer for his diftinct and pofitive orders to re-
leafe
60
HISTORY
THE
1712-13, leafe them from the queen's pofitive inftructions, becauſe
they are thought by the French minifters to be too ftrict.
And if it be a doubt, by whofe order or advice it was pro-
cured, ſo much is certain, that theſe applications had their
defired effect; and the Newfoundland fishery was given
up; and the advantages, which Great-Britain was to re-
ceive from being treated upon the foot of gens amiciffi-
ma, were all buried in the ninth article of the treaty of
commerce.
·
The difficulties relating to North-America and com-
merce being in this manner determined, France was wholly
intent upon concluding and figning with Great-Britain,
without taking in the reft of the allies; and in this they
had the good-fortune to have the concurrence and affift-
ance of the Britiſh miniftry. By good management, the
difpute raiſed at Utrecht had been fo ordered, that the mi-
nifters of the allies could not obtain any conference with
thoſe of France, till the points in difference were adjuſted
between England and France; by which means it was
February 1712-13, before the Dutch and French were fuf-
fered to meet. And, it being now the buſineſs of France
to conclude with England feparately, the temper, the
French plenipotentiaries appeared in, made all bufinefs fo
impracticable, that the British plenipotentiaries were un-
der a neceffity of complaining of it to lord Bolingbroke,
and to acquaint him, February 3, 1712-13: The French
appear fo very uncomplying in every point debated, and
fo very froward and pofitive in their refufal of a great
many things, which the Dutch took to be granted and
fettled, as well by her majefty's fpeech, as the declara-
tions lately made by lord Strafford, that the difappoint-
ment they met with put them into the greateft confter-
nation. Reaſon was alfo given us to participate in theſe
diſcontents, and to regard feveral things, which appear
contrary to what her majefty has declared, as very un-
fair: Yet all that could be faid, prevailed not.' But it
is not ſurpriſing, that the inftances of the Britiſh plenipo-
tentiaries had fo little effect with the French, who then
expected, that orders fhould be fent to the Britiſh mini-
fters immediately to fign the peace, which, according to
their expectation, were fent February 20, 1712-13, by
St John, brother to the lord Bolingbroke, to conclude
and fign with France as foon as the duke of Shrewsbury
fhould fend them advice, that the propofitions he was to
make at the French court were accepted; and, on the
<
28th,
OF ENGLAND.
61
<
(
C
28th, lord Bolingbroke with the utmoſt joy acquainted 1712-13.
them That he had received from the duke of Shrewf-
• bury the expected returns, and which he doubted not
would have reached their lordships. He had therefore,
without ſtaying to enter into any other detail, diſpatched
a courier to them, to renew thoſe inftructions, which he
hoped were clearly enough fignified in thofe papers,
which his brother carried. He acquaints them, that the
⚫ duke of Shrewsbury had declared, that their lordships had
orders, in cafe the French complied, as they now actual-
ly have done, to fign her majefty's peace with France
' without farther delay; and that his grace had alſo de-
clared, that in this cafe her majeſty would open the par-
liament, by telling them, fhe had made a peace with
• France. Theſe two confiderations, his lordfhip fays,
were perhaps the most prevalent inducements to the
French court, to come roundly into her majeſty's pro-
⚫ pofitions; and the queen thinks herſelf, for this reafon,
• ftill the more obliged punctually and religiously to fulfil
theſe promiſes. The latter fhe will herſelf perform on
Tueſday; and the former, it is her pofitive command,
that your lordships make good as faft as the neceffary
forms of preparing and executing the inftruments will
allow. And his lordſhip looking upon it now, that the
chief difficulties, relating to the treaty of peace, were re-
'moved; as likewife in the treaty of commerce, by the
article drawn by himself, and prepofed by the duke of
Shrewsbury, he gives them pofitive orders, without any
delay, to execute the treaties of peace and commerce
• between Great-Britain and France.' On the 7th, and
on the 20th of March, O. S. Lord Bolingbroke repeats
theſe poſitive orders, and infifts, that the peace fhould be
concluded with that precipitation, which her majeſty would
have used.
•
C
Orleans re-
Annals.
The court of France, being acquainted with theſe good The dukes
difpofitions of the English miniftry, thought proper now of Berry and
to comply with the duke of Shrewsbury's demand, that nounce the
the dukes of Berry and Orleans ſhould make a folemn re- crown of
nunciation to the crown of Spain in the parliament of Spain.
Paris, in like manner as king Philip had renounced the
crown of France in the cortez of Spain *. This was fo- * See p. 274
lemnly done, on the 15th of March; and, at the fame
time, were crafed out of the registers of the parliament
the letters patents, by which the rights of the king of
Spain to the crown of France were preferved, when he fet
out
62
HISTORY
THE
1712-13. out for Madrid. It will be neceffary now to turn a little
to the affairs of the north.
The affairs
of the north.
The favourable turn, which, towards the end of the
Hift. of Eur. year 1712, attended the Swediſh affairs, both in the north
Burnet. of Germany and in Turkey, as it prefaged new dangers to
the empire, and made the States and the emperor uneafy,
was, no doubt, a powerful motive to incline them to hear-
ken to the inftances of the British minifters, to come into
the queen's meaſures. The Muscovites, Danes, and Sax-
ons, who mifcarried in their deſign to reduce Pomerania
in the year 1711, feemed confident to have taken fuch
meaſures in 1712, as to be able to drive the Swedes from
their territories on this fide the Baltic: But their not going
into the field, fo foon as they intended, proved the cauſe of
their diſappointment. The Muscovites and Saxons had
undertaken to conquer Pomerania; but through the miſ
underſtanding of their generals (fome being for the fiege
of Stralfund, others of Stetin, and others again for the
attack of the iſle of Rugen) the whole campaign was ſpent
in fruitless debates, and all that the Czar and king Augu-
ſtus could do at laft, was, to quarter their troops in Pome-
rania, as they had done the year before, in order to keep
the Swedes in awe.
The Swedes
defeat the
Danes.
Dec. 29.
N. S.
men.
The king of Denmark made a better ufe of his time, he
befieged and took Staden, and reduced the duchy of Bre-
After which, upon flight pretenfions, he obliged
the city of Hamburgh to pay him three hundred thoufand
crowns, which proved a ſeaſonable ſupply to fubfift his
troops. The northern allies feeming contented with thefe
fucceffes, had fent their troops into quarters, when an unex-
pected motion of the Swedes obliged them once more to
take the field. Count Steenbock, who fome time before
was arrived in the ifland of Rugen, being fenfible of the
impoffibility of fubfifting his forces in the narrow compafs
of land he was poffeffed of, refolved to look for quarters
in the county of Mecklenburg; and fucceeded in his de-
fign without the lofs of a man. The northern confede-
rates refolved to draw their forces from their lines, in or-
der to oblige the Swedifh general to return into Pomera-
nia, where they knew he could not maintain his army.
But when it was generally expected, that both armies were
ready to engage, a ceffation of arins, for filteen days, was
on a fudden concluded between the Polish and Swedish
generals. This fufpenfion expiring, the troops were all
again in motion. The king of Denmark, who appeared
againſt
OF
63
ENGLAND.
ર
againſt the truce, marched five days before from Holftein 1712-13.
towards Mecklenburgh, in order to join his allies, and
endeavour to fight the Swedes. But count Steenbock, with
great forefight, refolved to prevent, and engage the Danes,
before they were reinforced; which he did near Gadefbufh,
where the Daniſh troops and fome Saxon cavalry fuffered al
moſt a total defeat. The Swediſh general was not wanting
to improve his fuccefs; and, entering Holftein, not only
raiſed great contributions, but, in a barbarous manner, and
upon frivolous pretences, burnt the Daniſh open town of
Altena near Hamburgh. At the fame time the Swedes
were animated by reports from Conftantinople, of the war
being like to break out again between the Turks and the
Czar, on pretence, that the Czar had not performed one of
the moſt effential articles of the late peace, namely, the with-
drawing of his forces from the territories of Poland. This
new rupture was attended with the difgrace of the Grand
Vizir, who was the third Turkish minifter of that rank,
who fell a facrifice to the intrigues of the king of Sweden,
and of thofe, who fupported his intereft at the Ottoman
port. The king of Sweden had all the affiftance the
French could give him in folliciting this war, which gave
the emperor great apprehenfions. He was afraid diforders
in Hungary might follow upon it, which would defeat the
meaſures he had taken to fettle matters in that kingdom, ſo
that, being fafe on that fide, he might turn his whole force
againſt France, and, by that means, encourage the States
to continue the war. Thoſe in Holland, who preffed the
accepting the offers that France made them, reprefented
that as a thing not poffible to be fupported: the promiſes
of the emperor and the princes of the empire had fo often
failed them, that they faid, they could not be relied on:
And the diftractions in the north made them apprehend,
that thoſe princes might be obliged to recal their troops,
which were in the fervice of the States.
Sweden's
The fudden and unexpected profperity of the king of The king of
Sweden foon came to an end. Whilft he was uſing all pof- misfortune,
fible means to engage the Turk into a new war with the
Czar, the party at the port, that oppofed it, ftudied to get
rid of him and his importunities. By his intractable obſti-
nacy he threw himfelf into great dangers. Orders were
fent him to march back into his kingdom: and they under-
took to procure him a fafe paffage to it; but he treated the
perfon, that was fent with this moffage, with great info-
lence, and fortifed himfelf, as well as he could, with the
Swedes
64
THE HISTORY
L
1
1712-13. Swedes that were about him, and refolved to defend him-
felf. A force much fuperior to his was brought against
him; but he maintained himſelf fo refolutely in his houfe,
that fome hundreds of thoſe who attacked him were killed:
the Turks, upon that, fet fire to the houſe, whereupon he
was forced to furrender, and was put under a guard; and
moft of his Swedes were fold for flaves; he was carried to
a houſe near Adrianople, but not ſuffered to come to court;
only the fultan difowned the violence uſed to his perfon.
In the mean while, the Czar fhipped an army from Peterſ-
burgh, that landed in Finland: the Swedes were not able
to ſtand before him; every place, as he advanced, fubmit-
ted to him; and he was now maſter of Abo, the capital of
Finland, and of that whole province. Steenbock, with his
army, maintained himfelf in Tonningen, as long as their
provifion lafted: but, all fupplies being carefully ſtopped,
he was forced at laft to deliver up himſelf and his army pri-
foners of war; and thefe were the beſt troops the Swedes
had, fo that Sweden was ftruck with a general confter-
nation.
The British
tiaries fcru-
peace.
Com. of
Secr.
April 4.
N. S.
<
C
Though the plenipotentiaries at Utrecht had received
plenipoten- fuch pofitive orders from lord Bolingbroke to fign the peace,
ple to fign a the behaviour of the French was fo different from what had
Leparate been promiſed, that they were mightily perplexed, and
Rep. of the fcrupled to fign a feparate treaty. They wrote to the lord Bo-
lingbroke, That they could fay a great deal to justify their
'cautious proceedings with the French; and were fatisfied
he would be of the fame opinion, if he were to fee their
way of negotiating with all the allies; and how hard it
was for the Britiſh minifters to obtain, what to his lord-
fhip feemed impoffible the French ſhould make any diffi-
< culty to grant.' What made them ftill more averfe, was
the great importunity, with which the French preſſed them
to conclude with them alone, of which they apprehended
the confequences at home; and, to juftify themselves, they
had acquainted the duke of Shewfbury, in a letter of
March 20, That befides other confiderations, their chief
objection was, that though they had orders to fign a par-
ticular peace, yet their full powers under the great-feal
only authorized them to negotiate, agree, and conclude
the conditions of a good and general peace, agreeable to
the interefts of all and each of the allies. The lord
Bolingbroke, in his letter of the 20th of March, O. S.
• pretended, that he had not fagacity enough to find the
objections the plenipotentiaries had made to their first full
<
<
<
<
C
powers.
OF ENGLAN N D65
D.
:
< powers.
"
t
C
C
€
6
However, for their fatisfaction, he fent them 1712-13.
a new commiffion, and repeated to them pofitive orders d
to fign and conclude with France. By this new com-
miffion he tells them they had a power, as before, to
treat and conclude the conditions of a good and general
peace, which, as his lordship explained, was no more
than to offer, jointly with the 'minifters of France, the
But the difficulties
plan of a general peace to the allies.
of the plenipotentiaries made the lord treaſurer, who
never failed to exert himſelf, when it was abfolutely ne-
ceffary, think it high time to interpofe his authority;
and accordingly, on the 31st of March,
wrote to
the earl of Strafford in this manner: I muſt felicitate
your excellency upon the fuccefs of all your zeal, and the
true love you have ſhown to your queen, your country,
and the repofe of all Europe. The remaining danger
is, left we should fuffer fhipwreck in the fight of port.
The nation here are five hundred to one for peace. The
• warriors are driven from their out works; the laft re-
• trenchment they have is delay; and I muft fay, this
operates much here. The ferment begins to work; and
it will be impoffible to anſwer for the turn the houfe of
'commons will take, if thefe delays provoke them farther.
They all feel how many hundred thoufand pounds this.
needlefs protraction cofts them. We now maintain forty-
nine thousand effective men by land, and thirty thou-
fand, within a trifle, by fea. In the mean time the
merchants lie off, and will not come into port. The
amufement of ftories invented by the faction, and the cor-
refpondence and encouragement that party gives to their
friends to hold out, and to wait for fome unhappy ac-
cident, that may unravel all which is done: add to this,
the ill humour, which will grow in members by being
C kept fo long in town idle; and, in one word, all, that
• has been unfettled for many days, is not worth one day's
charge England is at extraordinarily by this delay. I
find this feems to be the prevailing univerfal opinion
here; and that France has acquitted herfelf. The only
ftop is now at Utrecht.' But this ſtop did not now re-
main long; and, as the treaſurer never yet appeared in
vain, all further obftructions at Utrecht were after this foon They fixed a
removed (i). For on the 7th of April, N. S. the British day for fign-
minifters ing the
were made, upon account of
any prince or tate in the grand
. alliance,
(i) It is obfervable, that
among all the demands that
VOL. VI.
E
Peace.
66
HISTORY
THE
1712-13. minifters declared to the Dutch and imperial plenipotenti-
aries, that they were ready, as well as the plenipotentiaries.
of fome other princes, to fign their reſpective treaties on
Tueſday the 11th of that month. The plenipotentiaries of
the emperor immediately declared, that neither they, nor
the minifters of the empire, were ready to fign the treaty;
nor would they hearken to peace, without the reftitution of
Strafburgh; adding, that they were ordered to make a pro-
teftation againſt fuch a treaty of peace. The minifters of
the States deputed three members of their body, Randwyck,
Vanderduffen, and Renswoude, to go to the Hague, to
receive new inftructions on this important affair. They
arrived there Sunday morning, and, after having confer-
red with the penfionary, had a conference with the de-
puties of the States. The penfionary communicated the
fame day to the ftates of Holland and weft Frifeland
what had been tranfacted at Utrecht; whereupon the
States declared for peace. The deputies of the States
had a fecond conference with their plenipotentiaries,
and the next morning their laft orders were drawn up,
and communicated to the ftates of Holland, who hav-
ing approved the fame, the plenipotentiaries fet out in
the evening for Utrecht with the character of ambaf-
fadors, accompanied by monfieur Van Spanbroeck, the
new plenipotentiary of the province of Zealand, in the
room of monfieur Moermont. Count Zinzendorf, who
came the 10th in the morning from Utrecht to the Hague,
had immediately a, conference with the penfionary,
in which he uſed all imaginable endeavours to have
the figning of the peace put off, at leaſt till he had
received new inftructions from Vienna, and declared,
that, if the States figned before his mafter, his impe-
alliance, none, at this time,
met with the leaſt regard from
the Britiſh court; when, at the
fame time, the intereft of the
princefs Urfini, who, at this
juncture, had a prevailing in-
fluence at the court of Madrid,
was eſpouſed in the ftrongeſt
terms For, in the fame letter,
where the lord Bolingbroke
fays, That her majefty did
• not much enter into the no-
tion of the degradation of
Hanover, as a matter of
any importance;' his lordship
declares, That the princi-
pality, in fome part of the
Spanish Netherlands, with a
revenue of thirty thouſand
crowns, demanded for the
princefs Urfini, muſt be made
to the emperor, and all par-
ties concerned, a condition,
• fine qua non, of the general
peace.' Rep. of the Com.
of Secr.
rial
OF
67
ENGLAND.
rial majeſty would immediately withdraw his troops out 1712-13.
of the Netherlands: But, finding his reafons and reprefen-
tations ineffectual, he protefted against this peace, as he had
done before at Utrecht, whither he returned that evening.
The fame day, in the morning, upon the return of meffieurs
Randwyck, Vanderduffen, and Renfwoude, the Dutch mi-
nifters had a conference with the British plenipotentiaries;
and then another with thofe of France, at the lord privy-
feal's houſe, from four in the afternoon till two in the night,
wherein was ſettled whatever related to the treaty of peace
and commerce of the States-general. The 11th in the
morning, the minifters of the proteftant allies had a confer-
ence together in the town-houſe, to which the marquis de
Miremont, appointed by the queen of Great-Britain, to take
care of the interefts of the proteftants of France, was, for
form fake, invited; but the refult of this confultation was
only, that a reprefentation fhould be made in favour of thofe
fufferers to the minifters of France; which was immedi-
ately laid before them by the British plenipotentiaries.
This done, they went to count Zinzendorf's, and commu-
nicated to him the plan, which they had agreed on with the
miniſters of France, for the emperor and empire; having fti-
pulated, that his imperial majefty fhould have time to confi-
der, whether he would accept of it or no, till the ft of
June N. S. during which interval, however, France would
not grant a ceffation of arms; and withal declared to him,
that they were going to fign the queen's peace. After
this, the British plenipotentiaries went to the other mini-
flers of the allies, to whom they made the fame declarati-
on; and, being returned to the lord privy-feal's houſe, the
French ambaffadors repaired thither, and about two in the
afternoon figned, with thofe of Great-Britain, the treaties of
peace and commerce. One inftrument of the treaty was
drawn up in latın by the Britiſh miniflers; and another, on
the part of the French, in their own language; each party
figning firft, in their refpective inftruments: and it was
agreed, that the ratification fhould be exchanged at Utrecht.
within four weeks. The minifters of Savoy, who foon af-
ter, came to the lord privy-feal's houfe, figned alio with
thoſe of France their master's treaty, which was drawn up
in French, and by which it was particularly ftipulated,
That his royal highnefs fhould not take upon him the title
of king of Sicily, till after the peace was concluded and
figned with Spain.' This done, all the ambaffadors who
had figned the peace, as well as thofe, who intended to
(
2
figo
68
HISTORY
THE
1
1712 13. fign it namely thofe of Portugul, Pruffia, and the States-
general, went and dined at the earl of Strafford's. As foon
as dinner was over, moft of thofe minifters retired to their
houſes, to collate their respective treaties; and, afterwards
returning to the earl of Strafford's, the Portuguefe Ambaf-
fador figned their treaty, drawn up in their own tongue,
about eight o'clock in the evening, as the Pruffians did theirs
in French about eleven; the French having infifted, that
they ſhould fign before thofe of the States, becauſe, in the
treaty, their mafter was ftiled king, and acknowledged as fuch
by France. The ambaffadors of the States did not fign till
near three hours after, having not only been taken up longer
than the reſt in collating their treaties of peace and com-
merce, but endeavoured to have fome expreffions altered,
particularly as to the title of the emperor, who, in the inftru-
ments drawn up in French, was not ftiled otherwife than
head of the houſe of Auftria; but they were obliged to re-
cede from all their pretenfions. This important negotiation
being thus brought to a conclufion, the Britiſh minifters im-
mediately dispatched an exprefs to Mr St John, fecretary
to the Britiſh ambaffy, who, the day before, fet out for the
Brill, in order to carry over to Great-Britain the treaties of
peace and commerce, for the queen's ratification. At the
fame time, the French minifters difpatched a courier to
monfieur de Beringhen, who fet out the 10th for Malines,
in order to wait there the news of the figning of the peace.
The other minifters difpatched alfo expreffes to their e-
fpective courts. The States-general fent copies of the trea-
ties to the refpective provinces, as they did likewife, to the
towns of the province of Holland in particular. But, when
the terms of peace were divulged, the body of the people
was highly diffatisfied to find, that woolen manufactures,
fugars, and fome other merchandizes were excepted from
the tariff of 1664, and continued charged with high duties;
being apprehenfive, that by thefe exceptions their trade with.
Spain, which fets all the other branches of their commerce.
in motion, would in a manner be ruined.
The impe-
rul mini-
ed at the of-
fers of
On the 13th of April, count Zinzendorf having declared
to the minifters of Great-Britain, and of the States-general,
Aers diguf- that he was to ſet out two days after for Germany, the Bri-
tifh plenipotentiaries on the 14th, delivered to him a wri-
ting, intitled, "Offers and demands of the French king, for
making peace with the houfe of Auftria and the empire.'
The imperial and other German minifters exprefled the
higheſt indignation at their being fo meanly treated, as to
Lance.
Annals.
C
have
OF
69
ENGLAND.
have terms impofed upon them by France, in relation to the 1712-13.
electors of Cologne and Bavaria. They alfo refented the
flight put upon the emperor, by the French and Spaniards
refufing to give him that title; and they were particularly
diffatisfied with the Dutch for figning, before the return of
the expreſs fent laft to Vienna. But the Dutch excufed
themſelves, alledging the common plea of the neceffity of
affairs. It was now given out, that the emperor and empire
would carry on the war, and hazard their all, rather than
ſubmit to theſe conditions. And, as France might turn all
her force againſt Germany, count Zinzendorf intimated to
the minifters of the empire, that it would be neceflary to
caufe, not only the imperial troops to march from Flanders
to the Rhine, but alſo thoſe formerly in the pay of Great-
Britain. To this purpoſe it may be obferved, that the king
of Pruffia figned the peace only in that quality, and not as
an elector of the empire, though it was faid, he made a pri-
vate agreement with France, to furniſh no more troops than
his quota, in cafe the emperor and empire ſhould continue
the war.
is brought to
On the 3d of April, being Good-Friday, Mr St John The treaty
arrived at Whitehall with the treaties of peace and com- England.
merce, figned the Tueſday before, between the Britiſh and
French plenipotentiaries, and the news, that the miniſters of
Portugal, Savoy, Pruffia, and the States-general, had like-
wife figned their respective treaties, which was immediately
notified in the evening by popular rejoicings. Four days
after, the queen held a council at St James's, in which the
lord-keeper Harcourt was declared lord-high-chancellor of
Great Britain; and at the fame time the duke of Athol was
fworn of the privy-council. This done, the queen pro-
pofed to the board the ratifying the treaties of peace and
commerce: to which the earl of Cholmondley objected, fay-
ing, This matter being of the higheſt importance for her
majeſty and her kingdoms, as well as all Europe, it required
the matureft confideration; and thefe treaties containing
feveral terms of the civil law, in which the leaft equivoca-
tion might be of great confequence, and being, befides,
'couched in Latin and French, it feemed very neceflary to
have them tranflated into the vulgar tongue.' He was
fupported by another member; but, the time agreed on for the
exchanging of the ratifications not admitting of delays, their
opinion was over-ruled, and fo the queen ratified the trea-
ties. The next day the white-ftaff, as treasurer of the houſe-
hold, was taken from the earl of Cholmondley, and Sig
6
3
Richard
༡༠
THE HISTORY
1713.
The parlia-
1713. Richard Temple was removed from his command of the re-
giment of dragoons, formerly commanded by the earl of
Effex. The peace being thus figned and ratified, the queen
refolved not to defer any longer the meeting of the parlia-
ment. Accordingly on the 9th of April, to which day it
was laſt prorogued, fhe went to the houſe of peers, and
made the following ſpeech to both houſes:
ment meets,
April 9.
'The queen's (e
Speech on
the peace.
''
My lords and gentlemen,
I
Ended the last feffion with my hearty thanks for the
folemn affurances you had given me, by which I have
"been enabled to overcome the difficulties contrived to ob-
struct the general peace.
<<
"I have deferred opening the feffion until now, being
very defirous to communicate to you, at your firſt meet-
ing, the fuccefs of this important affair. It is therefore,
"with great pleafure, I tell you, the treaty is figned, and
"in a few days the ratifications will be exchanged.
"The negotiation has been drawn into fo great a length,
"that all our allies have had a fufficient opportunity to
adjust their feveral interefts. Though the publick charge.
"has been thereby much increaſed, yet I hope my people
"will be eafy under it, fince we have happily obtained the
"end we propoſed.
•
"What I have done for fecuring the proteftant fuccef-
"fion, and the perfect friendſhip there is between me and
"the houfe of Hanover, may convince fuch, who wiſh well
"to both, and defire the quiet and fafety of their country,
"how vain all attempts are to divide us; and thoſe who
"would make a merit by feparating our interefts, will ne-
ver attain their ill ends.
Gentlemen of the houfe of commons,
"As great a progrefs has been made in reducing the pub-
"lick expence, as the circumſtances of affairs would admit,
"What force may be neceflary for fecuring our con-
"merce by fea, and for guards and garrifons, I leave intire-
ly to my parliament.
"Make yourſelves fafe, and I fhall be fatisfied.
"Next to the protection of the divine providence, I de-
pend upon the loyalty and affection of my people.
"I want no other guaranty.
I reccommend to your care thofe brave men,
who have
• ferved
OF
ENGLAND.
"ferved well, by fea or land, this war, and cannot be em-
"ployed in time of peace.
"I defire you to provide the fupplies you fhall judge re-
quifite; and to give fuch diſpatch, as may be neceffary
"for your own eaſe and the publick ſervice.
«
86
My lords and gentlemen,
"The many advantages, I have obtained for my own
fubjects, have occafioned much oppofition and long de-
"lay to this peace.
"It affords me great fatisfaction, that my people will
"have it in their power, by degrees, to repair what they
"have fuffered during fo long and burdenfome a war.
"The eafing of our foreign trade, as far as is confiftent
"with national credit, will deferve your care.
"And to think of proper methods for improving and
"encouraging our home trade and manufactures, particu-
"larly the fishery, which may be carried on, to employ all
"our fpare hands, and be a mighty benefit, even to the re-
"moteft parts of this kingdom.
"Several matters were laid before you laſt feffion, which
"the weight and multiplicity of other buſineſs would not
permit you to perfect. I hope you will take a proper
"opportunity to give them a due confideration.
66
"I cannot, however, but exprefsly mention my difplea-
"fure at the unparalleled licentioufnefs in publifhing fedi-
"tious and fcandalous libels.
"The impunity, fuch practices have met with, encou-
"rages the blafpheming every thing facred, and the propa-
"gating opinions tending to the overthrow of all religion
"and government.
"Profecutions have been ordered; but it will require
"fome new law to put a stop to this growing evil, and your
"best endeavours in your refpective ftations, to difcou-
rage it.
66
"The impious practice of duelling requires fome ſpeedy
" and effectual remedy.
cc
"Now we are entering upon peace abroad, let me con-
jure you all, to uſe your utmoſt endeavours for calming
"men's minds at home, that the arts of peace may be cul-
❝tivated.
"Let no groundless jealoufics, contrived by a faction,
"and fomented by a party-rage, effect that, which our
"foreign enemies could not.
E A
66 I
1713.
72
HISTORY
THE
1713.
Debate about
the addreſs
of thanks.
Pr. H. L.
The lords
addrefs of
thanks.
April 11,
"I pray God to direct all your confultations for his glory
"and the welfare of my people."
The queen being retired, and the commons gone back
to their houſe, the duke of Beaufort made a motion for an
addiefs of thanks, which occafioned a debate, chiefly about
the expreffion of a general peace. Some peers urged, that
it could not be faid to be general, fince the emperor, the
elector of Hanover, and other princes and ſtates of the em-
pire were not yet come into it. But they were anſwered
that it might juſtly be called general, fince the major part of
the allies had figned it. After this another motion was
made, that in the addrefs of thanks, a claufe might be in-
ferted, That her majefty would be pleafed to lay before the
houfe the treaties of peace and commerce: but, the queftion
being put, it was carried in the negative by a majority of
feventy-four againſt forty-three. The addrefs of congratu-
lation being agreed to, though without any approbation of the
pole, it was prefented to the queen (k). The commons
obferved the fame caution in their addrefs. and waved the
motion for having the treaties laid before them (1).
(k) In their addrefs, They
• returned thanks for commu-
•
nicating to them, that a peace
was concluded; by which
they hoped, with the bleffing
of God, that the people would,
in a few years, recover them-
‹ ſelves after ſo long and expen-
• five a war; and they congra-
८
tulated her majesty upon the
• fuccefs of her endeavours for a
general peace. They decla-
red, that they never had the
leaft doubt, but that her ma-
jefty, who was the great fup-
port and ornament of the pro-
teftant religion, would conti-
nue to take, as fhe had always
done, the wifeft meaſures for
fecuring the proteftant fuccef-
fion, towards which nothing
could be more neceffary than
the perfect friendſhip there
was between her majefty and
៩
Moft
And
the house of Hanover.
they affured her majeſty, that,
as the expreffed her depend-
ance, next under God, upon
the duty and affection of her
people, they thought them-
felves bound, by the ftricteft
tics of religion, loyalty, and
gratitude, to make all the du-
•tiful returns, that could be
paid by the most obedient
fubjects to the moſt indulgent
• foverign.'
:
(1) There was a ſmall debate
about the words, to fee accom-
plifhed,' which, by a great ma-
jority, were voted to fland. The
addrefs was as follows:
<
We your majeſty's dutiful
and loyal fubjects, the com-
mons of Great-Britain in par
liament affemüled, beg leave,
with all humility, to approach
your royal perfon with our una-
nimous
6
OF ENGLAN D.
73
Moſt of the corporations and other bodies of men foon 1713.
followed the example of both houfes of parliament, in re-
turning the queen thanks for the peace, before they knew Addreffes
what that peace was. However, general Stanhope having
nimous acknowledgements for
• all the benefits we enjoy under
your majeſty's moſt aufpicious
reign.
6
The many and great fuc.
ceffes, which have attended
your majeſty's arms, had left
nothing to be wished, but
fuch a peace, as might be con-
ducted by your councils,
• which now we have the hap-
pineſs to fee accomplished.
And as we are truly fenfible
⚫ of your majeſty's gracious and
⚫ generous intentions, in under-
taking that great work ;
fo
we have all poffible reaſon to
'admire your ſteadineſs in car-
rying it on, and overcoming
the many difficulties contrived
to obftruct it: and it is with
⚫ the higheſt fatisfaction we con-
gratulate your majefly upon
the happy conclufion of this
treaty; for we are fo much
convinced of your majefty's
tender regard to the publick
welfare, and the many in-
ftances of your wiſdom have
taught us to have ſo perfect a
reliance upon it, that we can-
not doubt but your majefty
hath procured all reafonble
fatisfaction for your allies, and
eftabliſhed the interests of your
own kingdoms in fach a man-
ner, as to make us not only
fecure for the future, but a
* flouriſhing and a happy peo-
ple.
$
• O
ר
Your majefty can give no
higher proof of the cure
I take of pofterity, the by the
،
renewed
concern you are pleafed to ex-
prefs for the proteftant fuccef-
fion in the houfe of Hanover,
upon which the future happi-
nefs of this kingdom fo much
depends. We hope, and truft,
that nothing will ever be able
to interrupt the friendſhip be-
tween your majefty and that
illuftrious family, fince the
wicked deſigns of thoſe, who
• would endeavour to ſeparate
your intereft must be too plain
ever to fucceed.
<
<
(
about a
peace.
• Your faithful commons can
never enough exprefs the
grateful fenſe they have of the
many gracious affurances con-
• tained in your majesty's
fpeech; and after what your
majefty hath done to ease your
fubjects of the heavy burden
which before lay upon them.
and after your unparalleled
goodnofs in demanding no-
thing from them for the time
to come, but what they them-
felves fhall judge requifite for
their own fafety; the bell re-
turn they can make, will be a
ready and dutiful compliance
with every thing you have
been pleafed to recommend;
and they cannot fail moſt
chear fully to ſet about pro-
viding the fupplies neceflary
for this year's fervice. Your
majefty's repeated condefen-
fions must in the frongeft
manner engage the hearts and
affections of all your fubjects
to your mjelty; and we are
faticfied we cannot more truly
repitlent
74
THE
HISTORY
}
1713. renewed the motion for addreffiug the queen, to commu-
nicate to the houſe the treaties of peace and commerce, it
was carried in the affirmative, with the additon of the
words, (in due time,) infifted on by the court-party; and
fo the addrefs met with a gracious reception, and the queen
was pleaſed to anfwer, that fhe intended to communicate
to her parliament the treaties this houfe defired, as foon as
it was practicable.
The peace
proclaimed.
After the addreffes of thanks for a peace, and a vote
for a fupply, the commons in complaifance to the court,
proceeded to the ftigmatizing of thofe that delighted in
war. To this end Mr Shippen made a report of mif-
managements from the committee, to examine the debts due
to the army.
They paffed a flight cenfure on William
Churchill, a member of their houfe, for being, when a
commiffioner for fick and wounded, a partner in contracts
relating to that office. They alfo made an attempt to faſten
a miſdemeanor on the earl of Wharton, for taking 1000l.
of one Hutchinſon for procuring him the office of regiſter
of feizures in the cuſtoms, but it was dropped, becauſe it
was done before the laft act of indemnity.
On the 28th of April the ratifications of the treaties of
peace and commerce were exchanged at Utrecht between
the minifter of Great-Britain and France; and, being
May 5. brought to London, by Mr Ayreft, chaplain and fecretary
to the earl of Strafford, the queen on the 4th of May, the
fame day of the month on which the war had been pro-
claimed eleven years before, figned a proclamation for
publiſhing the peace; which was performed the next day
with the ufual ceremonies. The ratifications of the trea-
ties between France and the States-General were alſo to
have been exchanged on the 29th of April; but upon an
unexpected difficulty about the elector of Bavaria's renun-
ciation of the Spanish Netherlands (yielded to him by king
Philip) which the Dutch minifters alledged not to be in
due form, that exchange was deferred till the 12 of May,
<
<
repreſent them, than by con-
tributing our utmoſt endea-
vours to make your reign as
profperous, glorious, and eafy
to yourſelf, as it is beneficial
and happy to your people.'
To which addrefs the queen
returned this anſwer,
That this addreſs could not
but be very agreeable to her,
as
it came from her loyal com-
mons, and as it was a conti-
nuation of thofe expreffions of
duty and affection, which they
' had fhewn through this whole
• parliament.'
N. S.
OF
75
ENGLAND.
<
6
N. S. About this time moſt of the minifters at Utrecht 1713.
received by the poft under a cover a printed proteftation of
the pretender to the crown of Great-Britain, who ftiled The preten-
der's protef
himfelf James the third, and addreffed himſelf to all kings, tation.
princes, republics, &c. By the date April 12, 1712, it
appeared to have been drawn up a year before, and im-
ported, That, fince after a war fo long and fo pernicious
to all Christendom, all parties feemed ready to come to a
peace, and were ſpeedily about to fign it, he thought it
• fit and neceffary by this folemn proteftation, to affert his
• undoubted right againſt any thing, that might be done
⚫ towards the diminution of it. That he would not en-
large upon what had been unjustly done againſt him,
fince nobody could doubt of the juftice of his caufe. Nor
was he indeed only moved with the condition of his own
affairs, but, being incapable to change his affection towards
his fubjects, he could not, without the moſt fenfible
grief, behold, that neither their blood, nor their wealth,
had hitherto been ſpared, to ſupport that great injuſtice,
that had been done him; and that they were at laſt re-
•duced fo far, that if a peace were made exclufive of him,
they must neceffarily become a prey to foreigners. That,
fince he understood, that the confederate powers had no
regard to his right, he thought himfelf moft indifpenfa-
bly obliged to himself, to pofterity, and to his ſubjects,
not to feem, by his filence, to confent to what was tranf-
acting to the prejudice of him, and the lawful heirs of
his kingdoms. And therefore he folemnly protefted
against all that might be agreed or ftipulated to his pre-
judice, as being void by all the laws in the world.' No
manner of publick notice was taken of this proteftation.
•
.
C
C
s
C
Baron de Kirchner, the only imperial minifter now at U-
trecht, having received repeated orders to leave that place,
the British plenipotentiaries made their laſt effort to remove
the difficulties, that ftill obftructed the conclufion of a general
peace. At their request, the imperial minifter met thofe of
France, at the lord privy-feal's houfe, where the French
made fome new overtures relating to the emperor and em-
pire: but, this conference having proved ineffectual, and
Kirchner's orders for leaving the place of congrefs being po-
fitive, he fet out from Utrecht, on the 17th of May.
N. S.
}
The
76
THE HISTORY
1
of
1713.
peace and
commerce
ment.
Pr. H. C.
C
<
6
The parliament had now fat a month, when Mr Ben-
fon, chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered to the houſe
The treaties of commons a meſſage from the queen, importing, That
as it is the undoubted perogative of the crown to make
laid before peace and war, fhe had ratified the treaties of peace and
the parlia-commerce with France, which had been figned by her
order, and had concluded a treaty with Spain, which
Burnet, would be figned as foon as the Spanish minifters were
• arrived there. That fhe determined from the fir, on
this extraordinary occafion, to communicate theſe trea-
ties to her parliament, and had therefore, now ordered
them to be laid before the houfe.' After this meffage he
prefented to the houſe the copies of the treaties of peace
and commerce made at Utrecht, with tranſlations of
them.
Subftance of
Burnet.
1
By the treaty of peace, the French king was bound to
the treaties. give neither harbour nor affiftance to the pretender, but ac-
knowledged the queen's title and the proteftant fucceffion, as
it was fettled by feveral acts of parliament: Dunkirk was
to be razed, in a time limited, within five months after
the ratifications; but that was not to be begun, till an
equivalent for it was put into the hands of France. New-
foundland, Hudfon's-Bay, and St Chriftopher's were to be
given to England; but Cape Breton was to be left to the
French, with a liberty to dry their fifh on Newfoundland :
This was the main fubftance of the articles of peace (o).
The treaty of commerce fettled a free trade, according to.
the tariff in the year 1664, excepting fome commodities,
that were fubjected to a new tariff in the year 1699, which
(0) It was obferved on thefe
articles as to Newfoundland,
it was thought that the French
fettling at Cape Breton, inftead
of Placentia, would be of great
advantage to them with relation
to the Fishery, which is the only
thing that makes fettlements in
thofe parts of any value. The
English have always pretended,
that, the first difcovery of New-
foundland being made in Henry
the Seventh's time, the right to
it was in the crown of England.
The French had leave given
them, in ling Charles the
Firft's time, to fish there, pay-
ing tribute, as an acknowledg-
ment of that licence: It is true,
they carried this much further,
during the civil wars; and this
grew to a much greater height
in the reign of king Charles the
Second: but, in king William's
time, an act of parliament paffed,
afferting the right of the crown.
to Newfoundland, laying open
the trade thither to all the fub-
jects of Great-Britain, with a
pofitive and contant exclufion
of all aliens and foreigners.
Burnet, II. 619.
was
OF
777
ENGLAND.
was fo high, that it amounted to a prohibition: all the pro- 1713.
ductions of France were to come into England under no
other duties, but thoſe that were laid on the fame produc-
tions from other countries; and, when this was fettled,
then commiffaries were to be fent to London, to agree and
adjuſt all matters relating to trade, the treaty of commerce
with Spain was not yet finiſhed. As for the allies, Portu-
gal and Savoy were fatisfied; the emperor was to have the
duchy of Milan, the kingdom of Naples, and the Spaniſh
Netherlands: Sicily was to be given to the duke of Savoy,
with the title of king: and Sardinia, with the fame title,
was to be given to the elector of Bavaria, in lieu of his
loffes: the States were to deliver up Lifle, and the little
places about it: and, befides the places of which they were
already poffcffed, they were to have Namur, Charleroy,
Luxemburg, Ypres, and Newport: the king of Pruffia
was to have the Upper Guelder. in lieu of Orange, and
the other eſtates, which the family had in Franche Comté.
The emperor was to have time to the first of June, to de-
clare his accepting it.
and oth arti
commerce.
The treaties being read, a day was appointed to confider Debate a-
of the treaty of commerce, particularly the eighth and ninth bout the th
articles; by the eighth all the fubjects of Great-Britain and cles of the
France were to enjoy, as to all duties and impofitions what- treat of
ever, the fame privileges, which any other nation, the moſt
favoured, did then, or hall hereafter enjoy. By the other
article, a law was to be made within two months in Great-
Britain, that no more cuftoms be paid for goods brought
from France than what are payable for the like goods im-
ported from any other country in Europe. Thefe were ar-
ticles very difadvantageous to England. During king
Charles the Second's reign, our trade with France was Obiections
often and loudly complained of, as very prejudicial to the to them.
nation; there was a commillion appointed in the year 1674,
to adjuſt the conditions of our commerce with that nation;
and then it appeared, in a ſcheme that was prepared by
very able merchants, that we loft every year a million of
money by our trade thither. This was then fo well re-
ceived, that the fcheme was entered into the journals of
both houſes of parliament, and into the books of the cuf-·
tom-houſe: but the court at that time favoured the intereſts
of France fo much, preferably to their own, that the trade
went fall on till the year 1678, when the parliament laid,
upon all French commodities, fuch a duty, as amounted
to a probibition, and was to laft for three years, and to the
end
78
HISTORY
THE
L
1713. end of the next feffion of parliament: at the end of the
three years, king Charles called no more parliaments; and
that act was repealed in king James's parliament: but,
during the whole laft war, high duties were laid on all the
productions and manufactures of France; which by this
treaty were to be no higher charged, than the fame pro-
ductions from other countries. It was faid that, if we had
been as often beat by the French, as they had been by us,
this would have been thought a very hard treaty; and, if
the articles of our commerce had been fettled, before the
duke of Ormond was ordered to feparate his troops from
the confederates, the French could not have pretended to
draw us into fuch terms, as they had infifted on fince that
time, becauſe we put ourfelves into their power. We
were engaged by our treaty with Portugal, that their
wines fhould be charged a third part lower than the French
wines; but, if the duties were, according to this treaty of
commerce, to be made equal, then, confidering the differ-
ence of freight, which is more than double from Portu-
gal, the French wines would be much cheaper; and, the
nation generally liking them better, by this means we
fhould not only break our treaties with Portugal, but if we
did not take off their wines, we muft lofe their trade,
which was at prefent the most advantageous that we drove
any where: for, befides a great vent of our manufactures,
we brought over yearly great returns of gold from thence;
four, five and fix hundred thousand pounds a year.
We
had brought the filk manufactures here to fo great perfection,
that about 300,000 people were maintained by it. For car-
rying this on, we brought great quantities of filk from Italy
and Turky, by which people in thofe countries came to
take off as great quantities of our manufactures: fo that
our demand for filk had opened good markets for our wool-
len goods abroad, which muft fail, if our manufacture of
filk at home fhould be loft: which, if once we gave a free
vent for filk ſtuffs from France among us, muft foon be the
cafe; fince the cheapnefs of provifions and of labour in
France, would enable the French to underfell us, even
at our own markets. Our linen and paper manufactures
would likewife be ruined by a free importation of the fame
goods from France.
Notwithstanding all this, a motion was made on the day
appointed, May 14, to bring in a bill to make good the
eighth and ninth articles of the treaty of commerce with
France. A debate arofe, which lafted till ten in the even-
ing,
OF ENGLAN D.
79
ing, when it was refolved, by a great majority, that the 1713.
bill fhould be brought in (n).
(n) The ſubſtance of the de-
bate on this occafion was as fol-
lows:
The
probability they would do the
fame again for the future, if a
free trade with them were ſet
upon an equal foot: Mr Gould
anſwered him, that he begged
the very thing in queftion; and
that, in his opinion, the open-
ing a free trade with France,
would rather be highly detri-
mental to the nation. To make
this out, Mr Gould urged,
،
C
Mr Arthur Moore, one of the
commiffioners of trade, and
whoſe ſkill and knowledge in
commercial affairs, the Britiſh
miniſtry had chiefly relied on in
drawing up the treaty in quef-
tion, endeavoured to fhew the
great advantages, that would
accrue to the nation from a free
trade with France; and Sir
James Bateman, Sir Thomasly
Hanmer, Sir William Wynd-
ham, Mr chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Mr Ward, Mr Shep-
herd, and fome others, fpoke
on the fame fide. Mr Nicho-
las Lechmere endeavoured, on
the contrary, to prove, that the
trade with France would be
very prejudicial to our woollen,
filk, and paper manufactories,
and to our commerce with Por-
tugal; and he was fupported,
not only by general Stanhope,
Mr John Smith, Mr Natha-
niel Gould (an eminent mer-
chant, formerly governor of the
bank of England) Sir Peter
King, Sir Jofeph Jekyll, Mr
Wortley Montague, the lord
Caftlecomer, and fome others of
the whigs; but alfo by Sir George
Newland and Mr Robert Hey-
fham, who had before gone
with the court. Mr Moore, in
order to make good his affer-
tion, having enumerated the
different forts of commodities of
the growth and manufacture of
Great-Britain, which the French
drew from hence before the two
}
That, fince the revolution, the
'ftate of commerce was entire-
changed; and as France
had fet up, and very much
encourage woolen manufac-
tures, and made fhift without
feveral goods, which they drew
from hence; fo England had
• learned to be without the pro-
• duct of France, by ſetting up
• filk manufactures and paper-
mills; encouraging the mak-
ing of all manner of toys, &c.
which faved and gained vaſt
fums of money to the nation,
and employed an infinite
• number of artifcers, who
would be reduced to beggary,
if the importation of French
goods of the fame kind were
allowed; becauſe the French
had their work done for lefs
money and confequently could
fell their commodities cheap-
er.' He added, that the mot
• valuable branch of our trade
was that to Portugal; the in-
creaſe of which, of late years,
was mainly owing to the great
quantities of wines that were
imported from thence, and
• confumed in Great-Britain, in-
• ftead of French wines, by rea-
lalt wars, infinuating, that in all fon of the high duties laid on
⚫
•
the
80
HISTORY
THE
1713. The peace had been proclaimed in London, and after-
wards throughout Great-Britain, with the loudeft acclama-
Memorial of tions of the people, who fondly expected great benefits
from it; but it was not long before the eyes of the gene-
the Portu-
guefc Envoy
againſt the
treaty of
commerce.
the latter. But, if thefe du-
ties were, purſuant to the
treaty of commerce in que-
⚫ftion, reduced and made equal
<
<
with thofe on Portugal wines,
the importation and confump-
tion of the latter would infal-
libly decreaſe, and thereby
our profitable commerce to
• Portugal be in danger of being
<
loft.' On the other hand, Sır
William Wyndham took this oc-
cafion to reflect on the late mi-
niftry, who, in his opinion,
<
<
.
:
•
had let flip the opportunity
⚫ of making a good peace, when
they had it in their power:
But that a time might come,
and, he hoped, was not far
off, when the mifmanagement
of the enemies to their coun-
try ſhould be animadverted
upon. As to our Portugal
trade, he faid, that that king-
• dom would ever have occa-
• fion for the woolen manufac-
⚫tures and the corn of Eng-
land, and conſequently be ob
liged to take off great quan-
• tities from hence, as they did
before the year 1703, even at
a time when the court of Por-
tugal had laid high duties on
Engliſh goods and merchan-
• dizes.' General Stanhope
made hereupon a long ſpeech,
wherein, among other things,
he faid, That the affair now
in queſtion was not a party
bufinefs; neither did it concern
the late or the prefent mini-
ftry, but the whole Britiſh na-
tion, and therefore, for his
C
own part, he would freely
C
<
<
fpeak his thoughts about it,
with the utmoſt impartiality.
That, the peace being made,
it was now prepofterous to fay
any thing for or against it.
But, that as no treaty could
bind the commons of Great-
• Britain to make any act or
deed againſt their own inte-
reft; the only point to be con-
fidered was, Whether a free
trade with France would be
advantageous or no? And
that, in order to clear that im-
portant matter, it was necef-
fary to confult the merchants
• and manufactures who had
⚫ preſented feveral petitions and
reprefentations about it.' This
was likewife urged by Mr John
Smith, who made a motion for
adjourning the debate, and tak-
ing the papers before them into
confideration. But the main
queſtion being put, was carried
in the affirmative by a majority
of two hundred and fifty two
voices againſt one hundred and
thirty. Mr Speaker having re-
fumed the chair, Sir Gilbert
Dolben made his report from the
committee, and, after further
debate, the whigs, finding them-
felves over-powered by the
court party, moſt of them went
out of the houſe; and fo it was
refolved by above an hundred
voices-againſt twelve or thirteen,
that a bill be brought in, to
make effectual the eighth and
• ninth articles of the treaty of
and navigation
'between Great Britain and
• France.'
commerce
rality
OF
ENGLAN D.
&
<
1713.
r
Great cla-
mour againft
the treaty.
rality were opened. For, about the beginning of May,
Signior Brucindo, the Portugueſe minifter in London, in a
memorial reprefented to the court, That in cafe any
• breach was made in the treaty concluded in 1703, where-
by the duties on French wines were ftipulated to be, at
leaft, one third higher than on thofe of Portugal, the
king, his maſter, would renew the prohibition of the
• woolen manufactures and products of Great-Britain :'
which alarmed not only the Portugal merchants in London,
but alſo all perfons concerned in the woolen manufacture.
On the other hand, the treaties of peace and commerce
having been publiſhed in print, that of commerce raiſed
fuch a general clamour, as awakened the whole nation,
which before feemed to have been funk into a lethargy.
Several gentlemen, and particularly Mr Robert Walpole,
General Stanhope, Sir Theodore Janffen, &c. exerted
themſelves, and publiſhed ſeveral excellent pieces, which
fhewed the advantages of the trade with Italy, Spain, and
Portugal, to which nations we conftantly exported more
than we imported from them, and brought the balance in
money; whereas a trade with France would be deftructive
of our home manufactures, and of our commerce with
other nations. Theſe things came to be fo well understood, Burnet.
that, even while flattering addreffes were coming to court
from all parts of England, petitions were fent up from the
towns and counties concerned in trade, fetting forth the
prejudice which they apprehended from this treaty of com-
merce. The treaty, however, was to be ſupported at any King's pred
rate; the perfons concerned in making it, either could not, bacter
or would not, ſee the miſtakes in it; and the nation was to chant
be convinced, that through their great fkill in trade, they
had made an excellent treaty of commerce. To theſe ends
Daniel de Foe was employed; though, in a weekly paper
publiſhed fome years before, called the review, he had very
often condemned the French trade as detrimental to this
kingdom. He undertook, however, the caufe now, and
publiſhed a paper thrice a week, by the title of mercator, The Merca
or commerce retrieved; being confiderations on the ſtate oftor publish
the Britiſh trade, particularly as it refpects Holland, Hano-
ver, and the Dutch barrier; the trade to and from France;
the trade to Portugal, Spain, and the Weſt Indies, and the
fisheries of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia: with other
matters and advantages accruing to Great-Britain by the
treaties of peace and commerce lately concluded at Utrecht.
In this paper he undertook to prove, that the trade to
VOL. VI.
France,
F
face to the
british mer-
ed.
THE HISTORY
1713. France, though contrary to all experience, had always
been beneficial to this kingdom, and would be fo again
upon the foot of the treaty. And as he had the art of wri-
ting very plaufibly, and thofe, who employed him, and fur-
nifhed him with materials, had the command of all publick
papers in the cuftom-houfe; he had it in his power to do a
great deal of mifchief, efpecially amongft fuch, as were un-
fkilled in trade, and at the fame time very fond of French
wines, which it was then a crime to be against. Several
ingenious merchants, of long experience, and well fkilled
in trade, joined together to contradict the impofitions of
this writer: they knew he had many heads befides the ad-
vantages of publick papers to help him; and therefore
thought the publication of a joint weekly paper the moſt
feaſible way to confute him, and fet our trade in a clear
light, becauſe they were fenfible that it was impoffible for
any one man to be mafter of fo much experience, as was
required to furnifh materials from fo many different branches
of our trade, as would be touched upon in this debate.
The British The paper they publiſhed was, in oppofition to Daniel de
Foe's title, called The British merchant, or commerce
preferved, and was published twice a week (o). The
perfon, to whom the publick was chiefly obliged for this
paper, and who had the greateft hand in it, was Henry
Martin, who was afterwards made infpector-general of the
exports and imports. He was affifted by Sir Charles Cooke
merchant, afterwards made commiffioner of trade; Sir
Theodore Janffen, Bart. James Milner, Nathaniel Tori-
merchant
published.
(0) The authors of this work,
vol. I. p. 180. 2d edit. affert,
that, if the 8th and 9th arti-
⚫cles of the treaty of commerce
• between us and France had
• been rendered effectual by a
law, this very thing had been
more ruinous to the Britiſh
nation, than if the city of
• London were to be laid in
• afhes. This city has been
once burnt to the ground;
• but the people were ftill in
being. They were, notwith-
•
<
ſtanding this calamity, a con-
• ſtant mart for the product and
manufactures of the country.
*
<
But, if fuch a law, as that
' above-mentioned, had paſſed,
• France would have gone on
'from that moment to exhauſt
'the treaſures of the kingdom.
We ſhould have preſently loft
Our beft markets both at home
and abroad. Our gentlemen.
'muft have felt a fudden and
univerfal decay of their rents;
' and our common people muſt
* have either ftarved for want
of work, come to the lands
or the pariſh for fubfiftance,
' or have retired to foreign parts
' for bread.'
ano,
OF ENGLAN D.
83
ano, Joshua Gee, Chriftopher Haynes, David Martin, 1713.
merchants; and Charles King, who afterwards collected
and reprinted thofe papers. Lord Hallifax and general
Stanhope had likewife a confiderable fhare in the encou-
ragement of this paper, which had fo great an effect,
that the thoughts of the whigs about commerce, which, at
first, were reprefented as the refult of diſcontent, and
ſpirit of party, appeared to be the univerfal fenſe of all
traders.
mons.
malt duty.
The houſe of commons gave an aid of two fhillings in Aid given by
the pound, though the minifters hoped to have carried it the com-
higher; but the members durft not venture on that, fince Burnet.
a new-election was foon to follow the conclufion of the
feffion. They proceeded next to renew the duty on malt
for another year; and here a debate arofe, that was kept
up fome days in both houfes of parliament, whether it
fhould be laid on the whole island. It was carried in the The Scots
affirmative; of which the Scots complained heavily, as a oppofe the
burden, that their country could not bear and whereas it
was faid, that thefe duties ought to be laid equally on all the
ſubjects of the united kingdom, the Scots infifted on an
article of the union, by which it was ftipulated, that no
duty ſhould be laid on the malt in Scotland during the war,
which ought to be obſerved religiously. They faid, it was
evident, the war with Spain was not yet ended: no peace
with that crown was yet proclaimed, nor fo much as
figned and though it was as good as made, and was every
day expected, yet it was a maxim in the conftruction of
all laws, that odious matters ought to be strictly under-
ftood; whereas matters of favour were to be more liberally
interpreted It was farther faid on the Scots fide, that this
duty was, by the very words of the act, to be applied to
deficiencies during the war fo this act was, upon the
matter, making Scotland pay that duty during the war,
from which the articles of union did, by exprefs words, ex-
empt them.
A great number of the Engliſh were con-
vinced of the equity of thefe grounds, which the Scots
went upon, but the majority was on the other fide. So,
when the bill had paffed through the houſe of commons,
all the Scots of both houfes met together, and agreed to
move for an act, diffolving the union; they went first to
the queen, and told her how grievous, and indeed in-
tolerable this duty would be to their country, fo that they
were under a neceffity to try, how the union might be
broken. The queen feemed uneafy at the motion; the
:
F 2
ftudied
84
HISTORY
THE
1713.
ftudied to divert them from it, and affured them, that her
→ officers fhould have orders to make it eaſy to them. This
was underſtood to imply that the duty fhould not be levied;
but they knew this could not be depended on: ſo the mo-
tion was made in the houſe of lords, and moſt of the lords
of that nation ſpoke to it: they fet forth all the hardships
that they lay under fince the union; they had no more a
council in Scotland; their peers at prefent were the only
perfons in the whole Ifland, that were judged incapable of
peerage by defcent; their laws were altered in matters of
the highest importance, particularly in matters of treafon;
and now an impofition was to be laid on their malt, which
must prove an intolerable burthen to the poor of that coun-
try, and force them to drink water. Upon all thefe rea-
fons, they moved for liberty to bring a bill to diffolve the
union, in which they would give full fecurity, for main-
taining the queen's prerogative, and for fecuring the pro-
teftant fucceffion. This was oppofed with much zeal by
the minifters, but was fupported by others: who, though
they did not intend to give up the union, yet thought it
reaſonable to give a hearing to this motion, that they
might fee how far the proteftant fucceffion could be fecured
in cafe it ſhould be entertained; but the majority were for
rejecting the motion: when the malt bill was brought up
to the lords, there was ſuch an oppofition made to it, that
fifty fix voted againſt it, but fixty four were for it, and ſo it
paffed (p).
(p) This affair, more at large,
is thus related: During the ad-
journment of the parliament for
a week, on account of the whit-
fun-holidays, there appeared an
uneafinefs in many of the Scots
members upon the difappoint-
ment of their endeavours to get
their country cafed of part of
the malt-tax. Hercupon they
conferred with feveral of the
Scots peers fitting in parliament;
and laying afide all party-di-
ftinations, confulted together
how to redreſs their grievances.
They deputed the duke of Ar-
gyle, the earl of Mar, Mr Lock.
hart, and Mr Cockburne, who
The
by word of mouth repreſented
to the queen, That their
'countrymen bore, with great
impatience, the violation of
'fome articles of the act of
'union; and that laying ſuch
an infupportable burden as
the malt tax upon them, was
like to raiſe their difcontent
to fuch an height, as to prompt
' them to declare the union dif-
folved. To this unexpected
remonftrance, the queen an-
fwered, This was a precipi-
•
C
C
tate refolution; and ſhe wifhed
they might not have reaſon to
repent it: but, however, the
'would endeavour to make all
⚫ things
6
OF
85
ENGLAN D.
The matter of the greatest confequence in this feffion 1713.
was, the bill for fettling the commerce with France, accord-
•
C
"
A bill for
ing rendering the
effectual is
things eafy.' The Scots mem- effects, as were expected from treaty of
bers being met again the next it, he therefore moved. That commerce
day, and their deputies having
'leave might be given to bring rejected.
made their report of her maje- in a bill, for diffolving the
fty's answer, it was unanimouſly 'faid union, and fecuring thepro-
agreed, that, before they pro. ' teftant fucceffion in the houſe
ceeded farther, they fhould lay of Hanover, fecuring the
their grievances before the queen's prerogative in both
houfe of lords. Accordingly, kingdoms, and preferving an
on Thurſday the 28th of May, intire amity and good correſ-
after the lords had adjourned pondence between the two
the debate about the eighth and kingdoms.' This motion was
ninth articles of the treaty of feconded by the earl of Mar ;
commerce, the earl of Findla- but oppofed by the lord North
ter made a motion, that fome and Grey, who, in a long
day ſhould be appointed to con- ſpeech, endeavoured to fhew,
fider the ftate of the nation: that the complaints of the Scots
Whereupon the lords appointed were groundlefs, and the diffolv-
Monday the 1st of June, when ing the union impracticable;
all the lords in town were fum- not without fome reflections on
moned. The debate began be- the poverty of the Scots nation.
tween one and two, being open- He was anſwered by the lord
ed by the earl, who made the Eglington, who allowed the
motion, and who reprefented Scots nation to be poor, and
the grievances of the Scots na- therefore unable to pay the
tion, which he reduced to four malt tax. The lord North and
That it was
heads: " First, their being de- Grey replied,
prived of a privy-council.
a privy-council.nothing but what was agreed
Secondly, the laws of Eng- to by the treaty of union;
the fourteenth article of which
imported, that Scotland ſhould
not be charged with any im-
'pofition on malt during the
war only, which was now at
an end' The earl of Ilay
confeffed, that there was ſuch a
claufe, but that the fame article
imported, 'That, feeing it could
not be fuppofed, that the parla-
ment of Great-Britain would
ever lay any fort of burdens
´ upon the united kingdom, but
what they should find of neceft-
'ty, at that time, for the prefer-
•
<
land in cafes of treafon ex-
tending to Scotland. Thirdly,
the Scots peers being incapa-
ble of being made peers of
'Great Britain, as it was ad-
'judged and declared in the
cafe of the late duke of Ha-
• milton And, Fourthly, the
Scots being fubjected to the
'malt tax, which would be the
more infupportable to them
now, in that they never were
fubjected to it during the war,
and had reaſon to expect to
reap and enjoy the benefits of
'peace: concluding, that, fince
the union between the two
nations had not thofe good
'
vation and good of the whole,
and with due regard to the cur-
cumftances and abilitiesofevery
F 3
part
35
86
HISTORY
THE
1
1713. ing to the eighth and ninth articles of the treaty, which
had been ordered by the commons to be brought in. The
<
< part of the united kingdom;
'therefore it was agreed, that
• there fhould be no farther ex-
emption infifted on, for any
part of the united kingdom,
• but that the confideration of
any exemption, beyond what
was already agreed on in this
treaty, ſhould be left to the
• determination of the parlia-
'ment of Great-Britain.' He
urged, That when this treaty
was made, the Scots conclud-
ed the parliament of Great-
• Britain would never go about
to lay any impofition, that they
had reaſon to believe grie-
vous; and having fet forth
the inability of the Scots to
pay the malt-tax, concluded for
the earl of Findlater's motion.
Hereupon the earl of Peterbo-
rough made a long fpeech,
wherein he endeavoured to fhew
the impoffibility of diffolving the
union, faying, among other
things, That he had often
heard the union compared to
a marriage; and, according
to that notion, fince it was
made, it could not be diffolv.
ed by any power upon earth.
That, though England, who,
⚫ in this national marriage, muft
'be ſuppoſed to be the huſband,
6
might in fome inftances have
• been unkind to the lady, yet
'fhe ought not preſently to fue
for a divorce, the rather, be-
• caufe fhe had very much
'mended her fortune by this
• match:' adding, That the
union was a contract, than
which nothing could be more
binding.' To this the earl of
Ilay anſwered, That, if the
union had the fame fanction
traders
as marriage, which was an or-
'dinance of God, he ſhould be
C
for obferving it as religiouſly
as that; but that he thought
'there was a great difference.'
To which the earl of Peterbo-
rough replied, He could not
'tell how it could be more fo-
• lemn than it was, except they
<
expected it ſhould have come
'from heaven like the ten com-
'mandments :' animadverting,in
the conclufion, on the Scots, as
a people, that would never be
'fatisfied: that they would have
all the advantages of being
' united to England, but would
'pay nothing by their good
'will and that they had more
'money from England, than all
their eftates amounted to in
'their own country.' To him
the duke of Argyle replied, in
a very warm ſpeech, wherein
among other things, he ſaid,
That he was by fome reflect-
ed on, as if he was difgufted,
and had changed fides, but
that he deſpiſed their perfons,
as much as he undervalued
their judgments. That it was
true, he had a great hand in
making the union: that the
chief reaſon which moved
him to it, was the fecuring
the proteftant fucceffion ;
but
that he was fatisfied, that
I might be done as well now, if
'the union were diffolved:
that he ſpoke as a peer of
England as well as of Scot-
land: that he believed in his
confcience, it was as much
for the intereſt of England as
' of Scotland, to have it dif-
folved; and, if it were not,
he did not expect long to have
either
"
<
"
·
1
OF ENGLAN D.
87
traders in the city of London, and thofe in all the other 1713.
parts of England, were alarmed, with the great prejudice
• either property left in Scot-
land, or liberty in England.
He urged, that the tax upon
• malt in Scotland was no leſs
unequal, than the taxing land
by the acre throughout Eng.
• land would be; becauſe land
is worth five or fix pounds an
6
<
G
6
this
'caufe the power that made it
<
was no more in being; and
nothing could make it void,
'but the power that created it :
concluding, that if the Scots
had any grievances to com-
plain of, there might be fome
other method thought of to re-
drefs them, without proceed-
ing to that extraordinary way
' of diffolving the union, which
• had been made in fo folemn a
<
way, and brought about with
'fo much difficulty.' This was
anſwered by the earl of Not-
tingham, who repreſented the
advantages of the
the union,
if the views, with which it was
made, had been fteadily purfued.
He added, That, though the
• acre about London, and not
fo many fhillings in remote
parts of the country. That
this was the cafe between the
Scots and English malt; the
latter being worth three or
four fhillings the bufhel, the
• other not above one; fo that
if this tax were collected in
Scotland, it muſt be done by a
regiment of dragoons.' Some
other Scots peers faid, "That
the end of the union was the two nations were now in
cultivating amity and friend- • other circumftances, than when
ſhip between the two nations 'the union was made, yet the
but it was fo far from having
• fame power that was in the two
that effect, that they were parliaments, when they were
fure, the animofities between feparated and diftinct, was
the two nations were now lodged in them now they were
'much greater than before the 'confolidated; and therefore
union; and therefore they if they had power to make it,
were of opinion, that, if the they certainly had it fill to
' union were diffolved, the two • diffolve it: and that he knew
nations would be
<
better
not any thing, but what the
parliament could do, except
deftroying the prefent confti-
• tution; which, he owned,
<
;
• friends.' The lord chief juſ-
tice Trevor urged on the other
hand the impoffibility of fuch a
diffolution; and he was fupport-
ed by the lord-treasurer, who
faid, That the earl of Find-
later's motion was no leſs
ftrange than unexpected:
that, the union being made by
two diftinct parliaments of
both kingdoms, he did not
fee how it could be diffolved,
now the two nations were in
different circumftances, be-
<
'
C
they had not power to do.
• That the inconveniencies
which had attended the union,
• could not be forefeen, till the
• trial was made: And, fince
the Scots, who were the beſt
judges of the affairs of their
kingdom, found that it did
not answer the ends propofed,
he was for diffolving it.' The
earl of Sunderland faid, to the
•
fame
88
THE HISTORY
1713.
this would bring on the whole nation. The Turky com-
pany, thoſe that traded to Portugal and Italy, and all who
་
C
C
were
Scarfdale. And it is obferv-
able, that, when the danger
England would be in from the
pretender, if the union were dif
folved, was urged, the lord
Townshend answered, • That
the queen, lords, and com-
'mons of England, if joined in
one intereft, need fear no ene-
in the world; and there-
'fore ought to defpife the pre-
' tender and all his abetters.'
The duke of Argyle having
mentioned the pretender, faid,
He knew not what appellation
to give him, his name being
now as uncertain as his pa-
'r.nts.' But the earl of Scarf-
dale called him the prince, or,
added he, the pretender,
fame purpoſe, That, though
• he had a hand in making the
union, yet if it had not that
good effect which was expect-
⚫ed from it, he was likewife for
diffolving it.' The lord vif-
count Townshend faid, That he
was of the fame opinion, pro-
vided that means could be found
to fecure the proteftant fuccefli-my
on; and therefore he defired to
know, what fecurity the Scots
could give for that effential
point, before they proceeded
any further? To this fome of
the Scots lords replied, That
would appear when the bill
was brought in: that then it
was a proper time to fhew what
fecurity they could give; and
therefore moved, That the
queftion might be put immedi-
ately, Whether a bill fhould be
brought in, or not? The earl
of Nottingham defired, that ano-
ther day might be appointed to
confider further of a matter of
fuch confequence, that the lords
might be better apprized of it.
The lord Halifax declared alfo
for diffolving the unión, pro
vided it could be made appear,
that the fucceffion could be fe-
cured; but yet defired, that a
further day might be appointed
to confider of fo important a
matter. And the earls of Mar
and Loudon, who were before
for putting the queftion imme-
diately, declared themfelves
better fatisfied with that lord's
reafons There were ſeveral
other ſpeeches made both by the
English and Scots lords, parti-
cularly by the earl Paulet, and
the earls of Scarborough and
•
which you will.' Upon the
whole matter, all the Engliſh
court lords were againſt diffolv-
ing the union; and on the other
hand, fuch whig peers, as ap-
peared to be for it, had princi-
pally in view the fomenting the
difcontents of the Scots, in or-
der to incline them to chufe, at
the next election, fuch repre-
fentatives as fhould oppofe the
prefent miniſtry. The queftion
being put upon the earl of Find-
later's motion, it was carried in
the negative by four voices,
there being fifty-four lords pre-
fent on each fide; and feven-
teen proxies for the negative,
and only thirteen for the affir-
mative. It is remarkable, that
the lord treaſurer having, in the
courſe of this debate, advanced,
That, though the malt tax
were laid, it might be after-
wards remmitted by the crown,
and not levied;' the earl of
Sunderland,
'
OF
89
ENGLAND.
were concerned in the woolen and filk manufactures, ap- 1713.
peared before both houſes, and fet forth the great mifchief,
that a commerce with France, on the foot of the treaty,
would bring upon the nation; while none appeared on the
other fide, to anſwer their arguments, or to ſet forth the ad-
vantage of ſuch a commerce. It was manifeft, that none
of the trading bodies had been confulted in it; and the
commiffioners for trade and plantations had made very ma-
terial obfervations on the firſt project, which was fent to
them for their opinion: and afterwards, when this prefent
project was formed, it was alfo tranfmitted to that board by
the queen's order, and they were required to make their re-
marks on it: but Arthur Moor, who had rifen up from be-
ing a footman without any education, to be a great dealer
in trade, and was the perfon of that board, in whom the
lord-treaſurer confided moſt, moved, that they might firſt
read it every one a-part. and then debate it; and he defired
to have the first perufal: fo he took it away, and never
brought it back to them, but gave it to the lord Boling-
broke, who carried it to Paris, and there it was fettled.
The bill was very feebly maintained by thofe who argued
for it; yet the majority went with the bill till the laft day;
and then the oppofition to it was fo ftrong that the minifters
feemed inclined to let it fall: but it was not then known,
whether this was only a feint, or whether the inftances of
the French ambaffador, and the engagements that our mi-
nifters were under to that court, prevailed for carrying it
It was brought to the laſt ſtep; and then a great
many of thofe, who had hitherto gone along with the
court, broke from them in this matter, and beftirred them-
felves fo effectually, that when it came to the last diviſion, a
hundred and eighty five were for the bill, and a hundred and
ninety-four were againft it: by fo fmall a majority, was a
bill of fuch great importance loft (q).
on.
•
Sunderland faid, • He wonder-
ed fuch expreffions, as tended
to eſtabliſh a defpotic difpen-
five power, and arbitrary go-
vernment, fhould come from
that noble lord.' To this,
the lord treaſurer faid, That
his family had never been for
promoting and adviſing arbi-
trary measures as others had
C
The
'done:' which the earl of
Sunderland taking to be a re-
flexion upon his father, he not
only vindicated him, but added,
<
C
That the other lord's family
was hardly known in tho.e
days.' Pr. H. L.
(q) The proceedings at large
were as follows:
On the 9th of June, the
com-
90
HISTORY
THE
1713.
The rejecting this bill being an expreſs condemnation of
the treaty of commerce, and laying the managers of it open
to future inquiries, the miniftry ufed their utmoſt efforts to
the treaties procure a palliative addrefs from the commons; which the
of peace and
Addreſs of
thanks for
Commerce.
June 26.
commons in a grand committee,
took that bill into confideration,
Sir Rober Davers being in the
chair; and heard Mr Cooke, a
merchant, who in behalf of the
Levant company, made a long
fpeech; wherein, with great
folidity of reafon he fhewed,
how detrimental the opening a
trade with France would be to
the Britiſh woolen and filk
manufactures, and to all the
branches of our trade. The
merchants being withdrawn, the
commons took their allegations
into conſideration; and among
the reft, general Stanhope, to
corroborate what Mr Cooke
had alledged, quoted the pre-
amble of an act of parliament,
made in the thirteenth year of
king Charles the fecond, which
runs thus:
Forafmuch as it
has been by long experience
found, that the importing
French wines, brandy, linen,
filk, falt, and paper, and
• other commodities, of the
growth, product, or manu-
factures of the territories and
dominions of the French
·
•
king, has much exhaufted the
⚫ treaſure of this nation, leffened
• the value of the native com-
'modities and manufactures
• thereof, and caufed great de-
'triment to this kingdom in ge-
•neral: be it therefore enacted,
'
&c.' Hereupon the fpeaker,
fuppofing that Mr Stanhope had
made a mistake, faid, There
was no fuch thing in that act.
But Mr Stanhope infifted that
majority
the clerk fhould read the faid
a&; and, his quotation appear-
ing to be right, he and other
members animadverted with
fome vehemence on the ſpeak-
er's blunder. At laft, the de-
bate cooled, and was put off till
the next day; and it was re-
folved that the petitioners, who
had not been yet, fhould then
be heard.
On the 10th of June, the
queen came to the houſe of
peers, and the commons attend-
ing, her majefty gave the royal
affent to the act for continuing
the duties on malt, &c. the act
to revive and continue the act
for taking and ftating the pub-
lick accounts, &c. and to fome
other private and publick bills.
The commons being returned to
their houfe, and having refolv-
ed themſelves into a grand com-
mittee upon the bill relating to
the treaty of commerce, the
Spanish, Italian, and Portugal.
merchants, and the weavers of
London, were admitted to be
heard upon their ſeveral petiti-
ons.
Mr Torriano, who spoke
in behalf of the Spaniſh trade,
having animadverted on the
eighth and ninth articles of the
treaty of commerce, and menti-
oned the tenth and eleventh as
relating to the two former, fome
court-members were offended at
it; and, after he had done.
fpeaking, moved the commit-
tee, that a mark of their dif-
pleaſure might be fet upon him.
But general Stanhope, Mr
Lech
سلام
OF ENGLAND.
91
majority of that houſe were the more ready to come into, 1713.
becauſe the whigs began to exult, as if they had already tri-
umphed over their adverfaries. Sir Thomas Hanmer, by
whoſe influence chiefly the bill had been loft, was engaged
<
'
Lechmere, Sir Peter King, and
Mr John Smith, faid, That,
unless they gave the mer-
chants full liberty of fpeech,
• the houſe would never be able
to form a right judgment on
⚫ that important affair; and they
hoped that no man fhould be
reprimanded for ftanding up
⚫ for the trade of Great-Britain.'
This, with a noble ſpirit, which
appeared in the houfe on behalf
of the merchants, by the great
number of members, both tory
and whig, who, all at once,
stood up to defend Mr Torriano,
made the courtiers drop that
matter; and then Mr Wyat,
ſpoke for the Italian merchants,
Mr Milner for the Portugal
trade, and colonel Lekeux for
the London weavers. The mer-
chants being withdrawn, the
ſpeaker reſumed the chair; and
it was refolved, That the grand
committee ſhould, the next day,
confider further of the bill, and
that the other petitioners be
then heard. It was alfo order-
It was alfo order-
ed, That the minifters of the
Levant company, and all me-
morials, petitions, reprefentati-
ons, ſchemes of trade, and pa-
pers relating thereunto, that
were either before the com.
<
"
<
to
petitioners, and read many pe-
titions, and other papers; and
two days after, a caufe was or-
dered to be inferted in the bill,
declaring, 'That the privileges,
liberties, and immunities, as
to all duties, impofitions, or
' cuſtoms relating to commerce,
or to any other right whatſo-
ever, that had been, or might
be granted by France, with
refpect to the fubjects, goods,
or merchandizes, of any fo-
reign nation, fhould be un-
• derſtood to extend as well to
the four fpecies of goods, ex-
cepted in the ninth article
'from the tariff of 1664, as to
all other merchandizes what-
foever imported into France
by the fubjects of Great-
Britain. Then the commons
in a grand committee, made a
further progrefs in the bill, and
went through it on the 15th of
June. Three days after, Sir
Robert Davers reported the
amendments made to the bill;
which, with fome others, were
agreed to by the houſe Then
a motion being made, that the
bill be ingroffed, it occafioned a
warm debare from three o'clock
in the afternoon, till near eleven
at night. General Stanhope,
Sir Peter King, Mr Gould, Mr
Hampden, and fome others,
fhewed the diſadvantage of an
open trade with France, upon
the the foot of the last treaty of
commerce: and the member,
who ſpoke moft in favour of the
bill, was the fame, who had
miffioners of trade and plantati-
ons, or before the commiflioners
of the cuſtoms, relating to the
trade between England and
France, be laid before the
houſe.
The next day, June 11, the
grand committee head feveral
been
THE HISTORY
↓
3
92
1713.
The queen's
anſwer.
Burnet.
to make a motion for an addreſs returning her majesty the
humble thanks of this houſe, for the great care ſhe had taken
of the fecurity and honour of her kingdoms in the treaty
of peace; and alfo, for what he had done in the treaty of
commerce with France, by laying fo good a foundation for
the interefts of her people in trade; and humbly to defire
her majefty, that fhe would be pleafed to appoint commiffi-
oners, to treat with commiffioners on the part of France,
for adjuſting fuch matters as fhould be neceffary to be fet-
tled in the treaty of commerce between her majesty and
France; that the treaty might be explained and perfected,
for the good and welfare of her people. Many of the
members who voted againſt the bill, being abfent, it was
carried for the addrefs by a majority of one hundred and
fifty-fix voices againft feventy-two: whereupon general
Stanhope made a motion, 'to reprefent in the addrefs the fenfe
of the houfe, that her majefty's commiffioners who were.
to treat of the commerce between Great-Britain and
← France, fhould infift, that liberty be given to her majeſty's
fubjects to trade to all the ports in the French king's domi-
nions.' But this was rejected.
The addrefs being prefented to the queen by the whole
houfe, fne thanked them moft heartily for an addrefs,
• which
C
<
been chiefly employed in that
treaty, Mr Arthur Moor; but,
fome of his arguments being
ftrained and precarious, the ma-
jority even of his own party ad-
hered to the opinion of Sir Tho-
mas Hanmer, who made a long
and elaborate ſpeech, wherein,
among other things, he ſaid,
That, before he had fully ex-
amined the affair in question,
• he had given his vote for
bringing in the bill; but,
that having afterwards ma-
turcly weighed and conſidered
the allegations of the traders
⚫ and manufacturers in their ſe-
• veral petitions and reprefenta-
tions, he was convinced, that
the paffing of it would be of
great prejudice to the woolen
and filk manufactures of this
•
kingdom; confequently in-
creaſe the number of the poor,
and in the end, affect the
land. That, while he had the
'honour to fit in that houſe, he
' would never be blindly led by
any miniftry; neither, on the
other hand, was he biaffed by
'what might weigh with fome
<
men, viz. the fear of lofing
'their elections. But that the
principles, upon which he act-
ed, were the intereft of his
country, and the conviction of
his judgment; and upon thefe
two confiderations alone, he
was againſt the bill.' This
fpeech made a great impreffion
on many of the members; and
Mr Aflabie, one of the lords
commiffioners of the admiralty,
and Mr Francis Annefley, one
of
1
OF ENGLAN D.
93
C
<
<
1
which fo fully expreffed their approbation of the treaties
⚫ of peace and commerce with France: adding, that it was
with no fmall difficulty, that fo great advantages in trade
were obtained for her ſubjects; and that ſhe would readily
comply with their defires, in continuing her utmoſt
care to fecure the benefits fhe had ftipulated for her
• people.' This was very furpriſing, fince the houſe of
commons had fufficiently fhewn, how little they were pleaſed
with the treaty of commerce, by their rejecting the bill,
which was offered to confirm it; and this was infinuated in
their addrefs itſelf. But it was pleaſantly faid, that the
queen answered them, according to what ought to have.
been in their addrefs, and not according to what was in it.
Beſides, it was obfervable, that her promife to maintain
what was already ftippulated, did not at all answer the prayer
of their addrefs. However, the ſpeaker having early the
next day, reported the queen's anfwer to a very thin houfe,
it was unanimously refolved to return thanks for it.
1713.
for Dunkirk,
As it did not appear in the treaty of peace, what equiva- Addrefs
lent the king of France was to have for Dunkirk, the about the
commons' addreſſed the queen, defiring to know what that equivalent
equivalent was. Some weeks pafled before they had an
anſwer; but, at laſt, the queen by a meflage faid, that in June 2o.
purfuance to the treaties, as well between her and the
French king, as between that king and the States, the equi-
of the commiffioners of the pub-
lick accounts, having ſpoke alfo
against the bill, the queftion,
Whether it ſhould be ingroffed,
was at laft carried in the nega-
tive, by a majority of one hun-
dred and ninety-four voices,
againſt one hundred and eighty-
five. It was obferved, that of
the four members for the city of
London, one only, Sir William
Withers, voted for the bill: and
that Sir Richard Hoare, then
lord mayor, Sir George New-
land, and Sir John Cafs, voted
againſt it; as did alſo the two
members for Westminster, Mr
Medlicot, and Mr Thomas
Crofs. On the other hand, it
was given out that the lord.
treasurer, foreſeeing the ill ef
fects of paffing fuch a bill at
this juncture, wrote the night
before, a letter to the ſpeaker
of the houſe of commons, defir-
ing him to uſe his intereft, that
it might drop; which ſtep he
might probably be induced to
take from the oppofition the bill
was like to meet with in the
houſe of lords; where, that very
afternoon, July 17, the earls
of Angleſey and Abington, and
fome other peers, had declared
against it. However fome fuf-
pected either the reality or true
defign of fuch a letter, becauſe
moſt of the court and Scots
members voted for the bill.
Pr. H. C.
valent
THE
HISTORY
វ
94
1713.
valent to be given for the demolition of Dunkirk was al-
ready in the hands of his moft chriftian majefty. This ftill
left the matter in the dark, no further explanation being
made of it however, though many members were diffatif-
fied with this dubious anfwer, the majority acquiefced in it.
At the fame time the queen being alfo addreffed for an
• account of what fhe had ftipulated for the fake of Great-
Britain in Flanders, and how the fame was fecured, the
report of the commiffioners of trade about this matter was
• laid before the commons ;' which being read, an addreſs
was prefented to her, 'That fhe would take care, the towns
• in Flanders in her poffeffion be not evacuated, till thoſe
" who were to have the fovereignty of the Spaniſh Nether-
lands agreed to fuch articles for regulating trade, as might
put the fubjects of Great-Britain upon an equal foot with
thofe of any other nation.' To this fhe returned a favour-
able anſwer.
This was all that paffed this feffion of parliament with
relation to peace. It was once apprehended, that the mi-
nifters would have moved for an act, or at leaſt for an ad-
drefs, approving the peace, but no fuch motion was
made (r).
(r) Biſhop Burnet fays, that,
if fuch a motion had been made
he would have ſpoken the fol-
lowing ſpeech, being the only
one he ever prepared before-
hand, which he has inferted in
his hiſtory, in order to deliver
down to pofterity his thoughts
of this great tranſaction.
<
My lords, this matter now
before you, as it is of the
greateſt importance, fo it may
'be feen in very different
lights; I will not meddle
with the political view of it;
I leave that to perfons, who
<
.
can judge and ſpeak of it
• much better than I can: I
'will only offer to you what
appears to me, when I con-
'fider it, with relation to the
• rules of morality and religion;
'me:
<
The
in this I am fure I act within
my proper fphere. Some
things ſtick fo with me, that I
'could have no quiet in my
'conſcience, nor think I had
anfwered the duty of my
function, if I did not make
'ufe of the freedom of fpeech,
'that our conftitution and the
'privileges of this houfe allow
I am the more encou-
raged to do this, becauſe the
bringing thoſe of our order
' into publick councils, in which
we have now fuch a ſhare, was
'originally intended for this
very end, that we fhould of-
fer fuch confiderations, as
'arife from the rules of our ho-
ly religion, in all matters that
I may come before us. In the
opening my ſenſe of things, I
may be forced to uſe fome
⚫ words,
<
<
OF ENGLAN D.
95
A demand of
money for
The houſe of commons was, as to all other things, ex- 1713.
cept the affair of commerce, fo entirely in the hands of the
miniſters, that they ventured on a new demand of a very ex-
traordinary nature, which was made in as extraordinary a man- the civil lift
ner. The civil lift, which was eſtimated at 600,000l. a year, debts.
and was given for the ordinary fupport of the government, Burnet.
did far exceed it. And this was fo evident, that, during Pr H. C.
the
words, that may perhaps ap-
pear fevere: I cannot help it,
if the nature of theſe affairs is
'fuch, that I cannot ſpeak
plainly of them, in a fofter
ftrain
<
I intend not to reflect
on any perſon: and I am fure
I have fuch a profound refpect
for the queen, that no part of
what I may ſay, can be under-
• ftood to reflect on her in any
fort her intentions are, no
doubt, as the doclares them
'to be, all for the good and
happiness of her people;
but it is not to be fuppofed,
that ſhe can read long treaties,
'or carry the articles of them
in her memory: fo, if things
have been either concealed
from her, or mifrepreſented to
her, She can do no wrong :'
and, if any fuch thing has
been done, we know on whom
our conſtitution lays the blame..
C
• The treaties that were made
fome years ago, with our allies
are in print; both the grand al-
liance, and fome fubfequent
ones: we fee many things in
theſe, that are not provided
for by this peace; it was in par-
ticular ftipulated, that no peace
ſhould be treated, much leſs
concluded, without the confent
of the allies. But, before I
make any obſervations on this,
I muſt defire you will confider
how facred a thing the publik
faith, that is engaged in treaties
and alliances, fhould be eſ-
teemed.
I hope, I need not tell you,
that even heathen nations valued-
themſelves upon their fidelity,
in a punctual obferving of all
their treaties, and with how
much infamy they branded the
violation of them; if we con-
fider that which revealed reli-
gion teaches us to know, that
man was made after the image
of God, the God of all truth,
as we know who is the father
of lyes; God hates the de-
ceitful man, in whofe mouth
'there is no faithfulneſs.' In
that lefs perfect religion of the
Jews, when the Gibeonites had,
by a fraudulent proceeding,
drawn Joſhua and the Ifraelites
into a league with them; it
was facredly obferved; and the
violation of it, fome ages af-
ter, was feverely punished.
And, when the laft of the kings
of Judah fhook off the fidelity.
to which he had bound him-
felf to the king of Babylon,
the prophet
the prophet thereupon faid
with indignation, Shall he
• break the oath of God, and
•
profper? The fwearing de-
ceitfully is one of the worst
characters; and 'He who fwears
to his own hurt, and changes
C not,
96
THE HISTORY
1713.
the three first years of the queen's reign, 100,000l. was
every year applied to the war; 200,000l. was laid out in
building of Blenheim-houfe; and the entertaining the Pa-
latines had coft the queen 100,000l. So there was appa-
rently a large overplus, beyond what was neceffary to-
wards the fupport of the government. Yet theſe extraor-
dinary expences had put the ordinary payments into fuch
an arrear, that, at Midfummer, 1710, the queen owed
510,000/
<
not, is among the beft. It is
a maxim of the wifeft of kings,
that the throne is eſtabliſhed
in righteoufnefs.' Treaties
are of the nature of oaths;
and, when an oath is afked to
confirm a treaty, it is never de-
nied. The beſt account that I
can give of the difufe of adding
that facred feal to treaties, is
this;'
،
The popes had for fome
ages poffeffed themſelves of a
power, to which they had of-
ten recourfe, of diffolving the
'faith of treaties, and the obli-
'gation of oaths: the famous,
but fatal ftory of Ladislaus,
king of Hungary, breaking
his faith to Amurath the Turk,
by virtue of a papal difpenfa
tion, is well known. One of
One of
the last publick acts of this fort,
was, when pope Clement the
• Seventh abfolved Francis the
First, from the treaty made
and fworn to at Madrid, while
'he was a prifoner there: the
fevere revenge that Charles the
Fifth took of this, in the fack
of Rome, and in keeping that
pope for fome months a pri-
foner, has made popes more
'cautious, fince that time, than
they were formerly this alfo
drew fuch heavy but just re-
'proaches, on the papacy, from
the reformers, that fome ftor
<
८
<
<
C
<
<
:
'feems now to be put to ſuch a
barefaced protection of perju-
ry.
ry. But the late king told
'me, that he understood from
the German proteftant princes,
that they believed the confef-
fors of popish princes had fa-
• culties from Rome, for doing
• this as effectually, though more
fecretly he added, that they
knew it went for a maxim
among popish princes, that
their word and faith bound
them as they were men, and
'members of fociety; but that
their oaths, being acts of re-
ligion, were fubject to the di-
⚫rection of their confeffors;
and that they, apprehending
this, did, in all their treaties
with the princes of that re-
ligion, depend upon their
'honour, but never aſked the
• confirmation of an oath, which
had been the practice of for-
'mer ages. The proteſtants of
France thought they had gain-
ed an additional fecurity, for
obſerving the edict of Nantes,
when the fwearing to obferve
it was made a part of the co-
'ronation oath: but it is pro-
bable, this very thing under-
'mined and ruined it.
(
<
<
Grotius, Puffendorf, and
• others who have wrote of the
' law of nations, lay this down
for a rule, that the nature of a
treaty,
OF ENGLAND.
97
$10,000l. But, upon a new account, this was brought to
be 80,000 l. lefs; and, at that time, there was an arrear
of 190,000l. due to the civil lift: theſe two fums amount-
ing to 270,000l. the debt that remained, was but 240,000/
Yet now, in the end of the feffion, when upon rejecting
the
と
​C
treaty, and the tie that arifes
out of it, is not altered by the
having, or not having an
oath; the oath ferves only to
heighten the obligation. They
• do alſo agree in this, that con-
• federacies do not bind ſtates,
'to carry on a war to their ut-
ter ruin; but that princes and
ftates are bound to uſe their
• utmoſt efforts in maintaning
them and it is agreed by all
who have treated of theſe
matters, that the common ene-
6
my, by offering to any one
• confederate all his pretenfions,
cannot juftify his departing
* from the confederacy; becaufe
it was entered into with that
view, that all the pretenfions.
upon which the confederacy
was made, fhould be infifted
on, or departed from, by com-
• mon confent.
<
It is true, that in confede-
do not perform their part:
• but the failure must be evident,
and an expoftulation must be
'first made: and if upon fatisfac-
tion demanded, it is not given,
then a proteftation fhould be
made, of fuch non-perfor-
mance; and the rest of the
• confederates are at liberty, as
'to him who fails on his part:
' theſe are reckoned among the
'cuftoms and laws of nations:
and, fince nothing of this kind
' has been done, I cannot fee
'how it can be made out, that
'the tie of the confederacy,
' and by confequence, that the
publick faith has not been firſt
• broken on our fide.
My lords, I cannot recon-
'cile the carrying on a treaty
' with the French, without the
knowledge and concurrence
of the other confederate ſtates
and princes, and the conclud-
'racies, where allies are bounding it without the confent of
"
to the performance of feveral
articles, as to their quota's or
fhares, if any one fails in the
part he was bound to, the other
confederates have a right to
demand a reparation for his
non performance; but, even
in that cafe, allies are to act as
'friends, by making allowances
for what could not be helped,
and not as enemies by taking
advantages, on delign to dil-
engage
age them from their allies.
It is certain, allies forfeit their
right to the alliance, if they
VOL. VI.
the emperor, the principal
'confederate; not to mention
the vifible uneafinefs, that has
appeared in the others, who
feem to have been forced to
'confent, by declarations, if
not by threatenings; from
hence I fay, I cannot recon-
cile this, with the articles of
the grand alliance, and the
other later treaties, that are in
print: this feems to come
within the charge of the pro-
phet against thoſe "who deal
"treacheroully with thoſe who
G
had
•
1713-
F
98
HISTORY
THE
?
1713. the bill of commerce, moſt of the members were gone into
the country, ſo that there were not one hundred and eighty
left, a meſſage was fent on the 25th of June, to the com-
mons, from the queen, acquainting them with the diffi-
culties, which, in a particular manner, fhe lay under,
'by
•
6
6
"had not dealt treacherouſly
"with them;" upon which the
threatning that follows may
be juftly apprehended: it will
have a ſtrange found among
all chriſtians, but more parti-
cularly among the reformed,
when it is reported, that the
plenipotentiary of the head of
the reformed princes faid
openly to the other plenipo-
tentiaries, that the queen held
herfelf free from all treaties
⚫ and alliances: if this be ſet
for a precedent, here is a fhort
way of difpenfing with the
publick faith; and, if this was
fpoken by one of our prelates,
<
✔
<
•
•
C
I am afraid it will leave a hea-
vy reproach on our church;
C
'fo openly broken: by this our
'nation is diſhonoured, and our
'church disgraced: and I dread
to think what the confequence
• of thoſe things is like to prove.
I would not have expreffed
myſelf in fuch a manner, if I
had not thought that I was
bound to it by the duty that I
owe to Almighty God, by my
zeal for the queen and the
church, and by my love to my
country. Upon ſo great an
occafion, I think my poſt in
the church and in this houfe
lays me under the ftricteft ob-
ligations to difcharge my con-
fcience, and to fpeak plainly
'without fear or flattery, let the
<
effect of it, as to myſelf, be
'what it will: I fhall have the
<
more quiet in my own mind,
both living and dying, for hav-
ining done that, which ſeemed
to an indiſpenſable duty.
and, to ſpeak freely, I am
• afraid it will draw a much
heavier curfe after it. My
lords, there is a God
heaven, who will judge all the
world, without refpect of per-
fons: nothing can profper
• without his bleffing: he can
blaft all the counfels of men,
• when laid in fraud and deceit,
6
how cunningly foever they
may be either contrived or dif-
guiſed: and I muſt think that
a peace made in oppofition to
the express words of fo many
treaties, will prove a curfe in-
•ſtead of a bleffing to us; God
is provoked by fuch proceed-
•
ings, to pour heavy judgments
on us, for the violation of a
⚫ faith ſo often given, which is
I hope this houſe will not
bring upon themſelves, and
the nation, the blame and
guilt of approving that, which
feems to be much more juftly
• cenfurable: the reproach that
may belong to this treaty, and
the judgments of God, that
may follow on it, are now
'what a few only are concerned
• in. A national approbatior
is a thing of another nature:
the publick breach of faith, in
the attack that was made on
the Smyrna fleet forty years
ago, brought a great load of
C
6
infamy
OF ENGLAND.
99
C
•
·
<
<
by the debts contracted in her civil government, occa-
1713.
fioned by feveral extraordinary expences formerly incur-d
red; fo that fhe thought herfelf obliged, in juftice to
C many creditors, to order an eſtimate to be laid before
them of what was owing on the civil lift, in the year
1710. Adding, fhe had ufed unexempled parfimony, to
remove, if poffible, this burden from herfelf; but that
the granting away, and leffening fome part of her reve-
nue by parliament, having made that impracticable, fhe
therefore hoped, that they who on all occafions, had
'fhewed themſelves fo well affected to her, would not be
unwilling to impower her to raife fuch a fum of money
on the civil lift funds, as might enable her to difcharge
the debts, and fettle the expence to be regularly paid for
the future.' With this meffage was prefented to the houſe
an eſtimate of the debts owing to the feveral heads of ex-
pence about midfummer, 1710; to which Mr John
Smith, one of the tellers of the Exchequer, having ra.fed
fome objections, faying, in vindication of the late mini-
ftry, That to his certain knowledge, the debts of the
civil lift, in the month of Auguft, 1710; did not amount
to one hundred and fifty thoufand pounds; for the pay-
ment of part of which there were fome monies ftanding
out, befides great quantities of tin, whereas, by the
• eftimate now laid before them, the debts to midfummer,
1710, that is, about two months before, were made to
• amount to four hundred thousand pounds.' A motion was
then made to addrefs the queen for an account of the arrears
of the civil lift funds, ftanding out at midfummer 1710: and
alfo, for an account of the deb's of the civil lift, as they
were at this time, and of the arrears of the civil lift funds
to pay the fame: but this was rejected, to the great fur-
prize of many. On the contrary, a bill for enabling the
queen to raiſe five hundred thousand pounds on the civil
lift revenues, to be applied towards payment of fuch debts
and arrears owing to her fervants, tradefmen and others,
was read, June 30, a fecond time, and committed. After
6
<
<
infamy on thoſe, who ad-
• vifed and directed it: but they
€
were inore modeft than to alk
a publick approbation of fo op-
probrious a fact: it lay on a
few; and the nation was not
drawn in to a fhare in the
guilt of that, which was then
univerfally detefted, though it
was pafied over in filence: it
feems enough, if not too much,
to be filent on fuch an occa
'fion. I can carry my com-
pliance no further.' Burnet,
Vol. II 623.
G 2
this,
}
100
THE HISTORY
1713. this, the motion made fome days before, being again pro-
poſed with better fuccefs, it was refolved to addrefs the
queen, firſt, for an account of the debts on the civil
lift to "
midfummer 1710:' and, fecondly, for, a yearly
account of the neat produce of the civil lift funds, fince
•her acceffion to the throne.' This laft addrefs was made
upon a fuggeftion, that the civil lift funds yielded now
above eight hundred and fifty thousand pounds. But,
whether this was fo or not, it is certain no anſwer was re-
turned to the addrefs.
Reaſons
The bill for raifing the 500,000l. met with great oppo-
against it. fition, as it appeared to be of bad conſequence, fince the
granting of fuch demands to one prince, would be a prece-
dent to grant the like to all future princes; and as the ac-
count of the queen's debts was deceitfully ftated, ſo it was
known, that the funds fet off for the civil lift, would en-
creaſe confiderably in times of peace. However, though
there was a great fuperiority in point of argument againſt
the bill, there was a confiderable majority for it. And all
people concluded, that the true end of getting fo much
money into the hands of the court, was to furnish their crea-
tures fufficiently for carrying their elections.
But it was
granted.
Addrefs to
tender re-
moved.
Pr. H. L.
The lords were fenfible, that the method of procuring.
this ſupply was contrary to their privileges, fince all publick
fupplies were either aſked from the throne, or by a meffage
fent to both houſes at the fame time. This practice was
enquired into by the lords: no precedents came up to it;
but fome came up fo near it, that nothing could be made
of the objection. But the minifters apprehending, that an
oppofition would be made to the bill, if it came up alone,
got it confolidated with another of 1,200,000l. that was
before them. And the weight of thefe two joined to-
gether made them both pafs in the houſe of lords, without
oppofition.
6
While this was in agitation, the earl of Wharton moved
get the pre- in the houſe of peers, That an addrefs be prefented to
the queen, that he would uſe her moft preffing in-
tances with the duke of Lorrain, and with all the
• princes and States in amity or correfpondence with her,
• not to receive, or fuffer to continue in their dominions,
the pretender to the imperial crown of theſe realms.'
Several members being furprifed at this unexpected motion.
(which was defigned to try the inclinations and affections.
of fome perfons) there was a paufe for a long while. At
laft, the lord North and Grey broke filence, and endea-
voured
OF ENGLAND.
ΙΟΙ
C
6
voured to have that motion laid afide; reprefenting, that 1713.
ſuch an addreſs would fhew a diſtruſt either of the queen,
or of the miniſters: and that her majeſty would be puzzled,
what to do, in cafe the princes and ftates in amity with
her, ſhould be unwilling to comply with her instances,
fince it would not be in her power to compel them: con-
cluding with this queſtion, Where would they have the
pretender refide, fince most, if not all the powers in Eu-
rope, were in amity with her majefty?' To this the earl
of Peterborough anfwered, That, fince he began his
• ftudies in Paris, the fiteft place for him to improve him-
• felf was Rome.' After fome warm expreffions between
the earl of Wharton and the lord-treafurer, the motion
made by the earl was carried; and on the 2d of July, the
houſe of lords attended the queen with their addrefs. To
which the anſwered, That ſhe took extreme kindly their
• addreſs; and the thanks they gave her for what ſhe had
done, for eſtabliſhing the proteftant Succeffion. 'That
'fhe would repeat her inftances to have that perfon re-
moved, according to their defire: and that he promifed
herſelf, they would concur with her, that, if they could
6 cure their animofities and divifions at home, it would be
the moſt effectual method to fecure the proteftant fuc-
ceffion.' This anfwer feemed to import, that the queen
had already preſſed the duke of Lorrain to remove the pre-
tender; though the minifters in the houſe of lords, and
* particularly the duke of Buckingham, prefident of the
'council, acknowledged, that they knew of no applica-
tions made to the duke of Lorrain, and therefore thought
the words of the anſwer related only to the inftances the
queen had uſed, to get the pretender to be fent out of
<
C
der.
• France.' But the natural fignification of the words feem- A fecond ›d-
ing to relate to the duke of Lorrain, the earl of Sunder- drefs agat
land made a motion for a fecond addrefs, which was fup- the preten
ported by the earl of Nottingham; and, after fome oppofi- Pr. H. L.
tion, it was ordered, That an addrefs be prefented to
the queen, to thank her for her anfwer to their addrefs,
and for the affurances fhe had given them, of repeating
her inftances for removing the pretender; and to exprefs
their furprize, that fuch inftances had not had their full
effect, notwithſtanding the French king, and the king of
Spain, had fhewn their compliance with her defires on
that occafion: and to allure her, that this houfe would
fupport her, in whatever fhe fhould judge proper for ob-
taining a demand, which was fo warranted by the laws
<
6
C
3
• of
102
HISTORY
THE
713.
The com-
against the
Pr. H. C.
.C
of nations, and fo neceffary for the honour and fafety
of her majeſty, and for the prefent and future peace and
quiet of the people.' Ail the anfwer brought to this ad-
drefs was, that her majefty received it graciously. Though
applications of this nature were known to be ungrateful
mons addrefs both to the queen and her minifters, yet, on the 1ft of
pretender. July, general Stanhope made a motion in the houfe of
commons, to the fame purpoſe with that of the earl of
Wharton in the houfe of peers, and was feconded by
Mr Lechmere. The only objection against it, was made
by Sir William Whitlocke, who faid, he remembered,
That the like addrefs was formerly made to the protector,
for having Charles Stuart removed out of France; not-
⚫ withſtanding which, that prince was, "fome time after,"
reftored to his father's throne.' But, the members, who
were fufpected of favouring the pretender, being unwilling
to diſcover their inclination in fo critical a juncture, when
the parliament was fo near expiring, and a new election
coming on, it was, according to Mr Stanhope's motion,
refolved unanimoufly, That an addrefs be prefented to
her majefty, acknowledging the great care fhe had always
taken, particularly in the late treaties of peace and gua-
ranty, to prevent the pretender to her throne being in a
• condition to diſturb theſe realms; and to befeech her,
• that ſhe would uſe the moſt ſpeedy and preffing inſtances
• with the duke of Lorrain, and with all other princes in
C amity with her, that they would not, under any pretext
whatfoever, receive, or fuffer to continue within their
dominions, the perfon, who, in defiance of her majeſty's
• moft undoubted title to the crown, and the fettlement
C thereof in the illuftrious houfe of Hanover, had affumed
the title of king of theſe realms; and to affure her,
that the commons of Great-Britain would, on all occa-
fions, fupport her in fuch fteps as fhould be neceffary
C towards rendering thoſe inftances effectual.' The ad-
drefs being prepared and approved, was, July 8, pre-
fented by the whole houfe to the queen, who coldly told
them, She thanked them for it, and would give direc-
• tions according as they defired:' which, however, was
not complied with till two or three months after, at the
folicitation of the lord- treaſurer. It was generally believed,
that the duke of Lorrain did not confent to receive the pre-
tender, till he fent one over to know the queen's pleaſure
upon it, of which he was very readily informed,
6
'
Thofe,
OF ENGLAND.
103
<
<
.
•
1713
addreſſes in
fion.
Thofe, who enquired into the reafons of thefe addreffes
againſt the pretender, rightly afcribed them, not only to
the good reception he met with in Lorrain, but alſo to the
affection, which many fhewed openly for him in Great-
Britain. To this purpoſe it is remarkable, that two ad- Two re-
dreſſes were about this time preſented to the queen by Sir markable
Hugh Paterſon, introduced by the earl of Mar, and after favour of li-
wards inferted in the London-gazette. The first, of the ncal fuccef-
magiſtrates and town-council of the burgh of Inverness in
north Britain, contained the following paragraphs: We,
without reſerve, depend on your majefty's wifdom in fe-
curing our religion, and the fucceffion to the heriditary
crown of Great-Britain in the family of your royal pro-
genitors, the moſt ancient line of fucceffion in the world;
being as much convinced, that our guaranty is intirely in
your hands, as your ferene majefty does place yours in
6 your people.' The other addrefs, from the town-council
and inhabitants of the royal burgh of Nairn, had this
paffage in it: We know not with what modefty we can
• preſume to addrefs your majefty in the matter of fuccef-
fion, left we ſhould ſeem to call in queſtion your majeſty's
• unquestionable prudence, or the faithfulneſs of your ma-
jeſty's council: and therefore we fincerely declare, that
our utmoſt wiſhes reach no further, than that our pofte-
rity may reap the effects of your majefty's wife choice,
while we think ourſelves happy under your majefty's ad-
• miniſtration all our days.' But, on the other hand, an
addreſs from the city of Glafcow, in a quite different ſtrain
as to the fucceffion, was prefented to the queen by the
members for that city, introduced by the duke of Ar
gyle.
<
.
<
peace.
The queen having appointed the 7th of July for a publick Thankſgiv
thankſgiving, for the fafe and honourable peace lately con- ing for the
cluded, and invited her parliament to attend her to St Paul's, July 7.
both houſes went with the ufual ſtate; but the queen not
having intirely recovered her ftrength fince the laſt fit of
the gout, fhe could not be prefent at that folemnity. The
whigs were abfent for another caufe. In the evening there
were great bonfires and illuminations throughout the cities
of London and Weſtminſter, and magnificent fireworks
were played off upon the Thames, over againft White-
hall.
when ment is pro-
On the 16th of July, the queen came to the houſe of The parlia-
peers to pass the bills, and put an end to the feffion,
The made the following fpeech to the parliament:
G A
1ogued.
July 16.
My P. H. C.
104
THE HISTORY
1713.
The queen's <
ſpeech to
both houſes.
My lords and gentlemen,
I
Come now to put an end to this feffion with great
fatisfaction, and return you all my hearty thanks for
"the good fervice you have done to the publick.
Gentlemen of the houſe of commons,
{
"I muſt particularly thank you for the fupplies you have
e now given: I will take care to apply them, as far as they
"will reach, to fatisfy the fervices you have voted.
"I hope at the next meeting, the affair of commerce
"will be fo well understood, that the advantageous condi-
❝tions, I have obtained from France, will be made effec-
❝tual for the benefit of our trade.
"I cannot part with fo good and ſo loyal an houſe of
"commons, without expreffing how fenfible I am of the
"affection, zeal, and duty, with which you have be-
"haved yourſelves; and I think myfelf therefore obliged
to take notice of thoſe remarkable fervices you have per-
"formed.
૮.
"At your first meeting you found a method, without
"farther charge to my people, to ease them of the heavy
"load of more than nine millions; and the way of doing
"it may bring great advantage to the nation.
"In this feffion you have enabled me to be juft in pay-
"ing the debts to my fervants.
"And, as you furniſhed fupplies for carrying on the
"war ſo you have ftrengthened my hands in obtaining
66 a peace.
"Thus you have fhewed yourſelves the true reprefen-
"tatives of my loyal commons, by the juft regard you
"have paid to the good of your country and my honour.
"Thefe proceedings will, I doubt not, preferve the me-
mory of this parliament to pofterity.
86
My lords and gentlemen,
"At my coming to the crown, I found a war prepared
"for me. God has bleffed my arms with many victories,
"and at laſt has enabled me to make them uſeful by a ſafe
❝ and honourable peace.
..
65
"I heartily thank you for the affiftance you have given
me therein, and I promife myfelf, that, with your con-
currence, it will be lafting.
" To
OF ENGLAND.
105
To this end I recommend it to you all, to make my 1713.
"fubjects truly fenfible what they gain by the peace; and
"that you will endeavour to diffipate thofe groundleſs.
jealoufies, which have been fo induftrioufly fomented
"amongst us, that our unhappy divifions may not weaken,
❝and in fome fort endanger, the adyantages I have obtain-
"ed for my kingdoms.
CC
"There are fome (very few, I hope) who will never be
"fatisfied with any government: it is neceffary therefore,
"that you fhew your love to your country, by exerting
"yourſelves, to obviate the malice of the ill-minded, and
❝to undeceive the deluded.
"Nothing can eſtabliſh peace at home, nothing can re-
66 cover the diſorders, that have happened during ſo long a
"war, but a ſteady adhering to the conftitution in church
❝ and ſtate.
"Such, as are true to theſe principles, are only to be
relied on; and, as they have the beſt title to my favour,
"ſo you may depend upon my having no intereſt nor aim,
"but your advantage, and the fecuring of our religion and
"liberty.
"I hope, for the quiet of theſe nations, and the uni-
❝ verſal good, that I fhall next winter meet my parliament
"reſolved to act upon the fame principles, with the fame
prudence, and with fuch vigour, as may enable me to
fupport the liberties of Europe abroad, and reduce the
"fpirit of faction at home."
net.
Few ſpeeches from the throne have been more feverely Remarks
reflected on than this was. It ſeemed ftrange, that the on it.
queen, who did not pretend to underſtand matters of trade,
ſhould paſs fuch a cenfure on both houſes, for their not un-
derſtanding the affair of commerce; fince at the bar of both
houſes, and in the debates within them upon it, the inte-
reft of the nation did appear fo vifibly to be contrary to
the treaty of commerce, that it looked like a contempt put
upon them, to reprefent it as advantageous to England,
and to rank all thofe, who oppofed it, among the ill-
minded, or at leaſt among the deluded. Nor did it efcape
confure, that ſhe ſhould affirm, that the nation was by the
parliament eaſed of the load of nine millions, without any
further charge, fince the nation must bear the conftant
charge of intereft at fix per cent. till the capital fhould be
paid off.
The
Bur-
106
HISTORY
THE
1713.
Rejoicings
upon the
expiration of
Lentence.
The fharpneſs, with which fhe expreffed herſelf, was
fingular, and not very well fuited to her dignity or fex:
nor was it well understood, what could be meant by her
faying, that he found a war prepared for her at her com-
ing to the crown; fince the herſelf began it upon the ad-
drelles of both houſes. It was alfo obferved, that there
was not in all her fpeech one word of the pretender, or
of the proteftant fucceffion. But that, which made the
greatest impreffion upon the whole nation, was, that this
fpeech difcovered plainly, that the court was refolved to
have the bill of commerce pafs in the next feffion.
people concluded, that the minifters were under engage-
ments to the court of France to get it fettled; and this was
taken to be the fenfe of the queen's words concerning the
making the peace lafting.
All
After this fpeech, both houfes were prorogued to the
28th, but never to meet again, being diffolved before that
day came. And thus ended the third and laft feffion of
the third British parliament, which fome have diftinguiſh-
ed by the epithet of pacifick. It may however be obferved,
that how far foever the commons carried their obfequiouf-
nefs to the minifters in the affair of peace; yet the majo-
rity could not be prevailed with to approve the treaty of
commerce, fo deftructive to the trade of England (s).
The fentence of the houfe of lords, by which Dr Sa-
cheverel was forbid to preach during the fpace of three
Sacheverel's years, expiring on the 23d of March, that day was cele-
brated in London, and in feveral parts of the kingdom,
with extraordinary rejoicings. The Sunday following in
the afternoon the doctor preached the first time at his
church of St Saviour's, where a great multitude thronged
(s) Burnet concludes his hi-
ftory with faying: I am now
come to the end of the war,
and of this parliament, both at
once: it was fit they fhould bear
fome proportion to one another;
for, as this was the worst par-
liament I ever faw, fo no af-
fembly, but one compofed as
this was, could have fet quiet
under fuch a peace: but I am
now arrived at my full period,
and fo fhall cloſe this work: I
had a noble profpect before me
in a courfe of many years, of
bringing it to a glorious conclu-
fion; now the fcene is fo fatally
altered, that I can fcarce re-
ftrain myſelf from giving vent
to a juſt indignation in fevere
complaints: but an hiftorian
muft tell things truly as they
are, and leave the defcanting
on them to others: fo I here
conclude this hißory of above
three and fifty years. Burnet,
Vol. II. 631.
OF ENGLAN D.
107
1713.
to hear, or at leaſt to fee him, expreffing their joy at his
returning to the exercife of his function. His fubject was
the duty of praying for our enemies, from St Luke xxiii.
34.
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do.' In his fermon he made a tacit but obvious parallel
between his fufferings and thofe of Jefus Chrift. Not
long after, the houſe of commons, to fhew their diflike of
his former profecution and cenfure, defired him to preach
before them at St Margaret's Weftminster, on the 29th
of May, being the restoration-day; which he did, and
had the thanks of the houfe for his fermon. Nor was He is made
the court backward in rewarding his late fervice; for,
rectorſhip of St Andrew's Holborn, becoming vacant, he
was promoted to that rich benefice. About this time alfo Other pro-
Dr Jonathan Swift, who had ferved the prefent managers motions.
by writing feveral libels againſt the whigs and laſt miniſtry,
by whom he had been diſappointed in his follicitations for
preferment, was by the duke of Ormond promoted to the
deanery of St Patrick, Dublin.
the rector of St.
In the end of May, died Sprat, biſhop of Rocheſter;
his parts were very bright in his youth, and gave great
hopes; but thefe were blafted by a lazy libertine courſe of
life, to which his temper and good-nature carried him,
without confidering the duties, or even the decencies of
his profeffion he was justly esteemed a great mafter of our
language, and one of our correcteft writers. Atterbury
fucceeded him in that fee, and in the deanery of Weftmin-
fter thus was he promoted, and rewarded for all the
flame, that he had raifed in our church. Dr Smalridge,
a divine of the fame principles with Atterbury, and deat
of Carlifle, was made dean of Chrift-church, Oxford. At
the fame time, care was taken to put the most important
towns of the kingdom in the hands of fuch perfons, as
were prepared blindly to follow the queen's meaſures.
With this view, the earl of Dorfet, being removed from
being governor of Dover, and warden of the Cinque-
ports, was fucceeded by the duke of Ormond, whoſe fon-
in-law, the lord Afhburnham, was made deputy-governor
and deputy-warden; and Sir Henry Bellafy fe was appointed
governor of the town of Berwick upon Tweed. Not
long after, a penfion of five thousand pounds per annual
was granted to the duke of Ormond, for the term of fi-
teen years, out of the revenues of Ireland, in confidera-
tion of his eminent fervices; and the lord Afhburnham
was appointed colonel and captain of the firft troop of
horfe-
Andiew's.
108
THE HISTORY
1713. horfe-guards in the room of the earl of Portland, who was
ordered to difpofe of that poft for the fum of ten thouſand
pounds. Sir John Powel, one of the judges of the
Queen's-bench, dying in June on his return from Bath,
was fucceeded by Sir Thomas Powis; and Sir William Ba-
nifter, a ferjeant at law, was made one of the barons of
the exchequer, in the room of Sir Salathiel Lovel, lately
deceafed. The duke of Mountague having obtained the
queen's leave to travel beyond fea, refolved to follow the
fortune of the duke of Marlborough, his father-in-law.
The duke of Montrofe, who was well-affected to the pro-
teftant fucceffion, being removed from the place of lord-
privy-feal of Scotland, was fucceeded in it by the duke of
Athol; which change rather increaſed than abated the pre-
fent ferment in that part of Great-Britain. For, on the
one hand, the prefbyterian minifters refufed to obferve the
publick thankſgiving-day for the peace, appointed by the
queen and, on the other hand, the friends of the pre-
tender, made great preparations to celebrate his birth-
day.
Duke d'Au-
mont's am-
baffy.
ed by the
mob.
The danger with which the Hanoverian fucceffion was
threatened, appeared to be the more real and imminent, by
reafon of the great countenance, which the Roman catho-
licks and jacobites received from the diftinguishing marks of
favour, which at this juncture, were fhewn to the duke
d'Aumont, ambaffador extraordinary from France, who
came to London on the ſecond of January, 1712-13, and
He is infult- was lodged at Powis houſe in Ormond-ftreet. He was at
first attended in publick with great acclamations by the po-
pulace, amongſt whom he threw out from his coach hand-
fuls of money; but, having foon difcontinued that cuftom,
they changed their note, and infulted him with the cry of,
no papist, no pretender; and great infolencies were offered
before his houſe by fome, who being oppofed by others, it
occafioned a ſfcuffle between them; whereupon it was
thought proper to order the conftables of the pariſh to look
to the fecurity of his houfe. Nor was this precaution un-
neceflary; for by this time there was a general clamour
among the people against him, on account of great quanti-
ties of wines, filks, and other goods, which his domefticks
were faid to have imported cuftom-free, to the prejudice of
the tradeſmen of London and Weftminster. The fact was,
fome French merchants took that opportunity to bring over
a good deal of Burgundy and Champaigne; which, before
his arrival, were fold by retail at his houfe, and other
places,
OF ENGLAND.
109
1713.
places, at lower rates than at the taverns; and at the fame
time, other Frenchmen who pretended to be of his retinue,
brought alfo filks, buttons, perukes, toys, and other fmall
wares, which they expoſed to fale, unknown to the ambaſſa-
dor. But though it was certain, that all the wines imported
on this occaſion (except two tuns allowed to an ambaſſador
extraordinary) paid the full duties, which amounted to
about 2500l. And though the duke d'Aumont, upon his
arrival at London, forbid the felling of wines or any other
commodities in his houfe, yet the people put up the fign of
a bunch of grapes before it in the night-time; and feveral
ballads were writ both in French and Engliſh, one of them
called, the merchant a-la-mode, containing many fevere
reflections, not only against the ambaffador, but against the
queen's minifters; ftrict fearch was made after the publiſh-
ers of it, one of whom was committed to newgate. Be-
fides theſe publick infults, feveral letters were fent to the
ambaffador, to give him notice, that his houſe would be fet
on fire; which, whether by defigh or accident, happened
on the 26th of January. That day the duke d'Aumont His houfe
entertained at dinner the ambaſſador of Venice, the envoys burnt.
of Sweden and Florence, the lord Waldegrave, and fome
other perfons of diftinction, whom, by way of jeſt, he ac-
quainted with the threatening letters he had received. But
the company were foon alarmed in good earneſt by a cry of
fire; which, having broke out about three in the afternoon.
in an upper room, ſpread itſelf with fuch violence, that
in less than two hours, the whole houfe was burnt to the
ground; and all that the ambaffador's domefticks could do,
was to fave his plate, and part of his richeſt furniture.
The duke of Ormond, having notice of this accident,
caufed detachments of the horfe and foot-guards to march
to Ormond-ftreet, to fecure the ambaflador's goods, and
went himſelf to direct and encourage the engineers and fire-
men. The lofs, the ambaffador and his domefticks ſuſtained,
was by fome magnified to an immenfe degree, whilft others.
made it inconfiderable. How the fire began, was then,
and ſtill remains a more difficult queſtion to be refolved. It
was at first given out, that it happened by the carelefnefs of
his confectioner. Others faid, the houfe was fet on fire by
an iron pot full of charcoal, that had been put in the mid-
dle of a room newly painted, in order to dry it. Others
again reported, it was fet on fire by two bricklayers, who
had been employed to mend the tiles of the houfe, and
who did it, at the inftigation of the whigs. Upon this
fufpicion,
1
110
HISTORY
THE
تو
Feb. 3.
<
<
1713. fufpicion, the two bricklayers were taken into cuftody,
and an advertiſement was publiſhed in the London-gazette,
That her majefty thought fit to promife, that if any of
the perfons, who wrote the letters to the duke d'Aumont,
or any other perfon whatfoever, fhould difcover the con-
trivers or actors of fo fcandalous and wicked a defign, fo
that they, or any of them, might be brought to juſtice;
fuch perfon, or perfons, fhould receive the reward of
five hundred pounds, and her majefty's pardon for the
' offence.' The ftricteft enquiry, that could be made, not
affording ground to fix this fire upon any particular perfon,
the generality continued in their firſt opinion, that it hap-
pened through accident. But many, who confidered, that,
as foon as the queen was informed of the misfortune, that
had befallen the French ambaffador, fhe gave immediate
orders, that the beſt appartment in Somerfet-houſe ſhould be
prepared for his accommodation, began to entertain a ſuſpi-
cion, that Powis-houfe was defignedly fet on fire, for a
pretence to remove the French ambaffador to a royal palace
on the Thames, where any perfon might have private accefs.
The preten- to him. Others carried their furmifes fo far, as to imagine,
der thought that the pretender himself was come over with the ambaf-
d'Aumont. fador, and had private interviews with the queen and fome
of her miniſters. Thefe jealoufies were increaſed by the
frequent entertainments and balls, which the duke d'Au-
mont gave in his appartment; where a great concourſe of
perfons reforting in mafks, he had an opportunity to found
the fentiments of many about the chevalier de St George.
to be with
Complaint
against Mr
Dubourdieu.
Mr Prior, having in the queen's name folicited the re-
leafe of the French proteftants, who were on board the
gallies on account of their religion; the marquis de Torcy
took that opportunity of complaining to him, that the
French refugees in England made it their buſineſs to inveigh
against the king his mafter; and naming, in particular,
M. Dubourdieu, a French minifter of the royal chapel in
the Savoy (who indeed had diſtinguiſhed himſelf that way)
defired, he might be punifhed, and made an example to the
reft. At the fame time, To:cy directed the duke d'Au-
mont to demand the fame at the court of Great Britain;
upon which he prefented a memorial againſt Dubourdieu,
to defire that exemplary punishment might be inflicted on
him and all minifters, who abufed their pulpits by declama-
tions againſt his mafter.
Mr Prior having beforehand acquainted the lord Boling-
brake with the purport of this memorial, which clafhed
with
OF ENGLAND.
•
with the conftitution of our free government, the queen 1713.
was prepared with an anſwer, That this was none of her
• buſineſs, but the biſhop of London's ;' to whom the me-
morial was referred, with orders to examine Dubourdieu.
He having appeared before the bifhop with four elders of May 19
his church, the bishop communicated to them the French
ambaffadors memorial; and afked the French minifter,
what he had to lay to it? Dubourdieu anſwered, The
• memorial containing only general complaints, he had no-
thing elſe to ſay, but that, during the war, he had, after
the example of feveral prelates, and other clergymen of
the church of England, freely preached against the com-
mon enemy and perfecutor of the church; and that, the
< greateſt part of his fermons being printed with his name
affixed, he was far from difowning them; but that, fince
the proclamation of the peace, he had not faid any thing
that in the least concerned the perfon of the French king.'
The bishop made him repeat the words, fince the proclama-
tion of the peace; and afking of the elders, whether this
was true? they anſwered, that it was. Upon which the
biſhop faid, he would make his report to the queen: which
he did in fuch a manner, that the French Ambaſſador found
no encouragement to infiſt on his demand (t).
"
(t) About the middle of July,
the French miniſtry refolved to
try the weight of their intereſt
with the court of Great Britain.
Monfieur Tugghe, deputy from
the magiftrates of Dunkirk, pre-
fented to the queen an addrefs
or petition, wherein he begged
her majefty's clemency for
fparing the harbour and port
• of that town' But he was
told by the lord Bolingbroke,
That the queen beheld with
forrow the damages which the
• inhabitants of that town would
<
<
fuftain by the demolition of its
ramparts and harbour: but
• fhe did not think it conve
nient to make any alteration
in an affair agreed on by a
treaty. Tugghe, not dif
couraged by this repulfe, pre
•
About
fented a fecond addrefs, where-
in he fuggeſted, That the pre-
'fervation of the harbour of
Dunkirk, without works and
'fortifications, might, in time,
be equally uſeful, and become
' even abfolutely neceffary, both
for her majefty's political
views, and the good of her
fubjects.' This he endeavour-
ed to evince, by a long deduc-
tion of feveral particulars, and
then concluded with prefuming
to hope, That her majefty
<
would graciouſly be pleaſed to
' recal part of her ſentence, by
caufing her thunderbolts to
'fall only on the martial works,
'which might have incurred
her difpleaſure, and by fpa-
ring only the mole and dykes,
which, in their naked condi-
'
tion,
112
THE HISTORY
་
1713.
About the beginning of September, the colonels Arm-
ftrong and Clayton were appointed commiffioners to ſee the
Demolition fortifications of Dunkirk demoliſhed; and at the fame time
two captains of men of war were, by the admiralty, named
of the forti-
fications of
Dunkirk,
tion, could, for the future,
be no more than an object of
pity.' What anfwer was re-
turned to this memorial, never
came to publick knowledge; but
Tugghe, whether of his own
head, or by the encouragement
of other perfons, having caufed
it to be printed and difperfed in
Engliſh, to try how it would be
reliſhed by the people, Mr Ri-
chard Steele, who with Mr
Addiſon, and Mr Arthur Mayn-
waring, exerted himſelf in de-
fence of the liberties of Eng-
land, and of the whig caufe,
and who, at this very juncture,
was writing a weekly paper,
called the Guardian, anſwered
Tugghe's memorial with great
fpirit, and, in order to expoſe it
to the refentment of all men,
who valued their country, or
had any refpe&t to the honour,
fafety, or glory of their queen,
fuggefled, in his paper of the
7th of August, 1713, That
the British nation expected
the immediate demolition of
Dunkirk.
That the very common peo-
ple knew, that within two
months after the figning of the
peace, the works towards the
fea were to be demolished, and
within three months after it, the
works towards the land.
That the peace was figned
the laft of March, O. S.
That the parliament has
been told from the qucen, that
the equivalent for it is in the
hands of the French king.
to
That 'the fieur Tugghe has
the impudence to aſk the queen,
to remit the moſt material part
of the articles of peace between
her majefty and his maſter.
That the British nation re-
ceived more damage in their
trade from the port of Dunkirk,
than from almoſt all the ports
of France, either in the ocean,
or the Mediterranean.
• That fleets of above thirty
fail have come together out of
Dunkirk during the late war,
and taken fhips of war, as well
as merchant men.
That the pretender failed
from thence to Scotland; and
that it is the only port the French
have, till you come to Breft, for
the whole length of the Chan-
nel, where any confiderable na-
val armament can be made.
'That deſtroying the fortifi-
cations of Dunkirk is an incon-
fiderable advantage to England,
in compariſon to the advantage
of deftroying the mole, dykes,
and harbour, it being the naval
force from thence, which only
can hurt the British nation.
That the Dutch, who fuf-
fered equally with us from thofe
of Dunkirk, were probably in-
duced to fign the treaty with
France, from this confideration,
that the town and harbour of
Dunkirk fhould be deſtroyed.
That the fituation of Dun-
kirk is fuch, as that it may al-
ways keep runners to obferve
all fhips failing on the Thames
and Medway.
• That
OF ENGLAND.
113
to fee the harbour filled up. Accordingly, on the 7th of 1713.
September, the two colonels fet out for Dunkirk; where
three French battalions, and as many Swifs being come,
and incamping, the one without Port-Newport, the other
without Port-Royal, they began on the 26th the demoli-
tion, the French between theſe two gates, and the Swiſs
between the bafon and the citadel. The fame day a difpute
aroſe between Sir James Abercromby, the Britiſh command-
ant, and monfieur le Blanc, the French intendant of the
province, about the manner of carrying it on. The French
intended to have made a breach in the ramparts, or main
fortifications of the town; but the two Engliſh commiffio-
ners having made the commandant fenfible, that, if the
fame was permitted, the Engliſh garrifon was not ſafe, and
the French might eafily make themfelves mafters of the
place; Sir James infifted, and it was at laft agreed to by
le Blanc, that all the outworks, both towards the fea and
the land, fhould be firft demolished; next the harbour
ruined and filled; afterwards the main fortifications of the
place razed and deſtroyed; and laſt of all, the citadel.
This point being cleared, the French and Swifs foldiers
went to work again, and removed the great guns from fort
Gallard, fort de Revers, the Rifbank, and the two forts at
That all the fuggeftions,
which the fieur Tugghe brought
concerning the Dutch, were falfe
and fcandalous.
That, whether it might be
advantageous to the trade of
Holland or not, that Dunkirk
fhould be demoliſhed, it was ne-
cellary, for the fafety, honour,
and liberty of England that it
fhould be fo.
6
That, when Dunkirk was
demoliſhed, the power of France,
on that fide, ſhould it ever be
turned against us, would be re-
moved ſeveral hundred miles.
further off Great Britain than it
was at prefent.
That after the demolition,
there could be no confiderable
preparations made at fea by the
French in all the Channel but at
Breft; and that Great-Britain
VOL. VI.
being an ifland, which cannot
be attacked but by a naval
power, we might efteem France
effectually removed by the de-
molition from Great Britain, as
far as the diſtance from Dun-
kirk to Breſt.
Theſe reflections were not
only a great mortification to
Tugghe and the other French
agents, but alfo gave no fmall
offence to fome of the Britiſh
minifters, as appeared by the
fevere animadverfions that were
publiſhed by the authors of the
Examiner. But, on the other
hand, the neceffity of the im-
mediate demolition of Dunkirk
was urged by feveral other wri-
ters, and particularly by Mr
Toland, in a pamphlet intitled,
Dunkirk or Dover.
H
the
114
THE HISTORY
1713. the heads or entrance of the port; and the miners made
preparations to blow up thefe forts, and the other out-
works; which was done towards the end of November.
But notwithſtanding all this, the French found afterwards.
an expedient to evade the letter of this treaty, by making
new canal in Mardyke, which had a communication
from the fea to the bafon of Dunkirk.
Promotions.
a
Before the queen left Kenſington, fhe refolved to beftow
fome marks of her favour on the earl of Peterborough,
who, though not in any great confidence with the prime
managers, had yet been inftrumental in the change of the
miniſtry in 1710, and had ſupported their pacific meaſures.
He was on the 3d of Auguſt elected knight of the garter,
in the room of the late duke of Hamilton; and the next
day inftalled at Windfor, with the dukes of Beaufort and
Kent, earl Paulet, the earl of Oxford and Mortimer, and
the earl of Strafford; Sir Jacob Banks ftanding proxy for
this laft. About the fame time the biſhop of Briftol, lord
privy-feal, was tranflated to the fee of London, vacant by
the death of Dr Henry Compton, a generous and good-
natured man, but eafy and weak, and much in the power
of others. On the 8th of Auguft, a proclamation was
publiſhed for diffolving the parliament, and another, on
the 17th, for calling a new one.
Letters in fa-
vour of the
pretender.
Aug. 1.
<
Some days before, feveral letters fubfcribed with an H
(the initial letter of the earl of Oxford's family-name) were
fent by the poft to the mayors, and other magiftrates of di-
vers corporations, recommending to them to promote
the intereft of the pretender in the next elections ;
which it was fuggefted, would be acceptable to the queen
and miniſtry. Some of theſe letters having been tranf-
mitted to the fecretaries of ftate, an advertiſement, figned
by the lord Dartmouth, was inferted in the Gazette, pro-
mifing the queen's pardon, and a reward of one hundred
pounds, to any perfon, who fhould difcover the author of
the letters. This occafioned various conjectures. Some af-
cribed the letters to the difcontented whigs: others to the
pretender's friends, both of whom hated the lord- treaſurer;
the whigs, for having done too much, and the others, for
having done too little for the pretender's intereft. On this
account he was in a very difficult fituation, eſpecially, as
he had been for fome time upon ill terms with the lord Bo-
lingbroke, as appears from his own letter to the queen, of
Rep. of the the 9th of June, 1713. Before the laſt feffion of parlia-
ment, Bolingbroke had formed a fcheme to put himſelf and
Com. of
Secr.
chancellor
OF ENGLAN D.
115
•
chancellor Harcourt at the head of the high-church party, 1713.
and had oppofed the duke of Shrewsbury's being fent over to
France. However, with lady Mafham's affiftance, the lord-
treaſurer brought his own fcheme to bear, which was,
That the duke of Ormond ſhould ſtay in England, to at-
tend the army affairs, which was neceffary at the time of
difbanding: that the duke of Shrewsbury fhould go to
Ireland, as lord-lieutenant, upon his return from France:
that the earl of Findlater fhould be chancellor of Scot-
land; the earl of Mar third fecretary of ftate; the lord.
• Dartmouth privy-feal; Mr fpeaker Bromley fecretary of
ftate; and Sir William Wyndham chancellor of the ex-
chequer, in the room of Robert Benfon, lately created
lord Bingley, and named ambaſſador extraordinary to the
court of Madrid.' This new ſcheme perfectly defeated
that of lord Bolingbroke and his friends, which threw them
into a great rage; and the lord chancellor declared the pro-
motion of the earl of Findlater to be againſt law, and would
not treat that earl with decency; and lord Mar and fecreta-
ry Bromley received many inftances of ill ufage. Moft of
thefe changes were declared from the middle of Auguſt to
the middle of September; and, about that time, Thomas
Foley was appointed auditor of the impreft accounts, in the
room of Mr Maynwaring deceafed; the lord Lanfdown,
treaſurer of the houfhold, in the room of the earl of Chol-
mondley formerly removed; Sir John Stonehouſe, comp-
troller of the houfhold, in the room of the lord Lanfdown;
the lord de la War, treaſurer of the chamber, in the room
of the lord Fitzharding deceaſed; Francis Gwin, fecretary
of war, in the room of Sir William Wyndham; and Tho-
mas Moore, brother to Arthur Moore, paymaster of the
land-forces abroad, in the room of Mr Bridges. About
this time, likewife, the duke of Northumberland and Sir
John Stonehoufe were fworn of the privy-council; and the
earl of Denbigh made one of the tellers of the exchequer.
All this while the party writers and managers on both New electi-
fides were extremely bufy in preparing the minds of the ons.
people to favour their respective interelts in the new electi-
ons for parliament men. But notwithſtanding the weight
and influence of the court, and the vifible partiality of fome
returning officers, a far greater number of whigs were clio-
fen, than was by many expected.
rated in two
or three days
There happened about this time an incident, which did A million
not a little contribute to fecure the treaſurer's intereft at
court. An advertiſement had been inferted in the London- by the trea-
H 2
gazette,
Iurel.
116
HISTORY
THE
1713. gazette, whereby it was propofed to raiſe three hundred
thoufand pounds for paying off part of the debts of the na-
vy, by way of loan, on the fecurity of the South-ſea ſtock,
depofited for that purpoſe, into the hands of the chamber-
lain of London, and the deputy-tellers of the exchequer.
Whether monied men did not like the fecurity, or the truf-
tees; or whatever was the reaſon, not above ſeventy thou-
fand pounds were fubfcribed into this loan in fix or ſeven
weeks; which made many believe, it would never be filled
up. But, upon an order of the 9th of September by the
lord-treasurer, that whoever fhould fubfcribe one hundred
pounds to the loan, fhould be intitled to buy ten tickets of
ten pounds each in the houshold lottery of five hundred
thousand pounds, there was the next day fuch a croud of
fubfcribers, both at the exchequer and Guild-hall, that more
than the three hundred thouſand pounds were ſubſcribed.
The treaſurer improving the opportunity, enlarged the loan to
five hundred thousand pounds, which in a few days was fil-
led up, as was at the fame time the lottery of the like fum:
fo that, by this means, the treaſurer raiſed a million fterling
in two or three days, which greatly advanced his credit and
reputation (u).
A dangerous
miſtake dif-
About the latter end of the year 1713, the following in-
covered and cident happened: by the regency-bill, which was to take
rectified in place on the queen's death, power was given to the perfon
regard to the next in fucceffion, to nominate as many as he or ſhe pleaſed,
regency - act,
to act with the great officers named in the bill. This was,
(u) The marquis de Mire-
mont, whom the queen had fent
to Utrecht with a commiffion to
take care of the intereft of the
French proteftants, being come
over, waited on the queen, and
returned her thanks for procur.
ing the enlargement from the
gallies of France of one hundred
and thirty-fix proteftants. He
defired her ſtill to interpofe her
good offices for the deliverance
of one hundred and eighty-five
more of theſe fufferers, who
were ſtill detained in the gallies
on the fame account. The mar-
quis de Rochegude fpoke to her
likewiſe in their behalf, and de-
properly
livered to her letters from the
States and the princefs Sophia to
the fame purpoſe. The queen,
who had been given to under-
ftand, that all the French pro-
teſtant ſufferers had been enlag-
ed, was fuprized to find, there
were ſo many ſtill under af-
fiction; and defired the mar-
quis de Rochegude to give her a
lift of them. The archbishop
of York, lord Almoner, having
likewife been informed about
this matter, he ſeconded both
the French marquifies follicitati-
ons with great zeal, which had
the defired effect. About this
time Charles Rofs, colonel-ge-
neral
OF
ENGLAN D.
117
properly ſpeaking, the fafeguard of the proteſtant fucceffion.
The act was very particular, in directing feveral things to
be done in that affair, by the perfon next in fucceffion abroad,
and by his minifter or agent here. Mr William Benſon,
apprehending fome omiffions in this refpect, by which the
nomination could not be of any ufe, applied to baron Both-
mar for information, and found his fears were not ground-
lefs. The act directed, that the inftruments of nomination
fhould be three in number, and tranſmitted hither to the refi-
dent of the perfon next in fucceffion, whofe credentials
were to be inrolled in Chancery; and, after fuch inrolment,
the refident was to depofite one part with the archbiſhop of
Canterbury, another with the lord-chancellor or keeper, and
the third was to remain with the refident, and that the feals
of theſe three perfons fhould be fixed to the covers in which
the inftruments were included. Now Bothmar, in whoſe
hands one of theſe inftruments was left, had not the cha-
racter of refident; and Mr Kreinberg, who was refident,
and whofe credentials were inrolled, was not concerned in
the matter. Nor was Bothmar's, nor Kreinberg's, nor the
chancellor's feal affixed to the inftruments, but the feal of
baron Schutz and of the lord Cowper, who was no longer
chancellor. If therefore the queen had died, whilſt the matter
was in this fituation, theſe inftruments could not have been
opened, becauſe the act had not been complied with. In
this light Benfon reprefented the affair to Bothmar, who de-
neral of the dragoons, and lieu-
tenant-general, was appointed
envoy extraordinary to the king
of France.
Some days before a very re-
markable thing happened in
Scotland. George Lockhart of
Carnwarth, an anvowed friend of
the pretender, having been una-
nimouſly choſen member of par-
liament for Edinburgh; a great
number of the inhabitants fign-
ed a petition, to be prefented to
the houfe of commons, for bring
ing in a bill to diffolve the uni-
on.
This done, the populace
went to the parliament clofe in
Edinburgh, and there, by the
ftatue of king Charles II, drank
healths to the queen, the dif
folution of the union, and all
true Scotch-men; and afterwards
went to the market crofs, and
did the like, with repeated ac-
clamations. It was likewife re-
ported, that fome Scotch merch-
ants caufed a petition to be pre-
ſented to the king of France by
Mr Arbuthnot, their agent at
Roan, repreſenting their griev-
ances in point of trade, and
other matters, and defiring his
protection for their redrefs, in
confideration of the antient al-
liances between France and Scot-
land. But, this application bor-
dering upon treafon, no further
fteps were made in it.
H 3
fired
1713.
-
118
HISTORY
THE
1713.
Affairs of
Ireland.
fired that chief juftice Parker might be acquainted with it.
Parker appointed a meeting of the chief perfons trufted by
the houſe of Hanover, and Bothmar was to bring his part
of the depofited inftruments with him. Accordingly, there
was the next morning a meeting at the duke of Devon-
fhire's, and, upon examination, all were of opinion, the
whole was wrong, and that it was of the utmoſt conſe-
quence it fhould be redreffed as foon as poffible. Parker
undertook to direct the proper forms; and a meffenger was
diſpatched to Hanover, who returned with great expedition
with inftruments according to law; the first of which was
to appoint Kreinberg refident, and, after the inrollment of
his credentials, he had new inftruments to be depoîted by
him, purſuant to the act. Kieinberg went immediately to
chancellor Harcourt, and, delivering his new credentials,
defired they might be inrolled, which the chancellor faid
fhould be done in a few days. But, the thing being delay-
ed, Kreinberg went to the chancellor, and told him, if hist
credentials were not inrolled by the next poft, he muſt ac-
quaint the princefs Sophia with it. This was refented; but,
however, he was bid to come again in a day or two, at
which time the chancellor delivered to Kreinberg, not his
credentials, but a copy only, or a common piece of paper.
When this paper was fhewn to chief-juftice Parker, as
delivered by the chancellor to Kreinberg, for his credentials.
inrolled, he was greatly furpriſed, and carried the paper with
him to Weſtminſter-hall (where he was then going) to fhew
it to the chancellor, and fpeak to him about it. Parker
producing the paper to the chancellor told him, it had been
delivered to the Hanover refident as his credentials inrol-
led, without faying who had done it. The chancellor, as
if he knew nothing of the matter, faid with great warmth,
This is very wrong, but this is a young fellow juſt come
into his office, his father being lately dead; but let me
have the paper, and I will take care to fet this matter to
rights for Mr Kreinberg, if he will come to me in a day
or two. Kreinberg did not fail going, and at laft got his
credentials again properly inrolled about the 27th of March
1714. Shortly after the inftrument appointing the perfons
to be added to the lords regents on the queen's deceaſe were
depoſited in proper form, which had not been done before
in eight years, for fo long the act had fubfifted, belng paffed
in 1706.
6
6
Ireland, fince the lord Wharton had refigned the govern-
ment of it, was become jacobite almoft without referve,
and
OF ENGLAND.
119
6
and the boldness of the papiſts countenanced by chancellor 1713.
Phipps, alarmed the proteftants, and put them upon their
guard against the attempts of their enemies, who, about
this time, induftrioufly fomented the difputes occafioned by
the election of a lord-mayor for the city of Dublin. The
Aldermen having chofen Mr Pleaſants, it was ftrenuouſly
oppofed by the then lord-mayor, and the decifion of the af-
fair being left to the privy-council (where the lords juftices,
of whom Sir Conftantine Phipps was one, had the direction)
they came on the 4th of September to theſe refolutions:
1. That the lord-mayor of the city of Dublin, for the
time being, has the right of nominating three Aldermen
to be put in election for lord-mayor of Dublin; and that
the lord mayor and aldermen are obliged to elect one of
the three to be fucceeding lord-mayor, unleſs juſt objec-
⚫tions be made againſt them. 2. That the proceeding of
feventeen aldermen in the election of alderman Pleafarts
for lord-mayor, and James King for fheriff, in the abfence
of Sir Samuel Cooke, lord-mayor, was a breach of the
( new rules; and that fuch elections were null and void.'
Six days after the lord-mayor fummoned the aldermen to
meet, and proceed to a new choice; and, in purfuance of
the refolution of the council, he named Sir William Fow-
nes and aldermen Conſtantine and Maſon, the fame who
were in nomination before. But twenty aldermen infifted
on a previous question concerning the firft in nomination, and
offered fome objections to him; upon which the lord-mayor
having diffolved the court, nothing was determined.
C
In this ferment the duke of Shrewsbury found the city of
Dublin, when he arrived there on the 27th of October, to
take upon him the government of Ireland; and perceiving
the pretender's friends had received no fmall encouragement
from chancellor Phipps, he took all proper occafions to
make good the expectations of the well affected to the revo-
lution and the proteftant fucccion; but more particularly
on king William's birth-day, when he declared, He was
ftill the fame he was in the year 1688,' and publickly
drank to the pious and glorious memory of king William.'
A new parliament being called, the ftruggle in Ireland
between the two parties was as great as in England. The
warmeft contention was in the city of Dublin, where Sir
William Fownes and Mr Tucker were fet up by the tories,
and Mr recorder Forster and Mir Burton by the whigs.
The poll began on the 6th of ovember; and the fheriffs
perceiving the electors were going into a 1iot, fent for fome
•
2
H 4
of
120
HISTORY
THE
1713. of the guards to prevent it: upon which a tumult arofe,
and the guards, being affaulted by the populace, fired fome
ſhot among them, killed one man, and wounded fome
others. Both parties immediately made their complaints to
the lord lieutenant, who, the next day, appointed a com-
mittee to make a ftrict inquiry into the diforder, and directed
the ſheriffs to take the poll at two different places, to pre-
vent the meeting and claſhing of the two contending par-
ties; and upon information, that the papifts and jacobites
were the chief promoters of the riot, he caufed feveral po-
pifh chapels in Dublin to be fhut up; which was very
grateful to all proteftants. On the 17th of November the
Theriffs clofed the poll; and Forfter and Burton were declared
duly elected by a great majority.
