CHAPTER III.

Bill against Atheism and Immorality postponed-Session closed-Alliance between Great Britain, France, and Spain-Plague at Marseilles-Debates in the House of Lords about Mr. Law the Projector-Sentiments of some Lords touching the war with Spain-Petition of the Quakers-The Parliament dissolved-Rumors of a Conspiracy-The Bishop of Rochester is committed to the Tower-New Parliament-Declaration of the Pretender-Report of the Secret Committee-Bill of Pains and Penalties against the Bishop of Rochester-Who is deprived and driven into perpetual Exile-Proceedings against those concerned in the Lottery at Hamburgh-Affairs of the Continent-Clamor in Ireland on Account of Wood's Coinage-Death of the Duke of Orleans—An Act for lessening the Public DebtsPhilip, King of Spain, Abdicates the Throne-Abuses in Chancery-Trial of the Earl of Macclesfield-Debates about the Debts of the Civil List-A Bill in favor of the late Lord Bolingbroke-Treaty of Alliance between the Courts of Vienna and Madrid-Treaty of Hanover-Approved in Parliament—Riots in Scotland on Account of the Malt-Tax-A small Squadron sent to the Baltic-Admiral Hosier's Expedition to the West Indies-Disgrace of the Duke de Ripperda-Substance of the King's Speech to Parliament-Debate in the House of Lords upon the approaching Rupture with the Emperor and Spain-Memorial of Mr. Palms, the Imperial Resident at London-Conventions with Sweden and Hesse-Cassel-Vote of Credit-Siege of Gibraltar by the Spaniards-Preliminaries of Peace-Death and Character of George I. King of Great Britain.

of Wharton, who had rendered himself fa

BILL AGAINST ATHEISM. DURING the infatuation produced by this mous by his wit and profligacy, said he was infamous scheme, luxury, vice, and profli- not insensible of the common opinion of gacy, increased to a shocking degree of ex- the town concerning himself, and gladly travagance. The adventurers, intoxicated seized this opportunity of vindicating his by their imaginary wealth, pampered them- character, by declaring he was far from beselves with the rarest dainties, and the most ing a patron of blasphemy, or an enemy to expensive wines that could be imported: religion. On the other hand, he could not they purchased the most sumptuous furni- but oppose the bill, because he conceived it ture, equipage, and apparel, though with- to be repugnant to the holy scripture. Then out taste or discernment: they indulged pulling an old family bible from his pocket, their criminal passions to the most scanda- he quoted several passages from the epistles lous excess: their discourse was the lan- of St. Peter and St. Paul; concluding with guage of pride, insolence, and the most ri- a desire that the bill might be thrown out. diculous ostentation: they affected to scoff The earl of Peterborough declared, that at religion and morality, and even to set though he was for a parliamentary king, heaven at defiance. The earl of Notting- yet he did not desire to have a parliamentham complained in the house of lords of the ary GOD, or a parliamentary religion; and, growth of atheism, profaneness, and immo- should the house declare for one of this rality; and a bill was brought in for sup- kind, he would go to Rome, and endeavor pressing blasphemy and profaneness. It con- to be chosen a cardinal; for he had rather tained several articles seemingly calculated sit in the conclave than with their lordships to restrain the liberty granted to noncon- upon those terms. After a vehement deformists by the laws of the last session: for bate, the bill was postponed to a long day, that reason it met with violent opposition. by a considerable majority. It was supported by the archbishop of Can- The season was far advanced before the terbury, the earl of Nottingham, lords Ba- supplies were granted: and at length they thurst and Trevor, bishops of London, Win- were not voted with that cheerfulness and chester, and Litchfield and Coventry. One good-humor, which the majority had hitherto of these said, he verily believed the pres- manifested on such occasions. On the sixent calamity occasioned by the South Sea teenth day of June, the king sent a message project was a judgment of GOD on the blas- to the house of commons, importing, that phemy and profaneness of the nation. Lord he had agreed to pay a subsidy to the crown Onslow replied, "That noble peer must then of Sweden, and he hoped they would enable be a great sinner, for he has lost consider- him to make good his engagements. The ably by the South Sea scheme." The duke leaders of the opposition took fire at this in

