CHAPTER IV. POLITICAL ACTIVITY. Harley and St. John-Fondness of Swift for Harley-His character of St. John-Distrust of that statesman-Difficulties of the Tory ministry-Swift's writings in The Examiner-His condemnation of the Whig party and their leaders-Eulogy of the Tory ministers-Swift's invectives against Wharton-General policy of the Tories-Estrangement between Swift and his old friends, Addison and Steele-Vexation of Swift thereat-Close intimacy of Swift with Harley and St. John-A quarrel with Harley-A quarrel with St. John-The "Journal to Stella," a record of events -The Tory leaders willing to retain the Duke of Marlborough -But resolved on the duchess's expulsion from court-Swift's attacks on the duke-Avarice of the latter-The ministry resolve to open negotiations for peace with France-Gaultier's missionThe war attacked in The Examiner-Guiscard's attempt to murder Harley-Consequent popularity of Harley-Anxiety of Swift on his account--Prior's mission to France-Swift's burlesque account thereof-The preliminaries of peace signed-Opposition to it of the Whigs-They are joined by Nottingham-The peace condemned in the House of Lords-Alarm of the ministrySwift's "Conduct of the Allies "-His ballad on Lord Nottingham -His "Windsor Prophecy"-Punishment of Marlborough-The "Fable of Midas”—Pamphlet warfare-The Stamp Act-Swift as a patron-Hesitation of the ministry to promote him-Is made Dean of St. Patrick's-Peace signed-Swift's quarrel with Steele -His departure for Ireland. OF the new ministers, those with whom Swift was most brought into contact were Harley and St. John. Few statesmen have had a finer monument than that erected to Harley by Alexander Pope in the well-known lines. beginning: 66 "A soul supreme in each hard instance tried, Pope's admiration was, if anything, surpassed by that of Swift. In his "Inquiry into the Behaviour of the Queen's Last Ministry," the latter describes Harley as a person of as much virtue as can possibly consist with the love of power; and his love of power is no greater than what is common to men of his superior capacities; neither did any man ever appear to value it less after he had obtained it, or exert it with more moderation. He is the only instance that ever fell within my memory or observation of a person passing from a private life, through the several stages of greatness, without any perceivable impression upon his temper or behaviour." And in a confidential letter to Archbishop King he writes of him as "much the greatest minister I ever knew: regular in life, with a true sense of religion, an excellent scholar, and a good divine; of a very mild and affable disposition, intrepid in his notions, and indefatigable in business, an utter despiser of money for himself, yet frugal, perhaps to an extremity, for the public." The "Journal to Stella," the good faith of which is above suspicion, is crowded with passages referring to Harley in terms of the most reverential affection. It must be confessed that there was little in Harley's character or achievements to warrant such extravagant laudations. Robert Harley is one of many instances which prove that success in English politics is far more easily ob- : tained by mediocre abilities, coupled with a conventional type of character, than by original talent or transcendent energy. He was not a great orator; he was incapable of rapid and clear decision; he could lay no claim to constructive statesmanship. Yet as speaker of three parliaments, at a time when the speaker was far more of a partisan than now, he had made no enemies. Devoid of personal animosity he was well fitted, as chief minister, to reconcile the discordant interests which occasionally arise in every cabinet. When once convinced of the right political method he followed it up with extraordinary pertinacity. He had great presence of mind, and his calm bearing in moments of personal danger extorted the admiration of the severest critics. A good husband and father, and a sincere Christian in morals and religion, he enjoyed the thorough confidence of that great middle class, which though, at that time, unable to take much direct part in politics, could yet make its opinion felt with powerful effect whenever necessary. He loved the society of men of letters, who repaid his patronage by many a panegyric. We are told that he drank largely of claret-a practice which, while it dulled his brain, increased the natural geniality of his bearing; and few of his associates, especially if of lower rank than himself, were able to resist the charm of his familiar intercourse. It would have been impossible to find a greater contrast to Harley than his brilliant young colleague, Henry St. John, better known by his title of Lord Bolingbroke. The character drawn of the latter by Swift is so excellent in style that it may be reproduced entire. "It happens to very few men, in any age or country, to come into the world with so many advantages of nature and fortune as the late Secretary Bolingbroke: descended from the best families in England, heir to a great patrimonial estate, of a sound constitution, and a most graceful, amiable person: but all these, had they been of equal value, were infinitely inferior in degree to the accomplishments of his mind, which was adorned with the choicest gifts that God has yet thought fit to bestow upon the children of men; a strong memory, a clear judgment, a vast range of wit and fancy, a thorough comprehension, an invincible eloquence, with a most agreeable elocution. He had well cultivated all these talents by travel and study, the latter of which he seldom omitted even in the midst of his pleasures, of which he had indeed been too great and criminal a pursuer; for although he was persuaded to leave off intemperance in wine, which he did for some time to such a degree that he seemed rather abstemious, yet he was said to allow himself other liberties, which can by no means be reconciled to religion or morals, whereof I have reason to believe he began to be sensible. But he was fond of mixing pleasure and business, and of being esteemed excellent at both; upon which account he had a great respect for the characters of Alcibiades and Petronius, especially the latter, whom he would be gladly thought to resemble. His detractors charged him with some degree of affectation, and perhaps not altogether without grounds; since it was hardly possible for a young man, with half the business of the nation upon him and the applause of the whole, to escape some tincture of that infirmity. He had been early bred to business, was a most artful negotiator, and perfectly understood foreign affairs. But what I have often wondered at in a man of his temper was his prodigious application whenever he thought it necessary; for he would plod whole days and nights like the lowest clerk in an office. His talent of speaking in public, for which he was so very celebrated, I know nothing of except from the informations of others; but understanding men of both parties have assured me that, in this point, in their memory and judgment, he was never equalled." It would be impossible to more finely appreciate St. John's abilities than is done in the above. But Swift's was a suspicious nature, and he never extended to St. John the love and confidence he reposed in Harley. In the "Journal to Stella" he describes the former as "the greatest young man" he ever met. He praises his ability, but he notes the secretary's affected air of overwork; and he comments unfavourably on his attempt to mix the man of business and the man of pleasure. "What truth and sincerity he may have," Swift concludes, "I know not." Swift's judgment on the two leading statesmen is thus somewhat conventional. Brilliance is not necessarily associated with perfidy. St. John, it is true, was inclined to look on the world as a great stage, on which he was playing a prominent and dashing part. But there has ever been a want of the picturesque in English politics, and an unprejudiced reader will feel real gratitude to the statesman who endeavoured to supply it. The Tory ministry possessed a large majority in the House of Commons. It was in high favour at court; and it had a definite political aim in the attainment of peace. The ministerial party however was far from harmonious. Harley, a man of moderate views, had no sympathy with party feeling and wished to establish his government on a wide basis of general support. The leading financiers, moreover, were Whigs to a man, and the need of heavy loans to carry on the service of the year rendered conciliation absolutely necessary. Such a course did not please the extreme Tories, who clamoured for revenge. They were known as the October Club, from the October |