<
<
The parliament of Ireland being met on the 25th of No-
vember, the lord-lieutenant made a ſpeech to both houſes,
importing, That her majefty, having procured a fafe and
⚫ honourable peace, had nothing now to wifh, but that her
fubjects might enjoy the benefits and advantages of it.
That her majefty had nothing more at heart, than the
prefervation of the rights and liberties of her people, and
the fettling them upon a laſting foundation, by fecuring
the proteftant fucceffion in the houfe of Hanover.' He
earneſtly recommended to the commons, That, as the
proteftants in that kingdom were united in one common
intereft, they might all agree in the fame means of pro-
moting it, by laying afide all warmth or refentment;
which would appear by the unanimity of their proceed-
'ings.'
<
Notwithstanding this caution, there was the next day a
great conteft in the houſe of commons about the choice of
a fpeaker; Sir Richard Levinz being put up by the tory par-
ty, and Alan Broderick by the whigs; but, upon a divifion,
Broderick was choſen by a majority of four voices.
The addreffes of compliment to the queen and the lord-
lieutenant having been prefented, the commons proceeded
in providing, by good laws, for the fecurity of the proteſtant
religion, againſt the defigns of the papifts. They ordered
a bill to be brought in to attaint the pretender, and all per-
fons that adhered to him, of high-treafon, with the promiſe
of a reward to any perfon that ſhould take the pretender
alive or dead. They appointed a committee to inquire into
the proceedings againft Edward Lloyd, for publiſhing a
book called, The memoirs of the Chevalier de Șt
• George
6
1
OF
121
ENGLAN D.
George (x),' and againſt Dudley Moore, and others, re- 1713.
lating to a pretended riot at the play-houfe, occafioned by
that gentleman's fpeaking the prologue to Tamerlane, in
praife of king William. They confirmed the election of
Fofter and Burton, and unanimoufly refolved upon an ad-
drefs to the queen, for the removal of Sir Conftantine Phipps
from the chancellorship (y).
On the other hand, the biſhops of Ireland, refolving not
to leave the chancellor to the refentment of the commons,
uſed their utmoſt endeavours to get a contrary addreſs voted
in the houſe of lords, where it was refolved, that chancel-
lor Phipps had, in his feveral ftations, acquitted himſelf
with honour and integrity. And a committee being ordered
to draw up the addrefs, it was prefented to the lord-lieutenant
to be tranfmitted to England (z).
On the 21st of December, the commons, taking into
confideration the ſtate of the nation, came to ſeveral refolu-
tions againſt the proceedings of thoſe who had lately been
the managers of the affairs of that kingdom (a).
(x) This book was written in
defence of the legitimacy of the
pretender, and of his title to
the crown. Lloyd had publifh-
ed advertiſements of his intenti-
ons to reprint that book, exhort-
ing all good people to fubfcribe
for it. For this he had been
indicted, and the bill found in
Michaelmas-term 1712. Not-
withſtanding which, he went
about at large till July 1713;
and chancellor Phipps wrote a
letter to the duke of Ormond in
favour of Lloyd, recommend-
ing him.
as an object of the
queen's mercy, and as a per-
fon who had no evil intention
in printing and publiſhing that
'book;' upon which Lloyd ob-
tained a noli profequi.
conduct of the purfe in Ireland,
P. 35.
See
(y) The commons, December
18, unanimously refolved, 1.
That the memoirs of the che-
yalier de St George was a fe
Mr
ditious and treaſonable libel.
2. That the remifs profecution
of Lloyd was an encouragement
to the popiſh, and other friends
of the pretender. 3. That Sir
Conftantine Phipps, in repre-
fenting Lloyd as an object of
mercy, in order to obtain a noli
profequi, acted contrary to the
proteftant intereft. 4. That an
addrefs be preſented to the
queen, to remove Sir Conftan-
tine Phipps from the place of
lord high-chancellor, for the
peace and fafety of her pro-
teſtant ſubjects.
(z) At the fame time, Mr
Richard Nuttal, a lawyer, was
cenfured by the lords for faying,
The lord chancellor of Ireland
' is a canary-bird and a villain,
and has fet the kingdom toge-
ther by the ears, and ought to
be hanged.'
C
(a) As thefe refolutions will
explain the conduct of the duke
of Ormond, and thoſe employed
under
122
HISTORY
THE
1713.
Mr Molefworth, (afterwards viſcount Molefworth) fa-
mous for his preface to the ftate of Denmark, being a privy
councellor in Ireland as well as member of parliament,
was at the caſtle of Dublin, with fome other members, on
the day the commons prefented their addreſs againſt the
chancellor: the two houfes of convocation coming thither,
to preſent a contrary addreſs, Mr Molefworth faid in the
hearing of fome gentlemen about him, They, that have
turned the world upfide down, are come hither alfo."
Upon this the lower houſe of convocation fent a complaint
to the upper, repreſenting, That they looked upon the
• words uttered by Mr Molefworth to be an intolerable
profanation of the holy fcriptures; and that his fpeaking
them at that time, and in that place, was with defign
to caft an odium and afperfion on their graces and their
lordships, and the whole clergy, and to reprefent them as
a turbulent and feditious body. That they thought them-
felves in duty obliged to lay the matter before the upper-
houfe; not only for the reaſons above mentioned, but
becauſe they conceived it to be a high affront to her ma-
6 jefty, and great diſreſpect to her reprefentative, the lord-
• lieutenant: and they humby prayed their lordships to
<
.
·
vindicate the whole clergy from this wicked culumny.'
The bishops immediately laid this complaint before the
houfe of lords; who defired a conference with the com-
mons, and left with them a copy of the paper delivered by
the bishops. The commons laid no great ftrefs on that
complaint; but, the matter having been repreſented in
England in the moſt odious colours, Mr Molefworth was
removed from the privy-council.
It
under him, and other lord-lieu-ty-two perfons, marked in a
tenants and juſtices, it may not
be improper to infert them':
C
1. That for fome years laſt
' paſt there had been a deſign
lift then delivered to him by
'Martin Tucker, efq; fub-col-
'lector of the port of Dublin,
to be common-council-men
'for the faid city. 3. That it
appears, on the examination
' of Martin Tucker, efq; that
he was fent to offer the faid
• fum of five hundred pounds to
alderman Ralph Gore, while
• Sir Conſtantine Phipps, knt.
lord high-chancellor of Ire-
land, and lieutenant-gene-
Ingoldſby, were lords-
juſtices.
• formed and carried on, to fub-
vert the conſtitution, and alter
'the government of the city of
. Dublin. 2. That to carry on
'that defign, a corrupt and ille-
gal attempt was made in
1711,
to corrupt alderman Ralph
Gore, then lord-mayor, by
offering him a bribe of five
hundred pounds, to name thir-ral
<
OF ENGLAND.
123
<
It is obfervable that chancellor Phipps had many cham- 1713.
pions ſo him in Great-Britain; every tory thinking himſelf
obliged to vindicate him, upon the account of his zealous
adhering to the church's caufe in Dr Sacheverel's tryal,
and giving out, that the refolutions of the commons againſt
him were not of Irish growth, but the refult of the joint
'counfels of the whigs of both kingdoms. On the other
hand, the whig-party loudly juftified the proceedings of
the Iriſh houſe of commons againſt that minifter, who, to
fay no worſe, had been the occafion of unhappy diftinctions
among the proteftants of that kingdom (b). Thefe divi-
fions
<
juſtices. 4. That the city of
'Dublin had, of late, been, and
• ftill continued, in great difor-
'der and confufion, by reaſon
of the frequent diſapproba-
tions of perfons elected lord-
mayors and ſheriffs of the faid
city, all of them of known
affection to her majefty's per-
fon and government, and to
'the conftitution in church and
ftate. 5. That Sir Conftan-
'tine Phipps had been the chier
'cauſe and promoter of fuch
frequent diſapprobations, and
thereby the occafion of the
• faid diſorder and confufion.
6. That, fince the maling the
new rules 1672, until Sır Con-
• ftantine Phipps arrived in that
kingdom, no perfon elected
lord-mayor of the city of
C
•
Dublin is in the lord-mayor
· and aldermen of the ſaid city;
⚫ and that the aldermen are in
no fort reſtrained in the choice
of the fucceeding lord-mayor,
'to one of any three perfons
' nominated or propoſed, to be
put in election by the lord-
mayor.'
(b) We have a large account
of his behaviour there, in a
pamphlet printed at London in
1714, in 8vo, intitled 'The con-
'duct of the purfe in Ireland:
in a letter to a member of the
• late Oxford convocation, oc-
• cafioned by their having con-
ferred the degree of doctor
upon Sir Constantine Phipps.'
The author obferves, p. 10.
That he will not take upon
him fo far to judge Sir Con-
Dublin, had been difapprov-ftantine, as to lay, he was an
ed, except in the government
of the earl of Tyrconnel. 7.
That the council board had
not at this time, nor had not
'fince the time (given them by
the act of explanation) ex-
'pired, any power to make
rules or orders for regulating
the election of magiflrates in
any corporation in that king-
• dom. 8. That the right of
election of lord-mayor of
6
enemy to the proteſtant inter-
eft and proteftant fucceffion.
'I will, fays he, fuppofe, that
he might not have had any in-
tention of prejudicing either
the one or the other. But
whether it hath happened
through miſtake, or through
paffion, and too waim a pur-
fuit of his own particular
quarrels and refentments, or
• of the refentments of others;
'n hetcer
124
HISTORY
THE
1713. fions gave fo great encouragement to the pretender's friends,
that men were almoft publickly inlifted into his fervice; of
which the commons took notice in their votes of the 22d of
December. And the grand jury of the county of Dublin
having
1
€
в
·
whether he hath been mif-
guided by the miſreprefenta-,
• tions of men and things, or
the true intereft of the coun-
try, where he refided, or of
the true temper and genius of
that people; whatſoever his
• intentions really were, I think
I may very confidently affirm
this, that, had a profeffed
enemy to the proteftant inter-
eft of that kingdom been
placed in that government,
when he was, fuch perfon
• could not with any difcretion
'or fafety have purſued mea-
fures more likely to divide,
weaken, and fubvert the pro-
< teftant intereft of that king-
dom, than this doctor hath
purfued from the time of his
' landing there' The author
remarks, p. 19. that before Sir
Conftantine's arrival in Ireland,
the inhabitants knew little of
the diftinction of whig and
tory, of high-church and low-
chuch: theſe divifions had not
affected them in any degree;
the chief diftinction amongst
them was that of Papiſt and
proteſtant.
But foon after his
arrival the diftinctions of whig
and tory were propagated with
great induſtry, and thofe, who
were of the first clafs, fell un-
der his difpleaſure, and were
difplaced from their employ-
ments, and as far as was in
the power of him, or his wife,
or their dependents, by their
follicitations or influence to ef-
fect, they were removed from,
મ
In-
or cramped in all manner of bu-
finefs or trade, by which they
got their livelihood: and he
defcended fo low, when in the
government, as in perfon to fol-
licit getlemen to change their
taylors, and their other tradef-
men, upon theſe accounts.
formers, or, as they call them,
lions, were encouraged to put
themfelves into the companies
of gentlemen, and to report
to the government what was
faid there. Several gentlemen
of Weft Meath, for having only
drank the health of the duke of
Marlborough and the late lord
Godolphin, were accufed by a
friar, one of the new converts,
of having formed a plot againſt
the government, and thereupon
were fent for in cuftody of mef
fengers. Other gentlemen were
informed againſt for words of
little or no fignification. In a
word, an end was put to almoſt
all converfation, and to the in-
tercourſe of all good offices,
charity, and love amongſt pro-
teftants. And though the difco-
veries were of very little figni-
ficance; yet the trouble given to
gentlemen by theſe informa-
tions was fo confiderable, that
the whole feemed as it were de-
figned to convince proteftant
gentlemen, that the govern-
ment had no mind to let them
meet together at all, The
rooms of the gentlemen dif-
placed (excepting the place of
attorney and follicitor-general)
were filled up for the moſt part
with
OF ENGLAN D.
125
having made a prefentment of that traiterous practice,
and laid it before the lord-lieutenant, a proclamation was
iffued out for apprehending lieutenant Butler in lord Gal-
way's regiment, who had inlifted William and Michael
Letry
with perfons of little or no for
tunes, and fuch as were moſt
remarkable for a temper violent
againſt the diffenters, and mo-
derate towards the papifts.
Such, and the new converts,
were chiefly the objects of his
favour, and were brought into
all ftations, magiftracies, and
magiſtracies, and
employments. But the corpo-
rations being in the hands of
men, who were thankful for the
revolution, in order to reform
them, the chief governors and
the privy-council, having an
authority of approving or dif
approving the elections of ma,
giſtrates of moft corporations in
that kingdom, (which authority
was vefted in them by act of
parliament, only with intent to
exclude papiſts, and perfons po-
pifhly inclined;) as it was not
to be imagined, but in every
corporation the doctor might
find ſome one or two men will-
ing to prostitute themfelves to
his will and pleaſure; fo hav.
ing found fuch, he prevailed
with a majority of the privy.
council to concur with him in
diſapproving the election of
every other than fuch perfon;
hereby ftraining the power of
approbation into that of a no-
mination By this means feve-
ral corporations conceiving they
had a power of electing their
own magiftrates, and not will
ing to put their privileges into
the hands of fuch, as they
thought they could not truft,
who were generally fuch as
your doctor had a mind for,
they were obliged to infinite
elections, returns, and attend.
ances upon the privy-council;
and, all being diſapproved,
without any manner of reafon
given, fome corporations conti-
nued without magiſtrates for ſe-
veral months; fome for above a
year; and during fuch time, in
the utmoſt confufion and difor-
der, eſpecially in Dublin. There
creditors had no way to recover
their ſmall debts: there were
no fheriffs to execute writs upon
any account; no criminals could
be tried or executed; no mayor
to correct the abuſes of the
bread, and other markets: no
juftice could be had; and when
his agents had raiſed a tumult
againſt the aldermen and others
(who conceived themſelves
bound by oath to maintain the
privileges of that corporation,
one of which was the freedom
of electing their own magif-
trates) by reprefenting them as
factious perfons, who flew in
the face of the government;
in theſe diſorders there was no
magiflrate to keep the publick
peace; and when proteftants
were knocking one another on
the head, and the papists were
chearfully yielding their hand to
that work; a young proteftant
officer, who had charitably in-
terpofed with fome foldiers to
prevent bloodshed, was con-
fined, and threatened to be ca-
fhiered
1713.
126
THE HISTORY
1713. Letry to ferve the pretender, and told them, he had enlifted
fourteen men more for the fame purpoſe.
This parliament not being relifhed by the miniſtry in
England, the duke of Shrewſbury received orders to pro-
rogue them; but, before he did it, he fent for the ſpeaker
of the houſe of commons out of the country, and told
him, the queen was willing to give them an opportunity
to do themſelves juftice: but, if they did not proceed with
unanimity at their next meeting, he had orders to diffolve
them. As the parliament was by no means difpoſed to ac-
quiefce in all the minifters meaſures (which was the mean-
ing of proceeding with unanimity') they fat no more
in this reign. The duke himſelf did not much like his fitua-
tion, and, having conftant intelligence of the ill ftate of
the queen's health from Dr Shadwell, one of her phyfi-
cians (c), he thought it too dangerous for him to be ab-
fent from court in fo critical a juncture, as her difeafe was
like to be. So he defired and obtained leave to return to
England. Chancellor Phipps and archbishop Lindſey,
with the archbiſhop of Tuam, were appointed juftices of
Ireland (d).
fhiered for his pains, by a very
good friend of your doctor's, if
not at his requeft. Thus hath the
doctor divided and fet the prote-
flants of Ireland together by the
ears; he hath heightened their
animofities to a degree that hath
never before been known in that
country; in fo much that, had
the least attempt been made
upon that kingdom, they muft
in all probabillity have fallen an
eafy prey to their mortal ene-
mies the papiſts.
(c) He uſed to write to the
duke and dutchefs of Shrewf-
bury under the name of J.
Smith.
(d) The duke of Shrewſbury
had reafons, both of private and
publick concern, to wiſh himſelf
in England. He had not been
long in Dublin, before he found
that he was little more than the
pageant of the government of
Ireland, of which the main
fprings were in the lord-chan-
cellor's hands: for, upon the
deceaſe of Dr Narciffus Marth,
archbishop of Armagh, the duke
defigned to have advanced to
that primacy his kinfman,
Dr Talbot, bishop of Oxford:
but, upon the recommendation
of Sir Conftantine Phipps,
Dr Lindſey, biſhop of Raphoe,
was immediately preferred, as
a perfon ready to go all lengths,
to favour the fcheme in hand.
From this, and other inftances,
the duke began to furmife,
either that the lord-treafurer's
profeffed friendship flackened,
or that his intereft was upon
the
decline.
In
OF ENGLAND.
127
C
the book
In England all difguife was now thrown off by the Jaco- 1713.
bites, and the pretender's right to the crown was publickly
maintained in a large volume, called, The hereditary right Account of
of the crown of England afferted: the hiftory of the fuc- called here-
ceffion fince the conqueft cleared, and the true English ditary right.
'conftitution vindicated from the mifreprefentations of
<
Dr Higden's view and defence, &c.' The author, after
having thewn in the introduction, that allegiance is not
due to all powers in poffeffion' (e), endeavours to
prove,
the faid powers before in pof-
feffion were 'rebellious, wicked,
' traiterous, abominable ufurpa-
'tions: detefted by this prefent
king-parliament.' That here the
conftitution was again refettled
on its ancient foundation, not
in poffeffion, which all the ufurp-
ers had, but upon the undoubt-
ed right of the lawful heir, who
had been out of poffeffion, and
of his heirs and lawful fuccef-
fors: and that, agreeably to this
conftitution to that reign, it was
the conftant doctrine of lawyers
and divines, that allegiance was
not due to all powers in poffef-
fion. That the revolution,
which happened after, was be-
gun, carried on, ended, and juf-
tified on thefe grounds, that al-
legiance was not due to all kings.
in poffeffion: that king James
was lawfully deprived; and that
hing William and queen Mary
were lawfully put in poffeffion.
But thefe pofitions did not fuit
with the principles of many
lawyers and divines, who had
constantly maintained, that the
depofition of a lawful king was
abfolutely unlawful, by the law
of God, and the laws of this
kingdom. Therefore, to juftify
the tranſlation of their alle-
giance, the former opinion, that
feemed buried at the refloration,
(e) In the introduction the
author pretends, That the firft
time, the duty of paying alle.
giance to powers in poffeffion
began to be taught in this
dom, was, during the ufurpa-
tions, which fucceeded the
death of king Charles the Firft.
That in all former revolutions
the princes, who got poffeffion
of the crown, claimed it by
fome right, and never infifted
on poffeffion as right, But, the
rump parliament, and Crom-
well, and the following ufurp-
ers, having no tolerable pre-
tence to any claim of right, their
friends were reduced to a necef-
fity of pleading poffeffion, as a
right to obedience; and feveral
books were then published by
papifts, fanatics, and deifts, to
enforce and prove it. But that
this principle was then gene-
rally rejected by all the mem.
bers of the church of England,
and by many prefbyterians, who
maintained, that allegiance was
due to the rightful king, who
was not in poffeffion. That,
after the refloration, the acts
and judicial proceedings of the
governments proceeding were
all null and void, except fuch
as were authorifed by a new
law. And it was declared by
au act of parliament, that all
was
128
HISTORY
THE
C
1713. prove, That the people's fubmiffion to fuch kings, as
were not heirs to the crown by immediate deſcent, is no
argument, that poffeffion gives right to allegiance.' And,
to elude the force of Dr Higden's arguments againſt he-
reditary right, grounded on the feveral deviations from the
lineal deſcent in the fucceffion of the crown fince the con-
queft, he maintains, that the kings of England had an-
tiently a power of difpofing of the crown by teftament:
that the confent, refignation, and ceffion of the rightful
heir were certainly fufficient to make kings de facto right-
ful and that therefore fubmiffion might be paid them on
one of theſe accounts. This being a point very material
to the author's defign, he endeavours to evince it by the
example of William the Conqueror, whom he afferts to
have been a lawful king in both thefe regards, and juftifies
Edward the confeffor's nomination of him for his fuccef-
for (f). Then he labours to prove, that William Rufus
C
:
was revived; viz. That´ allegi-
ance was due to all powers in
poffeffion; and many eminent
members of the church of Eng-
land received it, as confiftent
with the doctrine of nonre-
fiftance. That divers treatifes
were then publiſhed by divines
and lawyers to defend it; par-
ticularly, the unreaſonablenefs
of a new feparation and the
• cafe of allegiance to fovereign
power.' That the inftances of
hiſtory and parliament records,
ufed in the firft, were enquired
into by an exact and faithful
hiftorian, and unanfwerably re-
futed and the arguments of the
laft, from fcripture and reafon,
the doctrine of the church, and
the laws of the kingdom, were
refuted likewife by feveral wri-
ters. That no reply of moment
being made, that controverfy
feemed to be buried again, till
Dr Higden thought fit to exa-
mine the difpute again, and was
convinced, that allegiance was
due to kings in fact, by laws
and
divine and human. But that
as the doctor's opinion makes
the moft unjuft poffeffion (as was
Oliver's) rightful, and deſtroys
the hereditary right, fo long
eſtabliſhed by the conftitution,
the author has followed him
through all his labyrinths, re-
futed his arguments, and recti-
fied his errors.
(f) What the author infinu.
ates on this occafion deſerves
particular notice: if it be faid
that Edward the Confeffor was
I
an unjuft poffeffor, his nephew,
by his elder brother, being then
living, to whom he ought to
have refigned the crown:
anfwer, that, when histories.
are filent, it does not become
private men to be forward in
paffing judgments on the actions
of princes. The authors, who
have tranfmitted to us an ac.
count of Edward's reign, fay
nothing upon this fubject; either
that the defcendants of Edward
Ironfide laid claim to the crown;
or that king Edward diſcovered
any
OF
129
ENGLAND.
and Henry the Firſt were alfo lawful kings. This done, he 1713.
comes to king Stephen, whom he calls the first ufurper,
and pretends, that, in his reign, the moſt turbulent of
any, there were no footsteps of Dr Higden's principle,'
of allegiance being due to kings de facto. On this occafion
the author mentions particularly the earl of Gloucefter,
who owned himſelf bound in confcience to the right of the
emprefs Maud; the king of Scotland, who fuffered much
in defence of her right; and the behaviour of the clergy,
who made a diftinction between king Stephen and a king
de jure; fhews what influence the pope's pretended power
of fetting up kings had in thofe days; and afferts, That our
hiftorians date Stephen's reign from his agreement with
Henry; which concurs with the author's main defign,
which is to eſtabliſh a teftamentary and ceffionary right, in
order to account for the allegiance which, at divers times,
the clergy, nobility, and people, have paid to unlawful
poffeffors of the throne. In the fame views he paffes on to
Henry the Second, whom he maintains to have been a right-
ful king, becaufe it is moft probable, that his mother, the
emprefs Maud, had refigned her right to him. Here he
any inclination to do them juf-
tice, at leaſt till the eleventh
year of his reign: but it may,
poffibly, be unreaſonable from
hence to infer, that all that
time he was a wrongful poffef-
for, becauſe cafes may be fup-
pofed of princes, who, for want
of power and opportunity of
doing right to the lawful heir,
are forced to endure the burden
of a crown, which they would
readily and gladly eafe them-
felves of, upon a proper occa-
fion as when the rightful heir
is abroad in a diftant kingdom,
and perhaps at the difpofal of a
foreign prince, on whofe will
and pleaſure his return to his
country chiefly depends. When
the poffeffor of a throne has this
to plead for himfelf (which may
be true of king Edward for any
thing that can be alledged to
the contrary) I may appeal to
VOL. VI.
the fevereft interpreters of the
actions of princes, whether the
exerciſe of royal power, in fuch
circumſtances, can be charged
with ufurpation; or, as fome
chufe rather to exprefs them-
felves, whether fuch a perfon is
only a king de facto: for it is
not the bare feizing, and filling
a throne, but the will of the
poffeffor, that muſt denominate
He that in-
him an ufurper.
vades another's right, with an
intention to detain it from him,
and a refolution never to reſtore
it to the true proprietor, is cer-
tainly guilty of the highest in-
justice; but if he accepts of a
crown, only that he may fecure
it to the right owner, and the
better difappoint the defigns of
his enemies, moft certainly he
obliges him by a very extraor
dinary act of friendthip.
I
anfwers
#
130
THE HISTORY
1713.. anſwers Dr Higden's argument from a paffage in our ho-
milies; difcovers a miſtake committed by the compilers
of them; defends bifhop Merks against Dr Higden's re-
Alections upon his pretended fubmiffion to Henry IV; ar-
gues against the doctor, who fays, there were no nonju-
rors under kings de facto; and pretends, that ought to
be prefumed, till the contrary is proved; and produces
inftances of feveral, that ought to be reputed fuch. He
alfo takes notice, that in thofe days the inferior clergy
were not obliged to take oaths of allegiance; and fug-
gefts, that, had the clergy of England enjoyed this privi-
lege, at the time of the late revolution, near four hun-
dred of them had quietly continued in poffeffion of their
livings, of which they were for no other reafon deprived,
but becauſe they were nonjurors, &c. The author afferts,
that a king de faco is not legally qualified to give a
commiffion to judges; nor are proceedings in his courts
• of judicature of any authority. He cannot create a no-
bleman, or make a bifhop. All his prefentations to be-
• nefices are voidable. All lands bestowed upon him are
refumable, at the pleafure of the rightful fucceffor.'
Octob. 17.
Kennet's
wildom of
looking
backwards,
P. 317.
This book was not only advertiſed in the London-
gazette, with particular allowance (as was then reported)
of Mr fecretary Bremely, but difperfed and recommended
with great induftry; and many copies of it were given
gratis, by fome men in power, to feveral officers of the ar-
my.
It was faid likewiſe to have been prefented to the queen
herself by Mr Robet Nelfon. As it was obvious to every
reader, that the defign of this performance was to prepare
the way for the reſtoration of the pretender, the well-
affected to the houfe of Hanover could not but be alarmed
at it; eſpecially as the book came abroad with remarks.
of diftinction and publick countenance, not to mention the
quotations in it, out of fome manufcripts in the library of
Bedford pro- the lord-treasurer. However, the miniftry thought it ne-
fecuted for ceffary to animadvert upon it; and Mr Richard Smith,
the bookfeller, having, by a warrant from the lord Boling-
broke, been brought to his office, and there examined, he
declared, that Mr Hilkiah Bedford, a nonjuring clergy-
man, had delivered the copy to the printer. This being
owned by Bedford, they were both bound over to appear
before the court of queen's-bench. But, though a proſe-
cution was afterwards, for form-fake, begun and carried
on againft Bedford, yet it was the general opinion, that he
had but a fmall fhare in that performance, which was
the book.
judged
OF
131
ENGLAN D.
judged to be the refult of the joint labours of feveral non-
This book was foon refuted in feveral an-
jurors (g).
fwers, of which one was fuppofed to be written by Mr
Wills, then Fellow of All-Souls college in Oxford, and
now lord-chief-juftice of the common-pleas, intitled,
The prefent conftitution and the proteftant fucceffion
• vindicated.'
1713.
}
About this time it was publickly declared, that the queen De Foe par-
had granted a pardon under the great-feal to Daniel de doned.
Foe, against whom an information of high-treaſon had been
lodged, for writing three pamphlets, which feemed to fa-
vour the pretender's interefts (h).
(g) In the introduction to one
of the anſwers, called Treafon
unmaſk'd, the author fays, 'This
•
book contains a great variety
' of hiſtorical facts, pofitions
' and arguments, couched in an
elegant, flowing ftile; but
• then there are in it fo many
glaring contradictions and in-
confiftencies, that it is hardly
'credible the whole piece
• fhould be the work of any
<
<
•
By
affect the perſon of the pre-
• tender :' The fecond intitled,
And what if the pretender
'fhould come? or fome con-
fiderations of the advantages.
and real confequences of the
pretender's poffeffing the crown
of Great-Britain.' And the
'third called, And anſwer to
the queſtion that no body
'thinks of, viz. What if the
'queen fhould die?' The pre-
amble to the patent of pardon
fet forth, that Daniel de Foe
had by his humble petition re-
prefented to her majeſty, 'That
he, with a fincere defign to
propagate the intereft of the
houfe of Hanover, and to ani-
mate the people againſt the
deſigns of the pretender, whom
'he always looked upon as an
enemy to her majefty's facred
perfon and government, did
publifh the faid pamphlets;
in all which books, although
'the titles feemed to look as
if written in favour of the
one man, For here any to-
• lerable attentive reader may
find hiſtory clashing with hi-
ftory; law deftroying law;
• and divinity refuting divinity,
in cafes exactly parallel: a
• fault I will not charge upon
any fingle perfon, till I am
• convinced that a too favour-
able opinion of gentlemen,
' and men of letters, led me
• into a miſtake.' But it is now
known that the real author of
the book was one Mr Harbin,
a nonjuring clergyman, who
died the laſt year, 1744.
(h) The first intitled, Rea- pretender, and feveral expref-
fons againſt the fucceffion of 'fions, as in all ironicle writ-
the houſe of Hanover, withings it must be, might be
an inquiry, how far the abdi- wrefted againſt the true de-
'cation of king James, fuppo-
6
<
fing it to be legal ought to
<
<
fign of the whole, and turned
to a meaning quite different
I 2
•
from
132
THE HISTORY
1713.
oc. 8.
By this time the elections for parliament-men were over;
and, in North-Britain, the nobility had chofen fuch repre-
Sixteen Scots fentatives as were most of them ready to concur in all
peers chofen. the queen's meaſures; namely, the duke of Athol, the
earls of Mar, Eglinton, Kennoul, Loudoun, Findlater
and Seafield, Selkirk, Northefk, Dundonald, Broadalbin,
Dunmore, Orkney, Rofeberry, Portmore, and Kilfyth,
Promotions. and the lord Balmerinoch: and, in order to attach yet
more the earl of Dunmore to the court, he was, not
long after, declared colonel of the Scots regiment of
foot-guards, in the room of the marquis of Lothian.
About the fame time, the regiment of dragoons, lately
commanded by Sir Richard Temple, was given to major-
general Evans; and the regiment of horfe of the mar-
quis of Harwich (fon of the duke of Schomberg) lately
deceaſed, to major general Syburg. Some time before,
Mr Richard Steele, being chofen for the borough of
Stockbridge, thought fit to refign his place of one of
the commiffioners of the ftamp office. About the fame
time the lord Willoughby of Brooke was made dean of
St George's chapel in the caftle of Windfor: but Dr Smal-
ridge, being named to fucceed the lord-privy-feal, as biſhop
of Bristol, declined that offer.
On the 18th of October, the parliament was, by pro-
The parlia-
men further clamation, further prorogued, from the 12th of Novem-
prorogid. ber to the 10th of December, which was occafioned
from the intention of the au-
thor; yet he had humbly af
fured her majefty in the fo-
• lemneft manner, that his true
and only defign, in all the
✔
;
of wearing wooden fhoes
cafing them of the trouble of
choofing parliaments, and the
nobility and gentry of the ha-
zard and expence of winter
faid books, was, by an ironi-journies, by governing them
• cal difcourfe of recommend-
<
<
ing the pretender, in the
ftrongest and most forcible
manner to expofe his defigns,
and the ruinous confequences.
"of his fucceeding therein;
which will appear by the
'books themſelves, where the
following expreffions are very
८
plain, viz. that the pretender is
<
.
in that more righteous method
of his abfolute will, and in-
forcing the laws by a glorious
ftanding army; paying all the
' nation's debts at once by ſtop-
ping the funds, and fhutting
up the exchequer; eafing and
quieting their differences in
religion, by bringing them to
the union of popery, or leav-
recommended as a perfon pro-ing them at liberty to have no
per to amafs the Engliſh liber-
ties into his own fovereignty;
• ſupply them with the privileges
religion at all.' Daniel de
Foe's Appeal to honour and ju-
fice, p. 33.
by
OF ENGLAND.
133
Annals,
by the quen's illness, and the contefts among the mi-1713-14-
nifters. It was then strongly reported, that the lord
Bolingbroke, Mr fecratary Bromley, and Sir William Jars at court.
Wyndham (who, on the 1ft of November, was made.
a privy-councellor) having gained the afcendant, the lord-
treaſurer entertained thoughts of retirement. And, in-
deed, the author of the paper, called the Examiner,
thought fit, about the middle of November, to prepare
the minds of the people for an approaching change in
the miniftry (i). But what appeared more furprizing,
was the ludicrous ftile in which the fame author, who
was the mouth of thofe in power, fpoke of the queen's
indifpofition, and of the fucceffion in cafe of a de-
mife (k).
(i) In the Examiner of No-
vember the 16th, the author
fuggefts, • That in a conftitu-
tion, which hangs together by
fo many minute parts, and
'which depends upon ſuch va-
riety of wheels and motions,
•
6
where power and freedom are
in a perpetual flux and reflux,
we must of neceffity be liable
to turns and contingencies
That this uncertainty is re-
doubled, wherever ftrife and
• contention are let loofe in a
nation, where factions rage
and worry one another; and
even the government tfelf is
• treated as a party -Thus,
Whilft
this deplorable crifis--That
the poffeffion of power under
thefe difficulties, is almoft as
great an uncertainty, as the
'fortune of war, and ſtands ex-
poſed to as many turns and
'crofs accidents And that
• thefe confiderations amount to
a full proof, that the beſt of
patriots are more expofed to
mortality, as minifters of state,
than as men, &c.
(k) The Examiner of Janu-
ary the 8th, 1713-14, contains
what follows:
According to the best ad-
vices fent us by the whigs,
Iand their oracles, the demife
of the crown happened upon
Thurfday the 24th of Decem-
ber, being Chritmas-eve, at
four or the clock in the morn-
' under thefe circumftances, a
miniftry is obliged to act in
another capacity than that
which properly belongs to
them. They muft fometimesing,
at like military as well as
civil officers; draw forth their
forces, and appear at the head
of fquadrons and batcallions,
whenever faction takes the
field, and declaics open war
$
against them There wants
but very little of bringing
things, as they now ftand, to
in the year 1713. All
ages, ranks, fexes, and orders
o men, at frit heating of the
ill news, were affected with
the deepest forrow; and a ge-
neral panic an through the
whole kingdom. For a long
time, we were diſtracted and
inconfolable; in the utmoſt
'horror and confufion, upon
the
1 3
134
THE HISTORY
1713.
<
Whilft things were in this dangerous fituation, Mr
Steele publiſhed his Crifis, or a difcourfe repreſenting,
'from the most authentic records, the juſt cauſes of
publiſhed by the late happy revolution, and the feveral fettlements
The Crifis
Mr Steele.
Account of
the queen's
illness.
6
of the crowns of England and Scotland on her majefty;
and, on her demife without iffue, upon the moſt il-
luftrious princefs Sophia, electreſs and duchefs-dowager
of Hanover, and the heirs of her body being pro-
teftants; by previous acts of both parliaments of the late
kingdoms of England and Scotland; and confirmed by
the parliament of Great-Britain: with fome remarks
on the danger of a popifh fucceffor.' The deſign of
this piece was firft fuggefted to Mr Steele, by Mr
Moore of the Inner-Temple; and the work itſelf paſſed
through the hands of Mr Addiſon, Mr Lechmere, and
Mr Hoadly. And it was fo well received by the publick,
that many were confirmed by it in their affection to the
proteftant fucceffion.
All this while the queen continued in a very dange-
rous ftate of health at Windfor; of which various ac-
counts were fpread abroad; but the truth was thus, as
reprefented by Dr Shadwell, in his letters to the duke
and duchefs of Shrewsbury: On Wedneſday the 23d of
December, her majefty was very uneafy all night with
the gout in her foot. The next morning it went entirely
off, and fhe faid the was well. But, about one o'clock
that day, the complained of a pain in her thigh, and was
feized with a violent fhivering, which lafted above two
• hours. Extreme heat followed, with intenfe thirft, great
anxiety, reſtleffnefs, and inquietude. The pulfe was full,
hard, and quick; which Dr Shadwell finding, the next
day, he very much preffed bleeding, urging, it would
probably carry off a good part of the fever, and bring a
fit of the gout; but it was not agreed to; and theſe
<
6
6
• the lofs of our most excellent
queen, who then became im-
• mortal: but thefe black clouds
6
were foon difperfed, our fears
{
and jealoufies vanished, and
⚫ we revived from a deplorable.
ftate of grief and mifery, at
the firft joyful tidings of the
happy acceffion of her moft
facred majefty queen Anne
the ſecond (whom God long
C
preferve) to the throne of her
ancestors: the nature of our
monarchy being fuch, that,
immediately after the death
of the perſon in poffeffion, the
crown, by right of inheri-
tance, defcends to the next
•heir, without any previous
'formalities and conditions, or
admitting fo much as the leaſt
vacancy, or interregnum, &c.
• fymp-
<
OF ENGLAND.
135
C
<
<
<
fymptoms continued till Saturday morning, when her 1713.
majefty fell aſleep, waked refreſhed, and on Sunduy
morning there was a perfect intermiffion of the fymp-
toms; but the pulfe, in Dr Shadwell's opinion, was not
quiet. The next night about twelve, fhe was attacked
with an exacerbation of the fever, which lafted all the
Monday till midnight. Moſt of the queen's phyficians
• judging her diftemper to be an ague, propoſed and preff-
ed the giving her the jefuit's-bark; but, though this
was warmly oppofed by Dr Shadwell, yet the phyſician,
who watched that night, gave it, faying, he found the
pulfe calm. No exacerbation appeared after this: but ne-
vertheleſs Dr Shadwell ſtill declared, he did not like the
pulfe: that there was no perfect intermiffion of the fever;
but that the pulfe was at work, to feparate the morbifick
matter into the gout, or fome worfe fhape. The pains of
the thigh increafing, till three or four dofes of the bark
were given, Dr Shadwell laid a ſtreſs upon having that
'part examined; but the other phyficians called it a fit
of the gout. Dr Shadwell anſwered, it could not pro-
perly be called fo in the mufcles; and being of opinion,
that this was an inflammatory fever from the tranſlation
' of the gout, and not a common ague, or intermitting fe-
ver; and finding, that, after thirty-nine hours continu-
ance, there was a perfect remiffion, but no intermiffion,
' he made a prognoſtick, that, unleſs the feverish matter
were ſeparated, and thrown off into a ſmart fit of the gout,
a worſe ſymptom might happen; as its falling into the
thigh, and fixing into an eryfepelous tumour.
This opi-
nion was juſtified by a ſevere fit of the gout, that came
• upon her majefty a few days after, and gave fome hopes
of her intire recovery.'
6
<
6
<
<
<
While the queen was in this uncertain ftate of health,
the minds of the feveral parties were variouſly agitated.
The friends of the pretender believed, that all things were
preparing for his reſtoration; and, on the other hand, the
alarm of the well-affected to the Hanover fucceffion was
not a little increafed upon the news, that a fquadron of
fourteen men of war was fitting out in the ports of France;
and that they were to take on board twelve or fourteen
thouſand land-men. The publick funds fell gradually from the
beginning till the end of January; when fuch a panick feized
on a fudden the monied men, that there was a great run upon
the bank for fome days. The directors fent four of their
members to the lord-treafurer, to reprefent the dangers,
I 4
which
Jan. 29.
136
THE HISTORY
1713. which threatned the publick credit, and to defire his ad-
vice and ailiitance. The treaſurer received this application
very favourably endeavoured to difpel their fears; and
promifed to uſe his utmoſt endeavours to fupport the bank
in this exigency. The doubts, which were ftill entertained
about the queen's health, being one of the chief occafions of
the publick alarm, fhe, by the advice of her minifters, wrote
the following letter to Sir Samuel Stanier, lord-mayor of
London :
The queen's
66
ANNE, R.
"Right trufty and well-beloved, we greet you well.
Jette to the << Although an aguifh indifpofition, fucceeded by a fit of
"the gout, has detained us at this place longer than we de-
ford-mayor.
figned; yet fince it has pleafed almighty God to restore.
"us to fuch a degree of health, that we hope to be able
"foon to return to our ufual refidence, we continue de-
"termined to open our parliament on Tuefday the 16th
"of this inftant February, according to the notice given
by proclamation. Thus much we have judged proper
to communicate to you, and by you to the court of
"aldermen, and to our loving fubjects of our good city of
"London, to the intent that you may all, in your feveral
.
66
ftations, contribute to diſcountenance and put a ſtop to
"thoſe malicious rumours, fpread by evil-minded per-
fons, to the prejudice of credit, and to the imminent
"hazard of the publick peace and tranquillity. And fo we
"bid you farewel."
Given at our caſtle at Windfor, the first day of February,
1713, in the twelfth year of our reign.
By her majeſty's command,
BOLINGBROKE.
This letter, and the news, which at the fame time came
from Holland, that the troops, which had been reported
to be affembled in the Bolognefe, were mere chimera's
and that the pretender continued in Lorrain, difpelled the
fears of the generality, and foon put a stop to the run upon
the bank (1).
(1) While the nation was in
this ferment, and under various
apprehenfions, there was pub-
lifhed a remarkable pamphlet,
intitled,
OF ENGLAND.
137
au-
}
He was alfo to be brought into 1713.
all the courts of Weſtminſter-
hall, with a paper on his head
denoting his offence. But, af-
ter ſentence was paffed, an or-
der was produced from the go-
vernment, counterfigned by a
ſecretary of ſtate, directing the
judges of the Queen's-bench to
fuperfede the ignominious part
of the punishment, by reaſon
of the facred function of the
criminal; which proceeding, as
Mr Lechmere obferved in a
ſpeech, could bear no other
'conftruction, than as a licenſe
' and protection to men in holy
' orders, to propagate that de-
ftructive polition with impu-
· nity; and the character of the
perfon, which ought in ju-
ftice to have aggravated his
guilt, and heightened his pu-
niſhment, became his indem-
intitled, The art of restoring;
or the piety and probity of
general Monk, in bringing
• about the laft reſtoration,
• evinced from his own
thentick letters: with a juft
• account of Sir Roger, who
runs the parallel as far as he
can: in a letter to a minifter
of ſtate at the court of Vi
enna. This piece was level
led against the treaſurer, and
contributed the more to render
him obnoxious to the friends of
the proteftant fucceffion, when
it was known to be the perfor-
mance of vir Toland, a per-
fon formerly intrufted and em-
ployed by that minifer. To
remove theſe fufpicions, the
treasurer thought fit to have the
reputed author of the late trea-
tife, afferting hereditary right,
brought to his trial; and Bed-
ford being found guilty of pub-nity
lifhing that book, he was fen-
tenced, to pay a fine of a
• thoufand marks; to be com-
'mitted to the queen's-bench
prifon, till he paid the fame;
' to remain in cuftody there for
the term of three years; to
find four fufficient fureties,
who, with him, were to be
• bound in a recognizance of
'five thousand pounds for his
' good behaviour during life,'
<
C
against the reproach of
it, even by the authority of
the government itſelf, againſt
which that treatife was level-
led. This indulgence appear-
ed the more glaring, confi-
dering what feverities were,
at the fame time, exercifed
against thofe perfons, who
had courage enough to affert
'the intereft of their country,
and of the proteſtant fuccef-
'fion.'
THE
THE
HISTORY
O F
ENGLAND.
BOOK XXX. PART I.
From the Year 1713. to the Death of Queen Anne.
CHA P. II.
Conferences at Radftadt not communicated to the queen's mini-
fters.-The fourth parliament of Great-Britain.-The Affi-
ento-contract objected against.-The queen's fpeech on the peace
with Spain.-Complaint of a libel.-Steel expelled the houſe
of commons.- Debate on the ſtate of the nation. A remark-
able declaration.-Removals and promotions.-Meaſures
taken by the whigs to fecure the proteftant fuccefion.-Debates
about the Catalans.-About the pretender.-The proteftant
fucceffion voted out of danger.—A demand of king James's
queen-A writ demanded for the duke of Cambridge.- Ac-
count of the late treaties laid before the commons. Addrejs
of thanks for the fame. The queen's letter to the princeſs So-
phia and to the duke of Cambridge about his coming over.
Death of the princefs Sophia.—The ſchiſm bill.—Proclama-
tion for apprehending the pretender.-Pieceedings of the lords
about him.-Debate about the Spanish trade.-Parliament
prorogued.-Open rupture among the miniftry.-Lord trea-
Jurer Harley removed-Great confufion at court.-The queen's
illness. The late minifters reflected on for leaving the fea-
ports unprovided.-Queen Anne's death and character.
THF
'
140
THE HISTO R Y
1713.
Conferences
at Radstadt
not commu-
nicated to the
queen's mi-
pifters.
T
.
C
•
30. ANNE.
HE conferences held at Radftadt towards a treaty
between prince Eugene of Savoy and the marfhal
de Villars were managed with fuch fecrecy, as
gave no fmall uneafinefs to the two maritime
powers, and was generally looked upon as a flight upon
Great-Britain. The earl of Strafford, who ftill continued.
at the Hague, was ordered to confer upon it with the de-
puties of the States, to whom he made a long harangue.
The fubftance of what he faid will be plainly feen, in
the anſwer returned by the States a few days after to the
earl of Strafford: They thanked him for the affurances.
of friendſhip he gave them on the part of her majefty
of Great-Britain, and offered to concert with her the
meaſures proper to be taken for the fecurity of the pro-
teftant religion, eſpecially in the empire, and for pro-
'curing the abolition of the clauſe of the fourth article
of the peace of Ryfwick. As to the apprehenfion of a
new war in Italy, the States hoped, that, by the peace
of Radftadt, the emperor and the king of France had
provided for the tranquillity of that country; and that
they had likewife regulated the affairs relating to the
duke of Savoy, and to Sicily; for this reaſon, and be-
cauſe the conditions of that peace were not yet known
to them, they could not, at prefent, enter into delibera-
tion with the earl of Strafford upon thoſe matters.
That, as to the treaty with Spain, the States had the re-
gaids they ought to her majefty's recommendations, for
the interefts of the princefs Urfini; but that they had
given fuch good reafons, why they could not agree in a
guarantee, that the king of France, and even the king
of Spain, had acquiefced in them. That, for this reaſon,
the States promifed themfelves, from the queen's good-
nefs and equity, that he would not infift upon a thing,
which even the king of Spain himſelf had let drop.
• That, as to the affairs of the Spanish Netherlands,
the States would always be ready to confer with the
earl of Strafford on the points relating to the inter-
efts of thofe countries. As to the town of Oftend in
particular, they declared, that they would withdraw
their troops from thence, and deliver it into the
hands of Walloon troops, as foon as Dunkirk fhould
be demolished; provided, at the fame time they were
<
<
put
OF ENGLAND.
141
<
.
C
“
.
،
put into poffeffion of the caftle of Ghent, as by the
treaty of barrier they ought: but that the States
were abfolutely of opinion, it would be proper to
communicate thefe things to the emperor, and to act
in concert with him, it not being to be doubted,
that the Spaniſh Netherlands were yielded to him by
the peace of Radſtadt. That they were extremely
glad of the declarations her majefty had caufed to be
made to them, of her willingness to withdraw her
troops from the caftle of Ghent; as alfo from Bruges
and Newport; and to affift the States in recovering
from Brabant the million, which by the treaty of
barrier they ought to have from that province; but
as to the conditions, which were added to that de-
claration, the States expected from her equity and af-
fection, that it would not be her intention, that the
effect of theſe things fhould be made dependent on
• fome conditions, which were not expreffed in the
treaty of barrier; and that, on the contrary, the
would be pleaſed to look upon that treaty as a mea-
• fure and a rule, as the States did on their part; and
that he would not join the execution of it to condi-
• tions,
which are new and foreign to that treaty.
That they had a common intereft with the queen in
fecuring the freedom of commerce in the Baltick:
that they were not yet in a condition to take a po-
fitive refolution thereupon; but, when
but, when they were,
they would confer about it with the earl of Straf-
• ford.'
6
The earl was now very bufy in negotiating with the
minifters of the proteftant princes of Germany, or de-
putations from the proteftants, to aflift at the congrefs
at Baden in Swifferland, for concluding a peace between
the emperor and France, purfuant to the refolution
taken at Radstadt. But it was generally ſuſpected,
that this procceeding of the English miniftry was ra-
ther to perplex the emperor, than to favour the proteſ-
tants; and therefore, when the earl of Strafford declared
to the minifters of the proteftant electors and princes of
the empire, That the queen, his miſtreſs, had received
the letter, which the proteftant body had written to her
from Augsburg, touching the claufe of the fourth article
of the treaty of Ryfwick: that her majefty would ſpee-
⚫ dily return a favourable anfwer to it; and that the refolv-
• ed
<
6
1713.
}
142
THE HISTORY
1713.
ed to fend a minifter to the congrefs at Baden, whither
fhe defired the States-general and the proteftant ftates of
the empire to fend their's: the States anfwered, That
the empire having referred it to his imperial majeſty to
• conclude the peace, it was believed, the electors and
• princes would not fend any minifters thither; and, for
that reaſon, they did not think it proper to ſend any on
their part.' It ſeems, the States had been given to un-
derſtand, that the emperor would not admit any minifter
from the queen of Great-Britain (though fhe had appointed
Mr Charles Whitworth for that purpoſe) nor from them,
that there might be no diftinction.
<
<
On the other hand, the emperor, to fhew his refent-
ment of the negotiation at Utrecht, not only refolved to
conclude his treaty with France, without the intervention
of the maritime powers; but, as a further mortification to
Great-Britain, baron Heems declared to the ftates-depu-
ties, That his imperial majefty was difpofed to treat with
the States, concerning a barrier in the Netherlands: that
the treaty might be prepared and brought to fome matu-
rity at the Hague; but that the emperor would be glad
to have it concluded at Vienna, whither the States were
defired to fend a minifter: and that Oftend might not
⚫ be alienated from the Netherlands.' The ftates-deputies
having acquainted the earl of Strafford with this declara-
tion, he expreffed his great furprize at it, and told them,
He was obliged to inform them, that the States were
guarantees of the fucceffion in the proteftant line, as
well as the queen was guarantee of the barrier in the
Spaniſh Netherlands; and that the proteftant fucceffion
fhould ftand good, and have effect, as it fhould come in
order; but that he would never fuffer any laws to be
preſcribed or impofed upon her on that account: that the
queen, as well as the States, was intereſted in the affair of
the barrier; and therefore no ftep ought to be taken in it,
without acting in concert with her: that he had orders
to declare in the name of the queen, that the treating
and concluding on the barrier at Vienna feemed to be
propofed, with intention only to exclude her from the
negotiations about it: That, in fuch a cafe, fhe would
• forthwith renounce all engagements with the republick;
for that the abfolutely infifted upon fending a minifter
likewife thither, for the reafons before-mentioned that
fhe had fent to the king of France for an explanation,
<
•
<
"
C
• touching
OF
143
ENGLAND.
C
<
touching the exchanging fome places in the Spaniſh
Netherlands, according to the treaty of Radftadt, and had
received for anfwer, that the king of France would not
• concern himſelf therein: that, as to what baron Heems
had mentioned in relation to Oftend, he, the earl of Straf-
ford, declared, he was content with it; but earneſtly de-
fired, that the States would not ſend to Vienna, nor do
C any thing in this negotiation, but in concert with her ma-
jefty adding once more, that, purſuant to his orders, he
muft declare, that fhe would look upon fuch a proceed-
ing as a formed defign to diffolve all engagements now
fubfifting between her and the States.' Had the Dutch
been as warm as the Britiſh minifters, and taken them at
their word, the confequences must have been fatal to both:
but the matter was accommodated afterwards. The earl
of Strafford endeavoured to draw to the Hague the negotia-
tion of peace in the north; and engaged the court of France,
by monfieur de Chateauneuf, their ambaffador at the Hague,
to offer their mediation for that purpoſe to the northern al-
lies. But, the king of Pruffia having cauſed the king of
Poland to be founded, whether he was inclined to enter in-
to the engagement, baron Sparre and the count de Rotten-
burg had propofed at the Hague, on the part of France,
his Poliſh majefty fignified, that he could never have any
fuch thoughts, for it could never be his intereſt to ſeparate
himſelf from his allies.
1713.
By this time the earl of Strafford, and indeed all the mini- Promotions
fters at the Hague were more attentive to the tranſactions in
Great-Britain, than to any thing, that paſſed on the conti-
nent. The queen, upon her recovery, being informed of
the death of Dr Sharp, archbishop of York, named Sir
William Dawes to that metropolitan fee, which had been
ſtrongly follicited by biſhop Atterbury. At the fame time,
Dr Smallridge was made bifhop of Briſtol, and lord Almo-
ner to the queen, and Dr Gaftrell, preacher at Lincoln's
Inn, biſhop of Chefter, in the room of Sir William Dawes.
The fecond troop of horſe grenadier guards, vacant by the
death of the earl of Crawford, was given to the young earl
Marifchal, a Scots peer of known zeal for the jacobite
cauſe.
On the 6th of February, being the anniversary of the
queen's birth-day, it was celebrated with great folemnity;
and the whigs, particularly the Hanover club, took this oc-
cafion to fignalize their zeal and affection for the proteftant
fucceffion,
THE HISTORY
144
1713-14. fucceffion, by caufing the effigies of the devil, the pope and
the pretender, to be carried in proceffion from Charing-Crofs
to the Royal-Exchange, and fo back to Charing-cross,
where they were burnt. Three drummers of the foot
guards attending the proceffion, and having, contrary to the
rites of the city, beat their drums there, were feized, and
committed to Newgate by warrant of the lord-mayor.
Some endeavoured to reprefent this proceffion as a formed
plot againſt the government; but, the miniftry not think-
ing proper to take notice of the affair, the drummers were
diſcharged.
Mr Harley
nover.
Whatever profeffions of affection to the proteftant fuccef-
fent to Ha- fion were made by fome of the minifters, it was obvious,
that every ſtep, others took in favour of France, was alfo
in favour of the pretender. The treasurer, during the
queen's illness, endeavoured to perfuade her to fend the
duke of Kent to Hanover, with a publick character. But
the duke declined the employment, unless he was impower-
ed to offer more real fecurities than fair words and promifes.
However, Mr Harley, coufin to the treaſurer, went from
the Hague to the court of Hanover, about the middle of
February, accompanied by fecretary Bromley's fon, Mr
Creffet, and Mr Winnington.
1713-14.
The 4th
parliament
of Great-
On the 16th of February, the new parliament met, and
the lord Scudamore propofed Sir Thomas Hanmer for fpeak-
er, and was feconded by three or four other members, par-
Britain meet, ticularly by Mr Steele, who obferved, That at the cloſe
of the laſt parliament, her majefty was graciously pleafed
Feb. 16.
6
<
<
<
'
to declare from the throne, that the late rejected bill of
commerce between Great-Britain and France fhould be
• offered to this houſe. That this declaration was certain-
ly made, that every gentlemen, who fhould have the ho-
nour to be returned to parliament, might make himſelf
maſter of that important queftion. That it is a demon-
• ftration, that was a moft pernicious bill; and therefore no
< man could have a greater merit to this houſe, than his,
by whofe weight and authority that pernicious bill wast
C thrown out. That he rose up to do Sir Thomas Han-
mer honour, and diftinguifh himfelf by giving that gen-
tleman his vote for that his inestimable fervice to his
country.' At Mr Steele's mentioning the bill of com-
merce, the clamour against him began; at calling it per-
nicious, it increaſed; and at the words, doing him honour,'
it grew infupportably loud: by which he faw the temper
<
.
6
of
• the
OF ENGLAND.
145
the houſe with regard to himſelf. But Sir Thomas Han- 1713-14.
mer was choſen without any oppofition, and the houſe ad-
journed to the 2d of March.
<
(
Pr. H. C.
Vol. V.
During the adjournment, the fouth-fea company held a
general court, in which the directors communicated to them.
ſeveral papers they had prepared in concert with the lord-
treaſurer, relating to the Affiento contract. Several mem- The Affien-
bers were extremely furprized at the propofals; for, where- to contract
excepted
as they expected, that the queen had procured the whole against.
Affiento contract for the company, they now found, that one
half of the clear profits were referved for the queen, and
the king of Spain, befides feven and a half per cent. grant-
ed to an unknown perfon. Befides theſe exceptions, Mr
Milner, a Portugal merchant, declared his opinion, That
the company might very well fpare the trying the expe-
'riment of a trade, by which other nations were known
to have been lofers; efpecially upon fuch terms, as were
• offered to the company; the rather, becauſe the trade
'would be precarious, and at the mercy of the late recon-
'ciled enemies.' He was fupported by other merchants,
fo that Arthur Moore, who fpoke in behalf of this trade,
could not make many profelytes to his opinion. The re-
fult of this affembly was an order for the printing of the
papers laid before them, in order to their being further
confidered in another general court. This fecond meet-
ing was very numerous; and after the reading of the papers,
feveral ſpeeches were made for and against the accepting
the Affiento contra&t, of which Mr Moore and Mr Ward
endeavoured to fhew the great advantages. But Mr
Craggs, Mr Newman, Mr Fither, and fome other gen-
tlemen of great fkill and experience in commercial affairs,
maintained the contrary opinion, with fuch force of argu-
ment, that it was thought, if the queftion had then been
put for accepting, or not accepting, it would have been
carried for the latter by a great majority. But it being
moved and agreed, to decide the question by ballot, and
the members to have one vote for every five hundred pounds
capital flock; what by the influence of the directors, who
were to be the managers of the trade, and who (as in all
other focieties of this nature) were almoft fure to be gain-
ers, whatever became of the reft; what by the contrivance
of ſtock-jobbers, whofe bufinefs was to keep the publick
funds in perpetual Auctuation, and, in order to that to en-
gage companies in dubious adventures; what by the juft
VOL. VI.
apprchenfions
K
146
THE HISTORY
1713-14. apprehenfions the generality of the members were under,
that the rejecting of this trade would be interpreted as an
affront to the lord-treafurer, who might refent it to ſuch a
degree, as to grow lefs follicitous for the concerns of the
company, who wanted his protection for the annual provi-
fion of the intereft of the capital ftock, till the year 1716:
upon theſe, and fome other confiderations, it was carried
but agreed by a great majority, That the general court agreed with
the refolution propofed by the court of directors relating
to the Affiento contract.'
to at laſt.
Peace with
claimed.
:
<
About the fame time, were brought over from Holland
Spain pro- the ratifications exchanged of the treaty of commerce be-
tween Great-Britain and Spain, and the peace was pro-
claimed on the 1ft of March. The chief articles were:
France and Spain were never to be united: the proteftant
fucceffion acknowledged, and never to be oppofed on any
pretence: navigation and commerce, as in the treaty of
1667 no licence to be given to the French or other na-
tions to introduce negroes, or any merchandifes, into the
Spanish dominions in America, except what might be a-
greed by the treaty of commerce, and the privileges grant-
ed in the Affiento de negroes; except alfo what ſhould be
granted by the catholick king, after the Affiento de negroes
fhould be determined: the American dominions were not to
be alienated from the crown of Spain, to the French or
other nation: Gibraltar and the ifland of Minorca were
given up for ever to England: no Moors to come there,
but on account of traffick: all the Spaniſh inhabitants to
enjoy their eftates and religion; or to fell their eſtates and
reture: the fouth-fea company to have the privilege, inclu-
five of others, to introduce negroes into feveral parts of
America for thirty years, beginning from 1713, in the fame.
manner as enjoyed by the French; the Catalans to have a
full pardon, with the poffeffion of all their privileges, eftates,
and honours, and likewife the fame privileges with the in-
habitants of both Caftiles: Sicily was yielded to the duke
of Savoy, but to return to Spain, in cafe of no heirs. By
two ſeparate articles, the queen promifed to perfift in the
meaſures, by which fhe had taken care, that no other part
of the Spaniſh monarchy fhould be torn from it: and obli-
ged herſelf to procure the princess Urfini to be put into pof-
feffion of Limburg, or fome other country in the Nether-
lands, which fhould produce thirty thoufand crowns a
year, purfuant to a grant from king Philip, September 28,
1711.
The
OF
147
ENGLAND.
T
The day after the publication of this peace, the queen 1713-14.
went in a chair to the houſe of lords (the parliament having
been opened by commiffion) and made the following fpeech
to both houſes:
My lords and gentlemen,
I
Have much fatisfaction in being able, at the opening The queen's
fpecch to
of this parliament, to tell you, that the ratifications of both houſes.
"the treaties of peace and of commerce with Spain are ex- March 2.
"changed, by which my fubjects will have greater opportu- Pr. H. C.
"nities than ever to improve and extend their trade. Ma-
"ny advantages, formerly enjoyed by connivance, and
"procured by fuch methods, as made a diftinction between
''
one Britiſh merchant and another, are now fettled by
cc treaty, and an equal rule is eſtabliſhed.
"It has pleafed God to bleſs my endeavours to obtain an
"honourable and advantageous peace for my own people,
"and for the greateft part of my allies. Nothing, which I
can do, ſhall be wanting to render it univerfal; and I
"perfuade myſelf, that, with your hearty concurrence, my
"interpofition may at laft prove effectual to compleat the
"fettlement of Europe.
<<
"In the mean while, I congratulate with my own ſub-
"jects, that they are delivered from a confuming lard-
war, and entered on a peace, the good effects whereof
"nothing but inteftine divifions can obftruct.
<<
"It was the glory of the wiſeſt and greateſt of my pre-
"deceffors to hold the balance of Europe, and to keep it
<< equal, by cafting in their weight as neceffity required.
"By this conduct they inriched the kingdom, and render-
"ed themſelves dreadful to their enemies, and uſeful to
"their friends. I have proceeded on the fame principle,
" and I doubt not but my fucceffors will follow thefe ex-
"amples.
"Our fituation points out to us our true interest; for
"this country can flourish only by trade, and will be moft
"formidable by the right application of our naval
❝ force.
Gentlemen of the houſe of commons,
"I have ordered fuch accounts to be prepared and laid
"before you, as will fhew you, at the conclufion of the
66
war, the true fate of your condition, whereby you will
ぶ
​K2
to be
148
HISTORY
THE
1713-14. be better able to judge what aids are neceffary: and I
"only aſk of you fupplies for the current fervice of the
"year, and for the difcharge of fuch debts as you fhall find,
"on examination, to be juft and reaſonable.
My lords and gentlemen,
"The joy, which has been generally expreffed on my
"recovery from my late indifpofition, and on my coming
"to this city, I efteem as a return to that tender affection
"which I have always had for my people.
"I wish that effectual care had been taken, as I have
"often defired, to fupprefs thofe feditious papers and facti-
ous rumours, by which defigning men have been able to
"fink credit, and the innocent have fuffered.
"There are fome, who are arrived to that height of ma-
"lice, as to infinuate, that the proteftant fucceffion in the
"houfe of Hanover is in danger under my government.
"Thoſe who go about thus to diftract the minds of men
"with imaginary dangers, can only mean to diſturb the
"prefent tranquillity, and bring real mifchief upon us.
After all I have done to fecure our religion and your
"liberties, and to tranfmit both fafe to pofterity, I cannot
" mention theſe proceedings without fome degree of warmth;
" and I must hope you will all agree with me, that at-
tempts to weaken my authority, or to render the poffef-
"fion of the crown uneafy to me, can never be proper
"means to ftrengthen the proteftant fucceffion.
હ
"I have done, and fhall continue to do my beſt for the
"good of all my fubjects. Let it be your endeavour, as it
"hall be mine to unite our differences, not by relaxing
"from the ftri&teft adherence to our conftitution in church
"and ftate, but by obferving the laws yourfelves, and in-
"forcing a due obedience to them in others.
"A long war has not only impoverished the publick (how-
"ever fome particular men have been gainers by it) but
"has alfo greatly affected government itſelf.
"Let it be your care fo to improve the prefent opportu-
"nity, as to lay the foundation of recovering from thoſe
"diforders.
"I had the concurrence of the laſt parliament in making
• the peace.
Let it be the honour of this to affift me in
"obtaining fuch fruits from it, as may not only derive blef-
fings on the prefent age, but even down to the lateſt po-
"Aterity."
66
૬
It
OF ENGLAND.
149
andrefs of
It is obfervable, though the queen faid in her ſpeech, that 1713-14.
ſhe was perfuaded her interpofitions might at laſt prove ef-
fectual, and compleat the fettlement of Europe, the emper-
or, then in treaty with France, would not let her know any
thing of what was tranfacted, or have the leaſt communi-
cation with her to the laft hour of her life. But how dif- The lords
fonant foever the queen's fpeech was in feveral particulars, theaks.
both lords and commoners fell in for the moſt part with it; March 3.
and, after ſhe had thanked the lords for their affectionate
addrefs, fhe added, That they who were neareſt the
throne, would firft of her fubjects feel the evil confequen-
ces of
any diminution of the regal authority; that it was
a comfort to her ſhe had the affurance of their ſupport;
and they might depend upon it, fhe would never give way
to the leaſt attempt on the juft authorities of the crown,
or any of their rights and privileges.'
C
<
mons ad-
The commons likewife refolved on an addrefs without The com-
oppofition, only Sir Peter King, recorder of London, fug-res
gefted, That they ought not to act by a spirit of divi- March 5.
⚫nation, and return thanks for the treaty of commerce with
· Spain, before they knew, whether the fame was advanta-
< geous or not:' which occafioned fome modifications in
the addreſs with respect to that head. The next day the
convocation (which had met with the parliament, and cho-
fen Dr Stanhope, prolocutor, complimented the queen in a
joint addreſs on her recovery, and happy return to her
royal city in health and fafety concluding with their
wiſhes, That, after a long and happy reign, ſhe might
be able to tranſmit the protection of this church and ſtate
6 to a proteſtant fucceffor in the illuftrious houſe of Hano-
ver, which her majeſty, to the great fatisfaction and com-
'fort of all her faithful and good ſubjects, had ſo often de-
C
clared to be at her royal heart.' Notwithstanding this,
and the angry expreffions in the queen's fpeech, the fears.
and jealoufies of the well-affected to the Hanover fucceffion
were rather increafed than removed, who, from the daily
difcouragements and even înfults they met with, could not
but conclude that fucceffion to be in danger.
a libel in the
The earl of Wharton made a complaint in the houſe of Complaint of
lords against a libel, intitled, The publick fpirit of the house of
whigs fet forth in their generous encouragement of the lords.
author of the crifis.' This libel (which was fathered Pr. H. C.
upon Dr Swift and lord Bolingbroke) was written in the
Judicrous and farcaftick flrains of the tale of a tub.' After
fome fçurilous reflections on Mr Steele, and occafionally
K 3
on
150
THE HISTORY
1710-14. on the earl of Nottingham, with fome jefts on the implicit
munificence of the fubfcribers to the crisis: the author at-
tacks the union, reflects on the whole Scots nation, and,
without referve, infults the duke of Argyle, who of late had
broken all meafures with the miniftry (m). This piece
*Lord
Sommers.
(m) The paffage that gave
moft offence to the lords was as
follows:
•
•
&
This work (the union of the
two kingdoms) was unſucceff
fully attempted by feveral of
her majesty's
majefty's predeceffors,
predeceffors,
though I do not remember it
was ever thought on by any,
"except king James the firft,
and the late king William. I
have read indeed that ſome
'fmall overtures were made by
• the former of theſe princes to-
'wards an union between the
two kingdoms, but rejected
with indignation and contempt
by the English. And the
'hiftorian tells, that, how de-
generate and corrupt foever
the court and parliament then
were, they would not give
ear to fo infamous a propofal.
I do not find, that any of the
fucceeding princes before the
• revolution ever refumed the
defign; becauſe it was a pro-
'ject, for which there could not
poffibly be affigned the leaft
'reafon or neceffity. For I de-
fy any mortal to name one
fingle advantage, that Eng-
land could ever expect from
• fuch an union. But, towards
the end of the late king's
reign, upon an apprehenfion
' of the want of iffue from him
or the princeſs Anne, a pro-
pofition for uniting both king-
'doms was begun, becaufe Scot-
• land had not fettled their
crown upon the houfe of
K
C
*
was
< Hanover, but left themſelves
at large, in hopes to make
'their advantage. And it was
thought highly dangerous to
leave that part of the iſland,
inhabited by a poor, fierce
northern people, at liberty to
put themſelves under a dif-
ferent king. However, the
oppofition to this work was
'fo great, that it could not be
overcome until fome time af-
ter her prefent majeſty came
t
<
"
<
(
to the crown, when, by the
'weakneſs or corruption of a
• certain miniſter fince dead, an
' act of parliament was obtain-
'ed for the Scots, which gave
• them leave to arm themſelves;
and fo the union became ne-
ceffary, not for any actual
good it could poffibly do us,
but to avoid a probable evil;
' and at the fame time fave an
⚫ obnoxious minifter's head, who
was fo wife, as to take the firſt
'opportunity of procuring a ge-
neral pardon by act of parlia
ment, becauſe he could not
'with fo much decency or fafe-
ty defire a particular one for
himſelf. Thefe facts are well
enough known to the whole
kingdom. And I remember,
difcourfing above fix years
ago with the moſt confiderable
perfon* of the adverſe party,
and a great promoter of the
union, he frankly owned to
me, that this neceffity, brought
upon us by the wrong ma-
nagement of the earl of Go-
dolphin,
<
<
C
C
•
C
OF ENGLAN D.
151
was generally looked upon as very impolitick and ill-timed; 1713-14-
fince the fixteen Scots peers, who fat in the houſe of lords,
and who (at leaſt there) were the principal fupport of thoſe
at the helm, were involved in the general reflections on
the Scots nation. The earl of Wharton's complaint againſt
dolphin, was the only cauſe of
• the union.
• Therefore I am ready to
I grant two points to the author
of the crifis: first, that the
' union became neceffary for the
'cauſe above related; becauſe
it prevented this iſland from
being governed by two kings,
'which England would never
• have fuffered; and it might
probably have coft us a war of
a year or two to reduce the
• Scots. Secondly, that it
'would be dangerous to break
this union, at leaft in this
'juncture, while there is a pre-
• tender abroad, who might
probably lay hold of fuch an
opportunity. And this made
me wonder a little at the fpi-
rit of faction laft fummer
6
4
"
among fome people, who,
having been the great pro-
moters of the union, and fe-
veral of them the principal
gainers by it, could yet pro-
ceed fo far, as to propoſe in
the houfe of lords, that it
fhould be diffolved; while at
the fame time thofe peers,
who had ever oppoſed it in the
beginning, were then for pre-
ferving it upon the reason I
have juft affigned, and which
'the author of the crifis hath
likewife taken notice of.
<
Ø
But when he tells us, The
Englishmen ought, in genero-
fity, to be more particularly
careful in preſerving this uni-
on, he argues like himfelf,
}
،
.
this
The late kingdom of Scotland,
(faith he) had as numerous a
nobility as England, &c. They
had indeed; and to that we
owe one of the great and ne-
ceſſary evils of the union, upon
'the foot it now ftands. Their
nobility is indeed ſo numerous,
that the whole revenues of
'their country would be hardly
' able to maintain them accord-
'ing to the dignity of their
'titles; and, what is infinitely
'worſe, they are never likely to
'be extinct, until the laſt pe-
'riod of all things, becauſe the
greateſt part of them defcend
to heirs general. I imagine,
a perfon of quality prevailed
on to marry a woman much
'his inferior, and without a
groat to her fortune, and her
'friends arguing, he was as
good as her huſband, becauſe
The brought him as numerous
a family of relations and fer-
'vants,
as the found in his
'houfe. Scotland in the taxes
'is obliged to contribute one
{ penny for every forty penca
'laid upon England; and the
(
reprefentatives, they fend to
'the parliament, are about a
'thirteenth. Every other Scots
peer hath all the privileges
' of an English one, except that
fitting in parliament; and even
precedence before all of the
fame title, that fhall be created
for the time to come. The
'penfions and employments pof-
feffed by the natives of that
# 4
• country
152
THE HISTORY
1
and Barber
taken into
cnftody.
March 5.
'
1713-14. this libel being warmly efpoufed by the majority of the
peers, the lord-treaſurer protefted he knew nothing of it;
Morphew exclaimed againſt the malicious infinuations contained in it;
and readily joined with the houſe, in an order for commit-
ting John Morphew, the publiſher, to the cuftody of the
black-rod. Morphew, upon his examination, having de-
clared, that an unknown porter had brought to his houſe
the copies of the pamphlet in queftion, from the houſe of
John Barber, printer of the gazette, and of the votes of the
houſe of commons, Barber was alfo ordered into cuſtody,
and both he and Morphew were, feverally, examined at the
bar of the houſe of lords. Morphew ftood to his former de-
claration, and owned the publiſhing and felling of that li-
bel; but Barber faid, he knew nothing of it, and infifted
not to anſwer any queſtions, the anſwer to which might
tend to accufe himſelf, or to corroborate the accufation
against him.' Being both withdrawn, the earl of Whar-
ton faid, They had nothing to do either with the pub-
liſher or printer; but that it highly concerned the honour
of that auguft affembly, to find out the villain, who was
the author of that falfe and fcandalous libel, in order to
do to the Scots nation juftice:' and moved, That, in
order to that difcovery, Barber might be again examined
the next day, together with his journeymen and fervants,'
This was readily agreed to; but, the next day, the earl of
Mar, one of the fecretaries of ftate, acquainted the houſe,
that, purſuant to the queen's commands, he had directed
John Barber to be profecuted. The earl of Wharton de-
fired to know, upon what evidence they defigned to pro-
ceed against him? But the earl of Mar replied, That he
wondered, fuch a question ſhould be put to a fecretary of
ftate, who was known to be under an oath of ſecrecy :
<
<
<
<
'
country now, among us do
amount to more than the
whole body of their nobility
ever ſpent at home; and all
'the money, they raiſe upon the
publick, is hardly fufficient to
defray their civil and military
lifts. I could point out fome
with great titles, who affected
to appear very grievous for
diffolving the union, although
• their whole revenues before
that period would have ill
⚫ maintained a Welch juftice of
6
C
'the peace; and have fince
gathered more money than
ever any Scotſman, who had
'not travelled, could form an
'idea of.'
This paffage, by reaſon of the
offence it might give to the Scots.
peers, was, a few days after the
publication of the libel, cancel-
led and the reft publiſhed with
a new title under pretence of a
fecond edition. But it was re-
ftored by Dr Swift, in the late
edition of his political tracts,
and
OF ENGLAND.
153
6
and this put a stop to all farther enquiries about Barber's 1713-14.
affair, in a parliamentary way. Three days after, Barber
and Morphew were, upon their petition, enlarged from the
cuftody of the black-rod. However, the lords refolved upon
an addreſs, reciting the fteps they had taken in this affair;
notwithſtanding which, they had not been able to diſcover
the author of the libel, which they conceived to be a falfe,
malicious, and factious libel, highly difhonorable and
• fcandalous to her majeſty's fubjects of Scotland, tending to
the deſtruction of the conftitution, and (by making falſe
and unjuſt reflections upon the union, and the fteps and
motives to it) moft injurious to her majefty, who had
been pleaſed often to declare from the throne, that the
union of the two kingdoms was the peculiar happineſs of
her reign, in making a full provifion for the peace and
quiet of her people, and the fecurity of their religion, by
fo firm an eſtabliſhment of the proteftant fucceffion
⚫ throughout Great-Britain. That nothing therefore might
be wanting on their parts towards the difcovering and
puniſhing ſo great a criminal, they humbly befought her
majefty to iffue her royal proclamation, with a reward to
any perfon, who fhould difcover the author.' According-
ly, the fame day, a proclamation was publiſhed, with a re-
ward of three hundred pounds. But, nevertheless, Dr
Swift, the reputed author, remained undifcovered to the
publick, though at the fame time, notwithſtanding the inde-
cency of his character, as well as of his writings, he was
daily careffed by the lord-treaſurer, as Barber the printer
was by the lord Bolingbroke (n).
<
A bill to li-
officers in the
The commons having readily voted a fupply, proceeded mit the
on controverted elections, and coming to feveral refolutions number of
about qualifying the members to ferve in parliament (o), houfe of
they ordered a bill to be brought in, for fecuring the commons.
(n) Dr Swift in his adver-
tifement prefixed to this pam-
phlet among his political tracts,
fays, the reafon of offering fo
fmail a reward was, becauſe
the queen and miniftry had no
• defire to have the author taken
? into cuſtody.'
(0) Theſe reſolutions were:
I. That,
notwithſtanding
•
'free- Pr. H. C.
Steel's apol.
date, on or after any election,
his qualification may be after-
'wards examined into.
<
II. That, the perſon, whofe
qualification is exprefsly ob-
'jected to, in any petition re-
lating to his election, fhall,
'within fifteen days after the
petition read, give, to the
• clerk of the houfe of com-
C
* the oath taken by any candi-mons, a paper figned by him-
felf
154
HISTORY
THE
1713-14.' freedom of parliaments, by limiting the number of offi-
cers in the houſe of commons:' which was perfected to-
wards the end of March.
Steele ob-
noxious to
the mini-
fters,
C
Notwithſtanding all the care and induftry uſed by the
court-managers in the late elections, many profeffed ene-
mies of the preſent minifters were chofen. But, of thefe,
none were fo obnoxious to the men in power as Mr Steele,
who in feveral publick writings, had arraigned the late mea
fures with great boldnefs, as one, who was encouraged, and
fure to be ſupported, be the whole whig party.
It was
therefore agreed by the minifters (how much foever they
differed in other matters) to exert their endeavours to re-
move him from his feat in parliament. A petition, which
was lodged againſt his election, happening to be the ſeven-
teenth of that kind, and therefore not like to come on this
feffion, it was refolved to take a ſhorter way, and attack
him about fome of his late political writings. Mr Hun-
gerford, a noted lawyer, who had been expelled the houſe
of commons for bribery in the reign of king William, move
ed, on the 11th of March, to take into confideration that
part of the queen's fpeech, which related to the fuppreffing
feditious libels; and complained, in particular, of feveral
fcandalous papers lately publifhed, under the name of Rich-
ard Steele, Efq; a member of that houfe. He was feconded
by Mr auditor Foley, a near relation to the lord- treaſurer,
who fuggefted, That unleſs means were found to reſtrain
⚫ the licentiouſneſs of the prefs, and to fhelter thofe, who
felf, containing a rental or
particular of the lands, te-
'nements, or hereditaments,
whereby he makes out his
<
:
qualification of which any
• perfon concerned may have à
copy.
III. That, of fuch lands,
‹ tenements, or hereditaments,
whereof the party hath been
in poffeffion for three years
before the election, he fhall
• alfo infert in the fame paper,
from what perfon, and by
• what conveyance, or act in
law, he claims and derives the
'fame; and alfo the confidera-
tion, if any paid, and the
<
'
names and places of abode of
the witneſſes to fuch convey-
ance and payment.
IV. That, if a fitting mem-
‹ber ſhall think fit to queſtion
the qualification of a petitioner,
he hall, within fifteen days
' after the petition read, leave
' notice thereof in writing with
the clerk of the houſe of com-
mons; and the petitioner fhall
in ſuch caſe, within fifteen
days after fuch notice, leave
with the faid clerk of the
houfe the like account in wri
ting of his qualification, as is
required from a fitting mem-
'ber.'
• had
1
OF ENGLAND.
155:
<
<
had the honour to be in the adminiſtration, from malici- 1713-14.
⚫ous and fcandalous libels; they, who by their abilities are
beft qualified to ferve their queen and country, would de-
cline publick offices and employments.' This was fup-
ported by Sir William Wyndham, who added, That fome
of Mr Steele's writings contained infolent injurious re-
flections on the queen herself, and were dictated by the
ſpirit of rebellion.' The next day, auditor Harley (the Complaint
lord-treasurer's brother) made a formal complaint to the againſt Mr
houſe againſt certain paragraphs of the three printed pam-
phlets, which had given moft offence to to the court; The
Engliſhman, of January 19; The crifis; and the laft
Engliſhman, all faid to be written by Richard Steele, efq;
which pamphlets being brought up to the table, it was or-
dered, that Mr Steele fhould attend in his place the next
morning.
<
"
Steele.
This brought a great concourſe of members and fpectators March 13.
to the houſe; and, Mr Steele attending, feveral para-
graphs, contained in the pamphlets complained of, were
read after which, Mr Foley, Mr Harley, and fome
other members, feverely animadverted upon the rancour
and feditious ſpirit confpicuous in thoſe writings. Mr James
Craggs, jun. Aanding up to ſpeak in Mr Steele's behalf, he
was prevented by a confufed noife of feveral voices calling
to order; intimating, that, according to the order of the
day, Mr Steele was to be heard himſelf in his place. Upon
this, Mr Steele faid, That, being attacked on feveral
heads without any previous notice, he hoped the houſe
would allow him, at leaft, a week's time to prepare for
his defence.' Auditor Harley having excepted againſt ſo
long a delay, and moved for adjourning this affair to the
Monday following, Mr Steele, to ridicule his two prin-
cipal profecutors, Foley and Harley, who were known to
be rigid prefbyterians, though they now fided with the
high-church, affumed their fanctified countenance, and
owned, in the meeknefs and contrition of his heart, that
he was a very great finner; and hoped, the member,
who ſpoke laft, and who was fo juftly renowned for his
exemplary piety and devotion, would not be acceffary
to the accumulating the number of his tranfgreffions,
by obliging him to break the fabbath of the Lord, by pe-
rufing fuch profane writings, as might ferve for his jufti-
fication.' This fpeech, fpoken in a canting tone, having
put the generality of the affembly in good humour,
Mr Steele carried his point; and the further confideration
<
<
of
156
THE HISTORY
tion about
rejected.
Mar. 15.
1713-14. of the charge against him was deferred for a week, by
which time it was expected, that Sir Richard Onflow,
Mr Hampden, Mr Lechmere, and fome other leading
members of the whig-party, who were abfent, would be
Steele's mo- come to town. This fuccefs encouraged Mr Steele, not
Dunkirk is only to ftand upon the defenfive, but even to attack his
accuſers. As he believed a great part of the ill-will, he
had brought upon himſelf, was owing to what he writ
about Dunkirk, he thought it would make for his defence
to have what paffed, relating to the collufive demolition,
appear to the houſe before his day came on. He therefore
moved, on the very Monday propoſed by Mr Harley for
his triel, That an addrefs be prefented to the queen, to
give directions, that the feveral reprefentations of her
engineers and officers, who had the care and inspection
of the demolition of Dunkirk, and all orders and in-
ſtructions given thereupon, be laid before the houſe.'
But the motion was rejected by two hundred and fourteen
voices, againſt one hundred and nine. But the court-party
did not think fit to oppoſe another motion, which, with the
fame intent, was then made by the lord Lumley, eldeft
fon to the earl of Scarborough, who being feconded by
the earl of Hertford, it was unanimouſly refolved, That
Steele's trial
of commons.
<
<
an addrefs be prefented to her majefty, that ſhe would
be pleaſed to order an account to be laid before the houſe,
what steps had been made for the removing the preten-
der from the dominions of the duke of Lorrain, pur-
fuant to the addrefs of both houſes of the laſt parlia-
ment; and what anſwers had been given by the duke of
• Lorrain.'
C
On the 18th of March, the day appointed for Mr Steele's
in the houſe trial, the court-party thought proper to clear the houſe of
all ftrangers; which being done, auditor Foley moved,
that, before they proceeded any farther, Mr Steele fhould
declare, whether he acknowledged the writings, that bore
his name? Upon which Mr Steele owned all the papers.
laid to his charge to be parts of his writings: that he
wrote them in behalf of the houſe of Hanover, and
owned them with the fame unreferved nefs, with which he
had abjured the pretender. Then, a debate arifing upon
the method of proceeding, Mr Foley propofed, that
Mr Steele fhould withdraw; but, after feveral fpeeches,
it was carried, without dividing, that he ſhould ſtay, in
order to make his defence. Mr Steele defired, he might
be allowed to anſwer to what might be urged againſt him,
para-
OF ENGLAND.
157
6
paragraph by paragraph; but though he was powerfully 1713-14.
fupported by Mr Robert Walpole, general Stanhope, the
lord Finch, eldeſt ſon of the earl of Nottingham; and the
lord Hinchinbroke, fon of the earl of Sandwich; yet his
accufers infifted, and it was carried, That he fhould pro-
ceed to make his defence generally, upon the charge
. given against him.' Mr Steele proceeded accordingly,
being affifted by Mr Addiſon, who fat near him, to prompt
him, upon occafion; and for near three hours fpoke to the
feveral heads, extracted out of the three pamphlets above
mentioned (which had been given in print to all the mem-
bers) with fuch temper, eloquence, and unconcern, as
gave entire fatisfaction to all, who were not prepoffeffed
against him.
C
"
Mr Steele being withdrawn, moft members expected,
that Mr Foley would have fummed up, and anfwered his
defence: but he contented himself, with faying, in gene-
ral, That, without amufing the houfe with long fpeeches,
it was plain, that the writings, that had been complained
of, were feditious and fcandalous, injurious to her ma-
jeſty's government, the church and the univerfities, and
moved, that the queſtion ſhould be put.' This occa-
fioned a very warm debate, which lafted till eleven at night.
Mr Robert Walpole, who ſpoke firſt in favour of Mr Steele, Mr Wal-
made a long and elegant fpeech. He began with fhewing, pole's fpeech
in his favour,
that this extraordinary and violent profecution ftruct at
the liberties of the ſubject in general, and of the mem-
•bers of that houfe in particular. He then juſtified
<
C
• Mr Steele on all the heads of the accufation raiſed
against him; and faid, he hoped the houfe would not
• facrifice one of their members to the refentment and
rage of the miniftry, for no other crime, than his ex-
poling their notorious mifmanagements; and, like a
good patriot, warning his countrymen against the immi-
< nent dangers, with which the nation in general, and in
particular her majesty's facred perfon, were threatened,
by the viſible encouragement, that was given to the pre-
• tender's friends. If a papift (faid Mr Walpole) nay an
Irish priest, who for many years has been fervant to Sir Patrick
the late king James, and the pretender; one, who has Lawless.
borne arms against her majefty in France and Spain;
one, who is ſtrongly fufpected of having imbrued his
hands in the blood of the late duke of Medina-Celi, and
marquis of Leganez; if fuch a man be not only per-
mitted to come into England, but to appear at court, in
<
• the
158
THE HISTORY
1713-14.
the prefence-chamber; if he be careffed by the minifters;
< nay, I speak it with horror, if fuch a man be admitted
to her majeſty's private audience in her closet, will not
C every good ſubject think her majeſty's perfon in danger?
And is it then a crime in Mr Steel to fhew his juſt con-
cern for fo precious a life?
<
6
6
C
"
As to that paffage in Mr Steele's crifis, wherein he fays,
• That a late treaſonable book on the fucceffion of heriditary
right has publiſhed the will of king Henry VIII, which
feems to be intended as a pattern for the like occa-
fion; and a little lower, Let thofe, who act under
the prefent fettlement, and yet pretend to diſpute for an
• abfolute hereditary right, quiet themfelves with the ar-
guments they have borrowed from popery;' Mr Wal-
pole faid, it could not be denied, That the lord-trea-
furer was the patron of learned men, for whoſe uſe and
improvement he had fet up a fine library; and that it ap-
peared by the book, called, "The hereditary right of
"the crown of England afferted, &c." that the author
had free acceſs to that library, and had drawn very ma-
terial paffages out of fome manufcripts in it. But that
the lord-treaſurer's care to fupply him with materials to-
wards that work went yet further, fince his lordſhip had
• employed a man to look among old mufty papers for the
will and teftament of king Henry the Eighth, which the
author had inferted at length in the appendix to his book.
That he appealed to Mr Lowndes, a member of the
houſe, and fecretary to the treafury, whether he had not
paid, by the lord-treafurer's order, twelve or fourteen
pounds to the perfon, that had made that great difco-
very; but, that in cafe he ſhould deny it, he had evi-
dence to prove it.' Mr Lowndes feemed not to deny
the fact; and only faid, that will was not fo rare a piece,
fince it was to be ſeen in a place, which he named, in Weſt-
minſter-abbey. On this occafion Mr Walpole mentioned
three points, in which he endeavoured to prove, that the
peace had already been broke: The fift, he faid, was
the demolition of Dunkirk, which ought to have been
finiſhed five months after figning the treaty; but, inſtead
of that the French had yet only pulled down part of the
• outward fortifications, without touching the foundations,
which, on the one hand, rendered the English garrison.
ufelefs, and expofed to any infults; and, on the other
hand, would afterwards make it eaſy for the French to
reftore and rebuild thofe fortifications: which was the
<
<
more
OF
459
ENGLAND.
<
C
more probable to be in their thoughts, fince, inftead of 1713-14.
ruining the harbour, they were actually repairing the
fluices, and working on a new canal. The fecond point
C was, the renuciations of the princes of the houſe of
• Bourbon, which were laid down as the foundation and
bafis of the peace, and as a pretence, that thereby the
C crowns of France and Spain would be more divided than
ever: but that, fuppofing (what he could not, by any
means grant) that thofe renunciations were to be depend-
ed upon, they were yet conditional, and fuppofed the
emperor's renunciation of the crown of Spain and
therefore, as no care had been taken to engage his impe-
rial majefty to agree to that neceffary condition, fo the
• renunciations of the princes of the houfe of Bourbon be-
C came not binding and void.' The third instance, which
Mr Walpole gave of the violation of the peace, was the
French king's ordinance, dated September the 18th, 1713,
N. S. forbidding the children of French refugees, though
born out of his dominions, to come into them, without
his permiffion, upon pain of being fent to the gallies.'
This ordinance was against natural right and the law of
nations, and in particular derogatory to the rights and liber-
ties of the British nation, which the children of the refu-
gees, born in England, were intitled to enjoy, as well as
the other natives. That he would adventure to ſay in
their behalf, that it were to be wifhed, that all, who
have the happineſs to be born in England, were as good
Englishmen as the fons of the refugees; and that the Bri-
tiſh nation was the more concerned in having that ordinance
repealed, in that the refugees and their children were the fit-
teſt to carry on a trade with France.
C
Mr Horace Walpole feconded his brother in favour of
the French refugees, and deplored the lamentable condi-
tion of their minifters and the poor amongst them, to
whom the lord-treasurer had not paid one penny of the
fifteen thousand pounds per annum, voted by parliament,
and allowed in the civil lift, towards their fubfiftance and
relief, fince he came into his office.' Adding,
Adding, That
fome amongst the refugees fuffered now more in Eng-
land, than they did during the perfecution in France;
fince there were always fome charitable people, who
relieved them, while they were in prifons and dungeons,
whereas here they were left to ſtarve.'
•
The lord Finch fupported, likewife, Mr Robert Wal-
pole, and juſtified Mr Steele with relation to the ten-
dereft
160
THE HISTORY
1713-14.
·
·
C
dereft part of the charge againſt him, his third Wiſh, in
the cloſe of his laft Engliſhman: That his electoral
highneſs of Hanover would be fo grateful as to fignify
to all the world the perfect good underſtanding he had
• with the court of England, in as plain terms, as her ma-
jefty was pleaſed to declare fhe had with that houſe om
• her part.'
He faid, That, fuppofing there were in
this wifh fome injurious infinuations, yet the fame could
not, without injuftice, be applied to the queen, but only
to her minifters: that no body doubted the good under-
ſtanding between her majeſty and the houſe of Hanover;
but that it was notorious, that the minifters fhewed no
great regard to that illuftrious houſe. Witness (to
pafs over other inftances) the flight they put upon the
baron Bothmer's memorial, which the queen had perhaps
never ſeen, had not the ducheſs of Somerſet fhewed it her
majeſty in print in the Daily Courant.' He likewife jufti-
fied Mr Steele in relation to his reflections on the peace.
• We may, fays he, give it all the fine epithets we pleaſe:
but epithets do not change the nature of things.
We
may, if we pleaſe, call it here, honourable; but I am
fure it is accounted fcandalous in Holland, Germany,
Portugal, and over all Europe, except France and Spain.
• We may call it advantageous; but all the trading part of
the nation find it to be otherwife. If therefore it be really
advantageous, it must be fo to the miniftry that made
it. Sir William Windham replying, That the mi-
niftry would not fay, the peace was advantageous to
them; the lord Finch anfwered, Then it was plain
it was advantageous to no body but our late enemies.'
،
C
<
6
•
The lords Lumley and Hinchinbroke, and ſome other
members, fpoke alfo in favour of Mr Steele, and againſt
the conduct of the miniftry. But Mr Foley, Sir William
Wyndham, the attorney-general, and fome other courtiers,
being fupported by a great majority, ftill infifted on the
queſtion, and it was carried at last by two hundred forty-
five voices againſt one hundred fifty-two, Firft, That a
printed pamphlet, intitled, The Englishman, being
the clofe of the paper fo called,' and one other pam-
phlet, intitled, "The crifis," written by Richard Steele,
Efq; a member of this houfe, are fcandalous and fedi-
tious libels, containing many expreffions highly reflecting
upon her majefty, and upon the nobility, clergy, gentry,
and univerfities of this kingdom, malicioufy infinua-
<
<
ting,
OF ENGLAN D.
161
<
•
C
ing, that the proteftant fucceffion in the houſe of Hano- 1713-14.
ver is in danger under her majefty's adminiftration, and
tending to alienate the affections of her majefty's good
fubjects, and to create jealoufies and divifions among
them. Secondly, That Richard Steele, Efq; for his of- Mr Steele
fence in writing and publiſhing thefe fcandalous and fe- expelled the
ditious libels, be expelled this houſe.'
<
It is obfervable, that only two Scots members ſpoke in
this long debate, Mr Baillie, and Sir James Stuart, judge-
advocate in North-Britain. Baillie faid, He was little
acquainted with the affairs of England, but had made it
his buſineſs to know thoſe of his own country; and, by
all the obſervations he could make for fome years paſt,
they, who appeared the moſt zealous for the preten-
der's intereft, were the most favoured and counte-
⚫nanced by thoſe in power.' This was confirmed by Sir
James Stuart, who added, That, to his certain know-
ledge, three or four thousand pounds had been yearly re-
mitted to the high-land clans, whofe chiefs, and the men
under their command, were known to be entirely devoted
to the chevalier.' Hence it appears, this affair gave the
enemics of the miniftry an occafion to take notice of feve-
ral things, which, but for this profecution, had perhaps
never been mentioned in the houfe of commons; and which,
being ſpoken in the hearing of feveral lords, occafioned the
like reflections and ſtricter enquiries in the houſe of peers.
A few days after, the commons adjourned till after the
eafter holidays; and in the mean time Sir James Stuart
was removed from his place for what he had faid.
C
C
houſe.
the ſtate of
On the 17th of March, the lords taking into confide- Debate on
ration the ſtate of the nation, the earls of Wharton, Not- the nation.
tingham, and Sunderland, the lords Cowper, Hallifax, and Pr. H. L.
fome others, reprefented the danger that threatened the
proteftant fucceffion, by reafon of the pretender's not be-
ing yet removed from Lorrain, and the ill condition the
affairs of Europe were left in by the late treaties of peace,
and moved, that addreffes be prefented to the queen, Firſt,
•for an account of what ſteps had been taken for removing
the pretender from the dominions of the duke of Lorrain,
and what anfwers had been given by that duke. Se-
condly, An account of the negotiations of peace:
what meaſures had been taken, to render the peace
• univerfal: and what obftructions her majeſty had met
• with. Thirdly, An account of what inftances had
been made for reftoring to the Catalans their antient pri-
VOL. VI.
vileges,
<
162
HISTORY
THE
1
t
፡
<
C
<
C
1713-14. vileges, and all letters relating thereto. Fourthly, An ac-
count of the monies granted by parliament, fince the
year 1710, to carry on the war in Spain and Portugal.'
Thefe addreffes were ordered to be prefented to the queen
without any oppofition. But, in the mean time, to give
the houſe ſome amufement, the lord-treafurer moved for
leave to bring in a bill for the further fecurity of the pro-
• teftant fucceffion, by making it high-treafon to bring
any foreign troops into the kingdom: which greatly fur-
prized many peers. Among the reft, the earl of Notting-
ham, who immediately perceiving the dangerous confe-
quence of that motion, reprefented, That fuch a bill
might be turned against the very guarantees of the pro-
teftant fucceffion, and fo weaken that happy fettlement,
for the fecurity of which the bill was pretended to be de-
figned.' The lord Bolingbroke replied, He doubted
not, but the noble peer, who made the motion, meant
only fuch foreign troops, as might be brought into the
kingdom by the pretender or his adherents.' The lord-
treaſurer having declared this to be his meaning, it was
anfwered, In that cafe fuch a bill was altogether unne-
ceffary, fince fuch troops were either open enemies, if
foreigners, or traitors and rebels, if natives.' The earl
of Angleſea put an end to the debate, with faying, That
the lord, who made the motion, was not acquainted with
the methods of proceeding in that houfe; for every peer
has the privilege of bringing in what bill he thinks fit:
that the lord-treafurer's afking leave for it, was but a
compliment to the houfe; and therefore, when he had
brought in the bill, it would be then a proper time to
confider of it.' So the motion was dropped. The fame
day, a noble lord reflected on the bifhop of Sarum's pre-
face to his Paſtoral care; but, that prelate offering to vindi-
cate himſelf, no farther notice was taken of it.
"
<
<
C
•
Two days after, in a farther debate on the ftate of the
nation, feveral lords ſpoke again in favour of the Catalans,
and infifted, That the houſe ought ftrictly to examine
how that poor people came to be abandoned, after they
• had been follicited and drawn in to declare for the em-
peror.' The earl of Anglefea, feeing the miniftry thus
attacked, endeavoured to ward off the blow, by faying,
That, for his own part, he was one of the firſt that ap-
peared against the late minifters, becauſe he was fully
convinced of their male-adminiſtration, corruption, ava-
rice, and unbounded ambition. That he would, in like
manner,
6
<
C
OF ENGLAND.
163
"
manner, be one of the firft that ſhould attack the prefent 1713-14.
minifters, if he thought them guilty of the fame faults.
But, as he had obferved, it was merely out of spleen
and envy, that fome perfons were for inquiring into the
• conduct of patriots, who had given fignal proofs of their
zeal for the publick good, he was of opinion, that they
ought to examine into the conduct both of the late and
preſent minifters, that fo, by comparing one with the
other, they might fee, which had committed lefs errors."
However, the whig lords purfued their point, and in parti-
cular took notice of the danger, both the queen's perfon
and the proteftant fucceffion were in, from the great num-
ber of out-lawed Jacobites, who were permitted to come
over from beyond fea; and complained of the favour fhewn
to the pretender's friends, in granting noli profequi's to
perfons (meaning Daniel de Foe among others) who were.
under proſecution for writing againſt the proteftant fuccef-
fion. They animadverted upon the debts of the navy be-
ing much increaſed, though nothing had been done at fea
for two or three years. The court-party having nothing
to ſay to theſe particulars, it was moved and refolved to
addrefs the queen, that he would order the proper offi-
cers to lay before the houſe, Firft, an account of the
debts and ftate of the navy. Secondly, an account of
'noli profequi's granted fince her acceffion to the throne.
And, thirdly, a lift of perfons outlawed, attainted, or
that had borne arms in the fervice of her majeſty's, or
the late king's enemies, who had got licenſes to return
into Great-Britain, or other her majefty's dominions,
fince the year 1688.' After this, upon a motion for ad-
journing, the whig lords propofed to adjourn only to the
Monday following. But, the miniftry being highly con-
cerned to put a stop to fuch enquiries, the lord- treaſurer,
with a fhew of devotion, reprefented, That the folem-
nity of the feſtival of Eaſter approaching, the next week
ought, according to the primitive inftitution, and the
conftant practice of the church of England, to be fet
apart for works of piety;' and therefore moved to ad-
journ to the 31st of March. The treaſurer being fe-
conded by the lord Trevor, the earl of Wharton faid,
God forbid he fhould oppofe that noble lord, who had
made fo pious and religious a motion; but that he ap-
pealed to that venerable bench (pointing to the bishops)
whether humanity and charity did not require it at their
hands, not to lofe one moment of time, in addreffing
'
C
L 2
• her
164
HISTORY
THE
'
1713-14. her majefty in behalf of the diftreffed Catalans, who
were reduced to fuch an extremity, that the leaft delay
in procuring them relief, might prove their ruin for
• ever.' Then it was refolved, without oppofition, to
preſent the addrefs; and the earl of Oxford's motion for
adjourning to the 31st of March was carried in the affir-
mative. It is obfervable, the commons having, the day
before, made an order for clearing the houfe of all ſtrangers,
not excepting the peers, it was moved in the lords houfe
to make the like crder, without excepting the commons:
but this was oppofed by the duke of Argyle, who faid, It
was for the honour of that auguft affembly to fhew, that
they were better bred, and had more complaifance than
C the commons.'
A remark-
tion publish-
ed by the
miniftry.
C
C
•
•
At this time the miniftry, in order to allay the fears,
able declara- which many entertained of a defign between Great-Bri-
tain and France, to bring over the pretender; caufed a re-
markable declaration, made fome time before by the French.
ambaſſador at the Hague, to be publiſhed in the Poſt-boy
of the 18th of March, which was to this effect: It is
not only in Holland, that falſe reports are ſpread of the
king my maſter's equipping a fleet, with a deſign to
fupport the intereſts of the chevalier de St George; but
thefe falfe reports have alfo reached England. As it is
eafy to imagine for what end they have been invented,
I am ordered by his majefty, to acquaint you with the
• malicious defign of them: they will foon vaniſh, being
without foundation, and even the leaft appearance of
any. It is, however, neceffary, that truth fhould be
• known.'
C
:
This declaration, however, with the leaft difcerning,
paſſed only for a political amufement and indeed it was
but a fond imagination in the Britiſh minifters, to believe
that any verbal affurances and proteftations were able to
difpel the jealoufies and apprehenfions, occafioned by the
daily removal of the firmeft friends to the proteftant fuc-
ceffion from publick employments, and advancing in their
ſtead, thoſe, whom they found inclined blindly to follow
the queen's meaſures; which was now become the watch-
word, and, as it were, the ftandard of civil and military
merit. Upon this rule, at a cabinet-council, it was re-
and Promo- folved to remove the duke of Argyle from all his places;
to order the earl of Stair to difpefe of his regiment of
Scots royal dragoons; and to turn out ſeveral other infe-
nor officers. Accordingly, a few days after it was de-
Removals
tions.
.clared,
OF ENGLAND.
165
1
clared, that the command of the Scots troop of life-guards, 1713-14.
of which the duke of Argyle was colonel and captain,
was given to the young earl of Dundonald, a Scots peer
(for which, however, the queen was faid to have paid the
ufual price of ten thousand pounds to the duke) that the
earl of Peterborough was made governor of the island of
Minorca, and the earl of Orkney governor of Edinburgh
caſtle, both in the room of the duke of Argyle; that the
earl of Portmore had bought the earl of Stair's regiment
for fix thouſand pounds; that major-general Davenport
was ordered to fell his poft of lieutenant of the firſt troop
of life-guards to brigadier Panton; that major-general
Holmes, major of the cold-ſtream regiment of foot-
guards, had leave to difpofe of his company to lieutenant-
colonel Gibbons, late of colonel Kane's regiment of fuot;
that lieutenant-colonel Egerton, brother to the earl of
Bridgewater, and lieutenant-colonel Sidney, brother to the
earl of Leiceſter, were ordered to fell their companies in
the foot-guards, for the fum of a thoufand pounds each,
to the lieutenant-colonels Markham and Owen; and that
lieutenant-colonel Oughton and lieutenant-colonel Paget
were alſo ordered to difpofe of their companies. It was Further de-
about the fame time ftrongly reported, that feveral other figns of new-
modelling
officers, who, being clofeted, had demurred upon the
the army.
queſtion, that was put to them, Whether they would
ferve the queen, without aſking queftions?' were like-
wife to be turned out of their pofts; fome of which
were to be filled up by the creatures of the lord Boling-
broke, the principal advifer and promoter of the new-
modelling the army. One branch of this fcheme was
to break nine of the battalions in Ireland; to lay afide
feventy-two officers, who were thought improper inftruments
for the defigns in hand; and to raife fifteen other batta-
lions, that fhould be fure to obey all commands; and one`
of which was faid to be defigned for the lord Poor, an
Irish Roman catholick peer, who had a long time ferved
in France. It was alfo generally reported, that either the
earl of Anglefea, or colonel Owen, who foon after went
over to Dublin, carried thefe orders to Sir Conftantine
Phipps, but whatever ground there was for ſuch a report,
that part of the model never took place.
pofed.
The lord Bolingbroke and his friends, who by this time The queen
had got the afcendant over the lord-treaſurer in the cabinet- again indife
council, were the more hafty in their meaſures, both be-
cauſe they began to defpair of the queen's furviving the
L 3
next
166
HISTORY
THE
1713-14. next ſummer, and becauſe they were not ignorant, that the
whigs, in concert with the court of Hanover, took all ima-
ginable precautions to fecure the proteftant fucceffion. The
queen being taken ill (p), thofe who were moft concerned
in her life, pufhed on their fchemes, knowing how preca-
rious that life was; and, at the fame time, the better to
carry on their defigns, gave out, that he was in no man-
ner of danger, being only troubled with a ſmall fit of the
gout. But though, the better to conceal the true ftate of
her health, only Dr Arbuthnot, who was devoted to their
party, was for a long time admitted to fee her leg; yet
Meaſures ta- thofe, who watched for the fecurity of the proteftant fuc-
ken by the ceffion, did not want intelligence of her dangerous condi-
cure the pro- tion, and took all poffible meaſures to defeat any attempt,
teftant fuc- that should be made to bring in the pretender, at or before
whigs to fe-
ceffion.
her death. As that cafe never happened, thoſe meaſures
are for the moft part a fecret; but it may be obſerved, that
about this time the pretender's friends were not a little.
alarmed at a fecret treaty, which was faid to be concluded
between the elector of Brunſwick and the States-general;
whereby the States, in confideration of a certain fum, en-
gaged to furniſh the elector with a certain number of fhips
(p) Dr Shadwell, in a letter
to the duke of Shrewſbury, gives
the following account of her
illness:
On the 11th of March, after
the queen had funned herſelf
at the window, fhe was feized
with a chilneſs, vomiting, a
pain in the leg, the pulfe very
difordered, and in every man-
ner as two months before, ex-
cept that the queen did not fhi-
ver; but the cold and chilnefs
continued twelve hours, and was
then fucceeded by very great
heat, thirst, and all the fymp-
toms of a high fever, which
lafted till the next morning.
Some of her phyficians were
for adminiftring the fnake-root;
but Dr Shadwell oppofed it, by
reaſon of the inflammatory fe-
ver, and Erysipelas; preffed for
temperate cordial medicines, to
diſcharge the blood; and cup-
ping, as well as other evacua-
tions, to prevent too great a
load of humours falling upon
the leg.
This he infifted on
the next day, tho' the fever was
off; apprehending the confe-
quence of that limb being too
much loaded: and though, on
Sunday the 14th, the queen eat
a chicken with very good appe-
tite; though all the other phy-
ficians thought matters fo well,
as not to need any preſcription;
yet that very good appearance
did not eafe Dr Shadwell of his
fears, for what might happen to
the leg, if the Eryfipelas fhould
turn to an impofthumation:
which it did, according to his
prognoftick, not long after; and
proved at laft the immediate
caufe of the queen's death.
and
OF ENGLAND.
167
and land-forces (befides their engagements as guarantees of 1713-14.
the fucceffion) to fupport his claim to the crown of Great-
Britain. Be this as it will, certain it is, that the court of
Hanover did not rely on the fair promiſes, given them by
the British minifters, and which were manifeftly contradict-
ed by matters of fact. And as fome of the Britiſh mini-
fters and generals were, at this juncture, very intent upon
new-modelling the army; fo on the other hand, the duke
of Argyle, the generals Stanhope and Cadogan, and feve-
ral other experienced commanders, were no lefs active,
though with more caution, in keeping fteady and prepar-
ing against all events, fuch military men, as they knew to
be well affected to the proteftant fucceffion. General Stan-
hope, in particular, had feveral private conferences with
the principal officers among the French refugees; who be-
ing a confiderable body, and all zealous for the cauſe, no
fmall ftrefs was laid on their affiftance, as well as that of
their countrymen. So, if things had been brought to ex-
tremities, exclufive of the interpofition of foreign forces,
the well-affected to the houſe of Hanover would have been
equal, if not fuperior to the pretender's friends. This will
appear more than probable, if we confider, that in either
houfe of parliament few were for altering the prefent fettle-
ment: that moſt of the merchants and monied men in the
city of London (which, in all revolutions, has the greateſt
influence over the reft of the kingdom) were intirely devot-
ed to the proteftant fucceffion; and it is now known, that
fome of the principal of them had agreed with the gene-
rals Cadogan and Stanhope to exert their whole intereft in
the city, whenever any attempt fhould be made upon the
fucceffion; and that meaſures were early concerted by the
kit-cat-club, with a major-general, who had a confidera-
ble poft in the foot-guards, to feize the tower, upon the
first appearance of danger, and to fecure in it fuch perfons,
as were juftly fufpected to favour the pretender (q). And
the late lord Onflow uſed to ſay, that himſelf had been fent
over with an affociation figned by the most eminent of the
whigs to the duke of Marlborough, who did not think.
proper to give it the fanction of his name; which was a
great furprize to his old friends.
The parliament, according to their adjournment, met
on the 31st of March. The chief debates were in the
(q) This Boyer, the hiflo-
rian, had from the major-gene-
ral's own mouth, whoſe name
he had not liberty to reveal.
L 4
houſe
17140
168
THE HISTORY
Debates
about 'the
Catalans.
Pr. H. L.
<
1714. houfe of lords, concerning the Catalans, the proteftant fuc-
ceffion, removal of the pretender out of Lorrain, and the
late treaties. The papers, which had been addreſſed for,
being laid before the houſe, thofe relating to the Catalans
were read on the 2d of April. Then the earls of Whar-
ton and Sunderland, the lords Hallifax, Cowper, and
others, reprefented, That, the crown of Great-Britain
having drawn in the Catalans to declare for the houſe of
Auſtria, and engaged to fupport them, thofe engage-
'ments ought to have been made good.' To this the lord
Bolingbroke anfwered, That the queen had ufed all her
endeavours to procure to the Catalans the enjoyment of
their antient liberties and privileges; but that, after all,
the engagements fhe was entered into, fubfifted no lon-
ger than while king Charles was in Spain; but that
prince being advanced to the imperial dignity, and hav-
⚫ing himſelf abandoned the Catalans, fhe could do no more
than interpofe hc good offices in their behalf, which fhe
had not been wanting to do.' To this it was replied,
• That God almighty had put more effectual means into
her majefty's hands.' After fome other fpeeches, the
lord Cowper moved for an addrefs to the queen, importing,
That, her endeavours for preferving to the Catalans the
full enjoyment of their antient liberties, having proved
ineffectual, their lordships made it their humble requeft,
that he would continue her interpofition in the moft
preffing manner in their behalf.' None of the peers op-
pofed this motion; only the lord-chancellor, in order to
juſtify all that had been done by the miniſtry, faid, This
addrefs would be more grateful to her majefty, if the
'word ineffectual was left out, and if they fhould only
<
€
'
thankfully acknowledge her majeſty's endeavours in fa-
< vour of the Catalans,' which was agreed to. But, not-
withstanding this compliment, the addrefs being the next
day prefented to the queen,She thanked, indeed, the
lords, for the fatisfaction they expreffed in the endeavours
'fhe had uſed for fecuring to the Catalans their juft liber-
ties;' but then he added, that, At the time the con-
'cluded her peace with Spain, fhe refolved to continue her
interpofition upon every proper occafion for obtaining
thofe liberties, and to prevent, if poffible, the misfor-
tunes, to which that people were expoſed by the conduct
of thoſe more nearly concerned to help them.' This an-
fwer occafioned fome reflections: and indeed, it quickly ap-
peared, that Sir James Wifhart, who, about this time,
<
was
OF
169
ENGLAND.
was fent with a ſtrong ſquadron of men of war, was ra- 1714.
ther inftructed to affift king Philip in the reduction of Bar-
celona, than in relieving the diftreffed Catalans.
the nation.
On April the 5th, the lords taking into confideration the Debate on
ftate of the nation, ſeveral ſpeeches were made in relation the fate of
to the dangers to which all Europe in general was left ex- Pr. H. L.
poſed by the late treaties of peace, and which, in particu-
lar, threatened the proteftant fucceffion. To this purpoſe
the whig lords mentioned the countenance and favour which
were publickly fhewn by thofe in power to the friends of
the pretender; and his continuing in Lorrain (r). The
earl
(r) Some time before the
parliament met, the following
letter, faid to be written by the
duke of Lorrain, was handed
about, firft in manufcript and af-
terwards in print :
Madam,
• We could not be more fur-
prized at the addreffes of the
British parliament laft fummer,
than with the late remonstrances
of your majeſty's miniſter at
Utrecht, in relation to the re-
moval of the chevalier de St
George from the dominions of
Lorrain. Before we would ab-
folutely comply with the re-
queft of the most chriftian king
in that affair, the profound re-
ſpect we have for your quiet,
made us apprehenfive of giving
the leaft uneafinefs to your ma-
jefty. But when we were af-
fured, on the contrary, that
this expedient would be highly
agreeable to all fides, as the
only means to remove one of
the chief obſtacles to the gene-
ral peace of Europe, fo much
wanted and defired: proud of
fo great an honour, we could
no longer refrain from opening
our aims, to receive a prince,
the most accomplished, the moſt
virtuous, and moft amiable of
human race, who only wants to
be ſeen to be admired, and
known to be almoſt adored:
whofe magnanimity, in his fuf-
ferings, renders him worthy his
high birth; befides his other
great and commendable quali-
ties, which confefs the royal
blood that flows in his veins.
We therefore hope your ma-
jefty, and the Britiſh nation,
will not take in ill part, that
we cannot comply with a de-
mand fo inconfiftent with our
own honour, and the laws of
hoſpitality; that, after our pro-
tection once given, we fhould
voluntarily abandon, to the rage
of his enemies, an innocent,
diftreffed prince, who knows no
crime, but being born the laſt
heir male to that illuftrious fa-
mily, which, for ſeveral ages,
has given fo many great mo-
narchs to the world (amongit
the reft, your majefty) of whofe
heroic virtues he is a happy
imitator; and whoſe conſpicu-
ous and great actions have re-
flected as much luftre, as you
have received from your noble
and truly royal progenitors.
That God almighty would take
your
170
HISTORY
THE
•
1714. earl of Sunderland added, That, notwithſtanding the
carneft application made laft feffion by both houfes to her
majefty, to uſe her utmoſt endeavours to get him re-
moved from thence, yet he was affured by baron Foftner,
the duke of Lorrain's minifter, fome weeks before his
departure, that, to his certain knowledge, no inftances
had yet been made to his mafter for that purpoſe.'. The
lord Bolingbroke faid, He wondered baron Foftner ſhould
make fuch a declaration, fince he himſelf had made thofe
inftances to the baron in the queen's name.' But the
lord Hallifax confirmed what the earl of Sunderland had
advanced, faying, Baron Foftner had told him as much
but four days before; fo that the lord Bolingbroke muft
be miſtaken, at leaft, in point of chronology. The earl
of Wharton having urged the dangers, which threatened.
the nation, and the proteftant fucceffion from the male-
adminiſtration of affairs, a queftion was propofed, Whe-
ther the proteftant fucceffion was in danger under the pre-
< fent adminiſtration?' The court lords, who had a mind
to ſcreen the miniftry under the queen's name, infifted, that
the laft words of the queſtion fhould be, under her ma-
jefty's adminiftration? the whig lords alledged, That the
queen ought not to be mentioned in a queftion, that did
not at all concern her majefty: for, by our conſtitution,
the fovereign can do no wrong; and, if any thing be
done amifs, the minifters alone are accountable for it.'
But it was urged, That the queen having, in her ſpeech
from the throne, taken notice of the infinuations, that
the proteftant fucceffion was in danger under her govern-
ment; the queſtion ought to be taken in her majeſty's
The prote-
expreffions about the ſame ſubject.' This being agreed
ftant fuccef- to, the queſtion was warmly debated from two in the after-
fon vote noon, till nine o'clock in the evening, when the prote-
ftant fucceffion was voted out of danger by a majority of
twelve voices only, feventy-fix againſt fixty-four. The
moſt remarkable circumftance of this debate was, that the
Archbishop of York and the earl of Angleſea ſpoke and
voted with the whig lords, which added great ſtrength to
your majeſty into his holy pro-
tection, is the ardent wiſh of,
fon voted
out of dan-
Bes
<
•
MADAM,
Your Majeſty's, &c.'
This letter, though, with dif.
•
ferent views, was diſperſed with
equal induſtry by both parties,
and, with other concurring cir-
cumftances, greatly increaſed
the fears and jealoufies of the
well-affected to the proteftant
fucceffion.
that
OF
171
ENGLAND.
that fide; the archbiſhop drawing after him the whole bench 1714.
of biſhops, three courtiers only excepted; and the other
being followed by the earls of Abingdon and Jerfey, the lords
Aſhburnham and Carteret, and fome other temporal peers,
who, like the lord Anglefea, had, upon moſt occafions,
voted for the court lords; fo that the victory, now gained,
was owing either to the Scots peers, or to the late creation.
And it was the general opinion, that this feeming advan-
tage was in reality a kind of defeat. The earl of Angle-
fea's fpeech upon this occafion, was much taken notice of:
He ſaid, among other things, That, when he came in-
<
<
<
to the houſe, he thought indeed the proteftant fucceffion
to be ſtill in danger on the part of France, whofe intereft
it was to reftore the pretender: But that, after he had
heard what fo many noble members of that auguft affem-
bly, perfons of undoubted honour and probity, had al-
ledged againſt the miniſters, and no anſwer offered to
confute it, either by the minifters themfelves, or their
friends, he could not but believe the fucceffion to be in
danger under fuch an adminiftration.' He afterwards en-
deavoured to clear himſelf, as to the fhare he had in
fome late tranſactions: I own (faid he) I gave my af-
fent to the ceflation of arms, for which I take fhame to
myſelf, and afk God, my country, and my confcience
pardon. But, however, this fault I did not commit,
till that noble lord (turning towards the lord- treafurer)
had affured the council, That the peace would be glo-
rious and advantageous both to her majefty and her allies.
Adding, that, as the honour of his fovereign, and the
< good of his country, were the rule of his actions, fo he
had no refpect of perfons; and if he found himſelf im-
pofed upon, he durft purſue an evil minifter, from the
queen's cloſet to the Tower, and from the Tower to the
• fcaffold.' The lord-treaſurer, against whom this was
levelled, faid, That the peace was as glorious and advan-
tageous, as could be expected, confidering the neccffity
of affairs, and the contradiction the queen's minifters
had met with, both at home and abroad.' Several lords
replied, That no minifters ever had it in their power to
make fo honourable and advantageous a peace, as the
queen's minifters had and the duke of Argyle in particu-
lar added, That he had lately crofled the kingdom of
France, both in going to, and returning from Mi-
That it was indeed one of the fineft countries
in the univerfe, but that there were marks of a general
• defolation
6
<
<
6
norca.
172
HISTORY
THE
1
1714.
嘗
​<
"
<
C
<
<
<
defolation in all the places through which he paffed.
That he had rid forty miles together without meeting a
man fit to carry arms: that the rest of the people were
in the utmoſt mifery and want; and therefore he did
< not apprehend what neceffity there was to conclude a
peace fo precipitately with a prince, whofe dominions were
fo exhaufted of men, money, and provifions.' As to the
queftion now under debate, he faid, He firmly believed
the fucceffion in the electoral houfe of Hanover to be in
danger from the prefent minifters, whom he durft charge
with male-adminiftration, both within thofe walls, and
without that he knew, and offered to prove, that the
< lord-treafurer had yearly remitted four thousand pounds.
to the high-land clans of Scotland, who were known to
be intirely devoted to the pretender, in order to keep
them under difcipline, and ready for any attempt: that,
on the other hand, the new-modelling of the army, by
difbanding fome regiments out of their turn, and by re-
moving from their employments a vast number of officers,
merely upon account of their known affection to the
houſe of Hanover, were clear indications of the de-
figns in hand that, it was a difgrace to the nation,
to fee men, who had never looked an enemy in the
face, advanced to the pofts of feveral brave officers,
who, after they had often expofed their lives for their
country, were now ftarving in prifon for debt, for want
of their pay.' The lord-treafurer, laying his hand upon
his breaft, faid, He had, on fo many occafions, given
fuch fignal proofs of his affection to the proteftant fuccef-
fion, that he was fure no member of that auguft affembly
did call it in queftion. That he owned, he had remitted,
' for two or three years paft, three thoufand eight hundred
pounds to the High land clans; but that he hoped the
houfe would give him an opportunity to clear his con-
duct as to that point. And, as for the reformed officers,
he had given orders, they fhould forthwith be paid.' The
lord Aſhburnham, who had lately been advanced to the
command of a troop of life-guards, thinking himself re-
flected on by fome expreffions, which had dropped from the
duke of Argyle, took that occafion to fay, That the
< queen had no better, nor a more loyal fubject than him-
felf; but that, at the fame time, he was ready to fpill
every drop of his blood, and ſpend all his fortune, for the
fecurity of the proteftant fucceffion.'
C
،
•
<
•
<
.
•
Though
OF ENGLAND.
173
<
•
bout the re-
Lorrain,
Though, after fome other ſpeeches, the proteftant fuc- 1714.
ceffion was voted out of danger, as the court-party defired,
yet the lord Hallifax, in order to put their profeffions of af- Debate a-
fection to the proteftant fucceffor to the teft, moved, That moval of
• an addreſs be prefented to the queen, that fhe would re- the preten-
new her inftances for the fpeedy removing the pretender der out of
• out of Lorrain; and that ſhe would, in conjunction with
the States-general, enter into the guaranty of the pro-
• teftant fucceffion in the houſe of Hanover; and alſo with
fuch other princes, as the fhould think proper.' He was
feconded by the earl of Wharton, who moved likewiſe,
that, in the addrefs, Her majefty might be defired to
iffue out a proclamation, promifing a reward to any per-
fon who fhould apprehend the pretender, dead or alive:
This motion was fupported by the duke of Bolton, who
alfo moved, That the reward might be ſuitable to the im-
portance of that fervice.' Nothing was faid in oppoſition
to theſe motions; but, it being late, fome members cried,
Adjourn, adjourn. But the other fide calling for the que-
ftion, it was unanimously refolved, that the addrefs fhould
be preſented. Before this debate came on, the lord North
and Grey moved, that all the ftrangers that were in the
houſe ſhould withdraw; upon which the earl of Wharton
defired, that they might be permitted to it" and he was
feconded by the duke of Argyle. But, the lord, who made
the motion, infifting upon it, all ſtrangers were obliged to
withdraw, except baron Schutz, envoy from Hanover,
whofe ftanding behind the throne among the peers fons
was connived at. It is very probable, he did not fail giv-
ing a full account of this day's tranfactions to his court;
and that the earl of Angleſea was noted down in the lift of
the perfons, whom, by the act of fettlement, the proteftant
fucceffor was impowered to appoint to have a ſhare in the
regency, in cafe of a demife. But it was obſerved, that the
fame evening the earl fupped with the lord Bolingbroke,
and, two days after, appeared at the treasurer's levee; from
whence it was conjectured, they had found means to regain
him by the promiſe of the government of Ireland.
When the addrefs against the pretender was reported by
the committee appointed to draw it, the lord North and
Grey made a long fpeech, Wherein he endeavoured to
fhew the barbarity of fetting a reward upon any body's
head; which, he faid, was an encouraging of murder and
• affaffination; and how repugnant fuch a practice was to
chriflianity, the law of nature, and the laws of all civi-
$
•lized
174
THE HISTORY
1714.
6
•lized nations.' To which purpoſe he quoted fome paffa-
ges out of Grotius, Puffendorf, and other civilians. He
repreſented in particular, How inconfiftent ſuch a proceed-
ing was with the honour and dignity of fo auguft an affem-
C bly in a nation and government, famed for lenity and cle-
mency;' and in conclufion faid, No man either had
< more reſpect and affection for the illuftrious houſe of Ha-
< nover, or would do more to ferve them, than himſelf:
<
$
but that they muſt excuſe him, if he would not venture
• damnation for them.' He was fupported by the lord Tre
vor, who faid, What that noble peer had ſpoke, was fuf-
ficient to fhew, how inconfiftent fuch a proceeding was
with chriftianity, and the civil law; and therefore he
• would confine himſelf to our own laws; and, if he knew
< or underſtood any thing of theſe, he was confident, they
were no lefs oppofite to fuch proceedings than the civil
law. He knew, he did not fpeak there as a lawyer or
judge, but as a peer. But he was fo fully fatisfied of our
law diſcountenancing all fuch proceedings, that, if ever
any ſuch caſe ſhould come before him as a judge, he
would think himſelf bound in juftice, honour, and confci-
ence to condemn ſuch an action as murder; and therefore
he hoped, the fupreme court of judicature in England,
and the moſt auguft tribunal in the univerfe, would not
make a precedent for encouraging affaffination: conclud-
ing, that it was fufficient, and therefore he moved, Firft,
that the reward fhould be for apprehending and bringing
the pretender to juftice, in cafe he fhould land, or attempt
to land, either in Great-Britain or Ireland, Secondly,
That her majefty iffue her royal proclamation, whenever,
in her great wifdom, fhe fhould judge it neceffary.' The
lords Cowper and Halifax faid, That fuch a proceeding,
as repugnant as it might be to the precepts of chriftianity,
< was yet warranted by the practice of the old Romans, of
the moſt civilized nations in Europe, and of our nation.
For, without recurring to remoter inftances, we had the
• example of king James the fecond, who fet a price on the
• head of his own nephew, the duke of Monmouth,' But theſe
two lords were but weakly fupported by their own party;
and, the earl of Angleſea, and lords Aſhburnham, Carteret,
and Orrely, who, three days before, had left the court-par-
ty, having approved the lord Trevor's motion, and moft of
the bishops, who were against fuch an addrefs, being ab-
fent from the houſe, thefe mitigations were, upon a divifion,
carried by a majority of ten voices.
'
<
The
OF ENGLAND.
175
The fame day, upon a motion made by the lord Halifax, 1714.
the lords refolved to preſent another addreſs to the queen,
.
<
<
others.
• That ſhe would iffue out a proclamation against all jefuits, Votes a-
gainſt per-
popiſh prieſts, and biſhops; as alſo againſt all fuch, as fons out-
bore arms againſt the late king William and queen Mary, lawed, pa-
or her prefent majefty.' Upon this occafion, fome fevere pifts, and
reflections were made againſt thoſe perſons, who, being out-
lawed for adhering to the late king James and the pretender,
had the affurance, and were encouraged, not only to come
over, but even to appear here with a publick character. The
earl of Angleſea faid, on this occafion, That, for his
own part, he was againft widening our domeftick divifi-
ons, by keeping up odious diftinctions; and therefore,
if they, who were born her majefty's fubjects, and had
been in arms againſt their country, were fenfible of their
fault, and inclined to return to their bounden allegiance,
they ought, in his opinion, to open the door for them to
come in.' But the houſe had other thoughts of the mat-
ter, and the next day refolved, 1. That no perfon, not
included in the articles of Limerick, and who had borne
• arms in France or Spain, fhould be capable of any em-
< ployment civil or military. 2. That no perfon, who is a
natural born fubject of her majefty, fhould be capable of
fuſtaining the character of publick minifter from any fo
reign potentate.'
Theſe refolutions were made with a
view to Sir Patrick Lawlefs, who, having been the preten-
der's envoy at the court of Madrid, had come over with a
credential letter from king Philip. But, upon the noiſe,
which his being here made in both houfes of parliament, he
thought fit to go to Holland.
<
<
in remitting
money to
proved.
As a reflection had been made against the treafurer, for The treafur-
remitting yearly about four thousand pounds to the clans of er's conduct
Scotland, as if that fum were defigned to keep in heart and
diſcipline the pretender's friends, the lord Townshend mov- the high-
ed for taking that affair into confideration. The duke of landers ap
Argyle reprefented, That, the Scots highlanders being,
for the most part, either rank papifts, or declared jaco-
bites, the giving them penfions was, in effect, keeping up
popish feminaries, and fomenting rebellion.' In anfwer
to this, tire treaſurer alledged, That in this particular he
had but followed the example of the late king William,
who, after he had reduced the highlanders, thought fit to
allow yearly penfions to the heads of the clans, in order
to keep them quiet; and, if the prefent miniftry could be
charged with any mifmanagement on that article, it was
<
<
6 only
176
HISTORY
THE
1714.
<
<
only for retrenching part of that hufh-money.' Nothing
being alledged againſt this apology, the lord North and
Grey made a motion for returning the treaſurer the thanks
of the houſe for his good fervices. But the lord Boling-
broke, to put it off, faid, He was perfuaded the treaſurer
was contented with the teftimony of his own confcience,
• and defired no further fatisfaction, than to have his con-
duct approved by that auguft affembly.' Which was ac-
cordingly done. Upon this unfuccefsful attempt upon the
treaſurer, the lord North and Grey faid, with an air of tri-
umph, That, having, by this time, removed all fears and
jealoufies about popery and the pretender, he hoped the
• enemies of the miniftry would now ſpeedily produce all
the objections they had against their conduct' and mov-
ed, that a day might be appointed for taking into confider-
ation the ſtate of the nation, with regard to the treaties of
peace and commerce. He was feconded by the earl of Cla-
rendon; and then the houſe adjourned to the 13th of
April; but, the day before, the lord chancellor attended
only by the whig lords, prefented to the queen their addrefs
against the pretender(s), to which the returned the follow-
ing anſwer:
(s) The addrefs was as fol-
lows;
• We your majeſty's moſt du-
tiful and loyal fubjects, the
lords fpiritual and temporal in
⚫ parliament affembled, having
a juſt and tender concern for
your majefty, and our country,
• and being encouraged by that
zeal your majefty has ſo often
expreffed from the throne, for
the proteftant fucceffion in the
• illuftrious houfe of Hanover,
• do now preſume to renew our
• moſt humble application to
your majefty, upon a fubje&t
fo agreeable to you, as this
which is neareſt your own roy-
• al heart, and do humbly be-
Teech your majeſty, that when-
ever your majefty, in your
great wifdom, fhall judge it
neceffary, you will be graci-
My
oufly pleaſed to iffue your roy-
al proclamation, promiſing a
• reward to any perſon, who
fhall apprehend and bring the
' pretender to juftice, in cafe he
fhall land, or attempt to land,
either in Great-Britain or Ire-
land, fuitable to the import-
ance of that fervice, for the
fafety of your majefty's per-
fon, and the fecurity of the
proteſtant fucceffion in the
houfe of Hanover.
C
C
• We alſo deſire leave to ex-
prefs our great concern, That
your majefty's inftances, for
removing the pretender out of
Lorrain, have not yet had
• their effect; and do humbly
intreat your majefty, that you
will be graciously pleafed to
infift upon, and renew your
inftances for the ſpeedy re-
mov-
OF ENGLAND.
177
66
My lords,
1714.
anſwer to the
"It would be a real ftrengthening to the fucceffion in The queen's
"the houſe of Hanover, as well as a fupport to my govern- addrefs
ment, that an end were put to thoſe groundleſs fears and againſt the
jealoufies, which have been fo induftrioufly promoted. pretender.
"I do not, at this time, fee any occafion for ſuch a pro-
"clamation. Whenever I judge it to be neceffary, I ſhall
"give my orders for having one iffued.
66
"As to the other particulars of this addrefs, I will give
proper directions therein."
queen
deli-
This anfwer revived the hopes of the pretender's friends, Demand of
who, before the warm fpeeches against him in both houſes, king James's
were fo elated and fecure of protection, that, towards the vered in
end of March, an agent of king James's queen offered to Chancery.
file a bill in chancery, wherein he demanded, in her name,
the ſum of fix hundred fifty thouſand pounds, due to her by
the crown of England, for the dowry of fifty thouſand
pounds per annum fince the death of king James the fecond.
But, the agent having in the bill given her the title of
queen-mother, the officer refufed to file it; upon which the
agent changed the title, and prefented it in the name of the
moft illuftrious princefs Maria, relict of James the fecond,
'king of England. Though no notice was taken of this for-
mal demand, yet, purfuant to a private agreement made in
France by the lord Bolingbroke, about fifty thousand pounds
were remitted thither for her uſe.
lords.
The very day the addreſs againſt the pretender was pre- Confultacion
fented, an incident happened, which, as foon as known of the whg
threw the minifters into the utmoft confufion. On the 10th
of April, moſt of the whig lords held a confultation at the
lord Hallifax's, to which baron Schutz, envoy from the elec-
tor of Hanover, was admitted. It was refolved, purfuant A writ de-
either to the orders, Schutz had received from his court, or
to the difcretionary power, which was lodged with fome of
theſe lords, that the envoy fhould take the first opportunity
to demand a writ for the electoral prince to fit in the houſe
•
moving the pretender out of
Lorrain; and likewife, that
your majefty will be graciouf-
ly pleafed, in conjunction with
the States-general, to defire
the emperor to enter into the
VOL. VI.
<
guaranty of the proteftant fuc
• ceffion in the houſe of Hano-
ver, and alfo all fuch other
princes, as your majeſty ſhall
think proper."
M
of
manded for
the duke of
Cambridge.
178
THE HISTORY
<
"
<
C
.
1714. of peers, as duke of Cambridge. Accordingly on the 12th
of April, baron Schutz made a vifit to the lord chancellor,
and among other civilities, acknowledged the affection, he
had fhewn, on feveral occafions, to the moft ferene electoral
houfe of Hanover. The lord chancellor told him, he was
< extremely fenfible of the honour he did him by his viſit and
compliment; and defired him to affure the elector, of his
⚫intire devotion to his fervice; hoping his electoral highneſs
gave no credit to the falfe reports, that were induſtriouſly
fpread abroad, in order to give him jealoufies of her ma-
jefty's minifters.' The baron anfwered, he would not
fail diſcharging fo agreeable a commiffion; but he had a
favour to afk of him, in the name of the electoral prince, that
his lordſhip would be pleaſed to make out a writ for his fit-
ting in the houſe of peers, as duke of Cambridge. The
lord-chancellor furprized at this unexpected demand, told
the baron, It was not ufual to make out writs for peers,
"who were out of the kingdom. However, he would forth-
with apply to her majefty for directions in this cafe.'
The baron anfwered, He did not doubt, his lordſhip knew,
and would perform the duty of his office. But, as to the
objection of the duke of Cambridge's being out of the
kingdom, he would affure him, his electoral highneſs had
<refolved to come over very ſpeedily, and perhaps might be
• landed before the writ was made out.' Upon this, the
baron taking his leave, the chancellor defired him to remem-
ber, He did not refufe his demand, but only thought it
proper to acquaint the queen with it; which he would do
• immediately." To this the baron faid, He likewife de-
fired his lordſhip to remember, that he applied himſelf to
⚫ him for the duke of Cambridge's writ.' The chancellor
having the fame evening acquainted the queen, and her
chief minifters, with thele paffages, a council was immedi-
ately called; and, having fat from nine o'clock till after
eleven, it was refolved, That the lord chancellor fhould
make out a writ for duke of Cambridge. This tranfaction,
which, the next morning, was firft whispered about in the
court of requeſts, caft a fudden damp on the fpirits of the
open and fecret friends of the pretender. It was then a
queftion, whether baron Schutz had made that demand by
express directions from his mafter, or only by the advice of
fome whig lords. But it is certain, the queen took fo ill
the baron's applying himſelf to the chancellor, before he ac-
quainted her with his orders, that fhe fent the mafter of the
ceremonies to forbid him the court. Two days after, a
meflenger
C
C
OF ENGLAN D.
179
C
6
C
C
<
meffenger was difpatched to Mr Thomas Hailey, at the 1714.
court of Hanover, with inftructions relating to the new
ſcene opened by baron Schutz; who, about a week after
thought fit to return to Hanover, having left with refident
Kreyenberg a letter to Mr Bromley, telling him, That,
having had the misfortune to incur her majefty's difpleafure,
and being thereby rendered incapable of ferving his maf-
ter any longer in this court, he thought it his duty to re-
turn home.' Kreyenberg delivered this letter to Mr fe-
cretary Bromley, who told him, That either be, or any
other minifter, whom the elector of Hanover would pleafe
to fend over, would be well received by her majefty.'
This affair occafioned various conjectures: and, as Schutz's
declaration of the duke of Cambridge's intention fuddenly to
come over alarmed the pretender's adherents, fo it raiſed the
fpirits of the well affected to the houſe of Hanover. What
was the fenfe of the courtiers about the duke of Cambridge's
coming over, and the prefent juncture of affairs, may
be gathered from fome remarkable paffages in a pamphlet
publiſhed about this time with the title of Hannibal not
at our gates; or an inquiry into the grounds of our pre-
fent fears of popery and the pretender;' of which one of
the principal writers of the examiner was fufpected to be
the author. In this pamphlet, it was, among other things,
ironically infinuated, That a certain gentleman was gone
6
to Hanover to bamboozel.' And indeed it was the ge-
neral opinion that Mr Harley, who arrived at Hanover on
the very day baron Schutz demanded the writ, was fent on-
ly to amufe that court with profeffions of the treaſurer's
and all his friends devotion to the electoral family; and (it
is faid) as a proof of that devotion, with the very original
of a letter, the queen had writ with her own hand to the
pretender. But, as the fubject of Mr Harley's laſt ambaſ-
fy is ftill a fecret, no ftrefs can be laid on the various con-
jectures, it occafioned. It may only be obferved, he met
with a cold reception at Hanover, and, making no long
ftay there, came back to London on the 25th of May. It
may likewiſe be remarked, that, upon the fift furprize of
baron Schutz demanding the writ for the duke of Cam-
bridge, the lord Paget, who was named envoy extraordina-
ry to the court of Hanover, he declined that employment
in fo critical a juncture; and the carl of Clarendon was af-
terwards appointed.
The lord-chancellor having on the 13th of April, report-
ed to the houſe of peers the queen's answer to the addrefs
M 2
agamit
180
HISTORY
THE
i
1714.
Refolution
addrefs about
der.
against the pretender, fome expreffions in it did not pleaſe
the whig lords, who moved for another addreſs to return her
for a fecond majefty thanks for her anfwer: and containing the grounds
and reaſons of their former addrefs. The court-lords, fore-
the preten- feeing, that, if fuch an addrefs was carried, the prevailing
Dr. H. L. party might advance to more vigorous refolutions, ftrenu-
ouſly infifted not to enter into ungrateful particulars, but to
confine themſelves to expreffions in the queen's anſwer. An
order for ſuch an addrefs being offered, the duke of Leeds
moved, that at the cloſe of it, where mention was made of
the fears and jealoufies univerfally fpread,' the words [and
induftrioutly] might be added: which, after a debate of
four hours, wherein the biſhop of Sarum made a long ſpeech,
was carried only by the majority of two proxies, the votes
in the houſe being equal, fixty-one on each fide. This
victory of the courtiers was by their antagoniſts treated as
little better than a defeat. And it is certain, that the whig
lords had that day carried their point, had it not been for
the accidental lofs of four votes: the duke of Rutland, be-
ing then at Newmarket with a proxy in his pocket; the
duke of Grafton, being fent for home to his duchefs then
in labour with her firft child; and the earl of Gainſbo-
rough, being taken fo ill that very morning, that he could
not fign his proxy. It was alfo remarkable, that of fixteen
biſhops then in the houfe, two only, Rocheſter and Durham,
voted with the court: that the new bifhops of London and
Briſtol, who were thought blindly devoted to the miniftry,
joined with the whigs; as did alfo the earl of Angleſea ;
which was undoubtedly owing to baron Schutz's demand-
ing a writ for the duke of Cambridge, which vifibly gave.
life and weight to the whig-party. However, the refoluti-
on being laid before the queen, fhe only anſwered, 'She
thanked them for their addrefs; and that ſhe took very
< kindly the affurances they gave.'
Debate a-
bout the
treaties of
Pr. H. L.
On the 14th of April, a motion was made for taking
into confideration the treaties of peace and commerce;
peace and and fome fpeeches were made on both fides, after which
commerce, the debate was adjourned to the 16th. That day the whig
April 14. lords being apprehenfive, that, if any debate aroſe about
the Spaniſh treaty, the other party would propoſe an ad-
drefs to the queen, approving of that treaty, which they
thought abfurd, they therefore agreed to fay nothing againſt
the treaty, that might draw them into a debate. The lord
North and Grey ftood up firft, and faid, If any lord had
any objections againſt the Spaniſh treaty, he was ready to
anſwer
OF
181
ENGLAN D.
anſwer them; and fo, in a challenging manner, went, 1714,
on for fome time. After he had done, there was a filence
<
c
C
6
C
6
for a quarter of an hour; and then the earl of Clarendon
faid, My lords, fince no objection can be raiſed against
the Spanish treaty, we fhould addrefs her majefty to re-
< turn her our moſt humble thanks, for having, by a fafe,
'honourable, and advantageous peace with Spain, delivered
theſe nations from a long, confuming land war; and to
defire her, notwithſtanding any obftructions, that may
'be thrown in her way, to proceed to the fettlement of Eu-
rope, according to the principles laid down in her moſt
gracious fpeech. To this the lord Cowper anfwered,
My lords, this is the moſt barefaced attempt, that ever
was made by this or any other miniftry, to fecure them-
felves, by endeavouring to get the fanction of this house
for themſelves. My lords, I have no objections againſt
theſe treaties. Are the minifters themſelves jealous, that
their actions ftand in need of the fanction of this houfe?
Elfe why this endeavour at an addreſs, to make their act
the act of the houſe? The lord, that ſpoke firſt, acting
like a foldier, would, by fkirmiſhing, have drawn on a
general engagement; but the troops are too well difci-
plined to fall into an ambufcade of his laying. But I
cannot remove my finger from the original of our mif-
fortunes," the ceffation of arms." We were then told,
that, if a blow had been ftruck, it would have ruined the
6 peace. Would to God it had ruined this peace.' To
fupport this, the lord Hallifax faid, 'What was laſt men-
tioned, my lords, makes me rife into the higheft refent-
ment of the vile ufage given my lord duke of Ormond;
a lord, for whom I have the moſt profound refpect. My
lord Ormond went over into Flanders with a true Engliſh
heart, which, my lords, is the beſt in the world, with a
<defire to do his country all the fervice his great ability ca-
pacitated him to do. Therefore, it must be inconceiv-
able, the horrible anguifh it must give his noble and ge-
nerous heart to receive fuch fhocking orders, reftraining
the noble ardour of the foldiers, Aufhed with former vic-
tories, and hopes of ftill greater.' The earl of Notting-
ham faid, 'My lords, I never knew the like addrefs to this
C ever offered at but once, in the cafe of the duke of Suf-
folk, who, in Henry the Seventh's days, had made a
•
<
.
6
treaty, for which he thought it convenient to get the
fanction of this houfe by an addrefs, and got feven lords
made at one time to carry the vote. Yet he was called
M 3
6 to
182
HISTORY
THE
1714.
* Utmost
effort.
+ Certain
ruin.
C
•
<
'
.
6
6
C
*
to an account afterwards for the treaty, notwithſtanding
the address. I fay no more of the man, becauſe he came
to an untimely end.' The bishop of Saliſbury likewife
faid, My lords, I do not underſtand what law or reafon
can be given, to impower one ally to difengage himſelf
from his other allies, unleſs in a proper manner and time
he acquaints them, he has done his ultimus conatus ;
and that to proceed further would be a certa pernicies †.
