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BOOK IV any reply, signified that their orders were to re1700. turn the bill, and leave it with their lordships.

This threw the house into a flame: many of the peers seemed determined to reject the bill and risque the consequences. On the question whether the house should adhere to their amendments, the contents were 43, non-contents 53; and the bill finally passed, with the sullen acquiescence of the court, by a majority of 59 to 34 voices, accompanied by a strong and indignant protest.

The leaders of the house of commons, conceiving the opposition of the lords to derive its chief weight from the chancellor, moved by way of intimidation an address to his majesty for the removal of John lord Somers from his presence and councils for ever. This was carried in the negative by a great majority. But a resolution still more obnoxious passed the house at the same time, to address the king, that no person who was not a native of his dominions, the prince of Denmark excepted, be admitted to his majesty's councils in England or Ireland. But before this address could be presented, the king came to the house of peers April the 11th, 1700; and, after passing the bills in readiness, commanded the earl of Bridgewater, in the absence of the chancellor, who was indisposed, to prorogue the parliament, which was accordingly done without a speech

his majesty thinking there was no room for the BOOK IV. usual expressions of satisfaction or gratitude; 1700. and not choosing to give any public proof of discontent or resentment*.

In his private dispatches to lord Galway, written shortly after the rising of parliament, the king says: "You may judge what vexation all their extraordinary proceedings gave me and I assure you, your being deprived of what I gave you with so much pleasure, is not the least of my griefs.There have been so many intrigues in this last session, that, without having been on the spot and well informed of every thing, it cannot be conceived. I never had more occasion than

* The celebrated Prior, at this time under secretary of state to lord Jersey, in a letter to the earl of Manchester, dated February the 12th, 1700, says, "To-morrow is the great day, when we expect that my lord chancellor will be fallen upon; though God knows what crime he is guilty of, but that of being a very great man, and a wise and upright judge." In a subsequent letter, dated April the 10th, he says, "GOD knows how this business will turn, or where this violence of the house of commons will end.Our friend"—meaning Mr. Montague-" has said nothing of late in the house of commous. My lord chancellor is very sick.-This is the abregé of our case." April the 11th-" You see what they would have done to my lord chancellor, and how duke Schomberg and lord Portland suffer in their address that strangers should not be privy counsellors.-Upon the main, we have life for six months longer, et alors comme alors.-COLE'S State Papers.

BOOK IV. at present for persons of your capacity and fidelity. I hope I shall find opportunities to give you marks of my esteem and friendship."

1700

Dismission of lord Somers.

Affairs of

The king, being now fully resolved at any rate to affect an accommodation with the tories, informed lord Somers on his first appearance at court after recovering from his indisposition, that it seemed necessary for his service that he should part with the great seal; and he wished he would make it his own act. But this the lord chancellor with great dignity refused-since in his circumstances, he said, a resignation must be supposed to. indicate fear or guilt. An order was therefore formally sent to him by lord Jersey, and the great seal delivered up April 17, 1700. The chief justice Holt and the attorney-general Trevor both declining the acceptance of it, sir Nathan Wright, a man in no respect equal to that exalted station, and much less to the illustrious personage whom he succeeded, was appointed lord keeper. The dismission of lord Somers was immediately followed by the resignation of the duke of Shrewsbury, the last of the great whig ministers. The earl of Jersey took the key of chamberlain, and Mr. Vernon officiated pro tempore as secretary of state for both departments.

The spirit of national resentment and animoScotland. sity in Scotland seemed still to rage with unabated, or rather with increasing, violence. In the month of December, 1699, the council general

of the company wrote to lord Seafield,

that BOOK IV,

they had prevailed on lord Basil Hamilton to go 1700. up to London with an address to his majesty in behalf of those men who were confined at Carthagena; and they requested that the secretary would introduce lord Basil to the king, and assist in obtaining a gracious answer." Lord Seafield replied, "that his majesty did not refuse the petition, but could not allow lord Basil to be the presenter of it-that nobleman not having yet owned his majesty's government." In a short time official notice was given to the privy council of Scotland, "that his majesty, though he had refused access to lord Basil Hamilton, was resolved to demand the releasement of the prisoners at Carthagena from the Spanish court. And that it was his majesty's intention to advance the trade. of Scotland, and to allow the subjects of that. kingdom the same liberty of commerce that others enjoyed with the English plantations." The di-, rectors of the company wrote a second letter to lord Seafield," expressing their deep regret that lord Basil should be refused access to the kinghe being perfectly versed in the state of their affairs, and provided with ample instructions concerning them-adding, that they never heard his lordship had done any thing inconsistent with the duty of a loyal and peaceable subject." The king, however, persisted in his resolution not to

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BOOK IV admit lord Basil into his presence; and his lord1700. ship shewed equal perseverance in the prosecu

tion of his suit. On his actually offering a memorial to his majesty on passing to the councilchamber, and attempting to address him on the subject, the king, with some marks of irritation and resentment, repressed his importunity. Upon which lord Basil with a resolute air and tone of voice exclaimed, "I have a right to be heard," and I will be heard!" The king, turning to the nobles around him, said, "This young man is too bold, if any man can be too bold in the cause of his country."

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In the month of March 1700, the marquis of Tweeddale presented an address in the name of the Scottish nation, signed by an innumerable multitude, petitioning and almost insisting upon "a speedy session of parliament, in order that the Indian and African company of Scotland might be enabled to prosecute their undertaking with greater assurance and better success than they had hitherto been able to do." In answer to which, the king engaged that the session should not be postponed beyond the month of Session of May. And on the 21st of that month, the parliament was accordingly opened by the duke of Queensberry, lord high commissioner, with a most gracious letter from his majesty, asserting his royal intention to have held the session in person,

Parliament,

May 21. 1700.

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