timation. They desired to know whether | ALLIANCE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN, this subsidy, amounting to seventy-two FRANCE, AND SPAIN. thousand pounds, was to be paid to Sweden LORDS Townshend and Carteret were over and above the expense of maintaining now appointed secretaries of state: and a strong squadron in the Baltic? Lord the earl of Ilay was vested with the office Molesworth observed, that, by our late con- of lord privy-seal of Scotland. In June, duct, we were become the allies of the the treaty of peace between Great Britain whole world, and the bubbles of all our al- and Spain was signed at Madrid. The conlies for we were obliged to pay them well tracting parties engaged to restore mutufor their assistance. He affirmed that the ally all the effects seized and confiscated treaties which had been made with Sweden on both sides. In particular, the king of at different times, were inconsistent and England promised to restore all the ships contradictory: that our late engagements of the Spanish fleet which had been taken with that crown were contrary to the trea- in the Mediterranean, or the value of them, ties subsisting with Denmark, and directly if they were sold. He likewise promised, opposite to the measures formerly concert- in a secret article, that he would no longer ed with the czar of Muscovy. He said, interfere in the affairs of Italy: and the that in order to engage the czar to yield king of Spain made an absolute cession of what he had gained in the course of the Gibraltar and Port-Mahon. At the same war, the king of Prussia ought to give up time, a defensive alliance was concluded Stetin, and the elector of Hanover restore between Great Britain, France, and Spain. Bremen and Verden: that, after all, Eng. All remaining difficulties were referred to land had no business to intermeddle with a congress at Cambray, where they hoped the affairs of the empire: that we reaped to consolidate a general peace, by deterlittle or no advantage by our trade to the mining all differences between the emperor Baltic, but that of procuring naval stores: and his Catholic majesty. In the mean he owned that hemp was a very necessary time, the powers of Great Britain, France, commodity, particularly at this juncture; and Spain, engaged, by virtue of the presbut he insisted, that if due encouragement ent treaty, to grant to the duke of Parma were given to some of our plantations in a particular protection for the preservation America, we might be supplied from thence of his territories and rights, and for the at a much cheaper rate than from Sweden support of his dignity. It was also stipuand Norway. Notwithstanding these ar-lated, that the States-general should be inguments, the Swedish supply was granted: vited to accede to this alliance. The conand, in about three weeks, their complai- gress at Cambray was opened: but the desance was put to another proof. They were mands on both sides were so high, that it given to understand, by a second message, proved ineffectual. In the mean time, the that the debts of the civil list amounted to peace between Russia and Sweden was five hundred and fifty thousand pounds; concluded, on condition that the czar and his majesty hoped they would empower should retain Livonia, Ingria, Estonia, part him to raise that sum upon the revenue, of Carelia, and of the territory of Wyburg, as he proposed it should be replaced in the Riga, Revel, and Nerva, in consideration civil list, and reimbursed by a deduction of his restoring part of Finland, and paying from the salaries and wages of all officers, two millions of rix-dollars to the king of as well as from the pensions and other pay- Sweden. The personal animosity subsistments from the crown. A bill was pre- ing between king George and the czar pared for this purpose, though not without seemed to increase. Bastagif, the Russian warm opposition; and, at the same time, resident at London, having presented a mean act passed for a general pardon. On the morial that contained some unguarded tenth day of August, the king closed the expressions, was ordered to quit the kingsession with a speech, in which he express- dom in a fortnight. The czar published a ed his concern for the sufferings of the in- declaration at Petersburgh, complaining of nocent, and a just indignation against the this outrage, which, he said, ought naguilty, with respect to the South Sea turally to have engaged him to use rescheme. These professions were judged prisals; but, as he perceived it was done necessary to clear his own character, which without any regard to the concerns of Enghad incurred the suspicion of some people, land, and only in favor of the Hanoverian who whispered that he was not altogether interest, he was unwilling that the English free from connexions with the projectors of nation should suffer for a piece of injustice that design; that the emperor had, at his in which they had no share. He, theredesire, refused to deliver up Knight; and fore, granted to them all manner of securithat he favored the directors and their ty, and free liberty to trade in all his doaccomplices. minions. To finish this strange tissue of

GEORGE I. 1714-1727.

