II. 1741. pofe any treasonable cenfure, nor have re- CHAP. commended what might be authorised by his own practice, an act of attainder, or a bill of pains and penalties. They defire nothing further than that the fecurity of the nation may be restored, and the difcontents of the people pacified, by his removal from that trust which he has so long abused. The difcontent of the people is, in itself, a reason for agreeing to this motion, which no rhetorical vindicator of his conduct will be able to counterbalance; for fince it is neceffary to the prosperity of the government, that the people should believe their interest favoured, and their liberties protected; fince to imagine themselves neglected, and to be neglected in reality, must produce in them the fame fufpicions and the fame distrust, it is the duty of every faithful fubject, whom his ftation qualifies, to offer advice to his Sovereign, to persuade him for the preservation of his own honour, and the affection of his fubjects, to remove from his councils that man whom they have long confidered as the author of pernicious meafures, and a favourer of arbitrary power,' СНАР, III. 1742. Upon a divifion, the motion was negatived by 290 against 106. Parliament was dif folved foon after, New Parliament! CHA P. III. A new Parliament.-Mr. Pitt re-elected.-The Minifler lofes feveral Queftions.-Refigns, and is created Earl of Orford.-Parliament adjourns. -Secret Negotiation with Mr. Pulteney.—That Affair truly fated.-Lord Cobham and his Friends excluded.-The new Arrangements fettled by the Earl of Orford.-Stanzas of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams explained; and the Condition upon which Sir Robert Walpole became Minifter.-Duke of Argyll's expreffion to Mr. Pulteney. The Nation diffatisfied, THE HE minifler having become extremely odious to the nation, by the unpopu larity of his measures; and his influence being confiderably diminished, by the union of several great interests against him; he had neither weight of character, nor extent of command fufficient to fecure a majority in the new Parliament; which was elected in the spring of 1741, СНАР. 1748. re-elected. ter lofes questions. In this Parliament, which met on the 4th of December 1741, Mr. Pitt was re-elected for Old Sarum. The first question which Mr. Pitt the minifter loft was the nomination of chairman of the committee of privileges and elections, Dr. Lee being chofen by a majority of four, against Mr. Earle, who had been The minif supported by himself. After lofing fome feveral questions upon the decifions of the contested elections, he saw there was a confirmed majority against him; and therefore, on the 3d of February 1742, he refigned his employments, and was created Earl of Orford; Reigns, the Parliament being at the fame time ad- ed a Peer journed, by the King's command, to the 18th of the fame month. His friends, notwithstanding his refignation, were very numerous. His personal influence, therefore, added to great experience and addrefs, made him ftill formidable to his opponents, and enabled him to fecure his personal safety, by counteract ing their further designs against him. For this purpose he selected from amongst them fuch as were known to be the most ambitious of power; with these an immediate negotiation was commenced; in the result of which E 4 and creat 1 III. 1742. CHAP. which, his utmost wishes were accomplished. For the oppofition being compofed of various and heterogeneous parties, (whofe intereft were united for the purpose only of his destruction), the first rumour of a partial negotiation gave an alarm to their leaders; and exciting such jealousies and suspicions amongst them, as ended in a general difunion, relieved him from all apprehenfions of danger or inconvenience from their future exertions. First pri vate meet Pulteney's The negotiation was opened by a message ing at Mr. from the Duke of Newcastle, requefting to fee Mr. Pulteney privately, at the house of Mr. Stone, his Grace's fecretary. Mr Pulteney declined this invitation, but confented to receive the Duke at his own houfe, if Lord Carteret, afterwards Lord Granville, were allowed to be prefent at the conference. The condition was accepted, and the interview, in which the Duke was accom panied by Lord Hardwicke, took place the fame evening. His Grace began with informing him, that he was fent by the King with an offer to place him at the head of the Treasury. Mr. Pulteney refifted the tempta tion for himself; but equally, or perhaps better, III. 1742 better, answered the purpose of Sir Robert CHAP. Walpole, by propofing his friend Lord Carteret for the office. Though the conference ended without any positive determination; yet the treaty was neceffarily kept open, by the undecided propofal of Mr. Pulteney. But intelligence of this confer ence, and a thousand conjectures concerning the object of it, were industriously circulated through the town; and produced all the effects, both on public opinion, and on the spirits of the gentlemen in oppofition, which the most fanguine friends and partizans of Sir Robert Walpole could have wifhed. Second private Mr. Pul A fecond meeting of the fame parties, a few days afterwards, at the fame place of meeting at rendezvous, opened the eyes of the most teney's. incredulous among the members of the oppofition, and completed the diffolution of an affociation of interefts, which a more immaculate minister than Sir Robert Walpole might have dreaded. Difference A coolness having long fubfifted between the Lords Carteret and Cobham, the felection between of the former for those private conferences (which Lord Car teret and ! Lord Cob ham. |