That we had not come to our ultimus conatus is plain,
fince in the year of the ceflation of arms, and the year
following, wherein nothing was done, we made as great
• efforts as the former, when we did fo many glorious
things; and to proceed further, in all human probability,
it would have been certa pernicies to our then enemy
the French.' The bishop of London, who had been
one of the plenipotentiaries at Utrecht, anfwered, My
Lords, at the ceffation of arms, our cafe was the very
cafe in point, which the bishop of Sarum puts, for we
had then come to our ultimus conatus, and, for aught
we know, to proceed further would have been certa
pernicies,' The earl of Wharton replied, I did deſign
to have faid a great deal to-day, but I find it anticipated
by the lords, who have fpoken before me. Only I muft
fay what I learn by fitting here, that the carrying this
vote is the ultimus conatus of the miniftry; and, if they
• do not carry it, it will be to them certa pernicies. Good,
my lords, gratify my curiofity, to let me fee what certa
pernicies will be. Some other whig lords maintained,
that there was no abfolute neceffity of making a peace, the
nation having given almoft as much money for theſe three
years paft, as during any three years of the war; and, as
for the pretended advantages, gained by the treaty with
Spain, it was plain they were no more than what had been
ftipulated before by the treaty of the year 1667. They
alfo complained of the method, in which the negotiation of
peace had been carried on, and of our giving up the inter-
efts of the emperor, the king of Portugal, and of the Cata-
Anaddrefs of lans. But after a warm debate, that lafted till nine o'clock
thanks for in the evening, it was refolved by a majority of eighty-two
votes against fixty-nine, to prefent an addrefs, to acknow-
ledge her majesty's goodness to her people, in delivering
⚫ them by a fafc, honcurable, and advantageous peace with
France and Spain, from the burden of a confuming land
the peace
voted.
6
6
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น
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C
A
war, unequally carried on, and become, at laſt, impracti-
cable; and to intreat her majefty to purfue fuch meaſures,
as
OF ENGLAN D.
183
C
.
as fhe fhould judge neceffary for compleating the fettle-
ment of Europe on the principles laid down in her maje-
fty's fpeech.' An addreſs to that purpoſe was the next
day agreed to, and fent down to the commons for their con-
C
currence.
(
C
1714.
the commif-
Pr. H. C.
the late trea
ties laid be-
In the mean time, to prepare the commons to give their Report of
approbation to the conduct of the miniftry, in concluding fioners of
their treaties with France and Spain, feveral papers were publick ac-
laid before the houfe: particularly, a report, with obfervati- counts.
ons from the commiffioners of publick accounts, fetting forth April 13.
the abuſes and mifmanagements in cloathing the army, in
difpofing the off-reckonings of regiments, and in other in-
ftances. Then, to give a view how heavy the war was be-
come to England, and how infupportable the continuance.
of it would have proved, there was added a ftate of the
expence of the late war, for twelve years,' which, with
the fupply of 2,776,2281. granted this feffion, amounted to
above fixty-eight millions and a half. But the moſt re- Account of
markable paper of all was an account of the ſtate of the
feveral treaties of peace, between the queen and her allies, fore the
and France and Spain, with the obftructions the had met
with, in her endeavours to make the fame univerfal and
compleat; and of what was done relating to the Catalans.
This account (fuppofed to be drawn up by the lord Bo- Many mem-
lingbroke, in order to remove the objections against the late bers gained
treaties, particularly, the giving up the intereſts of the king
of Portugal and of the Catalans) was fo varniſhed over with
gloffes and popular pretences, that many members, who were
willing to believe what was faid, and had no opportunity
or inclination to be better informed, were perfuaded of the
truth of it, and induced to fide with the miniſtry in all the
debates about the fucceffion and treaties (t).
(t) The ſubſtance of this ac-
count was as follows: the au-
thor began with artfully fug-
gefting, That her majefty
looked upon the peace be-
tween Spain and Portugal to
be as good as concluded:
6
<
that, in the mean while, her
majeſty had taken the moſt ef-
'fectual care of the intereſts of
the king of Portugal, hav-
ing given to that prince, on
On
the 18th of Auguft 1713, of her
' own motion, a new guaranty,
whereby the queen obliged
herſelf to fecure the reftitution,
<
even by force of arms, if that
'fhould become neceffary of any
C
thing, which might be taken
from Portugal, before the con-
• clufion of the peace; to pro-
cure to that crown the colony
of the Sacrament, or, in lieu
thereof, fuch an equivalent, as
MM 4
commons.
the
Pr. H. C.
by it.
184
THE HISTORY
A
1714.
ftant fuccef-
On the 15th of April, a motion was made in a commit-
tee of the whole houfe, by Sir Edward Knatchbull, and the
The prote- queftion put, Whether the proteftant fucceffion in the
houfe of Hanover be in danger under her majefty's go-
out of dan-vernment? Mr fecretary Bromley endeavoured to prove
ger by the
it was not, by repreſenting what the queen had done for
fecuring
fion voted
commons.
Pr. H. C.
<
the king of Portugal himſelf
• fhould be contented to accept :
to obtain fatisfaction to the
Portugueſe, for what they
• claim to be due to them on ac-
• count of their Affiento, or con-
• tract with the crown of Spain;
and to fet on foot, after the
peace, an amicable negotiati-
⚫on, for accommodating the
differences, which had arifen,
<
< concerning ſeveral eſtates fitu-
ated in Portugal, and claimed
• by fubjects of Portugal, refid-
ing in Spain; and concerning
thofe Spaniſh fhips which were
about the beginning of the
war, feized by the Portugueſe.
That on theſe principles the
• earl of Strafford made a fo-
lemn declaration to the mini-
fters of Spain in February laft,
<when he exchanged with them
the inftruments of ratification
• of the treaties between her ma-
.
C
6
jefty and the catholick king.
That the peace, which the
' queen then ratified, did not
difpenfe with the obligations,
which he lay under to the
king of Portugal, as well by
her guaranty lately granted,
as by her defenſive alliance
• made in 1703.' As to the Ca-
talans, it was alledged, That
⚫ the landing of the earl of Pe-
terborough in Catalonia, and
her majefty's entering into
that part of the war, were in
conſequence of the folicitati-
pus of the Catalans, and other
6
<
'
'Spaniards, affected to the houfe
.
:
' of Auftria; and that all the
engagements, which ſhe gave
to theſe people, went no far-
ther than the obtaining from
'king Charles the third a con-
'firmation of their rights and
privileges and although her
'majefty offered, at that time,
to give a guaranty for the
'fame, and to enter into a trea-
ty with that people; yet it did
not appear that fuch a guar-
anty was ever given, or that
fuch a treaty was ever made.
'That notwithſtanding the
treatment the queen had re-
ceived from the emperor, and
'the juft provocation fhe had to
'leave him to flruggle with the
confequences of his own mea-
'fures; yet, at the end of the
€
C
year 1713, her majeſty ſet a
'negotiation on foot for the eva-
'cuation of Catalonia, and the
'neutrality of Italy. That her
majefty's aim, by the first part
' of this treaty, was, to fecure
the return of the emperor, and
and
of the imperial troops;
fince the could no longer fup-
'port the Catalans by her arms,
to provide for them by the
terms of peace.
That her
majefty's aim, in the fecond
part, was to leave as little
room as poſſible for France, or
Spain, to attack his imperial
majefty, when the treaties be-
tween her majefty and the
States-general ſhould be con-
•cluded
C
८
.
८
OF ENGLAN D.
185
1714.
fecuring that fucceffion, and removing the pretender from
Lorrain.' He was anſwered by Mr Walpole, who, with d
great fpirit, fhewed the proteftant fucceffion to be in danger,
not from her majefty, but from the dubious conduct of ſʊme
perfons in high ftations; and therefore infifted, that the
queen might not be mentioned in the queftion. Mr Cam-
pion,
•cluded with the moſt chriſtian
king. That the queen con-
• fidered, that theſe treaties, and
the barrier of the States,
'would fecure the ten provin-
ces of the Netherlands from
<
€
•
any invaſion; and, by this
• convention for a neutrality in
Italy, the emperor's territo-
⚫ries in that country were like-
• wiſe covered; ſo that by the
care, which her majefty took,
fince he was determined to
run the risk of continuing
fingle in the war, he would lie
open in no frontier but that of
the Rhine, where, by the fame
<
<
<
•
<
r
majefty, who faw the advan-
tage which the conduct of
the imperial court gave him,
would hardly be prevailed
upon to grant any thing more
than a general act of oblivion,
and a reftitution of honours
and eftates. That on the 14th
' of March, N. S.
1713, the
'convention for the neutrality
' of Italy, and the evacuation of
Catalonia was executed, and
the article concerning the
privileges of the Catalans left
' undetermined; a right being
' referved to her majefty to in-
'fit, whenever the emperor
'fhould treat of peace, that
thofe privileges fhould be pre-
'ferved to them; and the moſt
'chrian king declaring, that
'he would concur with the
queen to the fame end. That
in May 1713, the treaty of
peace between her majefty
· and the catholick king was
figned provifionally here, and
means, he would be able con-
fiderably to increaſe his
ftrength, as well with draughts
* out of Italy, as with the Ger-
mans, and other forces, which
were to be tranſported from
Spain. That it was no foon-
'er than the end of January
1712-13, that, by the good
offices of her majefty's mini-
fters at Utrecht, the imperialin
• and French plenipotentiaries
were brought to meet upon
this negotiation; and, in the
' mean time her majefty endea-
• voured to induce the catholick
'king to facilitate this matter
•
as much as poffible, and par-
ticularly on the head of the
'privileges of the Catalans, in
• which the minifters of France
' concurred with the greateſt
• earneſtneſs. But that it foon
appeared, that his catholick
July definitively at Utrecht;
whereby there was not only
an abfolute amnefty, with a
'full poffeffion of all their
eftates and honours, but alfo
the privileges of the Caftili-
ans granted to the Catalans ;
which article was, at leaft in
this refpect, confiderable, that
the people of Catalonia are
thereby intitled to hold any
employments in the Welt-
Indies, or to trade dire&ly thi-
ther, in as full and ample a
manner,
186
HISTORY
THE
1714.
pion, having fpoken in vindication of the miniſtry, was
anfwered by the earl of Hertford. The lord Hinchinbroke
expreffed likewife his fears of the proteftant fucceffion be-
ing in danger, from the encouragement, that was given to
the pretender's friends, and particularly in North-Britain,
which he had an opportunity to obferve, when he was there
with the regiment, in which he had a troop. After fome
other ſpeeches, the court-party, being apprehenfive the
queftion would go againft them, endeavoured to drop it, by
moving, that Mr Freeman, chairman of the committee,
ſhould leave the chair. Upon this, Sir Thomas Hanmer,
the ſpeaker, made a memorable fpeech, importing, That
...
5
៩
6
<
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<
he was forry to fee, that endeavours were uſed to wave
that queſtion, and ſtop their mouths; but he was opinion,
this was the proper, and perhaps the only time for patriots
to fpeak. That a great deal of pains were taken to ſcreen
fome perfons; and, in order to that, to make them.
overlook the dangers, that threatened the queen, the na-
tion, and the proteftant fucceffion. That, for his own.
C part,
manner, as the people of Ca-
ftile, from which they were
formerly as much excluded as
any foreign nation whatever.
That the prefervation of their
antient privileges was neither
granted nor directly refufed
by this article; fo that the
queen, either when the peace
'fhould come to be treated be-
<
·
،
tween their imperial and ca-
'tholick majefties, or on another
• favourable occafion, which
might offer itſelf, was at li-
berty to renew her application.
upon this head. That in the
mean time it was certain, that
the refufal of the people of
this principality, as well as
• the iſland of Majorca, to ſub-
mit to the catholick king,
when, in purſuance of the
treaty of neutrality, theſe
• countries were evacuated by
the emperor's forces, and
• their obftinate refiftence, fince
<
८
<
<
'that time, muft, have ren-
'dered the obtaining of their
privileges ftill more difficult
than it was. In fhort, that, if
'the antient privileges of theſe
people, in their full extent,
' were not obtained, it muſt be
' attributed to thofe, who ren-
'dered it impracticable to treat
effectually for them, before
the withdrawing of the queen's
'forces out of Catalonia; and,
• if their condition was become
'fince more deſperate, thoſe
only were to anſwer for it,
'who had encouraged them
not to fubmit a ſecond time to
their prince, with the hopes
' of relief, which they, who
gave fuch hopes, muſt have
'known themſelves in no con-
'dition of making good.' As
to the treaty with France, after
a long detail of the negotiation,
upon the overtures made by
that crown in April 1711, it
،
C
was
OF ENGLAN D.
187
<
part, he had all the honour and refpect imaginable for her
majeſty's minifters; but that he owed ftill more to his
country than to any minifter. That, in this debate, fo
• much had been faid to prove the fucceffion to be in danger,
• and
was alledged, • That by
'the conferences held with
'monfieur Buys here, by the
accounts which came from a-
broad, and by the reprefenta-
tions, which ſome of the allies
• made to her majesty, it ap-
⚫peared undeniably evident, not
•
•
only that the war was become,
⚫ on the prefent foot, abfolutely
impracticable, but alſo that no
• alteration could be attempted,
• either in the method of carry-
ing it on, or in the views to-
wards which it was directed,
• without diffolving at once the
confederacy; and that the dif-
pute was in fact, not whether
a peace, by which Spain and
the Indies would be left to
Philip, fhould be made, but
• who ſhould have the making
of it? That the real annual
<
expence of this kingdom a-
'mounted to more than ſeven
'millions; whereas we were
<
1
not in a condition effectually
• to raiſe near fix millions in the
courſe of a year; from hence
C
·
it follows, that, if this pro-
portion had been continued,
• about nine millions would
have been the true charge of
a fecond year, and about ele-
< ven millions that of a third.
But this was the ftate of our
affairs, whilft the houfe of
Auftria contributed nothing
but one regiment to the war
of Spain, little to that of Ita-
ly, had but few forces, and
thofe intirely unactive on the
Rhine; and fent none into
'the Netherlands, except fuch
<
<
<
as thoſe haraffed provinces
were obliged to maintain, and
were thereby rendered unable
to furniſh troops, or make the
neceffary provifions for the
operations of the army; both
which they might otherwiſe
'have done, and both which
they did in an eminent de-
<
C
C
gree, whilft they were under
'the government of the prefent
'king of Spain That the
States-general bore a confide-
'rable burden; but, as they
•
had, from the year 1708,
'fent no fupplies of any kind,
' either to Portugal, or to Ca-
'talonia, and had drawn them-
• felves almoſt entirely out of
the Spaniſh war; as they fur-
'niſhed, in no proportion, their
quota for the fea-fervice; as
they had reduced their joint
• contributions with the queen,
in all payments, to one third
of the whole; and as they
were very backward in an-
fwering even this ſhare of ex-
'pence; fo the load of Great-
• Britain came, upon their ac-
<
count, as well as upon the
' emperor's, to be vaftly increa-
• fed. As to the rest of the al-
lies, all the troops which they
furniſhed, were maintained by
the queen and the States, ex-
'cept a few, and thofe almoſt
wholly employed in covering
'their own frontiers. That, in
this fituation of affairs, her
majesty declared to the Im-
perialifts, and to the Dutch,
<
'
• that
1714.
188
HISTORY
THE
C
1714. and fo little to make out the contrary, that he could not
but believe the firft.' He concluded with taking notice of
• Sir Patrick Lawlefs being fuffered to come over, and ad-
mitted to an audience of her majefty.' This fpeech had
a great
that if they would not allow
France to have given fuffi-
cient grounds for opening the
• conferences; if they were de-
firous to carry on the war, and
determined to accept of no
terms of peace, inferior to
thofe, which had been for-
• merly demanded and refufed;
'fhe was, on her part, ready to
• concur with them. But that,
C
$
in juſtice to herfelf, and to
them, fhe thought herſelf
bound to let them know; that
⚫ ſhe could no longer bear ſo dif-
'proportionate a burden: That
it was evident, that the com-
mon effort muſt be ftill greater
than it was; or that there
• would remain no profpect of
arriving at the ends which-
<
<
they propoſed; and that for
• theſe reaſons it would be in-
'cumbent upon them, if the
< war continued, to increaſe
their expences, whilft the
queen reduced hers. That
،
C
impoffible to think of conti-
nuing the war another year.
That what from the emperor,
' and what from the princes of
the north, we ſhould be in the
' utmost danger, fhould we at-
tempt to do it; and finally,
that They were traitors to
their country, who were a-
gainſt the peace. That many
inftances might be produced to
'fhew, that there was at leaſt
as little reafon to expect from
'the houſe of Auftria, as from
the States-general, a greater
'effort than they had hitherto
'made. That the imperial mi-
• nifters confeffed that their
mafter expected the queen
• fhould furnish all the money;
and that the utmoſt he could
'do, would be to fend troops
،
at her expence; in the fame
breath avowing the emperor's
' intention to break the negotia.
'tion of peace, and to continue
the war, till Spain was con-
the minifters of the States-quered; the intire monarchy
general were very candid and
open upon this head:
mon-
fieur Buys afferted, that his
mafters had done their utmost
already; and could be oblig.
⚫ed to no more: many of the
others had, on feveral occa-
fions, declared their country
• unable to fupport the charge
they were at another fum-
• mer; and the penſionary him-
felf, in a deputation of the
States, appointed to attend the
• earl of Strafford, in October
1711, declared, that it was
•
C
whereof he expected. That
upon the death of the late
emperor Jofeph, in the begin-
ning of the year 1711, the
eyes, not only of the princes.
of the empire, but of all the
'confederates, and of her ma-
jefly, in the first place, were
'immediately fixed on his bro-
'ther. And this event occa-
'fioned a great alteration in the
'counfels of Europe, and gave
6
a new turn to the fentiments
of many princes. That there
was reafon to believe, that the
• minifters
OF ENGLAND.
189
a great influerice on the unbiaffed and unprejudiced mem-
bers; but nevertheless, after a long and warm debate, it
was refolved, by a majority of two hundred and fifty fix
voices againſt two hundred and eight, Firſt, that it was
• the
• minifters of Vienna them
•
<
felves began to cool in the
project of recovering Spain
and the Indies. They feem-
ed to intend nothing more,
than to get the prefent empe-
ror into Germany, and to fe-
cure the poffeffion of Italy to
⚫ themſelves. That, in Hol-
land, a partition of the Spa-
nifh monarchy feemed almoft
'the general fcheme; and the
'conduct of that republick, as
' well as the confeffion of its
miniſters, fhewed, that the
'project of driving Philip out.
of Spain was looked upon
there to be pure chimera.
That her majefty had been
'acquainted, that fome of the
princes of the empire thought
it a point which deferved the
'moft ferious reflection, whe-
ther they ſhould ſuffer the im-
perial and Spaniſh crowns to
'be united on the fame head
and whether it might not be
proper, in the capitulation of
the empire, to infift on the fe-
parating of them. That other
'members of the grand alli-
ance, and thoſe the only two,
with whom her majefty had
entered into any formal en-
gagement for recovering the
intire Spanish monarchy, re-
preſented upon the fame oc-
calion againt placing this
'crown on the emperor's head.
And it was urged by one of
• the moſt confiderable princes
in the alliance, that the prin-
ciple, upon which he engaged
;
in the war, was now altered ;
' and that inſtead of fighting
'to procure the Spanish mo-
narchy to the houſe of Au-
ftria, his intereft, and even
his fafety, required, that he
'fhould fight to prevent it.
That the cafe therefore ſtood
thus: the prefent emperor,
even after his brother's death,
' and his own election, would
' content himſelf with nothing
lefs, than the whole Spaniſh
monarchy, and infifted, that
• the war fhould be profe-
'cuted in this view. Of the
C
other allies, fome looked on
this profpect as chimerical,
others as dangerous: from
whence it follows, that to
keep the grand alliance uni-
ted in this principle was im-
practicable; and it muſt be
allowed, that to have many
'different interefts, and to have
formed a futem intirely new.
in the midit of the war, was
an experiment too hazardous
'to be attempted. That in this
'fituation of affairs no time
was to be loft. The queen
know very well, that attempts
'to open a treaty with France
1 feparately from her were made
by thofe, who clamoured the
loudeft again her meaſures;
and the prefent emperor had
thought fit, on board one of
her majesty's fhips, and by
'her own minifters, to fend her
a incifage of the fame nature.
'She therefore infifted with the
Imperialifts, and with the
• Dutch,
1714.
190
HISTORY
THE
1714.
C
•
<
the opinion of this committee, that the proteftant fuccef-
fion in the houſe of Hanover was in no danger under her
majefty's government. Secondly, that the houſe be mov-.
ed, for an addreſs to return the thanks of the houſe to her
• majeſty,
Dutch, that fhe would be at
• fome certainty, and that they
• fhould comply with her in the
• meaſures either of war or
peace. The war being be-
come impracticable, as was
• fhewn before, the author of
• the Account relates what ob-
• ftructions there were to the
carrying on a treaty of peace.
That the principal, and only
avowed difpute between her
majeſty and the States at this
time, concerned the method
€
·
of carrying a negotiation for-
• ward. That, the States pre-
tended, that a fair opportu-
6
“
in order to adjuſt a prelimi-
nary
nary treaty, the objection
made by the States returned
upon them. That, in De-
•cember 1711, the States con-
curred with her majefty in
fixing the place and time of
the treaty and, if nothing
had happened to revive the
fpirits of thoſe who were bent
against the peace, it is highly
'probable, by the little time
<
<
<
which it coft to conclude most
of the treaties, after the con-
'ferences that had been inter-
rupted, were refumed at
Utrecht, and the allies pro-
• ceeded in earneſt to negotiate,
that the treaties of all the con-
'federates with France might
' have been finiſhed, before the
ſeaſon of opening the cam-
paign in 1712: But that, be-
6
nity would be given to the
• minifters of France to divide
• the confederates, if they were
fuffered to meet together in a
general congrefs, before the
• effential articles of peace were
fettled by ſpecific prelimina-fore
ries. That the ufe which had
been made of this method on
a former occafion, to evade
• the concluding of any peace,
when, according to the con-
• feffion of the Dutch miniſters
themfelves, the difference, on
which the allies and France
• broke off, did not deferve the
life of a fingle foldier, gave
no great encouragement to
purfue the fame again: be-
• fides
which, as the queen
'would not take upon her to
fettle the interefts of others,
• neither would fhe fuffer others
to determine thoſe of her own
kingdoms and, if all the
C
•
confederates were to affemble,
monfieur Buys returned
into Holland, or the confe-
rences could begin, the efforts
were renewed with the great-
'eſt vigour, to break off the
negotiations; the cry againſt
a peace, by which Spain and
the Indies fhould be left to
any branch of the houfe of
Bourbon, became louder than
ever; and letters and memo-
'rials were not only delivered,
'but printed; and appeals made
against her majefty's proceed-
ings to all Europe, and even
to her own fubject. That,
on thefe encouragements, the
good di pofitions towards
peace received a check; and
fome of those who had owned
• them-
'
OF
191
ENGLAND.
<
majefty, for the inftances fhe had uſed for the removal of 1714.
⚫ the pretender from the dominions of the duke of Lorrain;
and to belecch her to renew her inſtances for his ſpeedy
• removal from thence.' When theſe refolutions were re-
ported
'themſelves against the profe-opening of the conferences in
•cution of the war, to recover
the whole Spanish monarchy
to the houfe of Auftria, join-
ed now, under this very pre-
tence, to break the meaſures
of peace. That the treatment
• which her majefty met with at
this time, will appear in the
cleareft light from this cir-
'cumftance: the minifter of the
'States-general propoſed to her
majefty's fervants, that, con-
fidering the difficulties which
'the queen lay under, how im-
poffible it was to recover by
war, or by treaty, the Spanish
monarchy from king Philip,
<
3
C
January 1711-12, when the
ſtricteft union amongſt them
was more than ever neceffary,
' and when the whole fruit of
'thofe fucceffes, wherewith
• God had bleffed their cauſe,
• in the courſe of the war,
depended on it. That they
• ſent their ſeveral plenipoten-
• tiaries to Utrecht; but it was
<
1
very apparent, that moſt of
them acted on that maxim,
'which one of them profeffed,
that giving into the meaſures
of peace was the fureft way
to continue the war. They
'flattered themſelves, that the
minifters, in con-
junction with thoſe of Britain,
having, two years before, baf-
fled the deſigns of Holland to
• make peace, it would be, at
leaft, as eafy for the minifters
of the empire, in conjunc-
'tion with thofe of the States-
'general, to render fruitlefs,
and how impoffible he appre-imperial
hended it to be for her ma-
jefty to carry on any negotia-
tion, by which this monarchy
fhould be left to Philip, he
was ready (to extricate her
majefty from this dilemma,
' and to ſcreen her miniſters in
'carrying on the work which
•
they had begun) in the name
of his mafters, to prefent a
memorial, by which the point.
of obtaining Spain and the
Indies fhould be given up;
' provided he might be affured,
• that the Dutch fhould have an
⚫ equal fhare with her majeſty's
6
fubjects in the Affiento, which
contract, he fuppofed, it was
ftipulated should be made with
• Great-Britain. That from the
caufes, and by the fteps a-
'bovementioned, was the dif
union among the alliès arri-
ved to the highelt pitch, at the
at this time, all her majeſty's
' endeavours to the fame end.
And that, after this, it would
not appear furprizing, if the
utmoſt dexterity was exerted
to delay the entering on bufi-
nefs at Utrecht, and to wait
•for the events of the cam-
'paign. Concluding, that, from
<
this ftate of the feveral trea-
ties between her majefly, her
allies, and France and Spain,
the reaſonablenefs of all the
ſteps her majefty had taken,
and thofe defigns which had
been purſued at firſt, to wreſt
'the
$
192
THE HISTORY
1714. ported the next day to the houſe, there arofe a debate, in
which Mr Walpole, Mr Lechmere, and general Stanhope
made very strong fpeeches. Mr Walpole, among other
things, applauded the publick fpirit, which the fpeaker had
fhewn the day before; but added, he deſpaired of feeing
truth and juftice prevail, fince, notwithſtanding the weight
of a perfon of his known integrity, merit, and eloquence,
the majority of votes had carried it againſt reafon and ar-
gument, general Stanhope endeavoured to prove the pro-
teftant fucceffion to be in danger by this fingle but forcible.
induction, That as it was univerfally acknowledged, it
had been the French king's intention, fo it was ſtill his
intereft, and he had it now, more than ever, in his pow-
er to reftore the pretender.' However, it was carried
without a diviſion, that the proteftant fucceffion was out of
danger, and that an addrefs of thanks fhould be prefented
to the queen. To which addrefs the anſwered, that the
would renew her inftances for the removal of the pretender
out of Lorrain.
The Com-
with the
<
<
The lords having fent (as hath been faid) a meffage to
mons agree the commons for their concurrence, in an addrefs of thanks
lords in an for the treaties of peace and commerce with France and
addrefs upon Spain, the meffage was taken into confideration on the 228
the treaties of April, and a warm debate arofe. The moſt material
Pr. H. C. objections were raiſed by Mr Ward, an eminent merchant,
of peace.
to the treaties of commerce, in which many effential points,
particularly the duties on feveral forts of goods and mer-
chandize, were left loofe and undetermined, and therefore
liable to arbitrary explanations. Mr Auditor Foley hav-
ing anfwered him, he was replied to by Mr Horace Wal-
pole, who was fupported by Sir Peter King. Mr Aiflabie,
who had, fome time before, left the court-party, and was
therefore removed from his place of one of the lords of the
admiralty, fpoke, on this occafion, with great vehemence.
against the minifters, for having made fo precarious a peace.
They were anfwered by Mr Campion; and the leading
men among the whigs plainly perceiving, from the noife
(
the negotiation out of her
hands, and fince to unravel
I all that had been done, and
to throw us into confufion,
would fufficiently appear.'
This account made a great
impreffion upon the generality
of the members; yet the weight
of it will be easily taken off, by
comparing it with the original
papers relating to thofe tranfac-
tions, which were afterwards.
infested in the report of the com-
mittee of fecrecy.
and
*
}
OF
ENGLAND.
and laughter of their antagoniſts, that they were ſure of a
majority, gave up the conteft, and did not think fit to infift
on a divifion, which would but expofe their weaknefs. So
it was refolved to agree with the lords in the following ad-
drefs, which was prefented, the 24th of April, by both
houſes to the queen:
66
66
Moft gracious Sovereign,
WE your majefty's moſt dutiful and loyal fubjects,
the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons in
"parliament affembled, beg leave to exprefs the juſt ſenſe,
"which we have of your majeſty's goodness to your peo-
ple, in delivering them, by a fafe, honourable and ad-
vantageous peace with France and Spain, from the
"heavy burden of a confuming land war, unequally
"carried on, and become at laft impracticable. And we
"do moſt earnestly intreat your majefty, that you will be
CC
''
.
pleaſed, with the fame fteadiness, notwithſtanding all the
"obftructions, which have been, or may be thrown in
your way, to purfue fuch meaſures, as you fhall judge
neceffary for compleating the fettlement of Europe, on
"the principles laid down by your majefty in your moft
gracious fpeech from the throne."
66
66
To which the queen returned this anſwer:
My lords and gentlemen,
"The ſtate of publick affairs in Europe, as well as the
"neceffities of my own kingdom obliged me to enter into
"a negotiation of peace; and, notwithstanding all ob-
"ftructions and difficulties, I have, by the bleffing of God,
"brought it to a happy conclufion.
"I efteem this addrefs as the united voice of my affec-
❝tionate and loyal fubjects; and I return you all the hearti-
"eft thanks, which can be given by a fovereign, who
"defires nothing more, than to fee her people fafe and
"flouriſhing (u)."
Thus
(u) Though the queen efteem-
ed this addrefs, as the united
voice of her loyal fubjects, yet
the Lords, in their firft addrefs
to king George I. faid, It is
by no means to be imputed to
VOL. VI.
C
the nation in general:' and
the commons, in lefs than a
year afterwards, faid: 'We are
fenfibly touched not only with
the difappointment, but with
the reproach brought upon
N
the
193
1714.
194
HISTORY
THE
1712.
A letter
in favour of
der.
Thus the minifters obtained a parliamentary fan&ion to
their late meaſures, and by that means thought themfelves
fecure from any future enquiries.
In the mean time, notwithstanding the proceedings and
from Lefley addreffes of both houfes againft the pretender, his friends,
the pieten- depending on a fuperior power, ftill endeavoured to pro-
mote his intereſt with great induftry. To this purpoſe, a
letter written by Mr Lefley, a famous nonjuring clergy-
man, from Barleduc in Lorrain, the pretender's refidence,
to a member of parliament in London, was openly handed
about, containing a particular account of the ftate of af
fairs, and what obfervations Mr Lefley had made fince his
coming thither (x).
C
About
that other men were aftoniſhed,
and faid, For what is all this
rage? What has he done?
Was it a crime in him to be
'born? If his birth was fup-
the nation by the unjustifiable
'conclufion of a war, which
was carried on at ſo vaſt an
expence, and was attended
with fuch unparalleled fuc-
ceffes: but, as that dishonourpofititious, it was a good rea-
cannot in juftice be imputed.
to the whole nation, fo we
firmly hope, and believe, that,
through your majeſty's great
wifdom, and the faithful en-
deavours of your commons,
the reputation of theſe your
kingdoms, will, in due time,
be vindicated, and reſtored.'
(
(x) This letter is dated, April
23, 1714, and begins with a
defcription of the pretender's
perſon and character; his grace-
ful mien, magnanimity of fpirit,
devotion free from bigotry, ap-
plication to bufinefs, ready ap-
prehenfion, found judgment, and
affability; ſo that none converf-
ed with him, but what were
charmed with his good ſenſe and
fweetneſs of temper. Then,
coming to the main defign of
this letter, Mr Lefley faid,
That the chevalier expreffed no
refentment at the cruel proceed-
ings of the parliament, to leave
him no place to flee unto. But
C
<
'fon indeed to bar his accef-
fion to the throne, but none
to perfecute him, or fet a
price on his head, as was pro-
poſed in parliament, by a rich
and powerful party, to en-
courage the affaffination of
' him.' He added, • That,
'fince fo much depended on his
birth, why was it not inquired
into? That the prince of
'Orange promifed it in his firft.
declaration, and referred it
to be examined in parlia-
ment: but, this not having
'been done, either by par-
liament, court of judicature,
or any other authority what-
ever, it afforded an infallible
demonftration of the truth of
his birth; fince, by the laws
' of God and man, every child,
'that is owned by both pa-
<
C
<
6
rents, is to be received as
fuch, unless evident proof be
made to the contrary. That
it was very obvious, why for-
mer
OF
195
ENGLAND.
About the fame time, both parties being in fufpenfe, up- 1714.
on the hopes or fears of the coming over of the duke of
Cambridge, the authors of the Examiner plainly enough The queen
difcovered the perplexity fome of the minifters were in at princefs So-
<
"It.
6
C
<
<
writes to the
that phia about
mer parliaments, and in a who banished him, when an
former reign, would not en-
'infant, into a popiſh country,
ter into the examination of
and pafed an act of attainder
his birth, becaufe they knew against him, if he fhould re-
the truth of it, and that no turn to be inftructed in our re-
proof could be made againſt ligion; and had ſent to all
the protestant courts in Europe
not to admit him, or to drive
him thence, if he fhould
'come, and had excluded him
from the crown, without any
referve for him, though he
'fhould become a proteftant;
' and at the fame time declared
openly, they would not be-
lieve him, if he ſhould pro-
lefs it: which things were fo
'urational, that they had no
'tolerable foundation to ftand
upon. That the British na-
But the falfe rumours and
fuppofitions, which were in-
duáriouſly ſpread abroad con-
cerning it, to make way for
the prince of Orange more
eafly to afcend the throne
(having ferved their turn) were
laid afde, like fcaffolding,
' when a houfe is built. That
he hoped it was reſerved for
this parliament, to make a
'full examination, and to fet
the nation at relt upon this
material point; if not, the
birth of this prince was in-
fallibly confirmed. That there
was no danger herein to his
fifler, who now reigned; for
none could doubt but he
would be very well pleafed
to make fuch a compromife
with her, that he might hold
'the crown during her life,
'provided his fucceffion after
'her were fettled; and give all
• the fecurity for this, that could
be defired, even to put his
perfon into her hands, if the
thought fit. And that would
unite both their intercfts, and
ender her reign more fecule,
' and comfortable to her, than
it was or could otherwife be.
<
،
the duke of
Cambridge's
coming over.
ton had no reafon to be a-
'fraid of the chevalier's introdu-
cing popery and flavery, fince
he had neither foreign force
nor alliances; and, if he were
upon the throne, he must be
perfectly in the hands of his
'people That, as to religion,
he had promiſed to hear, in
'due time and place, what
'could be faid on that fub-
'ject; which was all that could
be expected. But that, what-
ever fhould be the iffue of his
hearing, as to his own pri-
vate judgment, the church of
England, might be no leſs fe-
cure; for it was always his
'fixed perfuafion, that the fecu-
That, if we were afraid of arity of the crown and church
popith fucceffor, why did we
make the next fucceffor a pa-
pilt? For it was they did it,
of England, was, next under
God, in their mutual fupport
of each other. And becauſe
• the
N 2
196
THE HISTORY
1714.
* See Exa-
miner of
April 23,
1714.
that juncture*. On the other hand, Mr Toland published
the reafons and neceffity of the duke of Cambridge's
coming and refiding in Great-Britain; the last of which
reaſons was,
That the prince's coming over would bring
to the teſt ſome great perfons, who were reported to act
on perfidious and dangerous principles to the Hanover
family.' But neither the queen nor her minifters were
willing to put things upon that iffue; for, upon a report,
that the princeſs Sophia intended to defire the queen's ap-
probation for the duke of Cambridge's coming into Eng-
land, her majeſty, with the advice of her cabinet council,
wrote to that princefs the following letter:
the greateſt hurt any king of
• England can do to the church
of England is puting bad bi-
fhors upon her; this being a
corrupting the fountain; there-
fore, to avoid all jealoufies,
he was willing, during his
reign, fo far to wave his pre-
rogative in the nomination of
bishops, deans, and other ec-
• clefiaftical preferments in the
gift of the crown, that five
bishops fhould be appointed,
of which the archbishop of
Canterbury, for the time be-
ing, always to be one; who,
upon any vacancy might name
three perfons to him, of whom
he would chooſe one. And
the church of England, as by
law established, fhould be fe-
'cured in the fole poffeffion,
<
<
<
not only of all the churches,
but of the univerſities, and
' even ſchools And, as a fur-
'ther mark of his favour, he
remitted, during his time, the
' tenths and firſt fruits payable
by the bishops and clergy to
the crown. That he had in-
• formed himſelf of paſt miſ-
carriages, and knew well the
• difference between the office
of a king and a miſionary.
• That therefore he would con-
cern himſelf with no man's
C
<
C
religion, but was refolved to
• defend that, which was legal-
ly eſtabliſhed, and whoſe prin-
ciples are true to monarchy
and fafe for government.
That, for the fatisfaction of
the church of England, and
• his own reſtoration, he thought
himſelf obliged to do every
thing that was confiftent with
• confcience and honour. That,
as an inftance of his good in.
tentions, he had fent for Mr
Lefley to officiate to the pro-
• teftants in his family; had
'cauſed a room to be fitted up
' in his own houſe for a chapel
for them; and had taken out
of their congregation his pre-
fent fecretary of state and
'chief miniſter.' And, in or-
der to prejudice the people
against the proteftant fucceffion,
Mr Lefley fubjoined, That
"the avowed doctrine of the il-
• luftrious houfe of Hanover was
• confubftantiation; which was
C
as erroneous, and as contrary to
'the doctrine of the church of
England, as tranſubſtantiation;
and yet no proviſion had been
made, that, when they ſhould
'come into Great Britain, they
'fhould be of the communion
of the church of England.'
Madam,
OF ENGLAND.
197
،
.
C
<
<
<
C
<
C
<
Madam, fifter, aunt,
Since the right of fucceffion to my kingdoms has been
declared to belong to you and your family, there have al-
ways been difaffected per fons, who, by particular views.
of their own intereft, have entered into meaſures to fix a
prince of your blood in my dominions, even whilft I am
yet living. I never thought, till now, that this project
would have gone fo far, as to have made the leaft imprcf-
fion on your mind. But, as I have lately perceived by
publick rumours, which are induftriouſly ſpread, that your
electoral highnefs is come into this fentiment, it is of
importance, with refpect to the fucceffion of your family,
that I fhould tell you fuch a proceeding will infallibly
draw along with it ſome confequences, that will be dan-
gerous to that fucceffion itſelf, which is not fecure any
other ways, than as the prince, who actually wears the
crown, maintains her authority and prerogative. There
are here (ſuch are our misfortunes) a great many people,
that are feditiouſly diſpoſed. So I leave you to judge
what tumults they may be able to raiſe, if they fhould
have a pretext to begin a commotion.
I perfuade my-
felf, therefore, you will never confent, that the leaft
thing fhould be done, that may difturb the repofe of me
or my fubje&is,
<
Open yourſelf to me with the fame freedom I do to
you, and propofe whatever you think may contribute to
the fecurity of the fucceffion, I will come into it with
zeal, provided that it do not derogate from my dignity,
which I am refolved to maintain. I am, with a great
deal of affection, &c.'
St James's, May 19, 1714,
Superfcribed,
To my fifter and aunt, electress dowager of Brunf
wick and Lunenburg.
The queen, at the fame time, wrote a letter to the duke
of Cambridge to this effect:
6
Coufin,
An accident, which has happened in my lord Paget's
family, having hindered him from fetting forward fo loon
N 3
પ ૩૭
1714.
198
THE HISTORY
1714.
6
as he thought to have done, I cannot defer any longer
letting you know my thoughts with refpect to the defign
you have of coming into my kingdoms. As the opening
of this matter ought to have been first to me; fo I cx-
pected you would not have given ear to it, without
knowing my thoughts about it. However, this is what
I owe to my own dignity, the friendfhip I have for you,
• and the electoral houfe, to which you belong; and the
• true defire I have, that it may fucceed to my kingdoms:
and this requires of me, that I ſhould tell you, that no-
thing can be more dangerous to the tranquility of my
dominions, and the right of fucceffion in your line, and
confequently more difagreeable to me, than fuch a pro-
ceeding at this juncture.'
.
>
<
I am,
With a great deal of friendſhip,
St James's, May 19, 1714.
Your very affectionate coufin,
ANNE R.
The lord-treafurer, who began now to be fenfible of the
afcendant lord Bolingbroke had over him at court, thought
it his beſt way to fecure a retreat behind the proteftant fuc-
ceffion, which the other was undermining with more pre-
cipitation than before. For, the queen having never reco-
vered her fit at Chriftmas, it was thought proper to haften
the meaſures that were taken to defeat the proteſtant ſucceſ
fion. The treaſurer, who was no ftranger to thefe pro-
ceedings, though he was not concerned in them, wrote al-
fo a letter to the clector of Brunſwick:
G
<
.
May it pleafe your royal highneſs,
Though I expect Mr Harley every moment in return
from your court, and thereby fhall have another opportu-
nity of doing myfelf the honour to prefent your royak
highness with my most humble duty, and the affurance of
my utmoſt ſervice; yet I cannot flip this occaſion of the
queen's meffenger attending your royal highnefs with her
majefty's letter, to lay myfelf at your feet. I have no
enemy, that knows me, who is not just enough to allow
ine, to be inviolably devoted to your fucceffion, nothing
coming
•
OF
199
ENGLAND.
C
coming in competition with that, becauſe I know I pleaſe
the queen, when I am zealous for the fervice of your fe-
rene houſe. I hope, therefore, I fhall find credit with
your royal highnefs, when I humbly lay my fincere opi-
nion before you. The queen is moft heartily for your
• fucceffion. If there be any thing, which may render it
more fecure, which is confiftent with her majeſty's fafety,
it will be accompliſhed. It is not the eager defires of
fome, nor what flows from the advice of others, whoſe
diſcontents perhaps animate their zeal, can balance the
fecurity you have in the queen's friendship, and the duti-
ful affection of all her faithful fubjects; for, as I am fure
your royal highness's great wifdom would not chufe to
rule by a party, fo you will not let their narrow mea-
fures be the ſtandard of your government. I doubt not,
but the accident, that happened about the writ, may be
improved, to increafe the moft perfect friendship between
the queen and your moft ferene family. I will ftudy to
do every thing to demonftrate the profound veneration
and refpect, wherewith I am, &c.
C
<
•
OXFORD.'
There was another letter from the queen to the elector
of Brunswick, but written in a ftyle fo unbecoming the one
and the other, that the perfons, to whom theſe letters were
tranfmitted, did not think fit to give copies of it; but up-
on a report induftriously fpread by the pretender's agents,
that the duke of Cambridge might have come over, if the
elector his father would have let him, but, that the elector
did not think the crown of Great-Britain worth accepting:
the copies of the other three letters were difperfed in print.
This gave fo great offence to the minifters, that the pub-
lifher, and the perfon who fent him the letters, were feized
by lord Bolingbroke's warrant, and bound over to appear
at the queen's-bench.
1714.
princels So-
The princefs Sophia, now in the 84th year of her age, Death of the
was much affected by theſe letters, and on the 28th of May, phia
the day after the receipt, being feized as fhe was walking May 28.
in the gardens at Herenhaufen with a fit of the apoplexy,
died in the arms of the electoral princefs (the late queen
Caroline) and the counteſs of Pickenburg, who were talk-
ing with her, before any other perfon could come to her
affiftance. This princefs was fourth and youngest daughter Her pedigree
of Frederick, king of Bohemia, and Elizabeth of Eng- and ca, acter.
land, only daughter of king James the fut; and was born
N 4
at
}
THE HISTORY
200
1714. at the Hague, the 3d of October, 1630: fo fhe was
eighty-three years, eight months, and five days old at her
death. In the year 1658, fhe was married to Erneft Au-
guftus, duke of Brunfwick and Lunenburg, (fourth and
youngest fon to George duke of Lunenburg-Zell) who, in
1662, fucceeded count Francis of Wertenberg, in the bi-
fhoprick of Ofnaburg: in 1680, on the death of his eideft
brother, John Frederick duke of Hanover, Erneſt Auguftus
fucceeded him alfo in that dignity; and, in the year 1692,
he received the inveftiture of the electoral dignity of Brunf-
wick Lunenburg. This prince died on the 23d of Janu-
ary 1698, having had, by the princefs Sophia, fix fons,
George Lewis, Frederick Auguftus, Maximilian William,
Charles Philip, Chriftian, and Erneft Auguftus, and one
daughter, Sophia Dorothy, who in the year 1684, be-
came the ſecond wife of Frederick the firſt king of Pruffia.
The princefs Sophia had a very ftrong healthy conftitution,
and was endowed with great abilities natural and aequired.
She was perfect miſtreſs of the Low-Dutch, German, Eng-
lifh, French, and Italian languages, and had a genious
equally turned for converfation or bufinefs, which rendered
her not only the ornament and delight of her court, but
qualified her to manage and ſupport the highest interefts.
The greatnefs of her foul bore a proportion to her birth, and
the ſtation which the filled; but with all was tempered
with fo much fweetneſs and affability, that the duty of
thoſe below her became their pleaſure. No one ever gave
liberties with a better choice, or could act without referve
to greater advantage. She behaved in both parts to admi-
ration, as a daughter of England, and as a mother of Ger-
many. Her wit was fpritely, curious, and furprizing; her
judgment folid and penetrating, founded upon the nobleft
maxims from reading and ſtudy, explained by obfervation
and experience. Nothing could exceed the beauties and
advantages of her converfation, but her letters; both were
eafy, entertaining, and ufeful. She had a fund of happi-
nefs within herſelf which gave a relish to her retirements:
but her care in government and ceconomy fhewed the juft
fenſe ſhe had for being born for the good of others. Her
piety was exemplary, without affectation; her fentiments
of religion juſt and noble, neither perplexed with doubts,
nor inflaved by fuperftition. The neighbourhood of the
jefuits ferved only to confirm her in the opinion ſhe had
of the impoſtures and corruptions of their church and or-
der. But, though bred up in the reformed religion, ac-
cording
OF
201
ENGLAND.
cording to the Calvinian difcipline, yet the ever had a
great eſteem for the liturgy and conftitution of the church
of England. She hated every thing that was four, mali-
cious, or ill-natured to fuch a degree, that none could be
more fedulous to oppofe, or more active to fupprefs, every
little quarrel and party, that grew up, where he had any
influence.
Baron Bothmar arrived at London on the 25th of June,
with the character of envoy extraordinary from the elector
of Hanover, and, in a private audience of the queen, notifi-
ed the death of the princeſs Sophia; upon which, an order
was made in council for mourning, and for praying for the
elector of Brunfwick, in the liturgy of the church of Eng-
land.
1714.
In the confultation held by the miniftry, after the demand
of the duke of Cambridge's writ, wherein it was debated,
Whether the queen fhould invite over that duke? The
lord-treasurer, the lord-chancellor, the lord privy-feal, and
another privy-counfellor, were for it; but the lord Boling-
broke having oppofed it, and carried the negative, refolved
to puſh his point, and to uſe all poffible means to defeat
the proteftant fucceffion. With that view he is faid to have
broke all meaſures with the treafurer, and united himfelf
more cloſely with the high-church party. As the farther The fchifm
difcouragement and even ruin of the diffenters was thought bill moved
neceflary for accompliſhing this fcheme, it was begun with
the famous fchifm-bill. A motion for it, on the 12th of
May, by Sir William Wyndham, was introduced, by read-
ing the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th fections of the act of
uniformity,' paffed after the reſtoration, by which, above
two thouſand minifters were turned out of their livings. The
motion being approved, a bill was ordered to be brought
in, to prevent the growth of fchifm, and for the further
fecurity of the church of England as by law establiſhed
(x). On the other hand, in order to ftrengthen the
jacobite
(x) Sir William Wyndham,
Mr Cholmondley, Sir John
Stonehouſe, Sir Arthur Kay,
Mr Campion, Mr Gore, Mr
Aldworth, Mr Secretary Brom-
ley, lord Downe, Mr Finch,
Mr Windfor, Sir William Whit-
locke, and Dr Pake, were or-
dered to prepare and bring in
the bill Whilft this was doing.
was refolved to addrefs the
queen for a copy of the inftruc-
Lions given to the earl of Straf-
ford, with relation to the de-
clarations made by him on the
part of her majesty, to the mi-
nifters of the feveral allies who
had any troops in her majesty's
Fay
for.
Pr. H. C.
202
HISTORY
THE
epifcopal re-
venues in
Scotland is
dropped.
May 22.
bill, which
paffed.
Pr. H. C.
<
1714. jacobite party in Scotland, a motion was made for a bill,
to inveft the Scots biſhops revenues and rears in the queen,
A bill, for to be applied to the ſupport of the epitomi clergy. To
refuming the
render this bill ineffectual, it was propofed by the whigs,
that theſe revenues fhould be applied to fuch only of the
epifcopal clergy, as ſhould pray for the queen and the prin-
cefs Sophia in exprefs words., As the court-party could not
well oppofe this addition, and as the refuming of the epif-
copal revenues (which had been forfeited at the revolution,
and given to the minifters of the kirk of Scotland) would
have been attended with great difficulties, the bill was fuf-
Debate about fered to drop. It was, however, refolved to finish the
the fchifm- fchifm-bill. When this bill was engroffed and read the
third time in order to be paffed, there arofe a long and
warm debate. Mr Hampden, Mr Robert Walpole, ge-
neral Stanhope, Mr Lechmere, Sir Jofeph Jekyll, and Sir
Peter King, exerted their eloquence in oppofing it, repre-
fenting in general, That it looked more like a decree of
Julian the apoftate, than a law enacted by a proteftant.
parliament, fince it tended to raife as great a perfecution
against our proteftant brethren, as either the primitive.
• chriftians ever fuffered from the heathen emperors, or the
• proteftants from popery and the inquifition.' Mr Stan-
hope fhewed, in particular, the ill confequences of this law,
as it would of courfe occafion foreign education; which,
on the one hand, would drain the kingdom of great fums
of money; and, which was ſtill worſe, fill the tender minds
of young men with prejudices againſt their own country.
He illuftrated and ftrengthened his argument by the exam-
ple of the Engliſh popiſh feminaries abroad, which, he ſaid,
were fo pernicious to Great-Britain, that, inſtead of mak-
ing new laws to encourage foreign education, he could
with thoſe already in force against papifts were mitigated;
and that they ſhould be allowed a certain number of ſchools.
The chief advocates for the bill were Mr Secretary Brom-
Jey, Sir William Wyndham, Mr Hungerford, and Mr
Collier. Mr Bromely maintained, The diffenters were
However, if the
would have this
6
6
•
equally dangerous to church and ftate.
members, who ſpoke in their behalf,
pay before the ceffation of arms.
This addrefs was voted with in-
tention to pepare the way for
refufing to pay the arrears of
65,0221. 85. 8d. due to the
eleor of Hanover's troops,
which had been lately demand-
ed by the electoral highneſs's
minifter.
bill
OF
203
ENGLAND.
bill drop, he would readily confent to it, provided another
bill were brought in, to incapacitate them either to fet in
• that houſe, or to vote in elections of members of parlia-
<ment.' Mr Walpole anfwered this fpeech with great
force; after which Mr Hungerford recapitulated, and, in
his ufual ludicrous way, faintly laboured to confute what
had been offered by the whig-members.
Mr Collier, who brought up the rear, did ftill worſe.
This man, formerly an attorney, had, by a wife, got the
directorship of the play-houfe in Drury-lane; and after-
wards, by his intruding affurance, the acquaintance and in-
timacy of the lord Bolingbroke. At whofe earneſt requeſt,
Mr Collier, though fcarce worth thirty pounds a year, was,
by the duke of Beaufort's intereft, brought into the houſe of
commons, where he took this folemn occafion to fingalize
his zeal for the cauſe he was to ferve. With this intention
he feconded Mr Hungerford, and, in order to expofe the
diffenters, he defired leave to read to the houſe a collec-
tion of abfurdities and impious expreffions, which he pre-
tended to have taken from their writings. After reading
part of this impertinent legend, he fell on a paffage extract-
ed from the nonfenfical rhapſodies of the late Mr Hicker-
inghill, minifter at Colcheſter, wherein Mr Collier faid,
he averred, That our bleffed Saviour was a ſon of a
C
•
6 W----
--.' At theſe fhocking expreffions, Mr Bromley
interupted him, faying, Such impious words ought not
to be repeated in that affembly.' On the other hand,
fome other members obferved, that Mr Hickeringhill was
not a diffenting teacher, but a minifter of the church of
England: and that he was known to be crack· brained;
and therefore his extravagancies and blafphemies proved no-
thing against any fet of men, much lefs against the diffenters.
Mr Lechmere fpoke against the bill with great vehemence;
and, among other things, took notice, That the indul-
gence granted to proteftant diffenters, fince the revolution,
had been fo far from hurting the church, that it had
• rather inlarged its pale; and it was notorious, that ſome
perfons [meaning the treafurer, the chancellor, and the
lord Bolingbroke] who had been bied among fchifmatics,
< were, or, at leaft pretended to be, the ftrongeſt ſupports
of the eſtabliſhed church.' Several other ſpeeches were
made for and against the bill; which was carried by a ma-
jority of two hundred and thirty-feven voices against one
hundred and twenty-fix; and Sir William Wyndham,
chancellor of the exchequer, who brought it into the houſe,
'
and
1714.
204
HISTORY
THE
1714.
Ataff.
and promoted it with all his power, was ordered to carry it
to the lords.
The publick were divided in their opinions whether the
* Hift. of lord-treafurer was for or againſt this bill. It is faid that
the white- the fchifm-bill was caftrated by him, and that he took out
the moſt malicious and perfecuting part, which had been
Formed by Atterbury, Bolingbroke, and Wyndham. How-
ever this be, the lord Harley, his fon, Mr Thomas Harley
his coufin (lately returned from Hanover) and all his friends,
except his brother the auditor, voted for the bill.
When the bill was read the first time in the houſe of
peers, the lord Bolingbroke faid, It was a bill of the laſt
importance, fince it concerned the fecurity of the church
of England, the beft and firmeft fupport of the monar-
chy; both which all good men, in particular, that
auguft affembly, who derive their luftre from, and are near-
eft the throne, ought to have moſt at heart: and there-
fore, he moved, that it fhould be read a fecond time.'
The lord Cowper faid, No man was more ready than
himself to do every thing, that ſhould appear neceffary to
• attain the feeming intention of this bill, the preventing
the growth of fchifm, and the further fecuring the church
of England. But the enacting part would be ſo far from
anfwering the title of it, that, in his opinion, it would
have a quite contrary effect, and prove equally pernicious
< to church and ſtate.' He ſpoke on thefe two heads
near half an hour, and, among other things, repreſented,
• That inſtead of preventing fchifm, and inlarging the pale
• of the church, this bill tended to introduce ignorance,
• and its infeparable attendants, fuperftition and irreligion.
To this purpoſe he took notice, That, in many country
<
<
•
C
•
c
towns, reading, writing, and grammar- fchools were chiefly
fupported by the diffenters; not only for the inftruction
and benefit of their own children, but likewife of thoſe
of poor churchmen; fo that the fuppreffing of thofe fchools
would, in fome places, fupprefs the reading the holy
fcriptures. On the other hand, he obferved, That this
bill ftruck at the antient rights and prerogative of the
houfe of peers; which by the conftitution, is the fupreme
court of judicature, and the dernier refort in all caufes;
whereas, by this bill, the juftices of the peace were im-
powered finally to hear and determine the offences againſt
the fame. My lords, added he, I would rather inlarge,
than abridge the power of juftices of the peace, were it
but to encourage gentlemen to take upon them an of
• ficé
OF ENGLAND.
205
•fice fo troubleſome, and at the ſame time fo unprofitable, 1714.
unless it be perhaps in the county of Middleſex. But,
< my lords, I ſhall never confent to give up the birth-right
and antient privileges of this auguft affembly, of which
I have the honour to be a member.'
C
C
The earl of Wharton, in his ironical way, faid, He was
agreeably furpriſed to fee, that fome men of pleaſure
were, on a fudden, become fo religious, as to fet up for
patrons of the church. But he could not but wonder,
that perfons who had been educated in diffenting acade-
mies, whom he could point at, and whofe tutors he could
name, fhould appear the moft forward in fuppreffing
• them.
That this was but an indifferent return for the
benefit the publick had received from thofe fchools, which
had bred thofe great men, who had made fo glorious a
C peace, and treaties that executed themſelves; who had
• obtained fo great advantages for our commerce, and who
• had paid the publick debts, without any further charge to
• the nation. So that he could fee no reaſon there was to
fupprefs thofe academies, unlefs it were an apprehenfion,
that they might ftill produce greater genius's, that fhould
drown the merits and abilities of thofe great men. My
• lords, continued he, to be ferious, it is no lefs melancholy
than furprifing, that, at a time, when the court of France
C profecutes the defign they have long fince laid to exti-
pate our holy religion; when, not only fecret practices.
are ufed to impofe a popifh pretender on thefe realms,
but men publickly inlifted for his fervice; it is melan-
• choly and furprizing, I ſay, that, at this very time, a bill
'fhould be brought in, which cannot but tend to divide
proteftants; and confequently to weaken their intereft,
• and haften their ruin. But then the wonder will ceaſe, if
we confider what madmen were the contrivers and pro-
moters of this bill.' He excepted, in particular, againſt
the word fchifm, with which the frontifpiece of the bill was
fet off, and faid, It is fomewhat ftrange, they fhould call
• fchifm in England what is the eſtabliſhed religion in Scot-
land; and therefore, if the lords, who reprefented the no-
bility of that part of Great-Britain, were for this bill, he
hoped, that, in order to be even with us, and confiftent
• with themſelves, they would move for the bringing in
another bill, to prevent the growth of fchifm in their own
country.' He faid alfo, on another occafion (for he ſpoke
more than once) That both in this bill, and in the fpeeches
• of thoſe, who declared for it, feveral laws were recited
• and
<
C
'
C
<
206
THE HISTORY
1714.
and alledged; but that there was a law, that had not yet
been mentioned. I expected, added he, that venerable
bench [turning to the bishops] would have put us in mind
cf it; but fince they are pleafed to be filent in this debate,
I will myſelf tell them, that it is the law of the gospel,
• To do unto others as we would be done unto.'
The earls of Abingdon and Anglefea fpoke afterwards.
for the bill; and Anglefea faid, among other things,
That the diffenters were equally dangerous both to church
and ftate: that they were irreconcilable enemies to the
eftablished church, which they had fufficiently manifefted
in the late king James the fecond's reign, when, in
order to obtain a toleration, they joined themfelves with
the papifts; and that they had rendered themfelves un-
worthy of the indulgence the church of England granted
them at the revolution, by endeavouring to engrofs the
education of youth; for which purpoſe they had fet up
• fchools and academies in moft cities and towns in the
kingdom, to the great detriment of the univerfities, and
danger of the eftablifhed church.'
C
<
6
<
C
•
The lord Halifax fpoke on the other fide, and urged,
That the very bringing in of this bill was injurious to
the queen; and he could not believe, her majefty would
ever give her royal affent to fuch a law, after the folemn
• declaration fhe had made from the throne, that he would
inviolably maintain the toleration, which this bill vifibly
• ftruck at. That her majefty made it the glory of her
reign to follow the fteps of queen Elizabeth, who had
not only entertained and protected the reformed Wal-
loons, who took fanctuary in her dominions from the
Spanish inquifition, but had likewife allowed them the
publick exercile of their religion, and caufed a clauſe in
their favour to be inferted in the act of uniformity. That,
by that means, that wife and glorious queen had vaftly
increafed the wealth of the realm, the Walloons having
• fettled here the woollen manufactures, which are the beſt
branch of the national trade. That the protection and
encouragement the late king William and queen Mary,
• and her prefent majefty, had given to the French refu-
gees, had proved no lefs advantageous to Great-Britain.:
⚫ and therefore it would be a piece of barbarity to make an
• act, which ſhould debar many French proteftants of means
• of fubfifting, either by keeping publick ſchools, or teaching
in private families; efpecially confidering their late hard
ufage, the government not having, for above three years.
་
C
C
past,
OF ENGLAND.
207
6
'
paſt, paid them any part of the fifteen thousand pounds
per ann. allowed by parliament in the civil lift, towards
the maintenance of their minifters and poor.' He con-
cluded with taking notice of the fatal confequences of
perfecuting the diffenters in king Charles the Firft's reign,
⚫ which kindled a furious and unnatural civil war, and ended
in the total overthrow of Church and ſtate, and in the
king's parricide.'
.
The lord Townfend fpoke on the fame fide, and, among
other arguments, reprefented the ill effects of perfecution in
general. He faid, He had lived a long time in Holland,
and had obferved, that the wealth and ftrength of that
great and powerful commonwealth lay in the number of
• its inhabitants: and at the fame time he was perfuaded,
that, if the States fhould cauſe the ſchools of any one fect,
tolerated in the united provinces, to be fhut up, they would
• foon be as thin of people as Sweden or Spain, whereas they
• now fwarm with inhabitants.'
C
C
C
.
•
The lord North and Grey, who fpoke for the bill, main-
tained the general affertion of his party, That the church
was in danger from the growth of fchifmatics.' The earl
of Nottingham faid, He owned he had formerly been of
opinion, that the occaſional conformity of diffenters was
dangerous to the eſtabliſhed church; and therefore he
ever promoted the bill to prevent it. But that, the church
having now that fecurity, he believed her fafe and out of
danger; and therefore he thought himself in confcience
obliged to oppofe fo barbarous a law as this, which tend-
ed to deprive parents of the natural right of educating
⚫ their own children. He added, He had obferved both
• from hiſtory and his own experience, that all the perfe-
cutions, that had been railed in England againſt ſchiſma-
ties, originally proceeded from, and tended to favouring
popery.' He particularly excepted against that part of the
bili, which enacts, That any perfon, who fhould keep
any publick or private fchool, or inftruct any youth as
tutor, fhould have a licence of the refpective archbishop or
bifhop of the place, &c. My lords, faid he, I have many
children; and I know not whether God almighty will
youchfafe to let me live, to give them the education I
could wish they had. Therefore, my lords, I own, I
• tremble, when I think, that a certain divine, who is
hardly fufpected of being a chriſtian [meaning Dr Swift]
is in a fair way of being a bishop; and may one day give
licences to thoſe, who fhall be intrufted with the inftruc-
•
C
C
• tion'
1714.
208
HISTORY
THE
1714.
<
tion of youth.' Some other lords made fpeeches for and
againſt the bill. But the lord treaſurer contented himself
with faying, That he had not yet confidered of it; but,
when he had, he would vote according as it ſhould appear
to him, to be either for the good or detriment of his coun-
And therefore he was for reading the bill a fecond
time;' which was agreed to without dividing, and put off
to the 7th of June.
• try.
After this, the prefbyterians petitioned that they might
be heard by their counſel against the bill; but their petition
was rejected by a majority of feventy-two voices againſt
fixty-fix. It was obferved on this occafion, earl Powlet,
the lord Foley, the lord Manfel, and fome other friends of
the lord-treasurer, voted with the whig lords, for allowing
the petition; and the lord- treaſurer himſelf was out of the
houſe, that he might not be obliged to declare on either
fide; which ſtrengthened their opinion who thought the bill
levelled againſt him, with a view, that if he voted for it, he
would lofe the diffenters and the whigs entirely; if he voted
against it, he would lofe the queen.
On the day appointed, the lords read the fchiſm bill a
fecond time, and after a fhort debate, agreed, that a claufe
ſhould be inferted in the bill in favour of the French prote-
ftant churches. Two days after, in a committee of the
whole houfe, of which the archbishop of York was chair-
man, the bill was examined paragraph by paragraph, from
one in the afternoon till eight in the evening. The biſhop
of London having fuggefted, That the diffenters had made
this bill neceffary, by their endeavours to propagate their
fchifm, and to draw the children of churchmen to their
• fchools and academies;' the lord Halifax anſwered,
That what they did was with the knowledge and confent of
the parents, who, in many places, had not fufficient
means to educate their own children:' for which reaſon
he moved, That, fince this bill was occafioned, as was
fuggefted, by the diffenters endeavouring to engrofs the edu-
⚫cation, of the youth of both perfuafions, they might be
• allowed ſchools to inftru&t their own children.' This
motion, being formed into a queftion, was debated near
three hours. The lords Cowper and Halifax, the earl of
Sunderland, and fome other peers, made feveral fpeeches
for the affirmative. But the lord Bolingbroke, the earl of
Abingdon, and the lord chancellor, infifted on the nega-
tive, which was at laft carried by fixty-two votes againſt
forty-eight. After this it was moved, that diffenteis might,
،
'
at
OF EN G'LAN D.
209
at leaft, be fuffered to have fchool-miftreffes to teach their
children to read, which, after a debate of about half an
hour, was carried without dividing; as was alſo a clauſe,
<
That this act ſhould not extend to any perfon, who ſhould
inftruct youth in reading, writing, arithmetick, or any
< part of mathematical learning, that relates to navigation,
or any mechanical art only.' Then was examined that
part of the bill, whereby the conviction of offenders againſt
this act was left to the juftices of the peace; and, after a
warm debate, it was carried by a majority of fifty-nine votes
against fifty-four, that the conviction fhould be in the or-
dinary courfe of juftice, upon an information, prefent-
ment, or indictment, in any of her majefty's courts of re-
cord at Westminster, or at the affizes, or before juftices
of Oyer and Terminer.' The court-party, finding, by
this laſt divifion, that they loft confiderable ground, and
fearing, other amendments would be made, which would
render the bill altogether uſeleſs, moved, that the chair-
men leave the chair, in order to adjourn. But though the
contrary party at firft oppofed it, yet, after fome debate,
upon the penalties to be inflicted on the offenders, both par-
ties being equally tired, the houſe adjourned to the next
day.
6
Accordingly, on the 10th of June, the lords refumed the
debate about the penalties, and fixed the fame to three
months impriſonment; after which it was moved and
agreed, That perfons aggrieved might appeal from ecclefi-
aftical cenfures, as in cafes of ordinary jurifdiction.' A
clauſe was afterwards propoſed and carried to exempt from
the penalties of this act any tutor, who fhall be employed
by any nobleman or noblewoman, to teach in their families,
provided fuch tutor do, in every refpect, qualify himſelf ac-
cording to this act, except only in that of taking a licence
from the bifhop. The earl of Angleſea moved, that a claufe
might be inferted, to extend this act to Ireland: which after
fome debate, was carried 'n the affirmative by the majority
of one voice only. When the bill with thefe amendments
was reported to the houfe by the archbishop of York, feveral.
fpeeches were made against the claufe to extend this bill to
Ireland particularly by the duke of Shrewsbury, lo:d-lieu-
tenant of that kingdom, who was just returned from thence.
But the question being put, it was carried by fifty-feven
voices against fifty-one, that the claufe fhould ftand. The
next day the bill was read the third time; and after a finall
VOL. VI.
debate,
1714.
210
HISTORY
THE
1714. debate, it was carried by feventy-feven votes againſt ſeven-
ty-two, that it fhould pafs (y).
When the bill thus amended was fent to the commons, a
ſhort debate arofe. Mr Lechmere and Mr Walpole repre-
fented,
(y) The following peers en-
tered a proteft against it, the
dukes of Somerfet, Bolton, Graf-
ton, Devonshire, Schomberg,
and Argyle; the marquis of
Dorchester; the earls of Whar-
ton, Sunderland, Dorfet, Car-
lifle, Orford, Derby, Lincoln,
Nottingham, Radnor, and Tor-
rington; the lords viſcounts
Townshend and Longueville:
the lords Sommers, Hallifax,
Cowper, Rockingham, Haver-
fham, Cornwallis, and Foley :
and the bishops of Ely, Bangor,
St Afaph, Landaff, and Lin-
coln.
The Proteft was in theſe
terms:
I. We cannot apprehend
(as the bill recites) that great
danger may enfue from the
• diffenters to the church and
• ftate:
Becauſe, 1. By law no dif-
fenter is capable of any fta-
tion, which can be fuppofed
to render him dangerous.
6
2. And, fince the feveral
•fects of diffenters differ from
• each other as much as they do
<
<
from the eſtabliſhed church,
they can never form of them-
• felves a national church; nor
have they any temptation to
fet up any one fect among
• them; for in that cafe, all
that the other fects can ex-
pect, is only a toleration, which
they already enjoy by the in-
dulgence of the ftate; and
therefore it is their intereſt to
fupport the eſtabliſhed church
againſt any other fect, that
'would attempt to deſtroy it.
<
II. If, nevertheleſs the dif-
• fenters were dangerous, feve-
rity is not fo proper and ef-
⚫fectual a method to reduce
'them to the church, as a cha-
'ritable indulgence, as is mani-
'feft by experience, there hav
ing been more diffenters re-
• conciled to the church fince
'the act of toleration, than in
' all the time fince the act of
uniformity, to the time of the
faid act of toleration; and
'there is ſcarce one confider-
able family in England in com-
C
<
"
<
munion with the diffenters.
Severity may make them hy-
pocrites, but not converts.
III. If ſeverity could be
fuppofed ever to be of uſe,
yet this is not a proper time
for it, while we are threat-
'ned with much greater dan-
gers to our church and na-
tion, againſt which the pro-
• teſtant diffenters have joined,
and are ftill willing to join
'with us in our defence; and
'therefore we fhould not drive
'them from us, by inforcing
the laws againſt them in a
C
manner, which, of all others,
' muſt moſt fenfibly grieve them
'viz. the education of their
children; which reduces them
to a neceffity either of breed-
'ing them in a way they do not
approve, or of leaving them
' without inftruction.
• IV. This muſt be the more
'grievous to the diffenters, be.
• caufe
OF ENGLAND.
211
fented, That, fince the proteftant diffenters of Ireland 1714.
were made liable to the penalties of this bill, it were but
juft either to infert a clauſe in it, or to bring in another
bill, to make them enjoy the benefit of the toleration act,
• paffed
<
C
<
'cauſe it was little expected
⚫ from the members of the efta-
bliſhed church, after ſo favour -
able an indulgence, as the act
of toleration, and the repeat-
ed declarations and profeffions
from the throne and former
parliaments, againſt all perfe-
cution, which is the peculiar
badge of the Roman church,
⚫ which avows and practices this
• doctrine and yet this had not
• been retaliated even upon
the papiſts, for all the laws
made against them have been
the effects and juſt puniſhment
• of treaſon, and from time to
'time committed againſt the
• ftate.
•
:
But it is not pretend-
ed, that this bill is defigned as
a puniſhment of any crime,
⚫ which the proteftant diffenters
' have been guilty of againſt the
• civil government, or that they
are difaffected to the prote-
'ftant fucceffion, as by law
• eſtabliſhed; for in this their
zeal is very confpicuous.
V. In all the inftances of
making laws, or of a rigid ex-
'ecution of the laws againſt
•
'lowing one iffued out by king
James II. to ruin all our ci-
'vil and religious rights. And
we cannot think, that the arts
' and contrivances of the pa-
pifts, to fubvert our church,
are proper means to preferve
it, eſpecially at a time, when
we are in more danger of po-
pery than ever, by the de-
figns of the pretender, fup-
ported by the mighty power
of the French king, who is en-
gaged to extirpate our religi-
on, and by great numbers in
this kingdom, who are pro
feffedly in his intereſts.
<
VI. But if the diffenters
'fhould not be provoked, by
this ſeverity, to concur in the
• deftruction of their country
and the proteftant religion,
yet we may justly fear they
may be driven by this bill
from England, to the great
prejudice of our manufac-
tures; for, as we gained them
by the perfecution abroad, fo
'we may loſe them by the
like proceedings at home.
C
•
Laftly, The miferies, we
apprehend here, are greatly
inhanced by extending the
bill to Ireland, where the
'confequences of it may be fa-
tal; for fince the number of
<
diffenters, it is very remark-
able, that the defign was to
weaken the church, and to
• drive them into one common
' intereſt with the papiſts, and
to join them in measures ten-papifts in that kingdom far
ding to the deftruction of it.
This was the method fuggeft-
•ed by popish counfels, to pre-
pare them for the two fuccef-
• five declations in the time of
king Charles II. and the fol-
exceeds the proteſtants of all
⚫ dominions together; and
that the diffenters are to be
'treated as enemies, or, at leaſt
as perfons dangerous to that
church and ſtate, who have
O 2
' always,
212
THE HISTORY
C
<
6
1714. paffed in England in the laft reign.' But Sir William
Wyndham and Mr Campion faid, If leave were given to
bring in fuch a bill, they hoped they ſhould have leave al-
fo to bring in another to incapacitate diffenters from vot-
ing in elections for parliament-men;' Upon which that
matter dropped. On the other hand, general Stanhope
propoſed, That the tutors in the families of members of
the houſe of commons might be put on the fame foot
with thofe, who taught in the families of a nobleman or
' noblewoman; it being reaſonable to fuppofe, that the
members of that houfe, many of whom were of noble ex-
traction, had as great a concern as the lords for the cdu-
'cation of their children, and an equal right to take care of
their inftruction.' Several members of both parties were
of Mr Stanhope's opinion. But Mr Hungerfood repre-
fenting, That the leaft amendment now made in the
• houſe might occafion the lofs of the bill;' the promoters
of it caufed the queftion to be put, and it was carried by a
majority of one hundred and fixty-eight votes againſt ninety-
eight, that the commons agreed to the lords amendments.
On the 25th of June, the fchifm-bill, with ſeveral others,
received the royal affent by commiffion. But it is obferv-
* Aug. 1. able, the very day it was to take place*, the queen de-
parted this life; which accident broke all the meaſures of
thofe, who had promoted that law, and rendered it in a
manner ineffectual (z).
·
always, in all times, joined,
' and ſtill would join, with the
• members of that church,
againſt the common enemy of
• their religion, and fince the
army there is very much re-
duced, the proteftants, thus
unneceffarily divided, feems to
us to be expoſed to the danger
of another maffacre, and the
proteſtant religion in danger of
being extirpated.
And we may further fear,
'that the Scots in Britain,
whofe national church is
prefbyterian, will not fo
heartily and zealously join
with us in our defence, when
they fee thofe of the fame
•
On
nation, fame blood, and fame
' religion, ſo hardly treated by
• us.
And this will be ftill more
'grievous to the proteftant dif-
fenters in Ireland, becaufe,
'whilst the popish priests are
regiſtered, and ſo indulged by
law, as that they exercife
'their religion without molcf-
C
tation, the diffenters are fo
'far from enjoying the like to-
‹ leration, that the laws by this
• bill are inforced againſt
<
• them '
(z) This act enjoins, That
no perfon in Great-Britain, or
Wales, fhall keep any publick or
private fchool, or feminary, or
teach
OF ENGLAND.
213
again indif-
pofed.
On the 5th of May the queen removed from St James's 1714.
to her palace at Kenfington, in appearance pretty well in
health; but, having the next day in the evening felt a fhi- The queen
vering, her phyficians thought fit, that fhe fhould immedi-
ately come back to St James's, where he was, for fome
time, detained in her chamber by an impofthumation in one
of her legs. The duke of Shrewsbury, having (as has been
faid) early notice of the dangerous condition the queen was
in, was very defirous to be in England; though, on the
other hand, he was unwilling to leave the government of
Ireland in their hands, whom he knew inclined to favour
the pretender's agents; who ftill continued inlifting men
for his fervice (a). But, all things confidered, he judged
teach or inftruct youth, as tutor
or ſchoolmaster, that has not
firft fuperfcribed the declaration
to conform to the church of
England, and has obtained li-
cence from the refpective dioce-
fan, or ordinary of the place, or
upon failure of ſo doing, may be
committed to priſon, without
bail or mainprize. And that no
fuch licence ſhall be granted,
before the party produces a cer-
tificate, of his having received
the facrament, according to the
communion of the church of
England, in fome parish church,
within a year before obtaining
fuch licence, and hath fuper-
ſcribed the oaths of allegiance
and fupremacy.
That if any perfon, having
complied with theſe points, ſhall
knowingly or willingly refort to
any conventicle, or be prefent
in any affembly, where the
queen is not prayed for, ſhould
be liable to the penalty of this
act, and from thenceforth be
incapable to keep any fchool, or
ſeminary, or inſtruct any youth,
as tutor or ſchoolmafter. And
if any perfon teaches any other
catechiẩm, than what is fet forth
in the common-prayer, his li-
cence ſhall be thenceforth void,
and he be liable to the penalties
of the act; but no perfon to be
puniſhed twice for the fame fact.
Any perfon convicted by this
act, conforming to the church
for one year, without having
been preſent at any conventicle,
ſhall be again capacitated. This
act to be conſtrued to extend to
Ireland.
(a) On the 14h of May, in-
formation being brought to the
duke of Shrewſbury, that about
one hundred and fifty men, lift-
ed for the pretender's fervice,
were at the hill of Hoath, near
Dublin, waiting to go on fhip-
board for France, fome conta-
bles, with a file of mufqueteers,
were fent thither, who took
twenty-four of them, and
brought them to Dublin, where
they were committed to prifon,
in order to be tried for high-
treaſon. On the 26th of June,
John Reily, Alexander Bourk,
and Martin Carrol, were exe-
cuted for it at Stephen's green :
and, about the beginning of Ju-
ly, twenty-one perfoas more
were tried and condemned for
the fame crime.
0 3
214
THE HISTORY
1714.
May 24.
Proclama-
the preten-
der.
June 23.
his prefence more neceffary at London than in Dublin, and
came over about the beginning of June. Finding thoſe
about the queen jarring and disjointed, he refolved to act
a cautious part, and not fide with either of the contend-
ing parties; but, as foon as a proper occafion (which he
judged could not be far off) offered itfelf, to put himſelf
at the head of the well-affected to the proteftant fuccef-
fion, who indeed were no lefs ftrengthened by his arrival at
this critical juncture, than the lord Bolingbroke's intereſt
was weakened by the death of the duke of Beaufort, which
happened fome days before.
Towards the end of May, the marquis de Trivié, am-
baſſador from the new king of Sicily, made his publick en-
try; but it was the 8th of June, before the queen was
in a condition to admit him to a publick audience. Two
days after the queen, finding herſelf fomething better, re-
moved from St James's to Kenfington.
About this time, upon information given to the earl of
tion for ap- Wharton, that two Irish Officers, Hugh and William
prehending
Kelly, were lifting men for the pretender in London and
Weſtminſter, he carried his evidence to chief-juftice Par-
ker, upon whoſe warrant William Kelly was feized at
Gravefend, with five men inlifted, as Hugh Kelly was a
few days after at Deal, with a paſs from the earl of Mid-
dleton, fecretary of state to the pretender. This affair
having made a great noife, the minifters could not avoid
taking notice of thofe treaſonable practices; and a procla-
mation was publiſhed for apprehending the pretender,
• whenever he fhould land, or attempt to land in Great-
Britain,' and promifing a reward of five thousand pounds.
for that fervice. The next day Mr. Freeman having
moved in the houſe of commons for an addrefs of thanks
for the proclamation, he was feconded by Mr Auditor
mons vote Harley, and fupported by the earl of Hertford, who ad-
ded, That the five thousand pounds mentioned in the
'The com-
an addreſs of
thanks.
Pr. H. C.
queen's proclamation was too ſmall a recompence for fo
important a ſervice;' and therefore moved for an addi-
tion to the addrefs, That this houfe would chearfully
• aid and affift her majefty, by granting the fum of an hun-
dred thousand pounds, as a further reward to any, who
fhould perform fo great a fervice to her majefty and her
'kingdoms.' This was oppofed by Mr Bromley, Sir
William Windham, and Mr Campion, who fuggefted,
That the promifing of a reward fo far beyond what was
* mentioned in the queen's proclamation, would be a fort
s of
OF ENGLAND.
215
،
• of reflection on her majefty.' But, this objection being 1714.
exploded, the addrefs was unanimoufly carried, and, four
days after, prefented by the whole houfe to the queen, June 24.
who told them, That the hearty concern they fhewed in The queen's
< it for the proteftant fucceffion, was very agreeable to her: anfwer.
' and that he hoped, their concurrence would have the de-
fired effect in removing jealoufies, and quieting the minds.
• of her good fubjects.'
The fame day, the earl of Nottingham moved in the Proceedings
houſe of lords for an addrefs of thanks for the proclama- of the lords
tion against the pretender, and was feconded by the lord against the
pretender.
Hallifax. The earl of Wharton, who likewife fupported Pr. H. L.
the motion, holding the queen's proclamation in his hand,
moft pathetically lamented her majefty's owning, that her
endeavours to remove the pretender from Lorrain had been
ineffectual. 6
Unhappy princeſs, (faid he) how much is
⚫ her condition altered! Will pofterity believe, that fo
great a queen, who had reduced the exorbitant power
of France, given a king to Spain, and whofe very mi-
nifters have made the emperor and the States-general to
' tremble, fhould yet want power to make fo petty, fo
inconfiderable a prince as the duke of Lorrain, comply
with her just requeft, of removing out of his dominions
the pretender to her crown?' None of the peers ſpeak-
ing againſt the earl of Nottingham's motion, it was una-
nimoufly carried, and the addrefs was, the next day, pre-
fented to the queen, who told them, They might be af
fured, fhe fhould continue to do whatever the judged ne-
C
<
6
ceffary for the fecuring our religion, the liberty of her
people, and for putting an end to the vain hopes of the
pretender.'
The lord Bolingbroke, being come into the houfe of Debates
peers, juft after the addrefs was voted, appeared a little fur- about a bill
prized at that reſolution, and ſaid, 'There was a more ef- to prevent
fectual way to fecure the fucceffion in the houſe of Ha- diers for the
nover.' Some members expreffing their defire, that he pretender.
would offer it to the houfe, he propofed a bill, to make
it high-treafon to lift or to be inlifted into the preten-
der's fervice. The lord Hallifax reprefented, That fuch
<
a bill was altogether needlefs, both the pretender, and
all his adherents, being already attainted of high-treafon.
However, he fhould be glad fuch a bill were brought in,
becaufe, with fome alterations, it might be made a very
good one.' The bill was accordingly brought in, and
in a committee of the whole houfe, of which the lord
Boling-
6
0 4
喽
​216
HISTORY
THE
}
<
<
1714. Bolingbroke was chairman, the lords Hallifax, Townf
hend, Cowper, Sommers, and Wharton, made it their
buſineſs to fhew, That the pietender was inconfiderable
of himſelf, and not to be feared, but fo far forth, as
he was countenanced and protected by the French king,
whoſe intereſt and conftant defign was to impofe him
< upon theſe realms.' And therefore they moved, and it
was agreed, That the title of the bill ſhould be, To pre-
vent the lifting her majefty's fubjects to ferve as fol-
diers, without her majeſty's licenſe; and that it ſhould
be high-treafon to lift, or be lifted, to ferve any foreign
prince, ftate, or potentate, without a licenfe under the
fign manual of her majefty, her heirs or fucceffors."
The following provifo was likewife agreed to, That no
licenfe fhould be effectual to exempt any perfon from the
penalties of this act, who fhould lift, or caufe to be lift-
ed into the fervice of the French king, until after the
French king fhould have difbanded and difmiffed all the
regiments, troops, or companies of foldiers, which he
had in his fervice, confifting of the natural-born fubjects
• of Great-Britain:' this act to continue in force for three
years. With theſe amendments, the bill was ſent to the
commons, who gave it their concurrence.
Meeting of
the preten-
der's friends.
June 24.
Debate a-
bout the
Spanish
trade.
Pr. H. L.
،
<
•
This, and other provifions againft the pretender, feemed
the more neceffary, becauſe his friends were by this time
grown to that height of affurance, as publickly to affert his
right, and drink his health. To this purpoſe, above an
hundred Iriſh papifts had a feaſt at the Sun-tavern in the
Strand, where the lord Fingal was chofen Steward, and all
that came were admitted by a printed ticket, in which was
the image of a pope, or popifh faint, treading herefy under-
foot.
On the fecond of July the lords took into confideration
the trade to Spain and the Weft-Indies; and the earl of
Nottingham made it plainly appear, that by reafon of the
difcouragements, to which that trade was fubjected by the
explanations of the third, fifth, and eighth articles of the
treaty of commerce between Great Britain and Spain
(which explanations were made at Madrid, after figning the
treaty at Utrecht) it was impoffible for our merchants to
carry on that trade without certain lofs. This was con-
firmed by the teftimony of Sir William Hodges, and about
thirty more eminent merchants, who, being called into the
houſe, unanimously averred, that, unleſs the explanations of
theſe three articles were refcinded, they could not carry on
their
OF ENGLAN D.
217
C
<
،
their commerce without losing twenty or twenty-five per 1714.
cent. It was obferved, the treaſurer joined with the lords,
who infifted on the hearing of the Spaniſh merchants;
which was ftrenuoufly oppofed by the lord Bolingbroke.
But, after a long debate, it was refolved to addrefs the
queen, for all the papers relating to the negotiation of the
treaty of commerce with Spain; with the names of the
6 perfons, who adviſed her majefty to that treaty.' The
queen fent an anſwer, That, being given to underſtand,
that the three explanatory articles of the treaty of com-
merce with Spain were not detrimental to the trade of her
fubjects, ſhe had confented to their being ratified with the
treaty. The queen making no mention of the perfons,
who had adviſed her to ratify thofe explanatory articles
(which was the chief defign of the addrefs) feveral members
excepted againſt the answer as unfatisfactory. And, among
the reft, the earl of Wharton and the lord Hallifax repre-
fented, That, if fo little regard was fhewn to the ad-
dreffes and applications of that auguft affembly to the
fovereign, they had no buſineſs in that houfe;' and mov-
ed, that a repreſentation be made to her majefty, to lay be-
fore her the infuperable difficulties, that attended the Spa-
niſh trade on the foot of the late treaty: which was agreed
to: It was alfo moved, that the houſe ſhould infift on her
majeſty's naming the perfons, who adviſed her to ratify the
three explanatory articles. But the courties warded off
that blow, which was chiefly levelled at the lord Boling-
broke, and his agent Arthur Moore. The next day the
lords proceeded to the confideration of the Spaniſh trade,
and to the examination of the commiffioners of trade and
plantations. The earl of Wharton faid ironically, He
• did not doubt but one of thoſe gentlemen could make it
appear, that the treaty of commerce with Spain was very
advantageous:' which was meant of Arthur Moore, who
had the chief management of that affair, and who contra-
dicted himſelf in his anſwers to feveral queftions, aſked him
by the lord Cowper about the three explanatory articles.
This was aggravated by the confeffion of the other com-
miffioners, particularly of Mr Robert Monkton, who de-
clared, Mr Moore only read curforily to them the articles,
without giving them time to examine the fame. Belides
which Mr Poppie, their fecretary, depofed, that Mr
Moore had fhewn hun a letter in French from monfieur
Orry, directed to don Aiturio Moro, importing in fub-
ance,That he must not expet the two thoufand louis
<
d'ors
218
THE HISTORY
}
1714.
d'ors per annum, that had been promifed him unleſs he
got the three explanatory articles ratified.' Though the
lords came to no refolution about that affair, at a general
court of the fouth-fea company, upon a full hearing of a
complaint of captain Johnfon, it was refolved, that Ar-
thur Moore, while a director of this company, was pri-
vy to, and encouraged a deſign of carrying on a clander-
tine trade, to the prejudice of this corporation, contrary
to his oath, and in breach of the truft repoſed in him;
and that, for fuch his breach of truft, he be declared in-
'capable of being a director of, or having any other em-
'ployment in this company.' This cenfure made a great
noife, and was highly refented by the lord Bolingbroke.
€
On the 8th of July the lords examined Mr Lowndes,
Secretary to the treafury, and Mr Taylor, firſt clerk, con-
cerning the Affiento contract. They confeffed, that they
were only nominal affignees for the quarter part of the
Affiento contract reſerved for the queen, and that fome per-
fons, to them unknown (but who were ftrongly fufpected
to be the lord Bolingbroke, the lady Mafham, and Mr
Arthur Moore) were to have the benefit of it. The lord
Cowper having reprefented, That the uncertainty and
fufpence, in which the fouth-fea company had a long time
been kept, whether her majefty would retain to herſelf,
or give to the company, the quarter part of the Affiento
⚫ contract referved to her, had been the principal obftruc-
tion to the company's carrying on that trade:' the earl of
Wharton moved for an addrefs to the queen,
To give to
the fouth-fea company, not only that quarter part of the
• Affiento contract, but. alfo the feven and a half per cent.
'granted to Manaffes Gilligan, and any other profits arif-
G
ing from that contract.' But, the queftion being put, it
was carried in the negative by fifty voices againſt forty-
three. After this, on the earl of Anglefea's motion, it
was refolved by fifty-fix votes againſt forty, to preſent an
addreſs, to return thanks for her majefty's having ſo gene-
roufly given, not only licenfes for two fhips of five hundred
tuns each, and the Affiento contract; but alſo the quarter
part, which the was pleafed at firft to referve to herfelf; and
that he would be pleafed, that fuch other advantages,
which were, or might be, vefted in her, might be diſpoſed
of for the uſe of the publick. This day's debate took up
the lords till nine o'clock in the evening; fo they had no
time, as fome whig lords defigned it, to proceed to the
cenſure of Mr Moore.
The
OF
219
ENGLAND.
1714.
r
The next day, the queen's anfwer to their addrefs was
reported: That fhe always had a great confideration for
the advice of the houfe: and, as to the particulars de-
fired, fhe would difpofe of them, as fhe fhould judge beft
for the fervice.' The latter part of this anſwer was
very ill reliſhed by the whig lords; and fome members
took occafion to complain of the queen's filence in rela-
tion to the perfons, who adviſed her to ratify the three expla-
natory articles. But, the lottery-bill being ready for the
royal affent, the queen came that very day to the houſe of The parlia-
peers, and put an end to the feffion with the following fpeech rogued.
to both houſes:
66
66
My lords and gentlemen,
TH
ment is pro-
July 9.
HE progrefs which has been made in publick bufi- The queen's
nefs, and the feafon of the year, render it both ſpeech.
"convenient and neceffary, that I fhould put an end to this
"feffion.
Gentlemen of the houſe of commons,
"I return you my hearty thanks for all your good fer-
"vices to me and to your country, and particularly for
"the fupplies you have given me, as well to defray the
*
expences of the current year, as towards the diſcharge
"of the national debts. In our preſent circumſtances, it
"could not be expected, that a full proviſion ſhould be
"made on both thefe heads. What you have granted ſhall
"be laid out with the beft huſbandry, and to the greateſt
"advantage.
My lords and gentlemen,
"I hope early in the winter to meet you again, and to
"find you in fuch a temper, as is neceffary for the real
"improvement of our commerce, and of all the other
"advantages of peace. My chief concern is to pre-
"ferve to you, and to your pofterity, cur holy religion,
"and the liberty of my fubjects, and to fecure the pre-
"fent and future tranquillity of my kingdoms. But I
"must tell you plainly, that theſe deſirable ends can never
"be attained, unless you bring the fame difpofitions on
your parts; unless all groundlefs jealoufies, which cre-
ate and foment divifions amongft you, be laid afide; and
66
66
"unleſs
220
HISTORY
THE
1714.
Open rup-
ture among
the minift-
ers,
"unleſs you fhew the fame regard for my juſt prerogative,
and for the honour of my government, as I have always
"expreffed for the rights of my people."
When the queen had ended her fpeech, the parliament
was prorogued to the 10th of Auguft, but he died before
that day came.
Preſently after the rifing of the parliament, the difcord
among the minifters came to an open rupture. The trea-
furer, ever fince he had received the ftaff, had kept to
himſelf the principal direction of domeſtick affairs, and the
difpofal of moft places of profit; and, by the credit and
intereft of his poft, and favour with the queen, had pro-
cured advantageous alliances for his children, brought great
riches into his family, and 'advanced all his relations (b),
whilft the conduct of foreign affairs lay on the lord Bo-
lingbroke, who, as he was lefs circumfpect in the proſe-
cution of bold meaſures than the treaſurer, had therefore
the largeſt ſhare of the publick odium, without any other
advantage than the profits of his office, moſt of which he
laviſhed away in riotous pleaſures. Being a man impa-
tient of dependance, he had frequent warm expoftula-
tions with the treafurer, who, thinking himſelf ſecure in
the queen's favour, and in his intereft with the parliament,
difregarded his complaints, by which the fecretary was ftill
more enraged. Their private difputes would often have
ended in an open quarrel, had not the queen, affifted by
the chancellor and lady Mafham, as often reconciled them,
or rather, had not their confederacy in the late meafures,
made them fufpend their mutual hatred to confult their
common fafety. But, as foon as the danger was over, by
the parliament's folemn approbation of the peace, it ap-
peared, there was an irreconcileable rivalſhip and enmity
between them. Before this laft ftruggle, the treaſurer,
either finding his intereft declining at court, or defpairing
of the queen's life, and apprehending the confequences of
the late fteps, bethought himself of a timely retreat;
(b) His fon, Edward lord
Harley, married the only daugh-
ter of the late duke of New
caſtle; who brought him a for-
tune of above 15000l. per ann.
Elizabeth, his firft daughter,
was married to Peregrine Hyde
Ofborne, marquis of Caermar-
then, fon and heir to the duke
of Leeds: and Abigail, his fe-
cond daughter, was married to
George Baron Hay, viſcount
Duplin, fon and heir to Thomas
earl of Kinnoul, a Scotch peer.
and,
OF
221
ENGLAND.
and, to that end, endeavoured to reconcile himſelf to the
whigs. He tried to gain the friendſhip of the lord Cow-
per, who had the greateſt weight amongst them; and,
with that view, procured him to be chofen umpire between
his fon, the lord Harley, and the lord Pelham, in a con-
troverfy about the inheritance of the late duke of New-
caftle. But the lord Cowper contented himſelf with ar-
bitrating the matter according to the ftricteft rules of
equity, and with doing juftice to the fon, without eſpou-
fing the intereft of the father. On the other hand, the
treaſurer expected to be ftrongly ſupported by the duke of
Shrewsbury, who had maintained himfelf in the efteem
both of the fovereign and of the publick, and whofe late
behaviour in Ireland had endeared him to the well-affected
to the Hanover fucceffion. But the duke, juftly refenting
the neglect of the minifters, while he was at Dublin, was
very much unconcerned about them, when he came to
London, and rather inflamed than moderated their diffe-
rences, by complaining to the queen of fome orders, that
had been ſent him, which he thought inconfiftent with her
majeſty's and the nation's fervice. Notwithſtanding thefe
difappointments, the treafurer formed a defign of remov-
ing his competitor, as the beft means to approve his affec-
tion to the proteftant fucceffion, and therefore fet Mr Ro-
bert Monkton against Mr Arthur Moore (the lord Bo-
lingbroke's creature) who narrowly escaped a cenfure in
the houſe of peers, in which the treafurer hoped the fe-
cretary might have been involved. But, in this very in-
ſtance, the treaſurer found he had loft confiderable ground
at court, the queen having thought fit, at the lord Boling-
broke's defire, to put a fudden top to that inquiry. And
it appeared foon after, that, by his fuperior intereft with
lady Mafham, by the affiftance of the lord chancellor, by
his humouring the queen's natural inclination, and boldly
purſuing the meafures fhe had entered upon, the ſecretary
entirely ruined his rival in her favour and confidence.
1714.
The treaſurer, in this fituation of his affairs, wrote a let-
ter to the queen, and with it fent her an account of publick June 9.
affairs from Auguft the 8th, 1710, to June the 8th, 1714;
in which he endeavours to juftify his own conduct, and
expofe the uneafy, tur burlent, and ambitious fpirit of lord
Bolingbroke. But this had not the intended effect upon the
queen.
While the court was in this ferment, fomething hap-
pened, which haftened the treasurer's difgrace. Some pre-
tend,
222
HISTORY
THE
1714. tend, the lord Bolingbroke had intelligence, and informed
the queen of the treafurer's inviting the duke of Marlbo
rough to come over (for which purpoſe the duke was in-
* July 18. deed arrived at Oftend *) and of his private conferences
with feveral whig lords: others, that he was fufpected of
diſcovering the queen's counfels to the court of Hanover,
and even of putting them upon demanding a writ for the
duke of Cambridge: others again, that he was both
againſt the ſcheme of new-modelling the army, and the
project of a new offenfive and defenfive league between
Great-Britain, France, Spain, Sweden, and Sicily and
others, ftill, that the queen was extremely angry at his pre-
fuming to fend orders to Ireland without confulting with her
or the council; and that the duke of Shrewsbury infifted on
his removal, which the duke of Marlborough had made a
previous condition of his return to England. But a cer-
*Hift. of tain author* (who writ in his vindication) plainly afferts,
the White- that his difgrace was intirely owing to his attachment to the
houſe of Hanover, whofe fucceffion his enemies were re-
ſolved to prevent (c). However this be, on the 20th of
July the chancellor (who had retired into the country for a
few days) was fent for in hafte; and the next day was in
clofe conference with the queen and the lord Bolingbroke;
after which it was generally reported, the treaſurer would
be ſpeedily removed. It was faid at the fame time, that, to
foften his fall, the queen defigned to beftow on him an an-
nual penfion of five thousand pounds for life, with the title.
of duke of Newcaftle; and, upon his recommendation, to
give the title of earl of Clare to the lord Pelham. But,
contrary to his own, and indeed the general expectation,
when he came to court on the 27th of July, the ſtaff was
taken from him, rather with mortifying than agreeable cir-
cumftances. It is certain, that fevere reproaches paffed, in
the queen's hearing, between the falling minifter, and the
lord chancellor, and the lady Mafham, whom the treaſurer
Яtaff.
The lord-
treaſurer
Harley re-
moved.
(c) The treaſurer's enemies
(fays that author) thought they
could not hurt him any way
more with the queen, than by
repreſenting him as inviolably
attached to the proteftant fuc-
ceffion. The party (fays he)
'took hold of this article, as
if they had a great advantage
<
given them againſt the White-
ſtaff, intimating, that it was a
great affront to her, and an
apparent carrying on his own.
'game at the court of Hano-
ver; accordingly, her ma-
jefty was prejudiced by it, as
if it had been a difhonour to
'her.' White-ſtaff, p. 34.
had
OF ENGLAND.
223
}
had diſobliged ſome days before, by making a dumur to a
grant ſhe had obtained of fifteen hundred pounds a year,
and whom he looked upon as acceffary to his difgrace. He
told them, 'He had been wronged and abufed by lyes and
mifrepreſentations; but he fhould be revenged, and leave
• fome people as low as he found them (d.)' Theſe ex-
poftulations could not but fhock the fick queen, and give
her uneafy fufpicions of her being abuſed and deluded by
one or two, if not by all three, of her principal minifters.
It is pretended, that in this agitation of thought, which
opened her eyes, the refolved to refign herſelf wholly to the
conduct of the duke of Shrewſbury. But it can hardly be
fuppofed, that, in her condition, fhe was capable of form-
ing a refolution fo inconfiftent with her late meaſures. It
is far more reaſonable to imagine that the lord Bolingbroke,
having gained fo great an afcendant over her, was moſt
likely to fucceed the earl of Oxford in the management of
affairs. This is certain, the very day, the treaſurer was re-
moved, the lord Bolingbroke entertained at dinner the ge-
nerals Stanhope, Cadogan, and Palmes, Sir William
Wyndham, Mr Craggs, and fome other gentlemen ;
which meeting of men of fuch oppofite principals occafi-
oned various fpeculations. The moft probable conjecture
was, that the lord Bolingbroke, confidering he could not
depend on the queen's precarious life to accompliſh his de-
figns, and foreſeeing a ſtorm, he could not be able to wea-
ther, refolved to ſtrike in with the whigs, and to invite over
the duke of Marlborough; in which he had reaſon to ex-
pect better ſucceſs than his late rival, with whom the duke
had vowed never to be reconciled. Some other particulars
were at that time mentioned to corroborate theſe ſuggeſ-
tions. But though the duke of Marlborough, after having
beeng detained about a fortnight by contrary winds, did, at
(d) He expofed (fays the
' author of the White-ſtaff) their
new ſchemes, ridiculed their
• impolitick menfures, and fore-
told them to what diſtreſſes
they would reduce themſelves
in a little time, putting them
in mind of a debt they would
owe to the national juſtice at
laſt, and how unwilling they
• would be to pay it. He pro-
phetically told them, they
<
'would be in a little while re-
• duced to the primitive mean-
'nefs and contempt in which
he found them! That he had
too long borne the reproaches
which was due to their mea-
fures, which he had in vain
perfuaded them againſt, and
that it was time now that the
• world ſhould fee, who were
the enemies to the Britiſh
' eſtabliſhment.'
1714.
this
224
THE HISTORY
1714. this very time, imbark at Oftend for England; yet the true
motive of his coming at this critical juncture is not certainly
known. It appeared plainly, however, foon after, that,
whatever were the lord Bolingbroke's thoughts and views
at this time, the main defign of the whigs was to inflame
the animofity between him and the earl of Oxford as the
readieft way to ruin them both.
Great con-
fusion at
court.
Account of
fickness.
The treaſurer's removal was fo fudden, and occafioned
fuch confufion, that no fcheme was either formed or agreed
on, to fupply his place, and to fill up fuch other vacancies,
as muſt naturally attend his difgrace. A cabinet-council,
or rather chamber-confultation, was indeed held in a hurry,
the very night the earl of Oxford was removed, and ſeveral
pefons were propofed to manage the treafury, which was de-
figned to be put in commiffion. Their number was to be
five, of which Sir William Wyndham, as chancellor of
the Exchequer, was to be one; but the choice of the other
four perplexed both the queen and her counſellors. It is
faid, the perfons named were the lords Bolingbroke, Pa-
get, Lexington, Bathurst, and Maſham; the bishop of
London, Mr Henry Boyle, and Mr Bridges;
Sir John
Packington, Mr Campion, Mr Hill, and fome others.
But, whether there were fewer or more in nomination, it
is certain, no reſolution was taken as to the choice of any
four, either in that firſt conſultation, or in the council held
the next morning; feveral perfons who had been propofed,
and ſpoken to, having declined to accept a precarious em-
ployment in fuch a juncture. On the 29th of July, the
cabinet-council was to have fat on the fame affair; but
their meeting was deferred to the next day, by reaſon of
the queen's indifpofition, which, fhe was fenfible, was oc-
cafioned by the late quarrelling among her fervants, having
intimated to one of her phyficians, "That ſhe ſhould not
"outlive it."
It is certain, both the difpute, to which he was an ear-
the queen's witnefs, and the confultation upon it, which lafted till
near two o'clock in the morning, occafiond fuch a violent
agitation of the queen's fpirits, as could not but hinder,
according to Dr Shadwell's opinion, the ufual difcharge
of the impofthumation in her leg, fo that the gouty hu-
mour, tranflating itſelf upon the brain, was the immediate
*July 29. occafion of her death. On Thurſday morning, the
queen finding herſelf indiſpoſed with a dozing heavinefs,
and a fhooting pain in her head, the phyficians judged
proper the ſhould be cupped, which fhe liked better than
bleeding,
+
OF
225
ENGLAN D.
July 30.
bleeding, and which, in the fame fymptoms, had often 1714.
given her eaſe. The queen was now fomething relieved
by it; went to bed at the ufual hour; refted pretty well
till three o'clock on Friday morning, when the waked;
and finding fomething heavy on her ſtomach, and reaching
to vomit, he brought up fome matter, and then compofed
herſelf to fleep. Towards feven o'clock fhe waked again;
and, finding herſelf pretty well, rofe from bed, and got
her head combed. This done, towards eight, fhe went to
look on the clock; and Mrs Danvers, one of her bed-
chamber women, taking notice, that ſhe fixed her eyes a
long time upon it, aſked her, What fhe faw in the clock
more than ordinary?' The queen anfwered her only
with turning her head, and a dying look; at which Mrs
Danvers being frighted, fhe called for help. The phyfi-
cians judging ſhe was feized with a fit of an apoplexy,
cauſed her to be let blood: upon which ſhe came to herſelf
again, and was pretty quiet till a little after nine, when fhe
was feized with a fecond fit of heavinefs and dozing,
which increaſed ſo much upon her, that for above an
hour ſhe was ſpeechlefs and motionleſs. Thoſe about her
judging, fhe was either dead, or near expiring, the du-
chefs of Ormond, one of the ladies of the bed-chamber,
then in waiting, fent, with all ſpeed, a meffenger to the
duke her huſband, with this melancholy news, which be-
ing brought to the committee of council, then affembled at
the cockpit, they immediately went to Kenſington. In
the mean time the phyficans thought fit to give the queen
a vomit, which not having all the defired effect, they ad-
miniftred another medicine, propofed by Dr Mead; upon
which the recovered her ſpeech and ſenſes.
The dukes of Somerfet and Argyle, being informed of
the queen's defperate condition, inftantly repaired to Ken-
fington, and, without being fummoned, went into the
council-chamber, where the lord chancellor, the dukes of
Shrewſbury and Ormond, the three fecretaries of ſtate, the
biſhop of London, and fome others, were in a committee.
It is eaſy to imagine, that fome of them were furprized at
their coming in; but, after they had acquainted the board.
with the reafons which brought them thither, the duke
of Shrewſbury returned them thanks for their readineſs to
give the council their affiftance in that critical juncture.
Then they took their places, and moved, that the phyfi-
cians might be examined, and ordered to give an account.
in writing of the queen's illness, which they did. After
VOL. VI.
this,
P
226
HISTORY
THE
?
<
1714. this, one of the council reprefented, how neceffary it was,
in cafe the queen died, that the place of lord-treaſurer
fhould be filled; to which the whole board affenting,
the duke of Shrewsbury was propofed, and unanimously
approved, as the fittest perfon for that high truft. Sir Ri-
chard Blackmore, Dr Shadwell, Dr Mead, and the other
phyficians, who were examined, having affured the coun-
cil, that the queen was fenfible, the chancellor, with the
duke of Shrewsbury, and fome other lords, were ordered
to attend her, and lay before her the unanimous opinion of
the council; upon which ſhe ſaid,They could not re-
commend a perfon fhe liked better than the duke of
Shrewſbury; and, giving him the treaſurer's ſtaff, bid
him uſe it for the good of her people.' The duke would
have returned the lord-chamberlain's ſtaff, but the defired
he would keep them both; fo the fame perfon was at
once poffeffed of three of the higheſt places of truft, ho-
nour, and profit, under the crown of Great-Britain, be-
ing lord-treaſurer, lord-chamberlain, and lord-lieutenant
of Ireland. The duke's advancement to the poſt of lord-
treaſurer immediately changed the face of affairs; baffled
the lord Bolingbroke's fchemes; alarmed the friends of
the pretender; and revived the fpirits of the well-affected
to the Hanover-fucceffion (e). Upon the motion of the
dukes of Somerſet and Argyle, it was agreed, that all
privy-counſellors, in or about London, without diſtinction,
(e) It would take up another
volume (fays the author of the
Hiſtory of the White-ftaff) to
give an account how ftruck they
appeared at thisfurprizing blow.
What, give away the ftaff?
faid they, after they had ſtood
looking upon one another
fpeechlefs and confounded for
fome time, at a private affem-
bly of all their confederates,
which was held on this occa-
fion, where they gave vent to
their paffions, and broke out in-
to all the extravagancies of rage
and defpair. The blast of
hell, and the rage of a mil-
• lion of devils, be on this cur-
• fed ſtaff (faid the fecretary,
،
C
C
the
flinging the purfe to
ground) it is he that has ru-
ined us. Give away the
ſtaff, ſaid the biſhop, by G-
I could not have believed the
' durft have done it? What
can we do without it? We
• have but one way left,
France, and the lawful heir;
' it muſt and ſhall be done, by
'G' Whither do I launch
(fays the author) this is a ſcene
of fuch confequence, filled with
fuch a diſcovery of black de-
figns, that it cannot be entered
upon here, but muſt be referred
to another occafion. See Hift.
of the White-ftaff.
fhould
OF
227
ENGLAND.
2
fhould attend; which the lord Sommers, and fome other 1714.
friends to the houfe of Hanover, did that very day.
About three o'clock in the afternoon the queen relapſed
into a lethargy or apoplectic fit, out of which the hardly
recovered by the application of the fpirit of fal ammoniac
to her noftrils. The phyficians thought fit to apply blifters ;
but, at the fame time, acquainted the council, that the
queen's life was in the utmoſt danger, and intirely depended
on the effect of this laſt remedy.
ted on for
leaving the
In the mean time, the privy-council took into confidera- The late mi-
tion the ſtate of the kingdom; and very fevere reflections nifters reflec-
were made on the late adminiftration, for leaving the mari-
time places, particularly the important town of Portſmouth, maritime
unprovided with men and warlike ftores, and confequently towns un-
incapable of defence, in cafe of a fudden invafion, which provided.
might be reaſonably apprehended, in cafe of the queen's
death (f). But, the prefent buſineſs not being to inquire
into, but to mend faults, the council, with great prudence
and diſpatch, provided for the fecurity of the cities of Lon-
don and Weſtminſter, of the maritime towns, and of Scot-
land and Ireland. Orders were immediately difpatched to
four regiments of horfe and dragoons quartered in remote
counties, to march up to the villages near London, to keep
the jacobites and difaffected in awe and to feven of the ten
battalions of British forces, to imbark at Oftend, and fail
for England with all poffible ſpeed. An imbargo was or-
dered on all ſhipping, and directions were given for fitting
out as many men of war, as could fooneſt be got ready.
By theſe orders the publick tranquillity remained undisturbed,
and no confternation appeared, but in the faces of the
avowed partifans of the pretender.
The queen continued all night in a lethargic fit, which July 31.
increaſed to fuch a degree about ten o'clock on Saturday
morning, that all the phyficians defpaired of her life. Up-
on this the privy-council fent orders to the heralds at arms,
and to a troop of life-guards, to be in a readineſs to mount,
(f) Sir John Gibſon, deputy-
governor of Portſmouth, had, a
little before, fent up to the fe-
cretary of ſtate, an information
he had received, of great pre-
parations then making at Havre
de Grace, for an imbarkation
of troops, which he apprehen-
ded to be in order to invade the
kingdom, and bring in the pre-
tender: and, at the fame time,
he reprefented how unprovided.
he was, both with men and
warlike ftores, to defend that
important place, in cafe of a
fudden attack: but no notice
was taken either of his infor-
mation, or reprefentation.
P 2
in
228
HISTORY
THE
1714. in order to proclaim the elector of Brunſwick king of Great-
Britain. At the fame time, they caufed a letter to be writ-
ten to his electoral highneſs, to acquaint him with the
extreme danger the queen's life was in; with the meaſures
they had taken to fecure the crown to him; and to defire
him to repair, with all convenient ſpeed, to Holland,
where a Britiſh fquadron, that was fitting out with all
• poffible expedition, would attend him, and bring him
over, in cafe of the queen's death.' This letter was that
very morning fent exprefs by Mr James Craggs, and with
him orders were difpatched to the earl of Strafford, to defire
the States-general to get ready to perform the guarantee of
the proteſtant fucceffion, if need fhould require.
Remarks on
<
This done, the privy-council refumed the confideration
of the ſtate of the fea-port towns, and ordered a ſtrong re-
inforcement to be fent down to Portſmouth; and rightly
judging, that, if the pretender's friends ftirred any where
in Great-Britain, it would be, moſt probably, in Scotland,
they ordered major-general Whetham to repair thither, and
affift major-general Wightman; and appointed the earl of
Berkley to command the fleet. The queen gave fome figns
of life between twelve and one o'clock, and took fome
fpoonfuls of broth. She continued in a lethargic condition
till about fix in the afternoon, when, her pulfe beating a
little fafter and higher, thoſe about her began to entertain
fome hopes. But the blifters not having had the defired ef-
fect, the expired on Sunday the firſt of Auguft, a little after
feven o'clock in the morning, having lived forty-nine years,
five months, and fix days, and reigned twelve years and
five months, wanting feven days. She was not able, ei-
ther to receive the facrament, which the bishop of London
was ready to adminiſter, or to ſign the draught of a will,
whereby the directed her burial to be in the fame manner
and place with her late royal confort; and in which ſhe left
legacies to fome of her fervants.
Thus died queen Anne, whofe character has already,
in great meaſure, been defcribed, but will more fully ap-
pear in the following remarks on the circumftances and af-
fairs of her reign.
No reign was ever more memorable than this for impor-
the reign and tant events. Different accounts and numerous comments
Q. Anne.
character of have diſguiſed and confounded many material particulars.
But, notwithſtanding this, the true ftate of affairs, and
the
OF ENGLAN D.
229
the real character of this princefs, may, without much dif- 1714.
ficulty, be explained. No period of time afforded men
more eminent for wisdom and abilities, and more diftin-
guiſhed by fucceffes equal to their merit. Had not ſuch cir-
cumſtances happened, Europe must have fubmitted to an
univerfal monarchy, which would not have endured any re-
mains of civil or religious liberty.
When the war was begun, nothing could be more me-
nacing than our profpects. The houfe of Bourbon defpif-
ing all treaties, and moſt folemn engagements, without any
difficulty or oppofition feized territories more extenfive and
confiderable, than were ever gained by the moft rapid con-
queror, by the toils of a long life. All the powers of Eu-
rope were obliged, by the laws of prudence and felf-defence,
to oppoſe a monarch thus prepared for their deftruction.
Thofe, at remoter diftances, were eafy and infenfible; and
fome, who were nearly concerned, entered into the perni-
cious meaſures of France. The pride and oppreffion of
the court of Vienna aggravated the evil, by giving occafi-
on to the infurrection of thofe fubjects *, of whoſe uſeful- * The
neſs and importance the prefent times have afforded full evi- Hug..ars-
dence.
The Turks remaining quiet during the whole war; the
infurrection in the Cevennes; and the victory at Hockſtedt,
are inftances of the most favourable incidents.
When we
review the cafe of thofe brave and oppreffed proteftants,
how can we forbear inquiring, Why was not a deep and in-
curable wound then given to France in her vitals? Muft
we afcribe our fatal neglect to bigotry, perfidy, to an aver-
fion to all foreign churches, and to the natural operation of
tory principles? It is affirmed, it was only carried by one
vote at the council-board, not to call them rebels in our
gazette: and will your majefty affift' rebels? Is faid to
have been the expoftulation of a very grave nobleman with
the queen's confcience. While too many were averfe,
others feem to have had no true fenfe of the importance of
this incident. Complaints have been likewife made of our
being betrayed by our agents.
The wonderful and very feaſonable ſucceſs at Hockſtedt
was properly purfued by our great general. But, how
faulty was the house of Auftria on their part? How much
valuable time was wafted; and how feebly did they come
prepared to the fiege of Landau? Military preparations
were neglected, and the vain pomp and fhew of a king of
the Romans chiefly regarded. Thus the troops were oblig-
P 3
ed
230
THE
HISTORY
1714. ed to continue in the field till the beginning of winter, to
their great detriment. The feebleness or flowneſs of the
Germans, or the envy of their general, defeated their defigns
which were excellently formed, of penetrating into France
on its weakeft fide. A year's refpite thus gained, enabled
the enemy to offer us battle. A compleat and cheap vic-
tory was gained and followed with all defirable confequen--
ces. Time spent in the fieges of this and the following
years has been repreſented as the want of conduct, or ſome-
thing worſe. But the importance of a barrier is evident to
every honeft and thinking man. When this fecurity is ne-
glected, the awe and terror it muſt produce will convince
by facts far more effectual than the cleareſt reaſoning. The
entering France, and leaving behind the numerous for-
tified towns of the new conquefts, had any mifchance hap-
pened, would have been deemed an unpardonrble want of
precaution. To a fecond attempt, by the way of Lorrain,
there was nothing to give encouragement.
Our advantages in other parts were very confiderable;
particularly by diſappointments of the enemy in the fieges
of Gibraltar and Barcelona. But what account can be
given of our misfortune and mifconduct, when a fure, near,
and eafy method of poffeffing Spain was offered? What
hindered lord Galway's marching with proper expedition
to Madrid? Had this been executed, all the courts and tri-
bunals of the kingdom would have been fecured. By dif
patches from thence the governments of America might
have been gained. But in what terms fhall we mention
the delays of king Charles and the earl of Perterborough,
after the flying retreat of king Philip and his army! Their
behaviour, in all its parts, was a direct contradiction to all
the dictates of prudence, intereft, and glory. Had they im-
mediately affembled the troops in Valencia and Catalonia,
joined lord Galway, and marched directly to the Pyrenees,
Philip muſt have been for ever excluded; and the great and
good ends of the war would have been happily and ſpeedily
accompliſhed. What a reverfe happened, has been related
in its proper place.
The diſappointment before Toulon was almoft equally
affecting. Such a conqueft would have been a moſt fenfi-
ble wound to France. Had not the army been weakened
by the great body of troops fent to the conqueft of Naples,
the affair muſt have fucceeded. Jefuitical counfels and
French money are fuppofed to have influenced the court of
Vienna. The reafoning fatally urged was to this purpoſe:
if
OF ENGLAND.
2 z ř
if the naval power of France is deftroyed in the Mediterra-
nean by taking Marfeilles and Toulon, the uncontroulable
dominion of two maritime powers, which are proteſtants,
will be intolerable. The prieſts of Italy and Spain trem-
bled for Rome and the holy houfe. They had lively fore-
bodings of fomething worſe than the return of the days of
Cromwell. As they had an affured profpect of Spain, the per-
fect awe and fubjection of the maritime part of that catho-
lick kingdom to heretics came into confideration: this,
though known to Dr Hare, was not inferted in his excel-
lent political tracts publiſhed in 1711 and 1712, for a very
obvious reafon; fince it would have given affiftance to the
minifters in their evil defigns of infufing into the nation ill-
will and averfion to the houſe of Auftria, and kind inclina-
tions to that of Bourbon.
Not improving advantages and opportunities is matter of
eaſy obſervation to all, who reflect on the feveral wars, of
which we have accounts. In confederacies, wherein there
is a variety of humours and oppofite interefts, fuch mif-
fortunes are in a great meaſure unavoidable. But, not-
withſtanding the feveral eſcapes of the enemy, the duke of
Marlborough's fure and fteady progrefs, and the damages
the French ſuſtained in other places, reduced them to a ſtate
of the utmoft diftrefs and terror. Their frontiers were im-
paired to ſuch a degree, that we had gained an eaſy and
fecure admiffion into the open and defenceless parts of
France, had his queen and country duly fupported this great
captain. The grand monarch would have been driven from
his capital; his glory had received an indelible ſtain; and
his vain and infolent ſubjects a juſt mortification. Such ad-
vantages would have repaid all our toils and expences. He
muſt have gladly compounded by recalling his grand-fon
from Spain. His forcible and fraudulent acquifitions muft
have been ſurrendered; and fure foundations laid for the
lafting peace and fafety of this part of the world. Clearer
and more obvious truths appear no where in the hiſtories of
any age or people; yet fuch hath been the delufion of party,
that contrary reprefentations have gained an intire credit.
The fpeculative and practical propagators of them have been
confidered by a numerous party, as the best writers, and
the wifeft and moft worthy minifters.
The temper, behaviour, and management of the queen,
on whom ſo much depended, deferves a particular and im-
partial confideration. As both parties in their turns were
greatly difobliged and offended, no praifes have been given
P 4
her
1714.
r
}
232
HISTORY
THE
1714. her for perfonal fteadineſs and wifdom. In fome fermons
indeed, parts and abilities have been afcribed to her; but,
were fuch paffages duly explained, the abilities would be
found to belong only to her miniſters.
Geat are the difhonours, which have redounded to the
facrec order by the behaviour of thoſe princes, who have
been moft fat oured with their efteem. The effects of their
zeal have not appeared in a warm and equal concern for the
welfare of fociety; but in aiding one party to oppofe and
ruin the other. Benevolence and compaffion have been dif-
regarded; and wrath, clamour, and brutal qualities have
been encouraged; and those of the divine and humane kind
been greatly neg' tied.
There were wo things, to which the inglorious part of
this reign may be chiefly imputed; the queen's paffion for
favourites, and the prejudices of her education. To the fe-
cret influence of favourites was owing the difgrace of her
general, who, while he was fteadily purfuing the intereſt
of the publick, was not only difmiffed and loaded with the
heaviest reproaches, but even profecuted for what had been
granted him by the queen's warrant under her own hand,
and what was afterwards given to the duke of Ormond.
By the fame fecret influence, the exchanging the able, ho-
neft, and fuccefsful, for thote whofe management proved
them in all refpects the reverfe, was eſteemed an important
deliverance. Hence alfo it was, that the miniſters had
often fuch put upon them as were their enemies, and the
juft averfion of thofe on whofe affiftance they depended.
This incommoded every miniſtry, and was the cauſe of the
queen's conftant complaints of her being only a royal
flave. In a word, paffion for favourites feemed to have a
greater effect upon her, than the impreffions of ambition
and glory for otherwiſe the moſt worthy defigns had not
been abandoned, when there was fo near a profpect of their
accompliſhment.
The prejudices of the queen's education had alſo a great
ſhare in fullying the glory of her reign. It was her mif-
fortune to be educated in fuch times, and under fuch per-
fons, as had given her wrong ideas of religion and the
church, and infufed into her, from her very infancy, ftrong
prejudices againſt the whigs, who were reprefented to her
as enemies to the conftitution in church and ſtate.
berate reviews are very uncommon, and eſpecially in thoſe
who are at the height in power. This evil was therefore
incurable, and had very ill confequences. Hence, though
Deli-
the
OF
233
ENGLAND.
1714.
+ Deke of.
the queen has been juftly commended for her devout and
regular attendance on the offices of the church (g), and
for ardent wiſhes for its profperity, yet for want of true no-
tions of religious liberty (which he had never been taught)
attempts were repeatedly made in the beginning of her
reign, with her approbation, to difcourage and diftrefs the
diffenters. But theſe attempts were difappointed by the mo-
deration and justice, which then fubfifted in the houſe of
lords. The concurrence of the treaturer * and general † * Lord Go-
in thoſe meaſures hath been reprefented as an inftance and dolphin.
moft unfeaſonable expreffion of their enmity to the true Marlbo-
principles of liberty. But the immediate and preffing mo- rough.
tive of their behaviour was a neceffity of complying with -
the inclinations of their royal miftrefs. Had they refuftd,
they would have given their rivals a very dangerous ad-
vantage. And, though we ſhould allow the fulleft ftrength
to their old leven, yet it muſt be fuppofed, if they had been
at perfect liberty, their known prudence and policy would
have reſtrained fuch appearances of it at this time. For
nothing could be more mortifying and offenfive to the
Dutch, and all the reformed churches. Befides, to begin
fuch a war with difuniting meaſures at home would have
been to the laſt degree abſurd.
Diftreffing and incapacitating were confiftent with the
defigns, the views, and meaſures of the four laft years of the
queen's reign. All proteftants abroad, as well as thofe at
home, who differed from the eſtabliſhment, were marked
with infamy. A loud noiſe for the church filled all places,
and prevented all attention to the calamity and deſtruction
preparing for the ftate. Depriving the diffenters of the na-
tural right of educating their children was the prelude to
the divefting of them of their most important privileges in
fociety. For their power of voting for members of parlia-
ment would have been taken away; and they would have
been rendered equally incapable of being concerned in the
choice of members of corporations.
How foon hath the fenfe of fuch a deliverance been loft!
Becauſe impracticable favours have not been granted, many
of them, who dignify themſelves with the name of confift-
ent proteftants, and the true afferters of liberty in its full
(g) She was fo ftrict an ob-
ferver of forms, that once at
Windfor fhe reproved the mini-
ter for giving her the facra-
ment before the other clergy
then preſent had firſt received
it. Coke, Vol. III. 481.
ex-
THE
HISTORY
234
1714. extent, have fhewn themſelves extremely perverfe both in
their words and actions; and in fome places applied their
wonderfully-preferved privileges and capacities for the fer-
vice of an intereft, which had doomed them to deſtruc-
tion; in others, they have been indolent and uncon-
cerned.
How the queen's zeal for the church operated in the af-
fair of Dr Sacheverel, is but too well known. This zeal
gave the enemies of the miniftry advantages at court and
in the country, beyond their moft fanguine expectations.
To the mad ferment which was diffuſed through the king-
dom, and which influenced the future elections, the eafy
fuccefs of the new miniftry may be justly afcribed. For
though they had been poffeffed of power; and though the
nation was tired out with taxes; yet nothing but the
operation of the noife and name of the church could have
given them fo fecure a majority. This alone, after fuch
affecting fucceffes, was capable of producing an infenfibility
of the advantages given the enemy, and of the diftrefs, to
which we moft faithleſsly and infolently reduced our allies.
Our liberties, trade, and commerce could only by this means
have been placed in fo bad a fituation.
An explanation of the real fecret of the management of
the new miniſtry, and of the impeaching parliament, hath
not been attempted. Perhaps of this, as well as of fome
other particular both at home and abroad, no full and
exact account will ever be given. It hath been ſaid, that
the treaſurer and his friends forefaw and intended fome of
the confequences. The junto and their friends, the zea-
lous promoters of it, were to have been given up. That
the junto had often made remonftrances and demands,
both with regard to perfons and things, in a manner difa-
greeable to the prime minifter, may be allowed, without
fuppofing a wife man capable of fo abfurd a fcheme for his
deliverance. Befides, the combination between the then
patriots and the tories was known to be fo firm, as not to
fuffer him to entertain the leaft hopes of making any
preffion. From all appearances, we may conclude it to
have been the effect of hafty unthinking zeal. Expreſs and
parliamentary approbation was intended for the principles,
on which the revolution is founded. Something of this
kind ſeemed neceffary, becauſe, throughout this reign, re-
volution principles had been perpetually difgraced and op-
pofed from the prefs and the pulpit,
The
im-
La
OF ENGLAND.
235
The heart of the queen was well known, and her fecret 1714.
affections and diffatisfactions well underſtood. Therefore,
during the trial of Dr Sacheverel, and immediately after,
the principles of the revolution were vilified beyond mea-
fure; and the doctrines of flavery became matter of glory,
as the peculiars of chriftianity and the church. Addreffes
were graciously received, wherein, with the omiffion on-
ly of his name, the pretender's title was exprefsly afferted;
and, by evident implication, this was calling the poffeffor
of the throne an ufurper; language, which hath ever been
unpardonable with every other prince: However this be,
moft certain it is, that thofe who had expreffed their readi-
nefs to concur in the meaſures of the court, were regarded
as well affected, and declarations and affurances in favour
of the houſe of Hanover were confidered only as a matter
of neceffity and form.
No one of our monarchs ever had greater advantages of
doing good both at home and abroad, nor had any reign
been diftinguiſhed with fuch glorious and important events.
Germany faved from deftruction; the imperial crown pre-
ferved and fixed on the head of our ally; Flanders fubdued
the exorbitant power of France reduced; the union of
England and Scotland, are events for which the reign of
queen Anne will be had in everlafting remembrance. But
by a diſhonourable peace, how fruitless were theſe import-
ant events rendered? How foon was the power of France
reſtored to a condition of injuring, oppreffing and terrify-
ing the world? And very probably, nothing but the
queen's fudden removal prevented the execution of thofe
fchemes in favour of the pretender, which the peace-mak-
ers had laid, and for which due preparation had been
made (h).
(h) It is made a queftion by
fome, whether the queen knew
any thing of the defign of bring-
ing in the pretender, notwith-
ſtanding the ſtrong appearances
of it. In 1708, when the at-
tempt was made on Scotland,
Sir George Byng had no inftruc-
tions as to the perfon of the pre-
tender. When this particular
was taken into confideration,
the council broke up in confu-
Had
fion. For when fome menti-
oned methods of diſpatch, the
moving appearance of the
queen's flowing tears prevented
all farther deliberation. Lam-
berti fays (Vol. VIII. p. 657.)
that it was very evident the
queen of Great-Britain was ex-
tremely inclined to fet the pre-
tender on her throne. This in-
clination firit appeared on the
death of her fon the duke of
Gla-
236
HISTORY
THE
1714.
Had not the emperor and Catalans prolonged the war,
Lewis XIV. fome months before the queen's death would
have fent us his laft legacy; for he would have been at
perfect liberty to have aided thofe here, who had prepared
every thing for a fecond reſtoration. Who can mention
the Catalans, and forbear lamenting their fevere and horri-
ble uſage? We not only neglected their fecurities and pri-
vileges, though they had been true to all their engagements,
but affitted in compleating their ruin (i). The cafe of the
Catalans ſeems to afford full proof, that the queen was de-
ceived by her miniftry, and kept in total ignorance of af-
fairs; for if that had not been the cafe, fhe muft have had
no inclination to truth and probity, and have been incapa-
ble to diftinguish between right and wrong, in the ſtrongeſt
inftances, which cannot well be fuppofed (k).
Glocefter. For an exprefs be-
ing fent by the queen (then prin-
cefs of Denmark) to the court
of St Germain's, to notify the
duke's death, the earl of Man-
chefter, ambaſſador from king
William to the court of France,
fent his fecretary Mr Chetwin
to Loo, to inform the king of
this proceeding. The reader
may alſo ſee the extract numb. I.
annexed to the end of this reign,
concerning the pretender's af-
fair.
(i) See the caſe of the Ca-
talans, numb. II. at the end of
this reign.
(k) How grofsly the miniftry
impofed on the queen, appears
from feveral tranſactions, orders
and directions given by the mi-
nifters in the queen's name, di-
rectly contrary to her fentiments
as expreffed in her meffages and
ſpeeches to the parliament, con-
cerning the terms of peace,
which the communicated to
both houſes. The committee
The committee
of fecrecy examined this mat-
ter, and compared the queen's
declarations with the meaſures
The
her minifters prefumed to take
in carrying on the negotiations.
This they did in the following
manner, in their report to the
houfe of commons.
The first time that the queen
made any mention of the peace
to the parliament, was on De-
cember 11, 1711, at which
time nothing had been conclud-
ed between England and France,
but the fpecial preliminaries that
were figned by the earl of Dart-
mouth and Mr St John on the
part of England, and monfieur
Mefnager on the part of France,
September 27, 1711, and the
general preliminaries figned by
monfieur Mefnager only, which
were fent over by the earl of
Strafford as the foundation of a
general peace. After theſe pre-
liminaries were figned, Mr St
John had preffed monfieur de
Torcy, that the king of France
would explain himſelf with re-
gard to the allies; begs that the
queen may have fome explicati-
on of his intentions in reſpect to
the particular intereft of the al-
lies, and concludes with faying,
OF ENGLAND.
237
The domineering manner, in which we joined with 1714.
France, in dictating terms to our allies; the faithleſs and
infolent manner of abandoning them; the injurious ufage of
them in debates and refolutions of parliament, and by mi-
if the Sieur Gaultier returns with
theſe marks of confidence, you
will ſee our parliament as much
inclined to peace as ever it was
to war.
·
Such explications as the king
of France thought fit to make,
are contained in the anſwer to
the memorial brought by mon-
fieur Gaultier, Nov. 18, 1711*.
Upon which her majeſty at the
opening of that feffion, in laying
before the parliament the ftate
of the treaty then on foot, ac-
cording to the advice and repre-
ſentation made to her by her
minifters, faid, That notwith-
ſtanding the arts of thoſe who
delight in war, both place and
time are appointed for open-
ing the treaty of a general
'peace. Our allies, especially
'the ſtates-general, whofe in-
tereft I look upon as infepa-
rable from my own, have, by
'their ready concurrence, ex-
preſſed their confidence in me.'
The queen thought the States
had readily concurred with her;
but
>
<
muſt be remembred, that
the ſtates had in the ftrongeſt
manner repreſented against the
propofitions ſigned by Mr Mef.
nager, as too general and un-
certain, not being a fufficient
foundation upon which a nego-
tiation might be hazarded; they
dreaded the fatal confequences
of opening the general confer-
ences, before the articles offered
by France were made fpecifick,
and before they knew what they
were to truſt to for their own
nifterial
barrier and their commerce.
Thefe reprefentations weremade
in Holland to the earl of Straf-
ford; and Mr Buys was fent
over into England to enforce
them here.
<
C
But, instead of acquainting
the queen with thefe reprefen-
tations, or acting according to
her majefty's fentiments, Mr * See ap-
St John, October 9, declares, pendix to the
Certain it is, that her majefty report.
is fo far determined in her
'meaſures, that thoſe will de-
'ceive themfelves who may
imagine by delay to break
' them.' And October 29,
The queen remains firm in
her refolution, of caufing the
• conferences to be opened upon
'the articles figned by monfieur
Mcfnager.' And November
the 2d, The queen will not fi-
nally concert a plan for the
profecution of a war with the
· States, until they join with
her in agreeing to open the
• conferences of peace.' And
November 15, lord Strafford
ſays, He had now told them
her majesty's order to him was
to declare, that the thould
look upon any delay as a re-
fufal to comply with her pro-
pofitions.' By, thefe threats
and extraordinary meaſures, the
States are compelled by the
queen's minifters, to conſent to
open the conferences; when at
the fame time her majefty was
perfuaded, that they readily con-
curred in what had been pro-
pofed to them. Her majefty
de-
238
HISTORY
THE
1714. nifterial writers, have given impreffions greatly detrimental
to all future negotiations, and fixed indelible infamy upon
our nation.
Queen Anne, as to her perfon, was middle fized, and
well
to
declares, She looks upon the
intereſt of the States-general
be infeparable from her
' own.' Mr St John declares,
That Britain had gone fo
• much too far in weaving her
' intereſt into that of the conti-
<
nent, that it would prove no
eaſy taſk to diſentangle them
⚫ without tearing and rending.'
The queen fays further, "The
princes and States which have
'been engaged with us in this
war, being by treaties entit-
led to have their feveral inter-
• efts fecured at a peace, I will
C
<
not only do my utmoſt to pro-
cure every one of them all
• reaſonable fatisfaction, but I
'fhall alfo unite with them the
ftricteft engagements for con-
tinuing the alliance, in order
to render the general peace
fecure and lafting.' And in
her meffage of the 17th of Ja-
nuary following, her majefty
again expreſſes The care fhe
• intended to take of all her al-
• lies, and the ftrict union in
which the propoſed to join
• with them.'
By theſe declarations it
ap-
And although France, in the
firft propofitions fent over by
monfieur de Torcy, had offered
to treat with England and Hol-
land, either ſeparately or joint-
ly, with the reſt of the allies, at
the choice of England, the
queen's minifters excluded the
allies; and in the conference
held with monfieur Mefnager,
They are muchfurprized to find
that he had orders to infift,
that the queen ſhould enter in-
to particular engagements,
upon divers articles, which
depend not upon her, and
'which regard the intereft of
C
C
:
the allies; and they infifted
'that it was abfolutely neceffa-
'ry to remit the difcuffion of
the particular intereft of the
1
•
allies to general conferences."
And when Mr St John was
preffing monfieur de Torcy to
give them fome explications of
what was defigned for the allies,
he affures him, If the king
would offer a plan of fpecifick
'preliminaries, the queen will
never communicate it to her
• allies.' And upon another
occafion he declares, This ne-
pears, her majeſty's own refo-gotiation was begun and car-
lution was to unite with the al-
lies in the ſtricteft engagements:
But her minifters had taken upon
ried on upon a fuppofition,
that the queen muft defift from
many conditions which in ri-
them, in the private propofiti-gour fhe was obliged to pro-
6
ons fent over by Mr Prior, to
inſert an article, That the fe-
'cret fhould be inviolably kept
between England and France,
till allowed to be divulged by
'the confent of both parties.'
cure for her allies."
In the meffage of the 17th of
January the queen declares,
Her plenipotentiaries had be-
'gun, in purſuance of their in-
ftructions, to concert the moſt
•
⚫ pro-
OF ENGLAN D.
239
well made, but not ſo majeſtick as her fifter queen Mary.
Her hair dark brown; her complexion fanguine and ruddy;
her face round, rather comely than handfome; her features
ftrong and regular; and the only blemish in her face was
owing
•
•
'proper ways of procuring a
juft fatisfaction to all in alli-
ance with her, according to
their treaties, and particu-
larly with relation to Spain
• and the Indies.' And her ma-
jeſty had ſaid before, in anfwer
to an addreſs from the houſe of
lords, prefented the 11th of De-
cember 1711.
I fhould be
<
forry any one could think I
'would not do my utmoft to re-
cover Spain and the Indies
' from the houſe of Bourbon.'
The committee did not doubt
but her majeſty was determined
to recover Spain from the houſe
of Bourbon but, that her mi-
nifters had no fuch thoughts,
and did not in the leaft endea-
vour it, appears in every part of
the negotiation. In the firft
propofitions fent over by Mr
Prior, demands are made of the
king of France, to be perform
ed by the king of Spain, which
the king of France was to en-
gage for. And as appears by
And as appears by
an entry in lord Strafford's
book, Mr Prior had orders to
fee if they had full powers from
Spain. In the ſpecial prelimina-
ries, an acceptation whereof was
figned by the earl of Dartmouth
and Mr St John, September
the 17th, 1711, it is faid ex-
prefsly, The king promifes in
the name of the king of Spain
his grandſon, and according to
the powers which his majesty
has received from that prince,
that Port Mahon and Gibraltar
shall remain to the English.
Theſe ſteps had been taken by
the queen's miniſters, even be-
fore her majeſty had made theſe
declarations; which the com-
mittee cannot therefore but con-
clude her majeſty was not in-
formed of. And although the
queen's plenipotentiaries were
obliged by their inftructions to
infift, That Spain and the Weft-
indies fhould not be allotted to
any branch of the houfe of
Bourbon; when the plenipoten-
tiaries of France, on the 11th
of February, 1711-12, gave in
their fpecifick explanation of the
general preliminaries, figned
by Mr Mefnager; the king of
France made his firft offers in
the name, and by virtue of
powers from his grandfon king
Philip, as king of Spain. On
the 4th of March, 1711-12, at
a meeting of the minifters of the
allies at Utrecht, where they
were to communicate to each
other their reſpective demands,
count Sinzendorff infifted, That
the reſtitution of the whole Spa-
nish monarchy fhould be expref-
ly mentioned; upon which oc-
cafion it appears, by a letter
from the English minifters of the
6th of March, That they were
the only minifters that did not
make any mention at all of
Spain, and that they were fen-
fible of the difadvantageous con-
fequences of being fo; but be-
ing defirous to take off this odi-
um, they make a general de-
claration concerning the juft and
reaſonable fatisfaction for the
queen's
1714.
240
HISTORY
THE
1714. owing to the defluxion fhe had, when young, in her eyes,
which left a contraction in the upper lids, and gave a clou-
dineſs to her countenance. Her bones were ſmall, and
hands beautiful. She had a very good ear for mufick, and
queen's allies, in conformity to
their alliances; and humbly
hope what was faid will not be
found contrary to what has been
hitherto declared.
All the attempt that the
queen's miniſters ever made to-
wards obtaining this great point
which her majeſty declares, fhe
fhould be forry any one could
think she did not do her utmoſt
to procure, was to demand af-
furances that the crowns of
France and Spain ſhould never
be united. The method of pre-
venting this union was never
mentioned by the queen's mi-
nifters in order to be treated of,
nor the fenfe of France and
Spain ever aſked upon it till the
latter end of March, 1712.
In the fame meffage her ma-
jesty further adds, The world
will now fee how groundlefs
thofe reports are which have
• been ſpread by men of evil
intentions, to ferve the worſt
defigns, as if a ſeparate peace
had been treated, for which
⚫ there has not been the leaft
• colour given.'
C
In this declaration, her ma-
jefty is adviſed by her mini-
fters, in order to clear them
from the juft fufpicions which
all the world had conceived of
the ſeparate meaſures they were
engaged in, not only to declare
there had not been the leaſt co-
lour given for fuch jealoufies,
but to brand all that entertain
fuch apprehenfions, with the
character of men of evil inten-
per-
tions, that had the worſt deſigns
to ferve. But that moſt juſt
cauſe had been given for theſe
reports, is fufficiently evident
from what was juſt now obſerv-
ed. The miniftry had infifted
that the fecret fhould be invio-
lably kept between England and
France, exclufive of all the al-
lies. A feparate negotiation.
between England and France
had been carried on by papers
fent backward and forward,
and much time ſpent therein,
as is faid in lord Strafford's in-
ftructions. Mr Prior had been
fent into France, and Mr Mef-
nager had been in England, and
not the least communication was
given for five months together
to any of the allies of theſe
tranfactions, which were de-
pending from April 1711, to
September following, from the
time that the first propoſals fign-
ed by monfieur de Torcy were
fent to the States, till the feven
general preliminaries figned
by Mr Mefnager, were com-
municated to them. When theſe
general preliminaries.
preliminaries were
figned, which were fent over as
a foundation to open the ge-
neral conferences, a fet of ſpe-
cial preliminaries between Eng-
land and France was figned on
both parts, which were con-
cealed, publickly diſowned, and
never appeared till this enquiry;
and all thefe tranfactions had
paffed, however diſguiſed to her
majesty, before the time that
her minifters adviſed the queen
to
OF ENGLAND.
241
performed on the guitar, an inftrument formerly much in 1714.
vogue. Her voice was remarkably clear and harmonious,
which particularly appeared, in the graceful delivery of her
fpeeches to the parliament. She was reckoned a pattern
4
to impoſe ſo grofly upon the na-
tion, as to declare in parlia-
ment, there had not been the
leaſt colour given for theſe fur-
mifes.
of
for a general fufpenfion of arms
both by fea and land, and even
the treaty of peace between
Britain and France. And on
the 4th of Auguft, 1712, Mon-
fieur de Torcy acquaints Mr
St John, That the king con-
fented to the duke of Savoy's
having Sicily upon certain con-
ditions; wherein one exprefs
condition is, That a peace be
concluded between England and
France, Spain, and Savoy. And
at laft, when the treaty drew
near to a conclufion, and almoſt
all the allies were ready to fign,
on the 20th of February,
1712-13, pofitive orders are
fent to the British plenipoten-
tiaries to conclude and fign with
France; and on the 28th, lord
Bolingbroke repeats his orders
to the British plenipotentiaries
to conclude and ſign with
France and acquaints them;
The duke of Shrewſbury had
declared, that their lordships
had orders, in cafe the French
complied, as they now have
actually done, to fign her ma-
jefty's peace with France with-
our further delay; and that
his grace had alſo declared,
Her majesty is adviſed here
to declare, That to report that
a ſeparate peace had been treat-
ed, proceeds from evil inten-
tions and to ferve the worft
defigns. But the committee ob-
ferves, That after this declara-
tion of the queen, her mini-
fters propofe to France, agreed
with France, and fent pofitive
and repeated orders to the
queen's plenipotentiaries, not
only to treat, but to conclude a
ſeparate peace with France. On
the 20th of June, 1712, Mr
St John acquaints Monfieur de
Torcy, the queen will make no
difficulty to conclude imme-
diately a feparate peace with
France, leaving the allies a time
wherein they may have liberty
to fubmit to fuch conditions, as
fhall be agreed upon between
the queen and the moſt chriſtian
king. In anfwer to this, mon-
fieur de Torcy tells Mr St
John, upon condition the queen
does immediately make a fepa-
rate peace, and keep no mea-
fures with her allies, the king
has determined to fend his or-
ders to permit the English troops
to enter into Dunkirk. On the
12th of July, 1712, Mr St
John thinks the queen in a
condition not to lofe a moment's
time in concluding with the mi-ly
nifters of France the convention
VOL. VI.
<
C
<
:
That in this cafe her majeſty
⚫ would open the parliament by
telling them he had made a
peace with France: theſe two
confiderations, his lordſhip
fays, were perhaps the most
prevalent inducements to the
French court, to come round-
into her majelly's propofi-
'tions.'
'
e
The
*
THE HISTORY
242
1714. of conjugal affection, and a prudent indulgent mother.
She was liberal, though an enemy to luxury and profuſe-
neſs. She was very referved; and, in all conditions of
life, fhe required a ftrict attendance from all perfons in their
respective
The committee clofe this head
with repeating a paffage from
one of lord Bolingbroke's let-
ters to Mr Prior, wherein he
fays,
If fuch overtures as
theſe were not inftantly ac-
cepted, our feparate peace
would, fitting this parliament,
‹ be addreſſed for, made, ap-
• proved, and the cauſe of
• France for once become po-
pular in Great Britain.'
•
"
✔
On the 6th of June 1712, the
queen fays, I am now come
• to let you know upon what
terms a general peace may be
• made.'
