"but His Majesty by giving a few places at Court "to some of the most considerable, and by mak"ing others Lord Lieutenants of counties, and by

some other marks of his royal favor taking off "the heads and leaders of them, might draw the "teeth of all the rest, and they could never more "unite in opposition to his government. His Ma"jesty by these means might abolish all distinction "of parties, and would enjoy a peaceable and glorious reign ever after.

"These things the honorable Gentleman in"larged and insisted upon at several audiences; "and he was determined not to go up into the "House of Lords, till he could prevail at least in ❝ some instances. That there were not more such "instances the Opposition must thank themselves; "for indeed they had used him most hardly, had

not only teased and worried him with their pri"vate jealousies and suspicions, but had slander"ed and reviled him in the most public and out

rageous manner. It is no wonder therefore, "after so many provocations, if he grew more in"different to the party in general, and labored "principally to serve some particular men, for "whom he had more personal regard, and who "had more personal regard for him. Lord Gower " and Lord Bathurst he considered as men of very

great figure and interest in their respective "counties; but it was with the utmost difficulty

"that

"that he could carry his point for them and a few "others of his friends. Lord Hervey stuck like

a burr, and there was no brushing him off. "Lord Hervey, in his younger days, had a very

scanty allowance from his father, but being a "youth of promising parts, he was in good mea(( sure supported by Mr, Pulteney, was long en"tertained in his house, and cherished in his bosom, till like a serpent he stung him, wrote against him, and challenged and fought with him, but was vanquished at both weapons, the

pen as well as the sword, by the one made the "general object of ridicule, by the other wounded "and disabled in the sword arm. He was such a "wicked engin at Court, that it was an arduous "task to get him removed and other changes "made in favor of Lord Gower and Lord Ba"thurst. The honorable Gentleman was forced "to struggle hard, and to gain ground as we may

66

say by inches. He was determined however "not to accept of a peerage, till he had succeeded "in these instances at least; and they all kissed "hands together.

"His heart was also set upon promoting and "carrying as far as lay in his power those popular "laws, for which he contended when he was at the "head of the Opposition, and which the nation in

a manner demanded and expected. One of these popular laws was the Place Bill, by which

66 were excluded from the House of Commons the 6.6 seven commissioners of the revenue in Ireland, "the seven commissioners of the navy and victualling offices, the clerks of the treasury, exchequer, admiralty, &c. &c. in all above two hun"dred officers and placemen of different kinds. If more had been attempted, the whole would have "miscarried but this was more than the people "had ever gained before at any one time, or by "C any one law of the same nature. Another of his "popular laws was leveled against bribery in "elections, and subjects every offender in this "kind to a penalty of 500l.; and this law he "himself enforced in the first instance by a prose"cution for bribery at the Heddon election, and "there have been other instances since of the like

exemplary punishment. Amongst other popu"lar laws one was much insisted upon for the better regulation of elections, as several notorious "abuses had been committed by returning officers "and others at the late general elections. A bill "for this purpose was brought into the House of "Commons, and he supported it with all his elo

quence; but it was found to be of too compli"cated a nature, and the rights of election were

so various, that they could not all be comprised "and adjusted in one bill, and therefore it was "laid aside for that time. The next session it

"bills, one for Scotland, another for the cities " and boroughs in England, and a third for the "counties. That for Scotland was passed into 66 a law. The other for the cities and boroughs " in England passed the House of Commons, but was thrown out by the House of Lords. He 66 supported it in the House of Lords, as he had "done before in the House of Commons; "but he could not command a majority, and he "complained upon this, as he had done upon "other occasions, that the government would "not do popular things, and then wondered that

they were unpopular. No man was ever a "truer friend to the British Constitution, or "wished more ardently than he, that those de"ficiencies, which were left in at the Revolution," " were supplied, and that it was carried to the ut"most perfection, which any human system is "capable of receiving. And it was extremely

unjust, that he should be censured by one side

as if he had power to do every thing, and at "the same time not be suffered by the other "to do even those popular things, which had "been particularly stipulated and agreed between "them. If he had bargained for himself, it "would have beeen another thing; but his bargains were all for the public, for the honor of "the King, and for the benefit of the Kingdom. "He took nothing for himself, but what was pressed

VOL. II.

F

upón

66 were excluded from the House of Commons the 66 seven commissioners of the revenue in Ireland, "the seven commissioners of the navy and victu

:

alling offices, the clerks of the treasury, exchequer, admiralty, &c. &c. in all above two hun"dred officers and placemen of different kinds. If "more had been attempted, the whole would have "miscarried but this was more than the people "had ever gained before at any one time, or by "C any one law of the same nature. Another of his "popular laws was leveled against bribery in "elections, and subjects every offender in this "kind to a penalty of 500l.; and this law he "himself enforced in the first instance by a prose"cution for bribery at the Heddon election, and "there have been other instances since of the like

exemplary punishment. Amongst other popu"lar laws one was much insisted upon for the bet

ter regulation of elections, as several notorious "abuses had been committed by returning officers "and others at the late general elections. A bill "for this purpose was brought into the House of "Commons, and he supported it with all his eloquence; but it was found to be of too compli"cated a nature, and the rights of election were so various, that they could not all be comprised "and adjusted in one bill, and therefore it was "laid aside for that time. The next session it