PLAGUE AT MARSEILLES.

negotiations, king George concluded a trea- kingdom; who, being immensely rich, ty with the Moors of Afric, against which might do a great deal more hurt here, by tampering with those who were grown desthe Spaniards loudly exclaimed. perate, in consequence of being involved In the course of this year, pope Clement in the calamity occasioned by the fatal inXI. died and the princess of Wales was timation of his pernicious projects. He obdelivered of a prince, baptized by the name served, that this person was the more danof William Augustus, the late duke of gerous, as he had renounced his natural Cumberland. A dreadful plague raging at affection to his country, his allegiance to Marseilles, a proclamation was published, his lawful sovereign, and his religion, by forbidding any person to come into Eng- turning Roman Catholic. Lord Carteret land, from any part of France between the replied, that Mr. Law had, many years ago, Bay of Biscay and Dunkirk, without cer- the misfortune to kill a gentleman in a tificates of health. Other precautions were duel; but, having at last received the bentaken to guard against contagion. An act efit of the king's clemency, and the appeal of parliament had passed in the preceding lodged by the relations of the deceased besession, for the prevention of infection, by ing taken off, he was come over to plead building pest-houses, to which all infected his majesty's pardon. He said there was no persons, and all persons of an infected law to keep an Englishman out of his family, should be conveyed: and, by draw- country; and, as Mr. Law was a subject of ing trenches and lines round any city, town Great Britain, it was not even in the king's The king, in his speech power to hinder him from coming over. or place infected. at opening the session of parliament, on the After some dispute, the subject was dropped, nineteenth day of October, intimated the and this great projector pleaded his pardon pacification of the north, by the conclusion in the king's-bench, according to the usual of the treaty between Muscovy and Swe- form. den. He desired the house of commons to consider means for easing the duties upon THE ministry had by this time secured the imported commodities used in the He ob- such a majority in both houses, as enabled manufactures of the kingdom. served, that the nation might be supplied them to carry any point without the least with naval stores from our own colonies in difficulty. Some chiefs of the opposition North America; and that their being em- they had brought over to their measures, ployed in this useful and advantageous and among the rest lord Harcourt, who was branch of commerce would divert them created a viscount, and gratified with a from setting up manufactures which direct- pension of four thousand pounds. Neverly interfered with those of Great Britain. theless, they could not shut the mouths of He expressed a desire that, with respect to the minority, who still preserved the privithe supplies, his people might reap some lege of complaining. Great debates were immediate benefit from the present circum- occasioned by the navy debt, which was instances of affairs abroad: and he earnestly creased to one million seven hundred thourecommended to their consideration, means sand pounds. Some members in both houses for preventing the plague, particularly affirmed, that such extraordinary expense by providing against the practice of smuggling.

DEBATES IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
ABOUT MR. LAW.

SENTIMENTS OF SOME LORDS TOUCH-
ING THE WAR.

could not be for the immediate service of Great Britain; but, in all probability, for the preservation of foreign acquisitions. The ministers answered, that near twoONE of the first objects that attracted the thirds of the navy debts were contracted in attention of the upper house was the case the late reign; and the parliament acquiof John Law, the famous projector. The esced in this declaration: but in reality, resentment of the people on account of his the navy-debt had been unnecessarily inMississippi scheme had obliged him to leave creased, by keeping seamen in pay during France. He retired to Italy; and was said the winter, and sending fleets to the Medito have visited the pretender at Rome. terranean and Baltic, in order to support From thence he repaired to Hanover; and the interests of Germany. The duke of returned to England from the Baltic, in the Wharton moved that the treaty with Spain fleet commanded by Sir John Norris. The might be laid before the house. The earl king favored him with a private audience: of Sunderland said it contained a secret arhe kept open house, and was visited by ticle which the king of Spain desired great numbers of persons of the first qual- might not be made public, until after the ity. Earl Coningsby represented in the treaty of Cambray should be discussed. house of lords, that he could not but enter-The question was put, and the duke's motain some jealousy of a person who had tion rejected. The earl of Strafford assertdone so much mischief in a neighboring ed, that as the war with Spain had been