On the fame day, lord Bo-
lingbroke acquaints monfieur de
Torcy, That though the king
• of France had not answered
• the queen's demands, accord-
ing to expectation, the queen
⚫ would not defer going that
• day to parliament, and mak-
ing all the declarations that
were neceſſary to render the
• nation unanimoufly inclined to
• the peace.'
<
The queen fays, The dif-
⚫ficulties had been increaſed by
• other obftructions, artfully
• contrived to hinder this great
⚫ and good work' Whereas it
is notorious, that the minifters
had received but the day before,
the account that king Philip
had confented to make the re-
nunciation, upon which account
only the queen's fpeaking to
the parliament had been defer-
red.
The queen fays, I have not
• omitted any thing which might
procure to all our allies what
• is due to them by treaties, and
• what is neceſſary for their fe-
'curity.'
Lord Bolingbroke, on the
very fame day, in his letter to
monfieur de Torcy, fays, 'Lord
Strafford is going back to
Utrecht, and the inftruc-
tions he is to carry will put
the queen's plenipotentiaries
• in a condition to keep no
longer thoſe meaſures to
which they have hitherto been
obliged to fubmit; but from
henceforth they may openly
join with thofe of France, and
give law to them, who will not
• fubmit to juft and reaſonable
• conditions.
>
The queen fays, 'Nothing
has moved me from fteadily
purſuing, in the first place,
the true intereft of my own
• kingdoms.'
Lord Bolingbroke juft before,
on the 24th of May, had pro-
pofed to monfieur de Torcy,
<
That the queen being much
more intent upon the general
peace, than any patticular ad-
vantages, commiffaries fhould
be appointed to fettle, after
the peace, fuch points rela-
ting to trade, as required a
longer difcuffion than the pre-
• fent crifis would admit.
C
<
The queen ſays, That to
prevent the union of the
two crowns, ſhe would not be
• content with what was fpecu-
lative, but inſiſted upon ſome-
⚫ thing
<
OF ENGLAND.
243
reſpective ſtation, the herfelf being nicely obfervant of all the 1714.
decorums of a court.
The exerciſe the principally loved was hunting, which
ſhe practiſed in her chaife; but the gout increafing upon
thing folid: Although mon-
fieur de Torcy had before de-
clared to the queen's minifters,
That to accept of this expe-
dient which they propofed,
'would be to build upon a
fandy foundation.'
<
The queen fays, The na-
"ture of the propoſal for a re-
'nunciation is fuch, that it ex-
<
<
ecutes itſelf; and that France
and Spain are thereby more
"
her,
whereby our duties would be
'reduced as theirs are in France
by that Tariff.'
As to our commerce with
France, the queen fays here,
June 6, 1712, 'It was in a me.
*
C
thod of being fettled.' And
Mr Prior fays of it in May fol-
lowing, near a twelvemonth af-
ter, We had like to have
• made an Athanafian buſineſs
of it at Utrecht, by that ex-
planation of our own way of
underſtanding our own com-
merce. Their letters to you,
'full of furmifes and doubts
'that all was unhinged; and
'their letters to us again, that
de-explanations, however made,
effectually divided than ever.'
But monfieur, de Torcy had be-
fore affured the queen's mini-
fters, That this renunciation
• would be null and void, by
• the
fundamental laws of
'France; and they would
'ceive themſelves, who ac-
'cepted of it as an expedient
to prevent the union of the
⚫ two crowns.
•
The queen fays, Provifion
is made, that the fame privi-
leges and advantages as fhall
be granted to any other na-
tion by France, fhall be
granted in like manner to us.
But it appears, by a letter of
lord Bolingbroke's in January
following, to the duke of
Shrewſbury, That France re-
fuſed to let our trade ſtand
upon the foot of gens amicif-
'fima; declared the tariff of
1664, which was granted to
the Dutch, except the four
fpecies, was too beneficial for
us; and refuſed to grant it.
• until another tariff fhould be
• made in Great-Britain exactly
conformable to that of 1664,
C
were only to fave appearan-
ces, and fignified nothing: this
Melange, I fay, and my en-
deavouring to underſtand it,
• had like to make me run mad,
• if the duke of Shrewſbury's
extreme good fenfe, and mon-
'fieur de Torcy's not only ho-
neft, but right underſtanding,
• had not redreffed us.'
<
queen fays,
• The
The
• French confented to deliver
up Newfoundland and Pla-
centia.' But it must be re-
'membered, that in the pre-
liminaries figned in Septem-
ber preceding, the French had
' reſerved to themſelves a liber-
ty of taking and drying fiſh
' in Newfoundland.
The queen fays, ‹ An abſo-
lute ceffion was to be made
' of Nova Scotia, or Acadia.'
But Cape Breton, which was al-
Q2
ways
#
244
HISTORY
THE
1714. her, and growing extremely unwieldy, the difufed that and
other diverfions, conducive to her health, which perhaps
might have been longer preferved, had fhe not eat fo much,
an unhappineſs derived to her not from her father, who
was abftemious enough, but from her mother (1).
* Coke.
It was her unhappiness not to be much acquainted with
our Engliſh hiftory, and the actions of her predeceffors;
whereas, queen Mary was extremely well verfed, not only
in our own, but the hiftories of other countries.
Her reign may be called bloodlefs, not one perfon having
been executed, at leaſt beheaded, for treaſon, during the
whole courfe of it; which cannot be ſaid of any reign fince
the time of Edward I, who died in 1307.
Semper eadem was the motto of queen Elizabeth, which
queen Anne affumed upon her acceffion to the throne; and
which, had the purfued with the fame refolution and fteadi-
nefs, fhe might have exceeded her in glory and fame. But
ways underſtood to be, and is
fo declared by the queen's in
Atructions to the duke of Shrewf
bury, to be part of Nova Sco-
tia, is expressly given up to
France.
The queen ſays, 'The trade
to Spain and the Weſt Indies
may in general be fettled, as
it was in the time of the late
'king of Spain, Charles the
• fecond.' But when the pro-
ject of the treaty of commerce
came from Madrid, lord Boling-
broke fays of it, 'They had fent
ablind, lame, mis-fhapen, indi-
geſted monſter, inftead of that
fair offspring, which we had
• reafon to expect from our
'candor.'
If all the other parts of this
Speech be ftrictly examined, it
will be found that the miniftry
did fo grofly deceive the queen,
in order to impoſe upon the
parliament by her authority.
that there is ſcaree a paragraph
that does not contain fome un-
fair, or at leaft equivocal repre-
fentation of the ftate of the
negotiations. And when the
queen was adviſed by her mi-
nifters to make this communi-
cation to parlirmeut, as the
terms upon which a gene-
ral peace might be made, it is
very evident, that they had no
affurances that France would
make good what they prevail-
ed upon the queen to declare
in fo folemn and publick a man-
ner.
(1) This feems to confute the
fcandalous report of the queen's
drinking fpirituous liquors,
which was told with fo much
afſurance, that many who loved
and efleemed her gave into it,
whereas one of her * hiftorians
affirms it for a truth, that ſhe
abhorred all ſtrong waters. The
French continuator of Rapin
gives credit to the common re-
port, and fays, fhe accuſtomed
herfelf to it out of complai-
fance to the prince her huf-
band.
་
in
OF
245
ENGLAND.
in one thing ſhe was very unlike queen Elizabeth, whom
The propofed for her pattern. Queen Elizabeth was very
fparing of her honours, and a man muft have deferved it,
before he could obtain fo much as a knighthood at her
hands (m): whereas queen Anne made more peers of the
realm at once, than the other did in a reign of forty-four
years. Indeed, her great-grandfather king James, was the
firſt that was lavish in conferring honour, whofe example
was but too much followed by his defcendants; fo that queen
Anne was not fingular in that refpect, except in creating fo
many together, for an end that will remain a blemiſh upon
her adminiſtration, as long as history endures.
In queen Anne ended the line of the Stuarts, their merit.
and demerit may be rightly. ftated, by confidering what their
regards or diſregards were to the welfare of Europe; to the
union and ftregthening of the proteftant intereft; and to
the quiet and profperity of their fubjects. In order to make
up fuch an account duly and accurately, many important
materials are ftill wanting.
There had been a new vault made on the fouth-fide, and
towards the eaſt-end of Henry VII's chapel, to depofit the
body of king Charles II, in which that prince, queen
Mary, king William III, and prince George of Denmark,
were laid. Here the remains of queen Anne were likewiſe
depofited, and there being no more room left, the vault is
cloſed up with brickwork.
(m) It is well known how fo many knights at the taking
angry queen Elizabeth was with of Cadiz.
the earl of Effex for making
The end of the reign of Queen ANNE.
1714.
2
Q3
Ex-
246
THE HISTORY
Secret tranf-
actions a-
bout the pre-
tender.
Rep. of the
Com. of
Secr.
* See P•
EXTRACTS and PAPERS relating to the
Hiſtory of Queen ANNE.
1. The proceedings about the pretender, as reported by the
Committee of Secrecy, June 1715.
TH
*
HE Committee begin with obferving, that abbot
Gaultier *, though he did not appear to have any
publick character, refided in England during the greateſt
part of the negotiation for peace; and, upon extraordinary
occafions, was often fent backward and forward.
But
the fhare he had in the mere publick tranſactions, was not
219, 252. his only bufinefs. It was evident, fome negotiations,
which required more than ordinary privacy, were ver-
bally tranfacted; and, upon all fuch occafions, abbot
Gualtier was the perfon, to whom the French and Eng-
liſh minifters mutually referred each other. And as of ne-
ceffity nothing could be a greater fecret, than all mat-
ters relating to the pretender, this province was particu-
larly allotted to abbot Gaultier, that through his hands,
and under his conveyance, by French couriers, going con-
tinually betwixt France and England, fuch practices might
be carried on with great fafety, which, in any other man-
ner, had been too dangerous an undertaking.
C
I
The first time, that any fecret negotiation is expressly
referred to abbot Gaultier, is found in a letter of Mr fecre-
tary St John, of March 4, 1711-12, wherein he tells
monfieur de Torcy, He had deferred writing to him of
late, till he might write with certainty, till the neceffary
depofitions were made among our people at home, and till
the queen had taken the only refolution, which could
bring us, in a fhort time, to a good and folid peace.
have now the fatisfaction to tell you, that this refolution
is taken; and that Mr Harley will carry with him this
night, or to-morrow morning, the final inſtructions of
⚫ the queen to her plenipotentiaries. I refer myfelf to Mr
Gaultier, to explain to you more at large the ſubject of
this gentleman's commiffion, and what the queen hopes his
• moſt chriſtian majeſty will do to co-operate with her.'
C
The committee of Secrecy obferved, that feveral letters
and papers were wanting, which, by the circumſtances of
time and matters then depending, appeared of moment and
confequence; it was not to be expected, that thofe, who
had
OF ENGLAND.
247
had been fo careful to fupprefs matters of lefs importance,
would leave behind them any tranfactions, that might tend
openly and directly to favour and fupport the cauſe of the
pretender. But there were ftill left feveral paffages, which
are a plain indication of the tendernefs and regard, with
which the cauſe and perfon of the pretender were treated,
as often as mentioned, and which the committee thought fit
to bring together in one view, as follows:
There is a paper, that was left in lord Bolingbroke's
clofet, dated at Verfailles the 24th of September 1711, in-
dorfed, as other office-papers uſually are. It gives an ac-
count, that the popes's nuncio had, in his laft audience of
the king of France, made the following declaration :
<
<
،
That the court of Rome being fully informed, that
France was endeavouring to procure a peace upon the moſt
advantageous terms, that was poffible; and being perfua-
'ded, that, if the peace fhould be made, England would
not fuffer, that the king of France fhould permit the
prince of Wales to continue in his realms; the court
of Rome offers to the king of France, to give this prince
an aſylum at Rome, or in any other part of the eccle-
'fiaftick dominions.' To which the king of France return-
ed in answer, That an afylum for the prince of Wales
'would be no obstacle to the peace: that if the allies did
< truly defire to make a peace, he would accept of any rea-
fonable propofitions they fhould make; and in this cafe
an article for the prince of Wales would be inferted in
the treaty."
"
June 7, 1712, the bishop of Briſtol, giving an account
to lord Bolingbroke of fome difcourfe he had with fome of
the minifters of the allies, fays, Monfieur Confbruck, one
of the emperor's plenipotentiaries, kept alfo within the
terms of decency, fave only, that he took it for granted,
that one great end of all this management on our part
C was to bring in the pretender; which apprehenfion one
of the minifters of the States lately owned in private dif-
'courſe to have been the fundamental reafon of all their
• conduct of late.'
It is well known, what great ftrefs and weight was laid
upon the removal of the pretender out of the dominions of
France. This was what all the nation, with great juftice,
expected, and what the queen declared was taken care of, as
an additional fecurity to the proteftant fucceffion. But his
removing out of France, and being permitted to reſide in
Lorrain, was not only a great furprize to all the nation, but
was
248
THE HISTORY
<
"
C
was received with fuch juſt indignation, that the parliament
addreffed the queen upon this occafion, That ſhe would
• infift upon his removal from Lorrain; that refidence being
equally or more dangerous to Great Britain, than his
abode in France.' Her majeſty's anfwer, that ſhe would
repeat her inſtances, occafioned in the houſe of lords a be-
coming refentment, that the duke of Lorrain ſhould pre-
fume to receive and entertain the pretender to her majeſty's
crown, in defiance to her majeſty's application to the con-
trary. But it now appears in what manner the removal of
the pretender out of France was tranfacted and fettled; and
that his refiding in Lorrain was not only with the approba-
tion, but even by the direction and appointment of the
English ministry. Mr St John, in his letter to monfieur
de Torcy, of the 24th of May 1712, O. S. when he fent
him over the conditions, upon which her majesty would
make thofe important and decifive declarations to parlia-
ment, concludes that letter with faying, He hopes, that,
with the general repofe, we fhall fee revived, in a few
weeks, a good understanding between two nations,
which may become, to each other, the moſt uſeful
friends, for the fame reafons they have been the moſt
• formidable enemies. The queen commands me to tell
you, that the hopes, when you fend an answer to this
letter, we fhall have an account, that the chevalier had
begun his journey.' In anſwer to this, monfieur de
Torcy fays to my lord Bolingbroke, on the 10th of June,
• You may affure the queen, that the chevalier is ready to
⚫ depart at a moment's warning, if he did but know where
he was to go, and in what place he might be in fafety.
I own to you, that I know no prince, who is willing to
receive him, for fear of difpleafing the queen, or other
powers. It will be abfolutely neceffary, that there
'fhould be fome explanation upon this fubject, which I
defire you to make to me by the abbot Gaultier, if you
do not judge it proper to do it yourſelf.'
•
<
{
Mr fecretary St John, on the 6th of June, 1712,
O. S. writes a publick letter, in anſwer to the feveral points
contained in monsieur de Tercy's laft letter; but, in that
letter, takes no notice at all of the chevalier. But the
day after, June the 7th, 1712, he writes a private letter,
as he calls it himself, to monfieur de Torcy, and con-
cludes it with faying, The abbot Gaultier will write to
you upon the ſubject of the chevalier.' There were two
copies of this private letter, one delivered by lord Boling-
broke
C
OF ENGLAND.
249
broke, the other entered in lord Strafford's book: and, in
the copy of this letter given by lord Bolingbroke, this paf-
fage, That abbot Gaultier fhall write about the cheva-
lier,' is omitted by his lordſhip.
On the 22d of June, 1712, N. S. Monfieur de Torcy
writes two letters to lord Bolingbroke. In the publick
letter nothing is faid of the pretender: the private letter
concludes with faying, I have the honour to ſend you a
letter under the king's hand for her Britannick majeſty
and I refer you to what the abbot Gaultier ſhall ſay to you
about the departure of the chevalier.'
•
On the 21st of Auguft, 1712, lord Bolingbroke being
then in France, to give the finishing ftroke to all matters
of confequence, that were undetermined, in his difpatch
to the earl of Dartmouth, giving an account of his pro-
ceedings at the court of France, fays, The chevalier has
fixed his departure for the firft of next month, N. S.
they propoſe, that he ſhall retire to Bar, and they in-
tend to write to the duke of Lorrain, to aſk of the em-
peror, and other princes, a fecurity for his perfon during
his refidence in that place.'
<
But on the 28th of December, 1712, N. S. it appears,
that the chevalier was ftill in France; upon which ac-
count Mr Prior writes thus to my lord Bolingbroke:
Another point, upon which this court is very follicitous,
is, that the chevalier remaining in any town of France
obftructs the figning the peace; yet he cannot go to
Lorrain, till the emperor's paffports will fecure him
there. Your lordship, by the perufal of the papers, will
• ſee the ſtate of that cafe, and I have only to add upon
this fubject, that the court of France expreffes an im-
poffibility on their fide to do more than they have done;
and hopes we ſhould have intereſt enough with the em-
peror, to obtain fuch paffports from him, as may fecure,
as well the perfon, who is to go into Lorrain, as the duke
• of Lorrain who is to receive him.'
6
•
Mr Prior, on the 29th, writes to the fame cffect to the
lord-treaſurer, and fays, The monarch is a good deal
troubled upon this head, left the young man ſhould fall
into the hands of the huffars or barbarians. And mon-
fieur d'Aumont has, I prefume, orders to ſpeak to our
miniſtry upon it. As to the dowry, I fhall not only be
dunned to death, but hanged; for the dowager fends
meſſages to me, which you in England do not think it
extremely lawful to receive. But, if it is to be paid,
C
< play
}
250
HISTORY
THE
1
C pray let it be done in an handſome manner, that may
thew the charity of the queen, and the generofity of her
• lord-treaſurer.'
The papers, referred to in Mr Prior's letter, contain
an account of what the duke of Lorrain had done at the
defire of the king of France, to obtain from the allies the
neceffary fafeguard for the chevalier. He fays, that un-
derſtanding, that the queen of Great-Britain had already
granted her fafeguard or protection to the chevalier de St
George, he believed they had no more to do, but to apply
to the emperor, and to the States-general.
By this account it is evident, that abbot Gaultier was
the perfon intrufted to manage the affairs of the pretender,
with whom fuch practices were verbally to be tranſacted,
as the Britiſh minifters did not think proper to commit
to writing. It appears, that the place, to which he was
to go, becaufe nobody would receive him at the hazard
of the queen's diſpleaſure, and where he might remain in
fafety, was to be prefcribed from England: that this was
not fixed and determined till lord Bolingbroke went into
France and, if his lordship's inftructions are confidered,
it will be hard to find in them any thing of that impor-
tance and fecrecy, as to require his going in perſon to
fettle it. His lordſhip gives an account from thence, that
the pretender was to go to Bar; and this is acquiefced in
here, without the leaſt objection made. The miniftry are
told by Mr Prior, that the court of France hopes, by our
intereft, fuch paffports would be procured, as might fecure
his perfon. And, in the paper fent to France from the
duke of Lorrain, it is afferted, that the queen of Great-
Britain had already granted her protection to the preten
der.
But, November 6, 1713, lord Bolingbroke writes to
Mr Prior, and ſays, 'Her majefty having repeated to the
• duke of Lorrain the inftances, which, you know, have
• been fo often made to the moſt chriftian king, for re-
moving of the pretender to her crown out of his domi-
nions, I am directed to acquaint you therewith, that you
may ſpeak to the minifter of Lorrain, and to any other
minifter, whom you fhall think proper; and let them
know it is abfolutely inconfiftent with the amity and good
correſpondence, that is between the queen and their
mafters, to receive into their dominions, or to protect a
perfon, who difputes her majeſty's moſt undoubted title,
and thereby endeavours to difturb the peace and quiet of
<
• her
OF
251
ENGLAND.
her kingdoms. That you may be able to fhew them,
that this is the collective ſenſe of the whole nation, as
well as the queen's command to you, I herewith fend
C you the addieffes of both houfes of parliament.' This
can be underſtood as no more than a bare compliance with
the addreſſes of parliament. And how little refentment
and indignation was conceived againſt the duke of Lor-
rain, for this indignity offered to her majefty, appears
from a letter written by lord Bolingbroke to Mr Prior, No-
vember 10, within four days after his laft-mentioned letter
upon the ſubject of the pretender. This letter, fays he,
<
1
will be delivered to you by baron de Forftner, who has
'been twice at our court, with the character of envoy
• from the duke of Lorrain, and who is extremely well with
< your friends on this fide of the water, that I make no
doubt, but that he will be a welcome acquaintance to
you. I muft, at the fame time, recommend the intereft
of the duke of Lorrain his mafter to your care. You
know, Sir, how little that prince has yet felt the good ef-
'fects of what was ftipulated for him at Ryfwick. You
know, Sir, how juſtly he pretends to an equivalent from
this emperor for the Montferrat. In a word, you are
• enough apprized of his wants, of his expectations, and
of her majefty's earneft defire, if by any means fhe can,
< to contribute to the eafe and to the advantage of a prince,
• who deferves much better uſage than he has on many oc-
• cafions met with.'
<
There were feveral other letters, that were wrote after
the addreſs of parliament, to prefs the removal of the pre-
tender from Lorrain: But, after what has been ſaid, it is
needlefs to obferve, what little effect was to be expected
from fuch repreſentations made in the feveral courts of Eu-
rope, which were known to be contrary to the ſenſe and
intention of the court of Great-Britain. And, if any fur-
ther demonſtration was wanting to fhew their true fpirit and
inclination, it may be obſerved, that the addreffes in parlia-
ment were made in July 1713, and the first letter, that
lord Bolingbroke wrote in purſuance of thofe addreffes,
was the 6th of November, which was four months after
the addreſſes were preſented to the queen.
It will not be improper to infert here an extract of a me-
morial, touching the demolition of the fluices of Dunkirk,
delivered by monfieur de Torcy, to lord Bolingbroke, at
Paris, in Auguſt, 1712. It is not our buſineſs now to
examine, whether the queen of England, and the Eng-
• lifh
252
HISTORY
THE
1
liſh nation, were in the right to demand the demolition
of the fortifications, and the filling up the harbour of
Dunkirk. That is a thing refolved and agreed upon. It
may perhaps come to paſs, in the courſe of this affair,
for reafons eafily to be forefeen, that England ſhall re-
pent having demanded the demolition of a place, and
the deftruction of an harbour, which might be of great
ufe in conjunctures, which perhaps are not very remote.'
The committee of fecrecy did not take upon them to ex-
plain, what conjunctures France had in view, and which
they thought not very remote, when Dunkirk might be of
particular fervice; but they thought proper to conclude
that part of their report with obferving, That the preten-
der did, immediately upon the demife of queen Anne,
publiſh a declaration, which the duke of Lorrain acknow-
ledged in his letter of the 6th of December, 1714, that
he received from the pretender himself, wherein is this
remarkable paffage: Yet contrary to our expectations,
upon the death of the princeſs our fifter (of whoſe good
intentions towards us we could not for fome time paſt well
doubt; and this was the reaſon we then fat ftill, expect-
ing the good effects thereof, which were unfortunately
prevented by her deplorable death) we found, that our
people, infiead of taking this opportunity of retrieving
the honour and true intereſt of their country, by doing
us and themſelves juſtice, had immediately proclaimed
for their king a foreign prince, to our prejudice, con-
trary to the fundamental and inconteftable laws of here-
ditary right, which their pretended acts of Settlement can
' never abrogate.' Thus ftood the pretenders affairs at the
death of queen Anne.
<
<
<
"
II. The cafe of the Catalans, as reprefented in the
report of the Committee of Secrecy, June 1715.
AF
FTER feveral unfuccefsful attempts by way of Por-
tugal, and the defign upon Cadiz, to fettle king
Charles on the throne of Spain; and that the confederate
fleet had appeared before Barcelona in 1704, without the
defired fuccefs; her majefty, in the beginning of the year
1705, fent Mr Crowe as her miniſter to Genoa, with pri-
vate inftructions, to the following effect: That her ma-
jefty being informed, that the people of Catalonia were
inclined to caft off the yoke impofed upon them by the
• French;
<
C
1
OF
253
ENGLAND.
C
<
French; and by withdrawing themſelves from the power
' of the duke of Anjou, to return to the obedience of the
houfe of Auftria, was defirous to maintain and improve.
that good difpofition in them; and, to induce them to
put the fame fpeedily in execution, had made choice of
' him to carry on fo great a work, for the advantage of
' her fervice, and the good of the common caufe. He is
therefore ordered to repair to Genoa, Leghorn, or other
fuch neutral country or place, as he fhould judge moft
proper for carrying on her majefty's fervice in this parti-
cular; and to treat with the Catalans, or any other peo-
ple of Spain, about their coming into the intereſt of
Charles the third of Spain, and joining with her ma-
jefty and her allies. For that purpoſe he is to inform
himfelf, what number of forces they will raife, and
what they expect fhall be fent to affift them. If any
of the nobility infift upon a fum of money to be ad-
vanced to them, he muft affure them, he does not doubt
but he fhall be impowered to remit to them whatfo-
ever is neceffary and reafonable for their fupport, as foon
as they are actually in the field. That he hall give
the Catalans, or other Spaniards, affurances of her ma-
jesty's utmoſt endeavours to procure the eſtabliſhment
of all fuch rights and immunities, as they have formerly
enjoyed under the houfe of Auftria. That ſhe has, for
their further fatisfaction, fent to king Charles the third,
for powers for confirming the fame to them; and that
fhe is willing, if they infift on it, to give her guaranty,
• that it ſhall be done.'
<
C
6
C
Mr Crowe had alfo a commiffion of the fame date with
his inftructions, to treat with the Catalans upon the terms
before- mentioned, upon this exprefs condition on their
fide, that they fhould acknowledge and receive king
Charles as lawful king of Spain, and utterly renounce the
houfe of Bourbon.
He had, with this, credential letters figned by the queen,
directed to the nobility, magiftrates, and all officers, civil
and military, of Catalonia, defiring them to depend upon
the promiſes he ſhould make them in her name.
The earl of Peterborough, and Sir Cloudefly Shovel, by
their inftructions, dated May 1, 1705, are likewife or-
dered to uſe their endeavours to induce the Catalans to join
with them in their undertakings; and, to animate that
people to profecute their liberty with more vigour, they
are impowered to affure them of the queen's fupport, and
to
254
HISTORY
THE
to promiſe them, in the queen's name, that ſhe will fecure.
them a confirmation of their rights and privileges from
the king of Spain, that they may be fettled on a laſting
foundation to them and their pofterities. But, left perfua-
fions alone fhould not prevail, they are ordered, in cafe
the Catalans make no ſuitable return to theſe kind offers,
to annoy the towns on the coaſt of Spain, and to reduce
them by force.
In conformity to thefe inftructions, a declaration was
drawn here, and delivered by Mr fecretary Harley to the
earl of Peterborough, for him to publifh in Spain, full of
affurances, in the queen's name, of fupport, and of their
liberties on the one hand, and threats on the other;
which declaration he, on his arrival in Spain, did accord-
ingly publiſh.
The fuccefs of that expedition is well known. King
Charles, in his letter to the queen, of October 22, 1705,
gives an account of it, and what it was owing to, namely,
The affurances of your majesty's generous protection,
upon which my fubjects of Catalonia expofe their lives.
• and fortunes,'
C
No want of fidelity or zeal for the common caufe during
a long war, which abounded with extraordinary turns of
fortune, was ever objected to theſe people. On the con-
trary, they received to the laſt the applaufes of the allies,
and affurances repeated to them by every general and mini-
fter, who was fent from Great-Britain to that country, that
they ſhould never be abandoned.
When the queen entered into feparate meaſures of peace,
lord Lexington was fent ambaffador to Spain; at which
time, confidering the circumftances of king Philip's affairs,
and the obligations he had then received from the queen,
the Catalan privileges, if plainly demanded and infifted up-
on, could not have been refufed; and, without it, could
never be expected to be granted to a people fo remarkably
zealous for the common cauſe.
But his inftructions, inftead of directing him to infift up-
on this, as a condition of the queen's coming into the peace,
ordered him only to reprefent to the court of Spain, that it
is no lefs for the king's intereft, than for the queen's ho-
nour, that a general amnesty, without exception, be grant-
ed to all Spaniards, who have adhered to the houſe of
Auftria, and, in a particular manner, to the Catalans,
with regard to their perfons, eftates, dignities, and privi-
leges.
Thefe
!
OF ENGLAND.
255
Thefe inftructions, though very defective, were not
complied with: for lord Lexington, in the 11th article of
his paper, which is called Demands, delivered to the court
of Spain, upon his arrival there expreffes himſelf thus:
That the queen prays his catholick majeſty, that a gene-
ral amnesty, without exception, be granted; but leaves
out the words in his inftructions, with regard to their per-
fons, eftates, dignities, and privileges.
C
C
>
The king's answer was, That the general amnefty, re-
lating intirely to the general peace, was not proper for
the preſent treaty; and therefore he leaves it to be then
treated of: that his majefty will make ufe of his great
clemency, provided the queen will contribute to the fafe-
ty, to the repofe, and to the interefts of fo many faithful
ſubjects, who, according to their duty, had followed his
righteous cauſe in Flanders, and in all the parts of Italy;
and that an exprefs article be inferted in the peace,
wherein it ſhall be declared, That all fubjects, who have
done their duty, by adhering to his catholick majefty,
fhall be eſtabliſhed in their eftates and honours, of what
nature foever they be, which they enjoyed, when they
< were under his obedience; and that they may mortgage,
' exchange, or fell, at their pleaſure; and that they
fhall have full liberty to continue in the fervice of their
king; and that neither upon this pretext, or any other
whatſoever, they fhall receive the leaft prejudice, or the
leaft harm in their eftates and honours, or any moleftation
whatever; and that any municipal law to the contrary (if
there be any fuch) fhall be made void by the treaty of
• peace.'
C
•
Lord Lexington tranfmits this anfwer to England,
which, though containing a direct refufal at prefent of
what was defired, and only general affurances of clemency
from the king, on conditions, that could not poffibly be
expected to be complied with; yet his lordſhip, in his
letter to lord Dartmouth, writes word, That the 11th
article (which is this about the Catalans) was agreed to;
and thinks, what they defire is but juftice; and then
goes on, Thus, my lord, I have finished my negotia-
tion in the best manner I could, and hope it will be
to her majeſty's fatisfaction."
·
No diffatisfaction was fhewn by the miniftry in England,
either with this manner of negotiating, or the fruitleffneſs
of it; but the lord Lexington is ordered to proceed in the
buſineſs, both as it was an act of humanity, which every
one,
1
256
HISTORY
THE
one, to the utmoſt of their power, ought to promote; and
that the intereſt of the king of Spain was most nearly con-
cerned by that means, to get the Germans out of the
country.
Hereupon another memorial for an amnefty is prefented :·
the motive used to induce the king to grant it, is his own
intereft, and to remove the Germans, without any notice
taken of the queen's honour being concerned in the affair.
The king anſwered, That the Catalans had deſerved
little from him: that they were now reduced to a ſmall
extent of ground, by the withdrawing of the troops of
• Britain and Portugal: that his troops, and thoſe of the
king his grandfather, were entering into their country
by three feveral ways: therefore, more in complaifance
to the queen, than for the arguments that had been
offered, he was willing to grant his pardon to thoſe Cata-
lans, who acknowledged his clemency, and repenting
them of their error, fhould fubmit to his dominion and
vaffalage within a time to be prefixed.'
Count Zinzendorf, in the project for evacuating Catalo-
nia, infifted upon the preferving the people their privileges.
But the king of Spain refufed it, and would only grant
them an amnefty and pardon.
Lord Dartmouth, in his letters both to the marquis de
Monteleone and lord Lexington, fays, He cannot exprefs
the queen's furprize to hear, that the privileges of the
• Catalans were not intended to be preſerved to them by the
court of Spain: that thefe privileges were neceffarily in-
cluded in the meaning of a general amnefty already
< granted. And this was an affair, wherein the queen's
'honour was extremely concerned, and that he was
<
obliged by motives of confcience not to depart from it.'
Lord Lexington is hereupon ordered to infift again upon it
in the ftrongeſt manner imaginable; that when the king of
Spain is convinced of her majefty's fteadinefs, and the firm-
nefs of her refolution to adhere to this demand, no doubt
he will yield to what has been ſo folemnly promifed, and is
in itſelf fo reaſonable. That the marquis de Monteleone,
being reftrained by his inftructions from treating upon this
point, the negotiating of it muft intirely lie upon lord
Lexington.
Accordingly, his lordship prefents another memorial for
a general amnesty, with the confirmation of all their pri-
vileges. The amnefty he fays was granted; but the pri-
vileges intirely refuſed, and in fuch a poſitive ſtile, as he
never
OF
257
ENGLAND.
never met with, but in demanding a track of ground about
Gibraltar.
In another letter to lord Dartmouth, fpeaking of the ma-
ny denials he met with in Spain, he fays, Things are not
here upon the fame foot, as they were before the fufpen-
fion; for the king told me theſe words, We kno", that
the peace is as neceffary for you as for us, and that you
' will not break it off for a trifle.'
It may seem, at firſt fight, unaccountable how the queen's
endeavours could fail of fuccefs, when the declared her
confcience was concerned in this matter; and that though
fhe defired a peace, fhe would not act inconfiftently with
honour and juſtice to obtain it.
The first fatal ſtep to the ruin of the Catalans was the orders
fent lord Lexington (contrary to his first instructions) upon
his arrival at Madrid, to acknowledge Philip as king of
Spain in a private audience, before any one article of peace
or commerce was fettled, which put him in a condition of
refuſing this, and whatever elſe he fhould think fit.
The manner how Spain gained this important point, ap-
pears to be as follows: lord Dartmouth had acquainted
Mr Prior, that lord Lexington was not to acknowledge
Philip king of Spain, till he had agreed to the demands his
lordſhip was to make in the queen's name. However, lord
Dartmouth thinks it convenient, that the fentiments of the
French court ſhould be known upon this matter as foon as
poffible.
This method of proceeding with Spain was very much
difliked in France; and Mr Prior writes lord Dartmouth
a very elaborate letter, full of Mr de Torcy's reaſons, to
induce the Engliſh miniſtry to recede from that point, and
concludes with this remarkable one, That the whole
treaty being eventual, this acknowledgment of Philip as
king of Spain, would fall, as the other points, unleſs
the conditions were made good, and the peace agreed and
• ratified.'
C
C
Hereupon the lord Bolingbroke determines this matter in
favour of Spain, by imputing the former directions to lord
Dartmouth's miſtaking the queen's meaning, and writes
Mr Prior word, that he was equally furprized and vexed
to find, by the uncouth way of explaining the queen's
ſenſe, that Mr Prior had been led to imagine, it was in-
tended lord Lexington fhould make any difficulty of acknow-
ledging the king of Spain as fuch. The proceeding this
way, by acknowledging, the king in the first place (fays
VOL. VI.
R
• his
258
HISTORY
THE
his lordship) feems natural, civil, and unexceptionable;
but any other ſcheme is abfurd and inconſiſtent with all
the rest of our proceedings:' and he then concludes,
For God's fake, dear Matt, hide the nakedness of thy
country, and give the beſt turn thy fertile brain will fur-
nifh thee with, to the blunders of thy countrymen, who
are not much better politicians, than the French are
• poets.'
<
Lord Dartmouth, it feems, thought fit to acquiefce, and,
the fame day that this letter was writ, difpatched orders to
lord Lexington, to acknowledge king Philip in the first
place, notwithstanding his former inftructions to the con-
trary.
But to return to the Catalans: the minifters did not
fhew that zeal for the queen's honour, as might be ex-
pected, but plainly gave up this matter. Lord Bolingbroke,
in his letter to the queen's plenipotentiaries at Utrecht, tells
them, 'It is not for the intereft of England to preſerve the
• Catalan liberties; and likewife begs leave to make an ob-
• ſervation to them, that the Catalan privileges are the
power of the purfe and fword; but that the Caftilian pri-
vileges, which the king of Spain will give them (in ex-
change for the Catalan) are the liberty of trading and re-
forting to the Weft-Indies, and a capacity of holding
thoſe beneficial employments the king has to beſtow in
America, which (fays his lordſhip) are of infinitely greater
value to thoſe, who intend to live in a due fubjection to
authority.'
C
<
Lord Lexington alfo, inftead of fupporting the Catalan
privileges, treated the people as rebels; and to induce
Spain to make peace with Portugal, puts monfieur Orry
in mind of the neceffity Spain is in of withdrawing their
troops from Andalufia, in order to end the rebellion of the
Catalans.
When the convention was forced upon the emperor for
evacuating Catalonia, the imperial minifters at Utrecht in-
fifted upon the preferving, by that treaty, the privileges of
Catalonia, Majorca, and Yvica. But France and her con-
federates infifting, that this matter fhould be referred to the
peace, the imperial minifters at laft acquiefced, upon the
queen of Great-Britain's declaring again, That fhe would
interpofe her good offices in the moft effectual manner,
to obtain the privileges of Catalonia, Majorca, and Yvica:'
and the French king engaged, at the fame time, to join
his endeavours for that purpoſe. Hereupon, the negoti-
6
C
•
ation
OF ENGLAND.
259
ation in Spain was kept up, till our treaty of peace with
that crown was ripe, by which the Catalan liberties were
to be abandoned. This lord Lexington figned, content-
ing himſelf with proteſting againſt that article at the fame
time he figned it, as he had writ word before he intended
to do; and that therefore the queen was intirely at liberty
to reject it. Notwithſtanding the king of Spain's former
refufal, lord Lexington is again directed to infift upon the
Catalan privileges, and is again told, that the queen thought
herſelf obliged by the ftrongeſt ties, thofe of honour and
confcience, to infift upon it, for a people, whom the necef-
fity of the war had obliged her to draw into her intereft.
His lordfhip had figned the treaty with Spain before thefe
orders to preſent another memorial arrived. He thereupon
acquaints the marquis of Bedmar, that he was forry he was
obliged to do any thing, which he knew was against the
king's fentiments, but having received exprefs orders, he
muſt follow his duty, and prefents the following memorial:
(
The under-written minifter of the queen of Great-
Britain, in purfuance of the ſtrict orders he received the
laft poft, is obliged moft humbly to renew the inftances
he has fo frequently made to your majefty in favour of
the Catalans. The queen orders him to reprefent, that
'fhe has nothing more at heart, than to obtain for theſe
people the fame privileges they formerly enjoyed, which
the thinks herſelf obliged to do by the two ftrongeſt mo-
tives, that are poffible, honour and confcience, that the
may not leave a nation, which the misfortune of war
obliged her to draw into her intereft, in a worfe condition
than fhe found them. She hopes, that after all the pains
'fhe has taken for procuring a folid and lafting peace to
Europe, your majefty will not leave her with the grief of
having been the occafion of the lofs of the privileges of
that people, but rather, that in reſpect to the ftct friend-
fhip, which with God's bleffing is fo near being established
between your majefties, as well as the union fo neceffary
to the intereſts of both nations, your majefty will not
make any difficulty any longer, to grant this favour to her
majefty, which fhe has fo much at heart.'
"
•
6
<
The marquis de Bedman's anſwer to this memorial was,
That this point about the Catalans having been debated in
the treaty lately concluded, and figned in this court by his
excellency and himself, which his excellency will own, and
may be pleaſed to acknowledge, the king does not fee, that
any thing farther is to be done in the matter.
R 2
This
160
THE HISTORY
This treaty was fent to England, and ratified by the
queen. Lord Dartmouth fays, in his letter to lord Lexing-
ton, that lord Bolingbroke had the principal fhare in the
negotiation; and that the article of the Catalans was put in
as foft terms, as was confiftent with the queen's honour to
allow.
The terms of the treaty are, That the Catalans ſhall have
the fame privileges as the king's beft beloved fubjects the Ca-
ftilians enjoy.
When the king of Spain had received this convincing
proof of our miniftry's attachment to his interefts, and that
the ties of the queen's honour and confcience were of no
force with them, when oppofed to his defires, he takes a
further ſtep, and directly propoſes to lord Lexington, that
the queen would affift him with fhips to block up Bar-
celona. His lordship's anfwer was, That he was afraid
this propofal would meet with this difficulty, That her ma-
jeſty would be very unwilling to lend her hips to extermi-
nate a people, that had taken up arms, in a great meaſure,
at the inftigation of her minifters: and that ſhe would
think he had done enough to gratify the king, in not infift-
ing upon the preferving for them their antient liberties,
without helping to deftroy them. But the regard the mi-
niftry had to this requeft of the king, will afterwards ap--
pear.
The French ambaffador and the princefs des Urfins, pro-
poſed to lord Lexington (and the night before he left Ma-
drid, the king fent for him, and engaged him) to write a
letter, concerted with him, and approved by the king, to
the regency of Barcelona, advifing them to fubmit them-
felves to their king. His lordship affures them of his conftant
endeavours to do the best he could for them: that God had not
permitted him to do more than he had done: that if they
would take their refolutions foon, before he was out of Spain,
he would write for them in the manner they ſhould defire:
and concludes his letter with new affurances of his concern
for their intereft.
To make this appear the more friendly to them, he tells
them, he had intrufted the conful at Alicant to get this
letter conveyed to them, upon fome pretence or other;
though a duplicate of it was alfo fent to the count of Le-
cheraine, one of the king of Spain's generals, before the
town, with direction to have it fent in as by a deferter,
without his knowledge.
Mr
L
OF ENGLAND.
265
Mr Burch, his lordship's fecretary, amongst other rea-
fons, gives this for the writing this letter, That if the Ca-
talans had a mind to accommodate, the queen would have
the mediation, and if they had not, that then the court of
Spain would fee, that her majeſty would be always ready to
ſerve them.
But this artifice to induce the Catalans to abandon their
defence, in hopes of his lordſhip's good offices, had no ef-
fect upon men determined to die for the liberty of their
country. Nothing but force could extort that from them;
and therefore Sir Patrick Lawlefs, in September 1713, pre-
ſents a memorial to the fame effect, with what was pro-
poſed the month before to lord Lexington in Spain, fetting
forth, that the Catalans and Majorcans had not fubmitted
themſelves to the king's obedience, and interrupted all com-
merce and correfpondence in the Mediterranean; and fub-
mits it to the confideration of the queen, not only as guar-
antee of the treaty of evacuation, but as it concerned the
interefts of Great-Britain; and therefore his catholick ma-
jefty hopes, the queen will order a fquadron of her fhips to
reduce his fubjects to their obedience; and thereby com-
pleat the tranquillity of Spain and of the Mediterranean
commerce.
As foon as the feafon of the year would permit, a fleet
is accordingly fitted out for the Mediterranean under the
command of Sir James Wifhart, whofe firft inftructions
bear date the 28th of February, and the additional 18th of
March 1713-14; by which he is ordered to inforce a ſtrict
obedience of the treaty of evacuation in all its parts, upon
any complaints of the queen's fubjects, of interrupting of
commerce or depredations by the veffels of Catalonia, Ma-
jorca, Sardinia, Naples, and other places, to demand re-
ftitution; and, in cafe of a refufal, to make reprisals:
to repair with the fleet before Barcelona, then befieged by
the enemy, and demand immediate payment of the value
of the queen's ftores in the town, or a fufficient fecurity
for payment in ſome reaſonable time: to take care to time
his arrival before the town, according to the advices from
lord Bingley, then defigned to be fent to Spain: by the
ſtrongeſt repreſentations to induce the regency of Barcelo-
na to accept of the terms, that fhall be obtained for them:
to take all the neceffary meaſures, purfuant to the queen's
intentions, to put an end to the confufions, that now reign.
in thoſe parts: and all proper methods of perfuafion to in-
duce the inhabitants of Majorca to fubmit to the terins that
R 3
fhall
262
THE HISTORY
fhall be offered them; and, in caſe of refuſal, to employ
his fquadron in countenancing and affifting all attempts,
which may be made for reducing them to a due obedi-
ence.
It may be obferved here,
1. That although the queen had engaged herſelf by the
treaty of evacuation, to employ her good offices in the moſt
effectual manner, to obtain the Catalans their liberties;
yet inſtead thereof, the moſt effectual methods were uſed to
the contrary; and Mr Prior acquainted monfieur de Tor-
cy, that the queen was affured, the Catalans would ſubmit
upon the terms before offered by the king of Spain, with-
out fo much as mentioning their ancient privileges any
more.
2. That the French king, who had put himſelf under
the fame obligations as the queen by that treaty, after this
account from Mr Prior of the queen's fentiments, thought
fit alfo not to afk for their privileges; Mr de Torcy alfor
alledging, that the king had little intereft with the court of
Spain.
3. That Britain was under the fame engagements by
that treaty, to fupport the privileges of Majorca, as thoſe
of Catalonia, at the time Sir James Wifhart had direct or-
ders to attack them.
،
4. That when thofe rigorous meaſures were forming
against the Catalans, lord Bolingbroke writes word to Mr.
Prior, That by what we obferve in the Catalan agent
here, of whom we have never taken the leaft notice as a
¿ publick man, it is pretty plain, that a reaſonable accommo-
dation might be made, as he expreffes it, with that tur-
bulent people.' What was called turbulence in the Ca-
talans, may appear by their anſwer to the duke of Popoli,
the king of Spain's general, who fummoned them to fur-
render. They told him, they would die rather than be
flaves; but if their antient liberties were confirmed to them,
they would open their gates, and receive him with all
gladnefs.
The houſe of lords expreffed their concern in a publick
manner for the miſeries of the Catalans; and by their ad-
dress to the queen, April 3, 1714, made it their moſt hum-
ble and earnest requeft to her majefty, That fhe would
be graciously pleafed to continue her interpofition in the
moft preffing manner, that the Catalans may have the
full enjoyment of their juft and antient privileges conti-
nued to them.' Her majefty's anſwer was, That at
the
OF ENGLAND.
263
.
the time fhe concluded her peace with Spain, fhe refolved
to uſe her interpofition upon every occafion, for obtaining
thofe liberties, and to prevent, if poffible, the misfortunes,
to which that people are expofed by the conduct of thoſe
more nearly concerned to help them."
Hereupon, for form's fake, and to allay the indignation
conceived against the miniftry by the people in general,
who compaffionated the calamities of thofe, who fought
for liberty; the demand of the Catalan privileges is again
put down in lord Bingley's inftruction, who was before
ordered to go to Spain, but was never fent. So that the
only favour obtained from the miniftry by this earneſt ad-
drefs of the houſe of lords in behalf of the Catalans, was
an intimation ſent by lord Bolingbroke to the admiral, not
to appear before Barcelona, nor to attack the Majorcans, till
he fhould hear from lord Bingley, and receive directions
from England: and alfo a letter from his lordship to Mr
Grimaldo, above two months after the addrefs, though
the town was inveſted at the time of making it, wherein
he makes a kind and friendly complaint, as he terms it,
that the Catalan privileges had not been yet granted them,
nor any reaſonable terms offered, which they muſt either
have accepted, or forfeited the queen's compaffion, and that
of the whole world.
The admiral had alfo his fcruples, whether his orders,
couched in ambiguous terms, would juftify him in attack-
ing Barcelona. He therefore writes to lord Bolingbroke
and lord Bingley upon it, and fubmits it to lord Bingley's
confideration, whether the Catalans might not refufe con-
ditions, that may be moft advantageous, if they find he is
not to act by force; and defires, that his orders to act be-
fore Barcelona, either by force or otherwife, may be very
plain and clear; affuring him, that he will moft punctu-
ally obey thofe already given him, and fuch as he fhall
hereafter receive.
When Sir James Wilhart arrived at Cadiz, he gave
the governor a lift of the hips under his command for
the Mediterranean fervice, who fent it immediately to Ma-
drid: but though feveral meffages came from court to the
governor during the admiral's ftay there, no one compli-
ment was made him, to fignify his arrival was welcome,
or any queſtion aſked about what fervices he was to per-
form; which a little furprized him: that as foon as they
had an account at Madrid of hi arrival at Cadiz, Mr
Orry was dispatched to Catalonia with full power to treat
R
with
264
HISTORY
THE
{
<
with the Catalans: So that, fays he, it would appear, that
though the king of Spain has all the advantages of the
queen's fhips, as much as if they were actually before Bar-
celona, by repreſenting to thoſe people, which they very
well knew, our arrival in thoſe parts, and how far we are
on our way to the Mediterranean; yet the king would not
• ſeem to owe the fucceſs of ſuch agreement to the queen'
and her fhips, but to France only.'
<
But this negotiation of Mr Orry failing of fuccefs, by
the Catalans refufing to ſubmit, without having their li-
berties granted them, obliged the court of Spain to take
more notice, than otherwife they were inclined to do, of
the admiral, who, from Alicant, writes to lord Bingley,
then expected at Madrid, That he had received a very
civil letter from Mr Grimaldo, who fent him the king's
orders for exempting the provifions for the fleet from paying
any duty. He tells him, that this exemption was uſually
granted to the admiral himſelf, that commanded; but being
a trifle, he fubmits it to his lordship's better judgment,
whether the granting him this might not be a means to
prevent any thing, that might be intended by the court of
Madrid more to his advantage; and leaves it to his lord-
fhip's confideration, what may be moft for his intereft at
that place; and hopes, by his friendship, to find fome
marks of favour from thence, in regard to his expence in
this expedition, fo much intended for their ſervice, and for
which he has no allowance from home but his, pay, which
will not def ay half his charges:
In another letter of Sir James Wifhart to lord Bingley,
he acquaints his lordſhip, that though he had formerly de-
fired him to move the king of Spain, that the grant of
exemption of duties for provifions for the fleet might be
made to himſelf; yet, upon farther confideration of the
matter, which is but of fmall moment, and may appear
greater at the court of Spain and England than really it
is, he defires his excellency not to take any notice of it,
but let it ftand as it does; and defires his countenance and
affiftance upon any other occafion, that the court of Madrid
might take to exprefs their good-will to him. Nor was
it long before the admiral gave the court of Spain more
particular proofs, that he was not unworthy of their expected
favours.
After Barcelona had been invefted a confiderable time.
by the Spaniards, and reduced to great difficulties for want
of provifions, the French king, though engaged with the
queen
OF ENGLAND.
265
queen by the treaty of evacuation, to employ his good of
fices in the moſt effectual manner, in favour of the Ca-
talan liberties, thought fit to fend his troops againſt them,
commanded by marshal Berwick, who opened the trenches
before Barcelona the 1ft of July O. S. 1714. And, on
the 8th of the fame month, Sir James Wifhart, in the
queen's name, writ them a threatening letter, directed to
the deputies, and others, who poffeffed the government
there, telling them, that complaints had been made of
their diſturbing the commerce of the queen's ſubjects; and
that they had infolently prefumed to take, carry up, and
plunder their ſhips, and uſed the men in a barbarous man-
ner: He had therefore thought fit to fend captain Gordon
with two men of war, to repreſent to them theſe unwar-
rantable and preſumptuous proceedings; and by the queen's
command demands immediate fatisfaction for the fame, and
the puniſhment of the officers of the fhips with the utmoſt
feverity. If this be not punctually complied with, he leaves
it to themſelves to judge what the confequences may be.
The deputies returned anfwer, That only one of thoſe
• veffels mentioned in captain Gordon's memorial, was ta-
ken by them into Barcelona, being laden with falt, for
which they paid the price immediately to the captain of
it: that being befieged, they thought they might do fo
with juſtice, and by the law of nations: that they were
fo far from living like pirates, as their enemies fuggeft-
ed, in order to diftrefs them, by preventing any one's
coming with provifions for their relief: that what En-
glish veffels had entered their ports with provifions had
⚫ been well treated, and had freely fold their merchandize,
and at a higher price, than they could have got any
where elſe: that they had paid them with their beſt fort
' of money, and to all their fatisfactions: that they had
that day publiſhed an order, forbidding, upon pain of
death, any of their fhips to moleft any Engliſh, even
though they were going with provifions to the enemy.
They hoped his excellency will be ſatisfied with their con-
duct, which is conformable to the rights of people, that
are befieged; affuring him, that when they know any of
their fhips, either with commiffion, or without, that ſhall
have cauſed the leaft damage to any Engliſh, they will not
only immediately inflict a rigorous puniſhment, but repair
all the damage, defiring to live in the good correſpondence
* they have had with his noble and generous nation, with the
<
C
་
C
..
• ut-
266
THE HISTORY
1
• atmoſt deference for the queen, and ready to obey his
'excellency's orders with all affection and reſpect.'
،
C
<
The government of Barcelona, in their extremity, writ
another letter to the admiral, dated July 23, fetting forth,
That his excellency very well knew, that the engage-
ment Catalonia entered into to receive Charles the Third
for their king, was founded on the protection of the high
allies, but moft particularly of England, without which
• they were not capable of undertaking fo great an enter-
prize. That they had, for feven years together, endea-
voured to ferve the Engliſh nation in every thing it was
poffible for them to do, by contributing troops and con-
fiderable fums of money without intereft. And though
they had pleaſed themſelves with the thoughts of the hap-
pineſs to be always fubjects of Charles III. yet by the
ordinary change, to which human affairs are liable, they
now ſee the troops of the duke of Anjou, aided by the
French, mafters of all the principality, except Barcelona
and Cardona, committing through the whole the moſt
execrable hoftilities, burnings, and plunderings, without
fparing the effufion of innocent blood, and without dif
tinction of age or fex. That for a year together the ene-
my's army had oppreffed Barcelona by fea and land,
making them continually fuffer the calamity of fo long a
blockade, during which time the enemies have thrown
• fourteen thousand bombs into the town; which have
ruined the greateſt part of the houſes: that now they
< expect to be attacked in form, and that in twenty-four
hours the town will be battered in breach. They can-
not express their affliction, to fee the danger of the in-
habitants expofed to be victims of that cruelty, with
which the enemy threatens to treat them. Having no
comfort left, they fly to the queen of Great-Britain, be-
feeching her protection by the inclofed letter to Don
Dalmafes, their envoy at London; and, in the mean
time, till an anſwer can come, they befeech his excel-
lency from their fouls, to mediate with the French troops,
who oppreffed them, for a fufpenfion of arms, fince the
congrefs at Baden, now fitting, to conclude of a general
peace, may ftill determine this affair: they doubt not,
that his mediation will be able to procure them this re-
lief, fince his fquadron is fuperior to that of the enemy.
They ſee no other remedy in nature for their misfor-
tunes; and therefore hope his excellency will not refuſe
.
<
<
•
them;
OF ENGLAND.
267
them: that if Catalonia has merited any thing by its fer-
vices, and by its conjunction with the Engliſh nation,
that is the time to receive the fruits of it: that it is worthy
of his excellency to comfort the afflicted, and not to deny
them this favour in their great neceffity.'
How the admiral was affected with this letter, appears
by one of his to lord Bingley, dated Aug. 7, 1714, where-
in he acquaints him, That Mr Grimaldo had fignified
to him from the king of Spain, that all the king's fhips
of war being employed before Barcelona, his majeſty
'could not fend any of them to meet his flota then coming
home; and therefore defired the admiral to fend three of
his upon that fervice;' which was accordingly complied
with. Of this he had acquainted lord Bolingbroke, and
hoped to meet with her majeſty's approbation.
The Catalans thus abandoned and given up to their ene-
mies, contrary to faith and honour, were not however
wanting to their own defence; but appealing to heaven, and
hanging up at the high altar the queen's folemn declaration
to protect them, underwent the utmoſt miſeries of a fiege;
during which multitudes perifhed by famine and the fword,
many were afterwards executed, and many perſons of fi-
gure were difperfed about the Spanish dominions in dun-
geons.
III. The lord Oxford's letter to the queen,
June 9, 1714.
May it pleaſe your majefty,
I Prefume, in obedience to your royal command, to lay
before your majefty a ftate of your affairs. Though I
have very much contracted it from the draught I made,
and the vouchers from whence it is taken, yet I find it ſwell
under my pen in tranfcribing, being willing to put every
thing before your majeſty in the cleareft light my poor un-
derſtanding can attain to. It was neceffary to lay it before.
your majesty in the feries of time, from the beginning to
this preſent time; and when that is compleatly laid before
you, it remains only for me to beg God to direct your ma-
jeſty.
And as to myfelf, do with me what you pleaſe; place
me either as a figure, or a cypher; difplace me, or replace
me,
268
HISTORY
THE
me, as that beft ferves your majefty's occafions, you fhall
ever find me, with the utmoſt devotion, and without any
referve,
MADAM,
Your moſt dutiful, moſt faithful,
moft humble, most obedient fubject,
and unworthy fervant,
OXFORD.
A brief account of publick affairs, fince Aug. 8, 1710,
to this preſent 8th of June, 1714. To which is
added, the ſtate of affairs abroad, as they relate to
this kingdom; with fome humble propoſals for
fecuring the future tranquillity of her majefty's
reign, and the fafety of her kingdoms.
Her majeſty, on the 8th of Auguſt 1710, was pleaſed to
alter her treaſury, and two days after in a new commiffion,
Robert Harley, by her majefty's great favour, was made
chancellor of the exchequer.
The ſtate of affairs at home and abroad are freſh in every
one's memory.
The condition of the treaſury at that time was laid before
her majeſty in a large repreſentation.
I beg leave to touch fome few heads: the army was in
the field, no money in the treafury; none of the remitters
would contract again; the bank had refuſed to lend a hun-
dred thousand pounds to lord Godolphin, on very good fe-
furity: the navy and other branches of fervice, eleven mil-
lions in debt, which enhanced the price of every thing pro-
portionably; the civil lift in debt about fix hundred thou-
fand pounds; and the yearly income too little for the cur-
rent certain expence, by the loweſt computation, one hun-
dred twenty-four thouſand, four hundred ninety-five pounds,
two fhillings and four-pence.
In a few days this new commiffion made provifion for
paying the army, by the greateſt remittance that had ever
been known: though the oppofition from every office,
which was full of perfons who were enemies to the change
made by the queen, was very ſtrong, and very troubleſome
and vexatious and fuch was the fituation of affairs, that
nothing but great patience could ever have overcome theſe
dif-
OF ENGLAND.
269
difficulties; it being impoffible, as well as unavoidable; to
make removes, but by degrees.
As foon as it was poffible (and notwithstanding the cla-
mours then raiſed, it was the only proper time) a new par-
liament is called.
Its first metting was November 27, 1710. Robert Har-
ley had prepared the funds ready (before the parliament
met, as he had done every feffion to this day) not only for
the current ſervice of the year, both by fea and land, but
alfo for eafing the nation of above nine millions of debt.
This was thought fo chimerical, when Robert Harley did
begin to open it, that it was treated with ridicule, until he
fhewed how practicable it was. It is true, this gave great
reputation abroad, and enabled to treat advantageouſly of a
peace. It raifed finking credit at home; but, at the fame
time, as it drew envy upon Harley from fome, and the rage
of others, fo it gave offence to fome of his fellow fer-
vants, who told him plainly, that he ought to have told
his fecret, and if he would not get money himſelf, he ought
to have let his friends fhare a hundred thousand pounds,
which would not have been felt, or found out, in ſo vaſt
a fum as nine or ten millions.
To this principle was owing the fetting on foot at this
time the unhappy voyage to Canada; to all which meet-
ings Harley avoided coming, and gave lord Rochefter his
reaſons; and after he defired his lordſhip to be a means to
the queen, to hinder that expedition, but it happened to be
too late. But lady Maſham knows how much Harley was
concerned at it, though he did not know the true ſpring of
that voyage, which will appear after in this paper.
The beginning of February, 1710-11, there began to be
a divifion among thofe called Tones in the Houſe, and Mr
fecretary St John thought it convenient to be lifting a ſeparate
party for himself.
To prevent this, lord Rocheſter and Hailey defired to
have a meeting, and to cool ſuch raſh attempts; and it
was contrived Mr fecretary St John fhould invite us to
dinner (which was the last time he ever invited Robert
Harley, being now above three years) where was the duke
of Shrewſbury, earl Powlet, lord Rochefter, and others;
and lord Rocheſter took the pains to calm the ſpirit of di-
vifion and ambition.
Harley was at this time feized by a violent fever; and
on his firft coming abroad, March 8, met with a misfor-
tune which confined him many weeks. The tranfactions
during
F
270
HISTORY
THE
during that time, are too publick, as well as too black for
Harley to remember or to mention.
In the end of May, 1711, the queen, out of her unbound-
ed goodneſs, was pleaſed to confer undeferved honours on
Robert Harley; and, on the 29th of the fame month, was
pleaſed to put the treaſurer's ftaff into his hands: a poft fo
much above Harley's abilities to ftruggle with, that he had
nothing but integrity and duty to recommend him to her
majeſty's choice; fo he muſt have recourfe to her majeſty's
tranſcendent goodneſs and mercy to pardon all his faults
and failings, both of omiffion and commiffion, during
the whole courſe of his ſervice.
But to return and refume the thread of this difcourfe.
The 4th of June 1711, three days after the treaſurer was
fworn, he was furprized with a demand of twenty-eight
thouſand thirty-fix pounds and five fhillings, for arms and
merchandize, faid to be fent to Canada. When the trea-
furer fcrupled this, Mr fecretary St John and Mr Moore
came to him with much paffion upon this affair; and, about
a fortnight after, the fecretary of State fignified the queen's
pofitive pleaſure to have that money paid: and accordingly
her majefty figned a warrant, June 21, and the treaſurer
not being able then, with all his precaution, to diſcover
further light, the money was paid, July 4th, 1711.
Since the return from that expedition, the fecret is difco-
vered, and the treaſurer's fufpicion juftified: for the publick
was cheated of above twenty thousand pounds.
There is reaſon to be more particular upon this head,
becauſe it is one of the things never to be forgiven the trea-
furer; and lord-chancellor told him more to that purpoſe,
that they told him no government was worth ferving, that
would not let them make thofe advantages, and get fuch
jobs.
One thing more is craved leave to be added, that the
treaſurer was forced to ufe all his ſkill and credit to keep
the houſe of commons from examining this affair latt
parliament.
June the 12, 1712, the first feffion of laft parliament
ended.
From this time, to the beginning of the next feflion,
• The treaſurer's hands were full of negotiating the peace
in all courts abroad;' and befides the ordinary and necef-
fary duty of his office at home, he had frequent occafions of
calming the quarrels and grudges Mr fecretary had fome-
times
OF ENGLAN D.
271
times againſt lord Dartmouth, fometimes againſt lady
Mafham, and fometimes againſt the treaſurer himſelf.
The fecond feffion of the laft parliament began Decem-
ber the 7th, 1711.
This was attended with great difficulties and dangers, as
well from the practices of the difcontented here, as the
defigns carried on by Mr Buys, prince Eugene, and Both-
mer; in which defigns concurred the emperor and other
ſtates and princes who gained by the war.
This put her majefty under a fort of neceffity to preſerve
the whole, and to take a method which had been uſed, to
create ſome new peers.
So many having been brought formerly out of the houſe
of commons, of thofe who uſed to manage publick affairs,
it was propoſed to Mr fecretary, that if he would be con-
tented to ſtay in the houfe of commons that feffions, her
majeſty would have the goodneſs to create him a peer, and
that he ſhould not lofe his rank.
The fecond feffion ended the 21st of June, 1712, and
notwithſtanding Bothmer's memorial, and all other attacks
both from abroad and at home, fupplies were provided, and
every thing relating to the publick put upon a good foot, and
the malecontents began to defpair, as appeared by the duke
of Marlborough's retiring abroad, and other particulars.
After the feffion was ended, the queen, as fhe had pro-
miſed, ordered a warrant for Mr fecretary St John, to be
a viſcount: this happened to put him in the utmoſt rage
againſt the treaſurer, lady Mafham, and without fparing
the greateſt.
It did avail very little to tell him how much he had got in
place; for had he been created with the other lords, it
would have fallen to his fhare to have come next after lord
Trevor but the treaſurer, with great patience, bore all the
ftorm, of which lord Maſham was often a witneſs of the
outrageous fpeeches; and Mr Moore very lately told the
treaſurer, that lord Bolingbroke faid very lately to him, that
he owed him a revenge upon that head.
This difcontent continued, until there happened an op-
portunity of fending him to France; of which there was
not much occafion: but it was hoped, that this would have
put him in good humour; which it did, until in October
1712, there were knights of the garter made. This cre-
ated a new diſturbance, which is too well remembered, and
breaks out now very often in outrageous expreffions publickly
against all then made.
In
272
HISTORY
THE
2
In November, on the death of duke Hamilton, he was
much againſt duke Shrewſbury's going, for reafons very
plain, which then were in negotiation: for before the laft
feffion of that parliament began, a new model was framed,
or a ſcheme of miniftry; which how they afterwards came
to fall out, will appear in its due place.
The third and laft feffion began April the 9th, 1713;
which was as ſoon as the peace was concluded, and could be
proclaimed.
It is not decent to take notice, That during this whole.
negotiation, the treaſurer was obliged, by his own hand,
• and his own charge, to correſpondent in all the courts con-
cerned in the negotiation; and very often he had the
< good luck to fet right feveral miſtakes, and to obtain
fome things very little expected: but the only merit of
this belongs to her majefty, the credit of whoſe favour
brought it about, and gave power to the treaſurer to act
• with fuccefs.'
During this feffion, the lords of the cabinet, and others,
met every Saturday at the treaſurer's, in order to carry on
the queen's bufinefs, as they had done the year before on
Thurfdays. Many offers were made, and repeated by the
treaſurer, in order to attack former offenders, and quiet the
minds of the gentlemen, and of the church-party; and the
only reafon for this failing, was, becauſe of the project laid
for their new ſcheme, and putting themfelves at the head,
as they called it, of the church-party.
This being the laft feffion of parliament, and fome gen-
tlement fearing their elections, and fome for other reafons,
dropt the bill of commerce.
The treaſurer faw this opportunity, and immediately
took it, and prevailed with Sir Thomas Hanmer, and
others, to come into the payment of the civil liſt debts, in-
curred before the change of the treasury, though the pre-
ſent treaſurer was railed at, and maligned: which he chofe
to bear patiently, rather than own the true reaſon, that
there was no money to do it with, which would have ruined
all at once.
This ftep of paying the debts, put the malecontented
into the utmoft rage, which they did very publickly ex-
prefs in both houſes.
This laſt feffion of that parliament, and the third fince the
change of the miniftry, ended July the 16th, 1713.
The peace with France being over, and it growing ne-
ceffary to put her majefty's affairs into a further and more
fettled
OF ENGLAN D.
273
fettled regulation, and to eaſe the treasurer of the burden,
as well as envy, of fuch a bulk of bufinefs: her majefty
was pleaſed to approve of the ſcheme of the duke of Or-
mond's ftaying here to attend the army-affairs, which was
neceffary at the time of difbanding; duke Shrewsbury to
go to Ireland, upon his return from France; lord Findla-
ter to be chancellor of Scotland; lord Mar third fecretary;
lord Dartmouth privy-feal, and Mr Bromley fecretary of
ftate, and Sir William Wyndham chancellor of the Ex-
chequer. I am fure the queen very well remembers the
rage this caufed, as perfectly defeating their fcheme, and
fhewing that her majeſty would put her affairs upon a fo-
lid foot: the lord-chancellor faid it was against law, and
to this day will not treat lord Findlater with decency; and
lord Mar has met with many ill treatments, as well as Mr
fecretary Bromley.
But that the treafurer might leave them without excufe,
and make her majefty's affairs, if poffible, eafy with and
to thoſe in her ſervice; as foon as he was recovered enough
to write, he wrote a large letter to lord Bolingbroke,
containing his ſcheme of the queen's affairs, and what was
neceffary for lord Bolingbroke to do, as belonging only
to his province. This letter was dated July the 25th,
1713, and was answered July the 27th, by lord Boling-
broke; and the copy was fhown to lady Mafham, who came
to viſit the treaſurer then confined to his chamber; and
fhe then thought it a very good one, and what was proper
for the occafion. I believe the whole would be of uſe
to give light to her majefty into the ground and foundation
of the follies and madneſs which have fince appeared;
the whole is ready for her majefty's perufal when ſhe
pleaſes.
In this letter the treaſurer gives an account to lord Bo-
lingbroke of the occafions, or rather the pretences for
giving disturbance to the queen's fervants. He propofes
the remedy, and what was requifite to be done by him as
fecretary in his own province, and alfo affurance of the
treaſurer's affiftance to the utmoft, and of his defire to
confult with him [lord Bolingbroke] how to unite the reft
of our friends.
Being then fick, the treaſurer took the liberty to put
lord Bolingbroke in mind of the feveral particulars which
then required dispatch, and were folely belonging to his
province, without any other interpofition than that of taking
your majefty's direction.
VOL. VI.
S
Amongst
THE
HISTORY
274
t
Amongst others, that of a circular letter upon the addreffes
of both houſes, relating to the pretender.
This was not done in three months, His lordſhip wrote
word is was done July the 27th.
In the fame letter the treaſurer propofed, that (according
to the treaty of peace) care fhould be taken of the following
particulars, viz. Newfoundland, Hudfon's-Bay, Acadia, St.
Chriftopher's, Affiento, and other things contained in the
treaties of commerce.
Theſe particulars the treafurer thought to have been ex-
ecuted, until within a few weeks he heard the contrary by
accident, and that the time in the feveral treaties was elapfed.
Upon this, the treaſurer on Wedneſday, June the 2d, told
Mr Moor of this, and that every body would be liable
to blame who are in the queen's fervice. Thurfday, June
the 3d, 1714, lord Bolingbroke writes to the treaſurer a
letter, which begins thus:
"Mr Moor has been this morning with me, and has put
"into my hands a paper, which he calls, I think not im-
"properly, a charge upon me."
This paper contains the neglect above-mentioned in the
treaſurer's letter of July the 25th, 1713, and yet thoſe
faults are now charged upon the treaſurer.
From this account it is obfervable, that the earl of Ox-
ford took to himself the credit of correfponding with his
own hand, and at his own charge, and in all the courts con-
cerned in the negotiations of peace, and that very often
he had the good luck to fet right ſeveral miſtakes, and ob-
tain fome things little expected: that he boafted of his
lying hold of a feafonable opportunity in parliament, up-
on rejecting the bill of commerce, to prevail with mem-
bers of the houſe of commons to come into the payment
of the civil lift debts; and alfo charged feveral perfons,
then in high ftations, with corruption, and imbezzlement
of the publick money; and recommended himſelf to the
queen, by having ufed all his fkill and credit to keep the
houſe of commons from examining into the fame. The
committee of fecrecy having received information, that
large fums of money had been directed for fpecial fer-
vices relating to the war,' by figns manual, and war-
rants upon the fame, counterfigned by the earl, which
were afterwards paid to his order, the committee thought
it incumbent upon them to lay before the houſe copies of
thefe figns manual and warrants, and orders thereupon, to-
gether
OF
275
ENGLAN D.
gether with extracts from the regiſter of the Exchequer, by
which it appeared, that theſe large fums iffued for the fer-
vice of the war, were received and applied to the earl's
private ufe."
C
IV. A letter from the States-general to the queen
of Great-Britain, &c. dated Hague, June 5, 1712.
N. S.
A¹
MADAM,
FTER all the proofs which your majeſty has given
during the courſe of your glorious reign, of your
great zeal for the publick good, and of your adherence to
the common caufe of the high allies; after fo many marks
you have had the goodness to give us, of your tender
affection, and of your friendſhip to our republick; and af-
ter the repeated affurances you have given us, and that very
lately too, of your intentions, that your troops fhould act
againſt the common enemy, until the war was concluded
by a general peace: it is impoffible we fhould not be fur-
prized and afflicted by two declarations we have lately re-
ceived, one after another, in the name of your majefty;
the first by the duke of Ormond your general, that
6
he
could undertake nothing without new orders from you;'
the other by the bishop of Briſtol, your plenipotentiary to
the congreſs at Utrecht, That your majefty perceiving
that we did not anſwer as we ought, the propoſals which
you had made us, and that we would not act in concert
with your minifters on the ſubject of peace, you would
take your meaſures apart; and that you did not look upon
yourſelf to be now under any obligation whatever, with
respect to us.'
C
As foon as we had notice of thofe declarations, we fent
orders to our minifter, who has the honour to refide at
your majeſty's court, to reprcfent to you the reaſons of
our furprize, and the confequences of thofe declarations;
and to request you with that reſpect which we always had,
and which we fhall for ever entertain for your royal perſon,
that you would give other orders to the duke of Ormond,
that he may act with all poffible vigour, according to the
exigency of the war; and that your majefty would have
the goodness to entertain other fentiments of us, than thoſe
which the bishop of Bristol had declared to our plenipoten-
tiaries at Utrecht.
$ 2
But
276
HISTORY
THE
But the more we confider thofe declarations, the more
important we find them, and the more we apprehend their
confequences therefore we could not forbear applying
ourfelves by this letter directly to your majefty, hoping
that you will confider it, as we promife ourſelves you will,
both from your great prudence and wifdom, and from
your fo much famed zeal for the publick welfare; particu-
larly from your ufual friendſhip and affection for us and our
republick.
We proteſt before all things, that as we ever had a true
friendſhip, as well as the higheſt reſpect for your majefty,
and a fincere affection to all your interefts, with an earneſt
defire to live in a perfect good underſtanding and union
with you; we have ftill the fame fentiments, and fhall
always preferve them, wishing for nothing more, than to
be able to give your majeſty the moſt convincing proofs
of it.
After this, we pray your majefty to confider, according
to your great penetration, whether we have not juſt ground
to be furprized, when we fee a ftop put, by an order in
your majesty's name, without our knowledge, to the opera-
tions of the confederate army, the fineſt and ſtrongeſt which
perhaps has been in the field during the whole courfe of
the war, and provided with all neceffaries to act with vi-
gour; and this, after they had marched, according to the
refolution taken in concert with your majefty's general,
almoſt up to the enemy, with a great fuperiority, both as
to the number and goodness of troops, and animated with
a noble courage and zeal to acquit themſelves bravely; fo
that, in all human appearance, and with the divine affif-
tance, which we have experienced fo vifibly on fo many
other occafions, we fhould have been able, either by battle.
or fieges, to gain great advantages over the enemy, to have
bettered the affairs of the allies, and to falicitate the nego-
tiations of peace.
We flatter ourſelves indeed with the hopes, which the
duke of Ormond has given us, That in a few days he ex-
pects other orders; but in the mean time, we are forry to
fee one of the fineft opportunities loft, being uncertain
whether we ſhall have another fo favourable, fince the ene-
my have time given them to fortify themſelves, and take
their precautions, while the army of the allies lies fill with-
out action; and, confuming the forage all round, deprive
themſelves of the means of fublifting for time to come, in
thofe places where, by concert, the operations of the cam-
paign
OF
277
ENGLAND.
paign were defigned; which may make fuch enterprizes
impoffible hereafter, as were practicable now, and confe-
quently render the whole campaign unfuccefsful, to the
ineftimable prejudice of the common caufe of the high
allies.
Certainly when we confider the army as it really is,
compofed of the troops of your majefty and the other al-
lies, joined together by common concert, to act for the
greatest advantage and furtherance of the common caufe,
and the affurances which your majefty had given us by
your letters, by your minifters, and laft of all by your
general the duke of Ormond, of your intentions that
your troops fhould be ordered to act with their uſual
vigour,' as well as the engagements into which your
majesty is entered, not only with refpect to us, but alſo
feparately and jointly with us, in refpect to the other al-
lies; it is very difficult for us to conjecture and conceive,
how an order fo prejudicial to the common cauſe, given
fo fuddenly, without our knowledge, and undoubtedly
too without the knowledge of the other allies, can agree
and confiſt with the nature of an alliance, and with thoſe
affurances and engagements juft now mentioned. For
though, according to the declaration of the bishop of
Briftol, your majefty holds yourſelf to be difengaged from
every obligation with regard to us, it is plain, that the
matter now in queſtion is not our particular intereft or ad-
vantage, but that of all the allies, who will fuffer by the
prejudice, which an order fo little expected muft needs bring
to the common cauſe.
But, Madam, we cannot forbear telling your majesty,
that the declaration made by the bishop of Briſtol, at
Utrecht, has no lefs furprized us, than that of the duke of
Ormond in the army. It appears to us fo extraordinary,
that we know not how to reconcile it with the great good-
neſs and kindneſs which your majefty has always honoured
us with; and not being able to conceive how fuch a fudden
change could happen, with refpect to us, we are not only
furprized, but afflicted at it. We have carefully examined
our conduct, and find nothing in it, that can have given
ground to that diffatisfaction which your majefty expreffes
with us, by this declaration.
From the very first day that your majefty afcended the
throne, we teftified all the deference that you could de-
fire, from a ftate in friendship and alliance with you. We
carefully fought after your amity and affection, and con-
S 3
fidering
278
HISTORY
THE
fidering the happy effects which a good intelligence, har-
mony, and union between your majefty and us, and the
two nations, might produce, and have really produced, and
the advantage which refulted from thence to both, as well
as to the common caufe of all the allies, we made it our
buſineſs heartily to cultivate them, and more and more to
gain your majeſty's confidence, and to conform ourſelves to
your fentiments as much as poffibly we could.
We think that we gave a fignal proof of this, particularly
with regard to the negotiations of peace; fince not only
after we were informed of the conferences formerly held in
England upon this fubject, we did expect that your majefty
would give us an account of them; having this firm confi-
dence in your friendſhip for our republick, and in your zeal
for the good of the common caufe, that nothing would be
done to prejudice us, nor the other allies: but alſo when
your majefty communicated to us the preliminary articles
figned by M. Mefnager in England, and when you propoſed
to us the calling and holding a congrefs for a general peace,
and required of us to grant for this end neceflary paffports
for the enemies minifters, we confented to it, though we
had many reaſons, which to us feemed very well grounded,
not to enter into fuch a treaty without a better foundation,
or at leaſt without the concurrence of the other allies; but
we preferred your majeſty's fentiments to our own, in order
to give you a new proof of our deference.
We did no lefs, with respect to the difficulties which were
ftarted on the fubject of the treaty of mutual guaranty for
the fucceffion of the proteftant line to your majefty's king-
doms, and for our barrier; a treaty of fuch importance to
the two nations, that we look upon it as the ſtrongeſt tie
that could be thought on to unite for ever the hearts and in-
terefts of both, concluded after the matureft deliberation,
and ratified on both fides in the moſt authentick form: for
though we might have ſtood to the treaty as it was, yet we
entered into a negotiation upon thofe difficulties, and par-
ticularly on the point of the Affiento, concerning which,
we gave our plenipotentiaries fuch inftructions, that we no
longer doubted but all the difficulties would have been ad-
juſted to mutual content, and that we fhould thereby have
intirely regained your majefty's confidence; and the rather,
becauſe, in the first place, when the meeting of a congrefs
for a general peace was in hand, your majefty declared to us
by your ambaſſador, That you defired no more than our
concurrence in that fingle point, and this only mark of
•
6
⚫ our
OF
279
ENGLAND.
our confidence, and that then you would give us ftrong
and real proofs of your affection towards us, and of your
< upright intentions, with refpect to the common cause of
all the allies;' and that afterwards, when the difficulties
about the fucceffion and the barrier were raiſed, your ma-
jefty did likewiſe affure us, that if we would remit fome-
thing upon the moft effential points, and particularly about
the affair of the Affiento, it would be the true way to re-
eſtabliſh a mutual confidence; which being once reftored,
your majefty would take particularly to heart the intereſts of
this ſtate, and act in conjunction with us in the whole ne-
gotiation, to obtain an honourable, good, and fure peace.
But we find ourſelves very much out in our expectation,
fince, at the very fame time, when we made the greateſt
advances towards your majefty, and that we did verily be-
lieve we ſhould come to an agreement about the points in
difference, we ſee the earl of Strafford gone, without finiſh-
ing that affair; we fee the army ſtopped in the beginning of
its career; and we hear a declaration, by which your ma-
jefty looks upon yourſelf to be difengaged from all obligations
with us; for which the reaſons alledged are, That we
have not anſwered as we ought, the advances which your
majeſty made towards us, and that we would not að in
6 concert with your minifters about the peace.'
6
If your majefty will be pleafed to look with a favourable
and equitable eye upon our conduct, we flatter ourſelves,
and have a firm confidence, that you will find nothing in
it which can give you fuch difadvantageous ideas and
thoughts of us; but that you will rather find, that we have.
performed and do ftill perform all that we are bound to, as
good and faithful allies; and particularly to your majeſty.
What we have faid already, might perhaps be fufficient
to perfuade you of it; but we muſt add, that having al-
ways eſteemed your majeſty's affection, and a good harmo-
ny betwixt the two nations, as one of the ſtrongeſt ſupports
of our ftate, and of the proteftant religion, and as one of
the moſt effectual methods to maintain and advance our
common interefts, and thofe of the whole confederacy;
and this fincere opinion being firmly imprinted on our
hearts, we were never backward to communicate and con-
fult in all confidence with your majefty and your matters,
upon the affairs of peace, according to the foundations laid
down in the grand alliance and other treaties. We declace,
that we have always been inclinable and ready to do it; and
are fo fill, as far as we can, without prejudice to the other
allies,
S 4
280
HISTORY
THE
allies, and without departing from, or acting againſt the
engagements, treaties, and alliances which we have entered
into.
But, madam, all the propoſals hitherto made to us upon
that fubject, were couched in very general terms, without
communicating to us the refult of the negotiations betwixt
your majeſty's minifters and thofe of France, nor even your
majeſty's thoughts about the ſubject, which we ought to
have concerted together. It is true, that in ſome of the
laft conferences, your majefty's minifters demanded to know
whether ours were furniſhed with a full power, and authoriſed
to draw up a plan for the peace; but it had been juft, before
fuch a thing was demanded of us. That they fhould have
communicated the refult of the negotiations, fo long treated
of betwixt your majefty's minifters and thoſe of the enemy;
or, at leaſt they ſhould have told us your majeſty's thoughts.
Had that plan related only to your majeſty's intereſt and
ours, we ſhould perhaps have been in the wrong not to
have forthwith come into it, though even in that cafe the
affair would not have been without its difficulties, fince the
leaft notice of it which fhould have come to the enemy,
muſt have been very prejudicial: but as the plan in queſtion
concerned the intereft of all the allies, and almoſt all Eu-
rope, we had very ftrong apprehenfions, That as the par-
ticular negotiations betwixt your majefty's miniſters and
thofe of France, and the readineſs with which we conſented
to the congrefs at Utrecht, and to the giving of paſſports
to the enemy's minifters, had already occafioned abundance
of fufpicions, and much uneafinefs to his imperial majefty,
and the other allies: we fay, we apprehended, that his im-
perial majefty, and the other allies coming to know (which
would have been very difficult to conceal from them) the
concert betwixt your majeſty's minifters and ours, for a plan
of peace, and that before the minifters of France had given
a ſpecific anſwer to the demands of the allies, their fufpici-
ons and uneafinefs would have increaſed, and that way of
proceeding might have given them ground to entertain pre-
judicial thoughts, as if it had been the intention of your
majefty and us, to abandon the grand alliance and the com-
mon cauſe, or at leaft that we alone took upon us to deter-
mine the fate of all the other allies; by which his imperial
majesty and the other confederates might have been puſhed
on to feparate meafures, and to take fuch fteps as would be
no ways agreeable to your majeſty's intereſt.
We
OF ENGLAND.
281
We thought theſe reaſons ftrong enough to juftify our
conduct to your majefty on this head; and if we did not
enter with all the readiness which you might have wiſhed
for, into the concert propofed, we hope, that at moſt,
your majeſty will look upon our backwardness, only as an
exceſs of prudence, or of fcruple, and not in the leaſt as a
want of confidence in your majefty; while the allies might
have confidered it as a departing from the treaties, and par-
ticularly from the eighth article of the grand alliance. We
alſo hope that your majefty, for the reafons here alledged,
will lay afide thofe hard thoughts of us, as if we had not
anſwered as we ought, the advances which your majeſty
made towards us, and that we would not act in concert
with your minifters upon the fubject of the peace. But,
Madam, though your majeſty ſhould not acquiefce in our
reaſons (of which however we cannot doubt) we pray your
majefty to confider, Whether that be fufficient for your
majefty to think, that you are difengaged from all obliga-
tions with refpect to us?
Had we acted against, and contravened the engagements
and treaties which we had the honour to conclude with
your majeſty, we might have expected from your goodneſs
and juftice, that you would have reprefented thoſe contra-
ventions to us, and not have looked upon yourſelf to be
difengaged, till fuch time as we had refuſed to give all ne-
ceffary redreſs. But, as we did no ways engage to enter with
your majeſty into a concert to draw up a plan of peace, with-
out the participation of the other members of the grand alli-
ance, the backwardness we have fhewn upon that head,
cannot be looked upon as a contravention of our engage-
ments, and therefore cannot ferve to difengage your majefty
from yours, with reſpect to us, fince we are verily perfuaded,
that we have fully anſwered all our treaties, and all our
alliances, both with your majefty, and with the high allies
in general; and that we have done more in this preſent war,
than could in juſtice and equity have been expected from us.
All the difference betwixt your majefty and us in this point,
is no more, if rightly confidered, than a difparity of fen-
timents.
1
In truth, madam, if for fuch a caufe betwixt potentates,
allied and united together by the ftrongest and ftrictest ties.
of alliance, intereft, and religion, any one of thofe poten-
tates conld quit all their engagements, and difengage them-
felves from all their obligations, there is no tie fo ftrong,
which
282
HISTORY
THE
7
which may not be broke at any time; and we know of no
engagements that could be relied on, in time to come.
We affure ourſelves, that when your majefty confiders the
confequences, you will not perfift in the declaration which
the bishop of Briſtol has made: We befeech you, with all
the refpect, and all the earneftnefs of which we are capa-
ble, that you would not; and alfo that you would be
pleaſed to revoke the order given to the duke of Ormond,
if it be not revoked already; and that you would authorize
him to act according to occurrences, and as the exigency
of the war, and the advancement of the common caufe
fhall require.
We alſo requeſt, you, madam, to communicate to us
the refult of the conferences betwixt your minifters and
thofe of the enemy, or at leaſt your thoughts upon the peace,
and we will endeavour to give your majefty all imaginable
proofs of our deference for your fentiments and of our fincere
defire to preferve your valuable friendſhip, as much as we
can, without acting contrary to the faith of the engagements.
into which we have entered, by treaties and alliances with
your majeſty, and other potentates.
We are firmly perfuaded, that it is not your majeſty's in-
tention in any manner to break them, fince you have al-
ways been of the fame opinion with us and the other allies,
That a good union betwixt the allies, not only during the
prefent war, but alfo after the peace fhall be concluded, is,
and always will be the moft folid, and even the only me-
thod to preſerve the liberty and independency of all together,
and of every one in particular, against the great power of
France.
We expect alfo, that after having given fuch great and
fignal proofs of your wifdom, of your firmness, and of
your zeal for the fupport of the common cauſe, your ma-
jefty will not now take fuch refolutions as may be prejudicial
to us and to the other allies; but that, in order to obtain an
honourable, fure, and general peace, you will purſue the
fame methods, and keep to the fame maxims which you for-
merly held, and which Almighty God hath bleffed in fo re-
markable a manner, by victories and great events, which
will render the glory of your majefty's reign immor-
tal (m.)
(m) To theſe papers it may be proper to add extracts of the
treaties of Utrecht.
I. Be
OF
283
ENGLAND.
J
I. Between Great-Britain
and France.
or fea, in money, arms, am-
munition, ftores, fhips, fol-
diers, or any other way, to any
I. Perpetual peace and true perfon who fhall oppofe the
friendſhip
II. Ceffation of all hoftilities.
III. All offences, damages,
&c. fhall be buried in obli-
vion.
IV. The moſt chriftian king
acknowledges the limitation
of the fucceffion to the king-
dom of Great-Britain, in the
proteftant line, and on the faith,
word, and honour of a king,
declares, he, and his heirs fhall
accept and approve the fame
for ever; and promifes, that
no one, befides the queen and
her fucceffors, according to the
faid limitation, fhall ever, by
him and his fucceffors, be ac-
knowledged king or queen of
Great-Britain; and that he and
his heirs will take all poffible
care, that the perfon, who,
fince the deccafe of king James,
did take upon him the title of
king of Great-Britain, fhall
not, at any time hereafter, re-
turn into the kingdom of
France, or any the dominions
thereof.
V. The moſt chriftian king
promiſes, for himſelf, and heirs,
that they will at no time di-
fturb the queen of Great-Bri-
tain, her heirs and fucceffors
of the protestant line, nor give
any aid, favour, or council,
directly or indirectly, by land
proteftant fucceffion.
VI. The union of France
and Spain being the chief
foundation of the war, it is
provided and fettled by renun-
ciations, that theſe kingdoms
ſhall never be joined in one
The most chriftian king en
gages, that he will, not endea-
vour to obtain any ufage of na-
vigation and trade to Spain
and the Spaniſh Indies, than
what was practiſed in the reign
of Charles II. of Spain, or than
what ſhall be granted to other
nations.
VII. Free navigation and
commerce, as before the war,
and as agreed by the treaty of
commerce this day made be-
tween the two nations.
VIII That the ordinary dif-
tribution of justice be opened,
fo that the ſubjects of both fides
may fue for, and obtain their
rights, according to the laws of
each kingdom.
IX. The moſt chriſtian king
fhall take care, that the fortifi-
cations of Dunkirk, towards the
fea, be raſed within two months;
and thoſe towards the land with-
in three months, and the har-
bour be filled up, and the fluices
or moles levelled at the king's
expence'; and that the fortifi-
cations, harbours and moles be
* In this article are included, I. The French king's letters
patent, which admit the renunciations of the king of Spain,
and thoſe of the dukes of Berry and Orleans. II. The king
of Spain's renunciation. III. The duke of Berry's renuncia-
tion. IV. The duke of Orlean's renunciation. V. The French
king's letters patent of December 1700.
nover
284
THE HISTORY
never repaired again. All which,
however, fhall not begin to
be ruined, till every thing is
put into his hands which is to
be given him inftead thereof, or
an equivalent.
X. Hudſon's Bay fhall be re-
fored to the queen of Great-
Britain.
XI. All damages to the Hud-
fon's Bay company, by depre-
dations of the French in time
of peace, ſhall be fatisfied, ac-
cording to the eſtimates of com-
miffaries to be named at the re-
quifition of each party. The
fame concerning the damages
laſt year in the iſland of Mont-
ferrat, and concerning the things
complained of by the French,
relating to Nevis, and caftle of
Gambia
XII. The iſland of St Chrif-
topher, all Nova Scotia or Aca-
dia, Port Royal or Annapolis,
fhall be delivered to the English,
and the French excluded from
all kind of fiſhing in the feas,
bays, or other places on the
coalls of Nova Scotia; that is,
on thoſe lying towards the eaft,
within thirty leagues, beginning
from Sable-iſland, and thence
ftretching along towards the
fouth-west.
XIII. Newfoundland, and the
adjacent iſlands fhall belong
wholly to Britain; and the town
and fortrefs of Placentia ſhall
be delivered up within feven
months. Only it fhall be al-
lowed to the French to catch
fiſh, and dry them on the land
from cape Bonavista, round
northward to Point Riche. But
the iſland of Cape Breton, as alfo
all others, both in the mouth of
the river, and gulph of St Lau-
rence, fhall belong to the French,
XIV. A year ſhall be allow-
ed to the French to remove and
carry off their effects, from the
places to be yielded up by this
treaty, and the free exerciſe of
their rcligion, to thoſe that are
willing to remain there.
XV. The French of Canada
fhall give no moleſtation to the
five nation of Indians, ſubject
to Britain; and the Engliſh fhall
behave peaceably to the Ameri-
cans, friends of France, and on
both fides they fhall enjoy full
liberty of going and coming on
account of trade.
XVI. All letters of reprifal
and marque fhall be recalled,
and none granted hereafter, but
upon plain proof of a denial, or
wrongful delay of justice; and
unleſs the petition of him, who
defires the letter of reprifal, be
ſhown to the minifter of that
prince, against whofe fubjects.
the letters are demanded, that
he, within four months or foon-
er, may make inquiry, or pro-
cure fatisfaction. But in caſe of
no miniſter, the letters are not
to be granted till after four
months, from the day the peti-
tion was exhibited to the prince,
againſt whoſe ſubjects the let-
ters are deſired, or to his privy-
council.
XVII. The conditions of the
fufpenfion of arms, made the
11th day of Auguft laft, relat-
ing to fhips, merchandizes, and
other effects, taken on either
fide, fhall be truly executed.
XVIII. But in cafe through
inadvertency or imprudence,
any thing ſhould be committed
by any fubject, whereby any ar-
ticle of this treaty hath not its
effect, this peace thall not be in-
terrupted or broken; but that
fubject
*
OF
ENGLAND.
285
fubject alone ſhall be anfwerable
for his own fact.
XIX. In cafe of a future war,
fix months from the day of the
rupture ſhall be allowed to the
fubjects of each nation, to re-
move all their effects, and re-
tire themſelves where they
pleaſe.
XX Juft and reaſonable ſa-
tisfaction fhall be given to all
the queen's allies, in thoſe mat-
ters which they have a right to
demand from France.
XXI. The moſt chriftian king
will, in friendſhip to the queen,
grant, in his treaty with the
empire, all things concerning
religion, to be fettled accord-
ing to the treaties of Weftpha-
lia.
XXII. Juſtice ſhall be done to
the family of Hamilton, con-
cerning the dukedom of Chate-
laraut, to the duke of Richmond,
concerning fuch requefts as he
has to make in France, and to
Charles Douglas, concerning
certain lands, and to others.
XXIII. All prifoners taken
during the war, thall be fet at
liberty without diftinction or
ranfom
XXIV. All the conditions of
the peace made this day, be-
tween the kings of France and
Portugal, are confirmed by this
treaty, and the queen of Great-
Britain takes upon herfelf to be
guarantee.
XXV. The peace made this
day between France and Savoy,
is particularly included in this
treaty, her majefty of Great Bri-
tain exprefsly declaring, fhe will
be bound by the ftipulations of
fecurity and guarantee promifed
therein, as well as by thofe, the
has formerly taken upon her-
felf.
XXVI. Sweden, Tufcany,
Genoa, and Parma, are in the
beſt manner included in this
treaty.
XXVII. Their majeſties have
alſo been pleaſed to compre-
hend in this treaty the Hans-
towns, namely Lubeck, Bremen,
and Hamburg, and the city of
Dantzick, with this effect, that
as foon as the general peace
fhall be concluded, the Hans-
towns, and the city of Dantzick,
may for the future, as common
friends, enjoy the antient ad-
vantages which they have here-
tofore had in the buſineſs of
trade, either by treaties or by
old cuſtom.
XXVIII.Thofe fhall be com-
prehended in this prefent treaty
of peace, who fhall be named
by common confent, on the one
part, and on the other, before
the exchange of the ratificati-
ons, or within fix months after.
at
XXIX. Laſtly, folemn ratifi-
cations of this prefent treaty,
and made in due form, fhall be
exhibited on both fides
Utrecht, and mutually and du-
ly exchanged within the space.
of four weeks, to be computed
from the day of the ſigning, or
fooner if poffible.
XXX. In witnefs whereof,
we, the underwritten ambafia-
dor extraordinary, and plenipo-
tentiaries of the queen of Great-
Britain, and of the most chri-
flian king, have put our feals to
theſe prefent inftruments, fub-
fcribed with our own hands, at
Utrecht the
༣1
I l
the year 1713.
March
day of
Apul
in
(L. S.).
286
HISTORY
THE
(L. S.) Joh, Briſtol. C. P. S.
(L. S.) Strafford.
(L. S.) Huxelles.
(L. S.) Mefnager.
II. Between Great-Britain
and Spain.
I. Perpetual peace and true
friendship.
II. Against the union of the
kingdoms of Spain and France,
as in the VIth article of the
treaty with France.
III. A general amnesty on
both fides.
IV. All priſoners to be freed
without ranfom.
V. and VI. Concerning the
acknowledging and promifing
not to disturb the proteftant fuc-
ceffion, as in the IVth and
Vth articles of the treaty with
France.
VII. That the ordinary di-
ſtribution of juſtice be reſtored.
VIII. That there be a free
ufe of navigation and com-
merce, as it was in the reign of
Charles II. of Spain, and alſo
according to the treaties of
commerce which are now, or
will forthwith be made at Ma-
drid. And whereas it is, by
common confent, eſtabliſhed as
a fundamental rule, that the ex-
erciſe of navigation and com-
merce to the Spaniſh Weft-In-
dies, fhall be as in the time of
the faid Charles II, that there
fore this rule may be obferved
inviolably, it is efpecially a-
greed, that no licenſe ſhall at
any
time be given to the French,
or any other nation, to intro-
duce negroes, goods, merchan-
dizes, or any things whatfocver
into the Spaniſh American do-
minions, except what may be
agreed by the treaty of com-
merce aforefaid, and the privi-
leges granted in the Affiento de
Negroes, mentioned in the
XIIth article, except alfo what
the catholick king or his fuccef-
fors fhall promife by any con-
tract, after the Affiento de Ne-
groes is determined. It is fur-
ther agreed, that none of the
Spanish dominions in America
fhall ever be alienated from the
crown of Spain, to the French
or other nation. On the con-
trary, the queen of Great-Bri-
tain will endeavour and affift the
Spaniards, that the antient li-
mits of their American domi-
nions be fettled, as in the time
of Charles II.
IX. The fubjects of each
kingdom fhall, in all countries,
have at leaſt the fame privileges
as to duties, or cuſtoms, and
fhall have the like favour in all
things, as the fubjects of France,
or any nations they favoured,
do or ſhall hereafter enjoy.
X. Gibraltar is given up to
the crown of Great-Britain:“but
(to prevent abuſes by importing
any goods) without any territo
rial juriſdiction, and without any
open communication by land
with the country round about.
Provifions, however, and other
neceffarics in times of fcarcity,
may be bought with money for
the uſe of the garriſon and ſhips
in the harbour. No leave fhall
be given to Jews or Moors to
refide there, nor fhelter to any
Moorish fhips of war, whereby
the communication between
Spain and Ceuta may be ob-
fructed, or the coafts of Spain
infefted. The free exerciſe of
their religion fhall be granted
to the catholick inhabitants; and
in caſe the town of Gibraltar
fhall hereafter be granted or
fold,
OF
287
ENGLAND.
fold, Spain fhall have the pre-
ference of having the fame.
XI. The iſland of Minorca,
with all its towns and caſtles,
particularly Port-Mahon, is alfo
yielded to the crown of Great-
Britain. No refuge to be given
to Moorish fhips, but only on
account of traffick. In caſe of
alienation, the crown of Spain
to have the preference. The
inhabitants to enjoy their reli-
gion, eſtates, and honours; and
thoſe that retire, to fell their
eftates.
XII.The catholick king grants
to the South-Sea company, with
exclufion of all others, the con-
tract for introducing Negroes
into his American dominions,
commonly called El Pacto del
Affiento de Negroes, for the
fpace of thirty years, begin-
ning from theift of May 1713,
with the fame conditions en-
joyed by the French, together
with tracks of land on the river
of Plata, fufficient for the fub.
fiftance of those who are in the
ſervice of the company, and of
their Negroes. The flips of the
company may alſo come clofe
to land; but a Spanish officer
fhall be appointed to take care
that nothing be done, contrary
to his maſter's interefts, and all
belonging to the company fhall
be ſubject to the inſpection of
the officer, as to matters iela-
ting to the tracks of land, and
diſputes to be referred to the
governor of Buenos Ayres. The
contract of the Affiento conclu-
ded at Madrid, the 26th of
March, 1713, with all its con-
ditions, not contrary to this ar-
ticle, is deemed as part of this
treaty
XIII. At the earnest defire
of the queen of Great-Britain,
that the Catalonians ſhould not
only obtain a full and perpetual
oblivion of all that was done
in the late war, and enjoy all
their eftates and honours, the
catholicks hereby grant the de-
fired amnesty, and all the privi-
leges which the Caftilians enjoy,
or may hereafter enjoy.
XIV. As Sicily is by treaty
yielded to the duke of Savoy,
the queen of Great-Britain will
take care, that in default of
heirs male the poſſeſſion of Si-
cily ſhall revert to the crown
of Spain, and not be alienated
on any pretence whatſoever,
unleſs to the catholick king.
XV. All treaties heretofore
concluded between the two
crowns are hereby confirmed,
as far as they are not contrary
to thofe treaties lately made
and figned. And as the Gui-
pufcoans pretend to certain
rights of fifhing at Newfound-
land, it is agreed, that all fuch
privileges as they and other
people of Spain are able to
claim by right, fhall be allowed
them.
XVI, XVII, and XVIII.
The fame as XVIIth, XVIIIth,
and XIXth of the treaty with
France.
XIX. The kings, princes and
ftates, mentioned in the follow-
ing articles, and all others no-
minated on either fide by com-
mon confent, before the ratifi-
cations are exchanged, or with-
in fix months after, fhall be in-
cluded in this treaty.
XX.Whatfoever shall be con-
tained in a treaty between Spain
and Portugal, with the appro-
bation of Great Britain, fhall
be deemed an effential part of
this treaty.
XXI. The
288
HISTORY
THE
XXI. The treaty of peace
this day made between Spain
and Savoy, is included in this
treaty, the queen of Great-
Britain declaring, the will be
obliged by the terms of pro-
mife and guarantee therein
made.
XXII. Sweden, Tufcany and
Parma, ſhall be included in this
treaty.
XXIII And alſo the republick
of Venice, for the fake of the
neutrality they have obferved,
and the many acts of humanity
performed by them.
XXIV. And the republick of
Genoa, on the fame accounts.
XXV. The city of Dantzick
fhall alſo be included
XXVI. Solemn ratifications
of this treaty fhall be exchanged
on both ſides, within fix weeks
or fooner.
In witnefs whereof the am-
baffadors and plenipoten-
tiaries figned and fealed
this preſent treaty at U-
trecht, the day of July,
1713.
T
(L. S.) Joh. Briftol. C.P.S.
(L S.) Strafford.
(L S.) Duc de Offuna.
(L.S.) El Marque the Mon-
taleone.
Separate articles.
I. Since his catholick majefty
is ftedfaftly refolved, and does
folemnly promife by theſe pre-
fents, that he will not confent to
any further alienation of coun-
tries, provinces, or lands be-
longing to the crown of Spain,
the queen of Great Britain does
likewife promiſe, that ſhe will
perfift in thofe meafures, by
which he has taken, that none
of the parties in war fhall re-
quire or obtain of his catholick
majefty, that any farther part
of the Spanish monarchy be
torn from it. And when it fhall
feem to the queen of Great-
Britain to be for the common
benefit, the king of Spain does
give his confent, that a new
treaty be entered into between
Great-Britain, Spain, and Por-
rugal.
II. The queen of Great-
Britain obliges herſelf to pro-
cure forthwith the lady Urfini
to be put into poffeffion of the
duchy of Limburg, or other
countries in the Netherlands,
which fhall produce an annual
clear revenue of 30,000 1. Scu-
dos, according to the diploma
granted by his catholick majefty
to that princess, the 28th day
of September, 1711.
*
* This princefs having quitted her rank and prerogatives at
the court of Rome, was made first lady of the bed chamber to
the queen of Spain, whom he met at Nice in Provence, and
conducted into Spain. Afterwards, when the regency of Spain
was trufted to the queen, at the king's going to command his
armies in Italy, the princefs Urfini affitted her with her care and
counfel. She likewife took upon her the care of the education
of the prince of Afturias Theſe are the reafons alledged by the
king, for granting her the territory of Limburg, and obliging
the queen of Great-Britain to procure it for her.
嫁
​THE
THE
HISTORY
O F
ENGLAND.
BOOK XXX.
PART II.
From the Year 1714. to the Year 1716.
CHAP. I.
Account of king George I.-He is proclaimed.—The parliament
meets.Addreffes, with the king's anfwers.-Civil lift fettled.
-Publick credit reftor'd.-The French king owns king George.
-Bolingbroke remov'd.-His acceffion notified to the States.
-Affairs of Hanover before the queen's death.-The king
fets out for England.-Situation of affairs at his acceffion.
Commotions in Scotland.-The king's declaration in council.-
His coronation.-Affair of Dunkirk.—The pretender's mani-
fefto.-Religious difputes.-The parliament diffolv'd, and
another call'd.-Earl of Strafford's papers feiz'd, and Prior
call'd home.—Elections in England and Scotland.—The par-
liament meets.-The king's firft fpeech.-Debates about the
addreffes.-Behaviour of the earl of Oxford and lord Boling-
broke. -Bishop Burnet dies.-King's proclamation objected to.
-Papers of the late miniftry laid before the houfe.-Death
and character of the marquis of Wharton.-The great eclipfe.
Debate about the civil lift.-About penſions.— About the
land-forces-Affairs at fea.-Death of the earl of Halli-
fax.-Several debates.-Report of the fecret committee.
Bolingbroke, Oxford, Sirafford and Ormond are impeach'd
-Oxford's defence.-Sent to the tower.—The proclamation-
VOL. VI.
T
AG!
THE HISTORY
290
act againſt tumults.-Twenty-one regiments rais'd.-Debates
about the impeachment.-At to incourage loyalty in Scot-
land.
1714.
Account and
character of
king
George I.
T
30. GEORGE I.
-
HE illuftrious houfe of Hanover entirely owe their
advancement to the throne of Great Britain, to
the effectual meaſures taken by king William and
queen Anne, for the exclufion of all catholick
princes. Had not the order of the fucceffion been changed,
and fuppofing the doubtfulneſs of the pretender's birth a fuf-
ficient reafon to fet him afide, the houfe of Savoy would
have been in poffeffion of the British dominions, as they
derive their right from the princefs Henrietta, Daughter of
king Charles I. whereas the houfe of Hanover are defcend-
ed from the princess Elizabeth, daughter of king James I.
Nor was it out of any particular regard to the dukes of Ha-
nover, that the English nation agreed to alter the ſucceſ-
fion, but out of a belief, that it was abfolutely neceffary for
the preſervation of the proteftant religion, and the liberties
of the ſtate. All catholicks were therefore declared incapa-
ble of fucceeding to the crown, and confequently the fuc-
ceffion was established in the proteftant branches. Upon
this foundation it was, that, the duke of Glocefter being
dead, the princefs Sophia was acknowledged for lawful heir
to the imperial crown of Great-Britain.
Though this change of the fucceffion has been exclaim-
ed againſt by many, it is built on very strong reafons. In
catholick countries, a proteftant king will not be endured:
why therefore fhould a proteftant ftate be obliged to fuffer
a catholick king? Are there not between fovereign and
fubjects, mutual obligations? And is not the prefervation
of religion one of the greateft? If the catholicks think their
religion unfafe under a proteftant prince, has not experience
taught the proteftants, that their religion can never be fe-
cure under a catholick prince? What the nation had fuf-
fered from the zeal of king James to introduce his religi-
on, did it not fufficiently juttify their fears and precauti-
ons?
To maintain the proteftant fucceffion against the
pretended heir, and feveral others, who, after his deceaſe,
might put in their claim, the beſt meaſures were taken. Of
thefe, the moſt effectual was the humbling the exorbitant
power
OF ENGLAND.
291
power of France, by which king James and his pretended 1714.
fon were protected. Lewis XIV. was at laft forced to aban-
don their defence, and acknowledge the proteftant fuccef-
fion. All the other ftates, enemies of France, rejoiced at
the revolution, and made it their intereft to fupport it. The
union of Scotland with England had the fame end, and
was fo eagerly defired by king William, only that the Scots.
might ceaſe to wish for a feparate king, and concur with the
Engliſh in the fucceffion they had eſtabliſhed.
Purſuant to the act of fucceffion, George Lewis, ſon of
Erneft Auguftus, first elector of Brunfwick, Lunenburgh,
by the princefs Sophia, grand-daughter of king James I. af
cended the throne on the death of queen Anne. His ma-
ture age, being then fifty-four years old (n), his experience,
his perfonal qualities, his numerous family, the general
peace then in Europe, the intereft his allies had to ſupport
him, feemed to promife him a quiet and peaceable reign;
but, however, he was not without his diſturbances. This
prince had great talents for a crown, and had not failed to
exert them on occafion. He was concerned in all the af-
fairs of Germany, and always came off with advantage.
The great fervices he had done for the emperor Leopold,
determined the emperor Jofeph, his fucceffor, to uſe all
his power to procure him admittance into the electoral col-
lege: and the emperor Charles, fucceffor of Jofeph, cauſed
him to be acknowledged elector by Lewis XIV. and by
the electors of Cologn and Bavaria, who, till the treaty of
Raftadt, had refuſed him that title. He had waged war in
perfon and with fuccefs. His campaign on the Rhine in
1709 was glorious, and would have been much more fo,
had not the too great bravery of count Merci difappointed
his project of fending aid to the duke of Savoy, to enable
him to penetrate into la Franche Comté. This prince had
an excellent fpirit and noble fentiments: he was much
more fenfible of fervices than of injuries; courageous, lit-
tle capable of diffembling or hiding his thoughts; my max-
im (faid he, foon after his arrival in England) is never to
abandon my friends, to do juftice to all the world, and
to fear no man.' To theſe valuable qualities he joined a
great application to bufinefs, and a fincere defire to render
his fubjects happy.
All theſe virtues together had gained him the reſpect and
love of his German fubjects, who were all fubmiffive to his
will; and their obedience had nothing of conſtraint, becauſe
(n) He was born May 28, 1660.
T 2
his
292
THE HIS OTRY
1714.
his commands were always reaſonable, and dictated both by
equity and goodneſs.
As foon as queen Anne had refigned her laft breath, the
privy-council met, and the archbiſhop of Canterbury, the
lord chancellor, and refident Kreyenberg (in whofe hands
they were lodged) procured the elector of Brunſwick's three
inftruments, nominating the perfons to be added, as lords
juftices, to the feven great officers of the realm (o).
After the opening of the inftruments, a proclamation was
iffued, declaring that the high and mighty prince George,
elector of Brunſwick-Lunenburg, was, by the death of
queen Anne, become our lawful and rightful liege lord, king
of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland. This proclamation
was figned by above a hundred lords and gentlemen, feveral
of whom, in lefs than a year, entered into treaſonable plots
to deprive the king of his right, and broke out into open
rebellion againſt him.
The king is King George was proclaimed at the ufual places, and
proclaimed. with the ufual folemnities, in the cities of London and
Aug. 1.
Weſtminſter. The ftreets were crowded with multitudes
of people, and no diforder was committed. The fame day
the lords-juftices appointed the earl of Dorſet to carry the
king the news of his inauguration, and to attend him in his
journey to England.
The king
The earl of Ila, lord juftice-general of North-Britain,
is proclaim- having received notice of the queen's death, and orders to
proclaim the king, went to the lodgings of the duke of Mon-
ed in Scot-
land,
Aug. 4.
(0) The great officers were:
Dr Tennifon, archbishop of
Canterbury,
Lord chancellor Harcourt,
John Sheffield, duke of Buck-
inghamshire, lord-prefident,
Charles Talbot, duke of Shrewf-
bury, lord-treaſurer,
William Legg, earl of Dart-
mouth, lord privy-feal,
Thomas Wentworth, earl of
Strafford, first commiffioner
of the admiralty,
Sir Thomas Parker, lord chief-
juftice of the king's-bench.
To theſe were added, by the
ele&or of Brunfwick, in the
inſtrument under his own
hand, the following perfons :
Duke of Shrewsbury,
*Duke of Somerſet,
Duke of Bolton,
Duke of Devonſhire,
Duke of Kent,
Duke of Argyle,
Duke of Montrofe,
Duke of Roxburgh,
Earl of Pomfret,
Earl of Anglefey,
Earl of Carliſle,
Earl of Nottingham,
Earl of Abingdon,
Earl of Scarborough,
Earl of Orford,
Lord viſcount Townſhend,
Lord Halifax,
Lord Cowper.
trofe
OF
293
ENGLAND.
trofe (one of the lords of the regency) where he found the
marquis of Tweedale, and feveral other lords and perfons
of diftinction, who, with the magiftrates of Edinburgh, and
the officers of the ftate, caufed the king to be proclaimed
with great ceremony.
1714.
land,
Aug. 6,
Two days after the lords-juftices of Ireland, the arch- and in Ire-
biſhop of Armagh, and Sir Conftantine Phipps, having re-
ceived the like notice, proclaimed the king on the 6th of
Auguft at Dublin. At the fame time, they iffued a pro-
clamation for difarming papifts, and feizing their horfes.
There was not the leaft difturbance or interruption given
in any place to the proclaiming of the king; only at Ox-
ford, the mayor received a letter brought by a perfon in a
bachelor's gown, requiring him to proclaim the pretender
(p). The mayor communicated this letter to the vice-
chancellor, and both of them tranfmitted copies of it to Mr
fecretary Bromley, reprefentative for the univerfity of Ox-
ford, who fent them letters of thanks. The vice-chancel-
lor alfo offered a reward of a hundred pounds to the difco-
verer of the author.
taken.
Annals.
In the mean time, the lords of the regency finding the Precautions
nation much expofed by the ill condition of the army and
fleet, took all poffible precautions to guard againſt a fur-
prize. They difpatched fuch officers of the army, as they
could truft, to their respective pofts; gave orders to rein-
force the garrifon of Portſmouth, and fent veffels out to
view the harbours of France. They chofe Mr Joſeph Ad-
difon to be their fecretary, and ordered all difpatches, di-
rected to the ſecretary of ftate, to be fent to him. This was
particularly mortifying to the lord Bolingbroke, who was
now obliged to ftand at the door of the council-chamber
with his bag and papers, and to receive orders from thofe,
whom, a few days before, he expected to command.
ment meets.
The parliament met at Weftminfter, the afternoon of The parlia
the very day the queen died, purſuant to the act, which re- A. 3. I.
gulated the fucceffion. The fpeaker being in Wales, it pr. H. C.
(p) In the letter were thefe
expreflions:
C
$
This is to warn you, if
<
you
• fhould receive an order to pro-
claim Hanover, not to comply
with it, for the hand of God
is now at work to fet things
upon a right foot, and in a
<
few days you will fee won-
derful changes; which if you
are wife enough to forefee,
you will obtain grace and fa-
your from the hands of his
facred majefty king James,
• &c.'
T 3
Was
%,
1
294
THE HISTORY
熊
​1714.
The lord
was moved by Mr fecretary Bromley, that the houſe ſhould
adjourn to the Wedneſday following. But this motion,
though feconded, was anfwered by Sir Richard Onflow,
that time was too precious for any to be loft at ſo critical a
juncture. And therefore the houfe adjourned only to the
next day.
On the 5th of Auguft, the lords-juftices came to the
chancellor's
houfe of peers, where the lord-chancellor, in their name,
fpeech to
both houfes. made the following fpeech to both houſes:
66
66
'
My lords and gentlemen,
IT having pleafed almighty God to take to himſelf
our late moft gracious queen of bleffed memory, we
hope, that nothing has been omitted, which might con-
"tribute to the fafety of thefe realms, and the preſervation
"of our religion, laws, and liberties, in this great con-
juncture. As thefe invaluable bleffings have been fecur-
"ed to us by thofe acts of parliament, which have fettled
"the fucceffion of theſe kingdoms in the moſt illuftrious
❝houfe of Hanover; we have regulated our proceedings by
"thofe rules, which are therein preſcribed.
66
The privy-council, foon after the demife of the late
queen, affembled at St James's, where, according to the
"faid acts, the three inftruments were produced and open-
❝ed, which had been depofited in the hands of the arch-
<6
biſhop of Canterbury, the lord-chancellor, and the refi-
"dent of Brunfwick. Thofe, who, either by their offices,
"or by virtue of thefe inftruments, had the honour of be-
"ing appointed lords-juftices, did in conjunction with the
council, immediately proceed to the proclaiming of our
lawful and rightful fovereign king George, taking, at
"the fame time, the neceffary care to maintain the pub-
"Jick peace.
66
"In purſuance of the acts before-mentioned, this par-
"liament is now affembled, and we are perfuaded, you
"all bring with you fo hearty a difpofition for his maje-
fty's fervice, and the publick good, that we cannot doubt
"of your affiftance in every thing, which may promote
"thofe great ends,
Gentlemen of the houfe of commons,
"We find it neceffary to put you in mind, that feveral
branches of the publick revenue are expired by the de-
mife
OF
295
ENGLAND.
"mife of her late majefty; and to recommend to you the 1714.
"making fuch provifions in that refpect, as may be re-r
"quifite to fupport the honour and dignity of the crown:
«
and we affure ourſelves, you will not be wanting in any
thing, that may conduce to the eſtabliſhing and ad-
"vancing of the publick credit.
My lords and gentlemen,
"We forbear laying before you any thing, that does
"not require your immediate confideration, not having
"received his majefty's pleaſure. We fhall only exhort
you, with the greatest earnestness, to a perfect unani-
"mity, and a firm adherence to our fovereign's intereft,
66 as being the only means to continue among us our preſent
"happy tranquillity."
The commons being returned to their houfe, Mr Se-
cretary Bromley moved for an addrefs of condolance and
congratulation, infifting much on the great lofs the nation
had fuftained by the death of the late queen. Mr Robert
Walpole moved for fomething more fubftantial, 'to give
the king affurances of their making good all parliamen-
tary funds;' and Mr Onflow, afterwards lord Onflow,
very juftly obferved, That the ftrefs of the addreſs ought
not to lie upon condoling, but upon congratulating and
giving the king affurances of their maintaining both his
'majeſty's undoubted title to the crown, and publick credit.'
Accordingly, inftructions were given for drawing up the fol-
lowing addrefs, which was unanimoufly agreed to the
next day:
C
<
CC
C
Moft gracious Sovereign,
WE your majeſty's moſt dutiful and loyal fubjects, The addrefs
of the com-
mons.
the commons of Great Britain in parliament af-
"fembled, having a juft fenſe of the great lofs the nation Pr. H. C.
has fuftained by the death of our late fovereign lady queen
"Anne, of bleffed memory, humbly crave leave to con-
"dole with your majefty, on this fad occafion.
<<
"It would but aggravate our forrow, particularly to
enumerate the virtues of that pious and moft excellent
"princess; the duty we owe to your majefty, and to our
country, oblige us to moderate our grief, and heartily
to congratulate your majefty's acceffion to the throne;
"whofe princely virtues give us a certain profpect of fu-
66
I 4
66 ture
296
HISTORY
THE
1714. "ture happineſs in the fecurity of our religion, laws, and
“liberties, and engage us to affure your majefty, that we
"will, to our utmoft, fupport your undoubted right to the
"imperial crown of this realm, against the pretender and
"all other perfons whatſoever.
Addrefs of
the loids.
Pr. H. L.
"Your faithful commons cannot but exprefs their impa-
"tient defire for your majeſty's fafe arrival and preſence in
"Great-Britain.
..
"In the mean time, we humbly lay before your ma-
jefty the unanimous refolution of this houfe, to main-
"tain the publick credit of the nation, and effectually to
"make good all funds which have been granted by par-
"liament, for the fecurity of any money which has been,
(6 or fhall be advanced for the publick ſervice, and to en-
"deavour, by every thing in our power, to make your
majefty's reign happy and glorious."
66
The fame day, the houfe of peers agreed upon the fol-
lowing addreſs:
66
Moft gracious Sovereign,
WE your majeſty's moſt dutiful and loyal fubjects,
the lords fpiritual and temporal in paliament af
"fembled, though deeply fenfible of the great lofs theſe
"nations have fuftained, by the demise of her late ma-
"jeſty of bleſſed memory, think it our duty, at the fame
"time, with thankful hearts to almighty God, to con-
"gratulate your majefty upon your happy and peaceable
" acceffion to the throne: and we do, with the utmoſt
"loyalty and duty, affure your majefty of our zealous
and firm refolutions to fupport your undoubtedly rightful
"and lawful title to the crown, againſt all enemies and
"pretenders whatſoever.
૬.
66
"Our zeal and affection for your majefty's fervice
engage us to exert ourſelves with all vigour and unani-
"mity for fecuring the publick fafety; and we will al-
ways, to the utmoſt of our power, maintain the ho-
.. nour and dignity of your crown. And we do, with
"faithful hearts, befeech your majefty, as foon as pof-
"ſible, to give us your royal prefence, which we are
perfuaded will be attended with all other bleffings to
"your kingdoms."
$
1
This
+
OF ENGLAND.
297
This addrefs having been tranſmitted by the lords-juftices 1714.
to the king, he returned this anſwer:
GEORGE R.
}
anſwer to
"I take this first opportunity to return you my hearty The king's
"thanks for your addrefs, and the affurances you have the lords
"given me therein.
"The zeal and unanimity you have fhewn, upon my
"acceffion to the crown, are great encouragements to me;
" and I ſhall always eſteem the continuance of them as one
"of the greateſt bleffings of my reign.
"No one can be more truly fenfible than I am, of the
"loſs fuftained by the death of the late queen, whofe
"exemplary piety and virtue fo much endeared her to her
"people, and for whofe memory I fhall always have a par-
❝ticular regard.
"My beft endeavours fhall never be wanting to repair
"this lofs to the nation. I will make it my conftant care
66 to preſerve your religion, laws, and liberties inviolable,
and to advance the honour and profperity of my
"kingdoms.
"I am haftening to you, according to your defire, ſo
"affectionately expreffed in your addreſs.”
The addrefs of the commons being alfo tranfmitted to
the king, he returned the following anſwer:
GEORGE R.
66 me.
addrefs.
"Your dutiful and loyal address is very acceptable to The king's
The unanimity and affection my commons have anfwer to the
"fhewn, upon my acceffion to the crown,
are moſt
agreeable inftances and pledges of their fidelity to me.
"I have a juft ſenſe of your inexpreffible lofs, by the
"death of your late fovereign. You may be affured of
my
conſtant endeavours to fecure to you the full enjoy-
"ment of your religion, laws, and liberties; and that it
"will always be my aim to make you an happy and flou-
riſhing people; to which your refolution to maintain the
publick credit of the nation will greatly contribute. I am
haftening to you, according to your carneft defire, and
the juft expectations of my people."
A
SC
commons
addrefs.
The
298
THE HISTORY
1714.
fettled.
Pr. H. C.
The tories, on pretence of fhewing extraordinary zeal.
for the new government, propoſed the giving the king a
The tories million fterling for the civil lift, which was 300,000l.
propoſe a
more than the late queen had enjoyed. But, though no
million for
the civil lift, direct oppofition was then made to that motion, yet it was
afterwards dropped; the wifeft of the king's friends know-
ing, that the tories would take occafion from thence to
reproach him, as oppreffing the nation by a higher revenue.
than the queen, as they afterwards fuggefted in their libel,
The civil lift called, English advice. For this reafon, the propofal for
the ſame fum as had been granted to the queen was ap-
proved, and a bill for that purpofe, being brought in, paf-
fed with great difpatch. While the bill was depending,
Mr Horatio Walpole moved, that the committee ſhould
have power to receive two claufes; one for the payment
of the arrears due to the Hanover troops in Engliſh pay,
being 65,000l. the other for 100,000l. to be paid by the
treafury, to any perfon that ſhould apprehend the preten-
der, if he ſhould land, or attempt to land in any of the
king's dominions. Sir William Wyndham feconded Mr
Walpole as to the arrears; and Mr Shippen very frankly
owned, he had oppoſed that payment in the late reign, but
that he was for it now. Mr Aldworth member of par-
liament for new Windfor, fupported likewife the motion;
but, as if he defigned to expofe the members, who, at this
juncture, appeared fo forward to pay thofe very troops,
which, a few months before, they had treated as runaways,
he faid, That, for his part, he had formerly been againſt
the payment, becauſe he had been given to underſtand,
in that very houfe, that thofe troops were deferters; but
that he had fince been informed, they were hired to fight,
• and had ſerved well as long as there was fighting: and if,
when they came in fight of the enemy, they, who hired
them, would not fuffer them to fight, he did not fee any
'reaſon, why they fhould be called deferters.' As to the
clauſe, for giving 100,000l. to fuch, as fhould apprehend
the pretender, Mr C-n faid, the next day, That he
< was not the day before in the houſe, when that claufe
was moved; but, if he had been prefent, he would have
oppofed it, becauſe in his opinion, the proteftant fuc-
• ceffion was no longer in danger, fince his majeſty's peace-
• able acceffion to the throne and he was fo poſitive in
this affertion, that he defied all the houſe to prove the con-
trary. He was feconded by Mr Shippen; but Mr Pulte-
ney, and after him the lord Lumley, made it clearly appear,
Aug. 14.
<
• That
OF ENGLAND.
299
• That the proteftant fucceffion was in danger, as long as
there was a popish pretender, who had many friends both
C at home and abroad: that the late queen was fenfible of
that danger, when ſhe iſſued out her proclamation againſt
him; and that the cafe was not altered by her majeſty's
demife that the nation would be at no charge, if the
• pretender did not attempt to land; and, if he did,
100,000l. would be well beftowed to apprehend him.'
To this Mr C-n made no reply.
C
1714.
Mr Craggs, who, the day before the queen died, had A letter
been difpatched to Hanover, returned, the 13th of Auguft, from the
king.
with letters from the king to the lords-juftices: upon which
they went to the houſe of peers; and the chancellor, in
their name, made the following ſpeech to both houſes:
66
My lords and gentlemen,
IT
cellor's
Speech to
This with great ſatisfaction we can now tell you, that The chan-
we have this morning received a letter from the king,
"wherein his majefty is graciouſly pleaſed to acquaint us, both houfes
"that his majeſty is haftening hither, to employ his utmoſt upon it.
"care for putting theſe kingdoms into a happy and flouriſh- Aug. 13.
"ing condition.
J
"He has commanded us, in the mean time, to continue
"our care of every thing, that may conduce to the peace
❝and ſafety of his dominions. And we are affured, that,
"if this had required his more immediate preſence, he
would, without the leaft delay, have repaired hither, for
the fupport of fo dutiful and faithful fubjects. For his ma-
"jefty does very particularly exprefs his great fatisfaction in
"the loyalty and affection, which his people have univerfally
"fhewn upon his majeſty's acceffion to the crown.
"At the opening this feffion, we did not mention to you
"the apprehenfions we then had, from the fmallness of
the fum at that time advanced, that the lottery would
“not be full, being defirous, in the firft place, to try to
"make it effectual in the manner the parliament had eſtab-
lifhed it. But we are obliged now to acquaint you, that
"all our endeavours have failed of the defired fuccefs,
though the contributions have been thereby confiderably
❝ increaſed.
"We must therefore earneftly recommend to you, gen-
tlemen of the houſe of commons, to take this into your
confideration, and to give fuch further encouragement,
as you fhall think proper, for raifing the whole fum
" which
૩૦૦
HISTORY
THE
1714.
The publick
credit refto-
red. Pol, St.
"which was intended, and is abfolutely neceſſary for carry-
ing on the ſervice of the year."
66
The parliament had, before the queen's death, paffed an
act for a lottery for 1, 400, 000l. but publick credit was then
fo low, that not above fixty or ſeventy thousand pounds had
been ſubſcribed. This was occafioned partly by the diffi-
dence of the monied-men in the late adminiſtration, and
partly by the low intereft allowed for the blank tickets.
The lords of the regency and privy-council, to restore pub-
lick credit, and fill the lottery, went in a body to the bank,
and fubfcribed large fums themselves, which was fuch an
encouragement to others to follow their example, that above
700,000l. was ſubſcribed in two days; and the parliament,
purfuant to the king's defire, giving further encouragement
by making a ſmall addition to the intereft for the blank tic-
kets, one per cent. only, the remainder was ſubſcribed in a
few days more.
Addreffes of thanks for the king's letter were voted by
both houſes, and fent to Hanover by the lords-juftices, who,
about a week after, came to the houſe of peers to pass the
money-bills, that were ready for the royal affent. The
ſpeaker, upon prefenting the civil lift and lottery bills, made
a remarkable ſpeech (q), and, the buſineſs of the feffion
being
(q) The ſpeech was as fol-
lows:
€
My Lords,
The knights, citizens, and
burgeffes of Great Britain in
⚫ parliament affembled, under
.
6
the preſent happineſs they en-
joy by his majeſty's peaceable
and quiet acceffion to the
throne, could not enter upon
any work more fatisfactory
and pleafing to themfelves,
than the providing a fufficient
revenue for the occafions of
his majesty's civil govern-
'ment, in order to make his
6
દુ
r
reign as eafy and profperous,
as the beginning of it hath
becn fecure and undiflurbed.
€
C
They are fenfible, that the
peace of the kingdom is not
to be preferved, nor the rights.
and liberties of the fubjects to
'be protected, without fupport-
ing the juft authority and dig-
'nity of the crown: and there-
'fore they have thought it their
intereft, as well as duty, to
make fuch a provifion, as
may not barely fuffice to the
neceffity of the government,
but may be fuitable to the
ftate, the honour and luftre
which the crown of Great-
• Britain ought to be attended
⚫ with.
·
Whatſoever is fuperfluous
in that provifion, and more
than the ordinary fervices of
hismajefty fhall require,will but
inable
OF ENGLAND.
301
being finiſhed, the lords-juftices prorogued the parliament to 1714.
the 3d of September.
C
Thus ended the ſecond and laft feffion of the fourth par- The parlia
inable him to exert his high-
• eſt and moſt valuable preroga-
tive of doing good: and we
can give no greater proof of
the truft we repoſe in his ma-
'jefty's gracious difpofition,
than putting the fame intire
revenue into his hands, which
her late majefty died poffeffed
of; whofe virtues we all ad-
mired, and of whofe affection
' and concern for the religion,
laws, and liberties of this
kingdom, we had ſo long ex-
perience.
•
'As the crown itſelf defcends
' immediately, and knows no
vacancy, the commons have
<
taken care, that the revenue
'fhould follow it as cloſe as
•
poffible; for they have given
all the diſpatch to this grant,
which the forms of their pro
'ceedings would allow. So that
when his majefty fhall pleaſe
to anſwer the impatient de-
fires of his people, by coming
<
<
ment is pro-
rogued,
'demonftrate to his majefty's Aug. 25.
perfon and government:
as
fuch, we hope his majefty
'will graciouſly accept it at this
'time; and hereafter, when he
fhall have had experience of
this firſt voluntary offering of
his loyal commons, we hope
• he will find it to his fatisfac-
'tion, as large and as ample as
' he could wiſh, might but the
term of the grant be as long
' as we could with, fince it is to
have equal continuance with
his majeſty's life.
My lords, the bill, which
'the commons have paffed for
the purpoſes I have mention-
ed, is intitled, An act for the
better fupport of his majefty's
'houfhold, and of the honour
and dignity of the crown of
• Great Britain.
(
They have alfo prepared
another bill, as well for rec-
tifying mistakes in the names
of the commiffioners for the
to take poffeffion of his king-land-tax, as for railing fo much
doms, he will find himfelf as is wanting to make up the
' equally eſtabliſhed in theſe
C
revenues, as if he had fuc-
ceeded to all by an uninter-
rupted right of inheritance.
The only difference is this,
that, if he had inherited
them, he would have wanted
one fingle proof of the duty,
and affection, and unanimity
of his fubjects.
• Our defire is, that this may
'be looked upon as an earneſt
and pledge of that zeal and
fidelity, which we ſhall always
retain, and which, upon every
occafion, we ſhall be ready to
،
<
'fum of fourteen hundred thou-
fand pounds, intended to be
raiſed by a lotery, for the
publick fervice, in the year
1714. This having been re-
'commended to their care, and
appearing to them to be ne-
ceffary for his majesty's and
the publick fervice, they have
reafon to think they have now
abundantly fupplied the de-
•fects in the former provifion;
and in this affurance they
humbly prefent this bill alfo
for the royal affent.'
liament
1
1
[
302
THE HISTORY
1714. liament of Great-Britain, and the laft of queen Anne's
➡ reign.
The French
énvoy afraid
of infults.
.
The French minifter, monfieur d'Iberville, who had be-
not have himfelf with great haughtiness, was, upon the queen's
Hift. Reg. death, feized with fuch an apprehenfion of being infulted
by the people in his own houfe, that he fent a letter to the
duke of Ormond, to defire his protection; and, the duke
acquainting the lords-juftices with it, fome of the trained-
bands were ordered to guard his houſe. That minifter had,
before he received any orders from his court, affured the
regency, • That his maſter would inviolably maintain the
treaty of peace concluded at Utrecht, particularly with re-
lation to the ſettlement of the British crown in the houſe
of Hanover.' And the earl of Peterborough, who ar-
rived in London from France on the 7th of Auguft, told ſome
of the regency, that the French king had given him the
like affurance; Mr Prior, having likewife, by orders of
the regency, notified the queen's death to the French king,
received the fame anfwer. Some days after, Iberville re-
ceived a letter from the marquis de Torcy, approving what
he had done; and another from the French king to the
Britiſh regency with the fame affurance, importing likewiſe,
That having been informed, that reports had been ſpread,
as if he defigned to make alterations in the late renuncia-
tions, he thought fit to declare, as he had already done to
the earl of Peterborough, that thefe reports were altoge-
⚫ther falfe and groundleſs: that, the king of Spain having
fent the cardinal del Guidice as ambaſſador to France,
which might create fome fufpicions, his most chriftian
majeſty had deſired the king, his grandſon, to recal him :
and that the elector of Brunſwick having, fome time be-
'fore the death of the queen, fignified to his moſt chriftian
majeſty, that, whenever his fucceffion to the crown of
Great Britain fhould take place, he would cultivate a
friendſhip with his moft chriftian majefty, he (the king of
France) on his part, affured the lords-juftices, that he
⚫ would do all that lay in his power to maintain a good in-
< telligence and amity between the two crowns.' But,
The French
king owns
King George.
>
•
<
C
<
The anfwer, which Mr Prior received about the Cata-
lans, was not altogether fo agreeable to England.
regency had writ to the court of France, That, his
moſt chriftian majefty having promiſed to interpofe his
good offices with the king of Spain in favour of the Cata-
lans, they were furprized to find, that, inſtead of that,
(
• his
OF
ENGLAN D.
303
•his moſt chriſtian majrſty had ſent his troops to affift thofe
of his grandfon, in the reduction of Barcelona; and that
they hoped, his moſt chriftian majefty would make good
his promifes, and confider the ill confequences of his ſuf-
< fering his forces to act against a people, who were under
the protection of the crown of Great-Britain.' To this
Mr Prior received an anſwer, That the moſt chriſtian
king had already made good his engagements in behalf of
the Catalans: that their obftinacy was the cauſe of all the
misfortunes, that might befal them: and that his glory
• would not ſuffer him to recal his troops from before Bar-
<celona.' Some days before this answer was tranfmitted
to England, the marquis d'Almanza, one of the deputies
from the principality of Catalonia, made application to the
lords-juftices, and communicated to them a letter he had
received from the governor of Majorca, with an account of
the condition of the city of Barcelona. Upon which they
ordered, that a copy of the letter, which they had written
to the court of France, fhould be communicated to the
marquis; and he was further affured that directions had
been ſent to admiral Wiſhart, not to moleft the inhabitants
of Barcelona, or hinder any relief to be brought to them
by fea.
The lords-juftices were fenfible how little the French
king's affurances, that he would not difturb the proteftant
fucceffion, were to be relied on; and therefore, though they
had fent a reinforcement to the garrifon of Portſmouth, un-
der the command of colonel Pocock, they ordered another
draught of five hundred out-penfioners of Chelfea-hofpital
to march thither, under the command of colonel Jones;
and, at the fame time, ordered the juftices of the peace of
London and Weftminſter to take exact lifts of the popifh
recufants, and to feize their arms and horfes; and, upon
the landing of the feven Britiſh battalions from Ottend, a
battalion of the earl of Orkney's royal regiment of Fufi-
leers was commanded to march to Portſmouth, which made
a ftrength fufficient for the defence of that important
place.
1714.
r
of the mer-
chants a-
The ill conduct of the late miniftry with relation to the Complaints
treaty of commerce with Spain foon appeared. For, on
the 19th of Auguft, the merchants, trading to that king- ganft the
dom, laid before the regency the difficulties under which king of
they laboured, by means of a large donative which king Hut. Reg.
Philip was about to extort from the Britiſh and other mer-
chants
Spain.
304
THE HISTORY
1
1714.
Lord Bo-
lingbroke
removed.
chants (r). This increaſed the general indignation againſt
the managers of the Spanish treaty, who had fettled our
trade to Spain in fo precarious a manner, as made it fubject
to the will and pleaſure of the king of Spain, whoſe mini-
fters believed themſelves fo fecure of ours in England, that
they thought they might put any hardships on our mer-
chants. But upon the news of the queen's fudden death,
and of the vigorous proceedings of the regency, they enter-
tained other fentiments, and recalled the orders they had
given for exacting the donative.
About the fame time, Mr Murray arrived exprefs from
Hanover, with an account, that the king had deferred his
(r) An account of this affair
was publiſhed in the two fol-
lowing letters from Cadiz:
Cadiz, July 29.
The king of Spain has de-
'manded a donative in this
f
<
place, and in other parts of
Spain, and particularly of the
• British merchants and other
foreigners inhabiting here;
and their proportion of the
donative is fettled by a note
left at each of their houſes,
<
regulating what each perfon
is to pay, which the mer-
• chants have refufed to com-
ply with, as being contrary to
•
<
treaties in force, and have
repreſented the fame to the
king of Spain: But, inflead of
finding redrefs, they have had
foldiers quartered upon them,
' and expect the number to be
doubled every day, during
the time they fhall refufe to
pay the donative. However,
< they have reſolved to let their
• effects be feized, rather than
6
C
moft that ever was yet expe-
•rienced from this govern-
'ment; a donative (or free
gift) being endeavoured to be
extorted by violence from us.
To which effect our governor
'has put guards of foldiers in
our houſes, threatening to
'double them at 8 rials value
per diem, which amounts to
• half a dollar, until we pay
‹ the ſaid donative, which a-
'mounts to 125 pieces of eight
on fome, on others more or
lefs. Thus the principal of
C
<
C
our articles and privileges are
' trampled on. This is the re-
'fpect fhewn to our queen and
'nation, and the honourable
6
<
ufage given to her fubjects
• here. And what can be ex-
'pected for the future? We
hope a fudden and determined
• refolution will be taken at
the court of England, to get
• fatisfaction for this arbitrary
'dragooning the Britiſh fub-
jects; and that a ſtop will
be put to their ever pretend-
comply with a demand fo unjuſting here any more to fuch an
in itſelf, and fo difhonoura-
ble to the British nation, of
which there is no precedent.
Cadiz, July 29.
Our factory is infulted the
• extortion and breach of pub-
•
<
lick faith; otherwife no living,
nor can we be ever fecure
here.' Hift. Reg.
departure
OF ENGLAN D.
305.
departure for fome days; and brought feveral orders for the 1714.
regency and council, particularly for the preparing a patent
to create the prince royal, prince of Wales; and for re-
moving the loid Bolingbroke from his office of fecretary of
ftate; which was done on the laft of Auguft, with parti-
cular marks of difpleafure; three of the lords of the regency,
the dukes of Shrewsbury and Somerfet, and the lord Cow-
per, having taken the feals from him, and locked and feal-
ed up all the doors of his office.
·
tifies to the
fion.
The union between England and Holland was fo necef- The earl of
fary for their mutual prefervation, that it was one of the Straffoid no-
firſt cares of the lords of the regency to notify to the States the
States the queen's death, and his majesty's peaceable ac- king's accef-
ceffion to the throne. This was done on the 4th of Au-
guft by the earl of Strafford, the British ambaffador in
Holland, who made a fpeech on the occafion, wherein he
obferved, that, by the act of fucceffion, all officers were
to continue in employment fix months after the demife of
the queen, unleſs the fucceffor other wife difpofed of the
offices; and that confequently he remained ftill ambalador
of the crown of Great-Britain. Upon the arrival of Ba-
ron Bothmar's fecretary with the news of the queen's
death, monfieur Klingraef, the reſident of Hanover, pre-
fented to the States a memorial, with a letter from the
king, which was lodged in his hands, to be in readiness,
if there ſhould be occafion, by which the king required of
the States the performance of their guaranty of his fuccef-
fion to the crown of Great-Britain. The States affem-
C
bled that very night, upon Klingraef's delivering the
king's letter; and, the next day, came to a refolution to Aug. 15.
return this anſwer, That as foon as they were informed N. S.
of the fickneſs and death of the queen, they imme-
diately bethought themſelves of their engagements for
the guaranty of the fucceffion to the crown of Great-
Britain in the proteflant line, as it was fettled by acts,
of parliament. That, at the fame time, they confidered
with themfelves, not only how much it concerns the
kingdoms of Great-Britain, that the fettlement of the
'fucceffion in the proteftant line fhould have intire effect,
but alfo how deeply the proteftant religion, the fatety of
their ſtate, and the liberty of all Europe, were intereſted
therein. That therefore they unanimously refolved to
'perform their engagements, and to execute all that by
treaty of mutual guaranty they had promifed. That as
they received the account of the queen's death with
VOL. VI.
<
U
• grief,
306
HISTORY
THE
1714.
Treaty be-
tween Spain
(
<
grief, fo it was very acceptable news to them, that his
electoral highnefs, as the next heir in the proteftant line,
was inftantly proclaimed king by the unanimous advice.
of the council, and with the acclamations of the people.
That they moft heartily congratulate him thereupon, and
with him all further happy fucceffes in a profperous reign.
That from this good beginning they hope his majesty will
⚫ take peaceable poffeffion of his kingdoms without any op-
• pofition. That, nevertheless, they were willing and ready
to perform their engagements, and to take all proper
• meaſures with him for that end. That, it being likely his
majeſty will ſpeedily go for England, they will be very
glad, if he will pleafe to take his journey through their
dominions. That they will endeavour to facilitate his
paffage with all that is in their power; and that they will
at all times fhew the high efteem they have for his majesty's
perfon and friendship; and that they have his interefts as
. much at heart as their own.' This refolution was, with
a letter to the king, delivered to the refident of Hanover;
and, at the fame time, the States difpatched letters to the
feveral provinces, defiring them forthwith to provide the
neceffary funds for fetting out a ſtrong ſquadron of men of
war; of which twelve, that were faid to be defigned for the
Baltick, were almoſt ready to put to fea.
<
<
About the middle of Auguft, the count de Tarouca, am-
and Portugal baflador plenipotentiary of Portugal, in a conference with the
procured by ftates-deputies, notified to them the favourable declaration
the regency. the regents of Great-Britain had caufed to be made to
Monfieur de Bruciado, the Portugueſe envoy at London,
• That Spain ſhould be obliged to conclude peace immedi-
ately with the crown of Portugal; or, in cafe of refuſal,
his Portugueſe majefty might depend upon being affifted
• by the crown of Great-Britain, conformably to the treaty
• of defenfive alliance between theſe two crowns.' This
declaration having been reported to the ftates-general, they
cauſed affurances to be given to the Portugueſe minifter,
That they would readily concur in all meaſures his Britan-
nick majeſty might judge proper to be taken, for obliging
Spain to agree with Portugal, on fair and juft conditions.
' of peace.' After thefe declarations, there was little dif-
ficulty in concluding the treaty between Spain and Portu-
gal.
<
The earl of Strafford having received a letter from the
king, to return the ftates thanks for their refolution about
the guaranty, the earl, two days after, made a fpeech to
the
OF ENGLAND.
307
¿
<
}
the ſtates, and, among other things faid, That they had 1714.
thereby engaged the friendship of a king, which could
not but be very advantageous to them, as well in regard
to the neighbourhood and powerfulness of his kingdoms
and ftates, as with respect to his majefty's perfonal me-
rit, who, for his many excellent qualities, would be
efteemed and courted by all Europe, as well as loved and
reſpected by his own ſubjects: and that as he was known
to be a prince, who was a religious obferver of his word,
they might be affured, that, in gaining his friendship, they
• fecured to themſelves a folid and lafting fupport.'
