sels of Lord

land.

determined what measures to take, or whether to BOOK IV. call a new parliament-fearing, that if he should 1701. quit those he now employs, and that the others should not be able to serve him, he should be left without resource. The tories, he says, make him great promises, and advise an Act of Grace as a means of reconciling matters. Lord Sunder- WiseCounland's reply is very remarkable-sufficiently indi- Sundercating by what imperious powers of persuasion he had acquired so absolute an ascendency over the minds of all with whom he was connected. He exhorts the king in the most decisive terms to discard his tory ministers, who he affirms “ grow more hated every day, and more exposed." He ridicules the argument, or apprehension, that in case the change fails of success he shall be left without resource. This," he tells the king, "is only to say, Continue in the hands of your enemies-for, if they do not save you, you may return to your friends, who will. At the worst and in the last resort, he can but throw himself into the hands of the tories, and give up the whole power to them. He expresses his surprise, that, after thirteen years' experience, the king will not judge of things aright; and that he should suffer himself to be wheedled by a party, of which in his whole reign he could never yet gain any one man. He advises the king to consult with lord Somers, who is the life, the

1701.

BOOK IV. Soul, and the spirit of his party-who can ANSWER for it-unlike the present ministers, who have no credit with theirs, any farther than they can persuade the king to consent to his own undoing."

The eagerness with which the leaders of the whig party sought the opinion of lord Sunderland, and the confidence with which they relied upon his judgment in this critical conjuncture, are indeed extraordinary. Instead of being the most deceitful and treacherous of mankind, it might well be supposed he had ever maintained a character the most honorable and consistent. Lord Somers, in a letter to Sunderland, dated September 20, desires in a tone of the most submissive deference" to be freely reproved "to when he is wrong, as well as plainly instructed:" and he positively declares, that he never will be concerned, more or less, in any thing relating to the public, but in concurrence with and under the direction of this nobleman-he affirms that, in the present circumstances, there is but one man living who can determine the king to take vigorous measures. This, he says, is as certain as any thing in nature; so that whatever is attempted, unless that person docs actually take a part, will infallibly prove insignificant." The admirable political sagacity of Sunderland enabled him nevertheless to discern, that his taking

an active and leading part in the new adminis- BOOK IV. tration would only weaken its reputation and in- 1701. fluence. His caution seems even to verge upon timidity. Writing some weeks subsequent to this period, to lord Galway, (December 1701), he earnestly desires his friends "not to think of him, but to act as if he was not in the world. If he were worth having, there is," as he declares, "no way but to forget him, as he mentioned from the beginning. While he is to be stared upon he cannot engage-the king has a plain way to follow, and cannot fail if he pleases. When his affairs are put into some order, he acknowledges that he may perhaps be of some use. As soon as that is, he will desire to be sent for as much as he now desires to be forgot*."

gain their

dency and

Conformably to the advice of lord Sunderland Whigs re the king wrote from Loo (October 10), to lord Ascen Somers, desiring him to state his sentiments with- Popularity out reserve, relative to the present situation of affairs. Lord Somers in reply, urged upon the king by arguments of very great weight, the propriety and necessity in the present crisis, of having recourse to the whigs, and of dissolving the present tory parliament. He declares "the general disposition of the nation to be favourable to such a change; he remarks that the art of governing

* Hardwicke State Papers.

BOOK IV. in England consists in watching and using such 1701. opportunities which cannot be expected to last

that by not availing himself of the present advantage the zealous will be disobliged, and the ill-meaning encouraged; and that in effect no hazard will be incurred by a new election, for let the majority fall as it will, the present temper of the nation will force the new parliament to do what the king will desire.

"To trust the existing parliament is to put the fate of Europe in their hands.-The majority is composed of tories and jacobites. Will the king trust to such a majority to make effectual provisions against France and the prince of Wales? Can the king believe that the tories will separate themselves from the jacobites, and thereby lose their consideration as a party? Will the king gó upon an uncertainty when he need not? A new parliament may disavow the unjust and violent proceedings of the last session, which this cannot, who, being engaged in a point of privilege, must defend what they have done. Even if their will was secure, their power is not more to be depended on now than last year, when as they alleged they could not govern their own party as to these violences."

From the influence and operation of successive events, matters were now mature for a complete change, as the first step to which, agreeably to

this wise and well weighed counsel, a dissolution BOOK IV. of parliament was determined upon. A procla- 1701. mation for that purpose was issued on the 11th November, and a new parliament summoned to meet on the 30th December 1701-previous to which great alterations took place in the administration. Lord Godolphin was superseded by the earl of Carlisle. The earl of Manchester was made secretary of state, in the room of sir Charles Hedges; the earl of Pembroke constituted lord high admiral, the duke of Somerset appointed president of the council, and the earl of Rochester recalled from his government of Ireland. The king pressing, as it is said, the great seal on the acceptance of lord Somers, and that nobleman hesitating, in the apprehension of a new relapse in favor of the tories; the king exclaimed with passionate emphasis, "Never, never,

never!"

Parliament.

The parliament met on the day prefixed; and Session of the first trial of strength between the two parties was on the choice of a speaker, which was carried in favor of Mr. Harley, in opposition to sir Thomas Lyttleton, by a majority of four voices only, the numbers being 216 to 212. The king's speech was most happily adapted to the temper and feelings of the nation. It recommended, in very animated and energetic language, unanimity in the prosecution of the most vigorous and de