undertaken without necessity or just pro-should be grieved and wounded, and the vocation, so the peace was concluded with- enemies of Christianity triumph, when they out any benefit or advantage; that, contra- should see such condescension made by a ry to the law of nations, the Spanish fleet Christian legislature to a set of men who had been attacked without any declaration renounce the divine institutions of Christ; of war; even while a British minister and particularly that by which the faithful are a secretary of state was treating amicably initiated into his religion, and denominated at Madrid: that the war was neither just Christians. The petition, though presented nor politic, since it interrupted one of the by the archbishop of York, was branded by most valuable branches of the English the ministry as a seditious libel, and rejected commerce, at a time when the nation by the majority. Then, upon a motion by groaned under the pressure of heavy debts, the earl of Sunderland, the house resolved, incurred by the former long expensive war. that such lords as might enter protestations He, therefore, moved for an address to his with reasons, should do it before two o'clock majesty, desiring that the instructions giv- on the next sitting day, and sign them before en to Sir George Byng, now lord Torring- the house rises. The supplies being granted, ton, should be laid before the house. This and the business of the session dispatched as motion being likewise, upon the question, the court was pleased to dictate, on the rejected, a protest was entered. They voted seventh day of March the parliament was an address, however, to know in what man- prorogued. In a few days it was dissolved, ner the king had disposed of the ships ta- and another convoked by proclamation (1). ken from the Spaniards. Disputes arose In the election of members for the new paralso from the bill to prevent infection. Earl liament, the ministry exerted itself with Cowper represented, that the removal of such success, as returned a great majority persons to a lazaret, or pest-house, by order in the house of commons, extremely well of the government, and the drawing lines adapted for all the purposes of an adminisand trenches round places infected, were tration (2).

powers unknown to the British constitu- 1722. In the beginning of May, the king tion; inconsistent with the lenity of a free is said to have received from the duke of government; such as could never be wisely Orleans full and certain information of a or usefully put in practice; the more odi- fresh conspiracy formed against his person ous, because copied from the arbitrary gov- and government. A camp was immediately ernment of France; and impracticable ex- formed in Hyde-Park. All military officers cept by military compulsion. These ob- were ordered to repair to their respective noxious clauses were accordingly repealed, commands. Lieutenant-general Macartney though not without great opposition. In- was dispatched to Ireland, to bring over some deed, nothing can be more absurd than a troops from that kingdom. Some suspected constitution that will not admit of just and persons were apprehended in Scotland: the necessary laws and regulations to prevent States of Holland were desired to have their the dire consequences of the worst of all auxiliary or guarantee troops in readiness calamities. Such restrictions, instead of to be embarked; and colonel Churchill was favoring the lenity of a free government, sent to the court of France with a private would be the most cruel imposition that commission. The apprehension raised by could be laid on a free people, as it would this supposed plot affected the public credit. act in diametrical opposition to the great South Sea stock began to fall; and crowds principle of society, which is the preserva- of people called in their money from the tion of the individual. bank. Lord Townshend wrote a letter to

PETITION OF THE QUAKERS. the mayor of London, by the king's comTHE Quakers having presented a petition mand, signifying his majesty's having reto the house of commons, praying that a bill ceived unquestionable advices, that several might be brought in for omitting in their of his subjects had entered into a wicked solemn affirmation the words "In the pres- conspiracy, in concert with traitors abroad, ence of ALMIGHTY GOD," the house com- for raising a rebellion in favor of a popish plied with their request: but the bill gave pretender; but that he was firmly assured rise to a warm debate among the peers. the authors of it neither were nor would be Dr. Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, said he supported by any foreign power. This letdid not know why such a distinguishing ter was immediately answered by an affecmark of indulgence should be allowed to a tionate address from the court of aldermen ; set of people who were hardly Christians. and the example of London was followed by He was supported by the archbishop of York, many other cities and boroughs. The king the earl of Strafford, and lords North and had determined to visit Hanover, and acGrey. A petition was presented against the bill by the London clergy, who expressed a serious concern lest the minds of good men

tually settled a regency, in which the prince of Wales was not included: but now this intended journey was laid aside; the court

DECLARATION OF THE PRETENDER.