<
•
C
<
The court of France, confounded by the queen's fudden
death, followed the beft counfel, which, in the prefent
condition of their affairs, they could take, which was, to
acknowledge king George. Accordingly, befides the fore-
mentioned declarations, monfieur de Chateauneuf, their
ambaſſador at the Hague, made the earl of Strafford the
ufual compliments of condolance upon the death of the queen,
and, at the fame time, thofe of congratulation upon the
king's acceffion to the throne. And it is obfervable, that the
pretender, who, by our minifters and thofe of France, had
been put in hopes of carrying his point, as appears by his
own declaration, and by what paffed between our miniſters
and the abbot Gaultier, was intirely difappointed. For,
upon the news, which he received the 14th of Auguſt,
N. S. that the queen was either dead, or paft recovery, he
pofted immediately for Verfailles: but the king of France
having notice of it, the marquis de Torcy fent to tell him,
That his moſt chriftian majeſty was furprized at his being
• returned into his dominions, knowing the engagements
he was under, in refpect to the fucceffion of the crown of
• Great-Britain in the houſe of Hanover; and therefore de-
fired him to quit his territories.' Upon this the pretender,
having made a melancholy vifit to the queen-dowager
of England at Chaillot, returned to Barleduc, under the
deepeſt concern for the ill fuccefs of his journey; and fet
out afterwards for the court of Lorrain at Leneville, from
whence he went to Plombieres, to drink the waters of that
place.
fore the
It will not be improper to take notice of fome remarkable Affairs at
paffages at Hanover, before the news of the queen's death Hanover be-
reached that court. On the 26th of July, N. S. the earl news of the
of Clarendon, envoy extraordinary from the queen, arrived queen's
at Hanover; but, the elector being then at Herenhaufen, it Annals.
was the 4th of Auguft, N. S. before the earl was con-
ducted thither to have his fiift audience: one reafon of the
U 2
delay
death.
308
THE
HISTORY
1714. delay was, that the king of Pruffia arrived there incognito
on the 30th of July, N. S. The caufe of this interview
between these two princes at this juncture was variouſly dif
courfed of; but, very probably, the defign of it was to
cultivate a good correfpondence between them, which their
enemies had endeavoured to interrupt. The French court
and ours knew, it would not be eafy to defeat the proteftant
fucceffion, while thefe two families, which were both in-
cluded in the intail, were united in affection and intereft;
and therefore they attempted to divide them, by propofing
to the king of Pruffia's minifter here, that his majefty
fhould immediately fucceed after the queen, if he would
fall in with the meafures of the two courts. But that king
was too difcerning to be caught in that fnare: he knew,
that their deſign was only to fet the two families at vari-
ance, which muft not only defeat the proteftant fucceffion,
but ruin the intereft of the reformation, render the two fa-
milies incapable of fupporting their own or their country's
intereft against the defigns of France and Sweden, and fa-
cilitate the pretender's way to the throne of Great-Britain.
He therefore not only rejected the propofal, but likewiſe af-
fured the elector of Hanover, that he would aſſiſt him with
all his power to maintain his title to the Britiſh crown; and
having concerted meaſures with him for their common in-
tereft, returned to Berlin, the 3d of Auguſt, N. S.
Mr Craggs, who had been ſent to Hanover with an ac-
count of the queen's dangerous illness, arrived there on the
16th of Auguft, N. S. and went directly to Herenhauſen
with the privy-council's letter to the king. The fame
night three other expreffes arrived at Hanover; two to the
king, and one to the earl of Clarendon, with the news of
the queen's death; which the earl communicated to him at
two o'clock in the morning. This was confirmed, four
hours after, by the arrival of monfieur Godike, fecretary to
baron Bothmar, with the farther account of his majeſty's
being proclaimed king of Great-Britain in the cities of
London and Weſtminſter, without the leaft fhew of oppo-
fition. The king received this news, ſo much to his glory
and advantage, with a ferenity of countenance and compo-
fure of mind, peculiar to him. The baron de Rhede, his
firft chamberlain, was immediately diſpatched to Berlin, to
defire an interview with the king of Pruffia, before his de-
parture for Holland. But, that prince, having begun hist
journey to Koningſburg in Pruffia, before the baron's ar-
rival at Berlin, the interview was prevented. However, as
foon
OF ENGLAN D.
309
6
foon as the king of Pruffia received from the Hague the
news of the queen's death, and of the proclaiming of king
George, he immediately declared his refolution to contri-
bute his affiftance to the maintaining of that fucceffion, in
cafe it fhould be difputed; and fent orders to his minifters
at the feveral courts, particularly to Mr Bonnet, his refi-
dent at London, to notify, That, as his majefty had con-
ftantly declared himfelf in favour of the fucceffion of the
houfe of Hanover to the crown of Great-Britain, ſo now
he was affected with peculiar joy to hear, that the fettle-
< ment of that crown had, in due time, taken effect, by
the proclaiming of king George; the rather, becauſe it
vifibly tended to the promoting the proteftant religion,
and the true intereft and welfare of the British nation:
and that, in cafe of need, he was ready to employ all the
power which God had put into his hands, in affifting to
• maintain that fucceffion againſt all, who might offer to
• difpute it.'
C
The neighbouring princes and ftates likewife either went
in perfon, or fent envoys and deputies to congratulate his
majefty's happy acceffion to the crown; which occafioned
a great concourfe of people, and retarded the king's depar-
ture; the thoughts of which fo afflicted the inhabitants of
Hanover, who had fo long enjoyed the bleffings of his mild
government, that they were inconfolable. The king, in
order to alleviate their grief, caufed intimation to be given.
to the magiftrates, that they might afk fome favour of him;
and, at their requeſt, the excife of provifions was taken off,
the debts of infolvent debtors were' difcharged, and their
perfons fet at liberty.
The king having committed the government of his Ger-
man dominions to a council, at the head of which he
placed his brother, prince Erneft, took into confideration
what part of the royal family he fhould carry with him, and
then determined, that the prince fhould go with him; that
the princefs, his confort, fhould follow a few weeks after,
with the two eldeſt princelles; and that the young prince
Frederick George fhould remain at Hanover with his young-
eft fifter. The king alfo named thofe of the houfhold, who
were to attend him to Great-Britain (s).
(s) Theſe were, the baron de
Kilmanfeck, mafter of the horſe;
baron Bernſdorf, firft minister of
itate; baron de Goritz, prefident
The
of the finances, and minifter ‹ f
flate; monfieur de Roberthon,
privy-counfellor to the king;
count Platen, great chamber-
U 3
lain;
1714.
310
HISTORY
THE
1
1714.
The king
fets out for
England.
The king fet out from Herenhaufen the 31st of Auguft,
and in four days came to Utrecht, from whence he went to
the Hague. He had there feveral conferences with the
States, wherein the affurances, which had been mutually
given by letters of friendship and effectual affiftance, were
confirmed (t). At length, on the 16th of September, the
king and prince embarked at Orange-Polder, on board the
Peregrine and the Mary yatcht, which having, foon after,
joined the fquadron of Engliſh and Dutch men of war, that
waited for them, under the command of the earl of Berke-
ley, they all failed for England, with a fair wind; and, the
next day, about nine in the evening, arrived fafe at the
Hope, where the admiral thought fit to drop anchor.
There being a thick fog the Saturday morning, the yatcht
did not go up the river till the afternoon. The king and
prince went into a barge in Long Reach, and arrived at
Greenwich about fix o'clock in the evening. The duke of
Northumberland, captain of the life-guard, and the lord
chancellor, at the head of the lords of the regency, re-
ceived him at his landing, and complimented him on his
fafe arrival The king choſe to walk to his houſe in the
park, accompanied by most of the nobility, and great
numbers of the principal gentry, through an infinite crowd
of perfons of all conditions. Before he left his yatcht, he
lain; baron de Rhedo, great
chamberlain; the marquis de
la Foręt, chamberlain; baron
Schutz and his two brothers,
one gentlemen of the bed cham-
ber to the king, the other to the
prince; monfieur Reiche, pri-
vy counsellor, and fecretary to
his majeſty; baron de Hartoff,
monfieur
counſellor of war;
Schraden, fecretary of embaf-
fies; monfieur Hammerstein,
gentleman of the king's bed-
chamber; monfieur Kempe,
gentleman of the bed-chamber
to the prince; two phyficians,
Dr Steigerthal and Dr Chap.
puzeau; two furgeons, and two
valets de chambre
(t) The marquis de Chateau-
ncuf, ambasador of France, had
an audience, among other fo-
reign minifters, to compliment
the king on his acceffion; and
the report was, that he uſed
thefe, among other civil ex-
preffions, There are yet a few
difficulties to be removed, to
put the finiſhing hand to the
treaties yet depending; but
your majefty fhall be the arbi-
ter of the peace.' To which
• I will
the king anſwered,
<
،
be the guaranty of it.' The
duke de Offuna, and the mar-
quis de Monteleone, plenipo-
tentiaries of Spain, came from
Utrecht to the Hague, to wait
on the king, and had a private
audience the 9th of September.
appointed
OF ENGLAND.
311
}
appointed the earls of Dorfet and Berkeley to be lords of 1714.
his bed-chamber, and knighted Mr William Sanderfon,
captain of the Peregrine. After the king had undergone
the fatigue of paffing through the crowd, and of giving his
hand to all, who approached him, he retired to his bed-
chamber, and fent for feveral of the nobility, fuch as had
moſt diſtinguiſhed themfelves by their zeal for his fucceffion.
It was obſerved that the duke of Ormond, the lord chan-
cellor, and the lord Trevor were not of that number. The
earl of Oxford was not at Greenwich that evening, but was
one of the earlieſt there the next morning; but had the
misfortune to be undiftinguiſhed among the croud, and
with great difficulty, had .at laft the bare honour of kiffing
his majesty's hand, without exchanging a word with him.
Nor did the earl efcape fuch reflections from the fpectators,
as his conduct had juftly deferved. On the other hand, the
duke of Marlborough appeared there, juftly favoured by the
king, and looked upon (though not yet declared) as cap-
tain-general (u). The dukes of Shrewsbury, Somerfet, Bol-
ton, Argyle, Montrofe, Rutland, and Montague; the mar-
quis of Dorchefter; the earls of Dorfet, Bridgewater, Sun-
M
(a) The duke of Marlborough,
having been detained a fortnight
at Oftend by contrary winds,
happened to land at Dover, the
day the queen died. He knew
nothing of the queen's death,
no more than the mayor and
jurats of Dover, by whom he
was received in their formalities
with the acclamations of the
people, and with a diſcharge of
a great number of guns from
the plat-form, but none from
the caſtle, which are uſed only
in royal falutes. The reafon of
his coming at that time is not
known for certain. He had
been invited first by the lord-
treaſurer Harley, and after-
wards by the lord Bolingbroke,
and great promiſes were made
him. The compliment went fo
far, that orders were faid to be
fent to the commanders of the
castles and forts on the co af of
Kent, Effex, and Suffolk, to
pay the fame honours, by the
firing of guns wherever he land-
ed, as was done when he re-
turned in triumph from his glo-
rious campaigns. But it feems
this ceremony was foon after
countermanded by an exprefs.
However, the duke confented
to make a kind of publick entry.
About two hundred inhabitants
of Southwark, with their mem-
ber at their head, refolved to
meet and attend him through
the Burrough. He was likewife
attended as he paffed through
the city with the like number
on horfeback His coach hap-
pened to break down at Temple-
bar, and he was forced to go in-
to another. He was cenſured
by his enemies for this conduct,
as if it was a fort of infult on the
queen, who was but juſt dead.
Di 4
derland,
312
THE HISTORY
1714. derland, Carlisle, Berkeley, Nottingham, Portland, Orford,
Wharton, and Cholmondeley; the lord vifcount Town-
fhend; the lords Offulftone, Sommers, and Halifax; the
bishop of Saliſbury; general Stanhope, Mr Lechmere, and
many others, received particular marks of favour; and the
duke of Argyle was declared groom of the ftole to his roy-
al highness; colonel William Car and colonel Tyrrel,
grooms of the bed-chamber; the earl of Hertford, the lord.
Finch, the lord Lumley, and colonel Oughton, gentlemen
of the bed-chamber to the prince.
The king's
entry.
1
On the 20th of September, the king and prince of Wales
maue their entry with great pomp and magnificence. There
were u. the king's coach the prince and the duke of Nor-
thumberland, cay tain of the life-guard in waiting. Above
two hundred coaches of the nobility and gentry, all with
fix horfes, preceded the king's. When he came to St Mar-
garet's hill in Southwark, he was met by the lord-mayor,
aldermen, recorder, fheriffs, and officers of the city of Lon-
don; in whoſe name Sir Peter King, recorder, made a con-
gratulatory fpeech. The lord-mayor delivered the fword
to the king, who returned it to him, and he bore it in the
proceffion bare-headed. The royal pomp continued till hist
arrival at his palace of St James's, and was favoured
by as a fair a day as was ever known in that ſeaſon of the
year.
The court was extremely numerous the next day, when,
befides the Britiſh nobility and gentry, feveral foreign mini-
fters made their appearance; particularly thofe of France
(x), Poland, Pruffia, and Sicily, took that occafion to con-
gratulate his majefty's happy acceffion to the throne, and fafe
arrival in England (y).
(x) Ibberville the French en-
voy faid on
this occafion,
That, as foon as his majeſty's
leifure would permit, he would
• deûre an audience, to repeat
to him the affurances, the mar-
quis de Chateauneuf had given
his majefty at the Hague, on
the part of his moft chriftian
majefty."
•
(y) An accident happened
this day, which interrupted a
little the gay humour the court
was in.
Charles Aldworth,
Before
member of parliament for Wind-
for, had imbibed, at St Ger-
mains in France, ftrong preju-
dices against the Hanover fuc-
ceffion, which, at his return to
England, he made no fcruple of
publishing, and confirmed them
by frequent drinking the pre-
tender's health. This drew
upon him ſeveral quarrels, in
which he met with fome dif
graces; and, in the latter end of
the queen's reign, he fet fo great
value on that merit of his, that
he
OF ENGLAND,
313
1714.
Before we proceed to the events of this reign, it will be
proper to give a general idea of the ftate of affairs in Great-r
Britain and Ireland.
Situation of
affairs at
The animofity between the feveral parties, which even king.
at this day divide England, was, at king George's acceffi- George's
on, higher than ever. The whigs, who had been in dif- acceffion.
grace the four laft years of the queen's reign, were full of
refentment at the ufage they had received from the tories,
and hoped to have full fatisfaction under the new reign,
which they looked upon as the end of their humiliation.
The tories, on their part, were extremely apprehenſive of a
downfal, and this apprehenfion had engaged feveral of
their leaders in practices not only dangerous, but directly
contrary to the meafures, the nation had taken with the
two laft fovereigns and the houfe of Hanover. To the
views of theſe men were afcribed the late peace with France,
and the violence offered by the queen to her allies, to com-
pel them to a reconciliation with that crown, and to the
facrifice of the fruits of their victories.
Moreover, the principles of the revolution had been far
from being univerfally embraced. Not only the papiſts ef-
poufed the abdicated family, but also great numbers of
churchmen; and it was much to be feared, that they would
join with the catholicks, to dethrone a prince, whom they
looked upon as a foreigner. The famous diftinction of a
king de jure, and a king de facto, was not yet forgot, nor
the doctrine of paffive obedience; and ſeveral refuſed to take
the oaths of allegiance and abjuration.
he thought himſelf not fuffici-
ently taken notice of, which
made him a little intractable.
He took liberties in railing at
the old miniſtry; and, to ingra-
tiate himſelf with their fuccef-
fors, charged it as a crime in
colonel Chudleigh of the foot
guards, that he had drank the
duke of Marlborough's health.
Colonel Chudleigh, the coufin
of the other colonel, meeting
unexpectedly Mr Aldworth in
the prefence-chamber at St
James's, expoftulated with him
about it; and, fome by-ftanders
expreffing their furprize, that
men, who had publickly drank
Mr
the pretender's health, ſhould
dare to appear in that place,
Mr Aldworth came to hard
words with colonel Chudleigh,
and challenged him; upon
which they both went out, and
fought in Marybone-fields, not-
withstanding colonel Biffet's en-
deavours to prevent it.
Aldworth was killed on the
fpot; and the king being told
of it, expreffed his indignation
at people's quarrelling in his pa-
lace; but faid, that, as he came
to maintain the laws, he would
leave the matter wholly to their
decision.
Scotland
314
HISTORY
THE
1714.
in Scotland.
Scotland was generally diffatisfied with the union. They
were apt to confider themſelves as degraded to a province
of England. They had always been pleafed with the title.
of an independent kingdom, heartily lamented the lofs of
it, and as heartily wished to recover it. That the Scots
fhould, at king George's acceffion, be in theſe ſentiments,
is no great wonder, fince it requires ages to root out of the
minds of a nation fuch fort of impreffions, however ill-
Commotions grounded. Accordingly, the Scots began to fhew their dif-
content foon after the queen's death, of which there is the
following account: the regency having iffued a proclamati-
on for a reward of 100,000l. for feizing the pretender, they
were informed that the pretender's friends in Scotland de-
figned an infurrection; and that fome of them had been
feen to go in arms towards the highlands; upon which they
ordered a good number of half-pay officers, eſpecially of
thofe belonging to the Scots regiments, to go thither im-
mediately, that, in caſe of neceffity, they might raiſe the
militia of the country, under the orders of major-general
Whetham, who commanded in chief there. Though this
precaution was neceffary, yet the Scots jacobites were fo
confounded, that they could do nothing confiderable; fo
that the chief of them only held fome confultations, and
retired to their lurking places. Some of the highlanders ap-
peared in a body near Fort William at Inverlochy, in the
weſtern highlands. But, the governor fending out a des
tachment againſt them, they marched off; fo that they
could do nothing at that time in Scotland, but only ſteal
fome cattle, and took an opportunity by night to proclaim
the pretender. The government ordered them to be profe-
cuted; and, by way of prevention, the duke of Gordon
was confined by the regency to the city of Edinburgh, on
his parole; his fon the marquis of Huntley, to his houſe
in the north; and his fon-in-law, the lord Drummond, to
his caſtle of that name. The duke of Athol, lord privy-
ſeal, who had cauſed the king to be proclaimed at Perth,
was ordered to continue at his caſtle of Blair in the high-
lands, to preſerve the peace of the neighbourhood: and the
regency being informed, that the highlanders had appoint-
ed huntings, when it is ufual for the clans to attend their
chiefs, they for bad thofe huntings, and ordered Sir Donald
Macdonald of Slait, one of thofe chiefs, fufpected to be in
the pretender's intereft, to be made prifoner, and fent to
the caſtle of Edinburgh. The lord Drummond was alfo
ordered to be feized, but efcaped to the highlands, from
whence
OF ENGLAN D.
315
whence he wrote to the lords juftices, and offered bail for
his good behaviour. The earl of Broadalbin, who had fuf-
ficiently declared himſelf for the pretender, though he had ab-
jured him when he fat as one of the fixteen Scots peers,
thought fit to retire to an inacceffible caſtle in a lake; upon
which a detachment of foot was ordered to guard the ave-
nues; and captain Campbel of Glendoroul, who had a com-
miffion by the earl of Oxford's means, to raiſe an indepen-
dent company in the highlands, was taken at Inverlochy,
and from thence fent prifoner to Edinburgh. The late lord-
treaſurer had, a little before, fet up a new chamberlain's
court in Scotland, the old one having been long diſconti-
nued, becauſe arbitrary princes had made it a grievance to
the fubject. The defign of reviving it now was only for
a cover to beſtow money upon fuch, as were in the court-
meaſures. Accordingly, the earl of Mar, who managed
the affairs of Scotland, recommended his own brother-in-
law, Sir Hugh Paterfon of Banockburn, and the lord Had-
do, eldeſt fon of the earl of Aberdeen, to be two of the
commiffioners, to whom the queen had granted a bill of
1000l. each, payable by Mr Douglaſs, receiver-general of
the land-tax. The lord vifcount Kilfyth, one of the fix-
teen Scots peers, and the lord Lyon, king at arms, two other
relations to the earl of Mar, had alfo grants for the like
fum. Soon after the queen's death, Sir Hugh Paterfon de-
manded payment of his bill; but the earl of Ilay, lord-juf-
tice-general of Scotland, interpofed, and acquainted the re-
gents how unreaſonable a thing this was; and particularly
that men, ſuſpected of difaffection to his majefty's govern-
ment, ſhould have the publick money diftributed among
them. Upon this the lords regents ordered the duke of
Athol, lord privy-feal, to put an immediate ſtop to all grants,
that were not paffed before the queen's death; which difap-
pointed thofe gentlemen of their money, and faved 4000%.
to the government.
When the king was proclaimed at Glafgow, forty or
fifty unknown perfons, while the magiftrates were bufy
in attending the proclamation, took an opportunity to pull
down the epifcopal meeting-houfe there, where one Mr
Cockburn had fet up the English liturgy, by countenance
of the late government, more to difgult the citizens, than
in hopes of gaining profelytes. As foon as the magiſtrates
heard of it, they fent to apprehend the actors, and to pre-
vent the pulling down the houſe; but they had done their
work, and made their efcape, before the magiftrates came
thither;
ނ
1714.
316
HISTORY
THE
1714.
!
thither; fo that none of them were diſcovered or taken.
The jacobite party took occafion from hence to reflect upon.
the prefbyterians, as if they had perfecuted thofe of the
church of England, and infert an account of it in the poſt-
boy, with all the aggravating circumftances, that their
malice and invention could fuggeft. Complaint was like-
wife made of it to the regency, who ordered the lord advo
cate of Scotland to inquire into it. There was found good
reaſon to ſuſpect, that the thing was done on purpoſe by
the difaffected party, to raiſe a clamour; becauſe Mr Cock-
burn, the day before, had retired with his family and effects.
to Edinbugh, though the magiftrates of Glaſgow had given
him affurance of protection. This account being taken
upon oath by the magiftrates, and fent up to the regency,
put an end to that matter. Thus ſtood affairs in Scotland,
at the time of king George's aceffion.
3
As for Ireland, the chief thing to be dreaded there was
the great number of papifts, who are ever ready to throw off
the yoke of the English. A little more conduct in king
James II. and a little more affiftance from France, would
have endangered that kingdom. And, at the time of the
queen's death, popery was in much the fame fituation.
Indeed there feemed to be no danger from any foreign
Holland would not fail to fulfil all engagements:
power.
the king of himſelf was powerful: he had on foot a good
number of troops, which, without obftacle, could have
been embarked in his own dominions. But, after all,
Lewis XIV. was ftill alive: it could not be doubted, but
that it was against his will that he had acknowledged
the proteftant fucceffion, and promifed not to disturb it. He
was affuredly in the ſame ſentiments ftill, and perhaps thought
himſelf more obliged to keep his word with king James,
on his death-bed, never to forfake his fon, than the engage-
It
ments, the neceffity of a peace had forced him into.
may be, what he would not do directly, he might do indi-
rectly;
with money, may not troops, arms and ſhips ſoon
be had? It will be feen in the courſe of this hiftory, that,
without any aid, the English and Scots raifed fuch an in-
furrection, as caufed great difturbances; and what would
they have done, had they been affifted! In vain would the
king have depended on his own troops; they could not be
brought over without the confent of the parliament, and the
Engliſh are too jealous of their liberty, to fuffer any foreign
forces, and it is with fome fort of regret, that they bear even
thoſe of the States. -
Such
OF ENGLAND.
317
=}
Such was the fituation of the British dominions and of 1714.
Europe, when king George came to the throne; and there-
fore it is no wonder, that, upon his arrival in England,
his first proceedings expreffed a diflike of the tories and the
late miniftry, and fhewed his attachment to the whigs.
The perfons he had named for the regency, were a plain
proof what the friends of the late miniftry were to expect.
He had even before his arrival, removed the lord Boling-
broke (z), and appointed the lord Townshend ſecretary of
ftate in his room. The day after his landing at Greenwich,
he fent the new fecretary to acquaint the duke of Ormond,
that he had no longer occafion for his fervice as captain-ge-
neral, but would be glad to fee him at court.
Theſe changes were followed by many others: the duke
of Marlborough was made captain-general of the land-for-
ces, colonel of the first regiment of foot-guards, and mafter
of the ordnance. The lord Cowper was made lord-chan-
cellor, the earl of Wharton privy-feal, and the earl of
Sunderland lord-lieutenant of Ireland. The duke of De-
vonſhire was appointed ſteward of the houfhold in the room
of earl Paulet, and Mr James Stanhope fecretary of state
in the room of Mr Bromley, and the duke of Montroſe
in the room of the earl of Mar. The duke of Somerſet was
made maſter of the horfe, the duke of St Albans captain
of the band of penfioners, and the duke of Argyle comman-
der in chief of the forces in Scotland. Mr William Pulte-
ney was made fecretary of war, and Mr Robert Walpole
receiver and pay-mafter-general of all the guards and gar-
rifons, and all other forces of Great-Britain, and pay-maf-
ter to chelſea hofpital, in the room of Mr How and Mr
Moore. The privy-council was diffolved, and a new one
declared, of which the earl of Nottingham was prefident (a).
Out
(z) Shortly after the king's
arrival, a meffage having been
fent to the lord Bolingbroke, in
the country, for his coming to
town, to be preſent at the tak-
ing off the feals that had been
put on his office; he excufed
himſelf, faying, The fame
might as well be done by one
of his fecretaries; but, if he
could be fo happy as to have
the honour to kifs the king's
C
C
hand, he would fly to throw
⚫ himſelf at his majeſty's feet.'
(a) The rest were: the prince
of Wales, archbishops of Canter-
bury and York, lord chancellor
Cowper, the dukes of Shrewf-
bury, Devonshire, Somerfet,
Bolton, Marlborough, Argyle,
Montrofe, Roxburgh, Kent,
marquis of Lindſey lord great-
chamberlain, the earls of Whar-
ton privy-feal, Pembroke, Suf-
folk,
318
THE HISTORY
と
​1714. Out of the privy-counfellors a cabinet council was formed,
confifting chiefly of the lord-chancellor, the duke of Marl-
borough, the earls of Nottingham, Sunderland, the lords
Hallifax, Townshend, Sommers, and general Stanhope.
All thele had diſtinguiſhed themſelves by their profeffed op-
pofition to the late meafures, and the peace.
The governors of places were alſo moſt of them chang-
ed. General Erle was made governor of Portſmouth.
There were as many alterations in Ireland as in England.
Before the king's arrival, the behaviour of Sir Conftantine
Phipps had been fuch, that the regency had removed him,
as well as the archbishop of Armagh, from being lords-juf-
tices of that kingdom, and in their room appointed the
archbishop of Dublin and the earl of Kildare, for which
they had the king's letter of approbation and thanks (b).
Alan Broderick was made lord-chancellor of Ireland, and
William Whitſhed chief-juftice. The privy-council' was
alfo diffolved, and another named, of which the duke of Or-
mond was one (c).
All theſe changes were made before the coronation, which
was fixed to the 20th of October. The king is by fome
blamed, for not having joined to the great number of whigs
a few more of the tories, which they ſuppoſe would have pre-
vented the general diſcontent of that party. But it was very
difficult for the king not to do as he did. The inclination
foik, Sunderland, Anglefea, Car-
lifle, Abington, Scarborough,
Orford, viſcount Townshend,
bishop of London, the lords Som-
mers and Hallifax, Thomas
Coke vice-chamberlain, James
Stanhope fecretary of State, Sir
Thomas Parker chief-juttice,
Thomas Erle lieutenant-general
of the ordnance, and Robert
Walpole pay-maſter general.
(b) On the 14th of Sept. the
regency had advice from Dub-
lin, that, upon the removal of
Sir Conſtantine Phipps, and the
archbishop of Armagh, from
being lords-juſtices of Ireland,
there was an univerfal joy among
all the friends of his majeſty's
fucceffion; and that fome of the
populace, who were filled with
refentment against Sir Conftan-
tine, went to his houfe, in or-
der to infult him; but he had be-
forehand retired to the caſtle.
(c) Some time after the fol-
lowing creations were made in
Ireland:
George Cholmondeley, efq; ba-
ron Newburgh.
Allan Broderick, efq; baron
Broderick.
Sir George St George, baron
St George.
Sir Arthur Cole, baron Rane-
lagh.
Sir John Percival, baron Perci-
val.
Richard Fitz Patrick, efq; baron
Goran.
George Evans, efq; baron Car-
bery.
which
OF ENGLAND.
319
which the pretender had indifcreetly afferted, the queen had 1714.
for him in the latter years of her life, could be ascribed
only to thoſe who had the management of affairs. The
miniftry, refolutely bent to end the war, notwithſtanding
the complaints of all the allies (who placed their fafety in
the humbling of France) and particularly, notwithſtanding
the repeated oppofition of the duke of Hanover, they
could not but be fenfible, that, if he one day became their
mafter, he would not fail to facrifice them to his own,
and the refentment of the allies, whofe projects they had
diſappointed, and whofe hopes they had confounded. It
was therefore natural to think, they had taken meaſures to
prevent any danger from him. A thoufand circumstances.
fupported theſe conjectures: the dowry paid to king
James's queen: the fmall reward offered for taking the
pretender: the conniving at the lifting of men in his fer-
vice: the fuffering the Revolution to be publickly talked
and preached against, and doctrines to be vented, deftruc-
tive of the principles on which it was built: the little care
to have an eye to Scotland, to redreſs the grievances
complained of by that nation, and which were capable of
driving them to extremities: England unprovided of
troops, as well as Scotland and Ireland, whilft under fri-
volous pretences feveral regiments were kept in Fland-
ders: all this amounted to a fort of demonftration,
that the queen's death alone had prevented the defeating of
the proteftant fucceffion, and the deftroying all that had been
done for above twenty years to fecure and juſtify the cxclu-
fion of king James and his pretended heir. Now can there
be to a prince attacked in fo important a point, any room
for pardon or diffimulation?
Befides, there was a kind of neceffity to efpoufe one of
the two parties, who had by turns prevailed under king
William and queen Anne. By that means he would be
freed from the continual trouble of managing and keeping
the balance even between them, and perhaps from the dan-
ger of having both turn againſt him. The whigs were
really enemies of France and the pretender, and could not
be otherwife; they had conftantly declared for the proteftant
fucceffion, and though, in fome of their proceedings, the
fpirit of party no lefs appeared than a true zeal, yet they
might be depended upon. To the whigs the court of Ha-
nover was indebted, for obliging the French king and the
duke of Lorrain not to fuffer the pretender in their domi-
nions, and for the advices of what was contriving again
the
320
THE HISTORY
1714. the interefts of the proteftant fucceffor. This being the
cafe, there was no room to deliberate which party to chufe.
King William, accuftomed from his youth to diffimulation,
might have deliberated, or feemed to have done fo: but the
elector of Hanover, abfolute mafter in his German domi-
nions, and conſequently unuſed to faction and party, was
hardly capable of that diffimulation, fo requifite in a govern-
ment like that of England.
Notwithſtanding all the changes and the difgrace of fo
many perfons, no ill effects followed. Addreffes from the
univerfities, the counties, cities, burroughs and corpora-
tions, expreffed the publick joy and fatisfaction at the king's,
acceffion, though in a very different ftile; for fome infinu-
ated that the proteftant fucceffion had not been in danger,
whilft others ſpoke of the late miniftry in very fevere terms,
and mentioned the utmoſt dread of their meaſures (d).
+
(d) The addreſs of the uni-
verſity of Cambridge, after con-
doling the queen's death, and
congratulating the king's accef-
fion, proceeds as follows:
،
It would be unpardonable
folly and downright infatua-
tion, if any of your majefty's
proteſtant ſubjects ſhould turn
their eyes to a popiſh preten-
'der, who can never reign over
us but to the certain lofs of
every thing, that ought to be
dear to us, either as we are
Britons or proteftants. But
then your majeſty's moſt loyal
univerfity must be utterly in-
capable of a thought, fo de-
• ftructive to our most holy
<
faith, fo oppofite to our happy
• conflitution both in church
and ſtate, ſo full of ingrati-
tude to God, and of injuftice
to your majefty, who, by the
death of our late fovereign,
hath now alone the rightful
• and undoubted title to the im-
perial crown of theſe realms,
'which receives a new luftre
The
by your majefty's happy ac-
⚫ ceffion to it.
C
"Out of a deep ſenſe of theſe
things, and in obedience to
the juft and wholeſome laws
' of the realm, and in a con-
• ſcientious regard to our re-
'peated oaths, we moft humbly
prefume to affure your ma-
'jefty, that as our own ſtudies
C
and endeavours fhall always
'be employed in the defence of
your majeſty's facred perfon
⚫ and government, and your juft
and rightful title to our alle-
giance against the pretender,
and all other your majefty's
' enemies and oppoſers whatſo-
ever; fo fhall it be likewife
our eſpecial care, that all
thofe, who are educated a-
mongst us, be inftructed in the
fame true principles of loyalty
and duty to your majefty.'
<
The addreſs of the univerſity
of Oxford was in a different
ftile:
The inexpreffible loſs, we
have fuftained by the death of
• our
OF ENGLAND.
321
The first time the king was prefent at the privy-council, 1714.
after he had taken the oath relating to the fecurity of the
church of Scotland, he made the following declaration : declaration
<
our late fovereign of bleſſed
memory, would have been
infupportable, had not God,
in his great goodneſs to this
nation, fupplied it to us by
your majefty's happy and quiet
• acceffion to the throne. With
the profpect of this bleffing
we comforted ourſelves, as of-
ten, as we apprehended that
precious life to be in danger;
for, knowing the fincerity of
our hearts, we never ſuſpect-
ed, that any perfons would
⚫ be fo regardleſs of their duty
• and of their intereft, as not
to fupport, with the utmoſt
6
zeal, that fucceffion, to which
they were bound by the moft
• folemn oaths, and on which
<
·
<
the prefervation of our reli-
gion, laws, and liberties, did.
next, under God, fo mani-
feftly depend. Our expecta-
tions, our wishes, and our
prayers, have been anſwered
⚫ by that unanimity, with which
your ſubjects have recognized
yourmajesty'sundoubted right,
that impatience they have ex-
preffed to fee your royal per-
fon in the actual poffeffion of
your throne, and themſelves
C
happy under the influence of
your government."
The addreffes of Orford and
Gloucester were very remarka-
ble In the Orford addrefs was
this paffage :
We hope, that the univer-
fal approbation, with which
your majefty entered your
reign, will be an happy omen
VOL. VI.
The king's
Having in council.
of unanimity among us: all
• the infinuations, as if the pro-
• teftant fucceffion was in dan-
C
ger, muſt now appear(as they
'were) groundleſs, and only a
contrivance of defigning men
to divide us. We can now
have no ftrife, but who fhall
'fhew the greateſt zeal for your
facred majesty, for our admi-
rable church and happy con-
ftitution, in oppofition to your
majeſty's enemies, to popery
and fchifm, and to all anti-
• monarchical and republican
principles.'
"
<
In that of Glouceſter were
thefe words:
"
C
C
Her late majeſty at laſt by
a happy peace (which God
'continue to us and our chil-
dren) fecured your majesty's
quiet fucceffion, which the
had always at heart, and was
'careful of through her whole
reign. Your majefty fucceeds
in our hearts: no time, no
accident, can make us other-
wife than truly loyal. It is
our principle to obey your
majeſty without referve, for
we think
you accountable to
none upon earth: and the
fame principles will embolden
us unanimously to refift your
majefty's enemies, and, with
all that is dear to us, to de-
fend your majefty's juft title to
the crown you wear, againſt
all perfons whatſoever. And
thefe our inclinations and prin-
ciples we owe to our ſteady
• adherence to the eſtabliſhed
• church
C
C
•
X
Sept. 22.
322
HISTORY
THE
!
1714.
"
<
6
C
<
6
6
•
Having, in my answers to addreffes of both houses of
parliament, fully expreffed my refolution to defend the
religious and civil rights of all my fubjects, there remains
very little for me to fay upon this occafion.
Yet having been willing to omit no opportunity of
giving all poffible affurances to a people, who have al-
ready deſerved fo well of me; I take this occafion alſo to
exprefs to you my firm purpofe, to do all that is in my
power for the fupporting and maintaining the churches of
England and Scotland, as they are feverally by law eſtab-
lifhed; which I am of opinion may be effectually done,
without the leaft imparing the toleration allowed by law
to proteftant diffenters, fo agreeable to chriftian charity,
and ſo neceffary to the trade and riches of this kingdom.
The good effects of making property fecure are no where
church of England, the glory
• of the reformation, truly an-
tient, truly apoftolical, for
• her fubmiffion and obedience
to kings and governors, for
her mild behaviour to thoſe,
who have formerly torn out
⚫ her very bowels. No church
upon earth can ſhew ſo antient
a charter, fo unlimited obe-
dience, fo univerfal charity:
no church can boaſt ſo great
a defender. May your love
• to each other find no bounds.
<
4
May it pleaſe your majefty,
• we here ſpeak the ſenſe of all
your people, who are truly
loyal, and are affured they are
vaftly more numerous than
thofe, who are but occaſional-
ly fo; and therefore doubt
• not to fend your majeſty mem-
•bers of parliament, who are
not of thoſe, whofe principals
are to obey no longer than
they are pleafed."
•
On the contrary, in the ad-
drefs from Nottingham, pre-
fented by their member, Mr
Plumtree, it is faid:
• With pleaſure we now look
<
back upon our paft dangers,
with joy we fee thofe intrigues
and tratagems difappointed,
which were fo artfully con-
trived by fome ill-defigning
men to effect our ruin, and
'from that dreadful form
which lately threatened us,
and which, by divine provi-
'dence, and the wife conduct
of your majefty, is blown
over, we cannot but addrefs
' ourſelves to your facred per-
fon, as our fecond great deli-
verer, from a flavish yoke,
and a popish impoftor.'
C
C
<
C
(
C
In the addreſs from the county
of Hereford is this paragraph:
'We are the more fenfible
of the inestimable bleffing of
your majefty's acceffion to the
‹ throne, becauſe we had very
lately fo much reaſon to ap-
prehend, we were in danger
of being deprived of it, by
the defigns of ambitious men,
who, if God had not pre-
vented them, to raiſe them-
felves to power and riches,
• had facrificed their country to
tyranny and ſuperftition.'
• lo
OF ENGLAND.
323
C
C
fo clearly feen, and to fo great a degree, as in this happy
kingdom; and I affure you, that there is not any among
you fhall more earneftly endeavour the prefervation of it
'than myſelf.'
1714.
ty put in
At the fame time the prince royal was declared prince of
Wales, and took his feat at the upper end of the board, at
the king's right-hand. Soon after the treaſury was put in
commiffion, and alfo the admiralty. The commiffioners of The treafury
the treaſury were the lord Hallifax, Sir Richard Onflow and admiral-
chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William St Quintin, commiflion
Edward Wortley Montague, and Paul Methuen. Thoſe
of the amiralty were the earl of Orford, Sir George Byng,
George Dodington, Sir John Jennings, Sir Charles Tur-
ner, Abraham Stanyan, and George Bailie. John Aiſlabie
was made treaſurer of the navy, and the earl of Cholmon-
deley was appointed treaſurer, Hugh Bofcawen comptroller,
and Edmund Dunch mafter of the king's houfhold, Dr
Samuel Garth was knighted, who had lately publiſhed a
latin dedication, which he intended to prefix to an edition
of Lucretius three years before; but it was not then thought
feaſonable,
On the 9th of October, N. S. the two eldeſt princeffes
of Great-Britain, Anne and Amelia, fet out from Ha-
nover, to go, by eaſy journies, to the Hague; the youngest
princefs Caroline being left at Hanover, on account of a
late indifpofition. Three days after, the princess of Wales
fet out for Holland, attended by the countefs of Pickle-
burgh; and, on the 17th, arrived at the Hague, with the
two eldeſt princeffes her daughters. The next morning ſhe
received the compliments of the States-general, by deputies
nominated for that purpofe; and, the weather being fair,
The appeared in the afternoon in the Voorhout, attended by
a very numerous train of coaches; and, in the evening,
kept a drawing room, at which all the ladies and perfons of
diftinction of that place were prefent. The next day fhe
received vifits from the French ambaffador, and other fo-
reign miniſters. The earl of Berkeley and Sir John Wal-
ter of the green cloth were come thither five days before,
having left the fquadron of men of war at Helvoet-fluys,
with orders for the yatchts to come up to Rotterdam. The
princefs being informed by the earl, that the wind was ea-
iterly, on the 20th of October, N. S. fhe went on board a
yatcht of the States of Holland, accompanied by the earl of
Albemarle, and the reft of the deputies of that province;
by the count of Hanau, and the countefs, her fifter, prince
X 2
William
1
324
THE HISTORY
1714. William of Heffe, and the Prince of Anhalt. The ear
of Strafford accompanied her alfo part of her way to Rotter
dam, where being arrived, the embarked on board the Mary
yatcht, and with the two princeffes and their retinue, land-
ed at Margate, Octob. 11, O. S. and the next evening ar
rived at Rocheſter. The prince of Wales having early
that day received the news of her arrival, fet out about fe-
ven o'clock in the morning, accompanied by the dukes of
Somerfet and Argyle, and the earl of Bridgewater, lord-
chamberlain to their royal highneffes. The prince met the
princess beyond Rochefter, where he was attended by the
counteffes of Dorfet and Berkely, who had been named
two of the ladies of the bed-chamber. Their royal high-
neffes paffed through the city of London in a chariot with
fix horfes, followed by another, in which were the two
young princeffes, and came to St James's on the 13th of
October (e).
Promotions.
The day appointed for the coronation drawing near, the
Octob. 15. king, as ufual on fuch occafions, advanced fome of the
peers to higher titles, and created fome new ones (f). Five
(e) The princefs Caroline,
who was left behind, did not
come to England till the 24th
of May.
(f) Letters patent, Octob.
15, paffed the great feal, creat-
ing
James Lord Chandos, earl of
Caernarvon.
Lewis, lord Rockingham, ba-
ron of Throwley in the coun-
ty of Kent, viſcount Sondes
of Lees Court in the fame
county, and earl of Rocking-
ham.
Charles, lord Offolfton, earl of
Tankerville.
Charles, lord Hallifax, vifcount
Sunbury in the county of
Middlefex, and earl of Halli-
fax.
Hencage, lord Guernſey, earl of
Aylesford in the county of
Kent.
days
John, lord Harvey, earl of Bri-
ftol.
Thomas, lord Pelham, viſcount
Houghton, in the county of
Nottingham, and earl of
Clare.
Henry, earl of Thomond, in Ire.
land, viſcountTadcaster in the
county of York.
James, viſcount Caſtleton in Ire-
land, baron Sanderfon of Sex-
by in the county of Lincoln.
Bennet, lord Sherard in Ireland,
baron of Harborough in the
county of Leiceſter.
Gervafe, lord Pierrepoint in Ire-
land, baron Pierrepoint of
Hanflop in the county of
Bucks.
Henry Boyle, baron of Carleton
in the county of York
Sir Richard Temple, baron of
Cobham in the county of
Kent.
Henry,
OF ENGLAN D.
325
days after, the coronation was performed at Westminster 1714.
with great magnificence (g). There never was fo great an
appearance tion.
The corona-
Henry, lord Paget, earl of Ux- deputy with his coronet, between
bridge.
The fame day the king ap-
pointed lieutenant general Ca-
dogan to be colonel of the fe-
cond regiment of foot-guards,
in the room of general Church-
ill.
The dukes of Bolton and
Rutland, and the earls of Dor-
fet and Hallifax, were made
knights of the garter. The
lord Cobham was appointed en-
voy to the court of Vienna, and
the earl of Stair ambaffador to
the court of France. The dukes
of Richmond, Grafton, and
Kent, the carls of Lincoln,
Dorfet, Mancheſter, Berkeley,
Selkirk, Stair, and Orrery, and
the lord Carteret, were appoint-
ed gentlemen of the bed-cham-
ber; and Mr Howard, briga-
dier Dormer, brigadier Breton,
colonel Ker, colonel Tyrrel,
colonel Fielding, and colonel
Cornwal, grooms of the bed-
chamber.
(g) The forms were much
the fame as in former corona-
tions; what was particular in
this was as follows:
Oct. 20.
the ufher of the black-Rod, and
the lord-mayor of London;
then the lord great chamberlain
fingle; then the prince of Wales.
in his robes of state of crimfon
velvet furred with ermin; his
coronet, with precious ftones,
and cap borne by the earl of
Hertford on a crimſon velvet
cuſhion, and wearing a cap of
crimſon velvet turned up with
ermin, by his majeſty's permif-
fion; his train fupported by
Adolphus Oughton, and ano-
ther groom of his bed-chamber,
affifted by Henry Killigrew,
gentleman of his royal high-
nefs's robes. Then the earl of
Derby, with the ſword of ftate,
between the duke of Monta-
gue, lord high-conſtable for that
day, and the earl of Suffolk
and Bindon, as earl-marfhal of
England: the duke of Grafton,
lord high ſteward on that occa-
fion, with the crown, between
the duke of Argyle, bearing the
fceptre with the dove, and the
duke of Somerfet with the orb ;
the biſhop of Saliſbury with the
bible, and the bishop of Litch-
field and Coventry with the pat-
ten, and the biſhop of Bangor
with the chalice. Then the
KING in his 10yal robes of
crimſon velvet, furred with er-
min, and bordered with a rich
broad gold lace, wearing the
collar of the order of St George,
and on his head a cap of state
of crimson velvet, turned up
with ermin, adorned with a cir-
cle of gold, enriched with dia-
monds, fupported by the bishops
of Durham and Bath and Wells
under a canopy borne by the
The proceffion of the officers,
and then the peers from Weſt-
minſter-Hall to the Abbey-
church, being cloſed by two
perfons repreſenting the Dukes
of Aquitain and Normandy, the
lords who bore the Regalia,
came in turn. The earl of Sa-
liſbury, with St Edward's ſtaff;
the lord viſcount Longueville,
with the ſpurs; the earl of
Dorfet, with the fcepter and
crofs; the earls of Sunderland,
Pembroke, and Lincoln, with
the three fwords. Then Garter's
X 3
barons
1
326
HISTORY
THE
}
1714. appearance of lords fpiritual and temporal, as on this ocça-
fion, no less than feventeen archbishops and bifhops, though
two fees were then vacant; all the dukes in or about Lon-
don, except the duke of Buckingham; feventy earls and
viſcounts, and amongst them the earl of Oxford and vif-
count Bolingbroke; and as many barons. The demonftra-
tions of joy throughout the kingdom on the coronation-day
feemed to be general, and were in proportion as fplendid as
at London, fome few places excepted, where the rabble.
fhewed their hatred to the proteftant fucceffion, by riots and
outrages
barons of the Cinque ports.
The litany was fung by the bi-
ſhops of Lichfield and Coven-
try and Norwich, and the fer-
mon preached by Dr William
Talbot, biſhop of Oxford, fa-
ther to the late lord-chancellor.
The bishop obferves in his fer-
mon. • Queen Anne not only
paffed laws for the further
eftablishment of the proteflant
• fucceffion, but by her arms,
• and thoſe of her allies, had,
• in human appearance, placed
• it almoft out of danger, hav-
•
6
<
ing, in eight campaigns, fo
glorious in the conduct, and
fo aftoniſhing in the fuccefs of
them, as not to be paralled
in hiſtory, fo far reduced the
only power, that could inter-
rupt it, that there was little
more wanting to have com-
⚫pleted our fecurity. But whe-
ther it was to correct us for
fome fins, whereby we had
provoked God to anger, or to
⚫chaftife our confidence, which,
it may be, we placed too
• much in the arm of flesh; or
• to convince us, that his pro-
vidence, which alone began,
fhould alone have the glory of
finishing this great work; he
was pleaſed to fuffer us to fall
into a condition, from which
(
،
nothing else could have re-
• lieved us. Our enemy, whọ
had ſet up a pretender to this
'throne, raiſed from a ſtate of
afking peace, to a condition
of giving peace and princes
too to Europe, our allics,
fome divided from us, others
miferably disjointed; and we
ourſelves not only unguarded,
• but wretchedly broken into
parties and factions at home.
The friends of the pretender
thought theſe circumftances
fo encouraging, that they open-
ly avowed his title in writing
• and diſcourſe, and his agents
as boldly inlifted foldiers to
affert it with the ſword. And
he must have been very fan-
guine, who, in this view of
things, could have thought,
that the pretender, whom our
queen's repeated inftances
⚫ could not remove from a fitu-
ation, which her parliament
thought too near us, would
not, upon her majefty's de-
mife, have brought a foreign
'army to join his friends here,
before the proteftant heir,
who was at a much greater
'diſtance, could have arrived,
to have maintained his own
just right, or defended his
faithful fubjects. But when
• that
<
•
'
<
<
OF ENGLAND.
324
Dr of laws
outrages (h). The university of Oxford (who, the day 1714.
before, had prefented to the king by Dr Gardiner, their
vice-chancellor, a book of verfes on the death of queen Phipps made
Anne, and the acceffion of his majefty to the throne) on at Oxford.
the coronation-day, conferred unanimoufly, in a full con-
vocation, the degree of doctor of civil law on Sir Conftan-
tine Phipps, with all imaginable marks of honour and
eſteem.
The firſt affair the king turned his thoughts to, was the The affair of
execution of an article of the treaty of Utrecht, the de- Dunkirk.
molition of Dunkirk; from whence the trade of England
and Holland had been greatly incommoded during the late
that day was come, that was
to put a period to that royal
life, on the continuance of
which alone, this threatening
danger feemed fufpended;
then was God pleaſed to mix
fo much mercy with the
ftroke, as by his providence
to order it, that the unfettled
pofture of affairs abroad would
not permit the pretender's fo-
reign friends to fend any
'forces to encourage an infur-
'reation; and the unreadineſs
<
of his furprized abetters here
• would not permit them to ap-
pear in fuch a manner, as to
'invite an invafion; but our
king was peaceably proclaim-
ed, to the univerfal joy of his
'people.'
6
(h) Dr Sacheverel was at
that time at Sutton, near Bir-
mingham in Warwickshire,
where he preached on the Sun-
day before the coronation ; and
above two hundred of the Bir-
mingham people came fo far to
attend upon him, and the con-
fequence of it appeared a day
or two after. Several of the
principal inhabitants of Birm-
ingham having refolved in a
fuitable manner to express their
jey on the day of the corona-
X
4
(
tion, an entertainment was pre-
pared for them at the Caftle-
tavern, when the night came
on, a tumultuous rabble got to-
gether, broke the windows of
the houſe, and forced the com-
pany to remove: all the cry
was Sacheverel for ever; and
' down with the whigs.' If any
one in the ſtreet cried, God
• bleſs king George,' he was in
danger of his life. At Briftol
alfo the mob broke the win-
dows of Mr Whiting, the un-
der-ſheriff, who had offended
them by profecuting one guilty
of perjury. They did the fame
at Mr Jeffreys's houfe; but fell
in a ftill more furious manner
on Mr Stevens's, which they
affaulted, entered, and plunder-
ed. One Mr Thomas, who
perfuaded them to withdraw,
was murdered; and feveral gen.
tlemen infulted, hurt, and abuf-
ed. At Chippenham in Wilt-
fhire, the rabble armed with
guns, piſtols, and clubs, march-
ed with beat of drum, and abuf-
ed the juftices, gentlemen, and
freemen, who were fhewing
their loyalty in folemnizing the
king's coronation.
king's coronation. The fame
kind of diforders were commit-
ted at Norwich and Reading.
wars.
4
328
THE HISTORY
1714. wars. Instead of executing this article, the French king had
entirely evaded it; and therefore Mr Prior, who was fill re-
fident at Paris, was ordered to prefent a memorial to him,
preffing the performance of the 9th article of the treaty of
Utrecht (). The French king, who had ufed the diftinc-
(i) The memorial was as fol-
lows:
The under-written plenipo-
tentiary, miniſter of the king of
Great Britain, has orders from
the king his mafter to reprefent
to your majefty, that, having
heard the report of the commif-
faries and engineers fent to
view the ſtate of the fortifica-
tions and port of Dunkirk, his
majefty is very much furprized
to hear, that notwithſtanding
the inſtances and repreſentations
made on the part of Great-
Britain, to prefs the execution
of the 9th article of the treaty
of peace concluded at Utrecht,
the faid port is fo little filled up,
that there can ftill to this day as
great fhips as formerly pafs by
the old canal, up to the horn-
work of the town. So long as
that canal remains, it cannot
be denied, that there is ftill at
Dunkirk a port of one thou-
fand rods long, and confequent-
ly able to receive many hun-
dred fhips.
The words of the
treaty are, Portus compleatur
(that the haven fhall be filled
up) Aggeres aut moles diruan-
tur (that the dykes which form
the canal and the moles be de-
ftroyed We appeal even to
your majeſty's engineers, if the
haven be filled up, and if the
dykes be deſtroyed? The king
his maſter is very much perfuad-
ed, that your majelty, being
fully informed of this fact will
give yeur ftrict orders, that at
tion
laft that fhall be accomplished,
which, according to the words.
of the treaty, ought to have
been done above a year ago.
The fame minifter has orders to
reprefent to your majefty, that
the furprize of the king his
mafter has been ftill greater,
when he was told, that not-
withstanding the faid 9th ar-
ticle, which fays expressly, 'Ne
• dicta munimenta, portus, mo-
les, aut aggeres denuò un-
quam reficiantur' (that the faid
fortifications, port, or the dykes
of Dunkirk fhall never be re-
built) that they are actually at
work in making a new port,
much larger than the old canal ;
which as well as the old ha-
ven, goes up to the town of
Dunkirk; and that the founda-
tion of a fluice, much greater
than the former, which ferved
to clean the old haven, is laid.
It cannot be imagined, that
your majefty will make ufe of
the word Dicta, which is in that
article, to maintain, that fince
the fame canal is not reſtored,
the fame materials are not made
ufe of, and the fame baftions
and courtains are not rebuilt,
that your majefty is at liberty to
raiſe new works, and to make a
new port better than the former.
The Bona fides, which ought to
reign in all treaties, and which
will be religiouſly obſerved by
the king my mafter, will not ad-
mit of fuch a fuppofition.
When ſhips can go into Dun-
kirk
OF ENGLAN D.
329
tion of the letter and fpirit of treaties to juſtify his non-
compliance with the treaty of partition, adhered to the let-
ter of this, and pretended he had fulfilled it in the utmoſt
extent (k). His anſwer was not fatisfactory; Prior was re-
kirk by the old canal, which is
in the north, or by the new,
which is on the weft, Dunkirk,
will, in the fame manner, be a
port, and be equally incommo-
dious and dangerous to the com-
merce of Great-Britain.
In either of theſe two cafes,
the treaty will be equally vio-
Ìated. The King of Great-
Britain is reſolved, on his fide,
religiouſly to obferve the treaty
of Utrecht, and to maintain
with your majeſty an amity fo
fincere, that he defires, above
all things, to prevent all inci-
dents that may disturb that good
intelligence. And as the hopes
of feeing the intire execution of
that 9th article has been to
Great Britain the principal mo-
tive for accepting the peace of
Utrecht, he has ordered the un-
der-written miniſter to make the
moft preffing inftances with your
majesty, that you will pleaſe to
give order for the filling up the
faid canals, &c.
-
(k) His answer was as fol-
lows:
Purſuant to the 9th article of
the treaty of peace concluded at
Utrecht, the harbour of Dun-
kirk, between the town and the
citadel, is intirely filled up.
Nevertheleſs, men are ftill at
work, carrying into it the earth,
that is produced by the demo-
lihing of the cavaliers of the
citadel.
The words Portus complea-
tur, can never be applied to the
called,
old canal, which is very diffe-
rent from the harbour; neither,
to be ſure, would the king ever
have engaged intirely to deſtroy
a canal of a thouſand toifes in
length.
That would have been a work
immoderately great, for the
only time men could have been
employed therein, would have
been at low water.
On the other hand, it would
have been altogether needleís,
for the fea will foon carry away
what remains of the dykes, that
were made,
of
Theſe dykes and jettes fink
daily, and are washed away by
the fea. But it having been
lately demanded, on the part
the king of Great Britain, that,
to the end they might be carried
off the fooner, the king would
cauſe four coupures or outlets
to be made therein, his majeſty
gave orders accordingly; and,
by means of this new work, the
old canal will be fo choaked up
in a few days, that it will be le-
vel with the ftrand, and no
fhipping will be able to enter
it. Nay, they will not be able
to go up thither, even at high
water, but as they do at all
other places along the coaft,
quite from Newport to Calais.
The king has ſeveral times
complained of the dilatorineſs
on the part of England, in
point of executing the 9th ar-
ticle of the peace of Utrecht.
It ought not therefore to be
charged
1741.
330
THE HISTORY
1714. called, and the earl of Stair fent in his room, who profe
cuted the affair with great vigour. The court of France
would not yield, and declared in exprefs terms, Mardyke
was not Dunkirk, and that the treaty of Utrecht, did not
deprive
charged upon his majefty. This three fluices, which were to be
is notorious.
:
It is well known too, that the
fortifications of Dunkirk are de..
moliſhed and that the harbour
is fo filled up, that it would be
impoffible for the king to make
it good again, did not his ma-
jefty defign (as he fully does)
punctually to perform the treaty.
He has already feveral times.
anfwered the complaints, which
for fome time past he has re-
ceived, about the work he was
forced to make, to hinder a
great track of land from being
laid under water, which the
ruining of the fluices of Dun-
kirk would have effected. How-
ever, he is willing to repeat
once more the reafons he has
given for that proceeding.
The waters of the canals of
Furnes, La Moere, Wynoxberg,
and Bourbourg, were diſcharged
by the fluices of Dunkirk. This
outlet was neceffary to keep the
caftellanies of Bourbourg, Wy-
noxberg, and even fome part of
that of Furnes, from being
overflowed, which, without it,
they must infallibly have been.
But the king, having promifed
utterly to deſtroy the fluices of
Dunkirk, gave his orders for
executing the treaty; and, in
the mean while, caufed a repre-
fentation to be made to the
queen of Great-Britain, of the
inconveniencies, that would en-
fue upon this rigorous perform
ance; defiring, at the fame time
that ſhe would ſuffer one of the
F
deſtroyed, to ftand as it did.
This was denied by that prin-
cefs. So it became neceffary to
find out fome other method for
diſcharging the water of thoſe
four canals.
The English commiffaries and
engineers were witneffes of the
feveral projects, that were form-
ed for that purpofe. They
were full well acquainted with
the deſign of the canal of Mar-
dyke, and were of opinion, it
was impoffible to be executed.
It is true, it was a very expenſive
one; and the king would gladly
have faved that money, had it
pleafed the queen of Great-Bri-
tain to leave one of the fluices
of Dunkirk ftanding, only to
diſcharge the waters from the
country. But, upon her refufal,
it was abfolutely neceffary to
open this canal, to receive the
waters of the four other canals.
Theſe four old canals are na-
vigable, and are together forty-
eight toifes broad; and confe-
quently the new canal muſt needs
have a fufficient breadth to re-
ceive all thefe waters, and dif
charge them into the fea.
The fluice alfo muft neceffari-
ly be proportionable to the
breadth of the canal, and to the
quantity of waters it retains ;
for the point is, to hinder the
tides getting into the country,
and to keep in the waters of the
four old canals at high tides.
The feafon preffed the finiſh-
ing of that work; and if the
fame
OF ENGLAND.
1
33r
deprive the king of the natural right of a fovereign, to
make what works he fhould judge proper for the preferva-
tion of his fubjects. The truth is, the plenipotentiaries of
Great-Britain had been too negligent in the affair. In ſti-
pulating the demolition of Dunkirk, it was doubtleſs their
intention that another and better harbour fhould not be
made on that coaft; but then it ſhould have been fo ex-
preffed; otherwife, in fuch articles all advantages will be
taken by thofe on whom they are impofed.
The fame fault had been committed in the treaty of
commerce with Spain. The advantages obtained in the
body of the treaty were all explained away by the ſeparate
articles, and the refult was, that the Britiſh goods and mer-
chandizes paid feven per cent. more than had been paid be-
fore. King George applied himſelf alfo to redreſs this
grievance. Spain, in imitation of France, adhered to the
letter of the treaty, and would not agree that the terms
fhould be explained according to the intentions of the
queen's plenipotentiaries; and it was not till after much
time and pains that this, and feveral other difficulties relat-
ing to to the Affiento contract, were adjuſted. So true is it,
that a good negotiator is as rare and as ufeful as a great ge-
neral.
fame had not been carried on
with great diligence, what would
not men have apprehended from
the diſorder, which the autumn
rains might occafion?
Theſe are the motives, which
obliged the king to cauſe the
new canal of Mardyke to be
opened, and to haften the ac-
complishment of that work.
His majeſty has no defign, no
intention to make a new har-
bour at Mardyke, to build a
place there. He has already
declared, and once more re-
peats it, that he is only willing
to fave a country, which would
be laid under water, if this was
not diſcharged into the fea.
For the reft, the king has
given good proofs of hisbonafides
in the execution of the treaties.
His majeſty has given particular
marks thereof to the king of
Great-Britain. He fees, with
pleaſure, the affurances which
that prince renews to him, that
he will religiouſly obferve the
treaty of Utrecht, and maintain
a fincere friendſhip with him.
In caſe of thoſe happy diſ-
pofitions, all incidents, capable
of diſturbing this good under-
ftanding, may be easily avoided.
The king does not doubt but
it will be perfect, when all fuf-
picions on both fides ſhall be
fincerely cleared up, and all
fuppofitions banished. It is for
this end that his majesty
pleafed to repeat the reaſons
contained in this memorial, and
that he again orders the fieur
d' Ibberville, his envoy extraor-
dinary, to give an account
thereof to the king of Great-
Britain. The 2d of November,
1714.
The
1714.
J
332
HISTORY
THE
1714.
Seditious
libels.
festo.
The barrier treaty, which was negotiating at Antwerp
between the emperor and the States-General, and which
was of great confequence to the trade of England, drew
alfo the attention of the new king. General Cadogan,
intimate friend of the duke of Marlborough, was fent as
plenipotentiary.
In the mean time, the behaviour of the jacobite and
high-church party occafioned the publiſhing a proclamation
for fuppreffing of riots and tumults. Seditious libels were.
with great induftry difperfed, jealoufies infufed into weak.
minds, and the groundless clamour of the danger of the
church revived (1). In November, the dukes of Marlbo-
rough, Shrewſbury, and Argyle, the earls of Nottingham
The preten- and Sunderland, the lord Townfhend, the marquis de
der's mani- Montelone the Spaniſh ambaſſador, the count de Noftiz,
and feveral other perfons of diftinction, received, by the
mail from France, copies of a paper printed in Engliſh,
French and Latin, figned at the top James R. and dated
at Plombieres the 29th of Auguft, 1714, N. S. being a
kind of manifefto or declaration of the pretender, afferting
his claim to the crown of Great-Britain. He fays, The
• revolution ruined the Engliſh monarchy, laid the founda-
tion of a republican government, and devolved the fove-
reign power on the people.' He obferves, That when
he found the treaty of peace was upon the point of be-
ing concluded, without any regard to him, he publiſhed,
in April 1712, his proteftation against it.' He then gives
the reafon of his fitting ftill for fome time paft, in theſe re-
markable words: Yet, contrary to our expectations, upon
• the death of the princeſs our fifter (of whofe good intenti-
ons towards us, we could not for fome time paſt well
doubt and this was the reafon we then fat ftill, expect-
ing the good effects thereof; which were unfortunately
C
.
༦
(1) Some of theſe libels were,
• Stand faſt to the church ;
• where are our biſhops now?
• The religion of king George.
• No prefbyterian government.
The State Gamefter: or The
• Church of England's forrow-
ful lamentation. Efop in
mourning. The duke of Or-
• mond's vindication. The lord
Bolingbroke's vindication. No
lord protector: or the Duke
<
.
of Marlborough's defign de-
'feated.' The hawkers that
cried thefe libels, and fung fedi-
tious ballads, were by Sir
William Humphreys, lord-
mayor of London, taken up
and fent to the houſe of cor-
rection, for which he had the
king's approbation, in a letter
from lord Townshend, fecretary
of ſtate.
6
• prevented
OF ENGLAN D.
333
<
C
prevented by her deplorable death) we found that our
people, inſtead of taking this favourable opportunity
of retrieving the honour and true intereft of their coun-
try, by doing us and themſelves juftice, had immediately
• proclaimed for their king a foreign prince, to our preju-
dice, contrary to the fundamental and incontestable laws
of hereditary right, which their pretended acts of fettle-
ment can never abrogate (m).' The perfons who receiv-
ed this declaration, thought it their duty to deliver it into
the
(m) Matthew Tindal, Dr of
laws, publiſhed at London,
1715, in 8vo, remarks on this
declaration, of both which it
will be proper to give the fol-
lowing abſtract :
The pretender maintains,
That the revolution ruined
the English monarchy, laid
• the foundation of a republi-
< can government, and devolv-
⚫ed the fovereign power on the
people; and that we are ex-
pofed to arbitrary power, and
become a prey to foreigners.'
This the pretender, out of his
hereditary courage and good-
nefs, would have prevented,
and therefore fays, We parted
⚫ from our ordinary refidence,
to put ourſelves at the head of
fuch of our loyal fubjects, as
were difpofed to defend us
and themſelves from all fo-
reign invafion.'
C
In answer to this, the author
of the remarks obferves, that
the European monarchies, found-
ed on the gothic constitutions,
were all at firſt elective.
The pretender, after having
put the nation in mind how he
invaded Scotland, and boaſted,
that the miscarriage of that ex-
pedition could not be imputed to
him, fays, 'That when he found
the treaty of peace was upon
the point of being concluded,
without any regard to him,he
publiſhed, April 1712, his pro-
teftation againſt it.'
Though the princes of Europe
have fo often rejected all his
pretenfions, yet he thinks to ca-
jole them, by faying, 'We hope,
<
that all chriftian princes and
potentates, who are now in
peace together, will reflect on
the dangerous example here
given them, and the formida-
'ble effects they are threatened
• with from fuch an united force
as that of England and Hano-
ver; and that they will feri-
oufly confider, whether the ex-
• orbitant power, that now ac-
crues to the houſe of Brunf-
wick, be confiftent with the
balance of power they have
been fighting for all this laſt
war; and therefore we call on
them for their affiſtance for
the recovery of our domini-
ons, which their intereft, as
• well as honour, engages them
to grant us, as far as they are
C
able.' Can any thing be more
impolitic, than for this popifh
pretender, in the fame declara-
tion, in which he expects that
the proteftants of Great Britain'
fhould rely on his word for the
prefervation of their religion, to
call on all chriftian princes to
have no regard to their most fo-
lemn engagements, but to vio-
late
1714.
THE
HISTORY
334
1714. the hands of the fecretaries of ftate; upon which the mar
quis de Lamberti, the duke of Lorrain's minifter, was for-
bid the court, becaufe fuch a thing could not be done at
Plombieres without the countenance of his mafter; and the
fol-
late thir faith, by breaking that
peace, which they have fo late-
Îy concluded? And nothing can
be more ridiculous, than his fup-
pofing, that France, as well as
the rest of Europe, are in fuch
immediate danger, by the ex-
orbitant power of the houſe of
Brunſwick, that they are oblig-
ed, if they will preferve them-
felves, to fall upon it with their
united forces. The pretender,
even while he is perfuading the
people of Great Britain to take
up arms againſt the king, cannot
forbear telling them, that, by
the union of England and Hano-
ver, they have got that balance
of power, which all Europe has
been fo long fighting for; and
reprefenting their taking up
arms as a moſt deſperate attempt
by reason of that most exorbi-
tant power, which, he fays is
now in the houſe of Brunſwick;
and, as if he had a mind wholly
to intimidate them, he affirms,
that the elector is a powerful
prince, fupported by a good
army of his own people, be
fides the affiftance, which a
neighbouring ſtate (and he
might have added the king of
Pruffia) is obliged to grant him
upon demand; and many
thouſand of aliens refuged in
England thefe thirty years
paft, who, having their depen-
dence wholly upon him, will
⚫ be ready to stand by him upon
• all occafions.'
$
$
The pretender labours to draw
his loving fubjects, as he calls
them, into a civil war, by fhew-
ing them the miſchief of fuch
wars; and therefore fays, 'What
C
can our fubjects expect but
• endleſs wars and divifions,
from fubverting fo facred and
• fundamental a conftitution as
that of hereditary right?
Which has fill prevailed
against all ufurpations, how
'fucceſsful, and how long time.
• foever continued; the govern-
'ment finding ftill no reft, till
• it returned again to its true cen-
ter.' But if what he calls fuc-
ceſsful ufurpations have con-
tinued for a long time, and we
may add, a much longer than
his hereditary right, how can
that be the the true center of go-
vernment ? Eſpecially, if, of the
nineteen fucceffive kings fince
the conqueft, thirteen of them
did not come to the crown by
proximity of blood; and there
have been more of thoſe few,
that did fo fucceed, depofed,
than of the many who did not,
who were all of them not only
looked on to have a competent
authority during their lives, but
their proceedings (upon the va-
lidity of which moft of the titles
to our eſtates depend) have been
eſteemed good in all ages.
C
He threatens us with other
popifh pretenders, and fays,
How can our ſubjects be ig-
norant of the just pretence of
fo many other princes, that
are before the houſe of Hano-
ver, whoſe right, after us,
will be as undoubted as our
• own;
6
<
OF ENGLAND.
335
following meffage was delivered to him by the lord Town- 1714.
fhend: That it was inconfiftant with his majesty's honour
€
and dignity, as well as intereft, to admit to audience the
minifter of a prinee, who at that very juncture, gave
• fhelter
own; who want neither will
nor power to affert it in their
turns; and to intail a perpetu-
al war upon our kingdoms,
• with a civil war in our own
bowels, which their divifions
' will make unavoidable?' The
late miniſtry muſt have reduced
the nation to a low condition
indeed, if they dare not ftand by
their own fettlement of the
crown, left it offend the popiſh
houfe of Savoy, or any other po-
piſh pretender. But have not
all theſe popiſh pretenders own-
ed the right and title, not only
of king William and queen Ma-
ry, but of his majefty, and con-
fequently acknowledged, that
the parliament has a right to
diſpoſe of the crown?
<
•
The pretender fays, We
• fhall not think ourſelves an-
fwerable before God and man
for the pernicious confequen-
ces, which this new ufurpation
of our crown may draw on
our ſubjects and all chriften-
dom.' Which is in effect fay
ing, We have regard to nothing
but our own private intereft;
and, for the fake of that, we
care not what pernicious confe-
quences we draw on thefe nati.
ons and all chriftendom. If it
If it
be lawful, after the fucceffion of
four kings or queens, on pre-
tence of a former indefeafeable
title, to diſturb the peace of a
kingdom; it must be lawful
(fince no time can deſtroy ſuch
a title) after the fucceffion of
four thousand, and then what
kingdom can promiſe itſelf the
leaſt peace or quiet?
Though the pretender threa-
tens a fatal war, yet he would
have thoſe, whom he calls his
loving fubjects, think, he has an
unspeakable kindneſs for them;
and therefore tells them, "It is
not our intereft alone we are
• concerned for; our natural
• and unalterable love for our
ઃ
people is fuch, that as we
'could not fee without grief
their blood and treaſure lavish-
⚫ed in the laſt war, in oppofiti-
on to our undoubted right; fo
we cannot now with lefs for-
row fee them expoſed to be
fubjected to an arbitrary pow-
er, and become a prey to fo-
reigners.' If indeed he had
a natural and unalterable love
for theſe nations, he would,
fince he flipped the opportunity
of making ufe of the good in-
<
<
tentiors of the princefs his
fifter,' rather quit his preten-
fions, than diſturb the peace, and
involve them in endleſs wars :
or, if he had any ſenſe of ho-
nour, he would never endeavour
to impoſe upon them by notori-
ous falsehoods: and what can be
more ſo, than this part of his
declaration, which, though dat-
ed before the king came over, or
had done any one act of go-
vernment, yet moft maliciously
charges him with defigning to
inflave the people, and make
them become a prey to foreign-
ers, who, by the laws, of which
our king has fhewn himſelf a
moft
336
HISTORY
THE
1
1714.
C
fhelter and protection to a pretender, and an open enemy
to his dominions.' The marquis tranfmitted this meffage
to the duke of Lorrain, left London, and went to Oxford,
to wait his maſter's anſwer. This gave juſt cauſe of ſuſpi-
cion,
moft religious obferver, are ex-
cluded from all places of truſt
and profit?
C
Did not the pretender, bred up
in the polities of France, think
every one, that could inflave a
nation, would certainly do it,
he would not talk at this rate,
nor think to terrify us by ſaying,
• The elector is a powerful
prince, and abſolute in his
own country, where he has ne-
• ver met with the leaft contra-
• diction from his own ſubjects.'
It is fo far true, the elector ne-
ver met with the leaſt contradic-
tion from his fubjects; but then
it is as true, he never required
any thing of them, but what was
for their good; and fubjects will
never think a prince's power
too great, when he is always
contriving how to employ it moft
for their fervice; and thinks his
greateſt happiness confifts in
making them happy.
•
The pretender fays, The
⚫elector is a foreigner, ignorant
of our laws, cuftoms, manners,
• and language ;' but for him-
ſelf, We are the only born
• Englishman left of the royal
family.' Though the preten-
der was born in England, yet,
fince he was carried into France
in his cradle, this could not qua-
lify him to underſtand our laws,
cuſtoms, and manners; and he,
who ſeems to underſtand nothing
but the ridiculous trumperies of
the Romish church, muſt be an
utter ſtranger to the laws and
cuſtoms of the nation; nor can
he have a notion of any confti-
tution, but one as arbitrary as
that of France. Merely being
born in a country cannot create
in a man the leaſt kindneſs for
it. The place indeed, where
one is bred (uſually the fame
where he is born) and the per-
fons, with whom he is bred, ge-
nerally prejudice a man in their
favour; and conſequently the
pretender ought to be accounted
by the people of Great-Britain
as much a Frenchman, as if he
had been born there: and tis all
grimace and French banter to
talk of his natural and unalter-
able love for the Engliſh.
Though he would have it
thought, that king George's be-
ing a foreigner renders him un-
fit to govern this nation; yet he
will not allow it to be any man-
ner of objection to himſelf, or
any other pretender of thepopiſh
line.
Was not king James II. born
and bred among us, and under
the greateſt obligations to the
church of England, and bound
by the moſt ſolemn engagements
to preferve our laws and religi-
on? And yet that did not hin-
der him, as foon as he got into
the throne, from attempting the
fubverfion of both. And did
not we owe the preſervation of
both to a foreigner?
Was not the pretender, though
born here, educated among the
enemies of our country and re-
ligion? Who, from the firſt mo-
ment he was capable of under-
ftand.
OF ENGLAND.
337
cion, that the pretender and his friends had formed a party 1714.
in that univerfity to advance his intereft, as it afterwards
appeared. The marquis having received the duke of Lor-
rain's anfwer, dated at Nancy, December the 6th, 1714,
N. S. communicated it to the lord Townſhend. It was to
this effect:
<
C
I believe, Sir, you no ways doubt of my being extreme-
ly furprized to hear by the courier, which came from you,
that, when you applied to my lord Townshend to obtain
ſtanding any thing could hear
nothing from thoſe diſappointed
perfons about him, but reviling
the English nation. And has not
this early averfion been daily
improved by the French, who
bear an hereditary hatred to the
English? And can it be thought
that the Italian princeſs, who
calls herſelf his mother, as well
as the priests and jefuits (to
whoſe intereſt he is intirely de-
voted) have not uſed all arts to
create in him a mortal averfion to
thoſe they call hereticks and re-
bels?
Add to this, that his morofe,
fullen, and revengeful temper
makes him apt to receive the
worft impreffions: fo that na-
ture, education, religion (not to
mention want of understanding)
have rendered him, of all man-
kind, the most unfit, notwith-
ftanding his being born here, to
govern proteſtants and free born
Britons.
Could we fuppofe the preten-
der, though a papiſt, no perfe-
cutor of proteftants, and with
his French education no hater of
the English; yet, as he muſt be
wholly in the power of thoſe fo-
reign popish forces, with which
he defigns to invade the domi-
nions of fo powerful a king, fo
he could not hinder them, if
they got the better, from treat-
ing the people with the utmoſt
VOL. VI.
cruelty. All churchmen then,
whether high or low, would, as
at the Irish maffacre, be involv-
ed in one common ruin. Then
all that the nation is worth could
not fatisfy the demands of
France, for what they had ex-
pended in behalf of the abdica-
ted family. In a word, con-
•cludes the author of the re-
'marks, fince there is no ſcene
of cruelty, that even the read-
ing of the popiſh maſſacres can
fuggeft, but what the prote-
• ftants of theſe nations had rea-
fon to apprehend, if faithlefs
and blood thirfty men had pre-
vailed; ought we not every
day of our lives, to pour out
our thanks to the Father of
all mercies, for having fo
wonderfully brought about
this great deliverance; and to
take the utmost care to avoid.
all fuch divifions, as may en-
courage any more attempts
from this popiſh pretender?
• Which nothing can more ef-
fectually hinder, than the'
chufing fuch men to reprefent
us in the next parliament, who
no ways abetted the execrable
defigns of the late miniſtry,
but are truly and heartily in
the interest of their king and
country. This, and this on-
ly, can put us upon a happy
and lafting eſtabliſhment.'
C
<
<
Y
· an
338
HISTORY
THE
1714.
<
<
<
.
<
< an audience, that minifter made anſwer, that, fince the
chevalier de St George remained ſtill in my dominions,
the king thought fit to forbid you the court: in cafe his
majeſty ſhould continue in this difagreeable refolution with
refpect to me, I muft fubmit to his pleaſure, and you
have nothing else to do, but to return hither as ſoon as
you are able. However, you are firſt to apply to the duke
of Marlborough, and to the king's minifters, defiring
• them to lay before his majeſty the unfortunate fituation I
am in, if, after having been fo ready to let the king know
the part I take in his acceffion to the crown of England,
• and after having been one of the first to make my com-
pliments, and fhow my zeal on this occafion, all Europe
hould be acquainted, that his majeſty had ſome reaſon to
be diffatisfied with me. That I cannot conceive, whence
this fhould proceed, fince, as to the chevalier de St
George, the world knows, by what means he came into
this country that every one is informed of the fituation
6 of my territories, which are furrounded and cut through
on all fides by France: that it is known how I had no
fhare in his coming into my country: that I neither
• invited him to come thither, nor could I force him to go
away: that lately, upon the death of queen Anne, I knew
⚫ nothing of his leaving Bar, till twelve hours after he was
gone from thence; and I knew nothing of his return to
• Bar, till after he was come back, as a traveller, that goes
• backwards and forwards in an open country, and inter-
• mixed with other territories as mine is: as to the mani-
• fefto or declaration dated at Prombieres, which the che-
valier de St George had got printed, I knew nothing
more of it, than that he gave me one after it had been
publiſhed; but that really I am much concerned to hear
from you, that it has been reported, that the fame ma-
nifeftoes have been ſpread abroad by you, or thoſe of your
< retinue. I own to you, that I am extremely concerned
at this, and that in fome fort it ſeems to be a deſign to
make me uneafy, to give out, that either I or my ſervants
• meddled in fuch an affair.
·
<
<
6
Theſe are the reafons, which I have to offer, and which
• I would have you defire thoſe gentlemen to lay before the
king, in hopes they will convince his majefty of my moft
refpectful adherence to him, and that his majeſty will be
• pleaſed to admit you to an audience.
6
4
But, if contrary to my expectation, the king will not
grant you an audience, you are to come away, having de-
• fired
OF
339
ENGLAND.
fired the minifters to let the king know the concern I am
• under; and that I hope his majeſty will pleaſe to accept of
my good intentions, and the early care I took to fhew him
• the inviolable zeal I have for him.'
C
.
<
.
C
When the marquis communicated this letter to the king's
minifters, he, at the fame time, expreffed his maſter's deep
concern at this unlucky affair, which obftructed the friend-
'fhip and good understanding he had fo early fought with
his Britannick majefty, for whom he ever entertained the
higheſt eſteem and veneration.' And he likewife expref-
fed his own particular concern, and the great mortification
it was to him, not to be admitted to a court, which he had
fo great a defire to be made known to. He was anſwer-
ed, That it was not out of any prejudice to his perſon,
nor even to the perfon of his mafter, for whom the king
had a great eſteem. But, that, as affairs ſtood at pre-
fent, though his excuſes were, in fome meaſure, allow-
able, yet his majeſty was the best judge of what was con-
fiftent with his own honour and dignity; and, as his ma-
jefty was likewife fenfible of the duke's readineſs to ſeek
and cultivate a friendſhip with his majefty, fo the king
• wiſhed, that the cauſes, which obſtructed the fame at pre-
fent, might be fpeedily removed.' The marquis finding
by this answer, that his majefty infifted on the removal of
the pretender from the dominions of Lorrain, before he
would admit him to an audience, took his leave of the lord
Townſhend, and, on the 13th of December, fet out on his
return home. In answer to that part of the duke of Lor-
rain's letter, wherein he alledges, That his territories are
• furrounded and cut through on all fides by France; and
that he neither invited the chevalier de St George thither,
nor could force him to go away;' a paper tranſmitted hi-
ther by Mr Prior, and delivered to him by the marquis de
Torcy, was faid to be produced to the marquis, whereby
his moſt chriftian majefty declared, That he neither did,
< nor would in any manner concern himſelf with the che-
⚫valier de St George;' which declaration was directly con-
trary to the duke of Lorrain's allegation.
·
6
6
When the pretender's declaration came firft into England,
and was publiſhed in the foreign prints, the jacobites and
tories infifted upon its being a contrivance of the whigs, to
reflect on the memory of the queen, and to fix an odium
upon the high-church party, becauſe in that declaration he
faid, That for fome time paſt he could not well doubt of
• his fifter's good intentions towards him.' But they were
Y 2
much
1714.
340
HISTORY
THE
1714.
Addreffes to
diffolve the
union.
much confounded by the duke of Lorrain's letter, which
owned the declaration to be genuine, and that the pretender
himſelf had given him one of them.
About the latter end of November, the king advanced the
falaries of the chief-juſtice of the king's-bench, and of the
chief-barons of the exchequer, to the ſame fum, as was al-
lowed the chief-juftice of the common-pleas, being 2000 l
a year, and the falaries of the other nine judges to 1500l
a year (n).
About this time addreffes were fet on foot in Scotland,
for diffolving the union; and it was alſo propofed, that none
fhould be elected members of parliament there, but fuch as
would promiſe to uſe their endeavours for that purpoſe. Ma-
ny well-meaning people feemed at firft inclinable to fall in
with thoſe meaſures; but when they found, that the jaco-
bites were the moſt zealous in pufhing this affair, in order
to raiſe confufion and diſcord betwixt the two nations, they
refuſed to concur, and referred their grievances by the union
to be confidered, when the nation ſhould be better fettled. But
there was a quite different ſpirit among the high-church party
in England, who excited riots and tumults in many parts of
the kingdom, to which they had been encouraged by the pre-
tender's declaration. To prevent theſe diſorders, a proclama-
tion was publiſhed on the 6th of December.
(n) Sir Peter King recorder of
London, was appointed chief-
juftice of the common pleas, in
the room of the lord Trevor ;
and Samuel Dodd was made
chief-baron of the exchequer;
Sir James Montague, a baron of
that court, in the room of fer-
jeant Banifter; ferjeant Prat, a
judge of the king's-bench in the
room of Sir Thomas Powis;
Nicholas Lechmere, follicitor
general, in the room of Sir Ro-
bert Raymond; Spencer Cow-
per, Attorney-general;
and
John Fortefcue-Aland follicitor-
general to his royal highnefs.
About the fame time it was
made publick, that the duchefs
of Bolton, the duchefs of St
Alban's, the duchefs of Mon-
Religious
tague, the countefs of Dorfet,
the countefs of Berkeley, and
the lady Cowper, were made la-
dies of the bed-chamber to the
princess of Wales; and Mrs
Selwyn, Mrs Pollexfen, Mrs
Howard, and Mrs Clayton,
bed-chamber women to her
royal highnefs.
It was generally reported and
believed, that Robert Price, one
of the barons of the exchequer,
would be laid afide upon the
demife of the queen, he hav-
ing always fhewn an indiffer-
ence with respect to the prote-
ftant fucceffion: but he was con-
tinued, and it was thought he
owed his continuance to his
readiness to go down to Briftol
with Sir Littleton Powis and
Robert
OF ENGLAND.
342
about the
Dr Clarke.
Religious difputes were at this time alſo at a great height. 1714.
Dr Samuel Clarke having, before the queen's death, pub-
lifhed his fcripture-doctrine of the Trinity, the lower-houfe Difputes
of convocation had complained of his book, as containing Trinity.
affertions contrary to the catholick faith. This complaint Complaint.
being laid before the bishops, they defired an extract to be against
made of fuch paffages, as gave greatest offence; and were June 2.
moft liable to cenfure. Accordingly, the lower-houſe
made an extract, and, having fent it up to the bishops, Dr
Clarke, whilft it was under confideration, wrote a reply to June 23.
it, which was prefented to fome of the bifhops, but was
not laid before the houſe. After this, there appeared in
almoſt the whole upper-houſe a great difpofition to prevent
diffenfions and divifions, by coming to a temper in this
matter, and Dr Clarke was prevailed upon to lay before
Robert Tracy, two other judges,
and to try thoſe, who had been
guilty of the riot there, on the
day of the king's coronation.
The cry of theſe rioters was
• Sacheverel and Ormond:
• Damn all foreign govern-
ments.' On the 27th of No-
vember, feven of the chief ri-
oters were brought to their tri-
als for affaulting and plundering
vir Stephens's houſe, and mur-
dering Mr Thomas. During
the trials Mr Hart, a tobacco-
merchant, who had been made
a juſtice of the peace by the laſt
miniſtry, behaved himſelf with
fuch infolence, that he was or-
dered to quit the bench. Ano-
ther reflected fo fcandaloufly
upon the grand jury, that he
was ordered to the bar, and
bound over to answer for his of-
fence. Six of the prifoners
were found guilty of the riot;
and one of them upon whom
Mr Stephens's wearing apparel
had been found, was convicted
of felony and burglary to the
value of ten-pence only. All
the criminals convicted of the
riot were fined cach twenty no-
bles only, to be imprifoned
three months, and give fecurity
for twelve months for their good
behaviour. As the proofs a-
gainſt them were plain, a houſe
being plundered, and a man
murdered by them, it was
thought furprizing,
that not
one of them fuffered capitally
for thefe crimes. The grand
jury for the city and county of
Bristol drew up an addreſs to
the king, in which they
re-
turned their unfeigned thanks
for his great goodneſs in ſend-
ing a special commiffion to
that city, not only to protect
his good fubjects, but to pre-
vent for the future fuch ri-
otous aſſemblies, which for
thefe four laſt years that be-
'fore happy place had been ex-
poſed to. And they were
forry to ſay, that theſe affem-
⚫blies had been encouraged and
' abetted by fome of their own
'fellow-citizens, who had from
time to time notoriouſly ef-
poufed their caufe, and, as
'far as in them lay, had fcreen-
ed them from juftice.'
C
Y 3
*
them
342
THE HISTORY
1714. them a paper, in order to put an end to the affair (o). Dr
Clarke being apprehenfive, that, if his paper ſhould be pub-
liſhed feparately without a true account of the preceding
and following circumstances, it might be liable to be mifun-
derſtood in feveral particulars, caufed, three days after, an
explanation to be delivered to the bishop of London (p),
The
July 2.
July 5.
(0) The paper was as fol- and fourth petitions in the Li-
lows:
tany have been omitted in my
church by my direction, I do
hereby declare, that the third
and fourth petitions in the Li-
tany have never been omitted
at all, as far as I know; and
that the Athanafian Creed was
never omitted at eleven o'clock
prayers, but at early prayers
only, for brevity fake, at the
difcretion of the curate, and not
by my appointment.
1. My opinion is, that the
Son of God was eternally be.
gotten by the eternal incompre-
henfible power and will of the
Father; and that the Holy Spi-
rit was likewiſe eternally derived
from the Father, by or through
the Son, according to the eter-
nal incomprehenfible power and
will of the Father.
2. Before my book, intituled,
• The Scripture Doctrine, &c.'
was publiſhed, I did indeed
preach two or three fermons
upon this ſubject; but, fince the
book was publiſhed, I have ne-
ver preached upon this fubject:
and (becauſe I think it not fair
to propoſe particular opinions,
where there is not liberty of an-
fwering) I am willing to promife
(as indeed I intended) not to
preach any more upon this fub-
ject.
3. I do not intend to write
any more concerning the doc-
trine of the Trinity. But if I
fhall fail herein, and write
any thing hereafter, upon this
fubject, contrary to the doc-
trine of the church of Eng-
land, I do hereby willingly fub-
mit myſelf to any fuch cenfure,
as my fuperiors fhall think fit to
paſs upon mc.
4. And whereas it has been
confidently reported, that the
Athanafian creed, and the third
•
5. As to my private conver-
fation, I am not confcious to
myſelf, that I have given any
juft occafion for thoſe reports
which have been ſpread con-
cerning me, with relation to this
controverfy.
I am forry that what I fin-
cerely intended for the honour
and glory of God, and fo to ex-
plain this great mystery, as to
avoid the herefies in both ex-
treams, fhould have given any
offence to this fynod, and par-
ticularly to my lords the bi-
fhops. I hope my behaviour
for the time to come, with re-
lation hereunto, will be fuch,
as to prevent any future com-
plaints against me.
(p) The explanation was
thus :
Whereas the paper laid be-
fore your lordships, on Friday
laft, was, through hafte and
want of time, not drawn up
with fufficient exactneſs; fome
r
things
OF
343
ENGLAND
The fame day the upper-houfe came to a refolution to en- 1714.
ter the paper and explanation in the acts of the houſe, to
communicate the fame to the lower-houſe, and to proceed July 7.
no farther upon the extract. But the lower-houſe were of a
different opinion, and reſolved, that the paper was no recan-
tation of his heretical affertions, nor did give fuch fatisfac-
tion for the great fcandal occafioned by his writings, as ought
to put a ſtop to any further examination.
Thus ftood the affair at the queen's death, and, the dif-
putes about the Trinity increafing, on the 11th of Decem-
things therein being not fo fully
expreffed as they might have
been; and others expreffed in
fuch a manner as may be liable
to be miſunderſtood, as not ex-
plaining with fufficient clear
neſs and diftinctneſs my whole
thoughts to your lordships upon
the ſubject therein contained:
and whereas, if my prefent
meaning in any part of it, fhould
now be miſunderſtood, I may
hereafter be thought not to have
fully and fincerely to have
opened myſelf to your lord-
fhips; I do humbly, and with
all fubmiffion, beg leave to take
this immediate opportunity of
repreſenting to your lordships,
that I think myſelf indifpenfa-
bly obliged, in confcience, to
lay before your lordships the
following explanations of the
aforefaid paper, viz.
that the Son was eternally be-
gotten, by the eternal incom-
prehenfible power and will,
• &c.' Which words (the eter-
nal incomprehenfible power and
will of the Father) I defire may
be fo underſtood, as to fignify
that God the Father alone is,
and is to be honoured as being,
avait and wait, the
original of all, himſelf without
original.
C
:
And whereas I declared I did
not intend to write any more
concerning the doctrine of
the Trinity but if I fhould
fail herein, and write any
thing hereafter, &c.' I defire
it may be fo underſtood, as not
to preclude myfelf in point of
conſcience from a liberty of ma-
king any inoffenfive corrections
in my former books, if they
fhall come to another edition:
or from vindicating myfelf from
any mifreprefentation or afper-
fions, which may poffibly here-
after be caft upon me on the
occafion of this controverfy;
but only to fignify, that I have
no preſent intention of writing
any new book; and that, if
hereafter I fhall at any time
write any thing which your
lordships fhall judge worthy of
cenfure, I fhall readily fubmit
That whereas I declared in
that paper my opinion to be,
that the Son was eternally be-
gotten, by the eternal incom-
prehenfible power and will of
the Father; and that the Ho-
ly Spirit, &c.' I did not mean
thereby to retract any thing I
bad written; but to declare that
the opinion fet forth at large in
the book intituled, The Scrip-
ture-Doctrine of the Trinity,'
and in the defences of it, is, to fuch cenfure.
X 4
ber
344
HISTORY
THE
C
1714. ber were publiſhed Directions to the archbishops, and bi-
fhops, for the preferving unity in the church, and the
purity of the chriftian faith, concerning the Holy Trini-
ty; and alfo for preferving the peace and quiet of the
• ſtate.'
་
<
Thefe directions were:
I. That no preacher what foever, in his fermon or lec-
ture, do prefume to deliver any other doctrine concerning
the bleffed Trinity, than what is contained in the holy fcrip-
tures, and is agreeable to the three creeds, and the thirty-
nine articles of religion.
II. That, in the explication of this doctrine, they care-
fully avoid all new terms, and confine themfelves to fuch
ways of expreffion, as have been commonly used in the
church.
III. That care be taken, in this matter, eſpecially to
obferve the fifty-third canon of this church, which forbids
publick oppofition, between preachers, becauſe (as that
canon expreffes it) there groweth thereby much offence and
difquietness unto the people: and that, above all things,
they abstain from bitter invectives and fcurrilous language
againſt all perfons whatſoever.
IV. That none of the clergy, in their fermons and lec-
tures, prefume to intermeddle in any affairs of ſtate or go-
vernment, or the conftitution of the realm, fave only on
ſuch ſpecial feafts and fafts, as are or fhall be appointed by
publick authority; and then no farther than the occafion of
fuch days fhall ftrictly require. Provided always, that no-
thing in this direction fhall be underſtood to diſcharge any
perfon from preaching in defence of the regal fupremacy
eftabliſhed by law, as often, and in fuch manner, as the
first canon of the church doth require.
V. That the foregoing directions be alfo obferved by
thofe, who write any thing concerning the faid fubjects.
VI. Whereas alfo we are credibly informed, that it is
the manner of fome in every diocefe, before their fermon,
either to uſe a collect and the Lord's- prayer, or the lord's-
prayer only (which the fifty-fifth canon prefcribes as the
conclufion of the prayer, and not the whole prayer) or at
leaſt to leave out our titles, by the faid canon required to
be declared and recognized: we do further direct, that you
require your clergy, in their prayer before fermon, that
they
OF
345
ENGLAN D.
they do keep ftrictly to the form in the faid canon contai- 1714.
Red, or to the full effect thereof.
6
VII. And whereas we alfo underſtand, that divers per-
fons, who are not of the clergy, have of late prefumed,
not only to talk and to difpute againſt the chriftian faith
concerning the bleffed Trinity, but alſo to write and pub-
liſh books and pamphlets againſt the ſame, and induſtriouſly
ſpread them through the kingdom, contrary to the known
laws in that behalf made and enacted, and particularly to
one act of parliament made in the ninth year of king Wil-
liam the third, intitled, An act for the more effectual
fuppreffing of blafphemy and profaneness;' we taking all
the matters abovementioned into our royal and ferious con-
fideration, and being defirous to do what in us lies, to put
a ftop to thefe diforders, do ftrictly charge and command.
you, together with all other means fuitable to your holy
profeffion, to make uſe of your authority according to law,
for the fuppreffing and reftraining of all fuch exorbitant
practices. And, for your affiftance, we will give charge.
to our judges, and all other civil officers, to do their duty
herein, in executing the faid act, and all other laws, againſt
all fuch perfons as fhall, by theſe means, give occafion
of ſcandal, difcord, and diſturbance in our church and
kingdom.
1714-15.
On the 5th of January, a proclamation was publiſhed The parlia-
for diffolving the parliament, and, on the 15th, another ment diffolv-
was iffued for calling a new one, in the following terms:
<
ed, and a
new one
It having pleafed almighty God, by moft remarkable called.
C fteps of his providence, to bring us fafe, to the crown of
this kingdom, notwithſtanding the defigns of evil men,
who fhewed themſelves difaffected to our fucceffion, and
who have fince, with the utmoft degree of malice, mif-
reprefented our firm refolutions and uniform endeavours
to preſerve and defend our most excellent conftitution
both in church and ftate, and attempted, by many falfe
fuggeftions, to render us fufpected to our people; we
cannot omit, on this occafion of firft fummoning our par-
liament of Great-Britain, in juftice to ourselves, and that
the mifcarriages of others may not be imputed to us, at
a time, when falfe impreffions may do the greateſt and
irrecoverable hurt, before they can be cleared up, to fig-
nify to our whole kingdom, that we were very much con-
cerned, at our acceffion to the crown, to find the publick
affairs of our kingdom under the greatest difficulties, as
C
C
• well
S
346
HISTORY
THE
1714-15.
C
well in refpect of our trade, and interruption of our na-
vigation, as of the great debts of our nation, which,
. we were furprized to obferve, had been very much in-
creaſed fince the conclufion of the laft war. We do not
⚫ therefore doubt, that, if the enfuing elections ſhould be made
by our loving fubjects with that fafety and freedom, which
by law they are intitled to, and we are firmly refolved to
• maintain to them, they will fend up to parliament the fit-
teft perfons to redress the prefent diforders, and to provide
for the peace and happineſs of our kingdom, and the eaſe
• of our people for the future; and therein will have a parti-
cular regard to fuch as fhewed a firmness to the proteſtant
fucceffion, when it was in danger.'
C
The late miniſtry foreſeeing, they fhould be called to an
account for their conduct, had frequent confultations how
to avoid the ftorm; and foon after a traiterous libel was
publiſhed, under the title of, English advice to the free-
holders of Great-Britain.' Nothing could be more full
of malice and falfhood againſt the king's perfon and family;
as well as againſt the whigs in general, and the preſent mi-
niftry; and it was artfully contrived to raiſe diſcontents
among the people against the government, and to poffefs
them with an opinion, that the church was in danger by
his majeſty's adminiftration. It was carefully difperfed
through the country, and great numbers of them were in-
tercepted in the city of Exeter (q). Upon which the go-
vernment iffued out a proclamation, promiſing a reward of
one thousand pounds for the diſcovery of the author of the
libel, and five hundred pounds for the difcovery of the
printer: But to no purpoſe (r).
(q) They were directed to
Sir John Coriton, Sir Nicho-
las Morrice, Jonathan Elford,
Philip Rafhleigh, Francis Sea-
bell. John Williams, Efquires;
Mr Granville Piper, Mr Welch-
man, Mr William Cary, Mr
Prowfe, Mr Philips, Mr Ton-
kin, Mr Cannock Kendall, in
Cornwall, and to the rev. Mr
Shute, the rev. Mr Hughes, the
rev. Mr Collyer, and the rev.
Mr Bedford in the fame county,
and to the mayor of Weſtloe.
The
(r) This libel was ſuppoſed to
be penned by bishop Atterbury.
The fubftance of it may be re-
duced to theſe five heads :
I. A declamation againſt the
prac-
pretended arts and indirect
tices of the government, in order
to procure a whig houſe of com-
mons to be elected.
II. Preffing motives to the to-
ries, to whom the author gives
the title of the Church, to exert
themſelves at this critical junc-
ture
OF
347
ENGLAND.
ว
The fame day the mifmanagement of the late miniftry, 1714-15.
with regard to Chelfea-College, was made publick by order
of the privy-council; upon which, the government of that
hofpital was changed, and brigadier Stanwick appointed
governor (f).
Jan. II.
The earl of Strafford being returned to England, an or- The earl of
der of council was iffued, that the lord Townshend and Strafford's
Mr Stanhope, fecretaries of ftate, fhould go to him, and papersfeized,
demand the original inftructions and orders, and all letters
he had received from the late miniftry, or any foreign
prince or miniſter, and copies of all inftructions, of which
he had not the originals; and alſo of all letters writ by
him to any perſon whatſoever, relating to his negotiations,
from the time of his first being at the Hague. The earl
delivered them two trunks, which, he faid, contained what
they defired; and orders were ſent to feal up his papers, that
were on ſhip-board, or at the cuſtom-houſe.
Mr Prior, who had been deep in the meaſures of the Prior order'd
late miniſtry, was now ordered home, the earl of Stair home.
being arrived at Paris, where he had feveral conferences
with the marquis de Torcy, and preſented memorials about
the canal and intended port at Mardyke, and fignified to
the court of France, that he had orders not to take any
ture to get churchmen choſen
into the enſuing parliament.
III. Articles of impeachment,
or a large charge against the
whigs, for intended criminal
deſigns againſt the conftitution
in church and ſtate; ſuch as a-
boliſhing epifcopacy; repealing
the limitations in the act of fet-
tlement, and act for triennial
parliaments; renewing the war;
fetting up a ſtanding army; and
inflaving the nation.
IV. Great ſophiſtry and de-
clamation to prove, that the
church was in danger.
V Invectives againſt the duke
of Marlborough and his family;
calumnies againft the miniftry,
and all the nobility and gentry
in the king's intereſt; with trea-
fonable reflections on his majefty
and the royal family.
This libel was anſwered in a
pamphlet, intitled, Treafon de-
tected; and another, called, A
reply to a traiterous libel, in-
titled, Engliſh advice, &c.
(f) A new comminffion paffed
the great feal, appointing com-
miffioners for the government
of that hofpital, the lord-prefi-
dent of the privy-council, the
captain-general of his majeſty's
forces, the firft lord-commiffio-
ner of the treaſury, the two
principal fecretaries of ſtate for
the time being, lieutenant-ge-
neral Earle, lieutenant-general
Lumley, the fecretary of war,
the comptroller of the army,
and the governor and lieute-
nant-governor of the faid hof-
pital for the time being.
character
348
HISTORY
THE
1714-15. character upon him, till he had a clear and pofitive anfwer
to the memorials.
Elections for
the new par-
liament.
•
The elections for the new parliament were now carrying
on with great warmth by both parties, but with moft fuc-
cefs on the fide of the whigs. The electors in fome
counties and cities drew up inftructions for their reprefen-
tatives, the moft remarkable of which were thofe of the
city of London, wherein was this paffage: We defire
and expect, that you will inquire by whofe counſel it
was, that, after God had bleffed the arms of her late
majeſty, and her allies, with a train of unparalleled fuc-
ceffes, fhe was prevailed upon, contrary to the grand
alliance, and her repeated promifes from the throne to
both houſes, to fend to, or receive managers from France,
to treat ſeparately of a peace, without the knowledge and
• confent of our allies.'
6
Elections in In Scotland the tories publifhed a circular letter, to dif
Scotland. fuade the Scotch lords from voting for the whigs, or, as
The fixteen they pretended, for the fixteen peers, of whom the duke
peers.
of Argyle had brought a lift from England. But this let-
ter made little impreffion, and the following peers were
elected, the dukes of Roxburgh and Montroſe; the mar-
quiffes of Tweedale, Lothian, and Annandale; the earls
of Sutherland, Rothes, Buchan, Loudon, Orkney, Stair,
Bute, Deloraine and Ilay; and the lords Rofs and Belha-,
ven. All thefe lords were diftinguished by their attach-
ment to the revolution, and had contributed to the union
to the utmost of their power. The marquis of Annan-
dale, of the antient family of Johnſtoun, had openly de-
clared for king William, though, fhortly after indeed, he
declared for king James. But he repented of that flep,
and for his faithful fervices was employed in places of
truft. The marquis of Lothian was a great promoter of
the revolution. He had in the reign of king James II.
married a daughter of the earl of Argyle, beheaded by
that prince, purely out of a principle of honour, and, to
hew his regard for a family unjustly perfecuted, a certain
proof that he would not favour the defigns of the preten-
der. The earl of Sutherland, known at the time of the
revolution by the name of the lord Strathnaver, was con-
ftantly attached to king William, and had followed him
in all his campaigns in Flanders, at the head of a regi-
ment. He had appeared very zealous for the privileges of
the Scots; and did not think the union detrimental there-
The earl of Stair was already employed by the new
to.
govern-
OF
349
ENGLAND.
government as well as the dukes of Montrofe and Rox- 1714-15.
burgh, and their attachment to it was not doubted. The
only one that ſeemed exceptionable in the liſt was the lord
Belhaven. No man had fo ftrenuously oppofed the union,
and, had his advice been followed, it would never have
taken place. But, finding at length all oppofition in vain,
he gave way to the torrent. There was one thing capable
of making amends for all his non-compliances, and that
was his fingle oppofing, in the preſence of the duke of
York, the act of fucceffion paffed by a majority of voices
in favour of that prince. He was alfo a good fpeaker,
which will be always a great recommendation.
The elections for the houſe of commons were made
with almoft equal fuccefs, and the whigs had the majo-
rity. Thus all feemed quiet in Scotland, though a ftorm
was then gathering there, which broke out in leſs than a
year. The defign was conducted more regularly than in
England, and was better concealed. It was begun with
endeavours for a remonftrance against the union; and the
advice of the moſt famous lawyers was afked upon it, who
declared the act of union contained feveral ullities, and
to be very defective. The oppofite party, to prevent a
remonftrance fo difagreeable to the court, were forced to
confent there ſhould be no addreſs of congratulation: and
that, preſented by the kirk, had fuffered great debates
about the manner in which king William was mentioned,
and had paffed with much difficulty. The Highlanders
were filent, and declared not themſelves. It was only
known, that they were making provifion cf powder and
ball (t).
ment meets,
Pr. H. C.
On the 17th of March, the parliament of Great Bri- The parlia
tain met at Weſtminſter; and, the commons proceeding
to the choice of a ſpeaker, the earl of Hertford, fon to
the duke of Somerfet, faid, That, according to his ma-
jefty's pleaſure, they were immediately to proceed to
the choice of a ſpeaker: that, in order thereto, they
ought, in the first place, to confider, that fcarce any
(t) The king having given
orders for a new commiffion of
Chamberlainry, as they call it,
in Scotland, the following per-
ſons were appointed to be of it:
the marquis of Tweedale, lord
prefident; the earls of Suther-
1
land, Buchan,
Buchan, Marchmont,
Bute, and Deloraine; Mr
Charles Arefkine, Mr Kenne-
dy, and Mr Hadden. Some
time after Charles Warrender,
of Lochend, provoſt of Edin-
burgh, was created a baronet.
6
parliament
}
350
HISTORY
THE
1714-15.
Mr Comp-
ton chofen
Speaker.
parliament ever met in a more critical juncture than
this, when matters of the higheſt importance were like
C to be laid before the houſe: that therefore they ought to
'fix their choice upon a perfon of known parts and abi-
lities; and that, in his opinion, none was ever better
qualified for fo great an office than Mr Spencer Comp-
ton.' He was feconded by the lord Finch, eldeſt ſon of
the earl of Nottingham, who inlarged on Mr Compton's
abilities; upon which Mr Compton ftood up, and mo-
deftly excuſed himſelf; but, his excufes not being admit-
ted, he was led to the chair by the earl of Hertford and
lord Finch. The king approved him on the 21st of March,
and then declared from the throne, he had ordered the
lord-chancellor to fhew the caufes of calling this parlia-
ment. Accordingly, the lord-chancellor read to both
houſes the following fpeech, delivered into his hands by
the king:
•
The king's
Speech to
66
My lords and gentlemen,
TH
HIS being the first opportunity, that I have had
of meeting my people in parliament, fince it plea-
both houſes. ❝ fed Almighty God of his good providence to call me to
"the throne of my anceſtors, I moft gladly make uſe of
"it, to thank my faithful and loving fubjects for that
" zeal and firmneſs, that hath been fhewn in defence of the
proteſtant fucceffion, againſt all the open and fecret prac-
"tices, that have been uſed to defeat it: and I fhall never
"forget the obligations I have to thofe, who have diftin-
"guiſhed themſelves upon this occafion.
"It were to be wifhed, that the unparalleled fucceſſes
"of a war, which was fo wifely and chearfully fupported
"by this nation, in order to procure a good peace, had
" been attended with a fuitable conclufion. But it is
" with concern I must tell you, that fome conditions,
even of this peace, effential to the fecurity and trade
"of Great-Britain, are not yet duly executed; and the
"performance of the whole may be looked upon as preca-
❝rious, until we fhall have formed defenfive alliances to
"guaranty the prefent treaties.
6c
"The pretender, who ftill refides in Lorrain, threatens
r to diſturb us, and boaſts of the affiſtance, which he
"ftill expects here, to repair his former diſappoint-
"ments.
❝ A great
>
OF ENGLAND.
351
"A great part of our trade is rendered impracticable. 1714-15.
"This, if not retrieved, muft deftroy our manufactures,
"and ruin our navigation.
66
"The publick debts are very great, and furpriſingly in-
"creaſed, even fince the fatal ceffation of arms. My first
care was to prevent a further increaſe of thoſe debts, by
"paying off forthwith a great number of fhips, which had
"been kept in pay, when there was no occafion for conti-
"nuing fuch an expence.
Gentlemen of the houſe of commons,
"I rely upon you for fuch fupplies, as the prefent cir-
"cumftances of our affairs require for this year's fervice,
"and for the fupport of the publick faith. The eſtimates
"fhall be laid before you, that you may confider of them;
"and what you fhall judge neceffary for your fafety, I
"fhall think fufficient for mine.
"I doubt not but you will concur with me in opinion,
"that nothing can contribute more to the fupport of the
"credit of the nation, than a ftrict obfervance of all parlia-
mentary engagements.
"The branches of the revenue, formerly granted for
"the ſupport of the civil government, are fo far incum-
"bered and alienated, that the produce of the funds,
"which remain and have been granted to me, will fall
"much ſhort of what was at firſt deſigned, for maintain-
"ing the honour and dignity of the crown.
And fince it
❝is my happineſs (as I am confident you think it yours) to
"fee a prince of Wales, who may, in due time, fucceed
me on the throne, and to ſee him bleffed with many
"children, the best and most valuable pledges of our care
"and concern for your pofterity; this muft occafion an
66 expence, to which the nation has not of many years been
"accuſtomed, but fuch, as furely no man will grudge;
" and therefore I do not doubt but you will think of it
"with that affection, which I have reafon to hope from
66 you.
My lords and gentlemen,
"The eyes of all Europe are upon you, waiting the if-
"fue of this firft feffion. Let no unhappy divifions of
"parties here at home divert you from purſuing the com-
"mon intereft of your country. Let no wicked infinua-
❝tions
352
THE HISTORY
3
1714-15. "tions difquiet the minds of my fubjects. The eſtabliſh-
"ed conftitution in church and ftate fhall be the rule of
The lords
addrefs.
<<
66
<<
my government; the happinefs, eafe, and profperity of
my people fhall be the chief care of my life. Thofe,
"who affift me in carrying on theſe meaſures, I fhall al-
ways efteem my best friends; and I doubt not but that I
"fhall be able, with your affiftance, to diſappoint the de-
"figns of thofe, who would deprive me of that bleffing,
" which I moſt value, the affection of my people."
Debate about
The addreſſes of the two houfes were agreeable to the
king's fpeech. The lords thanked him for his very affecti-
onate expreffions towards his people, for his affurances,
that the eſtabliſhed conftitution in church and ſtate ſhould
be the rule of his government, and for his juſt concern for
their not having obtained all the advantages promifed by fo
fucceſsful a war; they expreffed their wonder, that the
pretender fhould be yet permitted to refide fo near his do-
minions; and owning themfelves fenfible, that trade in its
most valuable branches was rendered impracticable, they
added:
،
C
•
<
.
Theſe and other difficulties your majefty hath met with
on your acceffion to the crown (and which we muſt ob-
ſerve, in juſtice to your wifdem and forefight, would have
been prevented, had your opinion been followed) we
muft confefs, are very great and difcouraging. How-
ever, we do not doubt, but that your majefty, affifted by
this parliament, zealous for your government, and the
ſafety and honour of their country, may be able to take
fuch further meaſures, as will fecure what is due to us
by treaties, eaſe our debts, preferve the publick credit, re-
ftore our trade, extinguifh the very hopes of the preten-
der, and recover the reputation of this kingdom in foreign
" parts; the lofs of which, we hope to convince the world
• by our actions, is by no means to be imputed to the nation
• in general.'
6
When the addreſs was read, there aroſe a great debate in
the addrefs. the houfe, chiefly about the laft expreffions in the forego-
ing paragraph. The lord Trevor, the lord Bolingbroke,
the duke of Bucks, the duke of Shrewsbury, the earl of
Anglefey, the archbishop of York, the bishops of London
and Briftol, and fome other peers, excepted againſt that
claufe, alledging, among other things, That it was inju-
rious to the late queen's memory, and claſhed with that
part of his majefty's ſpeech, which recommended to both
<
• houſes
OF ENGLAND.
353
• houfes the avoiding the unhappy divifions of parties: 1714-15.
.
and that it was unjust to condemn perfons without first
hearing them.' The lord Bolingbroke in particular was
very warm on the ſubject, and moved, that the words re-
cover, &c. might be foftened into Maintain the reputati-
on of this kingdom; and that the reft of the paragraph
might be left out. The earl of Strafford likewife excepted
againſt the clauſe, becauſe it would expofe the honour of
the nation abroad, which he was fure had ſuffered no di-
minution during his negotiations. Thefe and other argu-
ments, urged on that fide, were anfwered by the marquis
of Wharton, the lord-chancellor, the earl of Nottingham,
the earl of Aylesford, the duke of Devonshire, and other
peers. The lord chancellor particularly confuted the ob-
jections raiſed by the lord Bolingbroke, faying, That the
addreſs did not condemn any particular perfons, but only
the peace in general, becauſe they felt the ill confequen-
ces of it. That they, who adviſed and made fuch a peace,
deferved indeed to be cenfured; but that, the words in
the addrefs being general, no private perfon was affected
by them and that the alteration of the word recover in-
to that of maintain would fignify no more towards the
juftification of the guilty, than the word recover towards
the condemnation of the innocent.' After this debate,
the addrefs was approved and prefented by the lords in a
body to the king.
C
<
The commons in their addrefs, after having thanked the The com-
king for his affurances, and expreffed their fenfe of the re- mons addrefs
proach brought upon the nation by the unfuitable conclufi-
on of the war, added, We are under aftoniſhment to
find, that any conditions of the late peace, effential to
the fecurity and trade of Great-Britain, fhould not yet be
duly executed; and that care was not taken to form ſuch
alliances, as might have rendered that peace not precari-
ous. And as no care fhall be wanting in your loyal com-
mons to inquire into theſe fatal miscarriages; fo we in-
tirely rely on your majefty's wisdom, to enter into fuch
alliances, as you fhall judge neceffary to preferve the peace
• of Europe; and we faithfully promife to inable your ma-
jefty to make good all fuch engagements.
&
<
It is with juft refentment we obferve, that the preten-
der fill refides in Lorrain; and that he has the pre-
fumption, by declarations from thence, to ftir up your
majefty's fubjects to rebellion. But that, which raifes
the utmoft indignation of your commons, is, that it ap-
VOL. VI.
• pears
Ꮓ
THE
HISTORY
354
1714-15
Debate in
commons
about their
addrefs.
pears therein, that his hopes were built upon the mea-
fures that had been taken for fome time paſt in Great-
Britain. It fhall be our bufinefs to trace out thofe mea-
• fures, whereon he placed his hopes, and to bring the
authors of them to condign puniſhment. Then, taking
notice of the ill fituation of trade, they conclude with af
furing, that they would inable his majeſty to ſupport the
dignity of the crown, and make an honourable proviſion
for the royal family.'
.
C
'
When this addrefs was reported to the houfe, it occafi-
the houſe of oned a warm debate, like that in the houfe of lords on the
Mr Bromley, Sir William Wyndham,
fame occafion.
general Rofs, Mr Cæfar, Mr Ward, Sir William White-
locke, Mr Hungerford, Mr Shippen, and fome others,
raiſed ſeveral objections to it, which were anſwered by
Mr Robert Walpole, Mr fecretary Stanhope, Sir Gilbert
Heathcote, and Mr Pulteney. General Rofs infifted,
That the condemning the peace, and cenfuring the late
minifters, was a reflection on the late queen, whoſe act
the peace was; and that the reflecting on the late queen
could not be agreeable to his prefent majefty.' He was
anfwered by Mr Walpole and Mr Stanhope, That no-
thing was further from their intentions than to aſperſe
the late queen: that they rather defigned to vindicate
her memory, by expofing and puniſhing thofe evil coun-
fellors, who had deluded her into pernicious meaſures
whereas the oppofite party endeavoured to fcreen and juf-
tify thoſe counſellors, by throwing on the memory of
her late majeſty all the odium of their evil counfels.' As
to what was objected, that the cenfuring the late minifters.
without a hearing, and condemning the peace without ex-
amining into particulars, was unjust and unprecedented, it
was anfwered, That they muft diftinguish between cen-
furing minifters, and condemning the peace in general,
and condemning particular perfons. That they might,
in equity and juftice, do the first, becauſe the whole nati-
on is fenfible, that their honour and true intereſt were
given up by the late peace. That, in due time, they
would call them to an account, who made and adviſed
fuch a peace; but God forbid they ſhould condemn any
perfon unheard.' On this occafion Mr Stanhope took
notice of a report induſtriouſly ſpread about, That the
prefent miniſters never defigned to call the late mana-
gers to an account, but only to cenfure them in general
6
.
←
terms. But he affured the houfe, that notwithſtanding
• all
OF ENGLAND.
355
'
<
<
all the endeavours, which had been uſed to prevent a 1714-15.
difcovery of the late mifmanagements, by conveying away
• feveral papers from the ſecretaries office : yet the govern-
ment had fufficient evidence left, to prove the late mini-
try the moft corrupt, that ever fat at the helm. That
thoſe matters would foon be laid before the houfe; and
that it would appear, that a certain Engliſh general had
acted in concert with, if not received orders from marſhal
de Villars.' Sir William Wyndham endeavoured to prove,
that the peace had been very beneficial to this kingdom,
and offered to produce a lift of goods, by which it appeared,
that the cuftoms had increaſed near 100,000l. per annum.
But he was anfwered by Sir Gilbert Heathcote, who readi-
ly owned, that Sir William might indeed produce a lift of
vaft imports from France; but defied him to fhew, that our
exports thither, particularly of our woollen manufactures,
had increaſed fince the peace. He added, that imports, be-
ing only our confumption, rather prove our lofs than our
gain; and that the nation gets only by exports, which keep
up our manufactures, employ our poor, and bring in re-
turns of money. Sir William Wyndham made no reply;
but Sir William Whitelocke having fuggefted, that the
whigs defigned to involve the nation in a new war, and
lay fix fhillings in the pound, he was answered by Mr
Walpole, that none in the prefent miniftry were for a war,
if the fame could any ways be avoided; and that he doubt-
ed not but two fhillings in the pound would be fufficient
towards this year's fervice.
After theſe and ſome other ſpeeches, the addreſs was car-
ried by a majority of two hundred and forty-four votes
againſt a hundred and thirty-eight.
earl of Ox-
ford and lo-¿
The conduct of the earl of Oxford and the lord Boling- The behavi-
broke, the two chiefs of the late miniftry, was at this time our of the
very remarkable. The earl fkulked about fometimes in
town, and fometimes in the country; affecting to appear very Bolingbroke.
unconcerned, profeffing his innocence, and boafting what Annals.
great things he had done for fecuring the Hanover fucceffion.
The other affected to act a more open part, appeared eve-
ry where, and ſpoke in parliament with fuch boldneſs, as
if he had not the leaft fenfe of guilt, or dread of puniſh-
ment. This was faid to be owing to the advice of the
lord Trevor, who reprefented to him, 'How much their
'caufe would fuffer, if he, whofe chief intereſt it was to
fupport it to the laſt, ſhould meanly throw it up, by ab-
fenting himself. He affured him, no hold could be taken.
Z 2
of
356
HISTORY
THE
1715.
Mar. 26.
•
of his perfon till he was impeached; which he could
not be, till the papers relating to the part of the admi-
niftration, in which he was concerned, were examined.'
However, it was obferved, that the earl of Oxford fold out
all the ſtock he had in his own name in the ſouth-fea
company; and the lord Bolingbroke's heart began to fail
him, as foon as he heard, that Mr Prior was landed at Do-
ver, and had promifed to reveal all he knew which how-
ever he did not make good, though he was favourably re-
ceived by the king, to whom he was introduced by the
earl of Dorſet; and the fame day, was entertained at din-
ner by the lord Townfhend, together with the duke of Rox-
burgh, Mr fecretary Stanhope, the earl of Dorfet, and the
lord Lumley. That evening the lord Bolingbroke, who
Bolingbroke had the night before appeared at the play-houfe in Drury-
Lane, and beſpoke another play for the next night, and ſub-
ſcribed to a new opera, that was to be acted fome time af-
ter, went off to Dover in difguife, as a fervant to la Vigne,
one of the French king's meffengers; and there William
Morgan, who had been a captain in major-general Holt's
regiment of marines, hired a veffel, and carried him over to
Calais, where the governor attended him in a coach, and
carried him to his houfe, as appeared by Morgan's exami-
nation. The next day after it was publickly known that
he was gone to France, there was handed about in writ-
ing, and afterwards in print, the following letter faid to be
writ by him :
The lord
flies in dif-
guife.
Mar. 31.
<
<
My lord,
Dover, March 27.
• I left the town fo abrubtly, that I had not time to take
You will excuſe
leave of you, or any of my friends.
a
me, when you know, that I had certain and repeated in-
⚫formations from fome, who are in the ſecret of affairs, that
reſolution was taken by thofe, who have power to exe-
cute it, to purſue me to the fcaffold. My blood was to
have been the cement of a new alliance; nor could my
'innocence be any fecurity, after it had been once demanded
'from abroad, and refolved on at home, that it was ne-
ceffary to cut me off. Had there been the leaſt reaſon to
hope for a fair and open trial, after having been already
prejudged, unheard, by the two houfes of parliament, I
fhould not have declined the ftricteft examination.
challenge the moft inveterate of my enemies to produce
any one inftance of criminal correfpondence, or the leaſt
C
<
6
I
6 cor-
OF
ENGLAND.
357
<
<
<
corruption in any part of the adminiftration, in which I
< was concerned. If my zeal for the honour and dignity of
my royal miſtreſs, and the true intereft of my country,
has any where tranfported me to let flip a warm or un-
guarded expreffion, I hope the moft favourable interpre-
tation will be put upon it. It is a comfort, that will re-
main with me in all misfortunes, that I ferved her majefty
faithfully and dutifully, in that eſpecially, which ſhe had
moft at heart, relieving her people from a bloody and ex-
penſive war; and that I have always been too much an
Engliſhman, to facrifice the intereft of my country to any
foreign ally whatſoever. And it is for this crime only,
'that I am now driven from thence.
،
<
C
You will hear more at large from me fhortly.
Yours, &c.'
Some maintained this letter to be fuppofititious, but the
generality of the tories owned it to be true. And it plain-
ly appeared afterwards, that he had just reafons to leave the
kingdom.
C
C
C
1715.
favour of the
late miniſtry,
Notwithſtanding all the demonftrations of the ill conduct Addreffes in
of the late miniftry, many of their friends ventured to juf-
tify them; of which the addrefs from the corporation of
Wigan, in Lancaſhire, preſented by Sir Robert Bradſhaigh,
was a remarkable inftance; in which, after ſtiling the peace
of Utrecht A general, folid, and beneficial peace for the
people,' they proceed thus: We take this opportunity
to return our thanks for your majeſty's gracious affurance
of protecting the epifcopal church of England. This,
with your being in full communion with that church,
muft make you dear to all the members thereof. We
cannot but pleaſe ourſelves with the hopes, that, by the
eftablishment of your family amongst us, the favourable
conjuncture (which has been fo long wifhed for) is now
come, to extend the epifcopal government to the reform-
ed churches abroad; which, as we believe, is the only
⚫ foundation poffible to unite the chriftian world upon (if
< ever it muſt be fo happy) fo it muſt render you, above
all things, glorious to the whole reformation, by being
the happy inftrument of fo univerfal a benefit."
C
C
<
←
About this time died Dr Gilbert Burnet, bishop of Salif- Death of
bury, in the 72d year of his age. He was taken ill of a bishop Eur.
violent cold, which foon turned to a pleuretic fever. He was Mar. 17.
attended by his friend and relation Dr Cheyne. But the dif-
temper growing to a height, which feemed to baffle all re-
medies, the affiftance of Sir Hans Sloane and Dr Mead
{
Z 3
was
net,
358
THE
HISTORY
1715. was called for, who quickly found his cafe defperate. He
bore the notice of the danger his life was in, with that calm
refignation which had always fupported him under the ſe-
vereft trials. As he preferved his fenfes to the laft, he em-
ployed the remnant of life in acts of devotion, and in
giving the best advice to his family; of whom he took
leave, in a manner, that fhewed the utmoſt tenderneſs, ac-
companied with the firmeft conftancy of mind. And whilft
he was fo little fenfible of the terrors of death, as to em-
brace its approach with joy; he could not but expreſs a
concern for the grief he faw it caufed in others (u). He
was fucceeded by Dr Talbot, bishop of Oxford, whofe
fucceffor was Dr John Potter, regius profeffor, the preſent
archbishop of Canterbury.
(u) His character was thus
drawn by the marquis of Halli-
fax:
• Dr Burnet is like all men,
who are above the ordinary
level, feldom ſpoke of in a
mean, he muft either be rail-
ed at or admired; he has a
⚫fwiftnefs of imagination, that
no other man comes up to;
and as our nature hardly al-
• lows us to have enough of any
thing, without having too
much, he cannot at all times
fo hold in his thoughts, but
that at fome they may run
away with him; as it is hard
for a veffel that is brim-full,
when in motion, not to run
over; and therefore the vari-
ety of matter, that he ever
carries about him, may throw
out more, than an unkind cri-
tic would allow of. His firſt
thoughts may fometimes re-
quire more digeflion, not from
a defect in his judgment, but
from the abundance of his
fancy, which furniſhes too faft
for him. His friends love him
too well, to fee fmall faults;
• or, if they do, think that his
•
<
.
C
<
<
"
What
greater talents give him a pri-
vilege of ſtraying from the ſtrict
rules of caution, and exempt
⚫ him from the ordinary rules of
cenfure. He produces fo faſt,
that what is well in his writ-
ings calls for admiration, and
what is incorrect deferves an
excufe; he may in fome things
require grains of allowance,
which thoſe only can deny
him, who are unknown or
unjuft to him. He is not
quicker in difcerning other
mens faults, than he is in
forgiving them; fo ready, or
rather glad to acknowledge
his own, that from blemiſhes
they may become ornaments.
All the repeated provocations.
of his indecent adverfaries
• have had no other effect, than
the fetting his good nature in
fo much a better light; fince
his anger never yet went far-
ther than to pity them. That
heat, which in most other
men raiſes ſharpneſs and fa-
• tire,in him glows into warmth
for his friends, and compaffion
•for thoſe in want and mifery.
• As dull men have quick eyes,
· in
OF ENGLAND.
359
Pr. H. C.
What precaution foever had been taken, about a third 1715.
part of the commons were tories. This appeared as foon
as the parliament met. Sir William Whitelocke, member The king's
proclamati-
for the univerſity of Oxford, upon a motion in the houſe of on objected
commons, to take into confideration the king's proclamati- againít.
on of the 15th of January, for calling a new parliament, Apr. 6.
made exceptions to the proclamation as unprecedented and
unwarrantable; and was called upon by fome members to
explain himſelf; upon which he made an excufe for what
he had faid. Notwithstanding this, Sir William Wynd-
ham rofe up and faid, that the proclamation was not only
• unprecedented and unwarrantable, but even of dangerous
confequence to the very being of parliaments.' He was
called upon to juſtify his charge, which he declined, but
faid, That, as he thought fome expreffions in the procla-
⚫mation of dangerous confequence, fo he believed every
member was free to fpeak his thoughts.' He was an-
fwered by lord Finch, That no doubt every member had
that liberty, freedom of fpeech being one of their ef
C
C
in difcerning the fmaller faults
of thofe, that nature has made
⚫ fuperior to them, they do not
mifs one blot he makes; and,
being beholden only to their
barrennefs for their difcretion,
they fall upon the errors,
which arife out of his abun-
dance; and by a miſtake, in-
to which their malice betrays
،
C
them, they think, that by find-
ing a mote in his eye, they
• hide the beams, that are in
<
their own. His quickneſs
makes writing fo eafy a thing
to him, that his fpirits are nei-
ther wafted nor foured by it:
• the foil is not forced, every
thing grows, and brings forth
without pangs; which diftin-
guiſhes as much what he does,
' from that which fmells of the
lamp, as a good palate will
• difcern between fruit which
⚫ comes from a rich mould, and
that which taftes of the un-
cleanly pains, that have been
beſtowed upon it. He makes
many enemies, by fetting an
⚫ill-natured example of living,
'which they are not inclined to
• follow. His indifference for
preferment, his contempt not
only of fplendor, but of all
unneceffary plenty, his de-
grading himſelf into the lowest
• and moſt painful duties of his
calling, are fuch unprelatical
qualities, that, let him be ne-
ver fo orthodox
fo orthodox in other
C
<
(
C
C
things, in
theſe he muſt be a
'diffenter. Virtues of fuch a
ftamp are ſo many herefies, in
the opinion of thofe divines,
'who have foftened the prima-
tive injunctions, fo as to make
them fuit better with the pre-
fent frailty of mankind. No
• wonder then, if they are an-
gry, fince it is in their own de-
fence, or that from a principle
of felf-prefervation they ſhould
• endeavour to fupprefs a man,
whofe parts are a fhame, and
whofe life is a fcandal to
' them.'
Z 4
fen-
350
THE HISTORY
1715.
<
<
fential privileges. But that the houſe, at the fame time,
had both liberty and power to cenfure and punish fuch
members as tranfgrefs the rules of decency, trefpafs upon
the refpect due to the crown, and fo abuſe the privilege
of the houſe within doors, as to render it contemptible.
< without.' Sir William being again called upon to ex-
plain himſelf, and ftill refufing, fome members cried, The
Tower, the Tower.' But Mr Robert Walpole ſpoke to
this effect: Mr fpeaker, I am not for gratifying the de-
fire, which the member, who occafions this debate, fhews,
of being fent to the tower. It would make him too con-
• fiderable. But as he is one, who fets up for a warm
champion of the late miniftry, and was in all their fe-
crets, I would have him be in the houſe, when we come
to inquire into the conduct of his friends, both that he
may have an opportunity to defend them, and be a wit-
nefs of the fairnefs, with which we fhall proceed againft
• thofe gentlemen; and that it may not be faid, that we
<
<
take advantage against them.' After ſeveral other ſpeech-
es which prolonged this debate above four hours, a mo-
tion was made, and the question propofed, That Sir
• William Wyndham, having reflected upon his majeſty's
C
proclamation, and having refuſed to justify his charge, al-
tho' often called upon fo to do, is guilty of a great indig-
.. nity to his majeſty, and of a breach of the privilege of
this houſe.' This motion occafioned a freſh debate. The
houſe ſtill infifted, that Sir William fhould juſtify his
charge; and he has obftinately declined to do it, faying,
He was ready to undergo whatever a majority would in-
"flict upon him.' At laft, the queſtion being put, that he
fhould withdraw, it was carried in the affimative by two
hundred and eight voices against one hundred and twenty-
nine; whereupon he withdrew, as did all the hundred and
twenty-nine members, who had been for the negative.
Then the houſe unanimoufly refolved, That Sir William
ſhould be reprimanded by the fpeaker. This was done by
the ſpeaker in the following manner:
• Sir William Wyndham,
I am to acquaint you, that the houfe has come to this
refolution, that you be reprimanded in your place by me.
You have prefumed to reflect on his majefty's procla-
⚫mation, and made an unwarrantable uſe of the freedom of
fpeech granted by his majeſty.
1
•
Thig
OF
361
ENGLAND.
• This houſe has made their moderation appear, and
fhewn their lenity, by laying the mildeft cenfure your of-
fence was capable of. I am ordered to reprimand you,
and do reprimand you accordingly.'
SIR,
a manner.
To which Sir William replied:
I return you my thanks for what you have done by the
duty of your office in fo candid and fo gentleman-like
As I am a member of this houſe, I very well
'know I must acquiefe in the determination of this houſe.
But I am not confcious of any indignity to his majeſty,
or any breach of the privilege of this house; and there-
fore I have no thanks to give thoſe gentlemen, who,
< under pretence of lenity, have brought this cenfure upon
• me (x).'
<
،
<
•
1715.
Jaid before
Three days after the commons entered upon what they Papers re-
faid in their addreſs of thanks ſhould be their buſineſs, the lating to the
inquiry into the conduct of the late miniftry. General late miniftry
Stanhope prefented to the houſe, in fourteen volumes all the houſe,
the papers relating to the late negotiations of peace and April 9.
commerce, and to the ceffation of arms, telling them, That Pr. H. C.
nothing had been omitted, that might either anfwer the
defire they had expreffed of being thoroughly informed of
what had paffed in thoſe important negotiations, or ſatiſ-
fy the whole world, that the preſent miniſtry acted with
the utmoft fairneſs and candour, and defigned to take no
manner of advantage over the late managers in the in-
tended inquiries. That indeed the papers now laid before
the houſe were only copies; but that the originals would
be produced, if occafion required: concluding, that,
thofe papers being too many and too voluminous to be
perufed and examined by all the members, he therefore
moved, that they might be referred to a ſelect com-
"mittee of twenty perfons, who fhould digeſt the ſubſtance
' of them under proper heads, and report the fame, with
⚫ their obſervations to the houſe.'
<
(x) The tories took advan-
tage of this moderation, and
fome of their writers fecretly
difperfed, not many days after,
a libel intitled, "The honour
and partiality of the houſe of
commons, fet forth in the cafe
of Sir William Wyndham;'
containing bitter invectives
against the well-affected. An-
nals.
The
362
THE HISTORY
1715.
.
The earl of Oxford being come to town the night be-
fore, his brother Mr Edward Harley, a member of the
houſe, faid, 'That it was eaſy to fee, that one of his near-
• eft relations was principally aimed at in theſe intended
inquiries; but he might affure the houſe, that the faid
• perfon, notwithſtanding the various reports, which had
been ſpread concerning him, would neither fly his coun-
try, nor conceal himfelf, but be forth-coming whenever
he fhould be called upon to juftify his conduct. That he
C hoped he would be able, upon the fevereft trial, to make
his innocence appear to all the world; but, if he ſhould
be fo unhappy, as to have been guilty of the crimes, that
< were laid to his charge, he would think all his blood too
• ſmall a fatisfaction to attone for them.' No body oppofed
Committee Mr Stanhope's motion; only Mr Hungerford excepted.
againſt the number of twenty, and moved, that one more
might be added; which being readily agreed to, it was re-
folved, That the books and papers fhould be referred to a
committee of ſecrecy, the number to be twenty-one, who
were choſen by ballot (y).
of fecrecy.
The committee of fecrecy met that evening, and chofe
Mr Robert Walpole for their chairman. But, he being
the next day taken ill, the committee chofe Mr Stanhope
to fupply his place; and, for diſpatch, fubdivided them-
felves into three committees, to each of which a certain
number of books and papers were allotted. They made
fuch diſpatch, that their report was ready in two months.
On the 11th of April the earl of Oxford went to the par-
Oxford takes liament, and took his feat in the houſe of peers.
The earl of
his feat in
the houſe.
The earl of
Peterbo-
rough forbid
the court.
About this time the earl of Peterborough fuddenly re-
turned from his late travels to Italy and France, having met
with the lord Bolingbroke on the road between Paris and Ca-
lais; but it was faid, he did not ſpeak to him. The next
(y) The committee confifted
of the following members;
Sir Richard Qnflow,
Robert Walpole,
Spencer Cowper,
James Stanhope,
Hugh Boscawen,
William Pulteney,
Nicholas Lechmere,
Daniel lord Finch,
John Aiſlaiby,
Thomas Vernon,
Algernoon earl of Hertford,
Edward Wortley Mountague,
Sir David Dalrymple,
George Baillie,
Sir Jofeph Jekyll,
Thomas Erle,
Richard Hampden,
Sir Robert Marſham,
Alexander Denton,
Thomas Pitt, fenr,
Thomas lord Connigfby.
day
OF ENGLAND.
363
day after his arrival, the earl appeared at St James's, but,
whatever was the occafion, two days after the lord Town-
fhend fignified to him an order forbidding him the court.
1715.
On the 12th of April the marquis of Wharton, lord Death of lord
privy-feal, died at his houſe in Dover-ftreet, after an indif- Wharton.
pofition of twelve days, in the fixty-feventh year of his age.
}
His name will be ever endeared to the friends of liberty, His charac-
and to all who have a true concern for the proteftant inte- ter.
reft.
Could the fervices, which he performed for this na-
tion and the prefent royal family be duly enumerated, they
would appear beyond the beſt ſkill and abilities of any fin-
gle man. King Charles II. admitted him to great familia.
rities, and had him for a companion in many of his de-
bauches, with a defign to make him wholly his own.
With regard to private vices, the fuccefs was notorious;
but, in what related to the publick and court he abfolutely
diſappointed the king. He faw and heard the defigns of a
prince, to whofe indolence and luxury the nation wast
obliged for its prefervation. This gave him a juſt contempt
for ſuch a governor, and an abhorrence of all his views.
King William was duly fenfible of his fervices before and
at the revolution. In that reign he attained to no higher
a ftation than being comptroller of the houfhold; which
muſt be aſcribed to the unhappy influence of thoſe, who
hated him, and his royal mafter. He received however the
utmoſt proofs of confidence and refpect, and had the king's
moft intimate defigns communicated to him. His probity
and good affection in what concerned the government was
fo well affured, that it gave him great and conftant intereſt.
Many important meafures were afcribed to his fecret advice.
His great vigour and happy addrefs in ferving the good
cauſe, which he had ever in view, cannot fully be defcribed.
His labours were infinite with men of all ranks, and on all
proper occafions.
He knew how to accommodate himſelf
to every temper and inclination. What to others would
have been great pain and trouble, afforded him great plea-
fure and fatisfaction. The merit of his conduct in the
country, at court, and in the fenate, was equally admira-
ble. His enemies, who were only fo on the account of his
publick zeal and ufefulnefs, have greatly aggravated his im-
moralities, and loaded him with crimes, from which he
was wholly free. But did he not learn the rudiments of
vice under their favourite king Charles? Have not the pri-
vate lives of moft of their leaders been equally faulty?
Are they excufable for pretending to the name and noiſe of
religion;
364
THE HISTORY
1715.
The great
eclipfe.
Two minif-
ed.
Annals.
Hift. Reg.
Pol. St.
religion? Lord Wharton's defects oblige us the more to admire
his excellencies. In a life fpent in a libertine manner, uſeful
knowledge and learning were neglected. But an infinite.
fund of good fenfe and great natural abilities fupplied what-
ever was wanting. On every emergency he diſcovered
what was proper, and was never at a lofs how to act. There
was not only a readineſs, and propriety in his fpeeches, but
they were weighty and important. Nothing can be ima-
gined more excellent than his fkill and fagacity in the ma-
nagement of a debate. In thefe publick appearances he was
greatly affifted, by never engaging in the fupport of what he
did not believe to have truth and justice on its fide. He lived
to ſee the fuccefs of a caufe, for which he had laboured with
zeal and integrity. But his enjoyment of the bleffing of
the fucceffion was very fhort. A misfortune in his family
is ſuppoſed to have produced the fatal effect. His fon pof-
feffed fome of his parts and abilities, but his very different.
uſe and application of them are well known.
On the 22d of April was the famous eclipfe of the fun,
to obferve which the chevalier de Louville and Monfieur de
Montmaur, two French mathematicians, came from Paris,
by the direction of the royal academy of fciences, and were
civilly entertained by the members of the royal fociety, with
whom they joined in making their obfervations.
The general affembly of the church of Scotland met on
ters in Scot- the 4th of May, the earl of Rothes, lord high-admiral of
land fufpend- that kingdom, being the king's commiffioner; and the moſt
remarkable of their acts was the confirming the fuſpenſion of
two minifters, Mr James Maitland of Innerkethie, and
Mr John Maitland, of Fergus, his brother, who had been
fufpended by the fynod of Aberdeen, for not obſerving the
20th of January, the thankſgiving-day for his majeſty's ac-
ceffion to the crowns, and not praying for king George by
name. Theſe minifters refufing to answer any questions
for removing the fufpicion, which they lay under, of difaf-
fection to the king, the affembly, by another vote, depofed
them from the office of the miniftry, and appointed their
churches to be declared vacant.
The affembly had a difficult part to act in this nice junc-
ture; for ſeveral of the prefbyterians had given injunctions
to their deputies, to move for an addrefs to the king, that
he would be pleafed to uſe his endeavours that the church
of Scotland might be delivered from the hardships brought
upon her in the late reign, by the unlimited toleration
granted to the epifcopal preachers, and the act for reſtoring
Jay
OF ENGLAND.
365
}
lay patronages, which were both contrary to the treaty of 1715.
union. They had alfo fome difficulty to avoid remon-
ftrances against the union's being continued. But they ma-
naged their affairs with fo much prudence, as to prevent
any heats about thoſe matters in the affembly, and uſed their
endeavours with fuccefs to keep the honeft part of the na-
tion from puſhing thoſe things, fo that they were willing to
refer the rediefs of thofe grievances to a more proper fea-
fon, when the king and the parliament might do it without
interrupting the great affairs which then lay before them.
Thus the general affembly of the church of Scotland ended
quietly, and another was appointed to meet the first Thurf-
day of May, 1716, according to cuſtom.
This was a
great mortification to the jacobite party in both nations,
who flattered themfelves with creating divifions in the
church of Scotland, by thofe popular topics; but the pref-
byterians refuſed to give into their meaſures.
civil lift,
The committee of the houfe taking the civil lift into Debate
confideration, feveral papers relating to former eſtabliſh- about the
ments were read
were read; and then the queftion was offered, May 13.
That it appears to this committee, that that the fum of Pr. H. C.
700,000l. per Ann. was fettled upon king William dur-
•
<
<
ing his life, for the fupport of his houfhold, and other his
neceffary occafions; and at the time of his demife, after
the deduction of 37c0l. a week, which was applied to
the publick ufes, was the produce of the civil liſt revenues,
that were continued and fettled upon queen Anne, during
her life.' Thofe, who propofed this queftion, had two
things principally in view; to vindicate the preſent minif-
try from the afperfions caft upon them, and induftrioufly
fpread about, by the emiffaries of the late managers, that
the whigs defigned to give the king a larger revenue than
his predeceffors had enjoyed: and to make good the
branches of the civil lift revenue, which had been alienated
or abridged; fo that the whole neat produce might amount
to 700,cool. per Ann. The leading men among the tories.
being fenfible of the firft, and pretending to be ignorant of
the confequence of this preliminary queftion, infifted a long
while, That it was infnating. That what had been done by
former parliaments, ought not to be a standing rule for
the fubfequent: that, fuppofing the parliament had
given king William a revenue of 700,ccol. per Ann. for
the civil lift, they ought to confider, that he was to pay out
of it 50,000l. per Ann. to the late queen, then princefs
' of Denmark; 15 or 20,000l. per Ann. for the late duke
• of
366
HISTORY
THE
C
C
C
C
C
•
1715. of Glocefter; and 40,000l. for the dowry of king
James's queen. That, after the late queen's acceffion
to the throne, the parliament taking notice, that the pro-
• duce of the civil-lift revenues exceeded what they had
been given for, the fum of 3700l. per week (that is,
192,400l. per annum) was taken out of them, and
applied to other ufes; notwithſtanding which deduction,
the late queen had honourably maintained her family,
and fupported the dignity of the crown: however, if
the prefent revenues of the civil-lift were not fufficient,
they were ready to confent to an addition.' It was an-
ſwered, That the queſtion before them was founded up-
on facts, which, if denied, they were ready to prove
by the records of the houfe.' But Sir William Wynd-
ham ſtill urging, that the queftion was infnaring, Mr
fecretary Stanhope anfwered, That he would be very
plain with them, and own, that, as it was notorious,
that great endeavours had been uſed to alienate the af-
•fection of the people from the king and his goverement,
by falle fuggeftions, that they defired to plunge the na-
tion into extraordinary expences, they thought it highly
neceffary to clear his majefty and his minifters from that
malicious afperfion.' To this lord Guernſey replied,
That the difaffection of the people, if any, did not
proceed from his majefty, but from the hardships his
minifters put on the tory party.' To this it was returned,
That, as foon as it would be made known to the world,
how the late miniftry had ufed, not only the whigs, but
the whole nation, nothing, that could be done againſt
them, would then be thought a hardſhip; but, how-
ever, that neither that noble member, nor any of his
family, had reafon to complain of hardfhips,'
<
€
After
fome other ſpeeches the tories endeavoured to drop the
queftion, by moving, that the fpeaker might refume the
chair; which being rejected, the queftion was carried in
the affirmative, and a motion made that 700,000l. clear
ſhould be granted yearly for the civil-lift. The queſtion,
being put upon this motion, occafioned another great de-
bate. Sir Thomas Hanmer, Mr Bromley, Sir William
Wyndham, Mr Cæfar, Mr Hungerford, and fome other
leading tories, did not at first directly oppoſe the queſtion,
but infinuated, That, before they came to that refolu-
tion, it would be proper, that a particular of the king's
Mr Wal-
expence ſhould be laid before the houſe.'