was removed to Kensington, and the prince | may be supposed to have dictated on such retired to Richmond. The bishop of Roches- an occasion. A bill was brought into the ter having been seized with his papers, was house of lords, for suspending the habeas examined before a committee of the council, corpus act for a whole year; but they were who committed him to the Tower for high far from being unanimous in agreeing to treason. The earl of Orrery, lords North such an unusual length of time. By this and Grey, and Mr. Cochran, and Mr. Smith, suspension they, in effect, vested the minisfrom Scotland, and Mr. Christopher Layer, try with a dictatorial power over the libera young gentleman of the Temple, were ties of the people. confined in the same place. Mr. George Kelly, an Irish clergyman, Mr. Robert Cot- THE opposition in the house of commons ton of Huntingdonshire, Mr. Bingley, Mr. was so violent, that Mr. Robert Walpole Fleetwood, Neynoe, an Irish priest, and found it necessary to alarm their apprehenseveral persons, were taken into custody; sions by a dreadful story of a design to seize and Mr. Shippen's house was searched. the bank and exchequer, and to proclaim the After bishop Atterbury had remained a fort- pretender on the Royal Exchange. Their night in the Tower, Sir Constantine Phipps passions being inflamed by this ridiculous presented a petition to the court at the Old artifice, they passed the bill, which immeBailey, in the name of Mrs. Morris, that diately received the royal assent. The duke prelate's daughter, praying that, in conside- of Norfolk being brought from Bath, was ration of the bishop's ill state of health, he examined before the council, and committed might be either brought to a speedy trial, to the Tower, on suspicion of high treason. bailed or discharged: but this was overruled. On the sixteenth day of November, the king The churchmen through the whole kingdom sent to the house of peers the original and were filled with indignation at the confine- printed copy of a declaration signed by the ment of a bishop, which they said was an pretender. It was dated at Lucca, on the outrage upon the church of England, and twentieth day of September, in the present the episcopal order. Far from concealing year, and appeared to be a proposal addressed their sentiments on this subject, the clergy to the subjects of Great Britain and Ireland, ventured to offer up public prayers for his as well as to all foreign princes and states. health, in almost all the churches and In this paper, the chevalier de St. George, chapels of London and Westminster. In having mentioned the late violation of the the mean time, the king, attended by the freedom of elections, conspiracies invented prince of Wales, made a summer progress to give a color to new oppressions, infamous through the western counties.

NEW PARLIAMENT.

informers, and the state of proscription in which he supposed every honest man to be, THE new parliament being assembled on very gravely proposed, that if king George the ninth day of October, his majesty made would relinquish to him the throne of Great them acquainted with the nature of the con- Britain, he would, in return, bestow upon spiracy. He said the conspirators had, by him the title of king in his native dominions, their emissaries, made the strongest in- and invite all other states to confirm it: he stances for succors from foreign powers; but likewise promised to leave to king George were disappointed in their expectations. his succession to the British dominions seThat, nevertheless, confiding in their num- cure, whenever, in due course, his natural bers, they had resolved once more, upon right should take place. The lords unanitheir own strength, to attempt the subver- mously resolved, that this declaration was a sion of his government. He said they had false, insolent, and traitorous libel; and provided considerable sums of money, en- ordered it to be burned at the Royal Exgaged great numbers of officers from abroad, change. The commons concurred in these secured large quantities of arms and ammu- resolutions. Both houses joined in an adnition; and, had not the plot been timely dress, expressing their utmost astonishment discovered, the whole nation, and particu- and indignation at the surprising insolence larly the city of London, would have been of the pretender; and assuring his majesty, involved in blood and confusion. He ex- they were determined to support his title to patiated upon the mildness and integrity of the crown with their lives and fortunes. his own government; and inveighed against The commons prepared a bill for raising one the ingratitude, the implacability and mad- hundred thousand pounds upon the real and ness of the disaffected, concluding with an personal estates of all papists, or persons assurance, that he would steadily adhere to educated in the popish religion, towards dethe constitution in church and state, and fraying the expenses occasioned by the late continue to make the laws of the realm the rebellion and disorders. This bill, though rule and measure of all his actions. Such strenuously opposed by some moderate memaddresses were presented by both houses, as bers, as a species of persecution, was sent Che fears, and attachment of the majority up to the house of lords, together with an