6
pole, Mr fecretary Stanhope, Mr Lechmere, and others,
having
OF ENGLAND.
367
•
having exploded that propofal, as altogether inconfiftent 1715.
with the king's honour, to have all the private expences of
his family and houfhold looked into, as if he had need of
a guardian; the tories then moved, that the ſum of
600,000l. per annum be given to his majeſty, and
100,000l. per annum fettled on the prince of Wales.
The court-party perceiving, that the propofal of giving
the prince of Wales a feparate revenue was only a defign
to divide the royal family, by leffening the dependance of
the next heir, oppofed it; and, the queftion being put on
that motion, it was carried in the negative by a great ma-
jority. The tories having loft theſe two points, fome
of that party more openly oppofed the main queftion.
Among the reft, Sir William Wyndham faid, He
had the honour to ferve her late majefty, and had
the opportunity to look both into her revenue and
her expence; and he could affure the houſe, that about
500,000l. per annum was fufficient for the ſupport of
her family and civil-lift; tho' the reſerved about 50,000l.
a year for the late king's James's confort.' The court-
party were glad of this confeffion, and Mr fecretary Stan-
hope defired the committee to take notice of what that
gentleman had advanced, becauſe it would ferve to con-
firm fome matters, which the committee of fecrecy had
found in the papers, that were laid before them. The que-
ftion being put, it was carried without dividing, that
700,000 1. a year clear fhould be granted for the civil-lift
during the king's life.
6
There was another warm debate a few days after, upon Debate about
a motion for an addreſs againſt penfions. The leading tories penfions.
and others exclaimed against the penfions given by the May 18.
crown to ſeveral perfons of quality (fome of whom they
named) who had no occafion for them. Mr Robert Wal-
pole urged, That they ought not to ſtint the king's bene-
'ficence, nor debar him from the exercife of the moſt glo-
rious branch of his prerogative, which is to beſtow his
• favours on fuch, as diftinguifh themſelves in his ſervice."
He was feconded by Mr Hampden, who obferved, that all
the penſions, about which fo much noife was made, did not
amount to above 25,000l, and then moved, That the
chairman ſhould leave the chair; which, being put to the
vote, paffed in the affirmative by three voices only, a
hundred and ninety-one againſt a hundred and eighty-
eight.
Qn
368
HISTORY
THE
1715.
late the land-
forces.
Pr. H. L.
On the 30th of May, the houſe of peers, in a grand
committee, confidered of the bill for regulating the land-
Debate on a forces; when there aroſe a great debate about a clauſe, for
bill to regu- confining the feveral regiments to thofe parts of his majefty's
dominions, for which they were allotted; for inftance, the
twelve thouſand men, that were on the Irifn eſtabliſhment,
to Ireland. The duke of Bucks, the lord Trevor, the lord
North and Gray, the bishop of Rocheſter, and ſome others
of that party, ſpoke for the claufe. But the duke of Marl-
borough and fome other lords fhewed the fatal confcquences,
with which it might be attended, in cafe of an invafion
from abroad, or an infurrection at home, by a number of
enemies, foreign or domeftick, fuperior to the number of
forces actually on the fpot, where either of them fhould
happen. It was further urged, That his majefty having
trufted his perfon and family intirely in the hands of the
nation, and at the opening of this feffion told the parlia-
ment, That what they fhould judge neceffary for their
fafety, he ſhould think fufficient for his own; the leaft,
they could do for him, was to leave to his wiſdom and
• difcretion the difpofal of the few troops, that were kept
• on foot.' Some tory lords moved, that the foreign offi-
cers might be excluded from that number: But the duke of
Marlborough ſpoke in their favour, and argued, That to
• exclude officers, who, like the French refugees, had, for
⚫ above five and twenty years, ferved England with diſtin-
guifhed zeal and untainted fidelity, would be a piece of
injuftice unprecedented in the moſt barbarous nations."
After fome other fpeeches, the question was put, whether
the clauſe ſhould be inferted; and it was carried in the ne-
gative by eighty-one voices against thirty-five. The next
day, the lords read the bill the third time, which, with
fome amendments, was approved, and fent down to the
commons (z).
<
(2) About this time, there
was a petition prefented to the
lords by Mrs Mary Forreſter,
maid of honour to the late
queen, and now to the princefs
of Wales, fetting forth, that a-
bout thirteen years ago, when
ſhe was but twelve years of age,
The had been married to Sir
George Downing, then about
<
On
fifteen. That, Sir George go-
ing then to travel, he did, up-
on his return, fhew his diſlike
to the match, which had pre-
vented their cohabitation: and
therefore they prayed, that they
might be feparated, and at li-
berty to marry again. Several
of the lords, and particularly
the bifhops, fpoke against al-
lowing
OF
369
ENGLAND.
of Great-
On the 18th of May, Sir John Norris, with a fquadron 1715.
of twenty men of war, and a fleet of merchant-fhips under
his convoy, failed from the Nore to the Baltick, in order to Affairs at
fea, particu-
protect the trade of his majefty's fubjects in thofe feas. The larly in the
violent proceedings of the king of Sweden in rejecting the Baltick.
treaty of neutrality concerted by England and Holland, and See Intereſt
other members of the grand alliance, for preferving the re- Britain ftea-
mains of his army under general Craffau, and for the fe- dily purſued.
curity of his German dominions, and in caufing the fhips
of all nations whatfoever, without diftinction, trading to
the Baltick, to be feized and confifcated, even fome years
before king George's acceffion to the throne, obliged, at
laft, the king and the States-general, after having 'made
proper inftances for redrefs to no purpoſe, to uſe their fleets
for the protection of their ſubjects in their navigation and
commerce to thofe parts. The Britiſh and Dutch minifters
had jointly, or feparately, made theſe inſtances in the moſt
earneft manner, by variety of memorials delivered yearly
to the king or fenate of Sweden, ſo long as from the year
1710, without being able to obtain the leaſt ſatisfaction.
The laft memorial of Mr Jackfon, the English refident at
the court of Sweden, before the English fquadron was fent,
was prefented to the fenate at Stockholm, January 14,
1714-15, complaining, that the lofs of the English mer-
chants from the Swedifh cruifers amounted to 65,4491.
fterling. The Swediſh regency returned an anſwer on the
8th of February N. S. by which they referred him to the
king of Sweden himfelf, who was then at Stralfund. In
fhort, though the Dutch as well as the British minifters made.
repeated complaints of thofe feizures, the king of Sweden
was fo far from regarding them, that he iſſued out new or-
ders to his men of war and privateers, to feize and confif-
cate all fhips, that traded with any place conquered by his
enemies; and theſe orders were ſo very ſtrict, and clogged
with fuch terms on all merchant fhips, as in a manner ren-
dered the trade of the Baltick impracticable, without a fuffi-
cient force to convoy the merchant-fhips, that traded
thither (a).
lowing a divorce, and, the mat-
ter being put off till the 3d of
May, it was, upon debate, car-
ried by fifty againſt forty eight,
to reject the petition, the bithops
being against the divorce, left it
VOL. VI.
On
fhould weaken the obligations
of marriage.
(a) After Steinbock and his
army (See p. 64.) were taken
prifoners, count Welling con-
cloded a treaty with the admi-
A a
murator
370
THE HISTORY
2
1715.
On the 19th of May died Charles earl of Hallifax. He
was defcended from a younger branch of the Mancheſter
Death and family, and came into the world without any advantages of
the enl of fortune. But ufeful parts, and feveral lucky opportunities.
character of
Hallifax.
niftrator of Holstein-Gottorp,
by which it was agreed, that
the towns of Stetin and Wif-
mar fhould be fequeftered into
the hands of the king of Pruf-
fia, and the adminiftrator to fe-
cure them as well as the reft of
the Swediſh Pomerania, from
the northern allies, the Poles
and Muſcovites. Count Meyer-
feldt, governor of Pomerania,
refufing to comply with this
treaty, the northern allies march-
ed into Swediſh Pomerania,
took the iſland of Rugen, and
forced Stetin to capitulate; up-
on this, Meyerfelt accepted
the fequeftration, which the
king of Pruffia was prevailed
upon to take upon himſelf. As
the Muscovites and Poles de-
manded the expences of the
fiege of Stetin, the king of
Pruffia paid them for the king
of Sweden 400,000 rixdollars.
The king of Sweden, after his
return from Turkey, refuſed to
comply with the treaty of ſe-
queftration, and infifted, that
Stetin fhould be forthwith re-
ftored to him without the re-
payment of the 400,000 rix-
dollars, nor would he depart
from his defign of invading Po-
land and Saxony, but was re
folved (as he faid himself) to
chaftife his falſe friends as well
as his open enemies. This was
in effect a declaration of war
againſt all who would not affiſt
him in procuring a reftitution
of what he had loft, or would
not enter into a war against the
of
States, then engaged in war a-
gainft Sweden. King George,
having certain information that
the king of Sweden would not
fail, upon the first opportunity,
to invade his electorate of
Brunſwick, refolved to act in
concert with the kings of Den-
mark and Pruffia, for fecuring
the peace of the empire, and
oppofe the defigns of the Swede.
To this end a treaty was con-
cluded between the kings of
Great Britain and Denmark, by
the third article of which it was
agreed, that the duchies of Bre-
men and Verden fhould be made
over tohis Britannick majeſty, his
heirs and pofterity for ever, with
this provifo, that he ſhould, the
moment he took poffeffion of
them, declare war againft Swe-
den. This treaty was ratified
and exchanged the 17th of Ju-
ly, 1715, and the duchies were
delivered up the 15th of Oto-
ber following, on which day a
declaration of war was pub-
lifhed by king George, in his
German dominions. Prefently
after 6000 Hanoverians march-
ed into Pomerania to join the
Danes and Pruffians, who, af-
ter having taken the ifles of Ru-
gen and Uledon, were then at-
tacking Wilmar and Stralfond.
The king of Sweden was him-
felf at Stralfund, and, finding
it impoffible to hinder the
town from being taken, em-
barked on board a veffel, and
arrived at Schonen, on the 21 th
of December, after having been
almoft
OF ENGLAN D.
371
of producing them, foon gave him a figure in life. He had
the reputation of a fine tafte, and of being mafter of po-
lite literature. His projects and his poetry have been afcrib-
ed to others, who fubmiffively beftowed on him their
thoughts and labours. It is not worth controverting, whe-
ther he was the author or the adopter of ſchemes for the
ſervice of the government; fince his merit, in the proper
application of them, is undeniable. Recoining the money,
and Exchequer bills, delivered the nation from diftreffes,
which feemed to be attended with unavoidable ruin. Many,
who envied a young man the natural reputation of fuch perfor-
mances, and many others, who were enemies to the govern-
ment, incumbered him with all imaginable difficulties.
His fkill as a ſpeaker and manager must be unqueftion-
able, which inabled him to execute fuch great deſigns.
But, when his and the nation's enemies, aided by the per-
verfeneſs of the times, had gained the afcendant, his vigour
and spirit totally failed; and he implored in abject terms
their mercy, whofe rage and infolence were confirmed by his
applications.
When the ftaff was taken from the duke of Shrewsbury,
he was placed at the head of the treafury, and had the gar-
ter, and an addition of title, but not the fatisfaction, which
might naturally have been expected from fo many happy
events. Not finding himself poffeffed of the fulnefs of
power, and the poft of high treaſurer, which he imagined
to be his due, he entered into meaſures with the authors
of the fatal ceffation of arms, and the deftructive peace.
And though it would have confirmed the d:fgufts of our
allies, and been the highest indignity to the king's affec-
tionate and fincere friends, had he fucceeded, yet he pur-
fued his deſigns of removing thofe, who had been fellow-
labourers and fellow-fufferers with him. The perpetual
enmity of his new friends to king William, who had raiſed
him from the lowest to the highest fiation in life, the
ignominy of an impeachment, and the cenfures and re-
almoſt fixteen years abfent from
his antient dominions Upon
his arrival, he affembled what
troops he could, in order to
pafs the Sound over the ice,
and attack Copenhagen, but
was diſappointed by a fudden
thaw. Notwithstanding the ear-
neft intreaties of his fifter and
the fenate of Sweden, he de-
clined going to Stockholm, and
remained at Carelfcroon, in or-
der to haien his fleet, and re-
lieve Wilmar. Thus food af-
fairs in Sweden, at the king's
return out of Turkey.
A a 2
proaches,
1715.
372
THE HISTORY
1715. proaches, with which they had purfued him for many years,
were all forgotten. Such are the effects of boundleſs pride
and ambition! but a violent diftemper fpeedily put an end to
his life, and all his devices.
Addrefs a-
bout the
fifty new
churches.
May 27.
Order of the
justices a-
gainst riots.
Annals.
May 28.
He left behind him the fame of being an encourager of
men of parts and learning; and is faid to have fhewn him-
ſelf ſuch in an agreeable and liberal manner. His perform-
ances in poetry have had their full praife. A poetical turn
infected his profe. Far from finding the purity and ftrength
of lord Sommers's compofitions, we have in many of his
a perpetual affectation of figurative ornaments.
}
The commiffioners, appointed for building the fifty new
churches, prefented an addrefs to the king, wherein they
fet forth, that, feveral chapels and churches being almoft
ready, they found themſelves under a difficulty how to pro-
ceed for want of a due maintenance for the minifters,
without which no bifhop could regularly confeciate a
church, nor any patron be effectually treated with.
king told them he ſhould readily comply with their defire,
being reſolved tc embrace all opportunities of encouraging
a work in which the honour of the church of England was
fo much concerned.
The
This anfwer is one, among many other inftances of the
king's care for the church of England, though the danger
of it under his adminiſtration was made a principal topick
to excite the people to rebel, and to raiſe mobs and tumults
almoft on every publick day; for the prevention of which,
the juftices of the peace of Westminster and Middlefcx
published an excellent order, but with fo little effect, that,
on the king's birth-day, the mob infulted the citizens,
who fhewed their joy by bonfires, and illuminations. The
care of the magiftrates in both London and Weſtminſter,
and the orders that had been given the horfe-guards, kept
them in fome awe on that day. But the next, being the
anniversary of the refloration of king Charles II, they
made greater illuminations, and more bonfires, than were
feen the day before, efpecially in the city of London,
where they broke the windows of fuch houſes, as were not
illuminated, and amongst them thofe of the lord-mayor.
They infulted four life-guards, who were patrolling, and
obliged them to cry out, as they did. High-church and
Ormond. In Smithfield they burnt a print of king Wil-
liam. This riot being unexpected, there was not force
enough at hand to fupprefs it immediately; but, at last,
fonie citizens and conftables difperfed them, when they
came
OF ENGLAN D.
373
1
came to Cheapfide, and about thirty of the mutineers were 1715.
fecured and committed to prifon. The fame evening one
Bournois, a French or Iriſh ſchool-mafter, was by Sir
Charles Peers fent to Newgate, for high-treafon, having
proclaimed in the ftreet, that king George had no right to
the crown. He was afterwards tried for it, and whipped
through the city, according to fentence; and, his confti-
tution being deftroyed by the venereal difeafe, he died in a
few days after. It appeared, he was a popifh priest, and
taught French for a colour.
about the fol-
During theſe commotions the following accident hap- The clamour
pened, which was made uſe of to increaſe the popular fer- diers shirts.
ment. On the king's birth-day, new cloathing was deli-
vered to the first regiment of foot-guards; but, ſo particu-
larly coarſe were the fhirts, that the foldiers were much
offended at it. There being a great number of Iriſh pa-
pifts, and other difaffected perfons, then in the guards, their
diſcontent was eaſily improved by the enemies of the go-
vernment ſo that ſome of the foldiers had the infolence
to throw their fhirts into the king's and duke of Marlbo-
rough's gardens at St James's; as a detachment marched May 30.
from Whitehall, through the city, to relieve the guard in
the Tower, the foldiers pulled out their fhirts, and fhew-
ed them to all fhopkeepers and paffengers, crying out,
Theſe are the Hanover fhirts, &c.' The court being
informed of what had paffed, and foreſeeing the confe-
quences, orders were immediately fent to the guard at
Whitehall, to burn thoſe new ſhirts; which was done that
very evening (b).
(b) The duke of Marlbo-
rough's enemies laying hold of
this occafion to reflect on him,
as if he were to bear the blame
of the injuſtice done to the fol-
diers of his regiment, the fol
lowing advertiſement was made
publick in the news papers: 'His
grace the duke of Marlbo-
rough being informed, that
the undertakers for the first
regiment of foot-guards had
• delivered to the feveral com-
panies their cloathing, no way
• anſwerable to the pattern a-
C
<
About
greed for his grace, there-
fore, ordered the faid cloath-
ing to be viſited, who finding
the foldiers very much abuſed
in their fhirting, his grace im-
mediately directed the fhirts
to be burnt, as well to punish
as to deter fuch undertakers
from committing the like a-
bufes for the future; which
was done accordingly, and
the reft of the cloathing has
been compared with the pat-
tern, that the foldiers may
have juftice done in all the
A a 3
• other
1
374
HISTORY
THE
ter.
1715.
Annals.
<
About the middle of May, there was an intercepted let-
ter returned from Ireland, written by captain Wight, a
White's let- reformed Officer of Wind for's regiment, to his friend in
that country, and, by a mistake, carried to a perfon of
the fame name, in which were thefe expreffions: The
• duke of Ormond has got the better of all his enemies;
and I hope we fhall be able, in a little time, to fend
George home to his country again.' A warrant was if-
fued from the fecretary's office for apprehending captain
Wight, who abfconding, a reward of 501. was offered by
the government to any, who fhould difcover him. Not
A packet many days after, Mr George Jeffreys was feized at Dub-
lin, upon his arrival there from England; and, being ex-
amined before the lords-juftices, a packet was found about
him, directed to Dr Jonathan Swift, dean of St Pa-
trick's. This packet Jeffreys owned he had received from
the duke of Ormond's chaplain; and, feveral treaſonable
papers being found in it, they were tranfmitted to Eng-
land. Jeffreys was obliged to give bail for his appear-
ance; of which Dr Swift having notice, and that ſearch
was made after him, he thought fit to abfcond.
feized, di-
rected to
Dr Swift.
Shipren's
fpeech on the
bill for regu-
lating the
forces.
Pr. H. C.
<
The bill for regulating the forces having been fent
down to the commons by the lords, the amendments made
to it were, after a debate, agreed to. Mr Shippen, for-
،
<
that I never willingly wrong-
'ed any of you; and, if I can
ſerviceable to any of you,
you may very readily com
mand it, and ſhall be glad of
an opportunity for that pur-
pofe. I hope I fhall now
leave you good ſubjects to
the beſt of kings, and every
'way intirely fatisfied.' Upon
which, the foldiers, with great
acclamation, expreffed their fa-
tisfaction.
other particulars. In the mean
time, his grace ordered two
fhirts to be made of good libe
nen cloth for each foldier, in
lieu of one, as likewife new
' waiſtcoats, inſtead of the waiſt-
coats made by the underta -
'kers of their old coats, and
'the old cloathing to remain
'to each foldier's own uſe.'
And when the duke reviewed
the first regiment of guards, on
the 2d of June, he made them
a ſpeech, expreffing his concern
for their just complaints, and
his being intirely innocent of
the grievance adding, "I have
had the honour to ferve with
'you a great many campaigns,
and believe you will do me
the juftice to teil the world,
:
Mr William Churchill, the
contractor for the cloathing,
laid the blame upon Mr Brookſ-
bank, the woollen draper, who
threw it on Mr Heron, the
linnen-draper, by whom an ad-
vertiſement was alſo publiſhed
in his own defence.
merly
OF ENGLAND.
375
1715.
Mr Bofcaw-
en.
merly a commiffioner of publick accounts, having, on this
occafion, reflected on the miniftry, as if they defigned to
ſet up a ſtanding army, and infinuated, as if, after all the
clamour that had been raiſed, their fecret committee
would end in fmoke; Mr Bofcawen, the late lord Fal-
mouth, replied, 'That he could not forbear taking notice anfwered by
of the infolence of a fet of men, who, having commit-
•ted the blackeft crimes, had yet the affurance to dare
the juftice of the nation: but he hoped thofe crimes
• would not long remain unpunished. That the commit-
< tee of fecrecy were ready to make their report, and had
• directed their chairman to move the houſe, that a day
might be appointed for receiving it; and, in the mean
time, he might venture to affure the houfe, that they
had found fufficient matter to impeach of high-treafon
feveral lords, and fome commons.' Mr Robert Wal-
pole likewiſe ſaid, That he wanted words to exprefs the
villainy of the laft frenchified ministry;' and Mr fecre-
tary Stanhope added, He wondered, that men, who were
guilty of fuch enormous crimes, had ftill the audaciouf-
nefs to appear in publick.'
،
C
C
tors against
king Wil-
The fame day there was a debate in the houſe of lords about Debate about
a bill for continuing the impriſonment of the confpirators the confpira-
againſt the life of the late king William (c). A petition hav-
ing been offered in their behalf, the lord North and Grey mo- liam.
ved, that a day might be appointed to confider of it; and was Pr. H. L.
feconded by the lord Trevor. They were oppoſed by the
lord Townshend, who faid, he wondered any members.
of that auguft affembly would ſpeak in favour of ſuch
• execrable wretches, who defigned to have imbrued their
hands in the blood of their fovereign;' and moved,
that their petition be rejected. The lord Delawar repre-
fented, That, after the death of king William, the par-
liament left to the difcretion of the late queen either
the continuing in prifon, or inlarging of theſe criminals.
That no body doubted her late majefty's being a princess.
of great clemency; but, at the fame time, fhe had fuch
< a refpect for the memory of king William, fuch a re-
·
(c) Thefe were Blackburn,
Çaffils, Bernardi, Meldrum, and
Chambers, committed in 1696
for confpiring againſt king Wil-
liam. Several acts had paffed
from time to time for continu-
ing their impriſonment, but all
of them expired at the queen's
death.
A a 4
< gard
376
THE HISTORY
1715.
The report
of the com-
mittee of
Motion for
apprehend-
ing fuch per-
fons as fhould
be named by
the chair-
man,
gard to the fafety of crowned heads, and fuch an ab-
'horrence for the crimes, with which theſe priſoners
ftood charged, that he did not think fit to releaſe them
• from their confinement. That all theſe reaſons and con-
• fiderations were now inforced by the open diſaffection,
which fome people fhewed to his majeſty's perfon and
government; and that they ought to be fo tender of the
• prefervation of fo precious a life as his majeſty's, that,
in his opinion, it were neceffary to make the act in
queftion abfolute, and not leave the confinement of the
criminals to his majefty's difcretion, left his natural cle-
mency fhould make him overlook his own fecurity.
He concluded with feconding the lord Townshend's mo-
tion for rejecting the petition, which was carried without
dividing.
<
'
<
. tance.
C
C
The committee of fecrecy having finished their report,
which was drawn up with indefatigable pains by Mr Wal-
fecrecy. pole, that gentleman, as chairman, on the 9th of June,
Pr. H. C. acquainted the houfe, That he had a report to prefent,
according to their order, but was commanded by the
'committee to make a motion before he read it, That
there were in the report matters of the higheſt impor-
That, although the committee had power to
fend for perfons, papers, and records, they did not think
fit to make ufe thereof, believing it to be neceffary, in
order to bring offenders to juſtice, that fome perfons
'fhould be fecure, before it is poffible they ſhould know
what they are to be examined to; and left they ſhould
have notice, from what fhould be read, to make their
efcape. He was commanded, according to former pre-
'cedents, to move, that a warrant may be iffued by Mr
Speaker to apprehend certain perfons, who fhould be
named to him by the chairman of the committee
• and that no members may be permitted to go out
' of the houſe.' The warrant being ordered, and the
doors locked, feveral perfons were named to the ſpeaker
by Mr Walpole; particularly Mr Matthew Prior and
Mr Thomas Harley, who were taken into cuftody of the
ferjeant at arms. Then Mr Walpole read the report,
which lafted from one o'clock till about fix in the after-
noon, when, a motion being made by the friends of the
late miniſtry, that the further confideration of it ſhould be
adjourned till the next morning, it was carried in the ne-
gative by two hundred and eighty-two voices against one
hundred and feventy-one; and ordered, that the report be
now
OF ENGLAN D.
377
Low read upon which, the clerk of the houfe having 1715.
read till half an hour paft eight, the further confideration
of was adjourned to the next day. The report con-
fifted of,
1. The clandeftine negotiations with monfieur Mefnager, Heads of the
Report.
which produced two fets of preliminary articles; the one
private and ſpecial for Great-Britain only; the other gene-
ral for all the allies.
2. The extraordinary meaſures purfued to form the con-
grefs at Utrecht.
3. The trifling, and amufements of the French plenipo
tentiaries at Utrecht, by the connivance of the Britiſh mi-
nifters.
4. The negotiations about the renunciations of the Spa-
nifh monarchy.
5. The fatal fufpenfion of arms.
6. The feizure of Ghent and Bruges, in order to diſtreſs
the allies, and favour the French.
7. The duke of Ormond's acting in concert with the
French general.
8. The lord Bolingbroke's journey to France, to negotiate
a feparate peace.
9. Mr Prior's and the duke of Shrewsbury's negotiations
in France.
10. The precipitate conclufion of the peace at Utrecht.
The committee alfo offered to the houſe what they
found material in the papers referred to them concerning
the Catalans and the pretender, and a letter from the earl
of Oxford to the queen, with an account of publick
affairs from Auguft the 8th, 1710, to June the 9th,
1714; and they concluded with taking notice of feveral
glaring inconfiftences, which are obvious by comparing
the late queen's declarations with the meaſures, which
her minifters prefumed to take in carrying on thofe im-
portant negotiations.
The reading of this report by the clerk of the houſe of
commons took up the remainder of that day, and all the
next, till about four in the afternoon, when Sir Thomas
Hanmer moved, that the confideration of it be adjourned
till Monday fe'nnight, and was feconded by the leading
men among the tories, who moved alſo, that the report
fhould be printed, in order to be peruſed by all the members
of the houſe. Upon which Mr Walpole faid, He could
not but wonder, that thofe gentlemen, who had fhewed fo
great impatience to have the report laid before the houfe,
C
<
• fhould
>
378
HISTORY
THE
1715.
<
C
<
<
'fhould now prefs for adjourning the confideration of it.
As for the committee of fecrecy, as they had not yet gone
through all the branches of their iniquiry, they could
have wiſhed, that fome longer time had been allowed
them to perufe and digeft feveral important papers.
In
order to that, they would have deferred, three weeks or
a month, the laying their report before the houſe, but,
that fome gentlemen having reflected on the pretended
• flowness of the committee, fince the report was now be-
fore them, they muft e'en go through with it.' Mr
Stanhope added, That, for his own part, he would rea-
dily agree to give thofe gentlemen all the time they could
defire to confider of the report; but that, fince them-
felves had precipitated this affair, he was of opinion,
they ought to proſecute it with vigour, left, by ſtopping
on a fudden, they fhould fortify the notion, which the
friends of the late miniftry had, with great induſtry,
propagated among the people, that the report of the
committee of ſecrecy would vaniſh into ſmoke; the ra-
ther, becauſe theſe malicious infinuations had raifed the
fpirits and infolence of the difaffected, and were the prin-
cipal caufe of the prefent ferment among the giddy multi-
tude. That he agreed with the member, who had mov-
ed the printing of the report, that not only the houſe,
but the whole world might be convinced of the fairneſs
and impartiality of their proceedings. But that the
crimes of fome perfons named in the report were fo obvi-
ous to every body, that they ought, in his opinion, im-
mediately to proceed to the impeaching of them.' The
tories ftill endeavoured to put it off, and fome propoſed the
adjourning of the debate till that day fe'nnight; and others
would have been contented to defer it for three days only.
But the whigs were firm againſt all delays; and, the queſ
tion being put about feven o'clock in the evening, on the
motion made by Sir Thomas Hanmer, it was carried in the
negative by two hundred and eighty against one hundred
and fixty. This point being gained, Mr Walpole faid,
The lord Bo- That he made no queſtion, that, after the report had
been twice read, the whole houfe was fully convinced,
that Henry lord vifcount Bolingbroke was guilty of high-
treafon, and other high crimes and mifdemeanors. That
therefore he impeached him of thofe crimes. But, if
any member had any thing to fay in his behalf, he doubt-
debate on it.ed not but the houfe was ready to hear him.'
lingbroke
impeached,
•
C
(
After a
filence
OF ENGLAND,
379
C
6
1715.
ford.
filence of fome minutes, Mr Hungerford rofe up and faid,
That, in his opinion, nothing was mentioned in the re-
port in relation to the lord Bolingbroke, that amounted
to high-treafon.' And general Rofs added, He won-
dered no body ſpoke in favour of my lord Bolingbroke:
that, for his own part, he had nothing to fay at prefent,
• but reſerved to himſelf to ſpeak in a proper time.' The
refolution for the impeachment then paffed; and, candles
being brought in, according to order, the lord Coningsby
ſtood up, and ſaid, The worthy chairman of this com- and alſo the
⚫mittee has impeached the hand, but I impeach the head: earl of Ox-
he has impeached the clerk, and I the juftice: he has im-
peached the fcholar, and I the mafter. I impeach Robert
earl of Oxford and earl Mortimer of high-treaſon, and
other high crimes and mifdemeanors.' Mr Auditor Har-
ley, brother to the earl, made a long ſpeech, wherein he en-
deavoured to juſtify his brother, as having done nothing but
by the immediate commands of the late queen; urging, that
the peace was a good one, and approved as fuch by two par-
liaments; concluding, that the facts mentioned in the re-
༦ port, and which were charged on the earl, could not
be conftrued to amount to high-treaſon, but only, in
• ftrict rigour, to miſdemeanors.' He was fupported by
Mr Auditor Foley, the earl's brother-in-law, who com-
plained of the hardship put upon that nobleman, in
charging him with high-treafon, before they had examin-
ed the report. But what was yet more favourable for
the earl, was ſpoke by Sir Jofeph Jekyll, one of the com-
mittee of ſecrecy, who faid, That as to the lord Bo-
lingbroke, they had more than fufficient evidence to
convict him of high-treafon. But, as to the earl of
Oxford, he doubted whether they had either fuffi-
cient matter or evidence to impeach him of treafon.'
But another member of the committee of fecrecy having
affured the houfe, That, befides what had appeared be-
fore them, and was mentioned in the report, they had
other evidence, viva voce, it was likewife refolved to im- '
peach him without a divifion. After which the further
confideration of the report was adjourned to that day fe'n-
night; and the report with the appendix were ordered to
be printed, and copies to be ſent to the Sheriffs and return-
ing officers of every city and burrough.
<
•
The next morning the earl of Oxford went to the houſe
of peers, and at first appeared undisturbed; but, finding
that
380
HISOTRY
THE
1715. that most members avoided fitting near him, and that even
earl Powlet was fhy of exchanging a few words with him,
he retired out of the houſe.
1
Prior and
amined.
It was moved by Mr Walpole, from the committee,
Harley ex- that the perfons taken into cuftody ſhould be examined in
the moſt folemn manner. Accordingly, Mr Prior and Mr
Harley were ordered to be examined by fuch of the com-
mittee as were juſtices of the peace for Middleſex; and two
days after, Mr Walpole told the houſe, that, during a
long examination, there appeared matters of ſuch import-
ance, that he was directed to move the houſe for Mr Pri-
o's being cloſely confined, and no perfon fuffered to come
to him; which was agreed to,
Behaviour of
Ormond.
This order occafioned various reports: fome affirmed,
that the earl of Oxford, or fome of his friends, had been in
cloſe conference with Mr Prior, and fo effectually tamper-
ed with him, that he was more reſerved in anſwering quef-
tions than he had been before. However that be, it is cer-
tain, Mr Prior did prevaricate.
After theſe impeachments, that of the duke of Ormond
the duke of became the principle fubject of diſcourſe. The high-church
party made his name the fignal for their tumults, threaten-
ing the government and parliament too, if they proceeded
against him. His zeal for the church was their chief topick
to excite the mobs to appear for him; and his noble birth,
and the fervices of his anceſtors, and of himſelf in Flan-
ders during king William's reign, were infifted upon. Nor
was his genorofity, or rather profufe way of living, omitted,
to prepoffefs the people in his favour; but all fignified no-
thing; for though the king, at his firſt arrival, fhewed more
lenity and refpect to him, than his conduct deferved, and
feemed willing to pafs by his mifcarriages, while general,
as far as poffible, the behaviour of the duke and his friends
was fuch, as made it impracticable; for inſtead of diſcour-
aging the mobs, who were taught to cry out, An Or-
mond, in oppofition to king George, he plainly countenan-
ced them, and took a great deal of pride to be the idol of
the rabble. He affected to have people of quality appear
at his levee, and frequent his houfe; and, instead of be-
having himſelf fubmiffively, had the vanity to justify his
conduct in a printed piece, which in reality expofed him
more to cenfure. About the middle of June, the following
advertiſement was difperfed with great induftry: On
Tuesday, the 7th of this month, her grace the duchefs
of Ormond, in her return from Richmond, was ftopped
،
•
Sin
OF ENGLAND.
381.
<
in her coach by three perfons, well-mounted, and well
armed in diſguiſe, who inquired if the duke was in the
coach, and ſeemed to have a defign upon his life, if he
had been there. It has been obferved, that many perfons,
armed and diſguiſed in like manner, have been watching
by day and by night upon that road, on each fide of the
water, and it is not to be doubted, with a deſign to afſaffi-
nate him.'
1715.
Pr. H. C.
This being evidently calculated to excite the fury of the
populace againſt the duke's fuppofed enemies, the rest of
his conduct could not but alarm the government, and per-
haps provoked the houſe of commons to proceed againſt him.
fooner, and with more vigour, than they would otherwiſe
have done. On the 21st of June, the day appointed for He is im-
the further confideration of the report, Mr fecretary Stan- peached.
hope ftood up, and faid, "He wished he were not obliged
< to break filence on that occafion; but, as a member of
the fecret committee, and of that great affembly, which
ought to do the nation justice, he thought it his duty to
impeach James duke of Ormond of high treaſon, and
other high crimes and miſdemeanors.' He was feconded
by Mr Boscawen, but Mr Archibald Hutchinfon, one of
the commiffioners of trade, made a long fpeech in behalf
of the duke, wherein he fet forth his noble birth and quali-
fications, and the great fervices, which both he and his an-
cestors had performed to the crown and nation; urged, that
in the whole courfe of his late conduct, he had but obeyed
the late queen's commands; and concluded, that, if all,
that was alledged against him in the report, could be made
out, it would, in the rigour of the law, amount to no more
than high mifdemeanors. This fpeech made a great im-
preffion on the houſe; and Mr Hutchinſon was feconded
by general Lumley, who faid, among other things, That
the Duke of Ormond had, on all occafions, given fig-
⚫nal proofs both of his affection and love for his country,
and of his perfonal bravery and courage, particularly at
the battle of Landen, where he was wounded and taken
• prifoner; and that the late king William was extremely
fatisfied with his gallant behaviour. That he had gener-
oufly expended the best part of his eſtate in the wars, liv-
ing in a moſt noble and ſplendid manner, for the honour
of his country. That therefore, in confideration both of
his great fervices, and his illuftrious relations, if he had
of late been fo unfortunate, as to fail in any part of his
conduct, they ought not to proceed againſt him with the
• utmost
<
•
382
HISTORY
THE
1715.
C
·
<
C
• utmoſt rigour of the law; the rather, becauſe he ever
meant well, and was drawn into ill meaſures by crafty
' minifters.' Sir Jofeph Jekyll ſpoke likewife in his fa-
vour; he ſaid, That, if there was room for mercy, he
hoped it would be fhewn to that noble, generous, and
courageous peer, who, for many years, had exerted thoſe
great accompliſhments for the good and honour of his
country. That, if of late he had the misfortune to devi-
< ate from his former conduct, the blame ought not, in
juftice and equity to be laid to him, but to them principal.
ly, who, abufing his affection, loyalty, and zeal for the
• fervice of his royal miſtreſs, had drawn him into pernici-
⚫ous counfels. That therefore, as the ftatute of 25 Edw.
III. on which the charge of high-treafon against him
was to be grounded, had been mitigated by fubfequent
acts, the houſe ought not, in his opinion, to take advan-
< tage of that act against the duke, but only impeach him of
high crimes and mifdemeanors.' Sir Jofeph added, in the
courſe of this debate, That fome perfons endeavoured to
aggravate the duke of Ormond's faults, by charging upon
⚫ him the riots and tumults, which the populace committed
daily in many places: but that he durft aver, that he did
no ways countenance thoſe diforders; and if the difaf-
•fected made uſe of his name, unknown to him, he ought
<
<
<
not to fuffer for it.' General Rofs laid great ſtreſs upon
Sir Jofeph Jekyll's opinion, and faid all he could in his
commendation, and the duke's defence. Sir William
Wyndham, Mr Onflow, Mr Ward, Mr Hungerford,
and fome other members of both parties, fpoke alfo on the
fame fide. But Mr Lyddal, Mr Hampden, and Mr
Thompſon, recorder of London, ftrongly fupported Mr
Stanhope's motion; anfwered all that had been faid in the
duke's favour; and, among other things, reprefented,
That his grace ever affected popularity: that he could
6 not be ignorant of the tumults and riots, of which his
← name was the ſignal; and that fince he did not publickly
difown them, who made ufe of his name, his filence was
a tacit approbation of their proceedings, and ſeemed to
'fummon the people to a general infurrection.' Sir Ed-
ward Northey, attorney-general, did not difown, but that
in the report of the committee of fecrecy there were ſome
matters, on which an impeachment of high treaſon might
be grounded againſt the duke of Ormond; but did not
think it proper to explain himſelf further on that occafion.
Mr Lechmere, follicitor-general, fpoke plainer, and menti-
oned
1
OF ENGLAN D.
383'
oned a cafe parallel to the duke's, which had been adjudged 1715.
treaſon. The debate lafted till about half an hour after ten,
when the question was put, and refolved by a majority of
two hundred and thirty-four voices against one hundred and
eighty feven, That this houfe will impeach James duke
of Ormond of high-treason, and other high crimes and
• miſdemeanors."
It was the general opinion, that the rafh unadviſed be-
haviour of the duke's pretended friends, of whom biſhop
Atterbury was chief, greatly promoted this vote.
It was
faid upon very good grounds, that a relation of the duke's
had prevailed upon him at that time to write a fubmiffive
letter to the king, defiring a favourable interpretation of his
former actions, and imploring his majefty's clemency;
which had fo good an effect, that he was to have been pri-
vately admitted to the king in his clofet, to confirm what
he had written. But, before the time came, biſhop Atter- The duke
bury had been with him, and the confequence was, that he flies out of
left England abruptly and never returned to it more.
C
C
England.
impeached,
The commons refuming the confideration of the report, The earl of
Mr Aiſlaby took notice of the general concern, that had Strafford
appeared the day before in the houſe, for the noble per- June 22.
fon, who was impeach'd, becauſe they were perfuaded, Pr. H. C,
it was rather through weaknefs than malice, that he had
• followed pernicious counfels. But that, in his opinion,
few, if any, would ſpeak in favour of another lord, whom
he was to impeach. That the perfon he meant was
• Thomas earl of Strafford, one of the plenipotentiaries of
• Great-Britain at the congrefs at Utrecht, whofe conduct
had been vaftly different from that of his collegue, the
prefent biſhop of London. That this good and pious
prelate feemed to have been put at the head of that nego-
tiation, only to palliate the iniquity of it under the facred-
• nefs of his character, but was little more than a cypher
in the abfence of the earl of Strafford. That the bishop,
not being in the fecret, had acted with referve and cauti-
on, and would do nothing without the queen's ſpecial
commands; whereas the earl of Strafford not only was
• forward to venture and undertake any thing (as he ex-
preffes himself in one of his letters) to be the tool of a
Frenchified miniftry, but in many inftances had gone be-
yond his inftructions, and advifed the moft pernicious.
• mesures. That having impartially weighed the different
conduct of thefe two miniiters, he was glad, that nothing
could be charged upon the bifhop, which gave them an
،
6
6
C
C
C
opportunity
384
THE HISTORY
1715.
C
<
C
•
opportunity to convince the world, That the church is.
not in danger; but moved, that Thomas earl of Straf-
ford be impeached of high crimes and miſdemeanors.'
Mr Aiflaby inlarged upon this charge, which he reduced
to three principal heads, 1. The earl of Strafford's ad-
'viſing the fatal fufpenfion of arms; which was ſoon after
attended with feveral misfortunes, that befel the allies,
• and at laſt forced them to the neceffity of fubmitting to
the terms of an unfafe diſhonourable peace. 2. Adviſing
the feizing of Ghent and Bruges, in order to diſtreſs the
allies, and favour the enemy. And, 3. The infolence
• and contempt, with which he had treated the moſt ſerene
' houſe of Hanover, and their generals and minifters.' Mr
Baillie of Jervifwood having feconded Mr Aflaby, Sir
William Wyndham endeavoured to juftify the earl of Straf-
ford, as to the first head, by faying, That the peace,
which was but the fequel and neceffary confequence of
the fufpenfion of arms, had been approved as fuch by two
fucceffive parliaments, and declared advantageous, fafe
and honourable.' Mr Shippen, Mr Ward, and Mr
Snell fpoke alfo in favour of the earl of Strafford, as did
likewife Mr Hungerford, who, among other things, faid,
That though the bishop of London had an equal ſhare
• with the earl of Strafford in the negotiation of peace, he
was, it ſeems, to have the benefit of the clergy.' Gene-
ral Rofs having likewife faid fomething to excufe the fuf-
penfion of arms, general Cadogan anfwered him, and fhew-
ed, That, confidering the fituation of both armies, the
• confederates loft the fairest opportunity they ever had in
Flanders to deſtroy the enemy's army, and to penetrate
into the very heart of France.' But added, • That no-
thing lefs could be expected from a princefs and a miniftry,
who had intirely delivered themſelves into the hands of
France.' Sir James Campbel ſpoke alſo againſt the earl
of Strafford; but the member, who diftinguifhed himfelf
moft in this debate, was Sir James Dalrymple, who, with
great clearness and folidity, fummed up what had been
faid on both fides; and having illuftrated the prefent cafe.
by parallel inftances, and proper obfervations, fhewed,
that, both by the civil and ftatute laws, the earl of Strafford
was, at leaſt, guilty of high crimes and miſdemeanors.
Upon this the question was put, and by two hundred and
fixty-eight againft a hundred, it was refolved, That
• Thomas earl of Strafford be impeached of high crimes
• and mifdemeanors.'
،
6
•
The
1
OF
385
ENGLAND.
The articles of impeachment against the earl of Oxford 1715.
being prepared by the committee of fecrecy, they were read,
on the 8th of July, before the houſe of commons, and Articles of
impeach-
the first ten were upon the queftion feverally agreed to (d). ment against
The eleventh article, which was voted high-treafon was to the earl of
this affect:
(d) The fubftance of the ar-
ticles was: 1. He had entered
into a negotiation with France.
without the allies, and agreed
it ſhould be kept ſecret
2. He
had adviſed the queen to per-
mit the coming of Mefnager,
treated with him, and affumed,
without authority, the royal
power. 3 He had prepared
preliminaries figned by Mefna-
ger, and fent them to Holland,
when a private treaty was by
his advice concluded with
France. 4. He had not regarded.
the reprefentations of Buis,
the Dutch minifter, but declar-
ed the queen had made no fuch
treaty, nor would do fo without
the conſent of the States. 5. He
had ordered the biſhop of Lon-
don to infiſt upon Spain, though,
by the preliminaries, the duke
of Anjou was acknowledged as
king, and though he had per-
fuaded the queen not to infift
upon the reftitution of Spain.
6. He had not procured fatis-
faction for the allies, but acted
in concert with France. 7. He
had adviſed the queen to accept
the duke of Anjou's renunci-
ation, though Torci had declar-
ed it to be null and void by the
fundamental laws of France.
8. He had with others adviſed,
that the duke of Ormond ſhould
be ordered to engage in no bat-
tle or fiege to the ruin of the
affairs of the allies, and after-
wards fent an order to the bishop
VOL. VI.
Whereas
of London, to declare, that the
queen looked upon herſelf to be
then under no obligations what-
foever to the States. 9. He had
adviſed that the duke of Or-
mond, with all the troops in the
queen's pay, fhould feparate
themſelves from the army of the
allies, and not to pay the ar-
rears due to thofe that refuſed.
10. He had adviſed the fatal
fufpenfion of arms, and the
fending of lord Bolingbroke to
France to fettle the terms.
11. He had treacherouſly ad-
vifed the enemy how to gain
Tournay. 12. He had adviſed
and affifted in giving up Spain
and the Weft-Indies to the duke
of Anjou.
of Anjou. 13. He had treach-
erouſly adviſed the 9th article
of the treaty of commerce with
France, and the giving to the
French the liberty of fishing,
and drying fifh on Newfound-
land. 14. He had taken Sicily
from the houfe of Aufiria, and
given it to the duke of Savoy,
without any application from
the duke. 15. He had caufed
the queen to make feveral
fpeeches and declarations to the
parliament, wherein the terms
of peace and commerce were
falfely reprefented. 16. He had
as far as in him lay deftroyed
the independency of the house
of lords, by caufing the queen
to create twelve peers at once
to ferve his ends. To there
were afterwards added the fix
БЬ
fol-
Oxford.
Pr. H. C.
386
THE HISTORY
1715.
Debate on
ticle.
Whereas the States-general were, in September or Octo-
ber 1712, in poffeffion of Tournay, and the French king had
(during the private, feparate, and traiterous negotiation be-
tween the earl of Oxford and others, and the minifters of
France) fignified his confent that Tournay fhould remain to
the States as part of their barrier: and whereas the queen,
in her inſtructions of Dec. 23, 1711, to her plenipotenti-
aries at Utrecht, had exprefsly directed them to infift with
thofe of France, that towards forming a fufficient barrier,
Tournay fhall remain to the States, and did afterwards de-
clare herſelf conformably thereto, in her fpeech to both
houſes on the 6th of June 1712: and whereas for feve-
ral years before, and till the months of September and Oc-
tober, in 1711, there was open war between the late queen
and the French king, the earl of Oxford, then high-trea-
ſurer, did, during the war, falfely, malicioufly, wickedly,
and traiterously affift and adhere to the French king, and
did counſel and adviſe him in what manner Tournay might
be gained from the States, contrary to his allegiance, and
the laws of the realm.
A great debate arofe upon the queftion, Whether this
the 11th ar- article was high-treafon? Sir Robert Raymond, formerly
follicitor general, Mr Bromley, Sir William Wyndham,
the auditors Harley and Foley, Mr Ward, and Mr Hun-
gerford (who had already ſpoke in favour of the earl of Ox-
ford) maintained the negative, and were ſtrongly ſupported
by Sir Jofeph Jekyll. Sir Jofeph faid, among other things:
That it was ever his principle to do juftice to every body
from the higheſt to the loweſt, being perfuaded, that it
was the duty of an honeſt man never to act by a ſpirit of
party. That he hoped he might pretend to have fome
knowledge of the laws of the kingdom; and as, in the
'committee of fecrecy, he had taken the liberty to differ
from his collegues, he would not fcruple to declare now
،
C
following articles: 17. He had
not (as prime minifler) adviſed
the queen against the deftructive
expedition to Canada. 18. He
had procured a warrant for
13000/. for his own ufe.
19. He had procured a warrant
for 55607. to his relation Tho-
mas Harley. 20. He had paid
a large fum of money to king
James's queen. 21. He had
received Patrick Lilefh (alias)
Lawleſs, an Iriſh papift as a fo-
reign minifter, and caufed fe-
veral fums of money to be paid
him 22. He had with others
cauſed the Catalans to be expof-
ed to the fury of an inraged,
revengeful prince, against whom
the late queen had engaged
then to take arms.
• to
OF
387
ENGLAN D.
<
to the whole houfe, that, in his judgment, the charge in
queftion did not amount to high treafon.' Moft of the
other members of the committee of fecrecy were offended
at this fpeech, which both revealed and cenfured their pro-
ceedings; and Mr Walpole anſwered with ſome warmth,
"That there were both in and out of the committee of fecrecy
feveral perfons, who did not in the leaft yield to the
member, that ſpoke laft, in point of honefty; and who,
' without derogating from his merit, were fuperior to him
in the knowledge of the laws; but who at the fame
time, were fatisfied, that the charge fpecified in the ele-
venth article amounted to treafon.' Mr Walpole was fe-
conded by Mr Stanhope, the lord Coningsby, General Ca-
dogan, Mr Bofcawen, and Mr Ailaby: and, the article
being amended, was agreed to by a majority of two hun-
dred and forty-feven votes againſt one hundred and twenty-
feven. Mr auditor Harley endeavoured to juftify his bro-
ther, first, by urging, that he ever acted by the late queen's
pofitive commands; to prove which he offered to produce
two letters from her: and fecondly, the neceffity of making
a peace; and he having upon this occafion advanced, that
the Dutch prolonged the war, and that their deputies in the
army had often prevented the giving the enemy a decifive
blow; general Cadogan anfwered him with great force, and
fhewed, that the Dutch were more concerned than any
prince or state in the grand alliance to put an end to the
war; and undertook to prove, that there had not been
any campaign in Flanders, except that, in which the
duke of Ormond commanded, that was not marked and
famous to all pofterity for fome fignal and glorious event,
to the advantage of the common caufe.'
articles being agreed to, the lord Coningsby, attended by
moft of the members who voted for the impeachment, went
up to the lords, and at the bar of the houſe impeached the
earl of Oxford of high-treafon, &c. The commons, at
the end of the articles, prayed and demanded, that he
might be fequeftered from parliament, and committed to
fafe cuftody.
•
<
C
The rest of the
As foon as lord Coningsby and the members were with-
drawn, a tory lord moved for adjournug the confideration
of the artitles, and was feconded by feveral of the peers
of that party, particularly by the bishop of Rocheller, who
urged, That this accufation was of fo extraordinary a na-
ture, and fo very important, both in itſelf, and its con-
fequences, that the houfe ought to proceed on it with the
• utmoſt
<
B b 2
1715.
388
HISTORY
THE
1715.
reproved.
:
• utmoſt caution and deliberation.' But he was anſwered
by the duke of Argyle, who, among other things, faid,
The bishop It was well known, that the prelate, who ſpoke laſt, had
of Rocheſter of late ſtudied politicks more than divinity, and was tho-
roughly acquainted with the ſubject matter of the articles,
that lay before them; and therefore he did not doubt,
but his lordſhip was now as ready to ſpeak to them, as he
could ever be, if he had more time to confider of them."
After a debate of about an hour and an half, the articles
were voted to be read by a majority of eighty-fix againſt
fifty-four; which being done, a motion was made for con-
fulting the judges, whether the charge amounted to high-
treafon. The lords Trevor and Harcourt, the dukes of
Shrewsbury and Leeds, earl Powlet, the lord North and
Grey, the bishop of Rocheſter, and fome other peers of the
fame fide, were for confulting the judges; but the lord-
chancellor, the dukes of Argyle and Montrofe, the earls of
Nottingham, Sunderland, Dorfet, and Ilay; the lord vif-
count Townshend, and fome other lords fpoke against it.
The lord Trevor having gone fo far, as to declare his opi-
nion, That none of the articles amounted to high-treafon,
he was anſwered by the lord Cowper, who fhewed the con-
traty, and challenged all the lawyers in England to dif-
prove his arguments. The other fide ftill infifting on con-
fulting the judges, the earl of Nottingham reprefented to
them, That inftead of favouring thereby the noble per-
fon, who had the misfortune to be impeached, as un-
doubtedly they meant it, they might, on the contrary,
do him a great prejudice. For if, upon conſulting the
judges, they declared the charge to amount to treaſon,
he would ftand prejudged, before he was brought to his
• trial.' After fome other fpeeches, the negative was car-
ried by eighty-four voices against fifty-two. And then it
was moved, that the earl of Oxford ſhould be committed
to fufe cuftody; which occafioned another debate; and the
The earl of carl himſelf made a ſpeech, wherein he took notice of his
having had the honour to be placed at the head of the late
miniftry; and muft now, it ſeems, be made accountable
for all the mealures, that were then purfued. But that
it was a very great comfort to him under this misfortune,
that he had the honour to be a member of that auguſt aſ-
fembly, which always fquares their proceedings and judg-
ments by the rules of honour, juftice and equity, and is
not to be biaffed by a ſpirit of party. That the whole
accufation might be reduced to the negotiation and con-
Oxford's
speech in his
defence.
C
6
،
6
..
• clufion
OF
ENGLAND.
389
C
<
<
<
<
As
clufion of the peace. That the nation wanted a peace
(fays he) nobody will deny; and I hope it will be as eafily
made out, that the conditions of this peace are as good as
could be expected, confidering the circumstances wherein
it was made, and the backwardness and reluctancy,
which fome of the allies fhewed to come into the queen's
meaſures. This is certain, that this peace, as bad as it
< is now repreſented, was approved by two fucceffive par-
liaments. It is indeed fuggefted againſt this peace, that
C it was a ſeparate one. But I hope, my lords, it will be
made appear that it was general; and that it was France,
and not Great-Britain, that made the firſt ſteps towards
a negotiation. And, my lords, I will be bold to fay,
that, during my whole adminiftration, the fovereign upon
C the throne was loved at home, and feared abroad.
to the buſineſs of Tournay, which is made a capital
charge, I can fafely aver, that I had no manner of ſhare
in it; and that the fame was wholly tranfacted by that
⚫ unfortunate nobleman, who thought fit to ftep afide.
But I dare fay in his behalf, that, if this charge could be
proved, it would not amount to treafon, For my own
part, as I always acted by the immediate directions and
' commands of the late queen, and never offended againſt
any known law, I am juftified in my own confcience,
⚫ and unconcerned for the life of an infignificant old man.
But I cannot, without the higheſt ingratitude, be uncon-
cerned for the beft of queens; a queen, who heaped upon
me honours and preferments, though I never aſked for
them; and therefore I think myſelf under an obligation
to vindicate her memory, and the meafures fhe purfued,
to my dying breath. My lords, if minifters of ftate, act-
ing by the immediate commands of their fovereign, are
afterwards to be made accountable for their proceedings,
•
C
6
C
it
1715.
may one day or other be the cafe of all the members
of this auguft affembly. I do not doubt, therefore, that,
out of regard to yourſelves, your lordships will give me
an equitable hearing; and I hope, that in the profecu-
< tion of this inquiry, it will appear, that I have merited,
< not only the indulgence, but likewife the favour of this
government. My lords, I am now to take my leave of
your lordships, and of this honourable houfe, perhaps for
ever! I fhall lay down my life with pleafure, in a caufe
favoured by my late dear royal miftrefs. And, when I
confider, that I am to be judged by the juſtice, honour,
C
Bb 3
• and
K
390
HISTORY
THE
1715.
He is com-
mitted to
cuftody.
July 12.
<
and virtue of my peers, I fhall acquiefe, and retire with
great content. And, my lords, God's will be done.'
Before the queftion for committing him was put, the
duke of Shrewsbury acquainted the houſe, that the earl was
at prefent very much indifpofed with the gravel; and there-
fore he hoped they would not immediately fend him to the
tower, but fuffer him to be two or three days in cuftody of
the black rod, at his own houfe; which met with no op-
pofition.
<
When the earl of Oxford went home, he was attended
by a mob, that cried out, High-church, Ormond and
Oxford for ever.' However of twenty biſhops, whọ
were in the houſe that day, fix only were for him (e).
The earl of Oxford being brought the next day to the
bar of the houſe, and having received a copy of the arti-
cles, he reprefented, That the ableft men in the nation
had been many weeks in drawing up thofe long articles
against him; and therefore he hoped the houfe would al-
low him a proportionable time to answer them.'
•
.
<
He
took that occafion, to thank them for their great huma-
nity in not fending him to the tower, and, as he ftill la-
boured under the fame indifpofition, he humbly defired
them to permit him to continue fome few days more at
his own houſe, under the cuſtody of the black rod.' The
earl being withdrawn, the lords refolved to allow him a
month to anſwer the articles of impeachment; and Dr Mead
one of his phyficians being confulted, and having made a kind
of affidavit, That, if the earl were fent to the tower, his
life would be in danger;' a motion was made, That he
might continue in his houfe till the Monday following.'
But this was oppoſed, and after a warm debate it was car-
ried by eighty-one againſt fifty-five, that he ſhould be fent
to the tower on Saturday the 16th of July.
6
<
C
During the courfe of this debate, the earl of Angleſey
having faid, That it was to be feared, theſe violent mea-
fures would make the fceptre fhake in the king's hands;
moft of the lords were offended at this fuggeftion, and fome
(e) Sir William Dawes, arch-
biſhop of York,
Dr John Robinfon, bishop of
London,
Dr Francis Atterbury, bishop
of Rocheſter,
?
Dr George Smalridge, biſhop
of Briſtol,
Dr Francis Gaftrel, biſhop of
Cheſter,
Dr Nathaniel Crew, bishop of
Durham,
cried,
OF ENGLAND.
391.
'
.
1715.
cried, to the Tower, and others only to order. The earl
of Sutherland ſtanding up faid, He trembled with indig-
nation to hear fuch words pronounced in that noble af
fembly. That, if they had been fpoke any where elfe, he
'would call the perfon, that ſpoke them, to an account.
But all he could do there was to move, that he might
explain himself.' The earl of Sutherland was feconded
by the duke of Roxburgh, who, among other things, faid,
That the fceptre was fo well riveted in the king's hands,
that, inftead of fhaking, it would cruſh all his majeſty's
• enemies.' Upon theſe, and fome other fpeeches, the
earl of Angleſey faid,' It was but too manifeft by the
riots, that were daily committed in feveral parts of the
kingdom, that the nation in general was againſt theſe
impeachments: for his own part, he was fo far from ap-
6 proving thoſe tumultuous affemblies, and diſorders, that
he rather wifhed a ftop might be put to them by exem-
'plary puniſhments. He had, on feveral occafions, given
fufficient proofs of his zeal and affection for the revo-
lution and the proteftant fucceffion. What he had now
advanced, was the refult of the fame zeal for the peace
and proſperity of his majeſty's reign. However, if he had
'been fo unhappy, as by any unguarded or paffionate ex-
preffion to give offence to that auguft affembly, he was
very forry for, it.' Notwithstanding this apology, fome
members were inclined to have him fent to the Tower;
but, the very words, he had fpoken, not having been taken
down in writing, his explanation was admitted. It is ob-
fervable, that on this occafion, befides the fix bifhops, be-
fore mentioned, thofe of Bath and Wells, and St David's
voted for the earl of Oxford; and that the earl was by
many blamed for putting off his going to the Tower;
which, they faid, did not correfpond with that firmneſs he
had hitherto fhewn. It is certain, as he came in his own
coach to the houfe of lords, he might with as much eaſe
have been carried to the Tower, either by water, or in a
fedan, and have had there the fame attendance of his friends
and phyficians. The houfe having met on Friday, the
15th of July, they adjourned to the Monday following,
to avoid, as it was generally furmifed, any freſh motion,
which the earl of Oxford's friends might make for defer-
ing his being fent to the Tower, where he was carried by The carl of
the black-rod on the day appointed about eight o'clock in Oxford car.
the evening in his chariot, attended by two hackney- Tower.
coaches, in which were his lady, his fon the lord Harley, July 16.
<
B b
and
ried to the
392
THE HISTORY
1715.
Addreſs of
the com-
mons about
tumults.
Pr. H. C.
and fome other of the earl's relations and fervants. Though
theſe three coaches went from his houfe near St James's-
palace up St James's-ftrect, and then through Piccadilly,
Gerard-ftreet, Monmouth-ftreet, and Holbourn, with de-
fign to avoid a crowd, yet were they attended by a great
many of the common people, whofe numbers being much
increaſed in their return from the Tower, they raiſed a tu-
mult in the ſtreets, with their cry of high-church, Ör-
mond, and Oxford for ever, upon which three or four of
the mutineers were by the conftables carried to the round-
houſe.
Theſe riots and tumults were not confined to London,
but were spread through the kingdom. The day before the
earl of Oxford was fent to the Tower, the houſe of com-
mons received information of their tumultuous proceedings
in Staffordſhire, where feveral meeting-houfes had been
pulled down by the mob. Upon this the commons una-
nimously refolved to addrefs the king, that the laws
might be put in a ſpeedy and moft vigorous execution againſt
the rioters, and an account be taken of fuch juftices, as
failed in the diſcharge of their duty; and that the fufferers,
by thefe riots, may have a full compenfation for their da-
mages, which they would enable his majefty to make
good, out of the next aids granted by parliament. The
king, in his anfwer, promifed an immediate compliance
with their requeſt, and hoped by their ſeaſonable affiftance,
to fupprefs the ſpirit of rebellion, and eſtabliſh peace and
profperity.
The procla-
For the more effectual prevention of riots, the king
mation-act came to the houfe of peers on the 20th of July, and,
paffed.
July 20.
among others, gave the royal affent to the proclamation-
act, as it is commonly called, by which act, if any per-
fons, to the number of twelve, being unlawfully affem-
bled, to the difturbance of the peace, and being required.
by a juftice of peace or other officer, by proclamation in
the king's name, to diſperſe themfelves, fhall riotoufly
continue together one hour after the proclamation, it ſhall
be felony without benefit of the clergy (f). After paffing this
(f) The proclamation muft
be in theſe words:
Our fovereign lord the king
chargeth and commandeth all
perfons, being affembled, im-
and
mediately to difperfe themſelves,
and peaceably depart to their
habitations, or to their lawful
bufinefs, upon the pains con-
tained in the act made in the first
year
OF
393
ENGLAND.
and the reft of the acts, the chancellor read the following 1715
fpeech, delivered into his hands by the king:
66
My lords and gentlemen,
T
both houſes.
HE zeal you have fhewn for preferving the peace The king's
of my kingdoms, and your wiſdom in providing fo fpeech to
good a law to prevent all riotous and tumultuous pro- pot
"ceedings, give me great fatisfaction. But I am forry to
"find, that fuch a ſpirit of rebellion has difcovered itſelf
as leaves no room to doubt, but theſe diſorders are ſet
❝ on foot and encouraged by perfons difaffected to my
"government, in expectation of being fupported from
❝ abroad.
cc
<<
"The prefervation of our excellent conftitution, and
"the fecurity of our holy religion, has been, and always
fhall be, my chief care; and I cannot queftion but your
concern for theſe invaluable bleffings is fo great, as
"not to let them be expoſed to ſuch attempts, as I have
"certain advice are preparing by the pretender from
"abroad, and carrying on at home by a reſtleſs party in his
"favour.
}
Gentlemen of the houſe of commons,
"In theſe circumftances I think it proper to aſk your
affiftance, and make no doubt but you will fo far con-
"fult your own fecurity, as not to leave the nation under
66 a rebellion actually begun at home, and threatened
"with an invafion from abroad, in a defencelefs condition.
"And I fhall look upon the proviſion you shall make for
"the fafety of my people, as the beft mark of your af
"fection to me."
The king, as appears by this fpeech, had received fome
intelligence of the rebellion forming against him. Though
year of king George, for pre-
venting tumults and riotous af-
femblies.
This act is to be read at every
feffions and leet.
Other acts paffed at this time
1. For continuing the
imprisonment of the confpira-
were:
tors against king William. 2.
For the quakers affirmation in-
tead of their oath. 3. An act
for regulating the forces. 4.
The malt-tax. Lafily, An act
to explain the act of 12 Will. III.
for the further limitation of the
crown, &c.
the
394
THE HISTORY
1715. the difaffected in England vented their fury in riots, and
tumults, in breaking windows, and demoliſhing meeting-
houſes, the cafe was very different in Scotland, where the
defigns of the jacobites were carried on with more fecrecy
and order, and very probably would have fucceeded, had
they been fupported by their friends in England, as will
hereafter appear.
Addreffes
from the
lords and
convocation.
The commons in their addrefs of thanks affure the king,
that they will, with their lives and fortunes, ftand by and
fupport him against all his open and fecret enemies; and
defire him immediately to give directions for fitting out fuch
a number of ſhips, as may effectually guard the coaſts, and
to iffue out commiffions for augmenting his forces by land;
promifing, without lofs of time, effectually to enable him
to raiſe and maintain fuch a number of forces, both by fea
and land, as fhall be neceffary for the defence of his facred
perfon, and for the fecurity of his kingdoms (g).
An addrefs with the offer of their lives and fortunes was
alſo preſented by the lords. The fame day the convocation
waited on the king with an addrefs, wherein, having thank-
ed him for his meffage to the commons, about the main-
tenance for the minifters of the fifty new churches, they
proceed: After all the declarations your majefty has been
pleafed to make in favour of our eſtabliſhed church, and
the real proofs you have given for the concern of its in-
tereft; we hope, that none will be found fo unjuſt, as to
doubt of your affection to it. And we do moft humbly
affure your majefty, that we will take all opportunities to
inftil into thofe, who are under our care, the fame grate-
ful fenfe, that we ourſelves have of your majeſty's good-
nefs; and that at this time more eſpecially, when the
quiet of your realms is difturbed by infurrections at home,
• and the nation threatened with an invaſion from abroad,
we will put them in mind of thofe ftrict obligations of
confcience, whereby they are engaged to defend and fup-
6
•
C
'
all that is dear to Engliſhmen,
(g) When the motion was
made for this addrefs, the lord were aimed at, he would (lay-
Guernſey, eldeſt fon of the earling his hand on his fword)
of Aylesbury, faid, It was 'rather die with his fword in
well known he had, on feve- his hand, than furvive the
ral occafions, differed from pretender's coming in, tho'
• fome members in that houſe ; he were to enjoy the greatest
but being now convinced, honours and preferments un-
that our liberty, religion, and ' der him.'
6
port
OF ENGLAN D.
395
port your majefty's government; and will earneſtly ex-
hort them to exemplify, by a fuitable practice, thofe prin- L
< ciples of obedience and loyalty, which the church of
England has always thought it her duty to profeſs.' All
thefe addreffes met with a very gracious reception.
1715.
rebellion,
The parliament paffed an act to impower the king to fe- Precautions
cure ſuſpected perfons, and to fufpend the Habeas Corpus against the
act in that time of danger. A clauſe was added to a money-
bill for the reward of 100,000l. to fuch as fhould feize the
pretender dead or alive. Upon a motion of Mr Walpole,
the commons ordered an addreſs for giving full pay to fuch
half-pay officers as were not provided for. Sir George Byng
fet out for the Downs to take upon him the command of
the fleet, and general Erle went to his government of Portf-
mouth to put that place in a pofture of defence. General
Cadogan marked out a camp in Hyde-park for the foot-
guards. Lord Irwin was made a governor of Hull, in the
room of brigadier Sutton, who with the generals Rofs,
Webb, and Stewart, the lord Windfor, colonel Defcanay,
and other officers, were either difmiffed the fervice or order-
ed to fell.
raiſed.
Purſuant to the commons addrefs, the king ordered thir- Twenty-one
teen regiments of dragoons, confifting of three thoufand regiments
men, and eight of. foot, confifting of four thoufand, to be
raifed. He left the nomination of the officers to the dukes
of Marlborough and Argyle, and the generals Stanhope
and Cadogan (h). The trained-bands were alfo ordered to
be in a readineſs to fupprefs riots and tumults. Upon this,
the feveral bodies concerned in theſe orders came to the
court with addreffes, expreffing their abhorrence of all fedi-
tious and tumultuous affemblies, and their reſolution to do
their duty in preferving the publick peace, and to ſtand by
(h) The thirteen colonels of
the dragoons were :
Molefworth,
Stanhope.
The eight colonels of the foot
were :
Stanwix,
Hotham,
Wynne,
Pepper,
Gore,
Honeywood,
Bowles,
Munden,
Grant,
Dormer,
Dubourgay,
Newton,
Pocock,
Churchill,
Lucas,
Tyrrel,
Chudley,
Rich,
Handafyde.
and
396
THE
HISTORY
1715. and affift his majefty with their perfons and eftates. Thefe
addreſſes were from the common-council of the city of
London (i), from the lieutenancy of the fame city, and
from the earl of Clare, who was lord lieutenant of the
county of Middlefex, with the deputy-lieutenants and juf-
tices of the peace. Theſe were followed by feveral others,
particularly from the bishop of London and his clergy; the
univerſity of Cambridge, the diffenting minifters of London
and Weſtminſter, the commiffion of the general affembly
of the kirk of Scotland, and the univerſity of Oxford; but
the members of that univerfity, when they prefented their
addrefs, were told, That, as they had fhewn an open
difrefpect to his majefty's perfon and government in their
late conduct, his majeſty expected they fhould fatisfy him
better of their loyalty by their future behaviour, before
they attempted it by words.' Nor was it a ſmall part of
the reaſon of the publick difpleaſure, and of the repulſe,
which the univerfity of Oxford met with on that occafion,
that, at the very time it was to be prefented, an account
came to court by exprefs, that fome of the king's officers,
who were beating up for volunteers for a new regiment of
dragoons, were attacked by fome of the ſcholars, and hard-
ly eſcaped being killed.
Additional
articles a-
gainſt the
impeached.
Aug. 4.
Debate on
C
.
C
Whilſt theſe things paffed, the commons added fix arti-
cles more againſt the earl of Oxford; and, two days after,
the articles of impeachment against the lord Bolingbroke
lord Oxford,
July 30. were agreed to, and delivered by Mr Walpole at the bar
The lord Bo- of the houſe of lords, where he impeached him. The next
lingbroke
day, the articles againſt the duke of Ormond being read,
there aroſe a warm debate, in which feveral remarkable
fpeeches were made. Among the reft, a member of a con-
fiderable eftate, and who had all along voted with the tories,
duke of Or. faid, That the report of the committee of ſecrecy had be-
gun to open his eyes; and that the duke of Ormond's
flight had fully convinced him, that the heads of the tory
⚫ party were a fet of knaves and villains, who defigned to
have ruined their country, and made it a province to
'France.' The lord Stanhope, the eldeſt ſon of the earl
of Cheflerfield, who ſpoke for the first time on this occa-
fion, faid, He never wifhed to fpill the blood of any of
the articles
againſt the
mond.
Aug. 5.
'
.
(i) The common council in
their addrefs tell the king,
.
couraged by perfons of anti-
monarchical and republican
They fear the intended inva-principles.'
fion has been too much en-
• his
OF ENGLAND.
397
his countrymen, much lefs of any nobleman; but that 1715.
he was perfuaded, that the fafety of his country required,
that examples fhould be made of thofe, who betrayed it
info infamous a manner.' The lord Finch, eldeſt fon
of the earl of Nottingham, ſpoke alfo on the fame fide;
and, after fome other fpeeches, the firft article was agreed
to by a majority of a hundred and feventy-feven voices
againſt ſeventy-eight; and then the other articles alſo were
feverally agreed to by the houſe. The firft article charged
the duke with correfponding with marfhal Villars, the
French general, while he commanded the Britiſh army in
Flanders. The fecond, that he wickedly promifed and en-
gaged, that he would not attack the French army, nor en-
gage in any fiege againſt France. The third, that he did
falſely, maliciouſly, wickedly, and traiterously adhere to the
French king; and, in purſuance of a wicked promiſe he
had fecretly made with the marfhal de Villars, he endea-
voured to perfuade the generals of the confederate army to
raife the fiege of Quefnoy; and, when he could not pre-
vail, marched off with the queen's troops, and gave the
enemy's general advice of it. The other articles are in ef
fect his conduct in Flanders reduced into a charge. And,
both he and the lord Bolingbroke having fled from juftice,
bills were brought in to ſummon them to render themfelves
by the 10th of September, and, in default thereof, to at-
taint them of high-treafon; which paffed both houſes, and
received the royal affent.
On the 8th of Auguft, the houſe of commons was called
over, and among feveral abfent members, who were not
excuſed, Sir Michael Wharton, Mr Corbet Kynafton,
and Mr Lewis Pryfe were ordered into cuftody.
The two
former were immediately difcharged; but Mr Prvfe de-
clining to take the oaths, and having never attended the
houfe, for that and other reafons, and being not found by
the meffengers, was afterwards expelled.
earl of
On the 31st of Auguft the articles against the earl of
Strafford were agreed to by the commons, and carried by
Mr Aiflabie to the lords. The articles being read in the
houfe of lords, the earl of Strafford made a long fpeech, Articles a-
wherein, among other things, he complained of the hard- gain the
ſhips which had been put upon him by feizing his papers in Strafford.
an unprecedented manner that he defigned to have drawn
up and printed an account of all his negotiations; whereby
he did not doubt he ſhould have made it appear to all the
world, that he had done nothing but in difcharge of his
duty,
398
THE HISTORY
<
<
6
1715. duty, and of the truft ropofed in him. That if, either in
his letters or difcourfes, while he had the honour to repre-
ſent the crown of Great-Britain, he had dropped any un-
guarded expreffions against fome foreign minifters, he
hoped the fame would not be accounted a crime by a
Britiſh houfe of peers. He concluded with defiring, that
a competent time might be allowed him to anſwer the ar-
ticles now brought against him; and that he might have
duplicates of all the papers, that either had been laid be-
fore the committee of fecrecy, or were ftill in the hands
of the government, which might be for his juftification.
The lord Townſhend faid, That his complaint about the
taking his papers from him was altogether groundleſs and
unjuft: that infinite inftances of the like proceedings
might be produced that no ftate could be fafe without
it; and, in fhort, that extraordinary cafes juftify extra-
ordinary methods.' As to the earl's demand to have du-
plicates of all the papers, that had been laid before the
commons, he (the lord Townfhend) thought it unrea-
fonable, and made with no other defign than to gain.
time, and make the commons lofe the opportunity of
bringing him to his trial. That thofe papers were fo vo-
luminous (confifting of thirteen or fourteen volumes in
folio) that they could not be copied out in many weeks;
and as the earl might have had access to them, ever
fince they were laid before the parliament, fo he was fill
at liberty to perufe them, and extract out of them what
he thought proper for his own defence.' The duke of
Devonshire and the lord-chancellor Cowper feconded the
lord Townshend; on the other hand, the late lord-chan-
cellor Harcourt and the bishop of Rochefter ſpoke for the
earl of Strafford; but what availed the latter moft, was faid
by the earl of Ilay, who reprefented, That, in all civi-
lized nations, all courts of judicature, except the inqui-
fition, allowed the perfons arraigned all that was necef-
fary for their juftification; and that the houfe of peers of
Great-Britain ought not, in this cafe, to do any thing
'contrary to that honour and equity, for which they are ſo
july renowned throughout all Europe.' Upon this it
was refolved, That the earl of Strafford fhould have co-
pies of all fuch papers as were in the fecretary's and
other offices, which he should think proper for his de-
fence that he fhould have free access to the papers,
that had been laid before the commons: and that a
• month's
6
<
6
(
C
6
OF ENGLAND.
399
'month's time be allowed him, to anſwer the articles of 1715.
impeachment against him.'
Oxford's an-
On the 3d of September the earl of Oxford cauſed his Debate on
anſwer to the commons impeachment to be delivered to the the earl of
Houſe of lords, who tranfmitted it to the commons, fwer.
where it occafioned a ſmall debate. Mr Walpole, among Pr. H. C.
other things, faid, He had not yet had time to exa-
•
"
6
·
<
mine that anfwer; but he now heard it read with a
great deal of attention, and, in his opinion, it con-
tained little more than what had been ſuggeſted in
vindication of the late meaſures, in a pamphlet in-
titled, The conduct of the allies, and repeated over
and over in the papers called the Examiner. That
the main drift of this anfwer feemed to prove theſe
< two affertions: First, that the earl of Oxford had no
• ſhare in the advifing and managing the matters mention-
• ed in, the articles against him; but that the late queen
did every thing: and, fecondly, that the late queen was
a wife, good, and pious princefs. That, if the fecond
propofition were not better grounded than the firft, the
• reputation of that excellent princefs would be very pre-
'carious; but as every body muft own her to have been a
good and pious queen; fo it was notorious, that the earl
of Oxford, as prime minifter, was the chief adviler,
promoter, and manager of the matters charged upon
him in the articles. And therefore his anfwer was a
falfe and malicious libel, laying upon his royal miſtreſs
• the blame of all the pernicious meaſures he had led her
into, againſt her own honour, and the good of his coun-
try. That he hoped the earl's endeavouring to fcreen
himſelf behind the queen's name would avail him no-
thing that it is indeed a fundamental maxim of our con-
ftitution, That kings can do no wrong;' but, at the
fame time, it is no lefs certain, That minifters of state
are accountable for their actions; otherwife a parlia-
ment would be but an empty name; the commons
would have no buſineſs in that place; and the govern-
'ment would be abfolute and arbitrary. That though the
earl had the affurance to aver, that he had no fhare in
the management of affairs, that were tranfa&ted, while
he was at the helm, yet he pretended to juſtify the late
• meaſures. And therefore, in that refpect, his anfwer
ought to be looked upon as a libel on the proceedings of
the commons, fince he endeavoured to clear thoſe per-
fons, who had already confeffed their guilt by flight.'
८
'
<
<
Mr
400
HISTORY
THE
C
•
<
G
1715. Mr Shippen, a creature of the earl of Oxford, faid, Ic
would not become him to defend the earl's anfwer, fince,
as a member of that honourable affembly, he was be-
come one of his accufers; but he could not forbear
wifhing, this profecution might be dropped, and that the
•houfe would be fatisfied with the two late acts of attain-
der. That this with of his was the ftronger, becauſe
one of the principal reafons, that induced the commons
to impeach the earl of Oxford, fubfifted no longer, the
• affairs of Europe having received a fudden turn from the
death of the French king, whereby the renunciation of
king Philip began to take place in the advancement of
the duke of Orleans to the abfolute regency of France.'
Mr Aiflabie anfwered, He hoped it was to little pur-
pofe, that the gentleman, who ſpoke laft, endeavoured
to move the pity and compaffion of the houfe, and per-
fuade them to drop this profecution. That this was not
a proper time to examine and reply to the earl of Ox-
ford's anfwer ; and therefore he would content himfelf
with faying in general, that it was a contexture of the
fhifts, evafions, and falfe reprefentations contained in
the three parts of the hiftory of the white ſtaff. As to
• what had been fuggeſted concerning the event, which
feemed to have ftrengthened the renunciation, he did
not deny, there might be fomething in it, which was
manifeft from the great joy the well-affected to the go-
'vernment had fhewn on this occafion, and from the
mortification and defpair, that appeared in the faces of
a certain party. But, after all, it could not yet be af-
• certained, that the renunciation was in force: that there
was a vast difference between the regency and the crown;
that time only could decide that matter; but even fup-
pofing, that, by the concurrence of unforeseen events,
king Philip's renunciation fhould at laft take place, yet
the fame would not justify the miniflers, who propoſed
and laid it as the foundation of the late peace, fince they,
with whom they treated, were fo frank and fo fincere as
to tell them, that it could never be valid by the funda-
• mental laws of France.' After fome other fpeeches, it
was ordered, 1. That the anſwer of Robert earl of Ox-
ford be referred to the committee appointed to draw up
articles of impeachment, and prepare evidence againſt the
impeached lords. 2. That the committee prepare a repli
cation to the anſwer. Accordingly a replication was pre-
pared, and being agreed to was fent to the lords.
<
<
•
6
The
OF ENGLAN D.
401
The next day, a report from the fame committee, con- 1715.
cerning the ftate and circumſtances of Mr Prior's com-
mitment, was made to the houſe in the following man- Report about
ner:
That, in the perufal and examination of the ſeveral
books and papers referred to the committee of fecrecy,
Mr Prior appeared, through the whole progreſs of the
feparate and pernicious negotiations, carried on be-
< tween the minifters of Great-Britain and France, to
have been principally concerned as an agent and inftru-
ment of thoſe evil and traiterous counsellors, fome of
which are already attainted, and others ftand impeached
of high-treafon, and other high crimes and mifdemea-
C nors and the committee conceiving there were matters
'contained in the firft general report, from which crimes
C
<
.
of a very high nature ought to be justly charged and im-
C puted to Mr Prior, whenever the houfe fhould think
proper to enter into that confideration; as likewiſe that
Mr Prior was able to give great lights into all thoſe
dark and fecret tranfactions, when he fhould be called
upon by the great council of the nation, or any com-
mittee appointed by them, to give an account of the
negotiations, in which he was concerned as a publick
miniſter; the houſe, upon a motion from the committee
for that purpoſe, was pleafed to order, before the re-
C port was made, that Mr Prior fhould be taken into
cuftody of the ferjeant at arms, to prevent his making
his eſcape, upon notice of what was contained in the
report.
.
<
C
That this method of confining Mr Prior is not only
agreeable to former precedents upon the like occafions,
but neceffary and effentia! to that great duty and privi-
lege of the houſe of commons, of redreffing grievances,
and bringing great offenders to juftice.
Mr Prior.
Sept. 20.
That the committee did, fome time after, purſuant
to the powers given them by the houfe, proceed to exa-
mine Mr Prior concerning feveral matters, of which
there can be no doubt but he was fully apprized and ac
quainted with; in which examination Mr Prior did be-
have himſelf with fuch contempt of the authority of
parliament, and prevaricate in fo grofs a manner, as
moft justly to deferve the higheſt difpleaſure of the
• houſe.
But finding at laft, after an examination of feveral
hours, that it was impoffible for him to difguife or con-
VOL. VI.
C c
• ceal
THE HISTORY
402
1715.
The names
and coats of
ceal fome facts, that were before the committee, he
< was induced to declare upon oath fome truths, which will
be very material evidence upon the trials of the im-
peached lords.
And the committee having notice, that Mr Prior
• had, during his first confinement, met and conferred with
the earl of Oxford, and his neareſt relations and depen-
dants, which Mr Prior confeffed to be true, thought it
their duty to move the houſe, that Mr Prior might be
• committed to cloſer cuftody.
• From this ſhort ſtate of the proceedings relating to
Mr Prior, the committee fubmits it to the wifdom of
the houſe, Whether his behaviour has fo far merited the
favour and mercy of the houſe, as to make that con-
• finement more eafy to him, which his contempt of the
⚫ commons of Great-Britain, and his notorious prevarica-
tion, moſt juftly brought him into. And it feems wor-
thy of confideration, how far it may be thought ad-
vifeable for the houfe of commons to fet at liberty a
perfon in their cuftody, and committed according to the
antient methods and practice of parliament; who is a
• material evidence againſt high offenders, under profe-
cution of the commons of Great-Britain, and who,
there is reafon to apprehend, would immediately with-
draw himſelf, and, as far as in him lay, defeat the juftice
C
• of the nation.'
After the reading of this report, the commons ordered,
That the committee be impowered to fit, notwithſtand-
ing any adjournment of the houſe.'
The time for the duke of Ormond and the lord vif-
arms of the Count Bolingbroke to render themfelves being expired,
lord Boling- the houſe of lords ordered the earl marfhal to raze out
of the list of peers their names and coats of arms. In-
ventories were likewife directed to be taken of their per-
fonal eftates; and the atchievment of the duke, as knight
of the garter, to be taken down from St George's chapel at
Windfor.
broke and
duke of Or-
mond razed.
An act paf-
On the 30th of Auguft, an act received the royal af-
fed to encou- fent, for encouraging loyalty in Scotland. By this act
rage loyalty
in Scotland, every vaffal that holds lands of any fuperior guilty of
high-treafon, by abetting the pretender, and continues
peaceable, fhall be invefted with the faid lands in fee and
heritage for ever. In like manner, if any fubject of Great-
Britain, holding lands of a fuperior in Scotland, fhall be
guilty of fuch high-treafon, his lands thall return into
the
OF
403
ENGLAND.
the hands of the fuperior, and be confolidated with the 1715.
fuperiority. All entails and fettlements of eftates, fince
the 1st of Auguft, 1714, in favour of children, with a
fraudulent intent to avoid the punishment of the law due.
to the offence of high-treafon, by abetting the pretender,
ſhall be null and void. Beſides theſe, and other particu-
lars, this act had a clauſe in it, for fummoning any fuf-
pected perfon in Scotland to appear at Edinburgh, or
where it should be judged expedient, to find bail for his
good behaviour, with certification, that, if they did not
appear at the time appointed, they would be denounced re-
bels. Purſuant to this claufe, all the heads of the jacobite
clans, and other fufpected perfons, were foon after fum-
moned to appear at Edinburgh, and not obeying the fum-
mons, they were declared rebels.
Cc 2
THE
THE
HISTORY
O F
ENGLAND.
BOOK XXX.
PART II:
From the Year 1715. to the Year 1716.
CHA P. II.
The rebellion in Scotland breaks out.-The duke of Argyle fets
out for Scotland.-A confpiracy in England.-Six members
..order'd to be arrested. Parliament adjourn'd.- Infur-
rections.-The heads of the difaffected fummoned to Edin-
burgh.-Progress of the earl of Mar.-James Murray
comes over as fecretary to the pretender.-Mar's letter to the
earl of Broadalbine.-Dutch troops fent for.-Affociations.
Proceedings of the rebels.-Of the king's forces. Of the
battle of Prefton.-Battle of Dunblain.-A remarkable
incident.-Inverness taken.
B
30. GEORGE I
land breaks
Y this time the court had received certain informa- The rebelli
tion, that an open rebellion was broke out in Scot- on in Scot-
land, under the direction of the earl of Mar, which oute
was to be fupported by a great conſpiracy in Eng-
land. The earl of Mar, at the death of queen Anne, was
ſecretary of state for Scotland, and had been one of the firſt
Cc3
who
406
THE
HISTORY
1715. who made profeffions of their loyalty and affection to king.
George, as appears by a letter he wrote the king before his
arrival (k.) The earl had alfo taken the oaths of allegiance
and abjuration. But, not meeting the encouragement he
expected,
(k) The eark of Mar's letter efty will be fo juft, as not to
give credit to fuch mifrepre-
fentations. The part I acted
was as follows:
C
SIR,
Having the happineſs to be
your majefty's fubject, and
alfo the honour of being one
of your fervants, as one of
your
fecretaries of ſtate, I beg
by this to kiss your majefty's
hand, and congratulate your
happy acceffion to the throne;
which I would have done my-
⚫ felf the honour of doing ſoon-
6
er, had I not hoped to have
• had the honour of doing it
perfonally ere now.
<
*
:
C
C
G
I an
afraid I may have had the
misfortune of being miſrepre-
fented to your majeſty and
my reafon for thinking fo is,
becaufe I was, I believe, the
only one of the late queen's
fervants, whom your minif-
ters did not vifit, which I
mentioned to Mr Harley,
and the earl of Clarendon,
when they went, from hence
to wait on your majefty and
your miniſters carrying fo to
me, was the occafion of my
receiving fuch orders, as de-
prived me of the honour and
• fatisfaction of waiting on
them, and being known to
them. I'fuppofe, I had been
mifreprefented to them by
fome here upon account of·
party, or to ingratiate them-
felves by afperfing others, as
our parties here too often, oc-
cafion; but I hope your ma
Wh
،
<
?
the bringing about and
making the union, when the
fucceffion of the crown was
fettled for Scotland on your
majefty's family, where, I had
the honour to ferve as fecre-
tary of flate for that kingdom
doth, I hope, put my fincerity
and faithfulness to your ma-
jelly out of difpute. My fa-
mily had had the honour,
for a great traſk of years, to
be faithful fervants to the
crown, and have had the care
of the king's children (when
kings of Scotland) intruſted to
them. A predeceffor of mine
was honoured with the care of
your majefty's grandmother,
when young, and fhe was
pleafed afterwards to exprefs.
• fome concern for our family in
letters, which I ſtill have un-
der her own hand. I have
had the honour to. ferve her
late majefty, in one capacity
or other, ever fince her ac-
ceffion to the crown. I was
happy in a good miftrefs, and
The was plealed to have fome
confidence in me, and regard
for my fervices. And fince
your majefty's happy accef
fion to the crown, I hope,
you will find, that I have not
been wanting in my duty, in
.
C
.
C
<
"
being inftrumental in 'keeping
things quiet and peaceable in
the country, to which I be-
long, and have fome intereſt
ill.
OF
ENGLAND
407
"
1715.
The earl of
Mar fets out
expected, the earl, about the 8th of Auguft 1715, imbarked
with major general Hamilton, colonel Hay, and two fer-
vants, at Gravefend, on board a collier, and, arriving at
Newcaſtle, hired a veffel belonging to one Spence of Leith, for Scotland,
which in eight days landed them at Elie in Fife. They
immediately went to the houfe of John Bethune of Balfour,
where they ftaid all night, and from thence rode to the lord
Kinnoul's. The next day they proceeded to Craigie-hall;
and colonel Hay conveyed the earl of Mar about three miles,
and went to the lord Nairn's; and the earl and general
Hamilton proceeded to the laird of Invercald's at the brae of
Mar. Colonel Hay, the lord John Drummond, the marquis of
Tullibardine, Strowen Robertfon, and feveral other high-
land gentlemen, and particularly the lairds of Glenbucket,
Glenderule, Abergeldy, Dalmere, Auchindrain, and John
Patterſon, who had been a clerk in the fecretary's office,
came to the earl of Mar; who, having ftaid at Invercald's
houſe about eight days, went to Glenbucket's, and from
thence to Aboyne, where he held a confultation with the
marquifes of Huntley and Tullibardine, the earls of Soth-
efk and Marefchal, the lairds of Glenderule, Glengary,
Glenbucket, tutor of Aboyne, general Hamilton, and ge-
neral Gordon; but Invercald and Abergeldy, who were at
Aboyne, were not admitted to the confultation. The earl
of Mar, the marquis of Tullibardine, general Hamilton,
and Mr Patterſon returned to Invercald, where they ſtaid
about eight days; during which the earl ſent ſeveral letters,
and received others; and in that time there were gathered
<in. Your majeſty ſhall ever
• find me as faithful and dutiful
a fubject and fervant, as ever
any of my family have been
to the crown, or as I have
been to my late miſtreſs, the
" queen. And I beg your ma-
jefty may be fo good not to
believe any misreprefentation
of me, which nothing but
party hatred, and my zeal for
the intereft of the crown doth
• occafion; and I hope I may
prefume to lay claim to your
royal favour and protection.
As your acceffion to the crown
hath been quiet and peace-
<
،
C
<
able, may your majeſty's
reign be long and profperous,
and that your people may
foon have the happineſs and
fatisfaction of your prefence
among them, is the earneſt
• and fervent wishes of him,
who is, with the humble
duty and refpect,
<
6
SIR,
Your majeЯy's moſt faithful,
• Moft dutiful, and most obedient,
Subject and fervan..
Whitehall, Aug.
30, 1714.
Cc 4
MAR.
together
Z
408
THE HISTORY
1715. together about five hundred of his own men, three hun-
dred of whom, being well-armed, went to Caftletoun with
him and general Hamilton; and Innerey (who came to In-
vercald the day before) and the remaining two hundred
went away, till they fhould be provided with better arms,
and then were to follow under the command of Innerey.
The preten- At Caftletoun they proclaimed the pretender; whoſe ſtan-
der's ftan- dard was fet up by the earl of Mar at Brae-Mar, on the 6th
dard fet up,
Sept. 6.
of September.
Upon the news of the earl's being in the highlands, and
Several per- the report of his having drawn together a body of men, or-
fons taken. ders were immediately difpatched to Edinburgh, for appre-
of the repub, hending feveral fufpected perfons; purfuant to which, the
Com. hift.
Patten.
earls of Hume, Wigtoun, and Kinnoul, and the lord Deſk-
ford, Mr Lochart of Carnwath, and Mr Hume of Whit-
field, were committed prifoners to the caſtle. . Orders were
alfo fent to major-general Whetham, commander in chief
in Scotland, forthwith to march with all the regular troops,
that could be fpared, to form a camp near Sterling, to fe-
cure the bridge over the Forth, and to quarter the half-
pay officers in fuch a manner, that they might be in a readi-.
nefs to command the militia. About this time, the court re-
ceived intelligence of feveral veffels ready to fail for Scotland
from the port of Havre de Grace, laden with arms and am-
munition for the uſe of the pretender: and, notwithſtanding
all the precautions ufed by the government, on the 29th of
Auguft, the lord juftice clerk had advice from Montrofe,
that one of thofe fhips was arrived at Arboth in the north,
where ſhe was immediately unladen by the highlanders,
fent thither for that purpoſe, who carried the arms and am-
munition to the country of Brae-Mar. A few day after,
another hip landed feveral officers, who went to join the
earl of Mar, and gave him, and the lords with him, affur-
ances, that the pretender would foon be in perfon amongſt
them. But the news of the death of Lewis XIV. of France,
on the first of September, N. S. fo alarmed the rebels, and
ftruck fuch a general damp upon their fpirits, that their
chiefs held a confultation, whether they fhould ſtand out
any longer, in expectation of the pretender's coming ac-
cording to his promife, or whether they fhould give over
their enterprize. They divided upon the queſtion; ſome
were for going home, and not stirring till the pretender
landed; but the majority, depending upon a gcneral infur-
rection in England were for perfifting, at leaft, till they
had news from the pretender; to whom they all agreed to
fend
OF ENG LA-N. D..
4.09.
fend meffengers immediately, to prefs his coming over. 1715.
Purſuant to this refolution, the earl of Mar affumed the ti-
tle of lieutenant-general of the pretender's forces, and as
fuch published a declaration, which he fent with a letter, to
the baillie of Kildrummie, to exhort the people to take
arms (1). A few days after, a manifefto was alſo publiſh-
ed,
(1) The declaration ran
thus :
❝
·
€
<
<
·
<
攀
​،
<
Thefe are therefore, in, his
majefty's name and authority,
and by virtue of the power
aforefaid, and by the king's
ſpecial order to
'fpecial order to me thereunto,
to require and impower you
forthwith to raiſe
forthwith to raiſe your fenci-.
ble men, with their beſt arms;.
and you are immediately to,
march them to join me, and,
fome other of the king's for-,
ces at the Inver of Brae-Mars,
on Monday next, in order to
proceed in our march to at-
tend the king's ftandard, with
his other forces.
C
<
The king intending, that
his forces fhall be paid from
the time of their fetting out,
he expects, as he pofitively
orders, that they behave
themfelves civilly, and com-
mit no plundering, nor other
'diforders, upon the higheſt
'penalties, and his difpleaſure;
which it is expected you will
• fee obferved.
Our rightful and natural.
'king James VIII. by the
grace of God, who is now
coming to relieve us from our,
oppreffions, having been pleaf-.
´ed to intruſt me with the di-,
rection of his affairs, and the
command of his forces in this,
his antient kingdom of Scot-,
land; and fome of his faith-,
ful fubjects and fervants met;
at Aboyne, viz. The lord,
Huntley; the lord Tullibar-,
dine, the earl Marifhal, the,
earl of Southek, Glengary,
from the clans, Glanderule.
from the earl of Broadalbin,
⚫ and gentlemen of Argylefhire,
Mr Patrick Lyon of Auch-
terhouſe, the laird of Auld-
bair, lieutenant-general George
Hamilton, major-general Gor-
'don, and myſelf, having taken
' into our confideration his ma-
'jeſty's laſt and late orders to
us, that as this is now the
time, that he ordered us
to appear openly in arms for
him; fo it feems to us abfo-
lutely neceffary for his maje-
fty's fervice, and the relieva
ing of our native country
⚫ from all its hardships, that all
his faithful and loving fub-
'jects, and lovers of their coun-
try, fhould, with all poffible
speed, put themfelves into
•
6
arms.
•
Now is the time for all
good men to fhew their zeal
for his majeſty's fervice, whofe
caufe is fo deeply concerned
and the relief of our native,
'country from oppreffion, and
•
foreign yoke too heavy for
us and our pofterity to bear ;
and to endeavour the reftor-
ing, not only of our rightful.
and native king, but alſo our
country to its antient, free, and
independent conftitution un-
der him; whofe anceſtors
have
L
{
•
410
THE
HISTORY
1715. ed, fetting forth the reafons of their proceedings, the griev
•
<
!
have reigned over us for fo
many generations.
་་
ances
...
thing we are now about,
which they have been withing
thefe fix and twenty years?"
And now when it is come, and
the king and country's caufe
at ftake, will they for ever hit
* ftill, and fee all perish? I have
ofufed gentle means too long,
In fo honourable, good,
and just a cauſe, we cannot
doubt of the affiftance, direc-
tion, and bleffing of almighty
God, who has fo' often re
fcued the royal family
Stuart, and our country, from
finking under oppreffion.
Your punctual obfervance
of thefe orders is expected:
for the doing of all which
this fhall be to you, and all
"you employ in the execution
of them, a fufficient warrant."
Given at Braç-Mar the 9th of
September 1715."
To the baillie and the,
reft of the gentle-
men of the lordſhip"
of Kildrummie:
"
J
073
b...
MAR.
The earl's letter to the baillie
was in theſe terms,
<
Jockies
'
Invercald, Sept; qat
night, f.
الدمام
Ye was in the right not to
come with the hundred men
ye fént up to night, when I
expected four times the pum.
ber. It is a pretty thing,
when all the highlands of
< Scotland are now rifing upon
"their king and country's ac-
count, as I have accounts from
' them fince they were with me,
⚫ and the gentlemen in moft of
our neighbouring lowlands ex-
'pecting us down to join them,
that my men ſhould be only
refractory. Is not this the
2
<
C
and fo I fhall be forced to put,
other orders I have in executi-
on. I have fent you incloſed
an order for the lordfhip of
Kildrummie, which you are
immediately to intimate to all
my vaffals. If they give rea-
dý obedience, it will makė,
fome amends; and if not, ye
may tell them from me, that
it will not be in my power to
fave them (were, I willing).
from being treated as enemies.
by thofe, who are ready foon,
to join me and they may de-
pend on it, that I will be the
"frit to propofe and order their
6
1 x
?
being fo. Particularly, let
"my own tenants in Kildrum-
"mie know, that, if they come
not forth with their beft arms,
'I will fend a party immediate-
ly to burn what they fhall
mifs taking from them and
they may believe this not only
a threat, but by all that is fa-
'cred I will put it in execution,
'let my lofs be what it will,
that it may be an example to
others. You are to tell the
gentlemen, that I will expect
'them in their best accoutre-
ments on horſe-back, and no
excufe to be accepted of. Go
' about this with all diligence,
' and come yourſelf, and let me
know you having done fo.
All this is not only as you will
.
•
• be
OF ENGLAND.
4rr
ances the nation lay under, with affurances of redreffing 1715.
them (m).
Y.
upon Edin-
Befides theſe meaſures, a confpiracy was formed at Edin- Attempt
burgh to fuprize the caftle on the 8th of September, be- burgh.
be anwerable to me, but to
your king and country."
Your affured friend and fervant,
Ta John Forbes of
Increrau, baillie
of Kildrummie.
<
MAR.
tween
the fupport of his proteftant,
fubjects, puts the means of fe-
curing to us our concerns, re-
ligious and civil into our own,
hands.
• Our fundamental conftituti-
on has been intirely altered.
and funk amidſt the various,
fhocks of unftable faction,.
which, in ſearching out new
experiments pretended for our
fecurity, had produced no-
thing but daily difappoint-
ofments, and has brought us and
(m) • Manifeſto and declara-
tion by the noblemen, gentle-
men, and others, who dutiful-
ly appear at this time in affert-
ing the undoubted right
their lawful fovereign James
the VIIIth, by, the grace of
God, king of Scotland, Eng-
land, France, and Ireland, de-
fender of the faith, &c. and for
relieving this his antient king-
dom of Scotland from the op-
preffion and grievances it lies
under. His majefty's right
⚫ of blood, to the crown of theſe
<
>
C
our pofterity under a precari-
ous dependence upon foreign
'counfels and interefts, and the.
'power of foreign troops.
The late unhappy Union,.
'which was brought about by,
'the mistaken notions of fome,
and by the ruinous and felfifh
defigns of others, has proved
'fo far from leffening and heal-
realms is undoubted, and hasing the differences betwixt his
never been difputed nor ar-
raigned by the leaft circum-
ftance of authority whatfo.
6 ever.
6
By the laws of God, by the
• antient conftitution of theſe
'nations, and by the pofitive
unrepealed laws of the land,
<
6
we are bound to pay his ma-
jefty the duty of faithful fub-
'jects. Nothing can abfolve us
from this our duty of ſubjec-
'tion and obedience. The laws
•
⚫
of God require our allegiance
to our rightful king: the laws
of the land fecure our religion,
' and other interefts, and his
majefty giving up himself to
<
<
<
majefty's fubjects of Scotland.
and England, that it has wid-
⚫ened and increaſed them; and
appears by experience fo in-
confiftent with the rights, in-
terefts, and privileges of us,
and our good neighbours and
fellow fubjects of England,
that the continuance of it muſt
inevitably ruin us, and hurt
'them: nor can any way be
' found to relieve us, and reſtore
our antient independent con-
ftitution, but by refloring our
' rightful and natural king, who
has the only undoubted right
' to reign over us. Neither
<
can we hope, that that party,
• who
}
412
THE HISTORY
1715. tween eleven and twelve at night, which, by the care and
vigilance of Sir Adam Cockburn, the lord juftice clerk,
who had early notice of it, was prevented. The defign
was to mount the wall by the weft-fide of the caftle, by
C
rope-
honourable and fuccefsful en-
deavours to reſtore trade, plen-
ty, and peace' to theſe nations."
They have broke in upon the
facred laws of both countries,
by which the liberties of our
'perfons were fecured. They
have impowered a foreign
•
who chiefly contributed to
bring us into bondage, will at
any time endeavour to work
• our relief, fince it is known
how ftrenuouſly they oppoſed
in two late inftances the ef-
forts, that were made by all
• Scotſmen but themfelves, and
ſupported by the beft and wil-prince,
eft of the Engliſh, towards fo
<
• defirable an end, as they will
⚫ not adventure openly to dif-
own a diffolution of the union'
• to be.
"Our fubftance has been waft-`
ed in the late ruinous wars;
and we fee an unavoidable
proſpect of having wars con-
• tinued on us and our pofterity,
fo long as the poffeffion of
the crown is not in the right
• line.
•
<
The hereditary rights of
the ſubjects, though confirmed
by conventions and parlia-
ments, are now treated as of
no value nor force; and paſt
• fervices to the crown and
royal family are now look.
'ed upon as grounds of fufpi-
• cion.
•
C
A packed affembly, who
call themſelves a Britiſh parli-
ament, have, fo far as in them
lies, inhumanly murdered their
own and our fovereign, by
promifing a great fum of mo-
ney as the reward of fo exe-
crable a crime. They have
'profcribed, by unaccountable
• and groundleſs impeachments
and attainders, the worthieſt
' patriots of England; for their
<
<
(
(who; notwithſtanding
his expectations of the crown
for fifteen years, is ftill unac-
quainted with our manners,
cuftoms, and language) to
make an abfolute conqueft if
not timely prevented, of the
three kingdoms, by inveſting
him with an unlimited power,
not only of raiſing unneceſſa-
'ry forces at home, but alſo of
calling in foreign troops, rea-
dy to promote his uncontroul-
able defigns. Nor can we be
very hopeful of its being
otherwife, in the way it is in
at prefent, for fome genera-
tions to come; and' the con-
'fequences of thefe unexampled
proceedings has been already
fo fatal to great numbers of
our kinsmen, friends, and fel-
low-fubjects of both king-
'doms, that they have been
'conftrained to abandon their
'country, houfes, wives, and
'children, or to give themſelves
"
(
<
up priſoners, and perhaps, vic-
tims to be facrificed at the
'pleaſure of foreigners, and a
• few hot-headed men of a reſt-
lefs faction, whom they em-
'ploy. Our troops
Our troops abroad,
notwithſtanding their long and
remarkable good ſervices, have,
'
• been
OF ENGLAND.
413
rope-ladders provided for that purpofe, which were to be
pulled up by lines let down from within by fome foldiers
belonging to the garrifon, who had been corrupted. The
confpirators came to the caftle-wall at the time appointed;
and
1715.
A
• been treated fince the peace
with neglect and contempt; as
'particularly in Holland: and
it is not now the officers long
fervice, merit, and blood they
have loft, but money and fa-
vour, by which they can ob-
<
hereby our fincere intenti-
' ons:
<
That we will promote and
' concur in all lawful means for
fettling a lafting peace to theſe
• lands under the aufpicious go-
vernment of our native-born
<
tain juftice in their prefer-rightful fovereign, the direc-
<ments.
• So that it is evident, that
• the fafety of his majeſty's per-
fon and loyal fubjects, the
rights of his people, and inde-
pendency of his kingdoms,
• calls loudly for immediate re-
• lief and defence.
<
• The confideration of theſe
unhappy circumftances, with
the due regard we have to
'common juſtice, the peace and
quiet of us and our pofterity,
our duty to his majesty and
• his commands, are the power-
• ful motives, which have en-
gaged us in our prefent under-
taking; which we are firmly
and heartily refolved to puſh
⚫ to the utmoſt, and ſtand by one
another to the laft extremity,
་
<
·
as the only folid and effectual
means of putting an end to fo
• dreadful a proſpect, as by our
prefent fituation we have be-
fore our eyes, and with faith-
ful hearts, true to our only
rightful king, our country,
• and
our neighbours. We
earneftly befeech and expect
(as his majefty commands)
the afffftance of all our true
fellow-fubjects to fecond thefe
our just attempts, declaring
<
⚫tion of our own domeftick coun-
<
fels, and the protection of our
own native force and troops.
That we will in the fame
manner concur and endeavour
to have our laws, liberties,
and properties fecured by free
'parliaments of both king-
• doms.
C
<
. That, by the wifdom of
'fuch parliaments, we will en-
deavour to have fuch laws en-
acted, as fhall give an abfo-
lute fecurity to us, and future
ages, for the true proteftant
religion, againft all efforts of
arbitrary power, popery, and
• all its other enemies. Nor
have we any reaſon to be dif-
truftful of the goodness of God,
the folidity of our holy religi-
on, or the known excellency
of his majeſty's judgment, as
not to hope, that in due time,
good example and converfation
' with our learned divines, will
remove theſe prejudices, which
'we know that his education in
' a popish country has not ri-
veted in his royal difcerning
'mind and we are fure, that,
as juſtice is a virtue of all re-
ligious profeffions, the doing
•
:
' of
414
THE
HISTORY
1715. and a rope was let down and fixed to one of the ladders.
But, the lord juftice clerk having fent intimation of this de-
fign to colonel Stuart, lieutenant-governor of the caſtle, he
ordered the officers under him to double their guards, and
to make diligent rounds. As lieutenant Lindfey was going
the round in obedience to theſe orders, he found one of
the foldiers, who had been corrupted, drawing up the lad-
der, in order to fix it to the top of the wall; and com-
manded the centinel next him to fire, which giving the
alarm, the confpirators difperfed. But a party of the town
guard, which, at the requeſt of the lord juftice clerk, the
provoft had ſent out to patrol, with fome refolute volunteers,
•
of it to him will not leffen his
good opinion of ours.
That, as the king is willing
to give his royal indemnity
for all that is paft, fo we will
chearfully concur in paffing
general acts of oblivion, that
⚫ our fellow-fubjects, who have
been miffed, may have a fair
'opportunity of living with us
in the fame friendly manner
we deſign to live with them.
C
C
That we will ufe our endea-
vours for redreſſing the bad
ufage of our troops abroad,
and bringing the troops at
• home to be on the fame foot
• and eſtabliſhment of pay as
• thoſe in England.
The peace of theſe nations
being thus fettled, and we thus
freed from foreign dangers,
we will ufe our endeavours to
have the army reduced to the
ufual number of guards and
garrifons, and will concur in
fuch laws and methods; as
• ſhall relieve us of the heavy
'taxes and debts now lying
upon us, and, . at the fame
'time will fupport the publick
credit in all its parts.
+
And we hereby faithfully
promife and engage, that eve-
ry officer, who joins with us
in our king and country's
'cauſe, ſhall not only enjoy the
fame poft he now does, but
fhall be advanced and prefer-
'ed according to his rank and
ftation, and the number of
men he brings off with him to
'us: and each foot-foldier fo
joining us, fhall have twenty
fhillings fterling gratuity, be-
fides his pay; and each troop-
er or dragoon, who brings his
horfe and accoutrements along
'with him, the fum of twelve
pounds fterling.
<
And, in general; we will
' concur with all our fellow-fub-
'jects, in fuch meaſures, as ſhall
'make us flouriſh at home, and
be formidable abroad, under
' our rightful fovereign, and the
peaceable harmony of our an-
⚫tient fundamental conftitution,
undisturbed by pretenders in-
tereſts, counfels from abroad,
"or by reſtleſs
factions at
:
• home.
In fo honourable, good, and
juft a caufe, we doubt not of
'the affiftance, direction, and
'bleffing of almighty God, who
has fo often refcued the royal
family of Stuart and our
country from finking under
oppreffion.'
C
<
1
coming
OF
415
ENGLAN D.
coming up, found captain Maclean, formerly an officer un-
der the lord Dundee, lying on the ground, bruifed with a
fall from the wall, whom they fecured, with three others
of his accomplices. They likewife found the ladders,
and about a dozen of firelocks and carbines, which the con-
fpirators had left behind. One ferjeant, one corporal, and
two private foldiers of the garrifon were alfo fecured; and,
by the confeffions of the perfons feized, it appeared, that
the numbers engaged in this attempt were about eighty, of
whom one half were highlanders: that one Mr Arthur,
formerly an enfign in the caſtle, engaged the foldiers in this
confpiracy, by promifing the ferjeant a lieutenant's com-
miffion; the corporal an enfign's; and by giving one of
the foldiers eight guineas, and the other four: that the
lord Drummond was to be governor of the caftle, as being
the contriver of the defign: and that, upon the ſucceſs of it,
the confpirators were to fire three rounds of the artillery
in the caftle; which, by the communication of fires to be
kindled at convenient diftances, was to be a fignal to the
earl of Mar, immediately to march towards Edinburgh
with his forces, to improve the confternation, and heigh-
ten the terror, which fuch an accident would have cauſed
in the city.
1715.
out for Scot-
The duke of Argyle, being appointed commander in The duke of
chief of the forces in Scotland, fet out on the 9th of Sep- Argyle fets
tember for that kingdom; and, about the fame time, the land.
earl of Sutherland offered his fervice to go and raiſe the
highland clans in the moſt northern counties of Scotland,
which was readily accepted; and the Queenborough man of
war was appointed to tranſport him thither. Several other
Scots peers, particularly the duke of Roxburgh, the mar-
quifes of Annandale and Tweedale, the earls of Selkirk
Loudoun, Rothes, Haddington, and Forfar, the lords
Torpichen and Belhaven, &c. readily embraced this
opportunity to ſhew their loyalty to king George, and their
zeal for their country..
diſcovered.
By this time a dangerous confpiracy was difcovered and A confpiracy
prevented in England. On the 2d of September, lieute- in Englana
nant-colonel Paul, who had a company in the first regiment
of foot-guards, was fecured, and the next day committed
prifoner to the Gate-houfe, being charged with inlifting
men for the pretender's fervice, and other treasonable prac-
tices. The titular duke of Powis, a roman catholick,
committed to the Tower for, high-treafon; and the lords
Lanfdown and Duplin were alfo taken into cuftody; and a
t
was
warrant
416
HISTORY
THE
<
<
•
1715. warrant iffued out to apprehend the earl of Jerfey. At the
fame time, Mr fecretary Stanhope acquainted the com-
mons, • That he was commanded by the king to commu-
nicate to them, that his majesty, having juſt cauſe to
fuſpect, that Sir William Wyndham, Sir John Packing-
ton, Mr Edward Harvey, fenr. of Combe, Mr Tho-
mas Forfter, Junr. Mr John Anftis, and Mr Corbet
Kynafton, were engaged in a defign to fupport the in-
tended invaſion of this kingdom, had given orders for ap-
prehending them and defired the confent of the houfe,
to his caufing them to be committed and detained, if he
fhould judge it neceffary fo to do;' which was unani-
moufly agreed to by an addreſs to that purpoſe.
Six members
apprehend-
cd.
<
Upon rhis, warrants were iffued out for apprehending
ordered to be the fix members, two of whom, Harvey and Anftis, hap-
pening to be in town, were immediately fecured. Mr Har-
vey ftabbed himſelf fome few days after with a knife, in
two or three places of his breaft; but the wounds proved
not mortal. As to the reft, Mr Forſter ſtood out in de-
fiance of justice, and with two romifh lords raiſed a rebel-
lion in Northumberland. Sir John Packington was brought
up to London from his houſe in Worceſterſhire, and being
examined before the council, and nothing appearing againſt
him, was honourably difcharged. Mr Kynafton made
his eſcape; and colonel Hufke, a captain in the foot-guards,
was fent down with a meffenger to apprehend Sir William
Wyndham, at his houfe in Somerſetſhire, where they arriv-
ed between four and five in the morning. The door being
opened they appeared to be in hafte to fee Sir William ;
but the porter told them, he was in bed, and could not yet
be ſpoke with. The colonel told him, he came expreſs,
and the perſon with him had a packet of letters of fuch
confequence, that his mafter muft needs be immediately
informed of it. This convinced the man, and Sir William
prefently leaped out of bed, and-came in his gown to the
colonel, who told him, he was his prifoner, the meffenger,
at the fame time, fhewing the badge of his office. Sir Wil-
liam faid, he readily fubmitted, but defired no noife might
be made to frighten his lady, who was with child. Then
they entered a chamber, where the colonel feeing Sir Wil-
liam's coat and waiſtcoat lie, told him, he had orders to
ſeize all his papers; and that he must take leave to ſearch
his pockets, wherein he found a bundle of papers, which
he fecured. Sir William would have diverted him, by
offering him very frankly the keys of his efcrutore, to
ſearch
OF
417
ENGLAN D.
fearch but the colonel happened to fecure the most impor- 1715.
tant papers, as he had reafon to guefs, by the great dif-d
order and confufion in Sir William's looks, when he took
the bundle out of his waiſtcoat pocket. Sir William de-
fired the colonel to ftay till feven o'clock, and he would
order his own coach and fix horfes to be ready, which
would carry them all; telling the colonel, he would only
go in, and put on his cloaths, and take leave of his lady,
and then would wait on him. Out of deference to that
lady's noble relations, who befides their high rank, had
deferved it by their zeal and affection for the prefent govern-
ment, the colonel had particular directions to use him with
decorum, and readily complied with his requeſt, looking on
it as his parole to return: but he foon found himself mif-
taken in the perfon, whofe honour he had trufted to; for,
tho' the colonel had caufed two doors of Sir William's
bed-chamber to be fecured, yet, there being a third, he
made his eſcape throught it. The colonel, having directed.
the meffenger to ſtay at the houſe till further orders, re-
turned with ſpeed to London, to acquaint the government
with what had paffed; whereupon the king in council
thought fit to fign a proclamation, with a reward of a
thouſand pounds, for apprehanding Sir William.
One of the papers found in Sir William's pocket was faid
to be a lift of the principal perfons, who had joined in an
affociation to favour an invafion, and to advance the pre-
tender to the throne; which affociation was tranfmitted to
him by the lord Lanfdown. Be that as it will, it is cer-
tain a great many notorious jacobites, who by this time had
got together at Bath, in order to head the intended infur-
rection in Somerſetſhire, were extremely alarmed at the
coming down of the king's meffengers, and left that place
with great precipitation, in a very ſtormy night. Sir Wil-
liam Wyndham, being purfued by the proclamation, and
feveral meffengers, thought a clergyman's habit the beſt
difguife, and ordered one of his fervants to write a letter to
a gentleman in Surrey, defiring him to give his mafter re-
fuge in his houfe: or, if he would not venture ſo far, to
get him a lodging in the minifter's houfe, where he would
come in a habit, that would beſpeak him refpect from a
clergyman. This letter being brought to the gentleman's
houfe while he was abroad, his lady opened it; and being
frightened with the thoughts of the danger, which her huf-
band might incur in harbouring a perfon charged with trea-
fon, the thought fit to fend it to the earl of Aylesford, who
VOL. VI.
failed
D d
1
418
THE HISTORY
1715.
The parlia-
ment is ad-
journed.
failed not immediately to communicate it to the govern-
ment. Sir William rightly judging, by the mifcarriage of
the letter, that he could hardly efcape, thought it prudent
to furrender himself. In order to which, having croffed
the Thames near Thiftleworth, he went first to Sion-
houfe, belonging to the duke of Somerfet, his father-in-
law, and, coming from thence to London the 3d of Octo-
ber, he put himfelf into the hands of the earl of Hertford,
his brother-in-law, captain of one of the troops of life-
guards who having given notice of it to Mr fecretary
Stanhope, a meffenger was fent to take Sir William into
cuftody. Three days after, he was examined at the coun-
cil board, where he flatly denied he knew any thing of a
plot. However, an order was made for his commitment
to the Tower. It was then ftrongly reported, the duke
of Somerfet offered to be his bail; which the council did
not think fit to accept. But whether the duke bore this
denial impatiently, and expreffed fome refentment upon it
too warmly, it is certain, he was removed from his place
of maſter of the horſe.
While theſe things were tranfacting, the king came, on
the 21st of September, to the houfe of lords, and, having
paffed the bills that were ready, ordered the lord-chancellor
to deliver the following fpeech to both houfes (n):
(n) When the fpeaker pre-
fented the three bills for fettling
a revenue on the princefs of
Wales, for inlarging the capi-
tal ſtock of the South-fea com-
pany, and for making provifion
for the minifters of the fifty
new churches, he made a ſpeech
with great ſpirit and eloquence,
wherein, among others, were the
following paffages:
<
<
f
• Your commons could not
fee, without the utmost in-
dignation, the glories of her
late majefty's reign tarnished
by a treacherous ceffation of
arms; the faith of treaties vi-
olated; that antient probity,
for which the English nation
had been justly renowned
(
<
My
throughout all ages, expofed
to fcorn and contempt, and
the trade of the kingdom
given up by infidious and pre-
carious treaties of commerce,
whilft the people, amuſed
with new worlds explored,
were contented to fee the moſt
advantageous branches of their
commerce in Europe loft or
• betrayed.
6
C
C
• Such was the condition of
this kingdom, when it pleafed
the divine providence to call
your majefty to the throne of
your anceſtors, under whofe
aufpicious reign, your com-
mons, with pleaſure, behold
the glory of the Plantage-
nets, your majefty's royal an-
celtors, revive, and have an
un-
OF ENGLAND.
419
..
My lords and gentlemen,
I
1715.
AM perfuaded your are all by this time very defirous The king's
fpeech.
of fome recefs, and that it cannot be deferred longer,
"without great inconvenience to your private affairs.
'
"But, before I can part with you, I muft return you
66 my moft fincere thanks, for your having finiſhed, with
"fo much wifdom and unanimity, what I recommended
"to your care; and particularly I thank you, gentlemen
"of the houſe of commons, for the provifion you have
"made, as well for the fupport of the honour and dig-
"nity of the crown, as for the other neceffary occafions
"of the publick: eſpecially for your having done it by
means fo little burdenfome to my people; which, I af-
"fure you, recommends the fupplies to me above any other
"circumſtance whatſoever.
re
My lords and gentlemen,
"The open and declared rebellion, which is now actu-
"ally begun in Scotland, muft convince all, who do not
"wifh to fee us given up into the hands of a popish pre-
"tender, of the dangers to which we have been and are
• ftill expofed.
the ear-
"I thought it incumbent on me to give you
"lieft notice of the defigns of our enemies; and I can-
"not fufficiently commend the zeal and difpatch, with
"which you impowered me, at a time when the nation
was in fo naked and defencelefs a condition, to make
"fuch preparations, as I fhould think neceffary for our fe-
"curity. You fhall have no reafon to repent of the truft
..
• unbounded proſpect of the
continuance of this happiness.
even to the lateſt poſterity, in
a race of princes lineally de-
fcended from your majeſty.
C
·
<
And that nothing may be
wanting on the part of your
commons, to eſtabliſh your
majeſty's throne on folid and
lafting foundations, they have
applied themſelves with un-
'wearied diligence, to vindi-
cate the honour of the Britiſh
• nation, and to reſtore a mu-
'tual confidence between this
'kingdom and its antient and
faithful allies, by detecting
the authors of thofe perni-
'cious counfels, and the actors
in thofe treacherous deſigns,
in order to bring them to ju-
ftice, by the judgment of their
'peers, according to the law
of the land, and the ufage of
parliament, &c.'
Dd 2
"and
420
HISTORY
THE
1715.
" and confidence you repoſe in me, which I ſhall never uſe
"to any other end, than for the protection and welfare of
66 my people.
"It was fcarce to be imagined, that any of my protef-
ઃઃ tant fubjects, who have known and enjoyed the bene-
"fits of our excellent conftitution, and have heard of the
great dangers they were wonderfully delivered from by
"the happy revolution, fhould by any arts and manage-
ment be drawn into meaſures, that mult at once deſtroy
"their religion and liberties, and fubject them to popery
" and arbitrary power. But fuch has been our misfor-
tune, that too many of my people have been deluded,
"and made inftrumental to the pretender's defigns, who
"had never dared to think of invading us, or raifing a
"rebellion, had he not been encouraged by the fuccefs
"his emiffaries and adherents have already had in ſtirring
"up riots and tumults, and by the further hopes they en-
"tertain of raifing infurrections in many parts of my king-
"doms.
66
"The endeavouring to perfuade my people that the
"church of England is in danger under my govern-
ment, has been the main artifice employed in car-
rying on this wicked and traiterous defign. This infi-
"nuation, after the folemn affurances I have given, and
"my having laid hold on all opportunities to do every
"thing that may tend to the advantage of the church of
England, is both unjust and ungrateful. Nor can I
"believe fo groundlefs and malicious a calumny can make.
"any impreffion upon the minds of my faithful fubjects,
<<
or that they can be ſo far miſled, as to think the church
"of England is to be fecured, by fetting a popiſh preten-
"der on the throne.
66
My lords and gentlemen,
"The proofs this parliament has given of their unfha-
"ken duty and affection to me, and of their love and
"zeal for the intereft of their country, will recommend
you to the good opinion and eſteem of all, who have
"their religion and liberty truly at heart, and has laid
a lafting obligation upon me; and I queftion not,
"but by your further affiftance in the feveral countries,
"to which you are going, with the bleffing of almighty
"God, who has fo frequently interpofed in favour of this
66
"nation,
OF
421
ENGLAND.
"nation, I ſhall be able to diſappoint and defeat the de-
fign of our enemies.
"Our meeting again to do buſineſs, early in the next
CC winter, will be uſeful on many accounts, particularly,
"that the fitting of parliaments may be again brought into
"that ſeaſon of the year, which is moſt convenient; and
"that as little delay may be given as is poffible to your
"judicial proceedings; and I fhall at prefent give fuch
"orders to my lord chancellor, as may not put it long
out of my power to meet you on any fudden occa-
"fion."
tr
When the king's fpeech was ended, the parliament ad-
journed to the 6th of October, and afterwards by feveral
adjournments, to the 9th of January.
Purfuant to the king's fpeech, orders from the privy-
council, with a letter from the fecretary of ſtate, were
fent to all the lords-lieutenants of the counties in Eng-
land, to cauſe the militia to be put in fuch a poſture, as to
be ready to march when required; and alfo to give the ne-
ceffary directions to the proper officers, to feize the perfons
and arms of all papifts, nonjurors, and others, whom they
ſhould have reaſon to fufpect.
1715.
feize Bristol
prevented.
The defigned infurrection in the western counties was A defign to
fo deeply concerted, and the confpirators fo potent and nu-
merous, that the jacobites at Bath, depending on their
majority, openly talked, that the affair of Scotland was
only a diverfion to draw the king's troops that way; but
that the effectual attempt would be made in the Weſt
very ſpeedily. But the government, having received in-
formation of the fecret proceedings of the difaffected, took
fuch meaſures as defeated all their defigns. And first,
to prevent the intended furprizal of Bristol, in order to
make it a place of arms, the earl of Berkley, lord-lieu-
tenant of the county, and governor of that city, repaired
thither with all fpeed, and took all neceffary precautions
to fecure that important place. Several perfons were ap-
prehended, and, amongst the reft, Mr Hart, a merchant,
who was charged with having collected great quantities of
warlike ftores for the uſe of the confpirators. Befides part
of Lumley's regiment of horfe, and the two battalions of
Stanwix and Pocock, who were already in Bristol, colonel
Chudleigh's regiment of foot marched thither, about the
beginning of October. At the fame time the lord Wind-
for's regiment of horfe, and Rich's dragoons, under the
Dd3
com-
&
422
THE HISTORY
}
1715. command of major-general Wade, marched to Bath, which
place was both the rendezvous, and one of the arfenals
of the confpirators. Upon ftrict fearch, the kings officers.
found and feized there eleven chefts of fire-arms, a
hogfhead full of bafket-hilt fwords, and another of car-
touches, and three pieces of cannon, one mortar, and
moulds to caft cannon, which had been buried under
ground. There were about two hundred horfes feized;
and the following perfons were apprehended, captain
Landfdon, captain Doyle, captain Sinclair, Sir George
Brown, Mr Mackarty, Mr Dun, Mr Macdonnel, and
William Hibbort. They were all brought to London
by a party of brigadier Bowles's regiment, on the 18th of
October.
The univer-
<
.
<
The behaviour of the univerfity of Oxford gave like-
fity of Ox- wife reafon to fufpect them. They had lately chofe the
ford fufpect-
earl of Arran their chancellor, in the room of his brother
ed.
the duke of Ormond, by a great majority over the earl
of Pembroke, who was put up in competition with him.
On the 26th of September, the earl of Arran was fworn
and inſtalled into that office with the ufual folemnity;
and the vice-chancellor made a long fpeech, wherein
•he enumerated and extolled the eminent virtues of the
family of Butler, and took notice of the great obliga-
tions they had at different times laid on that feminary
of learning; fuggefting withal, that, the duke of Or-
• mond having, before his withdrawing beyond fea,
thought fit to refign the place of chancellor of that
univerfity, they could not better exprefs their gratitude,
both to his grace and his noble ancestors, than by
chufing his brother the earl of Arran, in his grace's
room. The univerfity concluded this demonftration of
their difaffection, by conferring the degrees of doctor of
laws on Sir John Everard, a nonjuror, and on Sir Wil-
liam Gifford, late governor of Greenwich hofpital. Not
many days after, a letter from a young gentleman at Ox-
ford to his friend in London, falling into other hands,
by reaſon of a fimilitude of names, the following particulars
were found in it: I think myſelf very happy in being
• fettled in this fo loyal a place, and only want your good
company to compleat it; for here we fear nothing, but
drink james's health every day. The prince thought to
have been made chancellor, and by that to have been a
bifhop, but, thank God, he was difappointed."
<
6
,
C
The
OF ENGLAND.
423
The government being informed of all that paffed at 1715.
Oxford, and in particular, that colonel Owen, with fomen
other broken officers, Irifh papifts, and feveral notorious.
jacobites, having taken fanctuary in that place, fomented
the fpirit of rebellion, drinking publickly and uncontrolled
the pretender's health; and it being juftly fufpected, that
they defigned an infurrection, in order to act in conjunc-
tion with the difaffected at Bristol and Bath, with whom
they held intelligence, it was refolved to fecure their per-
fons. Major-general Pepper being diſcharged with this com-
miffion, fent one of his officers, diſguiſed in a country-
man's habit, to Oxford, to get intelligence, and view the
avenues and principal pofts in the town; and then began
to move himſelf, with his own regiment of dragoons, and
a detachment of Tyrrel's, bending his march towards
Bath and Bristol. But, on the 5th of October, being
come within feven or eight miles of Oxford, inftead of
refting, he marched all night, and entered the city very
early in the morning. Having caufed his men to alight,
and fix their bayonets in the muzzles of their fuzees, he
immediately fecured all the avenues and the gates of every
inn and publick houfe; and then fent one of his officers to
the vice-chancellor and the mayor of the town, to deſire to
fpeak with them. They having readily obeyed the fum-
mons, general Pepper delivered to them a letter from Mr
fecretary Stanhope, and, in a few words, acquainted them
with his orders to feize fixteen or eighteen fufpected perfons;
adding, That their concurring affiftance would be very
acceptable to the government; otherwife, that he must
be obliged to proceed to fuch methods, as ſhould beft
execute his orders.' The vice-chancellor and the mayor,
furprized at this unexpected fight of foldiers, readily pro-
mifed the general all the affiftance in their power, and of-
fered to provide him quarters for his men; which was not
accepted, becauſe their ſtay was to be very fhort. The
vice-chancellor in particular, who fome days before had
boldly delivered a long oration in praife of a nobleman at-
tainted by act of parliament, now trembling, and in the
utmoſt confufion, made large profeffions of loyalty and af-
fection to his majeſty. General Pepper told him, the only
proof of thofe profeffions, which he deſired at prefent, was,
that he fhould keep the fellows and fcholars quiet in their
colleges; declaring to him, at the fame time, that if any dif
turbance happened, or if any perfons affembled in the
freets, above the number allowed by the act of parliament
ง
<
6
Dd 4
against
424
HISTORY
THE
1715.
A defign on
againſt riots, he would cauſe his men to fire upon them.
The vice-chancellor promifed all, and even more than was
defired; fo the officers appointed by general Pepper began
to ſearch for the men, whom they had orders to appre-
hend. But the chief of them, colonel Owen, who lay
that night at the Grayhound-inn, having timely notice
from the oftler of the arrival of the king's troops, leaped
over a wall in his night-gown, and got into Magdalen-
college, where general Pepper did not think proper to
fearch for him, rightly judging it would be in vain. Of
the other ſuſpected perfons, ten or eleven were taken ; the
principal of whom were Mr Gordon, Mr Ker, Mr Dor-
rel, Mr Wilfon, captain Halstead, Mr Spelman of Nor-
folk, Lloyd, the famous jacobite coffee-man at Charing-
Crofs (who had formerly followed the fame employment at
Dublin) and one who pretended to be a poftman, in the
lining of whofe coat were found letters, which he was
bringing fom the confpirators at Bath to their correfpon-
dents at Oxford. They alfo feized two horſes with fine
furniture, belonging to colonel Owen, which were faid to
have formerly been the duke of Ormond's: as likewife the
hofes and warlike accoutrements of feveral others. As
foon as the officers had made what fearch they thought
proper, and refreſhed their men, general Pepper caufed
them to mount, and marched out of town with his prifon-
ers towards Abingdon. It might have been expected,
that the univerfity and city of Oxford would have taken
warning from this fhort military vifit; but upon informa-
tion, that the difaffected there perfifted in their difreſpectful
behaviour towards the king's perfon and government, and
even that a traiterous defign was carrying on to feize that
city for the pretender, for which purpoſe a regiment was
to be formed of the young ftudents, under proper officers,
who fecretly reforted to Oxford; the court thought fit to
order Handafyde's regiment of foot to be quartered there.
Accordingly, they marched thither on the 28th of Octo-
ber; and their arrival was the more feaſonable, as, the
very night before, the rabble had the infolence to proclaim
the pretender, and to commit feveral outrages againſt the
well-affected.
The defign upon Bristol having mifcarried, a project was
Plymouth laid to feize on Plymouth. But this was alfo prevented
prevented.
by timely fecuring feveral fufpected perfons, particularly
Sir Richard Vivian, who was brought to London the 8th of
October in custody of a meffenger.
1
The
OF ENGLAN D.
425
1715.
The preten-
der proclaim-
Infurrection
The common people in Cornwal were at this time fo ripe
for rebellion, that fix or feven of them ventured to pro-
claim the pretender at St. Colombe, two of whom were
feized, and a reward of 100l. each was offered by the go-ed in Corn-
vernment for apprehending the reſt. However, by the wal.
great care and vigilance of Mr Bofcawen, comptroller of
the houſhold, all things were kept quiet in thoſe parts.
The difaffected in the North of England were more fuc- in Northum-
ceſsful than their brethren in the Weft. There had been berland.
meaſures concerted at London by the pretender's friends Patten.
fome time before the infurrection in Northumberland broke
out; which received great affiftance from captain John
Shaftoe, an half-pay officer, afterwards executed at Prefton,
and captain John Hunter, of North Tyne in Northumber-
land, who had a commiffion from queen Anne to raiſe an
independent company, but did not. Befides thefe, there
was one captain Robert Talbot, an Iriſhman, and a papiſt,
formerly in the French fervice, who, being acquainted with
the defign, in Auguft, 1715, took fhipping at London, and
went to Newcastle. By Talbot the refolutions, taken at
London, were firft communicated to their friends in the
North of England, and means uſed to perfuade and prepare
thofe, who had been engaged by them, to be ready to rife
upon warning given.
A correſpondence and intelligence were now fettled with
all the confpirators in the feveral parts of Britain. But,
as this was a correfpondence of too much importance to be
carried on by the ordinary conveyance of letters, there were
feveral gentlemen from fundry parts in the kingdom riding
from place to place as travellers, under pretence of feeing
the country, and thereby carrying intelligence, difcourfing
with perfons, and fettling and appointing their buſineſs.
The principal men intrufted with thefe negotiations were
colonel Oxburgh, Mr Nicholas Wogan, Mr Charles
Wogan, and Mr James Talbot, all Irish, papifts. A fe-
cond class of agents confifted of Mr Clifton, brother of
Sir Gervafe Clifton, and Mr Beaumont, both gentlemen.
of Nottinghamshire, and Mr Buxton, a clergyman of
Derbyshire. All thefe rid like gentlemen, with fervants
and attendants, and were armed with fwords and piftols.
They kept always moving, and travelled from place to
place, till things ripened for action. The firſt ſtep towards
their appearing in arms was, when about the latter end of
September, the earl of Derwentwater had notice, that
there was a warrant out from the fecretary of state to appre-
hend
$26
HISTORY
THE
1715. hend him, and that the meffengers were come to Durham,
who were to take him. The earl went to the houſe of one
Mr B-n in his neighbourhood, a justice of the peace,
who, if he had been well affected to the government, or
had regarded that lord's real intereft, might have honour-
ably enough taken him, or at leaſt pcrfuaded him to furren→
der, which, it is prefumed, would not have been a difficult.
matter. Hence the earl is fuppofed to have gone to the
houſe of one Richard Lambert, which was thought more
private, and leſs fufpected. Mr Thomas Forfter junior,
knight of the fhire for Northumberland, against whom a
warrant was likewife iffued out, having notice of it, went
from place to place, till at last he came to the houſe of Mr
Fenwick of Bywell. The meffenger in purſuit of him was
come within half a mile of that place; but ſtaying to
call for a conftable to his aid, Mr Forfter found time
to eſcape. Upon this there was a full meeting of
the parties concerned in Northumberland; where con-
fidering all the circumftances of their friends, and of
the intereft they were embarked in, they judged that,
as there was no longer any fafety in fhifting from
place to place, in a few days they fhould all be fecured
and confined in prifons, or conveyed to London; that, as
they ſhould be ſeparately confined, ſo they ſhould be ſepa-
rately examined, and none could fay what the other fhould
anfwer; fo that, for fear of betraying one another, they
ſhould be really brought to do it; that now was the time
to fhew their loyalty to their king, fince, if this oppor-
tunity were loft, they had no room to hope for another;
and therefore they boldly refolved immediately to appear in
arms. Purſuant to this refolution an appointment was
made, and notice of it ſent to all their friends, to meet the
next morning, at a place called Green-rig. Accordingly
Mr Forfter, with feveral gentlemen, in number at firft
about twenty, met at the rendezvous, but made no ftay,
thinking the place inconvenient, but rode immediately to the
top of a hill called the Waterfalls; from whence they might
difcover any, that came either to join or oppoſe, them.
They quickly diſcovered the earl of Derwentwater, who
came that morning from his feat at Dilfton, with fome
fiiends, and all his fervants, mounted upon his coach-
horſes, and all very well armed. In coming from Dilfton
Hall, they all drew their fwords as they marched along
Corbridge. They halted at the feat of Mr Errington,
where feveral other gentlemen according to appointment
oa. 6.
came
OF
427
ENGLAND.
6
came to the lord Derwentwater. When they had joined
Mr Forfter and his compary, they were in all about fixty
horſe, moft gentlemen and their attendants. They called
a fhort council, and it was concluded to march towards the
river Coquett, to a place called Plainfield.
Here they
were joined by others, and having made fome ftay, they re-
folved to go that night to Rothbury, a ſmall market-town.
They ftaid there all night; and next morning, being the
7th of October, their number ftill increafing, they marched.
to Warkworth, another market-town upon the fea-coaft,
of a ſtrong fituation. Here they continued till Monday,
during which time nothing material happened, except that
on Sunday morning Mr Forſter, who now ftiled himſelf
general, fent Mr Buxton their chaplain to Mr Ion, the
minifter of the parish, with orders for him, to pray for
the pretender as king, and in the litany, for Mary queen-
mother, and all the dutiful branches of the royal family;
which Mr Ion declining, Mr Buxton took poffeffion of the
church, read prayers, and preached. In the mean while
Mr Ion went to Newcastle to confult his own ſafety, and
acquaint the government with what had happened. The
next thing they did, was openly to proclaim the pretender
as king of Great- Britain, &c. It was done by Mr Forfter
in difguife, and by found of trumpet, and all the formality,
that the circumftances and place would admit. On Mon-
day the 10th of October they marched to Morpeth, having
been joined at Felton-Bridge by ſeventy Scots horſe, or ra-
ther gentlemen from the borders. They had been confider-
ably increaſed before, in their march from Warkworth, at
Alnwick, and other places, fo that, at their entering Mor-
peth, they were three hundred ftrong, all horfe, for they
would entertain no foot; otherwife their number would
have been very large: but as they neither had nor could
provide arms for thofe they had mounted, they gave the com-
mon people good words, and told them, they fhould foon
be furniſhed with arms and ammunition, and then they
would lift regiments to form an army. This was upon the
expectation of furprizing Newcaſtle, in which cafe they did
not queſtion to have as many foot as they pleafed. Here
Mr Forfter received an account, that Mr Lancelot Er-
rington and fome others had furprized the caftle in Holy
Ifland, which is a fmall fort guarded by a few foldiers fent
weekly from the garrifon at Berwick. Errington undifco-
vered took boat and went to fea, and with his companions
landed under the cover of the wall, and got into the fort by
furprize;
1715.
428
THE HIS OTRY
}
1715. furprize; though he kept the poffeffion but a very fhort
time, for the governor of Berwick, having an immediate
account of the action, and reſolving, if poffible, to recover
the place before Errington could be ſupplied with men and
proviſions, detached a party of thirty men of his garriſon
with about fifty volunteers of the inhabitants, who march-
ing over the fands at low-water-mark, attacked the fort,
and took it ſword in hand: Errington himſelf attempting to
make his eſcape was wounded and taken prifoner, with fe-
veral others; but he with his brother afterwards eſcaped.
out of Berwick in difguife. The defign of taking this fort,
was to give fignals to any fhips that feemed to make to
the coast to land foldiers; for, by the affurances they had
from their friends beyond fea, they expected them to land
on that coaſt with fupplies of arms and officers; but they
came not till they were gone for Scotland; and then two
fhips appeared off at fea, and made their fignal, but, having
no anſwer from the fhore, they failed northward.
The rebellion was now formed, and they were all in a
body at Morpeth, promifing themſelves great things at
Newcaſtle. Several gentlemen joined them, and fome of
the country people offered to lift; but they ſtill refuſed
them, and prepared to march to Newcaſtle. Before they
went on, Mr Buxton the clergyman, taking on himſelf the
office of a herald, proclaimed the pretender. Having fent a
party to feize Felton-bridge, they marched towards New-
caftle, and to their great difappointment found the gates
fhut against them. Upon this, they turned to the weft-
ward, and marched to Hexham, where they were joined
by fome more Scots horfe. From Hexham they all went
three miles diftant, to a heath or moor adjoining to Dilſton,
the earl of Derwentwater's feat, and there there made an halt,
with deſign, as it was thought, to go and furpriſe New-
caſtle; but they foon returned to their former quarters,
having certain intelligence from their friends in Newcaſtle,
that, even before any regular forces entered the town, the
magiftrates and deputy-lieutenants, having had firſt ſome
fufpicion, and foon after pofitive intelligence of the defign
of the rebels, had effectually prevented a furprize, and
taken all imaginable precaution for their fecurity, raifing
immediately what men they could, feizing all papiſts and
fufpected perfons, arming the inhabitants for their own de-
fence; and taking into the town the militia, who about
that time, were ordered to mufter at Killingworth. The
earl of Scarborough, lord-lieutenant of Northumberland,
re-
}
OF ENGLAND.
429*
repaired likewife with his friends to Newcastle; and the gen-
try of thoſe parts, after his example, mounted their neigh-
bours and tenants; fo that the town was full of horſes and
men, both townfmen and country-men unanimouſly declar-
ing for king George. However, the chiefs of the rebels
having great intereft in that place, the inhabitants were
not altogether without fear; nor were the high-party in
the town without the folly of diſcovering their affection
for the rebels at Hexham, and even uſing ſome threaten-
ing expreffions. This was, perhaps, partly the occafion of
laying afide the former divifions and prejudices between
the well-affected inhabitants as churchmen and diffenters.
The latter chearfully offering, and the former freely accept-
ing the offer, an affociation was entered into by both, for
the mutual defence of their lives and eftates; and a body
of ſeven hundred volunteers were armed by the town for
their immediate guard without diſtinction. The keelmen,
being moftly diffenters, offered a body of feven hundred
more, to be always ready at half an hour's warning;
which was alſo accepted. In the midft of this hurry, a
battalion of foot, and part of a regiment of dragoons, hav-
ing been ordered out of Yorkſhire for the fecurity of the
town, came to Newcaſtle; and then all the fears of the
inhabitants vaniſhed. A few days after, lieutenant-general
Carpenter having been fent by the government in purſuit
of the rebels with Hotham's regiment of foot, and Cobham's,
Molefworth's, and Churchill's dragoons, arrived alfo at
Newcaſtle the 18th of October, and began to prepare for
attacking the rebels at Hexham. In the mean time the
rebels, who ftaid but three days at Hexham, feized all the
arms and horfes they could meet with, and the night be-
fore they left the town, they all drew up round the croſs
in the market-place, and proclaimed the pretender. They
had received advice, that the lord vifcount Kenmure, the
earls of Nithifdale, Carnwath, and Wintoun, who had taken
arms in Nithifdale, Dumfries-fhire, and other places in
the weft of Scotland, were entered England to join them,
and were come to Rothbury. The lord Kenmure, the
only nobleman in that part of Scotland capable of com-
manding, was follicited by the earl of Mar to take up
arms for the pretender, and to command fuch forces, as
would join him on that fide the Forth. He at firit re-
fufed this offer, but, being importuned by the jacobites in
that country, was at last prevailed with to fet up the pre-
tender's ftandard at Moifat in Annandale on the 12th of
October.
1715.
430
THE
HISTORY
1715. October. The next day the body, who joined him, march-
ed towards Dumfries, with defign to furprize that town;
but the marquis of Annandale, whom they had followed the
day before, having none but his fervants with him, entered
the town, and concerted fuch meafures, as difappointed.
their defign. This obliged the rebels to alter their route,
and after great difputes they agreed at laft to march to
Loughmaben, where they fet up their ftandard, and pro-
claimed the pretender. On the 14th they marched to
Achelfechen, and on their march, being in all near two
hundred horſe, they were formed into a regiment, divided
into two fquadrons, the chief command remaining with the
lord Kenniure, and each fquadron under the earls of Win-
toun and Carnwath. Hence they marched regularly, and
fent their quarter- mafter-general Mr Calderwood to take
up quarters for them. Next day they came to Langholm,
and fo on to Hawick, their numbers increafing in the way.
At this place they were alarmed, which raiſed fome dif-
putes, whether they fhould proceed. They agreed at laſt to
return; but receiving an exprefs from Mr Forſter about
two miles from Hawick towards Langholm, inviting the
lord Kenmure and his followers to meet him at Rothbury,
they faced about, and marched that night to Jedburgh.
Here they received intelligence of Mackintosh's croffing
the Forth, and the duke of Argyles refolution to attack
them. In their march to Jedburgh, they were extremely
alarmed; for being late, their advanced guard was fur-
prized by the fhouts of one, who called out, that the grey
horſe were ready to fall upon them, and had cut the quarter-
mafter, and thoſe with him, to pieces. They, who
were acquainted with the quarter-mafter, affuring the lord
Kenmure, he would by no means be ſo eaſily infnared,
they continued their march, and entered the town with-
out oppofition. Here, as in most other towns, they pro-
claimed the pretender; and the next day proceeded to
Rothbury; and from thence difpatched Mr Burnet of
Carlips to Hexham to Mr Forfter, to know, whether he
would come towards them, or they fhould advance? For-
fter returned an exprefs, that he would join them. Upon
this, and the news that general Carpenter was preparing
to attack them, the Northumberland rebels marched out of
Hexham on the 19th of October, and making a long
march joined the Scots that night, and all of them next
day marched to Woller. Being informed there by Mr
Errington, that the highlanders, who had croffed the Forth
under
OF ENGLAN D.
43L
under Mackintosh, were coming to join them, they march-
ed to Kelſo in Scotland.
1715.
The heads of
the difaffec-
burgh.
During theſe proceedings of the Engliſh rebels, the prin-
cipal perfons, who were either in rebellion with the earl ted fummon-
of Mar, or juſtly fufpected of being difaffected to the go- ed to Edin-
vernment, were, purfuant to the late act, ordered, as has
been faid, to appear at Edinburgh, and furrender them-
felves (o). Of all that were fummoned, only two fur-
rendered themfelves; Sir Alexander Erfkine and Sir Patrick
Murray, who were both fecured in the caftle of Edin-
burgh. The reft not appearing were denounced rebels.
The duke of Argyle arrived at Edinburgh the 14th of Sep-
tember. He went the next day and viewed the caſtle, and
appointed Brigadier Grant to command it, till the arrival
of brigadier Prefton the deputy governor.
the earl of
The earl of Mar and his party, after having proclaimed Progrefs of
the pretender at Kirk-Michael, on the 9th of September, › Mar.
continued there four or five days, and then proceeded to
Moulin, another fmall market-town in Perthshire, where
they likewife proclaimed the pretender, and refted fourteen
(0) The perfons fummoned
were:
The marquis of Huntley, el-
deft fon to the duke of Gordon;
the earls of Seaforth, Wintoun,
Carnwath, Southefk, Nithfdale,
Linlithgow, Mar, Kinnoul, Pan-
mure, Marifchal, Broadalbin ;
the viſcounts of Kenmure, Stor-
mount, Kilsyth, Kingſton,
Strathallan; the lords Ogilvie,
Rollo, Drummond, Nairn, Glen-
orchy; Sir James Campbel of
Auchenbrech, Sir Duncan
Campbel of Lochnel, Sir Don-
ald Macdonald, Sir Patrick
Murray of Auchtertyre. Sir
Hugh Paterſon of Bonnokburn,
Sir Alexander Erskine, lord Ly-
on, Sir John Maclean; lieuten-
ant-general George Hamilton;
the master of Stormount, the
maſter of Nairn, Mr Alexander
Mackenzie of Fraferdale, James
Stirling of Keir, Robert Stuart
of Appin, John Campbel of
of
Actrabalder, William Murray,
junr of Auchter tyre, Alexander
Robinſon of Strowan; the lairds
of Mackinnan, Clanronold,
Glenghary, Keppoch, William
Drummond, fervant to the lord
Drummond, Mr Seaton
Touch, lieutenant Allen Camer-
on, Rob Roy, alias Mac Gregor,
Mr Stuart of Ard, Mr Francis
Stuart, brother to the earl of
Murray, John Cameron of
Lochiell, Mr John Fullerton of
Greenhall, Mackintosh, junr
of Borlam, James Malcom, Mr
Henry Maul, brother to the earl
of Panmure, John Walkinfhaw
of Barrowfield, Colin Campbel
of Glenderule
Graham
of Bucklivy, George Hume of
Whitfield, Mr John Drummond,
brother to the lord Drummond,
Lyon of Auchterhouſe, colonel
Balfour, the mafter of Balfour,
and Bethune of Balfour.
days,
432
THE HISTORY
1715. days, confiderably increafing their numbers. From hence
they marched to Logaret, another market-town, where
they were reckoned to be a thousand men well armed.
From Logaret they marched to Dunkeld, which they made
their head quarters; and here their numbers greatly in-
creafed again, for they were joined by two thouſand men
from the highlands, by the marquis of Tullibardine, by the
earl of Broadalbin's men, and ſeveral others. Finding
themſelves thus ftrengthened, they refolved to extend their
quarters; and the earl of Mar having intelligence, that
the earl of Rothes and the gentlemen of Fife (who were
up in arms for the king) were advancing to poffefs them-
felves of Perth, which commands the paffage over the
Tay, refolved to prevent them; and detached Mr John
Hay, brother to the earl of Kinnoul, with a ſtrong party,
with orders to poffefs himſelf of that place, which he
performed effectually. As this was a great diſappointment
to the king's troops, fo it was a very great advantage to
the earl of Mar, as it gave him the command of all Fife,
the most fruitful, rich, and, for the convenience of the
fea-coaft, the most commodious to him of any fhire in that
part of Scotland; and as it gave a confiderable reputation
both to his conduct and to his party, who, upon this fuc-
cefs, made preparations in all parts to join him.
now they began to have the face of a formidable army,
making this city their chief garrifon and head-quarters. A
great many lords, chiefs of clans, and other gentlemen
from all quarters flocked to them, with their followers, and
fome of them in very good order, and well armed, parti-
cularly the marquis of Huntley, the earl of Seaforth, the
Mackintofhes, the earl Marifchal, and with them fo
many, that their number was faid to be about twelve
thouſand men, very well appointed, both horfe and foot.
And
From thence extending their quarters, they performed
an exploit at Brunt-Ifland, which ftill added to their repu-
tation. They not only furprized the town, being ftrong
by fituation, and a fea-port on the firth of Forth, in a view
of the city of Edinburgh; but, manning out fome boats
in the harbour, they feized a fhip loaden with arms, ammu-
nition, and other warlike ftores, which lay in the firth,
bound to the north, for the ufe of the earl of Suther-
land.
After this, they made themſelves masters of all the towns
upon the coaſt, even to the mouth of the firth, the earl
of
OF
433
ENGLAND.
}
of Rothes, and the gentlemen with him, being obliged to 1715.
ſeparate, or retire to Stirling, to the king's army.
The rebellion being come to this height, the earl of
Mar refolved, in concert with his confederates (who began
by this time to appear likewiſe in other places) to make an at-
tempt upon the fouth parts of Scotland, by a method,
which at that time was thought almoft impracticable. He
ſent a ſtrong detachment to cross the firth of Forth, and
land on the Lothian fide, in order to be joined by their
friends, whom they expected to raife about Haddington,
and on the borders of England. On their march to the
fea-coaft they were covered by fome horfe under the com-
mand of Sir John Aerfkine of Alva, the mafter of Sinclar,
and Sir James Sharp, grandfon to archbiſhop Sharp, who
was murdered in his coach by the old Cameronians. This
body was commanded by the laird of Barlum, better known
by the name of brigadier Mackintosh, and confifted of
two thouſand five hundred men well armed. Orders had
been given for all the boats on that fide to be ready to car-
ry them over. The king's fhips in the firth either feeing
them, or having notice of the defign, prepared to inter-
cept them, if they fhould attempt the paffage; but the re-
bels made feveral countermarches to amuſe them till night
came on; when, drawing down to the fhore, feveral im-
barked that night, and others the next, making directly
over to the fouth fhore, the men of war not being able to
prevent them. However one boat was taken with fifty
Others were forced back to Fife again; among
whom lord Strathmore, and his lieutenant-colonel Walkin
fhaw of Barrowfield, and many were driven into the iſle
of May. Of the two thousand five hundred defigned for
this deſcent upon the Lothians, only one thousand five
hundred of them landed; for the men of war being come
down made it impracticable for the reft to pafs; fo they
were obliged to ſtay till the next night, and then to return
to Criel on the fhore of Fife. The others landed at North
Berwick, Aberlady, and other places on that coaft, and
quartered at Haddington and Tranent the first night. This
was certainly a bold attempt, for men in open boats to
croſs an arm of the fea fixteen or feventeen miles broad, in
fight, and in defiance of three men of war, among whom
they fell, but received no damage from them, but rather
an advantage; for the lights of the fhips fhewed them
how to row to the fhore. On the other hand, the go-
vernment omitted nothing, that might prevent this at-
VOL. VI.
E e
tempt;
men.
}
THE
HISTORY
434
1715. tempt; no care was wanting to diſappoint them of veffels
for the undertaking: the magiftrates of Edinburgh, and
of the other towns on the Edith, having had notice from
the duke of Argyle of this defign, had caufed all the boats,
that could be got, to be brought to Leith; and befides the
three fhips of war, that lay in the road, ordered three cuf-
tom-houſe ſmacks, either to burn or bring over from Fife
all the boats and veffels they could find, to prevent the re-
bels coming over. But all theſe precautions proved inef
fectual: the rebels being mafters of all the fea-fhore from
Cromarty to the forth of Edinburgh, eafily found means.
to get boats for their purpoſe; nor did they fail of all ne-
ceffary policy in the management of the defign; for, whilſt
fome of them amufed the king's fhips about Brunt-Inland,
as if they would pafs above Leith-road, their main body
imbarked on the other fide, under the conduct of briga-
dier Mackintosh, quite out of fight of the fhips; and by
that means came ſafe afhore.
Oct. 14.
While this deſign was executing, the earl of Mar made a
feigned march from Perth towards Dumblain, as if he in-
tended to cross the Forth at Stirling-bridge, in order to
divert the duke of Argyle from falling upon thofe, who had
croffed the Firth. Nor did this prove ineffectual; for it
obliged the duke of Argyle to return to Stirling with the
utmoſt expedition.
The highlanders, who had thus croffed the firth, hav-
ing refreshed them felves but one night at Haddington,
marched directly towards Edingburgh, where they caufed
more terror than there was real danger; for, unleſs their
number had been greater, it was impoffible for them to
force that city. It was indeed fuppofed, they expected to
be joined by the rabble, and fome tumult would be raifed
in their favour. In the mean time the duke of Argyle
received letters from all hands, that, if he did not fend a
detachment of troops to Edinburgh, the town would cer-
tainly fall into the enemies hands. And therefore, though
it had always been intirely against his opinion to divide the
fmall number of troops he had with him, he was obliged
to comply, and went himſelf with a detachment of three
hundred dragoons, and two hundred foot, mounted on
country horſes for expedition, and arrived at Edinburgh in
the night. The rebels, who were then within four miles.
of the city, hearing of the arrival of this detachment, al-
tered their reſolution of going directly to Edinburgh (which
they would have infallibly taken) and marched into the
citadel
OF
435
ENGLAND.
citadel of Leith (p). The next morning the duke of Ar-
gyle inveſted the town with the cavalry, and marched his
two hundred foot with three hundred and fifty volunteers
from Edinburgh, and the like number of lord Polwarth's
militia, down to the fea-fhore, where, at a large breach
in the old rampart, he judged it eafy to enter; but, taking
a near view of the place, he found, that, to come at the
breach, the men muſt march at leaſt five hundred paces
under a flank-fire; that the rebels had made a barricade
along the breach; and that a garden-wall on the infide
flanked it. Theſe things made the duke unwilling to ex-
pofe his few regular troops, though they fhewed a great
eagerness to affault. The rebels in the citadel were about
one thousand two hundred; and the reft, that paffed the
river, being in Eaft Lothian, the duke thought fit to delay
any attempt, and confider of fome proper method to dif-
lodge them. But in the middle of the night they aban-
doned the place, and retired into Seaton-houfe, a large old
and ftrong castle, feven miles from Edinburgh, leaving be-
hind them fome baggage and ammunition. Thirty-fix of
their men and two officers, were taken by a detachment
under colonel Dubourgay."
1715.
Whilft the rebels were in Seaton-houſe, feveral of the oct. 16.
king's forces, joined by the well affected gentlemen of the
country, came from Edinburgh, and appeared near Pref-
ton-Pans; which gave an alarm to the highlanders; upon
which a party marched out, and formed themſelves in or-
der to receive thofe, who appeared against them.
But
thoſe from Edinburgh, having made a halt, retired; and
the rebels returned into their garrifon at Seaton-houſe.
The next day, the earl of Rothes, with three hundred gen- Oct. 17.
tlemen volunteers, and the lord Torpichen with two hun-
dred dragoons, left by the duke of Argyle, marched to
Seaton-houſe; but found the rebels fo ftrongly pofted,
that it was impoffible to diflodge them without artillery.
This animated the rebels; and a good body of them ad-
vancing, fome hot were exchanged, but at too great a
diftance to do any harm on either fide; and the king's
troops, feeing nothing could be done, retired.
The duke of Argyle having received intelligence from
Stirling, that the earl of Mar, and the rebels under his
(R) This citadel is a fuqare with a large dry ditch about it,
fort, with four demi-baftions, never entirely demoliſhed.
built in Oliver Cromwell's time,
E e 2
com-
436
THE HISTORY
1715. command, were marching from Perth, he returned to
Stirling to obferve their motions, leaving a party to protect
the people of Edinburgh from the infults of the rabble.
This was a feigned march of the earl of Mar, to draw the
duke of Argyle from attempting any thing upon the high-
landers, who had croffed the Firth. He gave, out, that he
would pass the Forth with his whole army, either at Stir-
ling, or at the bridge of Down. They, began their march
in the night of October the 17th, and advanced in three
bodies; but upon notice, that the duke of Argyle was re-
turned from purfuing the enemy, he marched back to Perth.
All this was an amuſement, which indeed fucceeded; for he
broke the meaſures of the duke, who had refolved to attack
Seaton-houſe. But the earl was determined not to cross
the Forth till he had drawn all the clans together, and re-
duced the earl of Sutherland, whom if he fhould leave in
his rear, it might prove fatal to his defigns, and expofe
all he had gained without oppofition to be recovered by that
lord.
Oct. 18.
Oct. 19.
+
The highlanders ftill continued at Seaton-houſe, and
fent out parties to bring in provifions, of which they pro-
cured great plenty, as cows, fheep, meal, &c. They
gave out, they refolved to fortify themfelves, and make
the houſe a magazine, while they raiſed an army, as well
from the adjacent country, and from Edinburgh, and from
other friends to their defign in the Weft part of Scotland,
who were preparing to join them, as from the borders of
England, where by this time numbers were rifen in Nor-
thumberland.
While they ftaid here, they difcovered a boat at fea,
making towards the fhore from the Fife-fide of the Firth.
The men of war fired very brifkly at her; but, the boat
keeping to the windward at a distance, fhe got fafe to fhore.
This boat had been fent by the rebels from Leith to the
earl of Mar, and now brought back news concerning the
proceedings of their friends at Perth, and orders to march
Immedi-
towards England, to join the Northumbrians.
ately, after the receiving of thefe orders, two gentlemen
brought them an account of the infurrection in Northum-
berland under the command of Mr Forfter, and of the
fouthern Scots gentlemen under the lord Kenmure. Upon
this they altered their refolution of continuing at Seaton-
houſe; and having alfo received an exprefs from Mr Forf-
ter, inviting them to meet him at Kelfo on the borders,
they refolved to march the next day towards him... Accord
ingly
OF ENGLAND.
437
ingly they fet out in the morning for Lonformachus, a fmall 1715.
town ſeventeen miles from Seaton-houfe. During this day's
march, feveral highlanders deferted. As foon as major-
general Wightman received intelligence of their motion,
he marched from Edinburgh with eighty dragoons, fifty of
the militia, and fome volunteers, to attack their rear; but
returned in the evening without fuccefs, having only taken
fome of the deferters, whom he made prifoners, and left
fifty foot in Seaton-houſe, where they had left a great deal
of their ſpoil. Mackintoſh and his men marched from
Lonformachus, towards another fmall town in the Mers
called Dunfe, where they drew up in order of battle,
whilft the pretender was proclaimed, retiring afterwards to
their quarters in that town. The next morning, they Oct. 22,
marched towards Kelfo, where the English and Scots horfe
from Northumberland and Nithifdale entered the fame
evening. The next day they proclaimed the pretender,
and continued there till the 27th of October (q). It will
(q) Mr Patten gives the fol-
lowing account of the ftate of
the rebels, at their junction at
Kelfo :
The lord viſcount Kenmure
had the chief command whilft
in Scotland. He was a grave,
full-aged gentleman, of a very
antient family, and of great ex-
perience in political bufinefs,
but of little or none in military
affairs. He was of a fingular
good temper, but too mild and
calm for fuch a poft. He had
a troop of gentlemen with him,
which, as he was general, was
called the first troop, the com-
mand of which he gave to the
honourable Bazil Hamilton of
Beldoun, fon to the lord Bazil
Hamilton, brother to the late
duke Hamilton, a very promi-
fing youth, and who behaved
himfelf with a great deal of
courage in the action at Prefton,
tho' but very young.
The fecond troop was called
the Merfe troop, commanded
now
by the honourable James Hume,
Efq; brother to the earl of
Hume, who, at that time, was
prifoner in Edinburgh caftle.
This youth is of a good tem-
per, but not very capable of
having the command of a troop,
as well on account of his age,
as other incapacities. He was
tried at the Marfhalfea, and
found guilty.
The third troop, called the
earl of Wintoun's troop, and
commanded by himſelf. This
earl is of a very antient family.
wants no courage, and has more
capacity than his friends find it
for his intereft to fuggeft, as
appears by the counfel he gave.
He oppoſed the ſcheme of the
Northumbrian gentlemen to
march into England, and preí-
fed them to leave Edinburgh
and Stirling to their fate, and go
and join the western clans, at-
tacking in their way the towns
of Dumfries and Glaſgow, and
then to open a communication
E e 3
with
438
HISTORY
THE
1
1715.
now be proper to ſee what was doing in other parts of
Scotland.
The fynods of Glaſgow, Air, Perth, Stirling, Merſe,
and Tiviotdale had very early publiſhed earneft admonitions
with the earl of Mar. Had
this advice been followed, it
would, very probably, have
proved very advantageous. The
command of his troop he af-
figned, under himſelf, to cap-
tain James Dalziel, brother to
the earl of Carnwarth, who
had been in king George's fer
vic formerly, and continued an
half pay officer for ſome time;
but, upon engaging in the re-
bellion, he threw up his com-
miffion; which piece of policy
was the faving of his life, and
prevented his being fhot to
death at Preſton, by fentence
of the court-martial, among the
half pay officers He was a
very bold and brave young gen-
tleman, and fhewed it upon all
occafions
The fourth troop belonged
to Robert Dalziel, earl of
Carnwarth: this nobleman was
brought up under the tuition of
one, who made it his ftudied
care to inftil the principles of
hereditary right, paffive obe-
dience, and non refiftance into
his mind He ftudied fome
time at Cambridge, and there
fucked in an entire affection for
the liturgy and worſhip in uſe
in the church of England, of
which he was a fincere devo-
tee. He is fingularly good in
his temper, and of an agree-
able affability, and delivers
himſelf very handfomely in his
difcourfe. The command of
this troop he gave over to his
uncle James Dalziel, Efq. This
to
gentleman had a very good
character, and gave fufficient
demonſtrations of his affections
to the pretender's interefts, by
his courage and conduct.
The fifth troop was under
the command of captain Lock-
hart, brother to Mr Lockhart
of Carnwarth: he was a half-
pay officer in the lord Mark
Ker's regiment, and as ſuch tri-
ed at Preſton, by a court-mar-
tial; by which being found
guilty of defertion, he, with
three more, were fhot to death
there.
Theſe troops were well man-
ned, and indifferently armed;
but many of their horfes fmall:
befides thefe, there were many
volunteers, who were not form-
ed into any regular troop.
The fix regiments defigned to
cross the Forth were:
First, the earl Strath-
more's; but he, and his lieu-
tenant colonel Walkinshaw of
Barrowfield, were forced back
in their paffage by the king's
men of war, with feveral others,
and obliged to go on fhore in
the iſle of May.
This regi-
ment was not in highland-drefs,
as the others were. This lord
was a hearty friend of the pre-
tender's, and had, fome time.
before this rebellion broke out,
given it under his hand, that
he would be ready, the firft op-
portunity, to rife and affift to
eftabliſh him upon the throne.
This paper, which was figned
by feveral others, was lodged
in
OF ENGLAND.
439
to perfons of all ranks, to animate them to the defence of 1715.
king George and the conftitution.
ray comes
On the 28th of September, Mr James Murray, fecond James Mur.
ſon of the lord viscount Stourmont, arrived incognito at over as fecre-
Edinburgh tary to the
in the hands of colonel Hookes,
to be by him tranfported into
France.
The fecond regiment was the
earl of Mar's, which came not
entire over the Forth; for only
major Forbes, with three cap-
tains and three lieutenants, were
taken at Preſton, the reft were
driven back by the men of
war.
The third, Logie Drum-
mond's. This regiment came
not entire over the Forth, being
driven back on the Fife fide,
with many more: for, of the
two thouſand five hundred de-
figned to cross the Firth, the
better half were prevented. He
that had the command of this
regiment was one of thoſe that
figned an anſwer to monfieur
de Torcy's queſtions, which
gave a diſtinct reſolution to each
query, containing a full account
of the ſtate of affairs; particu-
laily an account of the incli-
nations of the people, to ven-
ture all for the chevalier's fer-
vice this was when the people
of Scotland were diffatisfied
about the union, in the year
1707. This paper was likewife
lodged in the hands of colonel
Hookes, to be by him tranfpor-
ted into France.
The fourth, the lord Nairn's,
brother to the duke of Athol
but by marrying an heireſs, ac-
cording to the cuſtom of Scot-
land, changed his own name
for her's he came over the
he came over the
Firth with a good many of his
he
men. He is a gentleman well
beloved in his country, and by
all that had the advantage to
be acquainted with him
had formerly been at fea, and
gave fignal inftances of his bra-
very he was a mighty ſtickler
against the union His fon, who
was lieutenant colonel to lord
Charles, took a great deal of
pains to encourage the highlan-
ders by his own experience, in
their hard marches, and always
went with them on foot thro' the
worſt and deepeſt ways, and in
highland-drefs.
The fifth regiment was com
manded by lord Charles Mur-
ray, a younger ſon of the duke
of Athol: he had been a cor-
net of horſe beyond-fea, and
had gained a mighty good cha-
racter for his bravery, even
temper, and graceful deport-
ment. Upon all the marches,
he could never be prevailed
with to ride, but kept at the
head of his regiment on foot,
in his highland-drefs, without
breeches: he would fcarce ac-
cept of a horfe to cross the ri-
vers, which his men, in that
feafon of the year, forded a-
bove mid-thigh deep in water.
When the rebels furrendered at
Prefton, he was tried for a de-
ferter, being a half-pay officer,
and ſhot.
The fixth regiment was cal
led Mackintosh's battalion, a
relation of the brigadier's, who
is chief of that clan. He
He is
of an antient family, deſcend-
pretender.
E e 4
440
THE HISTORY
1715. Edinburgh from France, by way of England, croffing the
Firth at Newhaven above Leith, got undifcovered into Fife,
and fo to the earl of Mar at Perth. He gave the rebels
large promiſes of affiſtance both from France and England,
ed from the old Thanes of
Fife. His name, in the Irish,
or highland language, difcovers
his defcent; for Tofh fignifies
Thane, and Mac, fon.
His
motto to his coat of arms is
comical as well as remarkable,
Touch not the cat without
your glove;' which coat of
arms is fupported by two wild
cats, and has a cat for the creſt.
The earl of Weems is defcend-
ed from the fame Thane of
Fife; and it is difputed whether
he or Mackintosh are elder,
though certain it is, that the
earl of Weems retains a confi-
derable part of Thane's eftate.
Whether Mackintosh be elder
or younger, he left Fife, and
made a purchaſe in the north,
where his fucceffors have lived
for feveral hundreds of years
in a handſome and fplendid
manner, and married the heir-
efs of Clancattau, whereof
Mackintosh became the head
and chief; which has a great
many tribes or followers, viz.
the Macpherſons, the Farquar-
fons of Brac-Mar, the Mac-
gilroys, the Shaws, Macbeans,
Macqueens,
Smiths, and
Clarks, &c. which, joined to-
gether, make a numerous clan.
The Macpherſons would not
on this occafion follow their
chief, but formed a feparate
body for the pretender. This
regiment came entire over the
Firth. Mackintosh is a gentle-
man that few people expected
in the rebellion, having always
and
appeared on the other fide; but
the perfuafions of the brigadier
prevailed with him. He is a
handſome brave young gentle-
man, of a very confiderable in-
tereft in his own country; for
he can bring into the field up-
on any occafion one thouſand
ftout, hardy, and well armed
men.
The Engliſh were not fo well
regulated, or fo well armed as
the Scots. The troops were :
First, the earl of Derwentwa-
ter's, commanded by his bro
ther Charles Radcliffe, Efq;
and captain John Shaftoe. That
earl being a papiſt, and a rela-
tion of the pretender's, having
it feems had the opportunity of
being perfonally acquainted
with him, all theſe circumftan-
ces unhappily concurred to
draw him into this fnare, to his
deftruction, and the utter ruin
of the most flouriſhing family in
that part of Britain.
It was thought, however, that
this lord did not join either fo
heartily or fo premeditately in
this affair as was expected; for
there is no doubt but he might
have brought far greater num-
bers of men into the field than
he did; the great eftate he pof-
feffed, the money he could
command, his intereft among
the gentlemen, and, which is
above all, his being fo well be-
loved as he was, could not have
failed to have procured him
many hundreds of followers
more than he had, if he had
thought
OF ENGLAN D.
441.
and came with the character of fecretary of state to the
pretender for Scotland.
About this time a ſtrong party of the Macdonalds, Mac-
leans, and Camerons, attempted to ſurpriſe the fortreſs of
Inver-
are
thought fit; for his concerns in
the lead-mines in Alftone-Moor
are very confiderable, where
feveral hundreds of men
employed under him, and get
their bread from him, whom,
there is no doubt, he might
eafily have engaged: befides
this, the fweetneſs of his tem-
per and difpofition, in which he
had few equals, had fo fecured
him the affection of all his te-
nants, neighbours, and depen-
dants, that multitudes would
have lived and died with him:
the truth is, he was a man
formed by nature to be gene-
rally beloved; for he was of fo
univerſal a beneficence, that he
feemed to live for others. As
he lived among his own people,
there he ſpent his eftate, and
continually did offices of kind-
nefs and good neighbourhood
to every body, as opportunity
offered. He kept a houfe of
generous hoſpitality and noble
entertainment, which few in that
country do, and none come up
to.
He was very charitable to
poor and diftreffed families on
all occafions, whether known
to him or not, and whether pa-
pift or proteftant. His fate will
be fenfibly felt by a great many,
who had no kindneſs for the
cauſe he died in, and who hear-
tily wish he had not forwarded
his ruin, and their lofs by his
indifcretion in joining in this
mad as well as wicked under-
taking. If the warrant from
the fecretary's office for appre-
hending him had been made a
greater fecret than it was, he
might have been taken, and fo
his ruin have been prevented.
His brother is young and bold,
but too forward: he has a great
deal of courage, which wants a
few more years, and a better
cauſe to improve it; there is
room to hope he will never em-
ploy it in fuch an adventure
again.
The fecond troop was the
lord Widdrington's, commanded
by Mr Thomas Errington of
Beaufront. This Errington is a
gentleman of a very antient fa-
mily in Northumberland, a
younger brother of the family
of Errington: he has very good
natural parts, and had been for-
merly an officer in the French
fervice, where he had got the
reputation of a good foldier. It
is believed he would not have
engaged in this rebellion, had
not the many obligations he lay
under to the earl of Derwent-
water prevailed with him.
The third troop was com-
manded by captain John Hun-
ter, born upon the river North-
Tyne in the county of Nor-
thumberland: he had obtained
a commiffion in the latter end
of queen Anne's reign to raiſe
an independent company, but
never received any pay, nor
lifted any men, but when he
made ufe of that commiflion
now in the rebellion. He was
famous for running uncuſtomed
goods out of Scotland into Fng-
land.
1715.
442
HISTORY
THE
1715. Inverlochy, and fucceeded fo far, as to take three redoubts
at fome diſtance from it; in one of which there was an of-
ficer with twenty men, and in another a ferjeant with five;
but, the main garrifon being on their guard, the rebels were
difappointed, and marched towards Argylefhire.
On the 20th of October, an account was brought from
the North to Edinburgh, that the earl of Sutherland, with
the lord Rea and Mr Monzoe of Foulis, having drawn to-
gether about eighteen hundred men, advanced, on the 18th,
to Alnefs, in ordento attack the earl of Seaforth, who had
affembled the clans of the Mackenzi.s, Macleods, and
others; but that, upon a near view of the rebels, they ap-
peared to be much fuperior in number; and therefore it was
land. He behaved with great
vigour and obftinacy in the ac-
tion at Preſton, where he took
poffeffion of fome houfes du-
ring the attack, and galled that
brave regiment of brigadier
Preſton's, making a great flaugh-
ter out of the windows: he had
fince made his efcape out of
Chefter-caftle, and, as is faid,
got over into Ireland, and from
thence to France.
The fourth troop was com-
manded by Robert Douglafs,
brother to the laird of Finland
in Scotland: he fignalized him-
felf upon feveral accounts; for
going ſo often, ſo privately, and
expeditiously between England
and the earl of Mar. He was
the man who brought Mr For-
fter his commiffion, and the ma-
nifeſtoes and declarations of the
pretender. He was indefatiga-
ble in fearching for arms and
horfes, a trade, fome were plea-
fed to fay, he had followed out
of the rebellion as well as in it.
He was alſo very vigorous in
the action at Preſton; where he
with his men were poffeffed of
feveral houſes, and did a great
deal of harm to his majeſty's
forces from the windows. He
alſo made his eſcape when a
priſoner, either at Liverpool or
Chefter.
com-
The fifth troop was
manded by captain Nicholas
Wogan, an Irish gentleman,
but defcended from an antient
family of that name in Wales;
he joined the rebels at their first
meeting. He is a gentleman of
a moſt generous mind, and a
great deal of bravery, unwea-
ried to forward the good of his
caufe: his bravery was made
known by feveral inftances in
the action at Preſton: His gene-
rofity, as well as courage, was
moſt remarkable in bringing of
prifoner captain Prefton, of Pre-
fton's regiment of foot, who
was mortally wounded through
the body by a bullet from the
rebels, and juſt at the point of
being cut in pieces; he hazard-
ed his life among his own men,
if poffible, to fave that gentle-
man, though an enemy, and
was wounded in doing it Be-
fides theſe there were many vo-
lunteers not formed into any
troop, and the whole amounted
to about two thouſand horſe and
foot.
judged
OF ENGLAND.
443
judged proper for the earl of Sutherland to retire, which he
did in good order, and without any loss, to his own ſhire,
where he was augmenting his forces, and preparing to come
forward again, being affured of affiftance from the Grants.
and Roffes of Culraick, and other parts, and from ſome of
the Fraſers.
1715.
Mar's men.
Theſe motions of the earl of Sutherland kept the earl Diſorders by
of Seaforth from joining the earl of Mar; the rebels under the earl of
whom committed great ravages and diforders in Fife. A
party coming to Leſley, the chief feat of the earl of Rothes,
after ſearching the houſe for arms, they forced open the
church-doors, and finding no arms there, broke into the
burial-place of the family of Rothes, and, digging up the
ground, tore open the coffins in a moft fhocking manner.
On the 20th of October a body of weftern highlanders,
confifting of two thouſand three hundred men, commanded
by general Gordon, came before Inverary, the chief town
in Argyleſhire; and, having that night viewed the place,
marched back to a mill about half a mile from the town.
Next day being reinforced by three hundred of the earl of
Broadalbin's men, they viewed the town a fecond time,
and again returned to their former quarters. On the 22d they
drew up a third time, and fent detachments to cut faſcines,
as if they defigned to attack the town; but finding, that
the earl of Ilay, who commanded in it, was ready to re-
ceive them, they thought fit once more to retreat to their
quarters; and on the 24th left the place, and marched
through Glenorches, in their way to join the earl of Mar.
This preſervation of the town of Inverary was, at that
juncture, a very confiderable fervice; for, had the rebels
been mafters of that pafs, they might have poured in their
men, either towards Glaſgow, or into the fhire of Air, and
fo have joined the rebels in the North of England.
On the 23d of October the duke of Argyle received ad-
vice, that a party of rebels, confifting of two hundred foot,
and one hundred horfe, were marching by Caftle-Campbel
towards Dumferling; upon which he fent away a detach-
ment of dragoons under the command of colonel Cathcart,
who came up with the rebels on the 24th at five in the
morning; and after having killed and wounded feveral of
them, took ſeventeen prifoners, and amongst them the fol-
lowing gentlemen, Mr Murray, brother to the laird of
Aberkernie; Mr Hay, fon to Arbath; Mr Patrick Gor-
don, Aberlour's eldeft fon; Alexander Forbes, fon to Buf-
lie;
THE HISTORY
444
1715. lie; William Robertfon, brother to Donfhils; Mr Ken-
➡ lock, a phyfician; Alexander Smith; Mr Alexander Gor-
don; Francis Gordon, of Craig; Mr Hamilton, of Gib-
ftown in Strabogie; and George Gordon, of the mill of
Kincardine. The fame evening colonel Cathcart returned
to the camp at Sterling with his prifoners, having had only
one of his dragoons wounded.
Three letters
from Eng-
land.
About this time the earl of Mar received three letters,
intercepted which had been intercepted by Mr Forfter, one from lord
Townshend to the duke of Argyle; one from the earl of
Nottingham to the duke of Roxburgh; and one from the
prince of Wales to the duke of Argyle; of which we have
an account in the following letter of the earl d Mar to
the earl of Broadalbine, which gives a view of the ſtate of
the rebels affairs at that time:
The earl of
Mar's letter
今
​"
<
<
My dear lord,
I had the pleaſure of your lordship's of the 13th laft
< night.
I have now fent one hundred bolls of meal, and
about them. what quantity of ammunition we could fpare, for the uſe
of the army under general Gordon; all which is fent un-
' der an eſcort of forty men to Taymouth, and from thence
your lordship will take care to tranfport it to your army.
You ask for news, and I can tell you a good deal pretty
agreeable. Moſt of our Fife detachment are got over to
the other fide, and proclaimed the king yeſterday at Had-
dington. I have now a letter from Mr Forfter, with
three letters they had intercepted; one from lord Town(-
hend to duke of Argyle; one from lord Nottingham to
• duke of Roxburgh, and one from prince Hopeful to duke
of Argyle, of which I fend your lordship a copy, and by
that you will judge pretty well of the ſituation of our ene-
• emies. By Hopeful's letter it will feem, that the duke of
• Ormond is in England by this time. Mr Forſter's letter
is three days after his laſt to me. He was then three hun-
dred horfe, and was to be joined next day by all the bor-
der, and go ſtraight to Newcaſtle, which they were ſure
' of, and of getting good numbers of the beſt foot in the
North of England to join them. By them and our men
on the South-fide, all correfpodence betwixt London
and the duke of Argyle will be ftopped. I have heard
nothing yet of thefe four batallions, and if Evans's dra-
goons from Ireland to duke of Argyle be come: But, if
• the news we had of the commotions in that country be not
truc,
<
<
}
OF ENGLAND.
445
<
C
C
C
<
true, they will certainly be with him foon; and by that
your lordship will eafily fee the neceffity of Gordon's finifh-
ing his buſineſs in Argyleſhire without delay, and march-
ing Weft. Tom. Forfter thinks and preffes my attack-
ing duke of Argyle before that enforcement join him;
which I wish heartily to do'; but that must be as things
happen. The affair of Argylefhire being finiſhed by your
lordſhip and Gordon, is of great confequence to this, as
well as other things. Therefore I am fure your lordſhip
and he will lofe no time in it.
C
By lord Nottingham's to duke of Roxburgh, I perceive
your lordship has had the honour of a letter from his grace;
to which I have no doubt of your giving a ſuitable anſwer
The paragraph of the letter is this: Not having time to
fend you the whole; and befide, it fignifies little. Though
what you
writ to my lord Broadalbine was in itſelf very
proper; yet, I doubt it will have little effect upon him,
unlefs he were convinced of the folly of this attempt, from
fome affurance, that not only the preparations againſt
'them would be fufficient to fupprefs them; and that all
their expectation of affiftance from abroad, or by an in-
furrection in England, would certainly fail them. Thefe
are the words of the letter; and it is dated the 3d of this
month. That of Hopeful to duke of Argyle is of the
7th, by which they then knew of duke Ormond's leav
ing Paris, which they had not when Nottingham wrote
his letter. And, now that they must know of the in-
furrection in England being far from failing us, I leave
your lordship to judge what they are not thinking at
• London of their condition. I have read moft of Hope-
ful's letter to the company here: what I have not read is
the first paragraph; and that I think your lordship had best
...not fhew to any body, fave to general Gordon.
૮
<
.
<
I juft now hear from Monteith, that the earls Ilay and
Bute are certainly in Argylefhire; and that there are two
men of war come into Clyde, who were fending their
long boats to retake the boats on Lochlomond, which
Glingyll has feized. I wish, with all my heart, this
could be prevented, and that thefe folks were driven from
Inverary, which I am fure your lordship and general
• Gordon will lofe no time in doing. I am forry for more
in that country's following Lawer's example; and par-
ticularly, I am furprifed exceedingly with Lochnell's be-
haviour, which I knew fome days ago; but I hear they
have ufed him as he deferves. One near Stirling wrote
4
A
*
to
1715.
{
446
HISTORY
THE
1715.
to me two days ago, that the duke of Argyle had ſent
him prifoner to Edinburgh, which I wifh may be true.
I hope it will not be in the power of thofe rogues to do us
much hurt, eſpecially when your lordship's being heartily
in the cauſe of your king and country is known to them:
and I affure your lordship, thofe vaffals of yours, who
mifbehave, fhall be ufed as you defire.
I have fent to Aberdeen for the printing prefs, and we
have lawyers here, with whom I advife as your lordſhip
' recommends.
• Theſe men of Glenlyon's, you mentioned, were in
Fife, and are gone over: fo I have fent a party of Mac-
< pherfon's with the meal and ammunition to Taymouth,
'who are to return from that; and your lordſhip will take
care of it from thence. I have recommended it to your
doers there, in cafe of your abfence; and I fend this by
an exprefs, that you may have it fooner than that party
· can march.
<
·
I'll long to hear from your lordſhip, and that you will
fend me fome good news from your parts in return for all
this.
The thing I am moft in pain about is our friends, who
are gone over to the other fide, becauſe of Mr Forſter's
marching towards Newcaſtle; and nothing could ſo much
prevent the duke of Argyle's fending a detachment that
way, as your clearing Argylefhire foon, and marching
weftwards, as Gordon has orders.'
I am, my dear lord,
Your lordship's moft obedient,
From the camp of
Perth, Oct. 14.
• and moſt humble fervant,
MAR.'
• 1715.
Soon after, two letters from the earl of Mar were inter-
cepted, and the pretender caufed a declaration to be drawn.
up (r).
The
(r) The letters and declara- from you, you may be fure,
tion were as follow:
To the lord viſcount Kenmure.
My lord,
fince I have not had the leaft
accounts almoft of your moti-
ons, fince I fent the detach-
ment over I hope all is pretty
lucky
I long extreamly to hear right again; but it was an un-
OF ENGLAND.
447
1715-
The rebellion being thus kindled as well in England as
Scotland, it was thought proper to demand in form of the
ftates-general, the fix thousand men, which by the treaty Datch troops
of guarantee they were engaged to fend over when required. a. 16.
The
lucky miſtake of brigadier Mac-
kintoſh in marching from Had-
dington to Leith. I cannot but
fay though, that it was odd
your lordſhip fent no orders or
intelligence to him, when you
had reaſon to expect that par-
ty's coming over every day
His retreat he made from Leith,
and now from Seaton, with the
help of the movement I made
from this, makes fome amends
for that miſtake; and I hope
that party of men with him will
be of great ufe to you, and the
caufe. I wish you may find a
way of fending the inclofed to
Mr Forster, which I leave open
for your lordship to read; and I
have little further to fay to you,
than what you will find in it.
I know fo little of the fituation
of your affairs, that I must leave
to yourſelf what is fit for you to
do, as will moít conduce to the
fervice; and I know you will
take good advice.
My humble ſervice to all
friends, particular brigadier
Mackintosh, lord Nairn, lord
Charles Murray, and Mackin.
tofh, who, I hope, are joined
you long ere now; and indeed
they all deſerve praiſe for their
gallant behaviour. I must not
forget Kinackin, who I hear
ſpoke ſo reſolutely to the duke
of Argyle from the citadel; and
I hope Innereal and all my men
with him are well; and their
countrymen long to be at them,
which I hope they and we fhall
foon. I have fent another co-
PY
of the incloſed to Mr For-
fter by fea; fo it will be hard,
if none of them come to his
hands.
I know your lordſhip will en-
deavour to let me hear from
you as foon as poffible, which I
long impatiently for; and I
hope you will find a way of
fending it fafe. In one of my
former, either to your lordſhip,
or to fomebody to fhew you,
I told, that a part of the army
would be about Dumbarton.
But now you would not rely on
that, for, till I hear from gene-
ral Gordon, I am uncertain, if
they hold that way. I have
fent your lordship a copy of my
new commiffion, which perhaps
you have not ſeen before. I
have named the feveral general
officers and your lordſhip has the
rank of a brigadier of the horſe.
I am told earl Wintoun has
been very uſeful to our men we
fent over. I fuppofe he is now
with your lordship, and I beg
you may make my compliments
to his lordship; and I hope the
king will foon thank him him-
felf.
I will trouble your lordship no
farther now; but all ſucceſs at-
tend you, and may we foon
have a merry meeting, I am,
with all reſpect,
My lord,
Your most obedient,
and most humble fervant,
From the camp at MAR.
Perth, October
21, 1715.
are ſent for.
To
448
HISTORY
THE
£
1715.
The States immediately complied with the demand and
preparations were made for tranfporting them. At the
fame time, general Cadogan reprefented to the States, that
the king, having received advice that the pretender, James
Butler
To Mr Forſter, general of the
king's forces in Northumber-
land.
Sir,
I wrote to you of the 17th
from Auchterardre, which I
hope you got. I marched the
fame night the horfe to Dum
blain, within four miles of
Stirling, and the foot fome
miles fhort of that place. Next
morning I had certain intelli-
gence of the duke of Argyle's
returning from Edinburgh with
moſt of the troops he had car-
ried there, and was on their
march towards Stirling. I alfo
had account of Evans's regi-
ment landing in the weft of Scot-
land from Ireland, and were on
their way to Stirling. I had
come away from Perth before
the provifions were ready to go
with us; and I found all the
country about Stirling, where
we were to paſs the Forth, was
intirely exhauſted by the ene-
my, fo that there was nothing
for us to fubfift on there. I had
no account from general Gor-
don, as I expected; and the
fooneft I could expect him at
the heads of Forth was two
days after that; and I could not
think of paffing Forth till I had
been joined by him. Under
thofe difficulties, and having
got one of the things I defigned
by my march, the duke of Ar-
gyle's withdrawing from our
friends in Lothian, I thought fit
to march back to Auchterardre,
which was a better quarter,
though not a good one neither.
Next morning I got intelligence
of the duke of Argyle's being
come to Stirling the night be-
fore, and that he had fent an
exprefs to Evans's dragoons to
haften up. I had a letter alfo
that morning from general Gor-
don, telling me, that fome
things had kept him longer
than he expected; that it would
be that day ere he could be at
Inverary; and that he could
not poffibly join me this week.
Upon this I thought it better to
return here, which is a good
quarter, and wait his coming
up, and the lord Seaforth's,
than continue at Auchterardre,
fince it would not a bit retard
my paffing the Forth, when I
fhould be in a condition to do
it; and in the mean time I
could be getting provifions ready
to carry along with me in my
march, which, as I have been
told, are abfolutely neceffary
about the heads of Forth: So I
came home laſt night.
I very much regret my being
obliged to this for many rea-
fons, particularly becauſe of its
keeping me fo much the longer
from joining you; but you eafi-
ly fee it was not in my power
to help it. However, I hope
my ſtay here ſhall be very fhort,
and you may depend upon its
being no longer than it neceffa-
rily muft. The paffage over
the Forth is now fo extream dif-
ficult,
OF ENGLAND.
449
1
+
Butler late duke of Ormond,. Henry St John late lord vif- 1715.
count Bolingbroke, and other traitors, defigned to pafs
through their dominions, in order to go to Great-Britain -
and join the rebels, defired them to give orders to all the
ficult, that it is ſcarce poffible to
fend any letters that way; and
within theſe two days there
were two boats coming over
with letters to me, that were
fo hard purſued, that they were
obliged to throw the letters into
the fea; fo that I know very
little of our friends on that
fide, and leſs of you, which is
no fmall lofs to me. I heard
to day by word of mouth, that
the detachment I fent over are
marched and joined our friends
in the fouth of Scotland; fo I
hope they may be yet uſeful;
but I hope you know more of
them than I do. I have now
writ to lord Kenmure. but it is
ten to one, if it comes to his
hands. I know not what he is
doing, where he is, or what
way he intends to difpofe of his
people whether he is to march
into England, or towards Stir-
ling, to wait my paffing Forth;
and, in the ignorance I am in of
your affairs befouth the river, I
fcarce know what to adviſe
him. If you be in need of his
affiftance in England, I doubt
not but you have called him
there; but if not, certainly his
being in the rear of the enemy
when I paſs Forth, or now that
the duke of Argyle is reinforc-
ed, ſhould he march towards
me before I am, it would be
of great fervice. I am forced
in a great meaſure to leave it to
himſelf to do as he finds moft
expedient
go-
vernors
mond is not as yet come to Eng-
land; elfe I fhould have had
the certainty of it one way or
other before now. I cannot
conceive what detains him, nor
the king from coming here.
However, I am fure it is noue
of their fault; and I hope they
will both furprife us agreeably
very foon.
I believe I told you in my laſt
of the lord Strathmore. and
two hundred of the detachment,
that were going over Forth.
and drove into the iſland of
May by three men of war be-
ing got fafe afhore on this fide,
and are now joined us again.
There were but two of all the
boats taken; and I hear fome
of the men. that were in them,
who were made prif ners in
Leith, were 'relieved by our
men, when they came there ;
but that their officers were fent
to Edinburgh caftle; ſo I want
fome reprisals for them, which
I hope to have ere long.
Though brigadier Mackin-
tofh's miſtake in going to Leith
was like to be unlucky to us
and them, yet it has given the
duke of Argyle no little trou-
ble; and our march obliging
him to let them flip, has, I am
apt to believe, vexed him.
I beg you will find fome way
to let me hear from you. Ever
fince my detachment were in
Fife, all the men of war, that
cruifed on the north coaft. be-
twixt Peterhead and the Firth,
I am afraid the duke of Or- have been in the Firth, and I
VOL. VI.
Ff
believe
!
450
THE HISTORY
TOR
1715.
vernors of the places under their dominion, to stop and ex-
amine all the king's fubjects that ſhould pafs out of Ger-
many, Lorrain, or France, and alfo to all the captains of
fhips not to take any fuch on board. This memorial was
readily agreed to, and orders were iffued accordingly.
believe, will continue there to
prevent my fending more over
that way; fo that all that coaft
is clear, which I wish to God
the king knew; and you may
eafily fend a boat here any
where with letters from England.
I hear there is one of the regi-
ments of foot come from Ire-
land to Stirling.
When you write to me by fea,
pray
fend me fome news papers,
that I may know what the
world is a doing; for we know
little of it here theſe eight days.
Succefs attend you; and I am,
with all truth and esteem,
SIR,
Your most obedient
Humble fervant,
MAR.
From the camp at
Perth, October
12, 1715.
The pretender's declaration was
in the following terms:
James R.
James VIII. by the grace of
God, of Scotland, England,
France, and Ireland, king, de-
fender of the faith, &c. to all
our loving fubjects of what de
gree or quality foever, greeting.
As we are firmly refolved never
to omit any opportunity of af-
ferting our undoubted title to
the imperial crown of theſe
realms, and of endeavouring to
put ourſelf into the poffeffion of
that right, which is devolved
upon us by the laws of God
As
and man; fo muft we, in juftice
to the fentiments of our own
heart, declare, that nothing in
this world can give us fo great
fatisfaction, as to owe, to the
endeavours of our loyal fubjects,
both our and their reſtoration to
that happy fettlement, which
can alone deliver this church
and nation from the calamities
which they lie at prefent under,
and from thofe future miferies,
which muſt be the confequences
of the prefent ufurpation. Dur-
ing the life of our dear ſiſter of
glorious memory, the happineſs
which our people enjoyed, ſof-
tened in fome degree the hard-
ſhip of our own fate: and we
muft further confefs, that when
we reflected on the goodneſs of
her nature, and her inclinations
to justice, we could not but per-
fuade ourſelf, that fhe intended
to eſtabliſh and perpetuate the
peace, which he had given to
thefe kingdoms, by deſtroying
for ever all competition to the
fucceflion of the crown, and by
fecuring to us at laſt the enjoy-
ment of that inheritance, out of
which we had been fo long
kept, which her conſcience mufl
inform her was our due, and
which her principles muft lead
her to defire, that we might ob-
tain.
But, fince the time when it
pleafed almighty God to put a
period to her life, and not to fuffer
us to throw ourfelf, as we then
fully purpoſed to have done.
upon
OF ENGLAN D.
451
As it would be fome time before the Dutch could be im- 1715.
barked, Pitt's regiment of horſe, and Sabine's, Prefton's,
and Vane's of foot, had been fent for from Ireland, and Regiments
had landed at Cheſter the beginning of October. Affocia- land.
upon our people, we have not
been able to look on the preſent
condition of our kingdoms, or
to confider their future profpect,
without all the horror and in-
dignation, which ought to fill
the breaſt of every Scotſman.
We have beheld a foreign fa-
mily, aliens to our country, dif-
tant in blood, and ſtrangers
even to our language, afcend
the throne.
་
We have feen the reins of
government put into the hands
of a faction; and that authority,
which was defigned for the pro-
tection of all, exerciſed by a
few of the worst, to the op-
preffion of the best and greatest
number of our fubjects. Our
fifter has not been left at reft
in her grave; her name has
been fcurriloufly abuſed; her
glory, as far as in thefe people
lay, infolently defaced, and her
faithful fervants inhumanly per-
fecuted. A parliament has been
procured by the most unwar-
rantable influences, and by the
groffeft corruption, to ferve the
vileft ends. And they, who
ought to be the guardians of
the liberties of the people, are
become the inftruments of ty-
ranny. Whilft the principal
powers engaged in the late wars
enjoy the bleffings of peace, and
are attentive to diſcharge their
debts, and cafe their people;
Great Britain, in the midst of
peace, feels all the load of a
war. New debts are contract-
ed; new armies are raifed at
tions
home; Dutch forces are
brought into theſe kingdoms;
and by taking poffeffion of the
duchy of Bremen, in violation
of the publick faith, a door is
opened by the ufurper to let in
an inundation of foreigners from
abroad, and to reduce theſe na-
tions to the ſtate of a province,
to one of the moſt inconfiderable
provinces of the empire.
Theſe are ſome few of the
many real evils, into which
thefe kingdoms have been be-
trayed, under pretence of being
refcued and fecured from dan-
gers purely imaginary. And
thefe are the confequences of
abandoning the old conftitution,
as we perfuade ourſelves, very
many of thofe, who promoted
the prefent unjuft and illegal fet-
tlement never intended.
We obferve, with the utmoft
fatisfaction, that the generality
of our fubjects are awakened
with a juſt ſenſe of their dan-
ger; and that they fhew them-
felves difpofed to take fuck
meaſures, as may effectually re-
fcue them from that bondage;
which has, by the artifice of a
few defigning men, and by the
concurrence of many unhappy
caufes, been brought upon
them.
We adore the wifdom of the
divine providence, which has
opened a way to our reſtorati-
on, by the fuccefs of thofe ve-
ry meaſures, that were laid to
diſappoint us for ever. And we
moft earnestly conjure all our
F f z
loving
from Ire-
452
HISTORY
THE
1715. tions were alfo entered into throughout the kingdom, for
the defence of the king's perfon and government; and the
Affeciations. lords-lieutenants of the counties were impowered to form
into troops or companies fuch as fhould be willing to affo-
ciate,
loving ſubjects, not to fuffer that
Spirit to faint or die away, which
has been fo miraculously raifed
in all parts of the kingdom;
but to purfue, with all the vi-
gour and hopes of fuccefs,
which fo juft and righteous a
cauſe ought to infpire, thoſe
methods, which the finger of
God feems to point out to
them.
We are come to take our part
in all the dangers and difficul-
ties, to which any of our ſub-
jects, from the greatest down to
the meaneft, may be expoſed on
this important occafion, to re-
lieve our ſubjects of Scotland
from the hardships they groan
under on account of the late
unhappy union, and to reſtore
the kingdom to its antient, free,
and independent ftate.
We have before our eyes the
example of our royal grandfa-
ther, who fell a facrifice to re-
bellion; and of our royal uncle,
who, by a train of miracles,
escaped the rage of the barba-
rous and blood-thirfty rebels,
and lived to exercife his cle-
mency towards thofe, who had
waged war againſt his father and
himfelf; who had driven him
to feek ſhelter in foreign lands,
and who had even fet a price
upon his head.
We ſee the fame inftances of
cruelty renewed against us by
men of the fame principles,
without any other reafon than
the conſciouſneſs of their own
guilt, and the implacable malice
But
of their own hearts. For, in
the account of fuch men, it is a
crime fufficient to be born their
king. But God forbid, that we
fhould tread in theſe ſteps, or
that the caufe of a lawful prince
and an injured people fhould be
carried on like that of ufurpati-
on and tyranny, and owe its
fupport to affaffins. We fhall
copy after the patterns above-
mentioned, and be ready, with
the former of our royal ancef-
tors, to feal the caufe of our
country, if fuch be the will of
Heaven, with our blood.
we hope for better things: We
hope, with the latter, to ſee our
juft rights, and thoſe of the
church and people of Scotland,
once more ſettled in a free, in-
dependent Scots parliament, on
their antient foundation. To
fuch a parliament, (which we
will immediately call) fhall we
intirely refer both our and their
interefts, being fenfible, that
thefe interefts, rightly under-
ftood, are always the fame.
Let the civil as well as religi-
ous rights of all our fubjects re-
ceive their confirmation in fuch
Let confciences
a parliament
truly tender be indulged. Let
property of every kind be bet-
ter than ever fecured. Let an
act of general grace and amnesty
extinguish the fears even of the
moft guilty If poffible, let the
very remembrance of all, which
have preceded this happy mo-
ment, be utterly blotted out,
that our fubjects may be united
to
OF ENGLAND.
453
115
ciate, and to grant commiffions to them in the king's 1715.
name.
bishops.
The archbishop publiſhed a declaration, figned by him- Declaration
felf and thirteen of his fuffragans, teftifying their abhor- by the
rence of the rebellion. But Dr Atterbury biſhop of Roche-
fter, and Dr Smalridge biſhop of Briſtol, refuſed to fign
this declaration; and a few days after, Smalridge was re-
moved from the poft of lord almoner to the king, in which
he was fucceeded by Dr Wake biſhop of Lincoln.
of the rebels.
On the 25th of October, lieutenant-general Carpenter, Proceedings
who was appointed to go against the Northumberland re-
bels, fet out from Newcastle with Hotham's regiment of
foot, Cobham's, Molefworth's, and Churchill's dragoons;
and on the 27th lay at Wooller, intending the next day,
to face Kelfo, where the rebels were. The lord Ken-
mure, who commanded them while on the ſouth-fide of the
Tweed, having notice of this, called immediately a coun-
cil of war, wherein it was confidered what courfe they
ſhould take. The lord Wintoun preffed them earneftly to
to us, and to each other, in
the ftrictest bonds of affection as
well as intereſt
And that nothing may be
omitted, which is in our power
to contribute to this defirable
end, we do, by theſe prefents,
abfolutely and effectually, for
us,
our heirs and fucceffors,
pardon, remit, and difcharge
all crimes of high-treafon, mif-
prifion of treafon, and all other
crimes and offences whatfoever,
done or committed againſt us,
or our royal father, of bleffed
memory, by any of our fub-
jects, of what degree or quality
foever, who fhall, at or after
our landing, and before they
engage in any action against us,
or our forces, from that time,
lay hold of mercy, and return
to that duty and allegiance,
which they owe to us,
their
only rightful and lawful fove-
reign.
By the joint endeavours of us
and our parliament, urged by
thefe motives, and directed by
thefe views, we may hope to
fee the peace and flourishing
estate of this kingdom in a fhort
time reſtored; and we ſhall be
equally forward to concert with
our parliament fuch further mea-
fures, as may be thought ne-
ceffary for leaving the ſame to
future generations.
And we hereby require all
fheriffs of hires, ftewarts of
ftewarties, or their deputies,
and magiftrates of burghs, to
publish this our declaration, im-
mediately after it fhall come to
their hands, in the ufual places
and manner, under pain of be-
ing proceeded againſt for failure
thereof, and forfeiting the be-
nefit of our general pardon.
Given under our fign manual
and privy fignet, at our
court of commercy, the
25th day of October, and
in the fifteenth year of
our reign.
Ff3
J. R.
march
THE
HISTORY
454
1715. march into the weft of Scotland; but the Engliſh oppoſed,
and prevailed against that opinion. Then it was pro-
poſed to pass the Tweed, and attack the king's troops,
taking advantage of the weakneſs and weariness of gene-
ral Carpenter's men, who were indeed extremely fatigued,
and not above nine hundred men in number, whereof two
regiments of dragoons were new raiſed, and had never
ſeen any ſervice. But this advice was alfo rejected; and
the rebels decamped from Kelfo, and, taking a little to
the right, marched to Jedburgh, Upon this march they
were all alarmed, by miftaking a party of their own men for
fome of general Carpenter's forces. The party appearing at
a diſtance, captain Wogan, defirous to know who they
were, went off towards the river's fide, which parted
them, and left Mr Patten to ftand at a convenient dif-
tance from him, whilst he rid up to make a difcovery. If
they proved enemies, he was to fire a piſtol; if friends, to
tofs up his hat. At the fame time fome of the party,
wanting to know who he was, and, galloping towards
him, he fired a piftol; fo the alarm was taken; but the
diſorder was not great, the matter being foon diſcovered.
Then they continued their march towards Jedburgh. The
horſe having entered the town, word was brought them,
that general Carpenter had fallen upon the foot, who had
not as yet reached the town. This put them into the ut-
moft confternation. However, not being difcouraged fo
as to abandon their fellows, they all mounted their horfes,
and marched out to relieve their friends. This miſtake
was likewiſe occafioned by another party of their own men,
who had taken a different route, and, this being alfo difco-
vered, they all returned to their quarters, and ſtaid at Jed-
burgh two days.
As they had now a fair opportunity to flip general Car-
penter, who was fome marches behind them, it was re-
folved, purſuant to the advice of the English, to cross the
mountains, and march into England. Accordingly captain
Hunter, who was well acquainted with the country, was
ordered with his troops, to go into North Tynedale, and
there provide quarters for them, who would follow. But
here began a mutiny; the highlanders could not be per-
fuaded to paſs the borders; and, though many perfuafions
were uſed with them, they would not ftir. Upon this,
the firft refolution was altered, and orders were fent after
captain Hunter to countermand him. They were joined
in this town by Mr Ainley of Blackhill, and fome others.
From
OF ENGLAND.
455
1715.
From Jedburgh they marched to Hawick, a fmall market-
town, belonging to the duchefs of Bucclugh, at whofe
houfe, the English lords, with their relations, and Mr
Forfter took up their quarters. The highlanders ftill fup-
pofing, that the march for England was refolved on, fe-
parated themſelves in difguft, and went to the top of a
rifing ground on Hawick Moore, and, refting their arms,
declared, they would fight, if they were led on to the ene-
my; but would not go into England; adhering to lord
Wintoun's advice, that they would go through the weft
of Scotland, join the clans there, and either cross the Forth
fome miles above Stirling, or fend word to the earl of Mar,
that they would fall upon the duke of Argyle's rear, whilſt
he fell on his front. Whilft they were in this humour, they
would allow none to come and fpeak with them but the earl
of Wintoun, who had tutored them in this project, by affur-
ing them, if they went to England, they would be all cut to
pieces, or taken and fold for flaves (s). After a diſpute of
two hours they were at laſt brought to this, that they would
keep together as long as they ftaid in Scotland; but upon
any motion of going for England, they would return back :
fo they continued their march to Hawick, where they
were extremely ftraitned for quarters. Here the highland-
ers, who had always the guard, and did all the duty after
they joined the horfe, difcovered from their advanced guard
a party of horſe (who were patroling in their front) and,
taking them for enemies, gave the alarm at midnight; and
all ran immediately to arms. The moon fhone, and the
night was very clear; fo the whole body formed them-
felves in a very good order to oppofe any attack, that,
fhould be made. But in the end this proved another falfe
alarm; and they all returned to their quarters. It was Oct. 30.
faid, that this alarm was defigned to try the highlanders,
and to fee how they would behave, and whether they
would ſtand chearfully to their arms, if an enemy ap-
peared.
?
The next day, they marched to Langholme, another
fmall market-town belonging to the duchefs of Bucclugh.
From hence there was a ftrong detachment of horſe fent
in the night to Ecclefechan, with orders to block up Dum-
(s) During the conteft, the
horſe ſurrounded the foot, in
order to force them to march
fouthwards, upon which the
highlanders cocked their fire-
locks, and faid, 'If they were
to be made a facrifice, they
would chufe to have it done
‹ in their own country.'
F f 4
fries,
456
THE
}
HISTORY
1
1715. fries, till they fhould come up and attack it. Dumfries is
a rich town, fituated very commodiouſly upon the mouth
of a navigable river on the Iriſh fea, and maintains a con-
fiderable trade with England and the west of Scotland.
Had the rebels been fteady in their refolutions, they might
very eaſily have made themſelves mafters of that town,
there being no regular forces in it, but only train-bands,
militia, and townfmen, who would not have been able to
hold out, nor any fortifications to affist them in the defence
of it. Here the rebels alfo might have furniſhed them-
felves with arms, money, and ammunition, which were
much wanted, and opened a paffage to Glaſgow, one of
the beſt towns in Scotland. Here likewife they might have
joined the highland clans from the weft, befides a great
many country-gentlemen, who, on fuch an appearance,
would have come into them; by which means they might
have foon formed a confiderable army, and have received
fuccours from France and Ireland, no men of war being
in all thoſe ſeas at that time. They were, moreover, aſ-
fured, that in Glasgow there were a great many arms in
the Talbooth ready for all occafions, and a confiderable
quantity of gunpowder in the Tion fteeple. As to the
duke of Argyle, he was in no condition to have diſturbed
them; but, on the contrary, would have ſcarce thought
himſelf fafe in Stirling, his troops not exceeding two thou-
fand men; for he had not then been reinforced by the
troops from Ireland, nor the Dutch from England. But
all theſe arguments were in vain; the English gentlemen
were pofitive for an attempt upon their own country, pre-
tending to have letters from their friends in Lancashire,
inviting them thither, and affuring them, that there would
be a general infurrection upon their appearing; and that
twenty thousand men would immediately join them. Whe-
ther they had any fuch letters or no, is ftill a queſtion;
but they affirmed it to their army, and urged the advan-
tages of a ſpeedy march into England with fuch vehe-
mence, that they turned the ſcale, and fent an expreſs af-
ter the party of horfe they had ordered to Ecclefechan, for
to return and meet them at Langtoun in Cumberland.
Thus the defign of continuing in Scotland was abandoned.
But the highlanders, whether dealt with privily by the earl
of Wintoun, or being convinced of the advantages they
were going to throw away, and the uncertainties they were
bringing upon them!elves, halted a fecond time,
would march no farther. However, their leaders were
and
again
OF ENGLAND.
457
again prevailed with to march by promiſes, and diftributing 1715.
money to the men. But many of them were ſtill pofitive,
and that to fuch a degree, that they feparated, and about
five hundred went off in bodies, choofing rather, as they
faid, to furrender themſelves prifoners, than to go forward
to certain deſtruction. All imaginable means were uſed
to prevent this deſertion; but nothing could prevail with
them to alter their refolutions; for they retired in parties
over the mountains. The earl of Wintoun went off like-
wife with part of his troop, very much diffatisfied at the
meaſures, and declaring they were taking the way to ruin
themſelves. However, in a little time he returned and
joined the body, though not at all fatisfied with their pro-
ceedings; and was never after called to any council of
war, which incenfed him extremely against the reft of the
lords and commanding officers. They left the fmall pieces
of cannon, which they had brought from Kelſo, at Lang-
holme, having nailed them up, and made them unfit for
fervice. Then they marched that night to Langtoun,
about feven miles from Carlifle, which was a very long
and fatiguing march. Here they had intelligence that
brigadier Stanwix, with a party of horfe from Carlifle, had
been there that day to get intelligence of their numbers
and motions; but that, upon notice of their coming to-
wards him, he had retired to his garrifon, which then con-
fifted of very few men, having made Mr Graham of
Inchbrachy a prifoner. This night the party ordered to
Ecclefechan returned and joined the rebels. Next day
they entered England, and marched to Brampton, a ſmall
market-town, belonging to the earl of Carlifle. Here'
they proclaimed the pretender, and Mr Forfter opened
his commiffion (brought by Mr Douglas from the earl of
Mar) to act as general in England. From this time the
highlanders had fix-pence per day paid them, to keep them
in good order, and under cominand. The rebels halted
one night at Brampton, to refresh the men, having march-
ed above one hundred miles in five days. On the 2d of
November they advanced to Penrith, where they expected
to have met with fome friends to join them; for it was re-
ported, that Mr Dacre of Abbeylanner-coaft, a papift,
had promifed to raife forty men; but he was prevented
by a fever. As they drew near Penrith, they had notice,
that the ſheriff, with the lord Lonfdale, and the bishop of
Carliſle, had drawn together the whole pofle of Cumber-
land, amounting to about 12,000 men, in order to oppoſe
their
458
THE HISTORY
1715.
Nov. 3.
their progrefs. The firft part of this was very true, that
the poffe was drawn together; nor was their number
much leſs. But they gave the rebel army no occafion to
try, whether they would ſtand or not; for, upon notice
of the approach of the rebels, they fhamefully difperfed,
leaving the lord Lonfdale, with about twenty men befides
his own fervants, who continued on the fpot till the re-
bels appeared, and then he retired. A party was fent to
Lowther-Hall to fee for him, but he was not to be found.
This retreat animated the rebels, who made fome booty,
taking feveral horſes and a great many arms. Having ftaid
at Penrith that night, they marched next day to Appleby,
where they halted again. On the 5th of November they
marched to Kendal, and on the 6th to Kirby-Lonſdale, a
ſmall market-town in Weftmorland, where fome few pa-
pifts, and their fervants, from Lancaſhire, joined them (t).
From this place they marched to Lancaſter on the 7th
where the famous colonel Chartres and another officer hap-
pened to be. Upon the news of their approach, the colo-
nel propoſed to blow up a fine bridge, over which they
were to pafs, to obftruct their entry into the town; but
the inhabitants would not agree to it. The colonel there-
fore thought it advifeable to leave the town, after having
ordered fome barrels of powder to be thrown into a well,
to prevent their falling into the hands of the rebels.
rebels, having entered Lancaſter without oppofition, per-
formed the ufual ceremonies of proclaiming the pretender,
and levying the publick revenue. It was thought they would
have continued here till they had received the promiſed fuc-
cours, the place being eafily made tenable againſt a greater
force than the government could command on a ſudden :
but they were in a great hurry to meet their fate, and left
Lancaſter on the 9th, carrying with them fix pieces of can-
non, which they found there. They directed their march
towards Prefton, where the horſe arrived that night, but
the foot halted half way. The horſe entered Preſton with-
out any oppofition; Stanhope's regiment of dragoons, and
a regiment of militia, having thought proper to retire on
(t) It is to be obferved, there
were no papiſts of any account
had yet joined them in their
march; for all the papifts on
that fide the country had been
fecured in the caſtle of Carliſle,
The
as Mr Howard of Corbeecaftle,
Mr Warwick of Warwick-hall,
Mr James Graham of Inch-
bracky, and Mr Henry Cur-
wen of Workinton.
the
OF ENGLAND.
459
?
the approach of the rebels, which did not a little animate 1715.
them to ſee the royal troops thus fly before them. At Pref-
ton they were joined by a confiderable number of gentle-
men and their followers, all papifts; which very much dif-
gufted the Scots gentlemen and highlanders, becauſe they
were made to believe, that all the high-church party would
join them. The rebels had once refolved to march out of
Preſton the next day, in order to enter Mancheſter, where
they expected to meet with a confiderable reinforcement,
and to poffefs themſelves of Warrington-bridge, which
would have made them mafters of the rich town of Liver-
pool. But this defign, like all others, that had any fhew
of prudence, was laid afide for two days, by which time
they found themſelves otherwife employed.
It is now time to obſerve what motions the king's troops Proceedings
of the king's
made to oppoſe the rebels, who had thus given general
Carpenter the flip.
While it was yet uncertain which way the rebels would
direct their march, the duke of Argyle fent a detachment
from his ſmall army at Stirling, to hinder their paſſing the
head of Forth, if they fhould attempt that way to join.
the earl of Mar. A fquadron of dragoons, and one batta-
lion of foot of this detachment, were quartered at Falkirk,
and two hundred dragoons at Kilfyth.
General Carpenter, upon intelligence, that the rebels.
were in full march towards Lancaſter, refolved to purſue
them with the dragoons only, for the greater expedition;
not doubting but he fhould be joined by the king's troops
in the Weft; in which he was not miftaken; for general
Willes, who had been ſent down fome days before to com-
mand in the Weft, having intelligence at Cheſter, that
the rebels were advancing towards Lancaſter, gave orders
for all the troops, quartered in thofe parts, to affemble at
Warrington, on the borders of that country. When he
arrived there, he found only Prefton's regiment. With
that he fet out, on the 8th of November, and, the ſame
day, arrived at Manchefter, where he had intelligence that
general Carpenter was on his march from Durham to Lan-
cafter, to whom he fent an exprefs, to acquaint that gene-
ral of his own motions, that they might act in concert.
He marched from Mancheſter the 11th, with the regiments.
of dragoons of Wynne, Honeywood, Munden, and Dor-
mer, and Prefton's regiment of foot, and advanced directly
to Wiggan, where Pitt's horfe and Stanhope's dragoons
were quartered. Understanding here, that the rebels were
forces.
ftill
450
THE
HISTORY
1715. ftill at Prefton, he gave orders for the troops to be ready to
march towards that place next morning, by break of day.
He formed the horſe into three brigades, Wynne's and Ho-
neywood's under the command of brigadier Honeywood;
Munden's and Stanhope's, under the command of brigadier
Munden; Pitt's and Dormer's, under the command of
brigadier Dormer.
The battle
On the 12th of November, the troops began their march
in the following order: a captain and fifty men of Preſton's
foot, fuftained by a captain and fifty dragoons, formed the
vanguard Prefton's regiment followed brigadier Honey-
wood's brigade; next Dormer's; and Munden's in the
rear; and the baggage in the rear of all. In this order
they marched to the bridge of Ribble, where we fhall
leave them, to obferve what preparations were made for
their reception by the rebels.
The fame morning general Forfter gave orders for his
army to march, not in the leaſt fufpecting the king's troops,
and the deftruction of all their hopes, were fo near at hand.
He had depended on the intelligence from the Lancashire.
gentlemen, who had promifed, that none fhould advance
within forty miles without his knowledge; but it feems,
they disappointed him; fo that he was under the greateſt
furprize, when he was informed from all hands, that gene-
ral Willes was within fight of him. He went out with a
party of horſe to view the pofture of the king's troops; and,
upon finding they were in full march towards him, he re-
turned to the town to prepare for their reception.
His men were no ways difcouraged, but chearfully fet
of Preſton, about the preparations for their defence. They barricadoed
the avenues, and pofted their men in the streets and by-
lanes, and fuch houfes, as were propereft for galling their
enemies. The gentlemen volunteers were pofted in the
church-yard, under the command of the earls of Derwent-
water, Wintoun, and Ni hfdale, and the lord Kenmure.
General Forfter formed four main barriers; the firft a little
below the church, commanded by brigadier Mackintosh,
and fupported by the gentlemen-volunteers in the church-
yard. The fecond was fituated at the end of a lane lead-
ing to the fields, and conminded by lord Charles Murray.
The third barrier was near a wind-mill, and commanded
by the laird of Mackinto a. And ine fourth was in the
ftreet leading to Liverpool, commanded by major Millar
and Mr Douglas. They threw up feveral intrenchments
in an inftant, and did all in their power to make a ftout re-
fiftance;
OF ENGLAND.
461
fiftance; but were guilty of one capital error, which dif-
covered their ignorance, or rather infatuation. For in the
morning, upon the firft intelligence of general Willes's ap-
proach, they had detached Macpherfon of Innercal, lieu-
tenant-colonel of the earl of Mar's regiment, with an hun-
dred choſen men, to take poft at the bridge of Ribble, which
was the only paſs the king's troops could enter on that fide,
the river being fordable only in two places, the ore below,
and the other above the bridge, and the fords eafily made
unpaffable. The bridge terminates a long narrow lane,
where, in fome parts, not above two can ride abreaft. This
is the famous lane, where Oliver Cromwell met with a ftout
refiftance from the king's troops, who having rolled down
ſeveral large ftones from the height upon him and his men,
one of them came fo near, that he eſcaped only by making
his horfe jump into a quick-fand. But Mr Forſter, instead
of making advantage of this pafs, which he might have
done to the deftruction of the king's troops, (whom he
might have very much annoyed by the help of his cannon,
while they lay expofed without any cover) ordered this
detachment to return to the town, and left the paſs free for
general Willes.
When general Willes came up to the bridge in the fore-
mentioned order, he expected to have met with great diffi-
culties in forcing the pafs; but, finding it abandoned, he
was much furprized, and fufpected fome ftratagem; and
therefore refolved to proceed with caution. Having viewed
the hedges, and laid open the ways for the cavalry to enter,
he found all clear, and not the leaft appearance of an ene-
my. This made him conclude, they had abandoned the
place, and were endeavouring, by long marches, to return
to Scotland; but in this he was likewife miſtaken. For,
upon his advancing near the town, he found them in a pof-
ture to give him a warm reception, in a place, where he
could eaſier come at them, than he could at the bridge of
Ribble. He immediately prepared for an attack, and dif-
pofed his troops in fuch a manner, as he might beſt annoy
them in the town, and prevent their making an eſcape.
The general having viewed the difpofition of the enemy,
and finding all the avenues leading to the town ftrongly
barricaded, and two pieces of cannon planted on each; he
refolved to make two attacks. For the attack of the avenue,
that leads to Wiggan, a captain and fifty dragoons were
draughted out of each of the five regiments, with a major
and lieutenant-colonel to command them, and ordered to
d.fmount
1715.
463
THE
HISTORY
1715. difmount to fuftain Prefton's regiment commanded by the
lord Forreſter, their lieutenant-colonel; and Honeywood's
regiment was ordered to remain on horſeback, to fuftain the
whole; and the brigadier of that name had the direction of
that attack.
The regiment of Wynne and Dormer, and a ſquadron of
Stanhope's, were ordered to difmount under the command
of brigadier Dormer, while the regiments of Pitts and Mun-
den, and the remaining fquadron of Stanhope's fuftained
them in the attack of the avenue, that leads to Lancaſter,
lying on that fide of the town oppoſite to the attack of the
avenue leading to Wiggan. By the difpofition of the king's
forces, the four chief barricades of the enemy were eaſily
attacked, but not with defired fuccefs.
The first attack was upon that barricade below the
church, commanded by the old brigadier Mackintosh, who
received the king's troops very gallantly; and with a ter
rible fire, both from the barricade and the houſes, obliged
them to retire to the end of the town; at the fame time
the lord Forrefter, lieutenant-colonel of Prefton's foot, en-
tered the avenue of Wiggan, and took poffeffion of two
large houſes within fifty yards of the barricade, where he
poſted his men, finding it impracticable to force the barri-
cade; but from theſe houſes, which overlooked the whole
town, he very much annoyed the enemy; and from
thence, it is faid, they received most of the damage they
fuftained during the action. Thefe houfes had been pof-
feffed by the highlanders, when the barricade was com-
manded by Mackintosh; but they were called off by him
to ſupport that barricade, which gave the king's troops an
eafier poffeffion of them, and perhaps faved the remains
of that regiment, which fuffered very much in that bold
attack. General Honeywood ordered the houſes between
thofe he poffeffed and the barricade to be fet on fire; which
was not done without the loss of men on both fides. He
likewife ordered breaft-works to be thrown up, both to fe-
cure his men, and prevent the rebels from eſcaping at that
quarter of the town.
The other barricades were attacked with great refolution,
but without any fuccefs; the king's troops being obliged to
retire to the ends of the town, and remain fatisfied till they
could renew their attempts the next day; for by this time
night hindered their farther approaches. Thus far the re-
bels appeared to have acted with courage, and to have had
the advantage, fince they had, in all the attacks, repulfed
their
OF
463
ENGLAND
their enemies with little or no lofs on their fide, and con-
fiderable flaughter on the king's. But they did not long
continue in this difpofition; for having intelligence next
morning, that general Carpenter had arrived with more
troops to furround them, their refolution failed them, and
from that moment they acted with great confufion and de-
fpair.
General Carpenter arrived at Preſton on the 13th, at ten
in the morning, with three regiments of dragoons, lord
Cobham's, Churchhill's and Molefworth's, accompanied
by the earl of Carlıfle, lord Lumley, and colonel Darcy;
ordering Molefworth's to the Manchefter fide, and march-
ing the other two to the Lancaſter fide. He found, that the
rebels had been attacked the day before without fuccefs,
and that moſt part of the king's horſe and dragoons were
crouded in a deep narrow lane near the end of the town,
fo incommodious, that it was impoffible to draw up above
three or four in front; and, going to view the ground to-
wards the river, he ſaw there were no troops poſted at the
end of Fiſher-gate-street, to block up that part of the town,
where feveral of the rebels were faid to have eſcaped the
night before. This ſtreet leads to a marſh or meadow, which
joins to that part of the river Ribble, where there are two
good fords, being the high road towards Liverpool; and,
towards the end of the fame street, there was another bar-
ricade with two pieces of cannon. General Carpenter
therefore ordered colonel Pitt to poft his two fquardrons on
that marſh; and, going back to the end of the town, he
ordered communication to be made for the troops to affiſt
each other, in cafe of a fally. The rebels, being thus in-
veſted on all fides, and being now fenfible, though too
late, of their condition, began to confider what was to be
done. The Highlanders were for fallying out upon the
king's forces, and dying, as they called it, like men, of ho-
nour, fword in hand; but they were over-ruled, and not
allowed to ſtir. Nor was the motion communicated to the
whole body; but general Foifler (prevailed upon by lord
Widdrington, colonel Oxburgh, and fome few others) 1e-
folved upon a capitulation, flattering themſelves with ob-
taining good terms from the king's officers. Colonel Ox-
burgh, pretending acquaintance with fome of them, made
an offer to go out, and treat of a furrender. Accordingly,
he went with a trumpet to general Willes, and offering to
lay down their arms, and fubmit themfelves, hoped he would
recommend them to the king's mercy. The general told
the
1715-
464
HISTORY
THE
1715. the colonel, he would not treat with rebels; for they had
killed feveral of the king's fubjects, and they must expect to
undergo the fame fate. The colonel faid, as the general
was a man of honour, and an officer, he hoped he would
fhew mercy to people, who were willing to fubmit. The
general replied, All he would do for them was, that, if
they laid down their arms, and fubmitted prifoners at dif
cretion, he would prevent the foldiers from cutting them in
pieces till he had farther orders; and he would give them
but an hour to confider of it. Colonel Oxburgh returned
into the town, to acquaint Mr Forfter with this; and, be-
fore the hour was expired, there came out Mr Dalziel,
brother to the earl of Carnwarth, who wanted terms for
the Scots. The general's anfwer was, that he would not
treat with rebels, nor give them any other terms than what
he had before offered them. Upon which the general was
defired to grant farther time till feven o'clock next day, to
confult the beſt method of delivering themſelves up. The
general agreed to grant them the time defired, provided
they threw them up no new intrenchments in the streets,
nor ſuffered any of their people to eſcape, and fent out the
chief of the Engliſh and Scots as hoftages for the perform-
The general fent in colonel Cotton to bring them
out, who accordingly brought out the earl of Derwentwa-
ter and brigadier Mackintosh. The next day, about ſeven
in the morning, Mr Forfter fent out to let the general
know, that they were willing to give up themfelves pri-
foners at difcretion, as he had demanded. Brigadier Mac-
kintosh, being prefent when this meffage was brought,
faid, He could not anfwer, that the Scots would furrender
in that manner; for that they were people of defperate for-
tunes; and he had been a foldier himſelf, and knew what
it was to be a priſoner at difcretion. Upon this the general
ſaid, 'Go back to your people again; and I will attack
the town, and the confequence will be, I will not fpare a
man of you.' The brigadier went back, but came run-
ning out immediately again, and ſaid, 'The lord Kenmure,
and the rest of the noblemen, with his brother, would
• furrender in like manner, with the English.'
ance.
General Carpenter entered one fide of the town, and ge-
neral Willes the other, with all their troops, with trum-
pets founding, drums beating, and colours diſplayed. They
both met in the middle of the town, where the Highlanders
were drawn up under arms. The noblemen and gentlemen
were firft fecured in feveral inns, and the Highlanders then
laid
OF ENGLAND.
465
laid down their arms in the place where they were ftanding; 1715.
and they were next feured under a fufficient guard.
General Carpenter, finding the place too narrow to com-
tain all the horſe, that was with him, fent part of them to
Wiggan the fame day, and went away himſelf the next, Nov. 24.
leaving general Willes to command in his abfence.
Mr Forſter was by moſt people blamed for the furrender,
without obtaining better terms for thofe, whom he had
drawn into this enterprize. His want of fkill was acknow-
ledged on all hands; and this was what he could be leaft
blamed for, fince he was made general, as the only proteſ
tant of note of the party. But, though he was nominal
general, he depended moftly upon the conduct of colonel
Oxburgh, who had gained in foreign fervice the reputation
of an experienced officer. Others did not fcruple to charge
Mr Forſter with treachery as well as want of capacity, and
pretend to fay, that, if the king's general had not been
fure of him beforehand, he would have granted more gene-
rous terms to the rebels; and they bring his efcape out of
Newgate as a proof of this furmife; fuppofing, that a pri-
foner of his diftinction would have been better looked after,
if the government had not been under an obligation to con-
nive at his eſcape. But there feems to be little ground for
ſuch a ſuſpicion, eſpecially as the pretender himſelf did not
credit it, but held Mr Forfter afterwards in great eſteem
and confidence.
In the attack upon Prefton, brigadier Honey wood re-
ceived a contufion on the ſhoulder by a mufket-fhot, and
major Bland a flight one in the arm; and his horfe was
fhot through the neck. There were killed at brigadier Ho-
neywood's attack two captains, one enfign, and twenty-
eight private foldiers; wounded, lord Forrefter, major Law-
fon, two captains, one lieutenant, four enfigns, and fifty
private men. At brigadier Dormer's attack there were nine
men killed; wounded, the brigadier, one captain, one lieu-
tenant, one cornet, and thirty-nine men (u).
(a) The prifoners of note
Engliſh and Scots were as fol-
lows;
ENGLISH,
Mr Forfter, the general,
The earl of Derwentwater,
The lord Widdrington,
Mr Edward Howard, brother
of the duke of Norfolk,
VOL. VI.
Upon
Mr Charles Radcliffe, brother
of the earl of Derwentwater,
Charles and Peregrine Wid-
drington, brothers of the
lord Widdrington,
Walter Tankard,
John Thornton of Netherwri-
ton,
John Clavering of Cailey,
G g
Ni;
466
HISTORY
THE
1715.
Upon the very day, the rebels agreed to furrender them-
felves at Prefton, was fought the battle of Dumblain. The
Proceedings earl of Mar, being now joined by all the power he could
of Argyle. expect from the earl of Seaforth and all his northern Clans,
of the duke
Nicholas Wogan,
Charles Wogan,
John Talbot,
Robert Talbot,
Roger Salkeld,
George Collingwood,
John Hunter,
Edward Ord,
William Tunftall, paymaſter,
William Shaftoe of Pavington,
John Shaftoe, his ſon,
Edward Shaftoe,
Edward and James Swinburn,
brothers of Sir William Swin-
burn,
George Gibſon, jun. of Stone-
craft,
Edward Byers,
Richard Gascoigne,
John Hunter,
William Hardwick,
Thomas Butler,
Robert Patten,
William Cafton,
Thomas Lifle,
Thomas Forfter,
William Raine,
Thomas Riddle,
Henry Widdrington,
Richard Ord,
William Sanderfon,
John Towle,
John Hotherfalt,
Francis Thornbuck,
John Heale,
Edward Mackey,
{
and
Richard Stockart,
William Charleton,
Edward Charleton,
Charles Charley,
Richard Charley,
Ralph Standifh of Standifh,
Sir Francis Anderton of Leftock,
Richard Townley of Townley,
John Dalton,
John Labourn,
Gabriel Heftedt,
Cuthbert Heftedt,
Thomas Walton,
Edward Teflcy,
Thomas Errington,
Philip Hudſon,
James Talbot,
Alexander Deafinefs,
Lyon Walden,
John Maſterſon,
George Sanderfon,
George Budding,
Huntingdonshire,
John Cotton, his fon,
Henry Oxburgh,
William Dobfon,
John Beaumont,
John Crofts.
SCOTS.
The earl of Nithiſdale,
The earl of Wintoun,
The earl of Carnwarth,
The lord viſcount Kenmure,
The lord Nairn,
The mafter of Nairn,
Lord Charles Murray,
Major Bafil Hamilton,
George Seton of Barne,
Captain James Dalziel,
Brigadier Mackintoſh,
Colonel Stuart,
William Erring,
Alexander Forrester,
William Grierfon,
Robert Cotton of Gidding in William Calderwood,
Robert Maclean,
Robert Carruthers,
Andrew
OF
467
ENGLAND.
and by the troops under general Gordon, thought himself 1715.
ftrong enough to put his defign in execution of paffing
the Forth, joining his fouthern friends, and marching into
England. To this purpofe he fummoned a general council
of war, where all their meafures were concerted for this
enterprize. Accordingly he left colonel Balfour governor
of the town of Perth, with a guard fufficient; and, being
furniſhed with provifions, artillery, and all other neceſſa-
ries for a long march, he fet out on the 10th of Novem-
ber for Auchterar dire, there to draw his army together, of
which he made a general review that day at that place,
and reſted the 11th.
The duke of Argyle, having intelligence of the motion
of the enemy, was at no uncertainty what to do. He
knew, if he was to difpute their paffage over the Forth at
Andrew Caſhie,
Mr Lochart,
James Skeen,
Walter Riddle,
Richard Harris,
The English noblemen and gentlemen of the
Engliſh taken priſoners
Their fervants or followers
Private men in the church at Preſton
:}
75
83
Total English
Scots noblemen, officers, and gentlemen tak-
en priſoners
Their vaffals, &c.
Total Scots
English in Preſton
Taken in Lancaſter
305
463
:}
143
862
1005
463
4
467
Scots in Preſton
1005
Taken at Lancafter
17
1022
Total English and Scots
G g 2
1489
the
468
HISTORY
THE
1715. the heads of that river, his horfe on which he placed his
whole dependence, would be of no fervice to him in that
place. He chofe therefore to engage the earl on the
grounds about Dumblain, where he might employ all his
forces (x). He likewife had intelligence, that on the
12th at night the enemy defigned to incamp at Dumblain.
Therefore, judging it of importance to poffefs that place,
on the 12th in the afternoon he ordered his whole army
to paſs the river at Stirling-bridge, and incamped that
night with his left at Dumblain, and his right towards
Sheriff-Moor. The enemy advanced the fame night with-
in two miles of the royal army; and having received in-
telligence, that the duke with his whole army was in
poffeffion of Dumblain, they drew up in order of battle,
and remained in that pofture under arms till break of
day.
Battle of
Dumblain,
Nov. 13.
On the 13th in the morning both armies were in moti-
on, and the duke of Argyle advanced to a rifing ground,
to take a view of the rebel army, which he could eaſily
difcern in full march towards him. But another hill on
his left intercepted his view of the whole extent of their
(x) On the 23d of October,
the duke of Argyle had notice
that a party of the rebels, con-
fifting of two hundred foot, and
a hundred horfe, were march-
ing by Caftle-Campbell towards
Dumferling. Upon this intel-
ligence, his grace immediately
fent off a detachment of dra-
goons, under the command of
colonel Cathc rt, who came up
with the rebels the 24th, at five
o'clock in the morning and
after having killed and wound-
ed feveral of them, took ſeven-
teen priſoners; amongst them
the following gentlemen :
Mr Murray, brother to the
laird of Abe kenny.
Mr Hav, fon to Arboth.
Mr Patrick Gordon, Arber-
tour's eldest fon.
Alexander Forbes, fon to Buf-
lie.
William Roberton, brother to
Donfhills.
Mr Kenloch, a phyſician.
Alexander Smith.
Mr Alexander Gordon.
Francis Gordon of Craig.
Mr Hamilton of Gibitown in
Strabogie.
George Gordon of the miln of
Kilcurdine.
The fame evening colonel
Cathcart returned to the camp
at Stirling with his prifoners.
A few days after, a detachment
fent by the earl of Ilay into
Lorn, to intercept about four
hundred of the earl of Broad-
albin's men, who were in mo-
tion to join the rebels, having
furrounded them, obliged them
to leparate and return to their
feveral habitations.
OF
469
ENGLAND.
left wing; for which reafon it was impoffible for him to 1715.
gueſs at the true extent of their line, or how far they
out-flanked him.
The duke's army amounting to three thoufand five hun-
dred men, of which one thouſand two hundred were dra-
goons, was drawn up upon the heights above Dumain
to the north-eaft of that place, which lay about a mile
and a half from his left, and a wet boggy morafs, called
Sheriff-Moor, on his right.
The order of the royal army was thus the firſt line
was compoſed of fix battalions of foot in the centre, with
three fquadrons of dragoons upon the right and left. The
ſecond line was compofed of two battalions of fout, and
two fquadrons of dragoons on each wing. The duke com-
manded the right; general Witham the left; and major-
general Wightman the main battle or centre.
The earl of Mar's army, amounting to about nine thou-
fand men, were drawn up in the following order: the firſt line
was compoſed of ten battalions of foot, confifting of the
clans commanded by the captain of Clanronald, Glanga-
ry, Sir John Maclean, and Campbell of Glen-Lyon on
the right; there were three fquadrons of horſe, the Stirling
fquadron, which carried the pretender's ſtandard, and two
of the marquis of Huntley's: on the left were drawn up
the Perthshire and Fifefhire fquadrons.
The center of
the ſecond line was compofed of three battalions of the
earl of Seaforth's, two battalions of the marquis of Hunt-
ley's, the battalions of the earl of Panmure, marquis of
Tullibardine, loid Drummond and Strowan, all command-
ed by their respective chiefs, except that of Drummond,
commanded by the vifcount of Strathallan and Logie-Al-
mond. The earl Marifchal's fquadron was on the right,
and that of Angus on the left.
The earl of Mar, who knew that his number far ex-
ceeded the duke's, extended his lines as far as poffible,
with a defign to take him in flank, and marched up to him
in this difpofition.
The duke of Argyle, who till now fuppofed, that the
morafs of Sheriff-Moor was unpaffable, faw, that the two
or three nights froft had made it capable of bearing; and
the rebels coming down the moor with intent to flank him,
having their right much extended beyond the point of his
left; he found himfelf obliged to alter the difpofition of his
front, to prevent his being furrounded; which, on ac-
count of the ſcarcity of general officers, was not done fo
Gg3
CX-
470
HISTORY
THE
}
1715.
expeditiouſly, as to be all formed again before the rebels
begun the attack.
The left wing of the dukes fmall army fell in with
the centre of their's, which confifted, eſpecially the firſt
line, of the flower of the rebel army.
They begun the action by a general difcharge of their
fire-arms, and received the first fire of the royal troops
without fhrinking; but the captain of Clanronald, who
led them on in chief, was killed, which had like to have
ftruck a damp upon them. But Glengary, who fucceeded
him, ftarting from the lines, waved his bonnet, and cried
three or four times revenge; which ſo animated the men,
that they followed him cloſe up to the muzzles of the muf-
kets, pufhed afide the bayonets with their targets, and with'
their broad fwords did great execution.
The three battalions of foot, on the left of the duke's
centre, behaved gallantly, and made all the reſiſtance they
could; but being unacquainted with this way of fighting,
they were forced to give ground, fell in among the horſe,
and helped the enemy to put them in confufion; fo that
a total route of that wing of the royal army enfued. Ge-
neral Witham, with fome of the horfe, riding full speed
to Stirling, gave out that all was loft; but the general was
miſtaken in that, as well as in the opinion he formed of
the men he run from, that morning before the engage-
ment.
Upon the right wing of the king's army, the duke of
Argyle commanded in perfon, and, at the head of Stair's
and Evans's dragoons, attacked the enemy's left, confift-
ing chiefly of horfe, with fuch intrepidity, that, notwith-
ſtanding the rebels fhewed they wanted neither courage
nor inclination to ftand, yet were obliged to give way,
and were put into confufion. The duke purfued them to-
wards the river Allan, which he was forced to do, in re-
gard that, tho' the diſtance is not above two miles, yet
in that ſpace they attempted to rally again above ten
times; and, whenever the ground afforded them any ad-
vantage, endeavoured to make a full ftop; fo that the
duke having to do with troops of that difpofition, who
likewife out-numbered him, was obliged to follow his
blow, left he ſhould have loft the advantage he had gain-
ed. Nor was it in his power to fuccour the left, the rout
of that wing happening fo fuddenly, and the officer, who
commanded, leaving the field almoft at the firft fire of the
rebels,
OF
471
ENGLAND.
rebels, there was no opportunity to rally the broken troops
a fecond time.
Brigadier Wightman followed clofe after the duke with
three battalions of foot, and ran a very great riſque of
faring in the fame manner with the reft, if the rebels had
but had common prudence; for, no fooner their right un-
derftood the difafter of their left, than they formed again,
and returned back to the field following cloſe on the rear
of Wightman's battalions, to the number of five thou
fand.. Some fay, that body was led on by general Gordon,
others by general Hamilton, others by both; and others,
and indeed with more probabilty, fay, they were headed
by Glengary; and that he, upon being ordered to attack
thefe battalions, returned for anfwer, That the clans had
done enough; and that he would not hazard them to do
other people's work (meaning the horfe) and remained
upon a hill, where he feemed to form his men, as if for
fome new action.
The duke, having by this time intirely broke their left,
and puſhed them over the river Allan, returned to the
field; and Wightman, facing again to the right, took pof-
feffion of fome inclofures and mud walls which would ferve
for a breaſt-work, in cafe they were attacked, as they
judged by the countenance and number of the enemy
they ſhould. In this poſture both armies ftood look-
ing at one another, but neither caring to engage; when
towards evening the duke drew off towards Dumblain, and
the enemy towards Ardoch, without molelling one ano-
ther (y).
(y) This is the account of
the duke of Argyle's hiftorian,
to which it may be proper to
add thoſe which were published
by a kind of authority on all
fides. The firit is colonel Har-
rifon's account, who was fent
expreſs to the king by the duke
of Argyle.
The duke of Argyle being
informed, on the 12th, that the
rebels had come to Auchterar-
dire with their baggage, artil-
lery, and a fufficient quantity
of bread for a march of many
days, found he was obliged, ei-
The
ther to engage them on the
grounds near Dumblain, or de-
camp, and wait their coming to
the head of the Forth. He
chofe the first on many accounts,
and, amongst others, that the
grounds near Dumblain were
much more advantageous for his
horse than thofe at the head of
the river and befides this, by
the frofts then beginning, the
Forth might become paffable in
feveral places, which the fmall
number of his troops did not
inable him to guard fufficiently.
He likewife received advice,
that
G & 4
1715.
472
HISTORY
THE
1715.
The day after the engagement, the duke of Argyle re-
turned to the field of battle, and carried off the wound-
ed, and four pieces of cannon left by the rebels, to Stir-
ling, where he retired with all his army.
that the 12th at night the re-
bels defigned to incamp at Dum-
blain; upon which, judging it
of importance to prevent them
by poffeffing that place, he
marched the 12th in the fore-
noon, and incamped with his
left at Dumblain, and his right
towards Sheriff-Moor The ene-
my ſtopped that night within
two miles of Dumblain. Next
morning his grace, being in
formed by his advanced guard,
that the rebels were forming,
rode to a rifing ground, where
he viewed the enemy diftin&ly,
and found, as they pointed
their march, they defigned ftrait
upon his flank. The moor to
our right, was the preceding
night unpaffable, and guarded
us from being flanked on that
fide; but by the froft was be-
come paffable His grace there.
fore ordered his troops to ftretch
to the right in the following or-
der: three fquadrons of dra-
goons upon the right and left
in the front line, and fix baita-
lions of foot in the centre, and
fecond line was compofed of
two battalions in the centre, and
one fquadron upon the right,
and another upon the left, and
a fquadron of dragoons behind
each wing of horfe in the first
line. As the right of our army
came over against the left of the
rebels, which they had put to a
morafs, his grace, finding they
were not quite formed, gave or-
ders immediately to fall on, and
charged both their horfe and
The
foot. They received us very
brifkly, but, after fome refift-
ance, were broke through, and
were purſued above two miles
by five fquadrons of dragoons,
the fquadron of volunteers, and
five battalions of foot. When
we came near the river Allan by
the vast numbers of rebels we
drove before us, we concluded
it an intire rout, and refolved to
purſue as long as we had day-
light. The purſuing to the ri-
ver Allan had taken up a long
time, by reafon of the frequent
attempts they made to form in
different places, which obliged
us as oft to attack and break
them, when they were in part
paffed, and others paffing the
Allan. Major-general Wight-
man, who commanded the five
battalions of foot, fent to ac-
quaint the duke of Argyle, that
he could not diſcover what was
become of our troops on the
left; and that a confiderable bo-
dy of the rebels, horfe and foot,
ftood behind him. Upon that
his grace halted, formed his
troops,
troops, and marched towards
the hill, on which the rebels
had pofted themfelves.
Hereafter his grace extended
his right towards Dumblain, to
give his left an opportunity of
joining him. There we conti-
nued till it was late, and, not
finding our left come up, his
grace marched flowly towards
the ground he had formed on in
the morning. So foon as it
was dark, the rebels, who con-
tinued
OF ENGLAND.
473
The prifoners of most note taken by the king's forces
were the lord Strathallan, the lairds Barrowfield, Logie,
Drummond, Mr Murray of Auchtertyre, the viſcount of
Strathallan's brother, Mr Drummond of Drumquhany,
Mr Rofs, fon to the archbishop of St Andrew's, colonel
Mac-
tinued undiſperſed on the top of
the hill, moved to Ardoch.
About an hour after our troops,
which had been feparated from
the duke of Argyle, joined his
grace. Our dragoons on the
left, in the beginning of the ac-
tion, charged fome of the horſe
on the right, and carried off a
ſtandard; but at the fame time
the rebels preſſed ſo hard on our
battalions on the left, that they
were diſordered, and obliged to
fall in among the horſe. The
rebels by this means, cut off the
communication betwixt our left
and the other body; and they
being informed, that fome of
the rebels were endeavouring to
get to Stirling, the troops on
our left retired beyond Dum-
blain, to poffefs themſelves of
the paffes leading there. We
have, as yet, no certain ac-
count of the numbers killed;
but it is reckoned they may be
about eight hundred, among
whom there are feveral perfons
of diftinction. The quality of
the prifoners is not yet fully
known; only that the viſcount
of Strathallan, two colonels, two
lieutenant-colonels, one major,
nine captains, befides fubalterns,
are brought to Stirling. We
have likewife carried off fourteen
colours and ſtandards, four pieces
of cannon, tumbrels with am-
munition, with all their bread.
waggons. This victory was not
obtained without the lofs of fome
brave men on our fide. The
earl of Forfar's wounds are fo
many, that his life is defpaired
of. The earl of Ilay, who
came half an hour before the
action, received two wounds,
the one in his arm, and the
other in his fide; but, the bul-
let being cut out of his fide, it
is hoped he is paſt danger. Ge-
neral Evans received a cut in
his head. Colonel Haley was
ſhot through the body, but there
is hopes of his recovery. Colo-
nel Lawrence is taken. Colo-
nel Hummers and captain Arm-
ftrong, aid-de-camp to the duke
of Argyle, are killed The
courage of the king's troops was
never keener than on this occa-
fion, who, though the rebels
were three times their number,
yet attacked and purſued them
with all the refolution imagina-
ble. The conduct and bravery
of the generals and inferior offi-
cers contributed much to this
fuccefs; but, above all, the
great example of the duke of
Argyle whofe prefence not on-
ly gave fpirit to the action, but
gained fuccefs as often as he led
on.
The troop of horfe volun-
teers, which confifted of noble-
men and gentlemen of diſtincti-
on, fhewed their quality by the
gallantry of their behaviour; in
a particular manner the duke of
Roxburgh, the lords Rothes,
Haddington, Lauderdale, Lou-
doun, Belhaven, and Sir Joha
Shaw.
Major.
1715.
474
THE HISTORY
1715. Mackenzie of Keldin, &c. with feveral captains, fubaltern
officers, and private men, amounting in all to the number
of about eighty.
The
Major-general Wightman's ac-
count was as follows:
Stirling, Nov. 14, 1715,
at eleven at night,
Laft Friday I arrived from
Edinburgh, where I had nncd
all the works and barricadoes,
that I had ordered to do for the
fecurity of that town; and, as
foon as I came to his grace the
duke of Argyle, he told me he
was glad to iee me; and that, as
he intended to make a march
towards the enemy the next
morning, he had fent an exprefs
to Edinburgh for me. Accord.
ingly on Saturday the 1.th in-
ſtant our whole army marched
over the bridge of Stirling to-
wards the enemy, who lay at a
place called Bardoch, about fe-
ven miles from this place; and
in the evening our army came
within three miles of the ene-
my's camp. We lay all that
night on our arms, and the next
morning, being Sunday, I went
with his grace where our advan
ced guard was posted, and had a
plain view of the rebels army
all drawn up in line of battle,
which confifted of nine thousand
one hundred men. They feem-
ed to make a motion towards
us; upon which the duke order-
ed me immediately back to put
our men in order; and ſoon af-
ter his grace ordered them to
march to the top of a hill againſt
the enemy: but before all, or
not above half our army was
formed in line of battle, the e-
nemy attacked us. The right of
their line, which lay in a hol-
low way, vaftly out-winged us,
which was not perceived by us,
nor poffible for us to know it,
the enemy having poffeffion of
the brow of the hill; but the
left of their army was very plain
to our view, the moment we
got to the top of the hill. Not
half our men were come up, or
could form. The enemy, that
were within little more than piſ-
tol-fhot, began the attack with
all their left upon our right. I
had the command of the foot;
the enemy were highlanders,
and, as it is their cuttom gave
us fire, and a great many came
up to our nofes fword in hand:
but the horse on our right, with
the conftant fire of the platoons
of foot, foon put the left of
theirs to the rout; the duke of
Argyle purtuing, as he thought,
the main of their army, which
he drove before him above a
mile and a half over a river. As
I marched after him as fait as I
could with a little above three
regiments of foot, I heard, great
firing on our left, and fent my
aid de-camp to ſee the occafion
of it, and found, that the right
of the enemies army, that lay
in the hollow way, and were
fuperior to that party of the
army, which we had beaten, w26
fallen upon our left with all the
fury imaginable; and, as our
men
were not formed, they
cut off juſt the half of our foot,
and
OF
475
ENGLAND.
The earl of Forfar, the laird of Glenkindy, and licute- 1715.
nant-colonel Lawrence, were all the men of note, who
and the fquadrons on our left,
The duke, who purſued the
enemy very faft, was not appri-
fed of this; and, as he had or-
dered me to march after him as
faft as I could, I was obliged
to flacken my march, and fend
to his gracs to inform him of
what had happened. I kept
what foot I had in perfect or-
der, not knowing but my rear
might foon be attacked by the
enemy that had beat our left,
which proved to be the flower
of our army. At laft, when
the duke had put to flight that
part of the rebel army, he was
engaged with, he came back to
me, and could not have ima-
gined to fee fuch an army as
was behind us, being three
times our number; but, as I
had kept that part of our foot,
which firft engaged, in very
good order, his grace joined
me with five fquadrons of dra-
goons, and we put the beſt face
on the matter, to the right a-
bout, and fo marched to the
enemy, who had defeated all
the left of our army. If they
had had either courage or con-
duct, they might have intirely
deſtroyed my body of foot;
but it pleafed God to the con-
trary. I am apt to conjecture
their fpirits were not a little
damped by having been witnef-
fes, fome hours before, of the
firm behaviour of my foot, and
thought it hardly poffible to
break us. We marched in a
line of battle, till we came
within half a mile of the ene-
my, and found them ranged on
were
the top of a hill, on very ad-
vantageous ground, and above
four thousand in number. We
pofted ourſelves at the bottom
of the hill, having the advan-
tage of ground, where their
horſe could not well attack us;
for we had the convenience of
fome earth walls or ditches a-
bout breaſt high, and, as even-
ing grew on, we inclined with
our right towards the town of
Dumblain, in all the order that
was poffible.. The enemy be-
haved like civil gentlemen, and
let us do what we pleafed; fo
that we paffed the bridge of
Dumblain, pofted ourſelves very
fecurely and lay on our arms
all night This morning we
went with a body of dragoons
to the field of battle, brought
off the wounded there, and
came to this town in the even-
ing. General Webb's late re-
giment, now Morrifon's, is one
of the unfortunate regiments
that was not formed, and fuf-
fered moft Major Hanmer is
killed, with young Hillary, and
many other officers. General
Evans and I had the good for-
tune to be on the right wing
with the duke. General Evans
had his horfe fhot dead under
him, and efcaped very narrow-
ly, as well as myſelf.
P. S. Our whole army did
not confift of above one thou-
ſand dragoons, and two thou-
fand five hundred foot; and but
a little more than half of them
engaged. However, I must do
the enemy that juflice to fay, I
never faw regular troops more
exactly
476
HISTORY
THE
1715.
were mentioned to be taken prifoners by the rebels, who
took likewife feveral captains and fubaltern officers;
exactly drawn up in line of bat-
tle, and that in a moment, and
their officers behaved with all
the gallantry imaginable. All
I can fay is, it will be of the
laft danger to the government,
if we have not force to deſtroy
them foon. The lofs on both
fides I leave for another time,
when we have a more exact ac-
count.
The following account (given
by the earl of Mar, or his party)
of the engagement on Sheriff-
Moor near Dumblain, Nov. 13,
1715, was publiſhed by Mr
Freebairn, the pretender's prin-
ter at Perth:
There being various and differ-
ent reports induftriouſly ſpread
abroad, to cover the victory ob-
tained by the king's army over
the enemy, the beſt way to fet
it in a clear light is to narrate
the true matter of fact, and
leave it to the world to judge
impartially thereef.
Thursday, Nov. 10, the earl
of Mar reviewed the army at
Auchterardire, Friday the 11th,
reſted.
Saturday 12, the earl of Mar
ordered lieutenant general Gor-
don and brigadier Ogilvie, with
three fquadrons of the marquis
of Huntly, and the maſter of
Sinclair's five fquadrons of horfe,
and all the clans, to march and
take poffeffion of Dumblain,
which was ordered to be done
two days before, but was de-
Jayed by fome interruptions:
and all the rest of the army was
and,
to
ordered, at the fame time, to
parade upon the Moor of Tul-
libardine very early, and to
march after general Gordon.
The earl of Mar went
Drummond Caftle to meet with
my lord Broadalbin, and order-
ed general Hamilton to march
the army. Upon the march,
general Hamilton had intelli-
gence of a body of the ene-
my's having taken poffeffion of
Dumblain; which account he
fent immediately to the earl of
Mar. A little after general
Hamilton had another exprefs
from general Gordon, who was
then about two miles to the
weftward of Ardoch, that he
had intelligence of a great
body of the enemy's being in
Dumblain. Upon which ge-
neral Hamilton drew up the
army fo, as the ground at the
Roman camp near Ardoch
would allow. A very little af-
ter the earl of Mar came up to
the army, and not hearing any
more from lieutenant-general
Gordon, who was marched on,
judged it to be only fome ſmall
party of the enemy to disturb
our march, ordered the guards
to be posted, and the army to
their quarters, with orders to
affemble upon the parade any
time of the night or day, upon
the firing of three cannon.
little after the army was dif-
miffed, the earl of Mar had an
account from lieutenant general
Gordon, that he had certain
intelligence of the duke of Ar-
gyle's being at Dumblain with
his whole army. Upon which
A
the
OF
ENGLAND.
477
about
two hundred private 1715.
and, according to them,
men.
The
the general was ordered to halt,
till the earl ſhould come up to
him, and ordered the three
guns to be fired; upon which
the army formed immediately,
and marched up to lieutenant-
general Gordon at Kinbuck,
where the whole army lay un-
der arms, with guard advanced
from each fquadron and batta-
lion till break of day.
The
Sunday the 13th, the earl of
Mar gives orders for the whole
army to form on the Moor, to
the left of the road that leads
to Dumblain, fronting to Dum-
blain The general perfons were
ordered to their pots.
Stirling fquadron, with the
king's ftandard, and two fqua-
drons of the marquis of Hunt-
ley's, formed the right of the
first line of horse. All the
clans formed the right of the
first line of foot. The Perth-
fhire and Fifeshire fquadrons
formed the left of the firſt
line of horfe; the earl Ma-
rifchal's fquadron on the right
of the fecond line; three
battalions of the marquis of
Seaforth's foot, two battalions
of my lord Huntley's, the earl
of Panmure's, the marquis of
Tullibardine's, the battalions of
Drummond, commanded by the
viſcount of Strathallan and Lo-
gie Almond, the battalion of
Strowan, and the angus fqua-
dron of horſe, formed the fe-
cond line When the army was
forming, we difcovered fome
fmall number of the enemy
the height of the welt end of
the Sherif moor, which looks
on
into Dumblain: from which
place they had a full view of
our army. The earl of Mar
called a council of war, con-
fifting of all the noblemen, gen-
tlemen, general officers, and
heads of the clans, which was
held in the front of the horſe
on the left, where it was voted
to fight the enemy nemine con-
tradicente Upon which the
earl of Mar ordered the earl
Marifchal, major-general of the
horfe, with his own fquadron,
and Sir Donald Macdonald's
battalion, to march up to the
height, where he faw the ene-
my, and diflodged them, and
fend an account of their mo-
tions and difpofitions. No
fooner the earl Marifchal be-
gan his march, but the enemy
disappeared, and the earl of
Mar ordered the army to march
up after them. By the other
generals orders the lines march-
ed off the right, divided in the
centre, and marched up the hill
in four lines. After marching
about a quarter of a mile, the
earl Marifchal fent back an ac-
count, that they difcovered the
enemy forming their line very
near him to the ſouth of the top
of the hill: upon which the ar-
my, particularly the horse, was
ordered to march up very quick-
ly, and form to the enemy;
but, by the breaking of their
lines in marching off, they fell
in fome confufion in the form.
ing, and fome of the fecond
line jumbled into the firit, on
or near the left, and fome of the
horfe formed near the centre;
which
478
THE HISTORY
1715.
The number of the killed and wounded, on the ſide of
→ the rebels, is faid to have amounted to eight hundred, and
which feems to have been the
occafion, that the enemy's few
fquadrons on the right were not
routed as the reſt.
The earl of Mar placed him-
felf at the head of the clans,
and. finding the enemy only
forming their line, thought fit
to attack them in that pofture.
He fent colonel William Clep-
ham, adjutant general to the
marquis of Drummond, lieute-
nant-general of the horfe on the
right, and to lieutenant-general
Gordon on the right of the
right of the foot, and major
David Erskine, one of his aid
de camp, to the left, with or-
ders to march up and attack im-
mediately and upon their re-
turn pulling off his hat, waved
with a huzza, and advanced
to the front of the enemy's
formed battalions, upon which
all the line to the right, being
of the clans, led on by Sir
Donal Macdonald's brothers,
Glengary, capt. of Clanronald,
Sir John Maclean, Glenco
Campbell of Glenlyon, colonel
of Broadalbin's, and brigadier
Ogilvie of Boyne, with colonel
Gordon of Glenbucket, at the
head of Huntley's battalions,
made a moft furious attack; fo
that in ſeven or eight minutes
we could perceive neither the
form of a fquadron or battalion
of the enemy before us. We
drove the main body and left
of the enemy in this manner
for about half a mile, killing
and taking prifoners all that we
could overtake. The earl of
Mar endeavoured to ftop our
}
on
foot, and put them in fome or-
der to follow the enemy, which
we faw making off in fome
fmall bodies from a little hill
below, towards Dumblain,
where the earl of Mar refolv-
ed to follow them to complete.
the victory. When an account
was brought him, that our left,
and moft of our fecond line,
had given way, and the enemy
was purſuing them down the
back of the hill, and had taken
our artillery, immediately the
earl of Mar gave orders for the
horfe to wheel; and having put
the foot in order, as fast as
could be, marched back with
them. When he was again near
the top of the hill, two fqua-
drons of the enemy's grey
dra-
goons were perceived marching
towards us. When they came
near the top of the hill, and
faw us advancing in order to at-
tack them, they made much
faſter down the hill than they
came up, and joined at the foot
of the hill to a fmall fquadron
or two of the black dragoons,
and a ſmall battalion of foot,
which we judged had marched
about the weft end of the hill,
and joined them. At first they
again feemed to form on the
low ground, and advanced to-
wards us; but when they faw us
marching down the hill upon
them, they filed very fpeedily
to Dumblain. The earl of Mar
remained poffeffed of the field
of battle, and our own artille-
ry, and flood upon the ground
till funfet; and then, confider-
ing, that the army had no co-
ver
OF
479
ENGLAND.
ver or victuals the night before,
and none to be had nearer than
Braco, Ardoch, and the adja-
cents, whereby his lordship ex-
pected the left to rally, and the
battalions of the lord George
Murray, Innernyhe, Mackpher
fon, and Macgregor, to join him,
refolved to draw off the artillery,
and march the army to that place
where were fome proviſions.
There were two carriages of the
guns broke, which we left on the
road. But theſe battalions did
not join us till the next day af-
ternoon, before which the ene-
my was returned to Stirling.
We took the earl of Forfar,
who was dangerously wounded,
colonel Lawrence, and ten or
twelve captains and fubalterns,
and about two hundred fer-
jeants and private men, and the
laird of Glenkindy, one of the
volunteers, four colours, feve-
ral drums, and about fourteen
or fifteen hundred ftands of
arms. We compute that there
lay killed in the field of battle
about feven or eight hundred of
the enemy: and this is certain,
that there lay dead upon the
field of battle above fifteen of
the enemy to one of ours. Be-
fides, the number of the wound-
ed must be very great
The prifoners taken by us
were very civilly uſed, and none
of them ſtripped. Some are al-
lowed to return to Stirling upon
their parole, and the officers
have the liberty of the town of
Perth. The few priſoners ta-
ken by the enemy on our left,
were moſt of them ſtripped and
wounded after taken. The earl
of Panmure being first of the
priſoners wounded, after taken,
they having refufed his parole,
he was left in a village, and by
the hafty retreat of the enemy,
upon the approach of our army,
was reſcued by his brother and
his Tervants, and carried off.
Monday 14, the earl of Mar
drew out the army early in the
morning on the fame field, at
Ardoch, they were on the day
before.
before. About eleven o'clock,
we perceived fome fquadrons
of the enemy on the top of the
hill near the field of battle,
which marched over the top of
the hill, and a little after we
had an account of their march-
ing to Stirling. Upon which
the earl of Mar marched back
with his army, who continued
about Auchterardıre.
Tueſday 15, refted. Wed-
nefday 16, the earl of Mar left
general Hamilton with the horfe
to canton about Duplin, and
lieutenant-general Gordon with
the clans, and the rest of the
foot about Forgan and adja-
cents, and went into Perth him-
felf to order provifions for the
army; the want of which was
the reafon of his returning to
Perth.
Thursday 17, the earl of Mar
ordered general Hamilton to
march with the horſe, and fome
of the foot, to Perth, and lieu-
tenant-general Gordon with
the clans, to canton about that
place.
After writing the former nar-
rative, we have account from
Stirling, that the enemy loft
twelve hundred men; and, af-
ter inquiry, we cannot find
above fixty of our men in all
killed; among whom were the
earl of Strathmore, and the cap-
tain of Clanronald, both very
much lamented. Auchterhouſe
is miffling. Very few of our
men are wounded.
The
1715.
480
HISTORY
THE
1715.
A remark-
ableincident.
Patten.
on the king's fide to five hundred; but they never agreed in
the accounts of their feveral loffes (z).
It was reported that Mr Drummond, an officer in the
duke of Argyle's army, went to Perth under the pretence
of being a deferter, and was made aid de camp to the lord
Drummond; and at the battle of Dumblain he attended
the earl of Mar to receive his orders. When the earl
thought, that his right wing was like to defeat the duke of
Argyle's left, he diſpatched this Mr Drummond to general
Hamilton (who commanded the left of the earl of Mar's
army) with orders to attack the enemy brifkly, fince he
was like to have the advantage on the right. But Mr
Drummond, inſtead of delivering that order, gave the di-
rect contrary orders to general Hamilton, and told him,
that the earl of Mar was worſted on the right, and defired
him to retire with all hafte with as good order as poffible.
Upon which general Hamilton gave order to halt, which
was obeyed. Then, the right of the duke of Argyle's
army approaching them, moft part of them gave way with-
out firing a gun; and thofe that ftood were chiefly gen-
tlemen and officers, who were fo galled by the duke of
Argyle's right wing, that many of them were killed on the
fpot, and others taken prisoners. And it is faid, Mr
Drummond after he gave the abovementioned orders to ge-
neral Hamilton, deferted to the duke of Argyle's fide. But
this is only report.
There was another thing very obfervable that day; Mr
Robert Roy Macgregor, alias Campbell, a gentleman emi-
nent formerly for his bravery and courage, was with his
men very near the earl of Mar's army; and being defired
by a gentleman of his own party, to go and affift his friends,
(z) The account of the killed, wounded, and taken on the
king's fide, according to the mufter-matter-general's rolls, Nov.
30, 1715, ftands thus:
Killed.
Wounded.
Foot,
Dragoons,
241
I 20
Taken.
110
In all
25
53
12
Officers,
14
I I
10
Serjeants,
101
3
I
Total of men 290 |
1871
1331
610
Horſes,
421
751
40
157
he
OF
481
ENGLAN D.
he refuſed, and faid, if they could not do it without him,
they ſhould not do it with him.
1715.
Inverneſs
The engagement being over, news was brought to the taken.
rebels, of the furrender of the important pafs of Inverness.
to the king, on the fame day the battle was fought. This
fervice was performed by Simon Frazer of Beauford, lord
Lovat, chief of the Frazers, who had hitherto appeared in
the intereft of the pretender. He came before Inverneſs on
the 10th of November, where he was little expected in
that manner, having been all his life of a contrary party.
Sir John Mackenzie, who held the town as governor for
the earl of Seaforth, had only three hundred men with him.
With theſe he retired to a kind of caſtle or citadel, out of
which he made his retreat on the 12th, and gave free pof-
feffion to the king's new friends. The fecuring Inverneſs
was a great blow to the rebels in thefe parts, for by it a free
communication was opened between the earl of Sutherland
and the well-affected in the counties adjacent to Inverneſs
and by theſe means the earl of Seaforth and the marquis of
Huntley were not only drawn from the rebel-army to de-
fend their own territories, but were induced foon after to
make their fubmiffion; and a good number of the Frazers,
who followed Frazerdale before, upon the change of dif
pofition in their chief, the lord Lovat, left the rebels, and
increaſed the number of the king's friends under him.
;
The marquis of Tullibardine left the earl of Mar like-
wife, in order to cover his own country; and many of the
clans, not ſeeing any likelihood of coming to an action,
returned to their homes; it being the custom with theſe
people never to remain long in the field, unleſs they are
kept in conſtant employ.
VOL. VI.
Hh
THE
THE
HISTORY
O F
ENGLAND.
BOOK XXX.
PART II.
From the Year 1715. to the Year 1716.
CHA P. III.
Barrier treaty ratified.-Arrival of the Dutch troops.-Cado-
gan fets out for Scotland.-Prijoners fent to London.-The,
pretender lands in Scotland. His proceedings.-The rebels
think of difperfing.The proceedings of the king's army.
Pretender leaves Scotland.-Death of Lewis XIV.-Duke of
Orleans made regent.-Proceedings in Ireland.-The Parli-
ament mcets. Their proceedings.—The impeach'd lords are
condemn'd.-Order'd to be executed.-Three repriev'd.
Derwentwater and Kenmure executed.-The earl of IVintoun
condemn'd. Trial of the rebels.-Forfter makes his eftape.
O
30. GEORGE I.
fied.
N the 12th of November arrived at Whitehall The barris
captain Williamſon, aid de camp to general Cado- treaty rati
gan, with the news of the barrier treaty being
figned, bringing with him a duplicate of the treaty
itſelf for the king to ratify. This treaty had been a long
Hh 2
while
484
HISTORY
THE
1715.
The arrival
troops.
while in hand, and had met with many difficulties and de-
lays; and it was very much doubted by fome, whether the
imperial court intended to conclude it at all. But, after
great difputes, it was at laſt finiſhed at Antwerp, and figned
by the plenipotentiaries of the emperor, the States-gene-
ral, and the king of Great-Britain, by which the bounds.
of the imperial dominions in the Netherlands, as alfo of the
States-general, were adjusted, and the emperor became
guarantee of the fucceffion of the houſe of Hanover to the
Crown of Great-Britain, as the States-general were before.
Three days after, general Cadogan arrived at London
of the Dutch from Flanders, and the fame day three thoufand of the
Dutch auxiliaries came up the Thames; and having re-
freſhed themſelves for fome days in their quarters in the
Tower-hamlets, and Southwark, marched by land towards.
Scotland, and the other three thouſand were ordered to fol-
low by fea. But, the winds being contrary, they were
forced to put into Harwich and other places. Thefe
troops, not being uſed to fea, fuffered fo much, that they
defired to land, and march wherever the king ſhould think
They march fit. Accordingly they were ordered alfo to proceed by land
to Scotland; and their march, with that of the three thou-
fand from London, was fo regulated, as to arrive at Edin-
burgh about the fame time.
to Edin-
burgh.
General Ca-
dug in fets
land.
A refolution being taken to diflodge the rebels from
out for Scot- Peith, general Cadogan, by the king's command, fet out
on the 29th of November for Scotland; and brigadier
Petit, with fix engineers under him, was ordered to march
thither with all fpeed. A confiderable train of artillery was
alfo fhipped off at the tower, and fent to Scotland for this
expedition.
Several half.
About the fame time colonel Stern's regiment arrived in
the Thames from Ghent, where they had been garrifoned,
and brought prifoners with them the lord Clermont, fon to
the earl of Middleton, who in the year 1708, was taken
priſoner in the pretender's expedition to Scotland, and Mr
Murray, who, by the name of Gordon, had lately been
with the earl of Mar, and who were both taken in Flanders.
The lord Clermont was committed to the lower, and the
other to Newgate.
With regard to the prifoners taken at Prefton, fome half-
pay office is
taken at Pre- pay officers being found among them, a court-martial was
stoa, flot. held at Prefton on the 28th of November, to try the follow-
ing perfons as deferters; the lord Charles Murray, a
younger ſon of the duke of Athel, major Nairn, and cap-
tain
OF ENGLAN D.
485
fent to Lun-
don,
tain Lockhart, brother to Lockhart of Cornwarth, the 1715.
author of the memoirs of Scotland, Nairn and Lock-
hart had belonged to lord Mark Ker's regiment; cap-
tain Shaftoe to colonel Frank's; enfign Erfkine to Pref-
ton's; and enfign Dalziel to lord Orkney's. The five firſt
were found guilty, and fentenced to be fhot; but Dalziel
was acquitted as to the crime of defertion, upon his prov-
ing, that he had refigned his commiffion fome time before
he engaged in the rebellion. The Lord Charles Murray
was refpited till further orders; but the others were, on
the 4th of December, executed. About five hundred of
the inferior prifoners were fent to the caftle of Cheſter,
and a great number to Liverpool; but all the noblemen
and moſt confiderable perfons amongst them were fent to
London, where they arrived on the 9th of December, be- The chief of
ing guarded from Highgate by major-general Tatton, lieu- the prifone18
tenant-colonel of the first regiment of guards, at the head
of a detachment of about three hundred foot-guards, and
a hundred and twenty horfe-granadier guards. They were.
brought fo far by brigadier Panton, lieutenant-colonel of
Lumley's regiment of horfe, under a guard of one hundred
of his troopers. At Highgate every one of the prifoners
had his arms tied with a cord coming crofs their back; and,
thus pinioned, they were not allowed to hold the reins of
the bridle, but had their horfes led by a foot-foldier. In
this pofture they were ranged in four divifions, according
to the four different prifons, to which they were allotted;
the noblemen to the Tower; Fofter and Mackintosh to
Newgate; others to the Marfhalfea; and others to the
Fleet; each divifion being placed between a party of horfe-
granadiers, and a platoon of foot-guards. In this manner
general Tatton fet out from Highgate about noon, and
proceeded to London through innumerable crowds of fpec-
tators of all ages and conditions; his drums beating all the
way a triumphal march. The fame day two of them, Mr
Richard Gafcoigne and Mr Thomas Butler, one of the
duke of Ormond's natural fons, were carried to the Cock-
pit, where they were examined before a committee of the
privy-council, and afterwards committed to the cuſtody of
a meffenger. The next day, the lord Kenmure, Mr For-
fter, and brigadier Mackintoth were carried to the Cock-pit,
where they were feverally examined by a committee of
council, and then remanded, the fift to the Tower, and
the others to Newgate. The fame day likewife, Mr Gaf-
Hh3
coigne
L
486
HISTORY
THE
1715. coigne and Mr Butler were examined a fecond time, and
then committed to Newgate. On Monday, the 12th of
December, the earls of Derwentwater, Nithiſdale, Carn-
warth, and Wintoun, the lord Widdrington, and fome
others of the principal rebels, were alfo feverally ex-
amined, and afterwards fent back to their refpective pri-
fons.
The preten-
Scotland
The rebellion in England being totally fuppreffed, the
king's houfhold troops broke up their camp in Hyde-park,
the day after the prifoners were brought to London, and
the artillery was fent to the Tower. However, for the
greater fecurity of London and Westminster, an extra-
ordinary horſe-guard was placed in feveral inns between
St James's and Whitehall, with orders to patrole all
night.
On the 22d of December, the pretender landed at Peter-
der lands in- head, in the North of Scotland, with only fix gentlemen
in his retinue; among whom was the marquis of Tin-
mouth, fon to the duke of Berwick. The pretender had
imbarked at Dunkirk on board a fmall fhip, which had for-
merly been a privateer of eight guns. The first night he
lay at Peterhead; the fecond at Newburgh, a feat of the
earl Marifchal's. He paffed through Aberdeen incognito
(he and all that were with him being in the habit of sea-
officers) to Fetteroffe, the chief feat of the earl Marifchal.
Here he was met by the earl of Mar, the earl Marifchal,
and about thirty noblemen and gentlemen of the firft qua-
lity, who had left Perth with a party of horse, on the firſt
notice of his landing, which they received by an exprefs
from Peterhead. At this place he appeared in publick, and,
afluming his pretended quality, permitted the noblemen
and gentlemen to kifs his hand. Whilft he remained at
claimed, and Fetteroffe, which was till the 27th, he formed a court,
his declara- appointing all the officers of ftate and houfhold, and made
tion pub-
lifhed. fome peers, and feveral knights. He was proclaimed with
great folemnity before the door of the houfe, and then pub-
lifhed his declaration * dated at Commercy in Lorrain, on
the 25th of October. It was printed at Perth by Ro-
bert Freebairn, who filed himfelf Printer to his ma-
jeft), and was fent to all the magiftrates, minifters, and
juftices of the peace within the rebel-quarters; many of
whom, efpecially in the North, published it according to
the order fent with it.
He is p10-
*See p. 450.
>
At
OF ENGLAND.
487
At Fetteroffe, the pretender received alſo the homage of 1715.
his ecclefiaftical and lay epifcopal fubjects, of the dioceſe of
Aberdeen by addreffes from each of them. (a).
He is ad-
dreffed.
Scoon.
During the pretender's ftay at Fetteroffe, he was attacked
by an aguifh diforder; but he foon recovered, and, on the
2d of January, arrived at Briechen, where he continued He goes to
two days; and, on the third, went and lay at Kinaird.
The next day he arrived at Glames, and lay there that
night. Next morning he made his publick entry into Dun-
dee, with the earl of Mar on his right, and the earl marif
chal on his left hand, being followed by about three hun-
dred gentlemen on horſeback. At the defire of his friends
he remained about an hour on horfeback in the market-place,
allowing the people to perform the ceremony of kiffing his
hand. He then went and dined at Stuart of Garantully's,
where he lodged that night. Next day he left Dundee, and
dined at Caftle-Lyon, a feat of the earl of Strathmore's,
and lay that night at Sir David Tripplin's, and, on the 7th
of January arrived at the palace of Scoon, the antient place
of the coronation of the kings of Scotland, where he feemed
refolved to ſtay till that ceremony was performed.
On the 9th of January, about nocn, he made his pub- He makes
lick entry on horfeback into Perth, and reviewed fome of the his entry in-
(a) The addrefs of the cler-
gy, dated December 29, was as
follows:
SIR,
We your majefty's moſt faith-
ful and dutiful fubjects, the epif-
copal clergy of the diocefe of
Aberdeen, do, from our hearts,
render thanks to Almighty God
for your majefty's fafe and hap-
py arrival into this your antient
kingdom of Scotland, where
your royal prefence was fo
much longed for, and fo necef-
fary to animate your loyal fub-
jects, our noble and generous
patriots, to go on with that
invincible courage and refolu-
tion, which they have hitherto
fo fuccefsfully exerted for the
recovery of the rights of their
H h 4
troops,
king and country, and to excite
many others of your good ſub-
jects to join them, who only
wanted this great encourage-
ment.
to Perth.
We hope and pray, that God
may open the eyes of fuch of
your fubjects, as malicious and
felf-defigning men have induf-
triouſly blinded with prejudices
against your majefty, as if the
recovery of your just rights
would ruin our religion, liber-
ties, and property, which by
the overturning of thefe rights
have been highly incroached
upon; and we are perfuaded,
that your majefty's juftice and
goodnefs will fettle and fecure
thofe juft privileges, to the con-
viction of your most malicious
enemies,
At-
488
THE
HISTORY
1715. troops that were drawn out on purpoſe.
His peech
to h
cil.
coun-
He expreffed
great fatisfaction at the appearance of the men, and was
much pleaſed with the Highland dreſs, which he had never
feen before. In the evening he returned to Scoon, where
he began to form a regular council, and to perform ſeveral
acts of fate. He published fix proclamations; for a gene-
ral thankſgiving for his fafe arrival; for praying for him in
churches; for the currency of all foreign coins; for fum-
moning the meeting of the convention of eftates; for order-
ing all fenuble men, from fixteen to fixty, to repair to his
ſtandard, and for his coronation on the 23d of January.
On the 16th of that month a grand council was held, at
which all the chiefs of the rebels were preſent. At the
opening of it, the pretender delivered himfeif in a fet ſpeech
to this effect:
<
I am now, on your repeated invitation, come among
< you. No other argument need be uſed of the great con-
fidence I place in your loyalty and fidelity to me, which I
intirely rely on. I believe you are already convinced of
my good intentions to reftore the antient laws and liber-
ties of this kingdom: if not, I am ftill ready to confirm
to you the affurance of doing all, that can give you fa-
tisfaction therein.
<
Almighty God has been
pleaſed to train up your majef.
ty from your infancy in the
fchool of the croſs, in which the
Divine Grace infpires the mind
with true wiſdom and virtue,
and guards it againſt thofe falfe
blandiſhments, by which prof-
perity corrupts the heart. And
And
as this ſchool has fent forth the
moft illuftrious princes, as Mo-
fes, Jofeph, and David; fo we
hope the fame infinitely wife
and good God deſigns to make
your majeſty, not only a blef-
fing to your own kingdoms, and
a true father of them, but alſo a
great inftrument of the general
peace and good of mankind.
Your princely virtues are
fuch, that, in the cfteem of the
bell judges, you are worthy to
• The
wear a crown, though you had
not been born to it; which
makes us confident, that it will
be your majeſty's care to make
your fubjects a happy people,
and ſo to ſecure them in their
religion, liberties, and proper-
ty, as to leave no juft ground
of diftruft, and to unite us all in
true chriſtianity, according to
the gospel of Jefus Chrift, and
the practice of the primitive.
chriftians.
We adore the goodness of
God, in preferving your majef
ty, amidit the many dangers,
to which you have been ex-
pofed, notwithſtanding the hel-
liſh contrivances formed againſt
you, for encouraging affaffins to
murder your facred perfon; a
practice abhorred by the very
}
hea-
OF
ENGLAN D.
489
F
C
<
C
The great difcouragements, which prefented, were not
fufficient to deter me from coming to put myſelf at the
head of my faithful fubjects, who were in arms for me,
and, whatlover, fhall enfue, I fhall leave them no room
for complaint, that I have not done the utmoft they could
expect from me. Let thoſe, who forget their duty, and
are negligent of their own good, be anfwerable for the
worſt that may happen. For me, it will be no new
thing, if I am unfortunate. My whole life, even from
my cradle, has fhewn a conftant feries of misfortunes;
and I am prepared (if fo it pleaſe God) to fuffer the
threats of my enemies, and yours. The preparations,
which are making against us, will, I hope, quicken
< your refolution, and convince others, from whom I have
affurances, that it is now no time to difpute what they
have to do: if otherwife, they fhall by their remiffnes
be unmindful of their own fafety, I ſhall take it as my
greatest comfort, that I have acquitted myfelf of what-
ever can be expected from me. I recommend to you
what is neceffary to be done in the prefent conjunc-
،
C
'
heathens. May the fame mer-
ciful providence continue ftill to
protect your majefty, to profper
your arms, to turn the hearts of
all the people towards you, to
fubdue thoſe who refift your
juſt pretenſions, to establish you
on the throne of your anceſtors,
to grant you a long and happy
reign, to bless you with a royal
progeny, and at laft with an
immortal crown of glory. And
as it has been, ſtill is, and fhall
be our care, to inftil into the
minds of the people true princi-
ples of loyalty to your majeſty;
fo this is the earneft prayer of,
&c.
The city of Aberdeen, who
were moſtly of the epifcopal
communion, followed the ex-
ample of their paſtors, in the
following addrefs:
We your ever loyal and duti-
ful fubjects, the magiftrates,
ture;
town-council, and other your
majefty's loyal fubjects, citizens
of Aberdeen, do heartily con-
gratulate your arrival to this
your native and hereditary king-
dom. Heaven very often in-
hance our bleffings by difap-
pointments; and your majefty's
fafe arrival after fuch a train of
difficulties, and fo many at-
tempts, makes us not doubt
but God is propitious to your
juſt cauſe.
As your majefty's arrival was
feafonable, fo it was furprifing.
We were happy, and we knew
it not: we had the bleffing we
wiſhed for, yet infenfible till
now, that your majesty has
been pleafed to let us know,
that we are the happiett, and,
as fo, we thall always endea-
vour to be the moſt loyal of,
&c.
1715.
490
HISTORY
THE
1715.
The rebels
think of dif-
perfing.
ture; and, next to God, rely on your council and refo-
•lution.'
This fpeech was difperfed with great induſtry; but the
council foon came to a refolution to abandon the whole
enterprize, the first opportunity they fhould have to do it
decently. They were not in circumftances to ftand the
attack of the royal army, which was now reinforced with
fix thoufand Dutch: but it was neceffary to conceal this
refolution from their own people, till the proper meaſures
were concerted to have them all difperfed with the great-
eft fafety, without expofing them to the infults of the roy-
al army. Had the reſolution been made publick, it would
have had this confequence, that the common people would
be fo difpirited, as not to be capable of taking care of their
ſafety; and ſome of them perhaps might have had thoughts
of revenging upon their leaders the danger, into which
they had been drawn. For this reafon the council gave
out, they refolved to fight the king's troops; and accord-
ingly, made all the preparation neceffary for fuch an un-
dertaking, as if they had really intended it.
Expreffes were fent to the earl of Seaforth, the marquis.
of Huntley, and many others of their friends, to return
fpeedily to the army at Perth. Their head-quarters were
fortified in the beſt manner; and people of all ranks were
zealous in promoting the work. Nothing was to be ſeen
till the very day they abandonad the place, but the greateſt
induftry in throwing up intrechments, raifing batteries,
planting guns, with all the other preparations of war. The
pretender even iffued out an order, for the burning of the
village of Auchterardire, to prevent its falling into the hands
of the enemy (b).
(b) The order was as fol-
lows:
James R.
Whereas it is abfolutely ne-
ceflary for our fervice, and the
publick ſafety, that the enemy
• fhould be as much incommod-
•ed as poffible, eſpecially upon
• their march towards us, if they
• fhoold attempt any thing a-
gainit us or our forces; and
feeing this can be by no means
6
<
Ac-
better effected than by deftroy-
ing all the corn and forage,
that can ſupport them in their
march, and burning the hou-
fes and villages, which may be
neceffary for quartering the
enemy; which nevertheleſs it
is our meaning fhould be only
• done in cafe of abfolute ne-
ceffity, concerning which we
have given our full inſtructi-
ons to James Graham younger
of Braco: thefe are therefore
ordering and requiring you,
how
OF ENGLAND.
491
1715.
According to this order, feveral towns, as Auchterar-
dire, Blackford, Dunning, and Muthell, and other villa-
ges, were burnt to the ground; by which the poor inha- Several vil-
lages burnt.
bitants, being only old infirm men, women, and children (the
reft being forced from their homes) were expofed to the
fevereſt ſeaſon of the year, in one of the coldest winters
that had been known for many ages. In the account pub-
lifhed at Paris, of the pretender's conduct in Scotland, it is
affirmed, that, upon his leaving that kingdom, he had de-
pofited a fum of money in the hands of general Gordon,
for the uſe of the fufferers by the execution of this order;
which money was to be delivered by that general, with a
letter from the pretender to the duke of Argyle. Whether
this was publiſhed to take off the ill impreffion that order
ſeemed to leave upon the minds of the people, or whether
there was any truth either in that or the letter, depends
only on the credit of the account written by the earl of
Mar at Paris (c.)
how foon this order ſhall be
• tranfmitted to you by the
• hands of the faid James Gia-
6
ham, forthwith, with the gar-
• rifon under your command, to
• burn and destroy the village of
• Auchterardire. with all the
• houſes, corn, and forage with-
in the faid town, fo as they
may be rendered intirely uſe
lefs to the enemy; for the do-
ing whereof this fhall be to
you, and all
fhall em-
you
ploy in execution thereof, a
• fufficient warrant.'
<
6
Given at our court of Scoon
this ſeventeeth day of Ja-
nuary, in the fifteenth year
of our reign, 1715-16.
By his majesty's command,
To colonel Patrick
Graham, or the
commanding offi-
cer for the time, of
our garrison of Tul-
libardine.
MAR.
During
(c) This account at large was
as follows:
SIR,
You feem furprized at the
fudden change our affairs here
have taken, from what you ex-
pected by the accounts you had
from fome of our friends at
Edinburgh, before our leaving
Perth, and even after we were
from thence. I will there-
gone
fore, for your fatisfaction, give
you a true account of that whole
matter.
It is plain enough, that it was
our buſineſs to repreſent our af-
fairs then to the publick,to be in
fuch a pofture, as might encour-
age our friends every where, and
difcourage our enemies, and ſtop
them from marching againſt us,
until we were in a better conditi-
on to receive them; which we
had reafon to expect foon to be,
by our friends joining us, as
they daily promifled to do, and
un-
492
HISTORY
THE
1715.
the rebels.
During thefe tranfactions, the duke of Argyle, in con-
junction with the lord Cadogan, took meaſures to diflodge
the rebels from Perth, and remove the pretender from
Scotland.
Brunt-Inland A number of the rebels having poffeffion of the town of
abandoned by Brunt-Ifland, on the other fide of the road of Leith, the
duke of Argyle ordered the men of war, then on duty in
that road, to ftand over, and throw fome fhot into the
town. The captain had thrown but few, when the re-
bels abandoned the town, fearing, as they faid, the cap-
tain, after his cannonading, would attempt to land; and
their number was not fufficient to defend the place. Upon
notice of the rebels abandoning Brunt-Ifland, where they
had left behind them fix pieces of cannon, fome arms, and
a great quantity of provifions, a detatchment of Scots and
Dutch troops were fent over the Firth, to take poffeffion of
the town, under the command of Sir James Montgomery.
Upon this the rebels quitted all the towns on the north
fide of the Firth; by which means the navigation to and
beyond Leith was not fo much interrupted, as in the be-
ginning of the winter.
There happened fome fkirmishes between the detach-
ments fent to poffefs thefe towns, and fome parties of the
rebels;
until we ſhould receive the mo-
ney, arms, and ammunition we
were every day expecting, as we
had been for a long time.
But, that time being now
over, I may freely own to you,
and it is fit you ſhould know,
that a month before the cheva-
lier landed, the refolution was
taken of abandoning Perth, as
foon as the enemy ſhould march
againſt it. And, though this re-
folution was known to a good
number in our army, yet the ſe-
cret was fo well kept, that it ne-
ver came to the publick; fo that
the enemy believing that we
ſhould ſtand our ground, thought
themſelves obliged to delay their
march for a long time, until
they had made great preparati-
ons of artillery, &c. as if they
had been going to befiege a for-
tified town but, in reality, our
condition was then fuch, as
obliged us to take that refoluti-
on, having neither a ſufficient
number of men, ammunition,
nor arms.
Upon the chevalier's arrival
we expected that our friends
would then have certainly join-
ed us; both thofe, who had for-
merly been with us, and were
gone home, and thoſe, who be-
fore had given, the chevalier
not being come, as the only rea-
fon of their not joining the ar-
my; and alſo that thofe, to
whom the reducing of Inver-
nefs, the lord Sutherland, and
thoſe with him, was committed,
would have vigorously perform-
ed that fervice, and then have
joined
OF ENGLAN D.
493
rebels; but none of any confequence. The moft remark- 1715.
able ſkirmish was about the fecond of January, when the
earl of Rothes, with a good company of volunteers, and
a detachment of fifty Dutch, attempted to poffefs them-
felves of the palace of Falkland, a royal foundation, but
now gone to decay. The rebels having intelligence of the
earl's defign, threw a party of their men into the place,
and ſent another body to furround him in a village near
Falkland. The volunteers, to the number of thirty, found
means to make their efcape; but the Dutch foot were
made prifoners.
To reftrain the incurfions of the enemy upon the duke's
new acquifitions on the coast of Fife, three battalions of
Dutch foot were ordered to paſs the Firth at the Queen's-
Ferry, and take quarters about Innerkeithing, Dumfer-
ling, and the towns in that neighbourhood, which prov-
ed a fufficient check upon the rebels during their ſtay at
Perth.
About this time the earl of Seaforth and the marquis of
Huntley had capitulated with the earl of Sutherland after
many
joined us; and we had no rea-
fon to doubt, but money, am-
munition and arms would im-
mediately be fent after the che-
valier.
But, to our great misfortune,
we were diſappointed in all theſe
our hopes, though never fo well
grounded in appearance.
The rigour of the feaſon, and
the great fall of the fnow on the
hills, kept in fome meaſure the
reft of the highlanders from
joining us. Most of thofe, who
before had excuſed themſelves
upon the chevalier's not being
come, kept fill at home, now
that he was come, waiting per-
haps to fee how his affairs were
like to fucceed. Thofe employ
ed for reducing of Inverneſs
were fo far from acting with vi.
gour, that they made, what they
called it, a ceflation of arms
with the enemy. Some gold was
fent to us in lingo's; but the
ſhip in which it came, was
ftranded, and the goid itſelf loſt.
Several fhips came with officers,
but neither arms nor ammuniti-
on in any of them. So that our
condition after the chevalier's
arrival, was no ways bettered,
except by the new life his pre-
fence gave to the fmall number
we at that time had got toge-
ther. Even in that weak con-
dition, the chevalier would glad-
ly have maintained Perth, or
ventured a battle. But when
the enemy, with all their great
preparations, and an army of
above eight thouſand effective
regular troops, were actually in
march, and advanced near to
the place, it was found imprac-
ticable to defend the town, and
unadvifeable to enter into a bat-
tle with a ſmall number of men,
that were in it, for a great many
reafons
!
494
HISTORY
THE
1715. many threatnings between them, which never came to
blows. The earl of Seaforth afterwards involved himſelf
again in the rebellion; but the marquis of Huntley ftrictly
obferved the terms of his capitulation.
Proceedings
of the king's
army.
The duke of Argyle had now got all the fupplies he ex-
pected. The fix thouſand Dutch auxiliaries, under the com-
mand of major-general Vanderbeck, had joined him; ast
Newton's and Stanhope's dragoons had likewife from Eng-
land. But he was in great want of a train of artillery,
which he had long expected from England, and which had
been fhipped for this fe vice; but the ftormy weather and
easterly winds continuing, the duke grew impatient of
waiting any longer for them, and ordered general Cadogan
to go to Berwick with a guard of five hundred men, and
fifteen hundred carriage horfes, to bring thence ten pieces
of cannon and four mortars, with their carriages and am-
munition, which with fourteen pieces that he had already
with him, was thought a fufficient train for this expedition.
The
reaſons too long to be here
mentioned But in fhort we had
not above four thoufand, both
horſe and foot; and of thefe,
for want of arms, and for other
reaſons, not above two thouſand
five hundred to be relied upon
as good fighting men. The town
is little better than an open vil-
lage at any time; and at this
the river on one fide, and a kind
of foffe or ditch on the other,
were frozen up, fo that it was
eafy to be entered on all quar-
ters. The long continued froft
had kept the mills from going;
fo that there was not above two
days provifions in the town.
The enemy being then in pof-
feffion of the moft part of Fife,
where the coal-pits are, there
were no coals to be got; and,
the wood being fcarce in the
country, there happened to be
almoſt no fuel at all. Befides
this, the highlanders are not
uſed to defend towns; nor had
they wherewithal to defend
this.
On the other hand, to have
gone out to fight the enemy,
when there was no advantageous
poft or paſs to be defended, had
been expofing our men to vifi-
ble deftruction; the enemy be-
ing provided with every thing,
and thrice our number of fight-
ing men, might have furrounded
us on all fides, and prevented
all poffibility of retreat. All
this put us into an abſolute ne-
ceffity of leaving Perth, and re-
tiring northwards, which we did
in good order, and came in two
days to Montroſe, and Briechin.
Neither of thefe places are te-
nable, though we had been pro-
vided, as we were not with a
fufficient number of men, am-
munition, and provifions. But,
Montrofe being a good har-
bour, where we expeccd our
fuccours from abroad, we were
unwilling to quit it, fo long as
We
OF
495
ENGLAND.
The train being now ready, he was as much at a lofs for 1715.
gunners to manage it, having few or none in his army; but
the fleet on board of which the train and ammunition had
been ſhipped, arriving in the road of Leith on the 28th of
January, colonel Borgard, who commanded the engineers.
and gunners fent with theſe ftores, arrived at Stirling on
the 29th, fo that now all things were ready for the intended
attack of the enemy, which was refolved in a council of
war, notwithſtanding the rigour of the feafon.
On the 21st, two hundred dragoons were fent, under the
command of general Gueſt, to view the road, and diſcover
fome of the difpofitions of the rebels. This party, though
only fent to reconnoitre, put the rebels into the utmoſt con-
fufion at Perth. Some country people, whofe fear mag-
nified the number of the detachment, carried news to the
town, that the duke of Argyle and all the army was with-
in a few hours march. This ftruck the whole rebel army
we could remain fafe in it. We
thought indeed, that the enemy
would have made a halt at Perth,
and not have marched fo quick-
ly after us, as we foon found
they did, they being within a
few miles of us, before we had
certain intelligence of it, though
great pains had been taken to be
informed of their motions. The
earl of Panmure, not being re-
covered of the fevere wounds he
had received at the battle of
Sheriff-Moor, was not in a con-
dition to march along with the
army, which otherwiſe he would
have done : upon which the che-
valier adviſed him, as he paffed
Dundee, to endeavour to get off
in the firſt ſhip he could find; and
by accident, finding a little
bark at Arboth, went off in it
for France.
Before this time feveral peo-
ple had very ſeriouſly reprefent-
ed to the chevalier the deplor-
able circumſtances, in which his
affairs now were on all fides;
that being overpowered in Scot-
with
land, no appearance of any rif-
ing in England, nor any news
of the fuccours he expected from
abroad, he had no courſe at pre-
fent to take, that was confiftent
with what he owed to his peo-
ple in general, to thofe, who
had taken arms for him in par-
ticular, and to himſelf upon their
account, but by retiring beyond
ſea, to preſerve himſelf for a
better occafion of afferting his
own right, and reſtoring them
to their antient liberties.
It was indeed hard to bring
him to think of this; but thoſe
about him found it now high
time to prefs the matter more
than ever, the enemy being
within three miles upon their
march towards us. They there-
fore again reprefented to him
the impoffibility of making a
ftand any where, till they fhould
come to the moſt inacceffible
places of the mountains, where
in that feafon of the year, there
being fo much fnow on the
ground, there could be no fub-.
fiftence
496
THE HISTORY
1715. with the greateſt confternation; and the pannick continued,
till parties, fent out as far as Tullibardine to view the coun-
try, returned with the report of the falfhood of the ru-
mour.
Colonel Gueft, being returned, acquainted the duke of
Argyle, that the roads were fo covered with fnow, that it
would be impoffible for the army to paſs, eſpecially the
artillery and heavy carriages, except the fnow was remov-
ed; upon which feveral thoufand people from the country
were fummoned in to clear the roads.
On the 24th, the duke and general Cadogan went out
with a party to view the country, and haften the workmen
employed in clearing the roads. This likewife alarmed
fome of the enemy's advanced pofts, but did not, as the
other, reach Perth.
The day before and that day it thawed fuddenly and
the thaw was followed by a great fall of fnow, which hin-
dered
fiftence for any body of men
together, and were no fuccour
could come to them. That,
when his fmall army was di-
vided in leffer bodies, they
could not avoid being cut off by
the enemies troops, who would
then be maſter of all the low
countries, and eſpecially by the
garrifons they had in Inverlo-
chy and Inverneſs, which they
would reinforce. That, as long
as they knew he was in the
kingdom, they would purfue
him, even with the hazard of
their whole army, his perfon
being the chief object of their
purfuit, as his deftruction was
the only thing, that could fe-
cure their ufurpation; whereas,
if he were gone off, they would
not purfue with that eagerness,
nor would they find their ac-
count in harraffing their army
in the fnow, and exceffive cold
of the mountains, to pursue the
fcattered remains of the loyal
party, who might fkulk in the
hills, till providence fhould open
a way for their relief, or that
they fhould obtain terms from
the government. That his per-
fon being with them would de-
feat even thefe faint hopes; and
that in fhort, whilſt he was in
the kingdom, they could never
expect any terms or capitulation
but by abandoning him, or giv-
ing him up; which rather than
ever conſent to, they would be
all to the laft man cut in pie-
ces.
Though the chevalier was ftill
extremely unwilling to leave his
loyal people, who had facrifi-
ced their all with fo much zeal
and alacrity for his fervice; yet
when he confidered, that, as
things then ftood, his prefence,
far from being a help and fup-
port to them, would rather be
an occafion of haftening their
ruin, he was fenfibly touched to
find himself, for their fakes, un-
der a neceffity of leaving them :
there was no answering their
reafons, nor any time to be loſt,
the danger increafing every mo-
ment
OF ENGLAND.
497
!
ed the workmen employed in clearing the roads, who had
now all their work to do over again, and rendered the de-
figned march almoft impracticable. This inclined moſt of
the generals to defer the march of the troops till the ſeaſon
was more moderate, none of them having feen a campaign
in fo cold a climate: but the duke was refolute in the mea-
fures taken, eſpecially as he had pofitive orders from above,
to attack the rebels without lofs of time.
On the 26th, the duke ordered two regiments of dra-
goons, and five hundred foot, to advance to Dumblain with
directions to poft a strong party at the demolished bridge
of Down.
ment. He therefore at laſt told
them, that he was forry to find
himſelf obliged to confent to
what they deſired of him; and
I dare fay, no confent, he ever
gave, was fo uneafy to him as
this was.
In the mean time freſh alarms
coming of the enemies approach-
ing, orders were given for the
army's marching towards Aber-
deen, and the refolution was
taken for his going off in the
evening. It happened very pro-
videntially, that there was juft
ready in the harbour a ſmall ſhip,
that had been defigned to carry
a gentleman he was then to have
fent to a foreign court.
This
ſhip was now pitched upon to
tranſport him: fhe was but a
fmall one, and could carry but
a few pallengers; and therefore,
to avoid confufion, he himself
thought fit to name thoe, who
fhould attend him. The earl
of Mar, who was the first nam-
ed, made difficulty, and begged
he might be left behind; but
the chevalier being positive for
his going, and telling him, that
in a great meafure there were
the fame reaſons for his going
as for his own; that his friends
VOL. VI.
On
would more eafily get terms
without him than with him;
and that, as things now ſtood,
he could be no longer of any
ufe to them in that country, he
fubmitted.
The chevalier likewife order-
ed the marquis of Drummond
to go along with him This
lord was then lame by a fall
from his horſe, and not in a
condition to follow the army,
and was one of the four with
the earl of Mar, lord Tullibar-
dine, and lord Lithgow, against
whom there was then a bill of
attainder paffing. The chevalier
would have willingly carried
with him the two other lords
but it happened, that they were
both then at a diſtance; lord
Tullibardine at Briechin with a
party of the foot, and lord Lith-
gow at Bervil with the horſe.
Lord Mariíchal, gentleman of
his bed chamber, was alfo or-
dered to go, though he ſeemed
very defirous to ftay, and ſhare
in the fate of his countrymen.
Lieutenant general Sheldon,
vice-chamberlain, had the fame
orders; as had alfo colonel Clep-
ham, who had left the enemy.
Lord Edward Drummond, who
I i
<
was
17:5.
***
1
498
HISTORY
THE
1715.
On the 29th, the army began their march, and proceed-
ed to Dumblain; the troops which were there before, ad-
vancing, at the fame time, to the old caftle of Braco, ex-
pecting fome reſiſtance, but they found it abandoned. The
next morning the fame party, with two pieces of cannon,
advanced upon the road to Tullibardine, to cover the work-
men, who were clearing the way, and to prevent their be-
ing infulted by the garrison of Tullibardine. That day
the army marched to Auchterardire; that is, to the place
where it ſtood, for the rebels had burnt the village to the
ground, fo that the men were obliged to lie in the open
air in as violent a cold night, as ever was known in thoſe
parts. The next morning early they marched to Tulli-
bardine, the gairifon of which place had retired, except
fifty men, who were made prifoners. Here the duke of
Argyle
was alfo gentleman of his bed-
chamber, happened to be with
lord Tinmouth, at five miles.
diſtance, and fo could not go
with the chevalier, as he in-
tended they both fhould; but
he wrote to them to follow in
a fmall fhip, that was then in
the harbour; but the mafter of
this fhip was frightened, and
went away without carrying any
body.
The chevalier then ordered a
commiffion to be drawn for
lieutenant-general Gordon to
command in chief, with all
neceffary power inferted; and
particularly, one, to treat and
capitulate with the enemy. He
left alfo the faid general the rea-
fons of his leaving this kingdom,
and all the money, that was in
the pay-maſter's hands, or that
he had himſelf (fave a fmall fum
for defraying his own and com-
pany's charges) and left orders
for a fum of money (if there
fhould be any left after paying
the army) to be given.to the
poor people, who fuffered by
the burning of Auchterardire,
and fome villages about it, which
had been thought neceffary to
be done, to prevent the enemy's
march, though very much a-
gainſt his inclination; which
made him delay from time to
time, until the enemy was ac-
tually on their march; and the
chevalier left a letter with gene-
ral Gordon, for my lord Ar-
gyle, to be delivered when the
faid money fhould be given, de-
firing that it fhould be diftri-
buted accordingly.
About nine o'clock the che-
valier went on board the ſhip,
which was about a mile at fea.
Lord Marifchal and colonel
Clepham, came fome time af-
ter to the fhore; but by an acci-
dent found no boat, and fo
could not go off; though, as
the boat man, who carried the
chevalier, affured us, he ftaid
for them till near eleven o'clock,
but could ftay no longer, becauſe
of the nine men of war, that
were cruizing thereabouts; and
it was great good luck, that the
fhip,
OF
499
ENGLAND.
Argyle received intelligence, that the pretender and his ar-
my had abandoned Perth the day before, and retired towards
Dundee. This was very agreeable news to the whole ar-
my, who had lain in the fnow for two nights fucceffively.
But, as it was four o'clock in the afternoon before the
duke had the intelligence, they could not reach Perth that
night. However the duke took with him four fquadrons.
of dragoons, and two battalions of foot, and marched that
evening to take poffeffion of the town, where he arrived
about two o'clock in the morning with the horſe; but the
foot, through the length and deepnefs of the road, did not
arrive till ten the next morning, very much harraſſed by
their match. Had the rebels had any intelligence, that
the duke was detached, with fo fmall an attendance, from
fhip, having ftaid fo long, got
out of their reach before it was
day-light.
As ſoon as the chevalier part-
ed, we marched and were now
a good way advanced towards
the highlands; for there was no
ftand could be made at Aber-
deen; nor could we think of
going to Inverness, that being
ftill in the enemies hands. Some
went to Peterhead, and thought
to have got off in a fhip they
found there; but we hear they
were foon forced back by a man
of war: fo it is like they may
join us again, if they are not in-
tercepted by the enemy.
I must add here one thing,
which, however incredible it
may appear, is, to our coft, but
too true; and that is, that, from
the time the earl of Mar fet up
the chevalier's ftandard to this
day, we never received from
abroad the leaft fupply of arms
and ammunition of any kind;
though it was notorious in itself,
and well known, both to friends
and enemies, that this was what
from the beginning we mainly
wanted; and, as fuch, it was
the
infifted upon by the earl of Mar
in all the letters he writ, and by
all the meffengers he fent to the
other fide. Several fhips came
with officers, and fome fmall
fums of money, after the battle
of Sheriff-moor; and three or .
four fhips more came after the
chevalier's arrival. But, even
when he was with us in perfon,
no powder was fent, nor a ſword
nor muſket; fo that, when we
marched from Perth, we had
not three hundred weight of
powder for the whole army, nor
hould we have wanted men,
had we had arms to put in
their hands. How the main
point came to be to intirely neg-
lected, by thofe, who had the
management of the chevalier's
affairs in their hands on the
other fide, is vet a mystery to
us and it furprizes us the more,
that thole, who came lately over,
affure us, that both arms and
ammunition might have been
gotten from private hands, with-
out having the obligation to
any foreign prince. So whe-
ther this unaccountable omiffion
proceeded from mere negligence,
I iz
want
1715.
500
THE HISTORY
f
1715. the main of the army, he might have been in ſome hazard;
for the grofs of the army did not arrive at Perth from Tul-
libardine till late in the evening, the 1ft of February.
+
The pretender and his party had now got two days.
march before the royal army. It was neceffary therefore
to purſue them without intermiffion, that they might have
no reft. Accordingly the 2d of February the duke of Ar-
gyle continued his purſuit at the head of fix fquadrons, two
battalions, and eight hundred detached foot; lay that night
at Errol, and on the 3d arrived at Dundee, though the
main army, which made more eafy marches, did not come
up till the 4th. Here the duke's intelligence made him
judge, that the rebel army, which had now proceeded to
Montrofe, would make fume ftop there, as that place was
more tenable than Perth, and a fea-port, where they might
expect fupplies from abroad. Therefore he refolved not to
all w them to fortify themſelves, but fent two detachments
to Montrose by two different roads: two thouſand foot and
fifty dragoons went by the way of Aberbrothick, and three
hundred more, and fifty dragoons, marched by the way of
Briechen ;
want of money, or, from a jea-
loufy in fome, who were per-
haps unwilling, that we ſhould
be the inftruments of this great
work, and that it fhould fuc-
ceed in our hands, or fome
other by reafons, is what time
may diſcover.
Thus I have given you true
matter of fact, and a fincere ac-
count of our unfortunate condi-
tion Whatever may now be
our fate, we have ftill one folid
ground of comfort, that the che-
valier hath (as we hope) got
fafe out of the reach of his ene-
mies; for in the fafety of his
perfon is all our hopes of re-
lief; and we look on him as the
inftrument reſerved by God,
and he now feems the only one
in the ordinary courſe of provi-
dence to reſcue thefe nations,
in due time from their oppreffi
ons, and the lawlefs dominion
of E
>
Now if we look back a little,
and confider our affairs, from
the beginning of this laſt at-
tempt, I believe it will be
found, that no nation in our
circumftances, and fo deflitute
of all kind of fuccour from
abroad, ever made fo brave a
ftruggle for reftoring their prince
and country to their just rights.
And when it comes to be
known to the world (as fome
time or other it may)´what en-
couragements there were at
home and abroad, reaſonably
to make us expect and hope for
fuccefs in this great, good, and
neceflary work, it will not ap-
pear a chimerical, rafh, or ill-
grounded undertaking, and its
not proving fuccessful as plainly
appears by what has been al-
ready faid, and what follows:
is not owing to the chevalier,
or his faithful friends on this
fide.
When
OF ENGLAN D.
501.
Briechen; but the fnow was fo deep, that the march proved
very tedious to thofe detachments, fince they were obliged
to fummon in the country-people, to clear the roads. On
the 5th the whole army marched the duke with the caval-
ry, and train by the road of Briechen, and the infantry
with general Cadogan by the way of Aherbrothick.
1
1715.
der leaves
Scotiand.
In this day's march they had intelligence, that the pre- The pre-
tender had made his eſcape, both from his own people ar
the kings army, the morning before, on board a Frenca
fhip, called the Maria Terefa of St Malo, then lying in the
road of Montroſe.
It has been already obferved, that the abandoning Perth,
and difperfing the rebel army as foon as they could get out
of the reach of the king's army, had been refolved ever
fince, if not before, the pretender's arrival in Scotland;
but that it was neceffary to conceal this defign from the
grofs of the army, as well as that the pretender, and tome-
of the chief leaders of this undertaking, intended to make
their eſcape to France the first opportunity. Ho vever, the
army's abandoning Perth fo precipitately, as to leave their
When the earl of Mar, by
the chevalier's command, came
down to Scotland. he found the
people there more forward to
take arms, than his inftructions
allowed him to confent to; and
it was not without difficulty,
that we could allay their firſt
heat. But the chevalier not go-
ing into England, nor the duke
of Berwick coming to Scotland,
as was generally expected, a-
bated very much of that forward
neſs, ſo that when the govern
ment fummoned thoſe they fuf-
pected to appear, and give bail
for their good behaviour, many of
them feemed inclined to comply.
The earl of Mar, in purfuance
of his inftructions, found it then
high time, for preventing this
ftep, to appear openly; and it
was not without difficulty, that
he could perfuade fome to join
with him, they apprehending
Waggons
great uncertainty of fucceſs in
this affair, by no account being
come of the chevalier, or the
duke of Berwick's arrival, nor
of money, arms, ammunition,
or officers, though others were
all along very forward. Upon
the refolution of taking arms,
he fent a gentleman to give the
chevalier an account of it,
It was near a month after the
earl of Mar fet up the ſtandard
before he could procure a com-
miffion; and it is no fmall proof
of the people's zeal for their
country, that fo great a number
followed his advice, and obeyed
his orders, before he could pro-
duce one. It must be owned,
and it is the lefs to be wondered
at, that his authority being
thus precarious, ſome were noɛ
ſo punctual in joining him, and
ethers performed not ſo effectu-
ally the fervice they were fent
I i3
upon 3
502
HISTORY
THE
1715. waggons and artillery behind them, and then pointing their
march to the fea-fhore, eſpecially to Montrofe, where it
was known that feveral French fhips lay, railed jealoufies.
in the heads of the army of what was really 'their intent,
and produced confiderable murmurings, which the earl of
Mat could not appeafe, but by countenancing the march
from Montroſe to Aberdeen, where he gave out they de-
figned to make a fland. The army was made to believe,
that the pretender was to go along with them; and, to
amufe them, his horfes and ordinary body-guard were
drawn up before the door of the houſe where he lodged.
This removing all jealoufy, the army became tractable
again, and proceeded on their march. Bur the pretender,
inſtead of going on with them, eft his atten jance in their
ufual waiting, flipped out of a back-door, and went on
foot to the earl of Mar's quarters, and from thence to the
water-fide where a boat waited for them, and carried them
on board with only three fervants. The fame boat return-
ed, and took in the earl of Melfort, the lord Drummond,
lieutenant-general Bulkley, Sheldon, and others, to the
upon; which had they done,
not only Scotland, but even part
of England, had been reduced
to the chevalier's obedience be-
fore the government had been
in a condition to make head
against us. But, as it was,
moſt of thoſe, who had promif.
ed, and fome who had not,
joined the chevalier's ſtandard at
Perth about the end o October;
at which time the earl of Mar
fent two gentlemen, to give the
chevalier an account of the con-
dition they were in, of what
they had, and what they want-
ed, and to haften his own, the
duke of Ormond's, and the duke
of Berwick's coming into Bri-
tain.
About this time there was a
rifing of fome noblemen and
gentlemen in the fouth of Scot
land, who, marching over the
borders, were joined by fome
number
1
in the north of England; and,
they altogether marching back
into Scotland, the earl of Mar
fent over the Firth of Forth fif-
teen hundred foot to join them.
This occafoned the duke of Ar-
gyle's leaving Stirling, and go-
ing with a part of his army to
Edinburgh. Now had the Scots
and Engliſh horfe, who were
then in the fouth of Scotland,
come and joined the fifteen
hundred foot as was expected;
had the Highland clans per-
formed, as they promiſed, the
ſervice they were fent upon in
Argyleſhire, and marched to-
wards Glaſgow, as the earl of
Mar marched towards Stirling,
he had then given a good ac-
count of the government's
army, the troops from Ireland
not having yet joined them,
nor could they have joined them
afterwards. But, all this fail-
ing
OF
503
ENGLAND.
number of ſeventeen in all, being perfons of the firſt rank,
either in his houfhold or army, or originally privy to his
defign.
When they were all on board, the veffel fet fail, fteering
to the coast of Norway, to keep clear of the English
cruifers. They had a freſh gale at weft fouth weſt, and
made land the next evening; and coafting along the Ger-
man and Dutch fhores, they arrived in five days at Gravelin
in France; and the fame fhip returned in twelve days from
her firſt ſetting out, both to give intelligence of the preten-
der's fafe landing, and to take in another party of gentle-
men, which was done about Frazerfburgh, after the main
of their army was difperfed in the hills.
The earl Marifchal and the lord Tinmouth, fon of the
duke of Berwick, were about five miles from Montroſe,
when the pretender imbarked; and fo were left to fhift for
themſelves with feveral others. But it will appear from the
fequel, that both the earl Marifchal and general Gordon.
were in the fecret, though they pretended to make the army.
believe otherwife, to fecure themfelves from their refent-
ment,
ing by fome cross accidents,
lord Argyle returned with that
part of his army to Stirling; and
the earl of Mar could not, with
the men he then had, advance
farther than Dumblain; and for
want of proviſions there, was
foon after obliged to return to
Perth,
1
But immediately after we had
got provifions, and that the
clans and my lord Seaforth had
joined us, we marched again to-
wards the enemy; and notwith-
ftanding the difficulties the earl
of Mar had upon that occafion
with fome of our own people,
he gave the enemy battle; and
as you fee in our printed ac-
counts of it, had not our left
wing given way, which was oc-
cafioned by mistake of orders,
and fcarcity of experienced offi·
cers, that being compofed of
as good men, and marched as
chearfully up to the field of bat-
tle as the other, our victory had
been compleat; and, as it was,
the enemy, who was advanced
on this fide the river, was forced
to retire back to Stirling.
Amongst many good quali-
ties, the Highlanders have one
unlucky cuſtom, not eaſy to be
reformed; which is, that
gene-
rally after an action they return
home. Accordingly a great
many went off after the late bat
tle of Sheriff-Moor; fo that the
earl of Mar, not being in a
condition to purſue the advan-
tage he had by it, was forced to
return to Perth, waiting there,
not without impatience, both
for the return of the High-
landers, and for money, arms,
and ammunition, he had fo of-
ten asked, and ftill expected
from abroad.
from abroad. But the High-
landers, hearing nothing of the
chevalier,
Ii 4
1715.
504
THE HISTORY
羹
​1715. ment, and only ftaid behind to conduct the army to a place,
where they could with fafety difperfe them: which they
did fo effectually, that though the duke of Argyle uſed his
utmoſt endeavours to come up with them, yet he could ne-
ver overtake one party of them, and did not, in all the pur-
fuit from Perth to the Highlands, take a hundred prifoners.
They kept fo clofe together, and marched with ſuch expe-
dition into the mountains, that it was in vain for the duke
to purſue them any farther.
When the pretender went away, he appointed general
Gordon to command in chief. When that general arrived
in the army at Aberdeen (where they were but coldly re-
ceived, in comparifon of their former reception) he produced
a paper of inftructions, which he had from the pretender,
and which, he faid, he was commanded not to open till he
came to that city. In this paper the pretender complains
chiefly of difappointments from abroad; and mentions the
neceffity he was under, for his own prefervation, to leave
the country. He thanks them for their fo chearfully under-
taking fo hazardous an enterprize, which, he fays, would
chevalier, or the duke of Ber-
wick's coming, nor of the fup-
plies, did not return to the ar-
my, as they had promifed and
the gentlemen of the army, who
had been long from home, liv-
ing ftill at their own charges,
which they could not well
longer fupport, went alſo moſt
ly home, fome without leave,
and others after a leave, which
the earl of Mar faw well
enough would be to no purpoſe
to refuſe. Some indeed never
thought of quitting the army,
and others returned foon to it;
but our number was never again
near fo great, as it had been be-
fore the battle. About this
time we had the news of the fa-
tal affair at Prefton, which was
no fmall difcouragement to the
army; fo that fome, who had
been caballing privately before,
began then to speak openly of
not
capitulating with the enemy,
and found others more eaſy to
join with them.
We had, at the fame time,
another piece of bad news:
which was, that Simon Frazer
of Beauford (by fome called
lord Lovat) had joined lord Su-
therland, and that they, with
the help of fome other difaffect-
ed people thereabouts, had re-
taken Inverness. Upon this
news, moft of the name of Fra-
zer, who had joined the cheva-
lier's army with Frazerdale,
went now away, and joined
Beauford, or lord Lovat, their
chief.
This obliged the earl of Mar
to fend lord Seaforth north to
get his men together, who had
moftly returned home after the
battle, and, in conjunction with
the chevalier's friends in that
country,
OF ENGLAN D.
505
He
not have been liable to the preſent difappointments, if their
endeavours had been as well feconded by others, who had,
by large promifes, flattered him with their affiftance.
recommends to them to confult their own fafety, and to
keep together till they arrived at fuch places, where they
might feparate without becoming a prey to the enemy, and
promifes to let them hear from him fhortly.
ť
It was the 6th of February when they arrived at Aber-
deen, the third day after the pretender imbarked. Here
they ſtaid but one night, and, in that interval procured
three veffels to carry over about two hundred gentlemen,
who defigned to make their eſcape that way. Theſe vellels
received private orders to meet them to the north of Aber-
deen, about Peterhead, Buchan-Rofs, and other parts,
where they took in their intended cargo; but one of them,
falling in with the king's cruifers, put in for the ſhore,
where the gentlemen landed again, and followed the rebel
army through by-ways. The other two veffels, with about
a hundred and forty gentlemen, arrived fafe in France.
country, to endeavour to reco-
ver Inverness,
In the mean time thoſe, who
were for capitulating with the
enemy, preffed the earl of Mar
ſo hard to conſent to it, that to
prevent fome people's making
private ſeparate treaties, which
he found they were about, he
was at laſt forced to comply fo
far with them, as to fend a mef-
fage from the whole army to
my lord Argyle, to know, if
he had power to treat with
them? That lord returned
with great civility this anfwer,
4
That he had no fufficient
power to treat with them in a
body, but that he would
write to court upon the fub-
ject.' To which it was repli-
ed, That, when he fhould let
them know he had fufficient
power, they then would make
their propofitions.' By which
the affair was put off at that
C
On
time, and we were fince in-
formed, that the lord Argyle
never received thoſe powers;
and that even his former pow
ers, which he fent up to be in-
larged, were never returned to
him.
Much about this time the
marquis of Huntley having, for
fome time, preffed his going home
with his horfe, the earl of Mar
confented to it, and gave him a
commiffion, in conjunction with
my lord Seaforth, for reducing of
Inverneſs, and thofe, who op-
pofed the chevalier's intereft in
that country, which we then
hoped would be ſoon done.
After this, fome, though but
few, were diſcovered to have
private dealings with the ene-
my; and fome others went
home, and never returned to
the army; but a good number
of the noblemen and gentlemen,
and all the heads of the clans,
1715.
ftill
506
HISTORY
THE
1715.
On the 7th, the rebels refolved to leave Aberdeen, and
began their march early in the morning, and had evacua-
ted the place by two in the afternoon. General Gordon,
with the foot, formed the van, and the earl Marifchal with
about a thoufand horfe, formed the rear to prevent fur-
prize. They marched to the left directly weft through
Strath-Spey, and Strath-Down, to the hills of Badenoch,
where they quietly difperfed the common people moſtly to
their homes, but with a refolution to be ready to take
up their arms on the firft notice they ſhould have from
general Gordon.
ftill remained with the army at
Perth.
We had about this time the
long wifhed-for news of the che-
valier's being landed; and that
put an end, for the prefent, to
any further talking of capitula-
tions
I have now given you a true,
and I hope a fatisfa&ory account
of the condition we have been
in, ever fince our first taking
arms; of the bad condition, in
which the chevalier found us at
his arrival; and of the reafons
that obliged him at laſt to leave
us.
There remains yet to anf
wer one queſtion, which you
may naturally afk, as moſt peo-
ple do, on this fubject; and
that is, Why the chevalier de-
layed his coming fo long?
To anfwer this question to
your fatisfaction, Imuft tell you,
that I have what I fhall here
relate, from perfons of unquef-
tionable veracity, who were
then upon the place, eye and
ear witneffes of what paffed;
and ſo you may fafely rely upon
it.
You have certainly heard,
what was generally faid, of the
chevalier's fifter's inclinations to-
About
wards him, whilft fhe was in
poffeffion of his throne. But,
whatever there was of truth in
that, what I am well affured of
is, that he was at laft fo little
fatisfied with what was faid to
him from thence, that he was
fully refolved, whilft fhe was
yet alive, to have gone into Scot-
land; and, in order to that,
had already prepared a declara-
tion, or manifefto to have been
there publiſhed upon his arrival.
How he was hindered from put-
ting this deſign in execution by
fome real friends, that were
themſelves impoſed upon, and
by other pretended friends, who
were at the bottom real ene-
mies, is a myſtery, which time
may diſcover.
Upon the first news of his fif-
ter's death, he immediately took
poſt, and refolved to endeavour,
at any rate, to get into fome
part of his dominions; but was
topped by thofe, who had pow-
er to do it effectually. Being
then forced back to Lorrain, he
made and publiſhed his proteſta-
tion, which it is likely you have
feen, and which, I can affure
you, was drawn intirely by him-
felf.
From
OF
507
ENGLAND.
}
About this time feveral gentlemen, who had betaken 1715.
themſelves to the hills about Lochaber, received advice,
that two French frigates lay at the Orkneys in Pentland
Frith, till they fhould come aboard. Upon this the lord
Duffus, Sir George St Clair, and lieutenant-general Eclin,
with about one hundred and fixty gentlemen more on horſe-
back well armed and mounted, made a fally from the hills,
and, croffing in a body the fhire of Murray, came down to
the fea-coaft, near a place called Bruch. Here they quit-
ted their horfes to their fervants; and fuch, as they had
no ufe for, they killed to prevent their falling a prey to the
king's forces; then went on board fome fmall boats to
purſue
From that time, as before, he
had nothing in his thoughts,
but how, and when, he could
affert his own right, and deliver
his people. He faw little
ground to hope for fuccour
from any foreign prince, and
had only the affections of his
people, and the advice of his
friends on this fide the water,
to rely upon. Their intereſt
feemed now more than ever
linked to his; and they being
upon the place, and confe-
quently beft able to judge of the
fittest time for his coming to
them, it muſt be allowed, that
it has been no ways prudent nor
adviſeable in him to act con-
trary to their opinion and yet
it is moſt certain that it was
only by following their advice,
contrary to his own judgment
and inclination, that fo much
time was loft. Some of them in
England infifted upon having a
certain number of regular troops
to make head at first, without
which, they ſaid nothing was to
be attempted: and though he
fent them word over and over,
that, after all the endeavours he
could uſe, he found it abfolute-
:
troops; yet they inſiſted for ſe-
veral months in this opinion,
and by that means the moſt fa-
vourable time, he ever had, was
loft.
Other friends there pre-
tended, that the difpofition of-
the people would still grow more
favourable towards him; and
that there was no danger, but
advantage, by delaying.
Thus, though he had ſeveral
times fixed a day for his de-
parture, he was ſtill forced to
delay, that he might not act
contrary to the advice of his
friends; and at another time,
becauſe he found, that his ene-
mies had diſcovered his defign,
and taken infallible meaſures to
intercept him. But, as foon as
his friends began to fee and own
the miſtakes they had been in,
he, without any regard to the
many dangers he had to go
through, fet out from Commercy
the 28th of October, and went
incognito through a great part.
of France to the coast of Bre-
tagne; and to avoid falling in
to the hands of many, who were
placed upon the common road
to intercept him, he was oblig-
ed to cross the country through
ly impoffible to obtain any by-ways, with only three peo-
ple
508
THE HISTORY
1
}
1715.
purſue their way to the Orkneys; but, finding theſe boats
too fmall and dangerous for that boisterous feafon of the
year, they put in again at Dumbeth; where they hired two
large barks, in which fixty of them got fafe to the frigate
of twenty-fix guns. The others preffed another Scots vef-
fel to carry them to the other frigate. When they arrived
off that coaft, the country people were alarmed, and afraid,
that they were come with a defign to plunder them, and
feemed inclinable to fall upon them. But, the French fhip
coming in to their affiftance, the people were foon fet
right as to their mistake, and affifted them in getting on
board
ple with him. His defign was
to go to Fogland, if things ap-
peared favourabic there; or,
if the, did not, to go to Scot-
land.
When he arrived at St Ma-
lo's, he found the duke of Or-
mond returned from the coalt of
England, to which he had gone
fome days before, in hopes to
have found friends ready to join
him; but, that having failed, by
fome accident of difcoveries, he
was forced to return. Upon
this he refolved to go into Scot-
land; and, it not being thought
fafe for him to go through the
Britiſh channel, he had been ad-
viſed to go round Ireland; and,
by a meffage from his friends in
Scotland, it was propoſed to him
to land at Dunft affnage, which
was at that time in their pof-
feffion; but foon after the ene-
my came to be maſters of it, by
the clans not performing what
they were charged with in Ar-
gylefhire, as is aforementioned.
His friends immediately inform-
ed him of this change by a fe-
cond meſſage; and this confirm-
ed him in the refolution he had
himſelf before taken of chang-
ing all his meaſures, and, in place
of taking that long tedious way,
which was indeed the fafeft, to
take a much ſhorter, though a
more dangerous way for being
intercepted by the enemies fhips.
He fent therefore immediately
to prepare a ſmall ſhip privately
for him at Dunkirk; which was
accordingly done, though not
without difficulty.
He was a fecond time oblig-
ed to traverſe a great part of
France, and that on horfeback,
in the very coldeſt time of this
hard and fevere winter; expof-
ed to greater danger than in the
Forth, from the greater number
of thofe, who lay in wait for
him on all the great roads, which
obliged him to travel by unfre-
quented roads, where there was
accommodation bad enough;
and yet all this time, in that
terrible cold, he never had the
leaſt ailment or indifpofition.
It was about the middle of
December (our ſtyle) before he
could reach Dunkirk He was
there informed, that there was
a man of war then lying in that
very road; and that there were a
great many more cruizing on
the coaft of France, England,
and Scotland, all of them in
waiting for him but he, with-
out any regard to thefe dan-
gers,
OF
509
ENGLAN D.
board the French fhip. Both the fhips fet fail, and land- 1715.
ed them at Gottenburgh, in the king of Sweden's domi-
nions, who was then fetting out with an army on his ex-
pedition to Norway, and received their offer of entering
into his fervice very courteously. But the lord Duffus,
going to Hamburgh, was there feized at the fuit of the
British envoy.
:
In the mean time, the duke of Argyle was on his march
to Montrofe, where he arrived on the 6th of February; and
at Aberdeen, with five hundred men, on the 8th; but, the
reſt of the army not being come up the purfuit could not
be continued only he difpatched general Evans with two
hundred dragoons to harrafs their rear, or endeavour to
divide their horfe from the foot; and, at the fame time, to
give chace to the two hundred gentlemen, who had fepa-
rated from the reft, to take ſhipping at Frazerfburgh; but
the general fucceeded in neither.
While the duke of Argyle was in chace of the rebel ar-
my by land, the men of war were as induftrious to annoy
them by fea, and hinder their efcape. But they had not
the fortune to meet with one ſhip belonging to the rebels;
though they were not remifs in their duty (d).
With
}
gers, went immediately on board
this ſmall ſhip with only three
fervants, and conducted by good
providence, arrived fafe at Pe-
terhead, where he landed the
22d of December, O S
Having, I hope, now fully
fatisfied your curiofity, I have
only to add, that though it has
pleafed God to permit, that this
attempt, though never fo juft,
had not the withed for fuccefs;
we have ftill reaped by it one
great advantage, which is, that
we have ſeen with our own
eyes, and perfonally known our
lawful fovereign, and, to our
unfpeakable fatisfaction, difco-
vered in him all the great and
good qualities, that are neceffa.
ry for making a people every
way happy.
The time may, and I hope,
will yet come, when god, in
his mercy, will open the eyes,
and turn the hearts of thoſe na-
tions to a ſenſe of their duty,
and not permit fo accompliſhed
a perfon to be always unfortu-
nate. But, however it should
pleaſe providence to diſpoſe of
him, this I can affure you, and
you may rely upon it, that as
his right
his right is indefeaſible, he is
firml, refolved, by the help of
almighty God, to affert it, when
ever he finds a fit opportunity,
and never to depart from it but
with his life.
(d) This appears from the
following journal of their pro-
ceedings published at Edin-
burgh:
• Feb.
1
THE
HISTORY
510
1715.
With all this diligence both on fea and land, it was
ftrange that any efcaped: but it was much more fo, that
not one of them ever fell into the hands of their purfu-
ers, but arrived every man fafe in France; where they
were hunted by the earl of Stair, the British ambaffador
at the French court, whofe intelligence was fo good, that
there was ſcarce one ſtep taken by the pretender, or any of
his moft fecret friends, without his knowledge; by which
means he diſappointed the pretender of the greateſt part of
the
<
Feb. 22. The Royal Anne,
Galley, Fort-mahon, Deal
• Caſtle, and Phenix are return-
• ed from cruiſing. It appears
from the journal of captain
• Stewart, that he had intelli-
'gence early of the pretender's
having put to fea from Mon-
• trofe in a clean tallowed
• French fnow, which rowed
<
of the Murray Firth; fent by
the Deal-Calle a letter to
the earl of Sutherland, to
apprife him of the flight of the
rebels, and to prepare to re-
'ceive them, in cafe they ſhould
'make a puſh at Inverneſs; and
' traced lord Tinmouth and his
• affociates as far as Port Sary;
where ſeeing a fhip of war rea-
⚫ out of the harbour, and cloſedy to intercept them, they
in a long fhore, a good while
with her fails furled
The Port-mahon lay all that
night within two leagues of
the harbour's mouth; but it
was fo very dark, there was
no feeing a fhip at a quarter
⚫ of a mile's diſtance. Captain
Stewart and the Pearl were
• off Aberdeen; and when the
• gebels marched out of that
town, having notice of their
marching northward, and that
lord Tinmouth and others
were contriving to make their
eſcape from Peterhead or Fra-
zerſburgh, he immediately
diſpatched away the Pearl and
Phenix to lie off theſe places,
⚫ which effectually diſappointed
• them. He lay himſelf at
Aberdeen, till the duke of
Argyle arrived there The
• winds afterwards blowing hard
foutherly, he difpofed the
'fhips moftly on the fouth-coat
<
•
deſpaired of fuccefs on the
coaſt, and therefore they join-
"ed the clans on the 10th in-
'ftant, and took to the moun-
'tains
All the fhips kept the
town
fea diligently, when wind and
'weather would permit, and
• obferved the motions of his
majefty's army fo carefully,
that the duke of Argyle did
not paſs through any ſ、a port
without finding fome
ſhip ready to put in execution
any fervice his grace might
have had to propofe. On the
21ft Sir John Jennings had
advice from my lord Lovat,
that a veffel with the pre-
' tender's plate, and other ef.
'fects on board, and a confi-
'derable fum of money for his
ufe, had lately put into the
Lewis; and that many of the
'chief of the rebels were mak-
ing off towards the ifle of
Sky, and other north west-
• iſlands :
OF ENGLAN D.
511
the fupplies he expected from France, and watched his per-
fon fo narrowly, that he kept him a confiderable time on
that fide of the water, to the general diſappointment of the
rebels. By his repeated memorials to the regent of France,
he kept him in conftant obfervance of the treaty of Utrecht;
at leaſt any violations, that were made, were only by con-
nivance; in which cafes the earl was never filent, as ap-
pears by two memorials; the one writ while the pretender
was in Scotland, and the other after he had abandoned
it (e).
The facts contained in the first memorial were too well
vouched, for the regent to deny them; and it was diffi-
cult to find any evafion to reconcile them to the engage-
ments
any harbour of France for the
fervice of the pretender; and
that his royal highneſs had ac-
Ork-cordingly fent frict orders to all
iflands: whereupon he im
mediately ordered the Drake-
floop thither, with inſtructi-
ons to cruiſe about the
neys, if the wind fhould then
be contrary; and by exprefs
directed captain Stuart of the
Aldborough to diſpatch the
Happy-floop thither, and to
cruise himſelf with the Lively
for fourteen days about the
iflands of Iflay, Mull, and
• Canna, to endeavour to inter-
'cept the rebels or any veſſels
• for their relief.'
(e) The first memorial, dat-
ed in January 1715 16, was in
the following terms:
The underwritten earl of
Stair, miniſter of the king of
Great-Britain at the court of his
moſt chriſtian majefty, reprefents
to his royal highnefs the duke of
Orleans, regent of France, that
although his royal highneſs has
feveral times affured the faid
earl, that he would faithfully
and punctually obſerve the trea-
ty of peace concluded with
Great-Britain at Utrecht, and
that he would not fuffer any
arms, ammunition of war, offi-
cers, or foldiers, to fail from
the harbours in the kingdom
for that purpofe; it is neverthe-
lefs apparent, that things of
this nature are daily imbarked,
and fhipped off in the ports of
France, without any oppofiti-
on on the part of the officers
commanding there. The late
duke of Ormond and the pre-
tender have frequently gone on
board fhips at St Malo, that
were known to be loaden with
arms and ammunition for the
fervice of the pretender; and
that with fo little circumspecti-
on, that they have been attend,
ed with a whole troop of horie,
with their officers of the regi
ment of Nugent, all of them in
their regimental cloaths, arms,
and accoutrements, without
mecting with any oppofition
from the commanding officers of
the moſt chriftian king at St
Malo. The pretender, finding
it not advifeable to venture to
imbark there, fet out through
Normandy to imbark at Dun-
kirk; and the late duke of Or-
mond,
1715.
512
HISTORY
THE
1715.
ments of the court of France in the treaty of Utrecht; for
which reafon he did not incline to give any anſwer. But
the affairs of the pretender taking a different turn, and he
being obliged to leave Scotland, and being again arrived in
France,
mond, not finding it fafe to land
in England, returned to Mor-
laix. During his abfence, his
royal highnets did the earl of
Stair the honour to tell him,
that he would cauſe the faid
troopers of the regiment of Nu-
gent to be punished as deferters,
if they returned to France; and
the marshal d'Uxelles affured
him, that he would cauſe them
to be hanged They are now
returned, and have joined their
regiments: the fieur Beſach and
his company, the arms and am-
munition, which the late duke
of Ormond had with him for his
enterprize, are fill at Morlaix,
and have been removed only
from one ſhip to another. The
commanding officer is fo far
from commanding thofe arms to
be ftopped, that he refuſed to
cauſe the ſhip to be fearched,
though he was defired to do fo
by captain Campbell, comman-
der of the English man of war
lying in the harbour of Mor-
laix
Several hips, with arms, am-
munition, money and officers,
for the fervice of he pretender,
are failed within thefe fix weeks
paſt, from Dieppe and Havre
de-Grace, which are actually
arrived in Scotland. And laſt-
ly, a fhip failed the 17th of
this month from Havre-de-
Grace, in fight of an officer of
the king of Great Britain, who
having reprefented to the nuar
quis de Roveray, that there were
twenty officers, both at Havre
and Harfleur, ready to go on
board to follow the pretender
to Scotland; and defired the
marquis to give orders to pre-
vent their embarkation, the mar-
quis anfwered, that what he
faid might poffibly be true;
but that he could not hinder
the officers from going on board,
having no orders from court fo
to do. The earl of Stair has
feveral times repreſented to his
royal highness the regent, and
to the marshal d'Uxelles, that
ſeveral generals, colonels, and
other officers, who are actually
in the fervice of France, defign-
ed to go over to Scotland, and
join the rebels, and even has
given a lift of them to the mar-
fhal; which generals, coloncls,
and officers are ftill at Boulogne,
Calais, Dunkirk, and other
places thereabouts, ready to im-
bark for Scotland, having been
detained only by the contrary
winds and great frofts; the
commanders of the faid places
alledging that they have no or-
durs from court to hinder the
faid officers from imbarking.
The faid earl of Stair finds him-
felf obliged to repreſent theſe
things to his royal highnefs, that
he may fee, whether his orders
have been punctually executed,
and confider whether Great-
Britain has reafon to believe,
that the treaty of Utrecht is
faithfully executed.
His royal
highness is defired, at the fame
time, to caft an eye on the faid
treaty. Furthermore, the faid
earl
OF
513
ENGLAN D.
France fome days after the first memorial was delivered, the
earl of Stair prefented a fecond, to prevent his or any of his
adherents being sheltered in that court (f).
earl of Stair finds himſelf o-
bliged to notify to his royal
highnefs, that the faid late duke
of Ormond, and ſeveral other
confpirators againſt their king
and country, fet out fome days
fince towards Bourdeaux and
Bayonne; and that they have
affembled on the coaft of Gaf-
coigne a great quantity of arms
and ammunition, with fhips to
make a deſcent (as the court of
St Germain's give out) in Ire-
land, and cauſe a rebellion there,
which that court flatters them-
felves will not only be ſupported
with money, but alfo with troops
from France. The earl of Stair,
who has fo ardently deſired to
eſtabliſh and maintain a good
fincere friendship between the
king his maſter and his roy-
al highnefs, finds himſelf very
uneaſy to have reprefentations
to make about matters of fo
great importance, which are of
fo nice a nature, and tend to a-
lienate the affection of the two
nations from each other, and
provoke them ſo far, that dif-
mal confequences may enfue
thereupon, if speedy care is not
taken to prevent them.
(f) The fecond memorial ran
thus:
The earl of Stair, minifter of
the king of Great-Britain, to his
mol chriftian majefty, by ex-
prefs order from the king his
malter, notifies to his royal
highneſs the duke of Orleans,
regent of France, the flight of
the pretender, and the difperfion
of the rebels in Scotland; which
VOL. VI.
The
his majefty is perfuaded will be
very acceptable to his royal
highnefs, by reafon of their near
relation, and the ftrict friend-
fhip, which his majefty has
carefully cultivated with his
royal highneſs.
The treaty of Utrecht being
fo lately concluded, the king
thought himſelf fure, that his
royal highness, regent, would
have taken proper meafures to
hinder the pretender from ferting
foot again in France. But fince
the pretender has found means
to return thither, his majetty
perfuades himself, that his royal
highnefs will oblige him, as ſoon
as he has notice of it, to quit
the kingdom.
His royal highness has too
much reafon and penetration not
to ſee the whole weight and juf-
tice of this demand. Great Bri-
tain cannot be either fafe or
quiet fo long as perfons, who
have confpired and undertaken
with an armed force the rain
and fubverfion of their coun-
try, are received and ſupported
in its neighbourhood nor can
France itſelf be fure, that they
fhall not be again expoſed to
bear the blame of their evil
practices.
;
The king of Great-Britain.
and the nation thought them-
felves very fafe on the fide of
France by the folemn treaty of
Utrecht, which for ever ex-
cludes the pretender from
France, and obliges France to
give him no fuccours, nor thips,
nor arms, nor ammunition, nor
K k
money,
1715.
514
HISTORY
THE
1715.
The pretender, upon his return to France from Scotland,
being perfuaded, that the lord viſcount Bolingbroke (who
+
money, nor officerss nor fol-
diers, nor councils, directly or
indirectly. Thefe gentlemen
came over, and demanded re-
fuge and protection in France,
where they are no fooner arriv-
ed, but taking advantage of the
conveniency of the neighbour-
hood, and the facility of corref-
pondence by letters, they plot
and contrive a black and detef-
table treaſon againſt their coun-
try, which, upon the faith of
the treaty, was difarmed and
defenceless. And, notwithſtand-
ing the treaty, they find means
to get entrance for the pretender
into France, and by their in-
trigues procure him ſhips, arms,
ammunition, officers, foldiers,
and money; with which affift-
ance the pretender did actually
invade Britain, where he occa-
fioned infinite damage to the
nation.
His royal highneſs may ima-
gine, whether Great Britain can
be eaſy in a fituation fo trouble-
fome as they would find them-
felves in, having thefe rebels in
their neighbourhood, ready to
carry fire and fword into the
heart of their country. In this
fituation Great-Britain would
be obliged to keep always in
arms, tormented with continual
fufpicions and inquietudes; a con-
dition much worſe than an open
war. For a people, which love
to live in peace with all their
neighbours, and is jealous of the
prefervation of their laws and
liberties, his royal highnefs
may fee by the unanimous ad-
dreffes of both houfes of parlia-
had
ment to the king, with what an
eye the nation beholds this boif-
terous and unfettled fituation.
The king hath the happiness of
his fubjects too much at heart,
not to come with eagerness into
their fentiments and intereſts;
and he flatters himself, that
upon this account his royal
highnefs will not refufe him fo
juft a proof of his friendſhip,
and of the defire he hath to
maintain a good underſtanding
between the two nations.
For the fame reaſons the king
of Great-Britain hopes, that his
royal highnefs will be pleaſed to
join effectual inftances with thoſe
of his majefty, to the duke of
Lorrain, to the end the faid
duke may not permit the pre-
tender to return into his domi-
nions.
The earl of Stair is ordered
likewife to put his royal high-
nefs in mind of the declaration
he made, that the officers in the
fervice of France, who ſhould
follow the pretender in the in-
vafion of Great Britain, fhould
be broke; and the king is per-
fuaded, that his royal highneſs
will not fuffer the general offi-
cers, colonels, and others, who
have followed the pretender in
the rebellion, ever to be em-
ployed again in the fervice of
France; and that if it happen,
thatfome of the faidofficersfhould
return,or be already returned in-
to France, his royal highneſs will
punish them in fuch a manner,
that it may appear his royal
highnefs and this government do
loudly difapprove of their pro-
ceeding
OF ENGLAND.
515
had entered into his fervice as fecretary of ſtate to him, and 1715.
continued in France, in order to fend fupplies to him into
ceeding formally, contrary to
the treaty of Utrecht.
To the end there may be no
mistake in fo nice and impor-
tant a matter, the earl of Stair
hath orders to demand an an-
fwer in writing to his memorial,
which he is earnestly defirous
may be fuch, as may contribute
towards the refloring of a good
underſtanding between the two
nations.
The regent's anfwer to this
memorial was as follows:
His royal highnefs, being un-
feignedly defirous of advancing
the glory and profperity of the
king of Great-Britain, heard
with fo much the greater plea
fure of the fuccefs of his arms
in Scotland, becauſe, at the
fame time that this event fe-
cures the tranquillity of the king-
dom of Great-Britain, it will
put a stop to the falfe reports,
that have been fpread without
foundation by the enemies of
the publick peace, with defign
to alter the truth and friend-
fhip, which the king is defirous
to preferve with the king of
Great-Britain, and which hath
always been one of the princi-
pal objects of his royal high-
nefs's views. And, as he will
punctually fulfil the treaty of
Utrecht, he hath already em
ployed the authority he is
intrufled with to make the
chevalier de St George depart
the kingdom, and will continue
to make uſe of the fame autho-
ity, to oppofe his coming into
Scotland)
it again at any time, or under
any pretence whatſoever,
As for the fugitives, who are
come into this kingdom from
England, or who may hereafter
come over, though no body is
ignorant what the laws of re-
fuge are in foreign ftates, his
royal highness being defirous to
convince the king of Great-Bri-
tain how far the king is from
fuffering any perfon whatſoever
to abuſe the fanctuary of his
kingdom, as to maintain in
Great Britain an intelligence ca-
pable of difturbing her tranqui
litv, he will, in concert with
the king of Great-Britain, en-
ter into any meafures, which
fhall be thought proper for pre-
venting fuch an abufe, and for
keeping up a good underſtand-
ing, by removing every occafion
of difiruft. And, to thew befides
how far his majefty is from
bearing with the rafhnefs of
thofe, who dare to act contrary
to his intentions, he has caufed
the ordinances to be frily ex-
ecuted against fuch of the offi-
cers of his troops as went out of
the kingdom without his leave.
If it be true what the eail of
Stair fays, that England was
difarmed upon the faith of trea-
ties, it is no lefs certain, that no
perfon whatfoever can fay with
truth, that ever his majefty had
a mind to take that opportunity
to diſturb it, nor that he hath
granted any fuccours to the che-
valier de St George. It is well
known on the contrary, that his
royal highneſs hindered the fuf-
pected
Kk 2
516
HISTORY
THE
1715. Scotland) had been faulty in the execution of his office, fent
the duke of Ormond to him for the feals, and removed
him from all employments under him. This occafioned
a controverfy (under his direction) by letters between his fe-
cretary Mr Brinfden, and Mr James Murray, afterwards
made earl of Dunbar by the pretender (g).
pected armaments and imbarka-
tions, when he had notice of
them; and nothing better proves,
that the chevalier de St George
was not affifted by France, than
the condition he was in in Scot-
land, deftitute of all things ne-
ceffary for fuch an enterprize.
During
over whom the king hath no au-
thority,which cannot be ground-
ed on any folid foundation, and
which would add nothing to the
rendering effectual the powerful
inftances of his Britannick ma-
jefty. An anſwer, conceived in
terms fo plain and particular,
ought to evince to all mankind,
what are the true intentions of
the king; and leaves no manner
of doubt or obfcurity in relation
to the fincere defire his royal
highnefs has always had care-
fully to preferve the amity of
the king of Great-Britain, and
to contribute in whatever de-
pended upon the authority he is
intrufted with, to the eſtabliſh-
ment and prefervation of a good
correfpondence and perfect
friendſhip between the king and
that of England.
His majefty fees, with plea-
fure, the marks of a perfect in-
telligence between the king of
Great-Britain and his parlia-
ment, fince this inuft be the
moft folid foundation of the glo-
ry of that prince, and the happi-
neſs of his fubjects. His royal
highness will always have a
great concern therein. As he
very truly defires to keep his
Britannic majesty's friendship, fo
he will omit nothing, that may
fhew him how glad he is of the
teftimonies he receives thereof;
neither will he interpofe, direct-
ly or indirectly, to hinder the
duke of Lorrain from granting,
upon the inftances of the king
of Great Britain, what he fhall
be pleaſed to aſk of him with
relation to the chevalier de St
George's refidence in his territo-
ries. And, as he hath a real
concern for the ſatisfaction of
his Britannick majesty, he will
fee, with a great deal of plea-
fure, whatever may contribute
towards it. But his royal high-lowing letters between his lord-
neſs is perfuaded at the fame
time, that the king of Great-
Britain will not defire him to
take any meaſures with a prince,
(g) Theſe letters were print-
ed at London, 1735, in 8vo.
but immediately fuppreffed. As
they contain feveral curious par-
ticulars, it may not be improper
to inſert them at large, with the
prefixed charge againſt the lord
Bolingbroke, fent from London,
March 16, 1716, by the agents
of the pretender, in relation to
the affairs of Scotland, during
the rebellion of the late earl of
Mar, as contained in the fol-
fhip's fecretary and Mr Mur-
ray. By the afteriſm [*] is to
be underſtood the pretender.
The
OF ENGLAN D.
517
Lewis XIV.
During theſe proceedings, Lewis XIV. of France died 1715.
at Verfailles on the 1ft of September, N. S. 1715, in the
77th year of his age almoſt completed (having been born The death of
on the 5th of September, 1638) and in the 73d year of his
reign, which began May 14, 1643. His death produced a
fort of revolution in the government of France. The
king, by his will, had placed the adminiſtration of the go-
vernment in a council, of which the duke of Orleans was
chief. But the duke was not, by his authority, to decree
any thing, or iffue any order in the name of the minor,
without the advice and confent of the council. The day The duke of
after the king's death the duke of Orleans (attended as the Orleans
kings of France ufually are on the like occafions) came to
the parliament of Paris, and, after the king's will was
opened and read, complained of a difpofition fo contrary to
the laws of the realm, and fo prejudicial to his right. He
therefore moved, that the will fhould not be registered, but
that
The articles againſt lord Boling-
broke are as follow:
I. Lord Bolingbroke was ne-
ver to be found by thofe, who
came to him about buſineſs.
If by chance or fratagem, they
got hold of him, he affected be-
ing in a hurry, and, by putting
them off till another time, ftill
avoided giving them any an-
ſwer.
II. The earl of Mar, by fix
different meffengers, at different
imes, acquainted lord Boling-
broke, before the * came from
Dunkirk, of his being in dif-
treſs for want of arms and am-
munition, and prayed a ſpeedy
relief; and though, the things
demanded were in my lord's
power, there was not fó much
as one pound of powder ſent in
any of the fhips, which by
his lordship's direction parted
from France.
III. The * himſelf, after his
arrival, fent general Hamilton
to inform him, that his want of
arms and ammunition was ſuch,
that he ſhould be obliged to
leave Scotland, unleſs he receiv-
ed a fpeedy fupply. Lord Bo-
lingbroke amufed Mr Hamilton
twelve days together, and did
not introduce him to any of the
French miniſters, though he was
referred to them for a particular
account of affairs, or in all that
time fo much as communicated
his letter to the queen or any
body elfe.
IV. The count de Caſtel
Blanco had for feveral months
at Havre a confiderable quan-
tity of arms and ammunition,
and did daily afk his lordship's
orders how to diſpoſe of them,
but could never get any even
to the hour the landed in
France.
V. The 's friends at the
French court had, for fome
time paft, no very good opinion
of his lordship's integrity, and
a very bad one of his difcre-
tion.
K * 3
VI For
made regent.
518
HISTORY
THE
1715. that the parliament fhould adjudge the regency to him
without any reftriction. They immediately complied with
his motion, and adjudged the regency to him, with power
to nominate fu.h fubordinate councils for preparing all af-
fairs to be laid before him, as he fhould think fit. Lewis
XIV. was fucceeded by his great grandfon Lewis XV.
fon of the duke of Burgundy (who was dauphin after the
death of his father) and of Maria Adelaida of Savoy. Lewis
XV. was born the 15th of February 1710, and was be-
tween five and fix years old when his great grandfather
died. He was the third fucceffive minor that came to the
crown of France, fince the death of Henry IV.
The duke regent was fon of the duke of Orleans, bro-
ther of Lewis XIV. and was then in the 41st year of his
age. He was married, in 1692, to one of the late king's
natural daughters.
He began his regency with an act of justice and pru-
dence. The edicts of the kings of France formerly had
not the fauction of laws, before they were regiſtered in
the parliament of Paris, whofe undoubted right it was to
examine them; and, in cafe they contained any thing
againſt
VI. For at a time, when ma-
ny merchants in France would
have carried privately any quan-
tity of arms and ammunition
into Scotland my lord defired
a publick order of the regent for
the imbarkation; which, being
a thing not to be granted, is
faid to have been done, in order
to beg a denial.
VII. The * wrote to his
lordſhip by every occafion, af-
ter his arrival in Scotland; and,
though there were many oppor-
tunitics of writing in return,
yet from the time he landed
there, to the day he left it, he
never received one letter from
his lordship.
The lord Bolingbroke in his
first letter, after he received
thefe articles, wrote as fol-
lows:
•
'
•
*
*
The and earl of Mar, and
the others, who came from
Scotland, are fo much in want
of any excufe for their flight,
that they have thought fit to
have my lord Bolingbroke
difcharged the 's fervice in
the most abrupt and injurious.
manner, under the pretence,
that the want of powder,
which he delayed to fend,
'forced them to abandon Scot-
land. His lordfhip fays pub-
lickly, 1. That he is able to
prove, that, if they wanted.
powder, it was not by his
• fault. 2. That, according to
what the * and the earl of
Mar both fay in their letters,
they must have come away as
they did, had they had all
'the powder of France. 3.
That, if they had pleafed to
have faid in Scotland a few
· days
C
1
OF ENGLAND.
519
against the laws of the realm, to remonftrate against them.
But the late king had deprived the parliament of that li-
berty in the year 1667, fince which time they had been
compelled to regifter all his edics, without being permit-
ted to make any reprefentation against them. The regent
reſtored this privilege to them by an edict, which was re-
giſtered a few days after the king's death. At the ſame
time he cauſed to be regiſtered a declaration, containing a
ſcheme of government to be obferved in the kingdom dur-
ing the king's minority. Purſuant to which he named,
belides the council of regency, fix other councils, and, by
that means, a new way of adminiftration in the govern-
ment was introduced.
By the death of Lewis XIV. the affairs between Great-
Britain and France ftood upon a very different foot than be-
fore. The regent, by virtue of king Philip's renunciation,
and the death of all the princes in France, fprung from
Lewis XIV. was become next heir to the minor king, and
confequently it was his intereft to cultivate the friendſhip
<
days longer, they would have
' received near ten thouſand
<
arms, and above thirty thou-
'fand weight of powder, and
other ftores in proportion.
And, laftly, That the true
• reaſon flows from another
C
C
•
C
fource, and that he knew and
fpoke of the defign to difcard.
him, long before the want of
powder was fo much as talked
of. That he is unwilling to
enter into the particulars of
thofe general heads for rea-
fons, that may be eafily guef-
fed, fince he is perfuaded.
• that he fhall not pafs for a
• driveller nor traitor among
his friends.'
The fecond letter was wrote
by lord Bolingbroke's fecretary,
in the following terms:
April 4, 1716.
I have communicated to his
lordſhip what you wrote to me;
of
and it is by his lordship's or-
der, that I give you the follow-
ing anſwer:
The charge, that you have
ſent over, is ſo full of impro-
bable lies, that his lordſhip can
hardly imagine it can have any
other effect, but the fhame and
confuſion of thoſe, that brought
it; which is the effect of that
villainous and ungrateful treat-
ment, that thofe people have
given, and my lord has met
with in this country, where they
are equally defpifed for their
folly, and detefted for their im-
morality, by all the people of
confideration.
My lord has hitherto had
two other reafons for his fi-
lence :
The first is, That he cannot
very fully explain the articles
of his not fending arms and am-
munition into Scotland, without
betraying the fecret of thofe,
by whom he has been trufted,
Kk4
and
1715.
鴛
​520
THE HISTORY
1715.
of fuch flates as were likely to fupport his title againſt the
king of Spain, and particularly of England. It was his
bufinefs to feek all means for weakening the only prince.
in the world, that had any right to difpute his fucceffion,
or oppofe his views. Hence his acceffion to the quadruple
alliance; his promoting, or at least conniving at the de-
ftruction of the growing naval power of Spain in 1718;
his ftipulation in favour of Don Carlos, in order not only
to divert Spain from forming defigns againſt his power in
France, but to weaken Spain by increafing her expences.
To theſe meaſures the regent was carried, in order to di-
vert and weaken king Philip, and king George undoubted-
ly went into all his ambitious views, as the only means to
retrieve the fatal mistakes of the treaty of Utrecht. But
the fruits of all thefe proceedings were entirely loft by the
death of the regent, and the birth of a dauphin, and in-
ftead of facilitating the fucceffion of the houfe of Orleans,
and thereby dividing the houfe of Bourbon for ever, they
proved the foundation of all the expenfive difputes, which
fubfifted many years between Great Britain and Spain, as
will appear in the courfe of the hiftory.
and under whofe protection he
lives.
And the ſecond is, That he
cannot give the true reafon of the
ill ufage he has received, with-
out expofing ſome characters in
fuch a light as will fhock eve-
ry body
However, you ſhall
have as much as can be at pre-
fent given of the ftate of things
on this fide of the water; of
the method English buſineſs is
put into; and of the hands that
are trufted with it. After which
you will pity my lord, and not
blame him.
$
When he returned laft fum-
mer out of Dauphiné, and at
the defire of his friends engag-
ed in this bufinefs, he found
himfelf immediately expofed to
a daily ftruggle with difficulties
of three forts. The firft arifing
A
from the rivetted prejudices of
one perfon. The ſecond, from
the impoffibility of keeping the
queen, and the whole rabble of
the court of St Germain's,
from meddling in buſineſs. And
the third, from the cabals of
French and Engliſh, men, wo-
men, and children, people for
the most part of no name in the
world, or elſe of very bad cha-
rafters, who had been let in-
to the moſt fecret parts of bu-
finefs, and expected to conti-
nue fo.
To get over the firſt of theſe
difficulties, my lord faw would
be the work of time; but he
faw likewife, as the latter was
begun, the harder it would
prove; and that any yielding to
thofe prejudices increafed, and
ftrengthened them. He there-
fore
OF ENGLAND.
521
of the Irish
A parliament having been called in Ireland, and the 1715.
duke of Grafton and the earl of Galway (who had been
appointed lords juftices, upon the earl of Sunderland's re- Proce-dings
fignation of the poft of lord-lieutenant of that kingdom) parliament.
being arrived at Dublin, the two houfes met there on the
12th of November, and Mr Connolly was chofen fpeaker
of the houſe of commons. The peers began with a bill for
recognizing the king's title to the crown, and the com-
mons with ſeveral bills for the further fecurity of his perfon
and government; namely, a bill to attaint the pretender,
and give a reward of fifty thouſand pounds for his head;
and for attainting the duke of Ormond, giving the crown
his eftate, and ten thousand pounds reward upon his
head.
Theſe bills were followed by a retroſpect upon the
councils of the late reign; and a refolution was unani-
fore began upon the firft, and
continued upon every occafion
to combat them with great de-
cency, but with great firmness,
contrary indeed to the opinion
of others, who imagine it will
be time enough to talk of thoſe
things, when his lordship thinks
it will be too late.
As to the people of the court
of St Germain's, my lord knew
enough of England, and France
too, to know they would be a
load upon buſineſs, but no help
to it. In England they are odi-
ous, and in France in contempt.
The first is not very ftrange;
for you may depend upon it,
that twenty eight years experi-
ence had not made them wifer
in any degree. And the latter
is fo true, that my lord affirms,
that he never yet ſpoke of Eng-
liſh buſineſs to any man of fi-
gure on this fide the water; but
before he would give any an-
fwer, he exacted, that the court
of St Germain's (no one perfon
excepted) ſhould not know any
thing of it.
moufly
With this fet of people, and
a whole tribe of Jeſuits, my
lord therefore avoided all forts
of commerce before the duke of
Ormond arrived. He would
not fo much as fee any of them,
before his grace came, and
thought fit to open his door to
them. My lord could no longer
avoid feeing them; but he ne-
ver would enter into any fami-
liarity with them. He chofe
three or four perſons of ſenſe
and activity. Some of them
were proteftants, and others
were very indifferent Roman
catholicks. Thoſe he employ-
ed were as many as he wanted.
During this time, that my lord,
much against his will, was oblig-
ed to refide at St Germain's,
he obferved the fame conduct,
and never affociated with any
one man there but the duke of
Berwick, who is not to be reck-
oned of the court, though he
has lodgings in the houſe, who
has a hundred times more capa-
city and credit than all the rest
put together, in concert with
whom
522
THE HISTORY
1715. mously paffed against thofe, who adviſed the queen to pro-
rogue the late parliament, at a time when a bill to attaint
the pretender was depending; and they were voted to be
enemies to the fucceffion, and favourers of the pretender
and popery. They proceeded, in the next place, to bring
in a bill to prevent tumults, rebellious, and riotous af-
femblies. All thefe bills, together with the fupplies de-
manded, went through the houſes in the ufual forms, with-
out the leaft oppofition; and, being ratified in England,
received the royal affent. But they did not end here: for,
on the 17th of November, the commons, while the pub-
lick accounts, which were ordered to be laid before them,
were preparing, entered into an inquiry, which brought
a great many of their members on their knees. The laft
houſe of commons, in the queen's time, had addreſſed her
against Sir Conftantine Phipps, at that time lord-chancel-
lor of Ireland, and one of the lords juftices of the king-
dom, defiring her to remove him from his employments.
But,
whom my lord all along acted,
and by whofe judgment he is
willing to ftand or fall.
With the other cabal of peo-
ple, that I mentioned in the
third place, my lord had at firſt
fome little communication, for
he was thrown into their hands;
but as foon as he knew of their
perfons, and informed himſelf
of their characters, he broke
all meaſures with them, and
the rather as they were made
uſe of as people, who intended
to do nothing, only to amufe
thoſe on this fide the water, and
by that means our friends on
the other fide: and for this ufe
they were indeed very proper,
fince they are ſo inconfiderable,
that they may be at any time
difavowed, without the leaft
confequence.
But the thing, that principally
fhocked my lord, was to find
the fource of all bufinefs, and
even the heads of the beft and
dearest friends, trufted to the
keeping of a multitude of peo-
ple, fome of whom, both men
and women, of the vileft cha-
racters.
The third letter was as fol-
lows:
April 8, N S 1716.
It is eafy to imagine all thoſe
nefts of hornets flew about my
lord's ears immediately, and
that with the greater ſpirit, be-
cauſe the duke of Ormond ob-
ferved a quite contrary conduct.
It was more than fix weeks be-
fore the return out of Scotland,
and confequently long before
the fix articles mentioned in
your letter were prepared, or
any other of the pretences
againſt my lord invented, that
we knew of the union of the ſe-
veral cabals, in order to get rid
of him: and that he spoke to
feveral of his acquaintance of it.
F
He
督
​OF
523
ENGLAN D.
But, as this addrefs feemed not to be very acceptable to the
queen, or to the counfels of that reign, there were many
counter addreffes procured, and fent up from the ſeveral
counties and towns in Ireland, in favour of Sir Conftan-
tine, defiring he might not be removed, notwithſtanding
the address of the commons. This the houfe efteemed a
breach of the privilege of parliament, and refolved to fhew
their refentment against thefe addreffes, especially fuch as
were members of the fitting parliament. Accordingly they
appointed a committee to inquire who had figned theſe ad-
dreffes, and many were cenfured or brought to acknow-
ledgment upon that account. Then they addreffed the
lords juftices for a proclamation against the popiſh inhabi-
tants of Limerick and Galway, who prefuming upon the
conftruction they thought fit to put upon the articles of
He was not much concerned at
it, being from the firſt reſolved
to ſerve upon a proteftant and
English bottom, or no to ſerve
at all. And he confefes, that
he did not imagine, that the
duke of Ormond, for whom he
has always had a very particu-
lar refpect, would ever have
been drawn in, to put himſelf at
the head of a party on this fide
the water, and indirectly (for
he is far from defigning any
fuch thing) to do the work of
the factions abovementioned.
My lord knew indeed, and knew
with great forrow, that his
grace gave ſo much ear to them,
and fuffered the ftories, they
had told him, to make fo great
an impreffion upon him.
When the refolution was taken
of leaving Scotland, and the
principal perfons returned hi-
ther, it was judged a proper
time to make the utmoſt effort
againſt my lord; and perhaps
there were people who thought
that the loading of him would
excufe the precipitation, where
capi-
with Scotland was abandoned,
if that precipitation needed any
excufe. Then were theſe ar-
ticles against my lord formed,
and falſe reaſons invented, where
the true ones were not to be
owned. My lord was diſcarded
with all the circumftances of
provocation poffible: he was
treated, as far as it lay in the
power of thoſe, whom he ſerv-
ed, with an affectation of indig-
nation and contempt: as foon
as the ſtep was made, the tongue
of every fellow, that could be
encouraged to flander, was let
loofe.
Having thus given a general
view of the ftate of things on
this fide the water, and the true
account of the animofities againſt
my lord, I fhall, in very few
words, refute the fix articles
you fent me over.
That my lord was feldom to
be found, with any direct an-
fwer to their bufinefs, is true, if
by people is meant any fuch,
as, in the former part of what
I have writ, are defigned; if
by
1715.
524
THE HISTORY
1
1715. capitulation made with king William, for the furrender of
thofe places, had claimed an exemption from the penal-
ties and procefs upon the other laws againſt papiſts: upon
complaint whereof to the houſe this addrefs was founded.
<
Whilft the bills were fent to England to be ratified, the
parliament adjourned to the 6th of January. Upon their
meeting on that day, the lord viscount Dillon came into
the houſe of peers, and, delivering his writ, took the oath
of allegiance; but being asked, Whether he could take.
the other oaths? He faid, He would confider of it,' and
then withdrew. Upon this the lords refolved, that no
peer ſhould have parliamentary privilege, till he had tak-
en and ſubſcribed the other oaths, in the act to prevent
the further growth of popery.' This done, the lords.
entered into an aſſociation to defend the king and the pro-
teftant fucceffion, against the pretender, and all his open
،
by people is meant any one
man, who could be of ufe, or
was not fit to be trufted, the
accufation is falfe. My lord
My lord
never looked upon himſelf to
be under any obligation of con-
verfing, in order to carry on bu-
finefs, with a ſet of people,
against whom he would have
done his utmoft to have ſhut
the door, if the buſineſs had
gone profperously on.
As to the fecond it is true,
that my lord Mar wrote for
arms, for ammunition, for mo-
ney, for officers, and laft, for a
body of troops; but, till the ar-
rival of Mr Hamilton, my
lord did not understand there
was any particular want of pow-
der, more than of any other
fpecies. My lord ufed his beſt
endeavours to procure all that
was defired, as well as other
affiſtances, much more confider-
able, which had never been
aſked for, or thought of, and
which would have been procur-
ed, had the bufinefs of Scotland
and
kept alive a little longer, and
had other people done their
parts as my lord did his. Moſt
of the veffels fent to Scotland
were barks, fit only to carry
paffengers, and not capable of
tranfporting arms and ammuni-
tion. By theſe conveyances
however ſeveral fums of money
were fent, and particularly fix-
ty thouſand livers in gold at one
time, of which fo good care was
taken, that every farthing of it
was loft: arms and ammunition
were to be got but two ways.
They were either to be bought
and fent into Scotland, or fuch
quantities, as had been before
promifed, were to be made ufe
of.
That there was not one
farthing to buy them with, is
true, that my lord may ap-
peal to thofe of St Germain's,
who had the management of the
money, upon this head. The
little cafh that was procured,
was either fent in fpecie to Scot-
land, or employed in anfwer-
ing the bills, that were conftant-
ly
OF
525
ENGLAN D.
and fecret abettors. The commons likewife entered into 1715.
the like affociation; and alfo refolved, That, whatever
forces the king ſhould think fit to raiſe, or what expences
he ſhould think neceffary for the defence of the kingdom,
they would enable him to make good the fame. It was
ftrongly reported, that, the day the affociation was
brought into the houſe of peers, two lords, one of whom
was the earl of Angleſey, imbarked for England, to avoid
figning it. The arcbishop of Armagh and the biſhop of
Corke refufed alſo to ſign. Soon after the commons re-
folved, That whoever adviſed the difbanding or breaking
a great part of the army, immediately after the unfeafon-
able prorogation of the late parliament, when a bill to at-
taint the pretender was under confideration, were ene-
mies to the proteftant fucceffion, and defigned to bring in
the pretender and popery. After which it was voted, That
the earl of Anglefey was one of the principal advifers to
break the army, and prorogue the parliament, and was
therefore an enemy to the king and kingdom. This was
followed with an addreſs for the earl's being removed from
the
ly drawing from the coafts.
And befides, if money had not
been wanting, the neceaffary or-
ders for buying, conveying to
the coafts and imbarking, could
not have been procured. My
lord imagines when the duke
of Ormond reflects, he cannot
but be fenfible of this truth,
fince he cannot be ignorant that
a quantity of arms, he thought
himſelf fure of in October, were
in February fill in the fame
place, and no nearer being fent
than the first day. As for fend-
ing fuch arms and flores, as
were already provided, my lord
knew of but two parcels; one,
and that a ſmall one, might have
been in Scotland in October or
November, had the directions
given by my lord been purſued.
Why they were not, he will
not fay; but the fault is, that
thofe arms and ftores are at this
hour rotting in a magazine at
Morlaix, where they have lain
theſe five months As to the
other parcel of arms and ſtores,
it is that which you call count
Caftel Blanco's, and contains a
very large quantity of both.
This Caftel Blanco is a Spaniard,
who, by the merit of marrying
lord Melfort's daughter, fets up
for a manager of Engliſh bufi-
nefs.
But that thofe arms and
ftores belonged to him, is no
more true, than that other re-
port, equally current, of his
having advanced one million
and leven hundred thouſand
livres for the ſervice of England
and Scotland. His name had
indeed been made uſe of for
buying thoſe arms and ftores in
the late king of France's time;
and his name was to have been
made ufe of again, if, at laſt,
on that pretence, the French
king
526
HISTORY
THE
1715.
}
The pailia-
ment meets,
Jan. 9.
Pr. H. C.
The king's
ſpeech.
the king's council and fervice; which was complied with.
The lords juſtices alfo thought fit, at that juncture, to
fecure feveral fufpected perfons, as the earl of Antrim, the
earl of Westmeath, the lord Nutterville, the lord Cahir,
the lord Dillon, and fome others, and then adjourned the
two houſes to the 8th of March.
The parliament met in England on the 9th of Janua-
ry, when the king made the following fpeech to both
houſes:
66
66
My lords and gentlemen,
Τ'
HE zeal and affection to my government, and the
vigilant care for the fafety of the nation, which you
"have fhewn in your refpective counties, have not only
"fully anfwered my expectations, but give me affurances,
"that you are met together, refolved to act with a fpirit
"becoming a time of common danger, and with ſuch
king would let them go; which
is ftill a doubtful point; and
to cover them as arms and ſtores
going for Spain, and intended
for the West Indies. It is filly
to ſay, that orders from my lord
were wanting to fend them.
Theſe orders mnft have been of
another kind; and fuch orders
could not be got ſooner, or in
any other manner than they
were got. This is a point my
lord cannot ſpeak plain upon;
and it must therefore reſt here,
whether this Caftel Blanco, one
Mr Franc, and ſuch other med-
dling people, deſerve the beſt
credit. I think it proper, how-
ever, to add, that in a fortnight's
time, after there was the leaſt
appearance of being able to fend
away the ſtores and ſhips, and
all other meaſures neceffary
were got ready and prepared,
without any noife or the leaft
fufpicion, they might have been.
in Scotland, had they not been
66 a
at laft ftopped by the French
(which I ftill fay is a doubtful
point) in five or fix days time,
when my lord Mar and his
company from Scotland landed
at Gravelin; from whence or-
ders, as I afterwards heard, were
fent to every place, to ftop all
manner of imbarkation.
What is faid, under the fe-
cond head may ferve as an an-
fwer to the fourth, as well as to
the fecond letter,
As to the third article, upon
general Hamilton's arrival, my
lord reprefented where it was
proper all that he brought by
letter and by word of mouth,
the very next morning. It is
therefere a fimple lie, and wor-
thy of thoſe, who fcribble from
this fide of the water, to fay,
that general Hamilton was
amuſed for twelve days, as if,
during all that time, the pur-
port of his meffage had been
kept a fecret. It is to be fup-
poled,
OF
527
ENGLAN D.
::
"a vigour as will end in the confufion of all thofe, who
"have openly engaged in this rebellion, and in the fhame
"and reproach of fuch, as by fecret and malicious infinu-
❝ations have fomented, or, by an avowed indifference,
"encouraged this traiterous enterprize.
<<
"It is, I doubt not, a great fatisfaction to you, to have
"obſerved, that the powers, you intrufted me with for
"the preſervation of the publick fafety, have been em-
"ployed in the moft proper and effectual manner, and
"made ftrictly fubfervient to thofe purpoſes only, for
"which you intended them. And you muſt have had the
pleaſure to reflect with me, that as the meaſures taken
"for our defence have been just and neceffary; ſo it has
"pleafed the divine providence to bless them with a feries
"of fuitable fuccefs. And I cannot but take this opportu-
of doing justice to the officers and foldiers of the ar-
my, whofe brave and faithful difcharge of their duty has
"difappointed our enemies, and contributed fo much to
"the ſafety of the nation.
'
' ty
poſed, that the regent's and the
*'s minifters would not have
conferred with a man of his cir-
cumftances, and who came on
fuch an errand; but if fuppofing
they had not thefe fcruples, of
what uſe was it for them to fee
him, when he could tell them
nothing more than they knew
already? But, be that as it will,
I can affure you, that my lord,
if he could have given him the
opportunity, would, which, it
feems, fo much weight is laid
upon.
The fifth article of that let-
ter contains the most impudent
falfhood, that ever was invent-
ed. Without money, and the
orders aboveſaid, no merchant
could or would undertake to
tranſport any quantity of arms
or ammunition; and I am able
to cite fome very great bargains
of this kind, which my lord
brought to bear, which failed
" I
at laft, for want of money, and
the neceffary countenance. The
latter part of the article is an
accufation of incredible weak-
nefs, my lord is faid to have in-
fifted on a publick order, and
to have declined making uſe of
private methods for the im-
barkation of arms and ammu-
nition. I remember indeed, that,
when preparation was made for
fending away the arms and am-
munition from Havre, as if they
were going for Spain, and
a thip had been provided for
that purpose by my lord, which
no man living fuſpected, he had
the greatest difficulties imagin-
able to keep thefe wife people
from imbarking part of the
flores aboard a veffel, which
every body knew to belong to
the chevalier. As to the fixth
article, no body is better able
to anſwer it than myfelf, fince
I entered all the letters which
my
1715.
r
528
HISTORY
THE
1715.
"I did hope, that the detecting and preventing the de-
"figned infurrections in fome parts of the kingdom, and
"the defeating in others thofe, who had taken up arms
"againſt me, would have put an end to this rebellion.
"But it is plain, that our enemies, animated by fome fe-
"cret hopes of affiftance, are ftill endeavouring to fupport
"this defperate undertaking; and the pretender, as I have
"reafon to believe, is now landed in Scotland.
"It is however with pleaſure I can acquaint you, that
"notwithſtanding thefe inteftine commotions,' Great-Bri-
"tain has in fome meaſure, recovered its influence and
"reputation abroad. The treaty for fettling the barrier
"for the Netherlands is now fully concluded between
"the
my lord writ; and there was
no leſs than five difpatched be-
fore Mr Hamilton came into
France, by whom my lord re-
ceived the first letter of buſineſs
after the *'s landing there.
Some of thoſe were loft at fea,
and the three laft packets were
brought back to my lord, the
gentleman, that carried them,
being arrived too late in Scot-
land.
This fir, I give you by my
lord's direction. He ordered
me to add, that he employed
the utmoſt diligence he was
maſter of; and he believes it
fufficient to carry him through
fuch work as he has been con-
cerned in of late, fince it carried
him formerly through his bu-
fineſs of another-guefs fort That
he all along faw, there was no-
thing but mortification to be met
with, and reputation to be loſt,
among the people, with whom
he had to do; and that it was
impoffible for a man to act upon
the principles he brought out of
England with him, and have
kept his ground here That he
never had any correſpondence,
directly or indirectly, with my
lord Marlborough, or any man
belonging to the court of Eng-
land, fince he engaged in this
bufinefs. That he defies his
worst enemies to advance the
leaſt ſhadow of proof of any
thing of this kind That, as he
was incapable of betraying a
trull while it fubfifted, fo it is
with the utmost reluctancy, that,
in his own juftification he is
obliged to fay what he has faid;
and that he ſhall be very forry
if the fame neceffity oblige him
to fay more That nothing ſhall
ever oblige him to repair his
fortune at the expence of be-
traying any man; but that, fince
he is treated in this violent
manner, he thinks himſelf at
liberty to give his friends a
true ſtate of the fact, and to de-
clare, that he never will, upon
any account, or upon any folli-
citation, ferve the fame people
again, that he has withdrawn
himſelf almoſt intirely from the
world; and that in his retreat
he fhall heartily pray for the
profperity of his friends, and
of his country; and, without
very much fear of what is to
come, comfort himſelf with the
tellimony of a good confcience.
The
OF ENGLAND.
529
(6
<<
"the emperor and ſtates general under my guaranty. The 1715-16.
"king of Spain has agreed to a treaty, by which that va-
"luable branch of our commerce will be delivered from the
new impofitions and hardships, to which it was fubjected
by the late treaties; and will ſtand fettled for the future,
on a foot more advantageous and certain, than it ever
"did, in the moft flourishing time of any of my predecef-
"fors; and the treaty, for renewing all former alliances.
"between the crown of G eat-Britain and the ftates-gene-
"ral is brought very near to its conclufion.
;
Gentlemen of the houfe of commons,
"I must rely on your affection to me, and your care
" and concern for the fafety of the nation, to grant me
"fuch fupplies, as may iñable me to reftore, and to fecure
"the peace of the kingdom; and I will order eſtimates of
"the neceffary expences to be laid before you.
"Among the many unavoidable ill confequences of this
"rebellion, none affects me more fenfibly, than that ex-
traordinary
The fourth letter was as fol-
lows:
Paris, April 14, 1716.
I hope you have received my
last of the 9th inftant, which,
with my former, will give you
a light into affairs here. and be
an anſwer to the articles you
fent. There are abundance of
things more my lord could fay
to clear himſelf, but he rather
chufes to be filent.
Thofe on this fide, who firft
raiſed the ſtorm, begin to be
fenfible of their folly My lord
all along has acted like a wife,
prudent, and honeſt man: they
quite the contrary. And would
they have ſtaid a very few days
longer in Scotland (which every
body now agrees they might
have done) they would have had
fuch affittances, which in all
probability muſt have restored
them.
VOL. VI.
There are many more cir-
cumftances, which I am not at
liberty to mention.
ferred to, &c.
Ail is re-
A reply to the foregoing let-
ter:
SIR,
S
I had the favour of yours,
and return you thanks for the
copies you inclofed of the letters
writ by the lord Bolingbroke's
orders, the first of which was
without a date; the reft of the
4th, 8th, and 18th of April.
I was pleafed to find the *'
conduct, in removing his lord-
fhip, thoroughly cleared by the
weakness of his defence And
when I read the. fcurrilous, paf-
fages of his letters, as that he
was turned out in the moſt ab-
rupt and injurious manner,'
and had met with villainous
and ungrateful treatment,' I
LI
Was
530
HISTORY
THE
1715 16." traordinary burden, which it has and must create to my
"faithful fubjects. To eafe them as far as lies in my pow-
CC
er, I take this firft opportunity of declaring, that I will
freely give up all the eftates, that fhall become forfeit-
"ed to the crown by this rebellion, to be applied towards
"defraying the extraordinary expence incurred on this oc-
• cafion.
My lords and gentlemen,
"It is matter of the greatest uneafinefs to me, that the
"first years of my reign, the whole courfe of which I
"wiſhed to have tranfmitted to pofterity, diftinguiſhed by
"the fair and endearing marks of peace and clemency,
“ſhould be clouded and overcaft with fo unnatural a rebel-
66
lion; which, however impotent and unfuccefsful a due
66 care may render it in all other refpects, does moſt lenfi-
bly afflict me, by the calamities it has brought on many
of my faithful fubjects, and by thofe indifpenfable returns
"of feverity, which their fufferings, and the publick fafety,
"" do
was filled with indignation to
fee the beſt of princes infulted
by an unworthy fubject, a ne-
gligent minifter excufing his
faults at the expence of his maf-
ter's honour, and wiping off his
own guilt by throwing it on the
dukes of Ormond and Mar, who
have given fuch unquestionable
proofs of their p--
y and
loyalty.
Though you defire a particu-
lar anfwer to his lordfup's let-
ters, I am perſuaded, that it is
your opinion, that they do not
deferve it However, to grati-
fy your curiofity, I will put his
management of the *'s affairs in
fo tru a light, as muft convince
every loval fubje&t of the necef-
fity of difplacing him.
His lordfup's letters are not
calculated fo much to clear him-
felf, as to weaken the *'s inte-
reft in England, and to difcoa-
rage all correfpondence with
him. He has given general an-
fwers to particular charges.
There are evident marks of
guilt and concern at the difco-
very of his acuons in every line;
and an innocent man, with his
lordship's pen, could have made
a more plauſible defence. Be-
fore I enter into particulars, I
cannot but obferve, that his nar-
rative of facts is as true as the
accounts he gives of himſelf,
that he was, withdrawn from
'
the world that in this retreat
he will heartily pray for the
proíperity or his friends, and
• comfort himſelf with the teſti-
mony of a good confcience.'
The goodnefs of his confcience
will appear from the dichare of
the truftrepofed in him and they,
who are acquainted with hislord-
flup'. character, muß be fur-
prized at his reflection on the
im-
OF
531
ENGLAN D.
"do moft justly call for. Under this concern my greateſt 1715-16.
"comfort is, that I cannot reproach myfelt with having t
given the leaft provocation to that fpirit of dif.ontent and
calumny, that has been let loofe against me, or the leatt
66
66 pretence for kindling the flame of this rebellion,
CC
"Let thofe, whofe fatal counfels laid the foundation of
"all theſe mufchiefs, and thofe, whofe private difcontents
"and drappointments, difguifed under falfe pretences,
"have betrayed great numbers of deluded people into their
own deftruction, anfwer for the miferies, in which they
"have involved their fellow-fubjects. I queftion not, but
"that, with the continuance of God's bleffing, who alone
"is able to form good out of evil, and with the cheerful
"affiftance of my parliament, we fhall, in a thoit time,
"fee this rebellion end, not only in reftoring the tranqui-
"lity of my government, but in procuring a firm and luſt-
"ing eſtabliſhment of that excellent conftitution in church
"and ftate, which it was manifeftly defigned to fubvert;
"and that this open and flagrant attempt, in favour of pos
pery, will abolish all other diftinétions among us, but
"" of
immorality and bad characters concludes,
of others.
The fubftance of his lordship's
apology for himſelf is, That,
if they wanted arms and pow-
der in Scotland, it was not his
fault: That he had neither
money to buy them with, nor
'could he obtain orders for im-
barking them. That without
money, and the neceſſary or-
ders to the officers of the
ports, no private merchant
'could or would undertake to
fhip off any quantity. That
the* and duke of Mar fay in
their letters, they muft have
left Scotland, had they had
all the arms and powder in
France: and that, if they had
taid a few days longer, they
'would have had ten thoufand
arms, thirty thousand weight
of powder, and other flores in
proportion' And he modeilly
'
That he has all
along acted like a prudent,
'honeſt, and wife nian, and
they (that is, the *, and dukes
• of Ormond and Mar, quite the
'contrary.'
There are other particulars
obferved by his lord' fhip, which
fhall be remarked in their pro-
per place; and you may be af-
fured, that I will give you an
impartial narrative of facts; that
I will mention nothing but what
the dukes of Ormond and Mar
will atteft upon their honour :
and if there w
and if there wanted any additi-
onal proof, that the truth of
every article might be confirmed
by the teltimony of feveral gen-
tlemen of probity, who were
employed
The printed letter from an
officer in the *'s army, after it
had marched northwards from
Aberdeen, will form you of
LIZ 2
the
་
THE
HISTORY
}
532
1715-16. "of fuch as are zealous affertors of the liberties of their
"country, the prefent establishment, and the proteftant
ment.
religion, and of fuch, as are endeavouring to fubject the
<6 nation to the revenge and tyranny of a pupih pre-
"tender."
Proceedings
The lords and commons prefented feverally very loyal ad-
of the parlia- dreffes of thanks for this fpeech. The commons declared,
they thought themfelves obliged, in juftice to their injured
country, to profecute, in the moft vigorous and impartial
manner, the authors of thofe deftructive counfels, which
had drawn down thefe miferies upon the nation. They
began with expelling Mr Forfter, general of the Northum-
brian rebels, and after a remarkable fpeech to fhew the ne-
ceffity of proceeding by way of impeachment, Mr Lech-
mere impeached the earl of Derwentwater of high-treafon,
and undertook to make the impeachment good. Mr Pulte-
ney impeached the lord Widdrington; Mr Bofcawen, the
arl of Nithi fuale: Mr Hampden, the earl of Wintoun;
the lord Finch, the earl of Carnwarth; the earl of Hert-
the flate of affairs in Scotland;
and the extreme want they were
in of arms and ammunition.
The duke of Mar, by fix feve-
ral expreffes, follicited lord Bo-
lingbroke for an immediate fup
ply. In all his letters, he af-
fures him, that numbers of men
would join him, if he had arms
for them; and that he wanted
powder for the few arms that he
had. His lordship's excufe,
that, till general Hamilton's ar-
ival, he did not know, that
there was a particular want of
powder, more than of any other
fpecies, is falfe and frivolous;
for the want of powder was fpe-
cified in feveral letters; and his
lordſhip underſtands English too
well not to know, that powder
is principally intended by the
word an.munition.
The want of money to pro-
vide arms, is as ground!ef, as
ford,
For,
his other pretenfions.
though the * did not abound
in money, there was always a
fufficient fum for that fervice.
Ten fhillings is the price of a
new musket, and, fince the re-
duction of the troops in France.
ferviceable arms were to be had
at 20 d. a piece; and his lord-
fhip probably means fuch fecond
hand arms by the
great bar-
r
gains he brought to bear, but
failed for want of money.'
His lordſhip declines anfwer-
ing the charge of his infifting
on a publick order, and neglect-
ing private methods of imbar-
kation; and flides off into an
idle flory of a fhip at Havie de
Grace, which, fuppofing it true,
is nothing to the purpofe. He
knew,that a publick order would
not be granted; and he owns,
that a connivance from the off-
cers might be depended upon;
and
OF
533
ENGLAN D.
C
&
ford, vifcount Kenmure; and Mr Wortley Mountague, 1715-16.
the lord Nairn. Then Mr Lechmere, and the reſt, were
ordered to carry up their feveral impeachments to the lords;
which being done, a committee was appointed to draw up
the articles againſt the feven impeached lords. Mr Lech-
mere, chairman of the committee, in lefs than two hours
reported, that the articles were drawn up; which, being a-
greed to, were carried by him to the lords the fame day.
The next day, the impeached lords were all brought to Jan. 19.
the bar of the houfe of lords, where the articles of unpeach-
ment againſt them were read, and they were ordered to put
in their anſwer on the 16th, and, upon their request, fuch
perfons, as they fhould think proper to affift them in their
defence, were allowed to come to them.
The impeachments being lodged, the commons orde ed
a bill to be brought in, to continue the fufpenfion of the ›
Habeas Corpus act for fix months longer; which was op-
pofed by Mr Shippen. He faid, It invaded the moſt va-
luable right of Engliſhmen; encouraged malicious infor-
"mations, and gave a handle to thoſe in power to opprefs
and therefore it may be prefum-
ed, that his conduct in this cafe
was to amufe the *'s friends in
Scotland, and cover his wilful
neglect of them. His lordthip's
first excuſe, though not menti-
oned in any of his letters, for
not fending arms, was, left
*
the going of many hips
through the channel fhould
draw the attention of the ene-
my's fleet that way, and en-
danger the paffage But,
what reafon can be given why
arms and ammunition were not
fent in the flips, that went to
Scotland before the *, or in
thofe that followed him? Why
fome arias and powder were not
put in every one of them, that
paited from France? And as a
dozen hips arrived fafe, they
might have carried a fufficient
ſupply of every thing that was
wanting. The fmallnefs of the
innocent
fhips is a poor plea; for, if
they were fit to tranfport paflen-
gers, they might allo have car-
ried fomepowaer,andfome arms;
and fuppofing they could not,
why were fuch uſeleſs vefjulspro-
vided for that fervice? Of what
moment was it to fend officers
to command men, who, as his
lordship knew were neither fur-
nished with powder nor arms ?
Befides, thofe hips. which 'ar-
rived in Scotland, were each of
them of fufficient bulk to carry
arms and ammunition.
His lordship appeals to the
duke of Ormond for the truth
of a paffage in his third letter,
That a quantity of arms,
which his grace thought him-
felf fure of in October, were
in February fill in the fame
place, and no nearer being
fent than the first day; and
that a fmall parcei might have
+ 13
· becn
J
534
THE HISTORY
1715-16. innocent people.' Mr fecretary Stanhope appealed to
the whole houfe, Whether the king or his miniſtry had
made an ill or wanton ufe of the power, with which the
parliament had thought fit to intruft his majeſty. And
Mr Hungerford himself owned, The government had
ufed that power with great moderation. After which,
the bill paffed both houſes.
On the 16th of January a bill was brought in to attaint
the earl of Mar, William Murray, commonly called mar-
quis of Tullibardine, the earl of Linlithgow, and John
Drummond, commonly called lord Drummond. The bill
was prepared by Mr Smith, Sir Jofeph Jekyll, lord Con-
ingfb, and Mr Lechmere, and had an eafy paffage through
both houſes.
C
• been in Scotland in October
or November, had the direc-
tion given by his lordship
been purfued; and that thefe
6 arms and ftores are now rot-
ting in a magazine at Mor-
laix.' Though his lordship
pretends an unwillingness to
mention where the fault of not
fending this fupply lay, he
ftrongly intimates, that the duke
of Ormond was blameable in
it: and with what fincerity that
reflection on his grace was made
will be beft judged from a true
account of the circumftances of
that affair.
The fhip loaden with the arms
abovementioned arrived in the
river of Morlaix on the 24th of
December, when the duke of
Ormond returned from his fe-
cond attempt to land in ng-
land. W n, the mafter of
the veffel, faid he was too deep-
ly loaden, and too ſmall to un-
dertake a voyage to Scotland
in that rigorous feafon of the
year. It was then refolved to
put them on board of another
fhip, commanded by H- S.
and the only veffel that could
On
be procured in that port at that
time. Hs's fhip was foul,
and hauled afhore to be clean-
ed His crew were afraid of
being taken at fea, and on that
account mutinied, and moſt of
them deferted; and, while a-
nother crew was providing. on
the 3d of January, the Adven-
ture, and the Charles-galley,two
English men of war came into
the river, and anchored near
her. Information was given to
the captains, that H-
-s's fhip
belonged to the *, and that
W- n was loaden with arms.
for his majeſty's fervice. Where-
upon W
n's veffel was un-
loaden in the night, and the
arms were privately conveyed
to a magazine. The two men
of war remained in the river till
the beginning of March; and it
was impracticable for H-
to fail while they were there,
becauſe out of the river is nar-
row, and it was impoffible to
pafs the men of war unobferv-
ed, even in the night. In the
mean time, the utmoſt endea-
vours were uſed to remedy this
accident: it was refolved to
$
carry
OF
535
ENGLAND.
On the 21st of January the king came to the houfe of 1715 16.
peers, and gave his affent to the Act for continuing the
fufpenfion of the Habeas Corpus.' Then the lord chan-
cellor read the following fpeech of his majefty to both
houſes:
C
My lords and gentlemen,
I
Had reaſon to believe, when I fpoke laft to you, that
'' the pretender was landed in Scotland. The ac-
"counts I have received fince put it beyond all doubt, that
"he is heading the rebellion there, and does affume the
"ſtyle and title of king of theſe realms. His adherents
"do likewife confidently affirm, that affurances are given
"them of ſupport from abroad. This parliament hath on
"all occafions expreffed fo much duty to me, and ſo true
a regard for the religious and civil rights of my people,
..
carry the arms a few leagues
by land, and an agreement was
made for a ſhip, that lay out
of the reach of the men of war
to carry them to Scotland; but
afterwards the owner's heart
failed him, and he peremptori-
ly refuſed to ftand to the bar-
gain. The truth of theſe par-
ticulars is attefted by his grace
the duke of Ormond, and cap-
tain Cammock's journal; and,
when his lordſhip recollects.
himſelf, he cannot be ignorant
of them.
Thus you ſee the true reafons
of the miſcarriage of the fupply,
that the accidents could neither
be prevented nor remedied; that
this parcel of arms might
I have been in Scotland in Oc-
'tober or November, if his di-
rections had been purſued,'
though theſe directions were
dated from Paris the 16th of
December, and the ſhips that
were to carry them, arrived in
the port the 24th: that his
lordship's exactnefs in other
66 that
points may be judged of by this
fmall inftance; and that a mif-
take of two months in a fact of
fo late a date can hardly be ex-
cuſed as a failure in point of me-
mory
*
That fhips might have been
privately fent without a publick
order, is evident, becaule that
quantity of arms, which lord
Bofingbroke fays were ftill rot-
ting in a magazine at Morlaix,
were fent by the to Scotland
foon after his return to France,
and a month before the date of
his lordship's letter, and two
other hips loaden with arms
and ftores were alſo fent from
another port. And this was
done at a time when the *'s
affairs were defperate, and with-
out the privity and confent of
the French court.
In fhort, lord Bolingbroke's
defence on every particular of
this head is weak and fuperfi-
cial. Several private merchants
would have fupplied the * with
arms, if they had been applied
L 14
to
536
HISTORY
THE
1715-16. " that I am perfuaded, this daring prefumption of our ene-
"mies will heighten your juft indignation againſt them,
"and beget fuch further refolutions, as, with the bleffing
"of God, will enable me to defeat their attempts.
Gentlemen of the houſe of commons,
"The most effectual way to put a fpeedy end to theſe
"troubles, will be to make fuch a provifion as may dif-
❝courage any foreign power from affifting the rebels, I
do therefore hope, that every fincere proteftant, and
true Briton, will look upon the extraordinary expence,
"whi ha preparation may require, to be the beſt huſban-
dry; fince it will, in all human probability, prevent
"that defolation, and thofe calamities, which would un-
" avoid-
to by his lordship. Neither
the nor the duke of Mar af-
firm in their letters, that they
mut leave Scotland, though
they had all the arms and am-
munition of France The eight
thoufand arms, &c. lying at
Havre, would have been fent
by a gentleman, who was zea-
lous for the *'s fuccefs, if he
had not been amuſed for fe-
veral months, and diverted from
applying for an order, by his
lordship's faying, that he would
obtain one: and the ten thou-
fand arms, and the thirty thou-
fand weight of powder, which
he fays would have been fent
to Scotland, if they had ſtaid
a few days longer, were not
procured by his lordfhip, but,
by a gentleman, who was fent
by the* from Scotland, and
who, being convinced of his
lordship's former neglects, ap-
plied for a fupply of arms elfe.
where, and upon his own cre-
dit obtained it
About the fame time the duke
of Ormond procured fifteenthou.
fand arms with a proportionable
quantity of ammunition with-
out the privity or affiftance of
the lord Bolingbroke.
Another remarkable circum-
ftance of his lordship's conduct
was, the variety of excufes he
made to thofe gentlemen, who
came exprefs from Scotland, for
not fending arms and ammuni-
tion. In September and Oc-
tober he faid he was providing
them.
In November, that the
fending them through the chan-
nel would indanger the *'s, paf-
fage: in December and Janua-
ry, that the court of France
would neither grant arms nor
ammunition ; and his lordſhip
had probably pretences in re-
ferve for every month of the
year.
What reason then had
his majefty to expect a fupply
of arms after ſo many repeat-
ed delays? And with what in-
juftice does his lordship charge
the * and the duke of Mar
with precipitation in leaving
Scotland, when the neceflity
they were in of coming away
Was
}
OF
537
ENGLAND.
"avoidably enfue, if the rebellion fhould be fuffered 1715-16.
"to fpread, and be fupported by popifh forces from
" abroad.
My lords and gentlemen,
"The world muſt be convinced by all you have already
"done, that you have nothing but the honour and inter-
"eft of your country at heart: and, for my own part,
I
"rely intirely upon you, and doubt not but you will take
"fuch refolutions at this juncture, as will be moſt for the
"prefent fafety, and future eafe of my people."
Both houſes prefented addreffes to his majefty, full of ex-
preffions of duty and affection, and the moft hearty affur-
ances of their affiftance against the daring prefumption of
the pretender and his adherents.
was intirely occafioned by his
neglect ?
His lordship anſwers the ar-
ticles of amuſing general Ha-
milton by calling it a ſimple
lie. Whether his lordfhip re-
preſented the contents of his
meffage, where it was proper,
depends upon his own word.
'Tis probable, that the perfon
hinted at by his lordſhip would
not have fcrupled o have the
ftate of affairs in Scotland from
the mouth of one, who was fo
fully inftructed in it; and that
fuch an interview would have
been attended with a good ef
fect. And it may reaſonably be
inferred, that his lordſhip was
faulty in that cafe, becauſe he
did not communicate the *'s
letters which that gentleman
brought to the queen or the
duke of Ormond. for feveral
days after he had received
them, though the * had com-
manded him to fhew them to
her majefty; and, before he
The
went to Scotland, had given his
lordſhip poſitive inflructions to
act in concert with his grace,
and to communicate every par-
ticular of his affairs to him.
His lordship endeavours to
refute the charge of his being
often denied to thofe, who came
about buſineſs, with a ground-
lefs and malicious diſtinction
for he was feldom to be found
by thofe who were fent by the
duke of Mar to him, by offi-
cers of diftinction, who daily
preffed him to be difpatched to
Scotland, and even by perſons,
whom he himself employed.
And were it proper to mention
names, particular inftances might
be given of his conduct in this
point.
His lordship, in what he
falfely calls a general itate of
things on this fide the water,
has repreſented the duke of Or-
mond in the blackett terms,
that malice could devife, • aş
an affociate with a nest of hor-
• nets;
538
THE HISTORY
1715-16.
The impeached lords having on the 16th of January pe
titioned the houfe of peers for longer time to put in their
The im- anſwers to the articles of impeachment; they were allow-
plead guilty, ed time till Thurfday the 19th, upon which day all of
them, except the earl of Wintoun (who upon his petition
peached lords
They are
condemned.
Feb. 9.
had till the 231 allowed him) were brought from the Tower
to the bar of the houſe of peers, where they feverally plead-
ed guilty to the articles of their impeachment, but urged
fome things, by way of anfwer, to extenuate their guilt.
The earl of Derwentwater's anfwer was in writing, as
were alſo the anſwers of the lord Widdrington, and the
earl of Nithifdale. The anſwers of the earl of Carnwarth
and the lord Kenmure were delivered viva voce; and the
lord Nairn delivered in a petition to the lords in writ-
ing. Having thus pleaded guilty, the 9th of February was
appointed for their receiving fentence. Upon which day
they were all brought to the bar of the court erected in
Weft-
• nets;
as heading a faction
compofed of perions of the
• vileft characters who are de-
ſpiſed for their folly, and de-
•
tested for their immorality';
and be qualifies this heavy charge
with a profeffion of a very par-
ticular refpect for his grace, and
by ſaying, that his grace was
drawn indirectly in to do the
work of the faction here, and
was far from defigning any
< fuch thing.'
With what view this virulent
flander on his grace was fram-
ed, may be easily conjectured,
and to beat down his grace's re-
putation, if it were poffible,
would be acknowledged by the
as a confiderable ſervice to
him. His grace's character is
too well known in England to
ſtand in need of a juftification,
and what lord Bolingbroke in
tended as a reflection on the
duke of Ormond will be ac-
knowledged by every honeft
man here, that his grace ob-
ferved at Paris a quite contra-
ry conduct from his lordship.
His grace, it is true, opened
his doors to every gentleman,
who came to wait
who came to wait upon him:
he thought it was for the *'s
fervice to receive thofe perfons
with civility, who chearfully
offered to imbark in it: that
thoſe gentlemen who were rea-
dy to hazard their lives in the
fame cauſe with his grace, ought
not to be treated with con-
tempt: and that his lordship's
conduct was imprudent and un-
feemly.
The fincerity of his lord-
fhip's profeffion of refpect for
the duke of Ormond will ap-
pear from his behaviour to his
grace here; and you are not a
ftranger to the defign, that was
formed by his lordship in July
1714, to fet lord Churchill at
the head of the army. His
lordſhip laboured upon all occa-
fions to vilify his grace, and to
paint him in the fouleft colours
to
OF ENGLAND.
539
Weſtminſter-hall, and had ſentence, as in caſe of high-trea- 1715-16.
fon, pronounced against them by the lord chancellor Cow-
per, lord high fteward on that occafion.
The commons having put the cafe of the rebel lords in
a courſe of juſtice, they turned their thoughts to the reft
of the Preſton prifoners, who were brought up to Lon-
don; and, to prevent the formality of fending them
into Lancaſhire to be tried, they brought in a bill to re-
move thoſe difficulties, which obftructed the courſe of juf-
tice; and, as this was only to be a temporary law, fo the
occafion was ſpecified in the title, which was, 'An act for
the more eaſy and ſpeedy trial of fuch perfons, as have
levied war against his majefty during the preſent re-
'bellion.'
About the fame time Mr Lechmere moved for an ad-
dress to the king, for a proclamation, offering a general
pardon to fuch as were yet in arms in Scotland, who ſhould
to his majefty. Upon his gra-
ce's first expedition into Eng-
land, he endeavoured to per-
fuade a gentleman, who had
promiſed to accompany him,
not to go; he told him, that
the duke of Ormond would cer-
tainly be never heard of more;
and that it was a rash and
fooliſh enterprize he was going
upon and by the difcovery of
his grace's defigns at that time,
and his lordship's condual fince.
it may be prefumed he had
good reaſons to be affured,
that the attempt would mif-
carry.
When the duke had return-
ed from his fecond voyage to
England, and waited on the
coaft of France for another op-
portunity, lord Bolingbroke
wrote to him to come nearer
Paris, and promifed to meet his
grace, in order to concert mea-
fures with him. His grace
complied with the propofal,
named a place at twelve leagues
diſtance from Paris, and was
:
lay
punctual to the time appointed.
Lord Bolingbrcke can.e about
ten days after in'lead of dif-
courfing about buſineſs he drank
to excefs, and, early on the
fecond day after his coming, he
returned to Paris, without fay-
ing any thing to the purpoſe.
Though his grace had great
reafon to refent this ufage, he
refolved at that juncture to
fubmit to it, and complied with
another propofal of his lord-
fhip's to come to Paris, becaufe
that he thought, when he was
in the fame place with his
lordship, he could not easily
find an opportunity to amufe
him longer. His grace was for
four days in Paris, before he
had a vifit from his lordship,
though he fent repeated meffa-
ges to him. At length he came.
when dinner was on the table.
Before dinner was half done, he
rofe up haftily, and pretended
urgent bufinefs to call him away.
For fome days after his grace
could not poñibly find him out.
Can
540
HISTORY
THE
1715-16. lay them down within a certain time. with fuch reftrifi-
ons and limitations as the king fhould think fit. This
motion was ftrongly oppofed by Mr Pulteney, the lord
Conning by, and fome others, who reprefented the ill ef-
fects, which fuch a proclamation might have both at home
and abroad, in the prefent juncture of affairs. What had
moft weight, in this debate, was urged by Mr Walpole,
who contented himſelf with faying, he would not inquire
into the reafons of this motion, but he had been offered
fixty thoufand pounds for the life of one fingle perfon.
This gave Mr Lechmere an occafion to vindicate his in-
tegrity and honeft intentions; but finding, what he had
propofed was not thought confiftent with the king's and
the nation's fervice, he did nɔt inſiſt upon it. The next
day, major Stuart, aid-de camp to the duke of Argyle, and
captain Morton, aid-de-camp to general Cadogan, airiv-
ed at St James's, with advice that the rebels had aban-
duned
Can it be imagined, that ſuch
infolent treatment of his grace
could proceed from any person
who had not a quite different
intereſt in view? And, as the
*had a juft fenfe of his lord-
fhip's behaviour to the duke of
Ormond, it was a ſtronger mo-
tive to induce his majeſty to re-
move him.
I am not ſurpriſed at the lord
Bolingbroke's appealing to the
duke of Berwick, and that he
is willing to ftand or fall by his
judgment; for I believe that
duke will for the fame reafons
appeal to his lordship to clear
himſelf. No part of his beha-
viour is more wonderful than
his fudden intimacy with the
duke of Berwick. He former-
ly mentioned on all occafi-
ons, that duke with diire-
gard, and would neither allow
him capacity for buſineſs, nor
credit. But, foon after his
grace had difobeyed his fover-
eign's commands to go to Scot-
*
land, there became a cloſe uni-
on betwixt them, which ftill
continues, though the had
commanded his lordſhip not to
communicate any part of his
bufinefs to him. And it may be
obferved, that his lordſhip did
not refide at St Germain's,
where he owns that he held
the cloſet friendſhip, till two
months after his grace's refufal
to go to Scotland. If his grace
had a hundred times more ca-
pacity and credit than the reſt
of the *'s fubjects in France,
he has loft fome part of his
credit by his undutiful behavi-
our to his royal maſter; and a
perfon who refufes to ferve in
his province at a time when his
fervice is required and wanted,
may be reputed not to be of
that court,' as his lordship ob-
ferves, though he has lodgings
in it; and he should have added,
that he had at that time a con-
I
fiderable penfion from it.
am perfuaded, his affociafm, as
he
OF ENGLAN D.
541
doned Perth, and were flying before the king's forces: and 1715-16.
therefore the publishing a proclamation for a general par-
don, at ſuch a juncture, would have fhewed a weakneſs
in the government, and encouraged foreign powers to fup-
port the rebels. About this time the pretender fent a let-
ter to the lord-mayor of London, with orders to proclaim
him king of Great-Britain; which was communicated to
the fecretary of State.
Mr Baron Bury, Mr Juftice Eyre, and Mr baron
Montague, having been appointed to try the rebels at Li-
verpool, there was a confiderable number found guilty;
and Richard Shuttleworth of Preſton, a papiſt; Roger
Mencaſter of Garftang, an attorney; Thomas Cowpe,
William Butler, and William Ackworth, were executed
at Piefton, on the 28th of January; and John Rowboth-
am, James Blundel, James Burne, James Finch, William
Whalley,
he calls it, with the duke of
Berwick owes its original to
another caufe, than the opinion
he had of his grace's capacity;
and that his grace was the
channel of correſpondence be-
twixt his lordship and a certain
lord in England. For though
his lordship denies his having
any correfpondence with him,
or any of the court of England,
there are good reaſons to fuf-
pect him of it, as the old inti-
macy between them; his lord-
fhip's leaving England upon his
advice; and the vifit he paid
him the evening before he left
London; not to mention the
fneaking letter he fent from
France to Mr Stanhope and
evon his lordilip qualifies the
denial of fuch a correfpondence,
by faying, that he held none
fince he engaged in the *'s bu
finefs, which, by the way, was
three months after his coming to
France
This correfpondence with a
perfon, who had upon feveral
occafions betrayed the church
of England, and facrificed his
cun country to a foreign prince,
is a pregnant inftance of his
lordship's refolution to ferve the
upon a proteflant and En-
liſh bottom, or not to ferve at
all.
<
His lordship's affertion, That
the fource of all buſineſs,
and the heads of his beſt
friends, were trufted to the
keeping of a multitude of
people, fome of whom were
of the vileft characters,' is as
groundlefs as his other calum-
nies; and it may be easily guef-
fed, for what end this flander
was invented. And, though his
lordship is pleafed to charge
others with want of fecrecy, I
can affure you, that in the
midſt of his wine he difcovered
fecrets of the greatest impor-
tance to fome of the very per-
fons, whom he now reprefents
in fuch black characters, and
that they expreffed a concern
at his imprudence.
I am
542
THE HISTORY
115-16. Whalley, and John Mac Gillivray, were executed at
Wigan on the 10th of February; Richard Charley, efq;
James Drummond, William Black, Donald Macdonald,
Rorie Kennedy, and John Ord, executed at Prefton on
the 9th of February; and Thomas Sydal, William Harris,
Stephen Seager, Jofeph Porter, and John Finch, execut-
ed at Mancheſter on the 11th of February.
Sollicitations
in behalf of
About one thoufand of the rebel prifoners at Lancaſter,
Liverpool, and Chefter, fubmitted to the king's mercy,
and petitioned for tranfportation.
In the mean time, great follicitations were made with
the condem- the court and with the members of both houſes of Parlia-
ned lords. ment, in behalf of the fix condemned lords, particularly
in favour of the earl of Derwentwater. On the 13th of
February, the countefs of Nithifdale and the lord Nairn's
lady, watching an opportunity, when the king went through
the appartments of the palace at St James's, behind a
window-curtain, without being prefented by the lord of
the
*
I am confident, his lordship's
defign to cut off all correfpon-
dence with the 's fubjects at
home will fail of fuccefs, when
they confider they are in lefs
danger by his removal; and that
his majefty has been pleaf.
ed to chufe one in his ftead,
who is not only incapable of
betraying a truft, while it fub-
fifts, as his lordſhip ſpeaks, but
an inviolable obferver of a truft
for ever, and of tried prudence
and fecrecy in buſineſs
His lordship, to heighten the
charge on the conduct of bufi-
nefs, is here pleafed to add,
that it poles through the hands
of a whole tribe of jefuits,
though his lord hip cannot be
ignorant, that no perſon of that
order was ever employed in bu-
fineſs by the * or queen.
His lordship's infinuation, of
the riveted prejudices of one
perfon, has the fame malicious
view; and though his lordship af-
firms, that, from the very firft,
he began to combat them with
great decency and firmneſs, it
is certain he never ſpoke of his
having fuch a defign, till a few
days before the * had fixed his
departure for Britain. And it
must be owned, that feveral
worthy men, who were then at
Paris, thought it an improper
time to prefs his majeſty on that
head, when he had not leiſure
to inquire into it; and that his
lordſhip was not the moſt pro-
per perfon to talk of religion.
Another flander in his lord-
fhip's letter, is, that he was
،
6
difcarded with all the cir-
• cumftances of provocation pof-
fible, and treated, as far as it
lay in the power of thoſe,
whom he ſerved, with an af-
•fectation of indignation and
contempt;' for the * difmif-
fed him by a letter, without af
figning any reafon for his plea-
fure, and commanded the duke
of
}
OF ENGLAND
543
their execu~
the bed-chamber in waiting, as ufual, on a fudden threw 1715-16.
themſelves at the king's feet, begging mercy for their hufr
bands. This abrupt and irregular application could not Warrants for
but furprize the king, and thofe about him, and there. tion.
fore proved as ineffectual as thofe, which had been made
in a more becoming and artful manner. For a few days
after, a refolution was taken in council, to caufe the fen-
tence pafled on thefe lords to be executed; for which pur-
poſe the neceffary warrants and orders were, on the 18th
of February, fent, both to the lieutenant of the Tower,
and to the fheriffs of the city of London and Midefex.
The next morning the countess of Derwentwater, attend-
ed by her fifter, and accompanied by the ducheffes of
Cleveland and Bolton, and feveral other ladies of the firft
rank, was by the dukes of Richmond and St Albans intro-
duced
of Ormond to carry it. His
majefty, in tenderneſs to his
lordſhip, of whom he had once
a good opinion, took this courfe;
and, belides, he thought it be-
low his royal dignity to defcend
to a paper quarrel. And, if his
lordship had followed the ad-
vice that was given him, to lie
quiet, his character would not
fo foon have been expofed in its
true light.
I could give many other in-
ftances of his lordship's neglect
of the *'s bufinefs, at a tine,
when he had the fole manage-
ment of it; and to name but
one: his lordſhip for ten days
neglected to fend the duke of
Mar's new commifiion to com-
mand in Scotland, which was
fo much wanted, upon an idle
pretence of fending a long and
tifling memorial in cyphus a-
long with it.
His lordship's behaviour to his
equals and inferiors was not on-
ly contemptuous, but his treat
ment of the queen was nolent
to the last degree. To infult
majefly in ciltrels aggravates the
crime; and fuch a carriage to
the *'s mother is an evident
proof of want of duty to his
majefty. And though his lord-
fhip's friends induſtriouſly re-
ported, that he was diſmiſſed by
her advice, and from thence
drew malicious inferences; you
may be affured, that it was the
concurrent opinion of the duke
of Ormond, and all the *'s
friends here, to difplace him,
and that her majefty had no
hand in his removal
What the principles were, his
lordship fays, he brought out of
England with him, I don't
know, having never had reafon
to believe, that he gave him-
felf much trouble about any.
That they were not the princi-
ples of the tories, is plain, from
his repreſentation of that party
to the French court, and his ex-
preffions in converſation, that he
never expected much good from
the tories.
His lordship concludes, that
there are abundance of things
more, that he could fay to clear
humilf, but, by the fcurrility
of
544
HISTORY
THE
}
1715-16. duced into the king's bed-chamber, where the humbly im-
plored his clemency for her unfortunate confort; and then
withdrew.
It is very probable, the countess of Derwentwater re-
ceived no favourable anſwer from the court; for, on the
21st of February, fhe, with the ladies of fome other con-
demned lords, and about twenty more of diftinction, went
to the lobby of the houfe of peers to heg their intercef-
fion: but the lords did not then think fit to take notice of
their petitions. The next morning, the ladies in diſtreſs,
with a ftill greater attendance than the day before, went
to Weſtminſter to petition both houfes of parliament, where,
by this time, not a few members appeared inclined to mer-
cy. Sir Richard Steele, among the reft, offered one of
theſe petitions, and made a long fpeech upon that fub-
ject, and was feconded by Mr Farrar, Mr Shippen, and
fome others; but they were oppofed by all the leading
members of the prevailing fide; and, though a great many
who uſed to vote with them, went over on this occafion
to the other party, yet a motion being made, and the
queftion put for adjourning to the 1st of March, the ad-
journment was carried by a majority of feven voices
only, a hundred and fixty-two, to a hundred and fifty-
five.
The ladies of the condemned lords were more fuccefs-
The duke of
ful with the peers than with the commons
Richmond, a near relation of the earl of Derwentwater, and
one of the lords allowed by the houſe to affift him, could
of his letters, it may be pre-
fumed, that he has omitted
nothing, in tenderneſs to any
perfon whatfoever. And the
reafon given for faying no more,
that thoſe on this fide, who
firſt began the ſtorm, are fenfi-
ble of their folly, is notoriously
falfe. And, as his actions are
better understood here, than
they poffibly can be on your
ſide, every honeſt man in France
is thoroughly convinced of his
ill conduct, and that his majesty
had juft and wife reaſons to re-
move him.
This letter has fwelled to a
greater bulk than at fuft I ima-
gined Upon the whole, I leave
you to judge, whether the *
the dukes of Ormond and Mar,
or his lordſhip, deſerve moſt to
be credited. And, if fo many
inftances of his mifmanagements
have been proved,
have been proved, it may be
concluded, they would appear
more clearly, if it were ſeaſon-
able to ſpeak plain upon feve-
ral of them. I have avoided
all unneceffary bitterness of ex-
preffion agamit his lordſhip, and
the leaft imputation of flattery
to others; and I fhall embrace
every opportunity of fhewing
you, that I am, &c.
not
OF ENGLAND.
545
not refuſe preſenting a petition in his favour, but at the 1715-16.
fame time he declared he would be against it. The early d
of Derby, out of pity for the numerous family of the lord
Nairn, charged himself with a petition in his behalf, as
other lords did, upon the like or different motives, with other
petitions. The queftion being put, Whether thefe peti-
tions fhould be received and read, there arofe a great de-
bate, in which the lord Townfhend, and feveral other
lords, who upon all occafions had given undoubted proofs
of their affection to the prefent fettlement, were againſt
it, but, the earl of Nottingham, to their great ſurprize,
declaring for it, his weight, as prefident of the council,
drew to that fide feveral peers; fo the queftion was carri-
ed by nine or ten voices. After the reading of the petiti-
ons, the next queſtion was, Whether, in the caſe of an
impeachment, the king has any power to reprieve? This
being alfo carried in the affirmative, the fame was follow-
ed by a motion for an addrefs, to defire the king to grant
a reprieve to the lords, who lay under fentence of death.
This was oppofed by the firmeft friends of the govern-
ment; and even an earl, who was for the two firit quef-
tions, reprefented, That though clemency was one of
the brighteft virtues, that adorn and fupport a crown;
yet, in his opinion, the fame fhould be excrcifed with -
difcretion, and only on proper objects:' and therefore
moved, That they fhould addrefs the king to reprieve
• fuch of the condemned lords as fhould deferve his mer-
'cy.' This, after fome further debate, was carried. Then
the earl of Stamford moved, That the time of refpite be
left to the king, which was readily agreed to; and then
the addrefs with theſe amendments was carried by a ma-
jority of five voices only. To this address the king an-
fwered, That on this, and all other occafions, he would
do what he thought moft confiftent with the dignity of
his crown, and the fafety of his people.'
C
C
This wife and refolute anfwer proved, the next day, a
great mortification to the jacobite and difcontented party,
who were extremely elated by the inclinations to mercy,
which appeared in both houfes, and which occafioned va-
rious reflections. Whatever was the fecret fpring of thefe
inclinations, it is certain, that in the council, held the fame
evening, about the execution of the condemned lords, there
was a contest between the earl of Nottingham and fome The cals of
other lords, and four days after, that earl was removed from Nottingham
being prefident of the council, the earl of Aylesford, his ford remov
brother, from being chancellor of the duchy of Lancafter; ed.
the lord Finch, fon to the earl of Nottingham, from being
VOL. VI,
M m
one
and Avleis
1
546
THE HISTORY
1715-16. one of the lords of the treaſury; and the lord Guernſeys
his coufin-german, from being mafter of the jewel-office.
This change, however fudden, was not unforeſeen by men
of obſervation; and it juſtified Mr Hampden's reflection,
not many days before, in the houfe of commons, on ą
motley or mixed miniftry.
Three lords
ordered to be
executed,
and three
reprieved,
Fcb. 23.
mure exe-
cuted,
Feb. 24.
Purſuant to the refolution taken in the council, orders
were diſpatched for executing the next morning the earls
of Derwentwater and Nithifdale, and the lord Kenmure;
and for refpiting the loid Widdrington, the earl of Carn-
warth, and the lord Nairn, till the 7th of March. The
fame evening the earl of Nithifdale found means to make
his eſcape out of the Tower in a woman's apparel brought
to him by his mother, who came to vifit with fome rela-
Derwentwa- tions. The next morning early, three detachments of the
ter and Ken- guards took their feveral pofts round the fcaffold erected
on Tower-hill, and, a little before ten o'clock, the earl
of Derwentwater and the lord Kenmure were carried in a
hackney coach from the Tower to the Tranſport-office, on
Tower-hill, where there was a room hung with black for
their reception. From this room to the ſcaffold (which
was all covered with black) there was a paffage or gal-
lery railed in. The earl of Derwentwater was firſt led to
the fcaffold; and it was obferved, that in his going thi-
ther, and afcending the fteps, his countenance turned very
pale. But, after he had been a few minutes on the ſcaf-
fold, his behaviour appeared refolute and fedate. Having
ſpent fome time in prayer with a book, he then addreffed
himſelf to the fheriff, and defired, he might have liberty
to read a paper which he had drawn up. This request
being readily granted, he went to the rails of the fcaffold
and read what follows.
L
C
6
¿
<
'
Being in a few minutes to appear before the tribunal
of God, where, though moft unworthy, I hope to find
mercy, which I have not found from men now in power;
I have endeavoured to make my peace with his divine
majefty, by most humbly begging pardon for all the
fins of my life: and I doubt not of a merciful forgive-
nefs, through the merits of the paffion and death of my
Saviour Jefus Chrift; for which end I earnestly defire
the prayers of all good chriftians.
After this I am to afk pardon of thofe, whom I might
have ſcandalized by pleading guilty at my trial. Such,
as were permitted to come to me, told me, that, hav-
ing been undeniably in arms, pleading guilty was but
the confequence of having fubmitted to mercy; and many
arguments
1
OF ENGLAN D.
547
་
C
<
८
6
arguments were uſed to prove there was nothing of 1715-16°
moment in fo doing; among others, the univerfal prac-
tice of figning leafes, whereof the preambles run in the
name of the perfon in poffeffion.
But I am fenfible, that in this I have made bold with
loyalty, having never any other but king James the third
for my rightful and lawful fovereign. Him I had
an inclination to ferve from my infancy, and was mov-
ed thereto by a natural love I had to his perſon, know-
ing him to be capable of making his people happy. And,
though he had been of a different religion from mine,
I fhould have done for him all that lay in my power,
as my anceſtors have done for his predeceffors, being
thereunto bound by the laws of God and man.
<
• Wherefore, if in this affair I have acted rafhly, it
ought not to affect the innocent. I intended to wrong
no body, but to ferve my king and country, and that
without felf-intereft; hoping, by the example I gave, to
have induced others to their duty; and God, who fees
the fecrets of my heart, knows I fpeak truth. Some
means have been propoſed to me for faving my life,
which I looked upon as inconfiftent with honour and
confcience, and therefore I rejected them; for, with
God's affiftance, I fhall prefer any death to the doing a
baſe unworthy action. I only with now, that the lay-
ing down my life might contribute to the ſervice of my
king and country, and the re-establishment of the anti-
ent and fundamental conftitution of theſe kingdoms;
without which no lafting peace or true happineſs can at-
tend them. Then I fhould indeed part with my life,
even with pleaſure. As it is, I can only pray, that theſe
bleffings may be beſtowed upon my dear country; and,
fince I can do no more, I befeech God to accept of my
life as a ſmall facrifice towards it.
I die a Roman catholick. I am in perfect charity with
all the world, I thank God for it, even with thoſe of
the prefent government, who are most inftrumental in
my death. I freely forgive fuch, as ungenerously report-
ed falfe things of me; and I hope to be forgiven the tref-
paffes of my youth, by the Father of infinite mercy, into
whofe hands I commend my foul.
JA. DERWENTWATER.
P. S. If that prince, who now governs, had given me
my life, I should have thought mvfelf obliged never
more to have taken up arms againſt him.'
M m 2
After
*
548
HISTORY
THE
1715-16.
After the reading of this paper, he delivered it to the fhe-
riff, telling him, he might do with it as he pleafed; and
that he had given a copy of it to a friend. Then turning
to the block, he viewed it clofe, and finding in it a rough
place, that might offend his neck, he bid the executioner chip
it off; which uncommon prefence of mind was obſerved with
admiration by fome of the ftanders by. Having prepared him-
felf for the blow, by taking off his coat and waiſtcoat, he lay
down to fit his head to the block, telling the executioner,
that the fign he fhould give him was, Lord Jefus receive
my foul;' and, at the third time repeating it, he was
to do his office; which he did at one blow. It was reported,
that, the night before, the earl of Derwentwater having
fent for Mr Stephen Roome, an undertaker for funerals,
and difcourfing with him about his own, he told him, he
would have a filver plate on his coffin, with an infcription
importing, That he died a facrifice for his lawful fove-
reign; but, Mr Roome fcrupling to comply with it, he
was difmiffed. This was the reafon, no hearfe was provid-
ed for him at his execution; fo that his head was only taken
up by one of his fervants, and put into a clean handkerchief,
and, the body being wrapped up in black cloth, they were
both together carried to the tower.
<
Soon after the lord Kenmure was brought to the fcaffold
in the ſame manner, accompanied by his fon, and fome friends,
and attended by two clergymen of the church of England.
He fhewed a great refolution and firmness in his gait and
countenance, though fome nice obfervers pretended, he
was not fo calm within as the earl of Derwentwater;
which however was contradicted by others. On the ſcaf-
fold he faid, He had fo little thoughts of dying fo foon,
that he had not provided a black fuit, that he might have.
died with the more decency; for which he was forry.' He
appeared very fincere and fervent in his devotions, often
lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven; but (contrary to
what he had declared in his fpeech to the lords, when judg-
ment was pronounced against him) he prayed for the pre-
tender, and repented of his having pleaded guilty. He em-
braced and kifled very tenderly moft of the officers and gen-
tlemen on the fcaffold, and his fon and fome friends twice
or thrice. Be had with him Mr Roome the undertaker, who
was to take care of his body, and a furgeon, who was to
direct the executioner in doing his office. Having prepared
for the block, he laid down his head upon it, then raiſed it
up again, ftill continuing on his knees; gave the executi-
oner fome money, and told him, • He fhould give him no
fign, but, when he laid his head down again, he might
· do
6
OF ENGLAND.
i
do his work as he faw good.' Then, having lifted up his 17
hands in prayer a fhort time longer, he laid down his head
again, which the executioner fevered at two blows. Both
the head and body were put into a coffin, and conveyed in
a hearfe to Mr Roome's, where they were imbalmed, in
order to be ſent into Scotland, and buried with his ancef-
tors. He neither made nor delivered any fpeech on the
fcaffold; but in a letter found after his execution, which he
wrote to the pretender (by the ftile of king James) he declared,
That he died for his faithful fervices to his majefty, but
< hoped, the cauſe he died for would thrive and flourish after
his death; and, as he fuffered for his fervice, he hoped his
majefty would provide for his wife and children, who were
in a miſerable condition.'
on.
Wintoun
condemned,
On the 15th of March, the earl of Wintoun's trial came The earl of
The long trouble and delay, he had occafioned by
petitions for time, upon the pretence of witneffes being on
the road, made people expect, that a confiderable defence
could be made, and fomething very particular be urged in
his behalf, either by himself or his council; but they were
furprized, that when he came to the bar, and the managers
of the houſe of commons had ſpent two days in opening
and inforcing the articles against him, and replying to what
was offered, his anfwers were fo weak, and what his coun-
cil had to offer fo trifling, that it could not be called a de-
fence. This gave fome confirmation to what had been
fuggefted, that he was a lunatick. However, the lords were.
unanimous in their judgment, and brought him in guilty;
and, on the 19th of March, judgment was pronounced
againſt him by the lord-chancellor Cowper, lord high-ſtew-
ard upon this occafion.
Two days after, the king having received advice of the pre-
tender's flight out of Scotland, came to the houſe of peers,
and, giving his affent to the land-tax bill (h), made the fol-
lowing fpeech to both houſes of parliament.
(h) This bill had like to have
raiſed a diſpute between the two
houſes. The bill being fent up
to the lords, a debate aroſe
about the preamble, which was
in theſe words :
"We your majeſty's moſt du-
tiful and loyal fubjects, the
commons of Great-Britain, in
parliament affembled, having
hearts filled with the utmost
gratitude to your majefty, for
the tender concern your ma-
jefty, on all occafions, ex-
preffes for the extraordinary
'burden this unnatural rebelli-
on makes neceffary to be laid
on your faithful fubjects, for
preferving all their rights,
'both facred and civil, and for
your majefty's unprecedented
goodnefs in giving up all fuch
eitates for the ufe of the pub-
lick, and in cafe of your peo-
ple, as fhall be forfeited by
this rebellion; the railing, or
<
the
?
.
THE HISTORY
16.
66
My lords and gentlemen,
17
TAKE this opportunity of acquainting you, that my
forces have obliged the pretender to fly out of Scotland,
"and he is fince, as I am informed, landed near Gravelin.
"But I do not yet know, whether any country in amity
" with
•
<
•
the dreadful confequences
whereof, cannot, by the moſt
implacable of your majesty's
enemies, be afcribed to any
one act done by your majef-
ty, fince your happy acceffion
to the throne of your ancef-
tors; but even they will al-
low, that all the mifchiefs,
• burdens, and calamities, which
• fhall attend this horrid rebel-
lion, are, in truth, owing to
the fatal and pernicious coun-
fels given by fome perfons in
the late male-adminiſtration,
when, under pretence of pro-
curing peace abroad, the pre-
• fent deftructive war was pro-
'jected to be brought into the
C
C
very bowels of our native
country at home, when a po-
'pish army (part of which God
has delivered into your majef-
ty's hands) was defigned to be
the protector of our holy re-
ligion; and when, under the
falfe colour of paying the pub-
lick debts, though their true
defign was to deliver
6
us
bound into the power of the
antient enemy of thefe king-
doms, the fame evil coun-
fellors contrived unneceffarily
to incumber, for a long time
to come (if not for ever) feve
. ral confiderable branches of
the publick revenues, which,
for many years pafl, had,
'from time to time, been ufe-
ful to fupport the publick ex-
pence; which revenues, in
former adminiftrations, had
been carefully referved for
that purpoſe, to the end that,
upon the conclufion of an hap-
py peace, which we had then
• reafon to expect, the ſubjects
of theſe realms might have
reaped the fruit of a fuccefl-
ful, though expenfive war.
And we, your majefty's faid
' dutiful and loyal ſubjects, be-
ing fully refolved to maintain
your majeſty's juſt title to the
imperial crown of theſe re-
alms, against all enemies and
traytors whatfoever; and, for
that end, purpoſed to raiſe
fuch fupplies, as are neceffary
to defray your majefty's pub-
lick expences, have chearfully
and unanimouſly given and
'granted, &c.'
Some lords being offended at
this preamble, the earl of Abing-
don moved, that all the peers
in town might be fummoned to
attend the committee; which
was done accordingly. And,
on Monday, the 13th of Febru-
ary, the lord Harcourt went
early to the houſe of peers, and
caufed the journals to be dili-
gently fearched for precedents
of amendments, made by the
lords, to a money-bill. But
few, if any, could be found, at
leaft, fince the reſtoration; from
which time the commons would
never faffer the lords to make
any amendments to bills of that
nature. When the grand com-
mittee was fat, feveral lords
fpoke againſt the preamble in
question, as 'pre-judging mat-
ters of a very high and im-
،
portant
OF
551
ENGLAN D.
with us will give him protection, after having fo publick- 1715-16.
ly invaded our kingdom.
"The dangers, to which the nation was expofed, made
"me determine, that neither the extraordinary rigour of
"the ſeaſon, nor any fallacious propoſal of the rebels,
"fhould divert me from ufing all poffible endeavours towards
putting a ſpeedy and effectual end to this unnatural rebel-
<<
lion.
Gentlemen of the houſe of commons,
“I muſt return you my thanks for the great progreſs
you have made in the fupplies. The neceffary difpofi-
"tions are made for raiſing additional forces. But, as I
(
fhall always confult the eaſe of my people, as far as is
"confiftent with their own fecurity, I fhall not make uſe
"of the confidence you have placed in me, unless the reft-
"lefs malice of our enemies fhould make it neceffary to go
(6 on with thoſe levies.
<<
66
<<
My lords and gentlemen,
"I promiſe myſelf, from the zeal and wisdom of this
parliament, that the future happineſs and tranquillity of
my fubjects will be eftabliſhed on a folid foundation;
"and fuch meaſures taken, as may deprive our enem¡E?
at home of the power (fince that alone can deprive them of
"the inclination) again to attempt the diſturbance of my
government. This therefore is what I think my feif obli-
ged to recommend to you, as a deliberation of the utmoſt
importance to the future fafety, eafe, and profperity of
"my people."
66
From this time to the 9th of April (when the feptennial
bill was brought in) little elfe was done in both houſes, but
prefenting fuch bills as were ready, and voting for the fupplics.
portant nature, the cogni-
gerous conjun&ure, were wil-
zance and determination ofling to give their concurrence
which properly belongs to the
• houſe of peers.'
८
Upon this, an expedient was
propoſed and admitted, that they
hould enter in the journal a
kind of proteſt or declaration,
importing in fubftance That
though the preamble was de-
rogatory to the privileges and
authority of the houfe of
lords; yet their lordships. in
• confideration of the king's and
f nation's fervice, in the dan-
to the bill, without amend-
ments; but that the fame
fhould not be drawn into a
precedent for the time to come,
or conftrued to be any di-
minution of the judicial au-
thority of the houfe of lords.'
The lord chancellor Cowper
and the lord Harcourt were ap-
pointed by the lords to draw up
the protest or declaration, which
was entered in the journal of
the houfe.
In
552
HISTORY
THE
1716.
In the mean time the new commiffion for trying the re-
bels met on the 7th of April, the firſt time at the court of
Trial of the common-pleas. Sir William Thompſon recorder of Lon-
rebels.
Forfter
makes his
eſcape.
don, opened the meeting with a ſpeech to the grand-jury,
by whom bills of high-treafon were found againſt Forfler,
brigadier Mackintosh, and twenty others (i.)
It was on the 14th of April that Forfter was to have
been arraigned, in order to his trial; but on the 10th,
about midnight, he made his eſcape out of Newgate, with
one fervant only. The manner was varioufly reported;
and Mr Pitts, the keeper of Newgate, was not only com-
mitted for it, but was afterwards indicted for high-treafon,
as being wilfully guilty of the efcape, and tried for his life
at the Old-Baily; but was acquitted. There was a pro-
clamation immediately publifhed, offering a reward of a
thousand pounds for the apprehending Mr Forſter; but it
appeared afterwards, that his eſcape was fo concerted, and
all other things prepared, that, as foon as he got out, he
had horſes ready; and riding directly to Lee, near Roch-
ford in Effex, he had a veffel laid ready alſo, which took
him on board, and landed him in France the very fame
day.
However the court fat according to its adjournment, and,
Mr Forſter being abfent, Mr Mackintosh, Mr Gascoigne,
Mr Charles Wogan, and others, being arraigned, pleaded
not guilty; and, upon a motion for time, had three weeks
given them to prepare for their trials; which favour, on the
contrary, fome of them made uſe of to prepare, not for their
trial, but for their eſcape.
(i) William Shaftoe,
Robert Talbot,
Henry Oxburgh,
Charles Wogan,
Thomas Hall,
Richard Gascoigne,
Alex. Menzies.
James Menzies,
John Robertfon,
James Hugh,
Miller,
John Farquarfon,
Farquarfon,
Thomas Douglaſs,
Farquarfon,
Douglafs
Scrimshaw,
Maclean,
Skeen,
Innis.
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