ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION. BOTH the former impressions of this Work being now out of print, the Author feels great satisfaction in presenting the present Edition to the Public. It is augmented with a few additional Letters; and a selection of the most interesting parts of the Correspondence and Documents annexed to the quarto Edition. In other respects the references to the Collection of Papers are retained in this impression, because the authenticity of the Work depends principally on their authority. IT is unnecessary to offer an apology for submitting to the Public, Memoirs of Sir ROBERT WALPOLE, which embrace a period so important in the annals of this country. It will be sufficient to explain the motives which induced me to undertake this Work; to announce the plan; to state the authorities from which the materials are derived; and to acknowledge obligations. Nine years have elapsed since I undertook to write The Historical and Political State of Europe; the plan of which was printed, and submitted to the public. In the prosecution of that work I obtained access to various collections of original papers, particularly those of the earls of Hardwicke, Harrington, and Peterborough, and of Sir Benjamin Keene. It was in such forwardness, that the histories of Spain, Portugal, Austria, the German constitution, Russia, and part of Prussia and Sweden, were already prepared for the press; I had also VOL. I. b sketched the histories of the Italian States, Holland, and France, and several maps were finished. Finding it impossible to obtain in England sufficient information respecting foreign countries, I visited Germany in 1794, with a view to obtain an accurate knowledge of recent events. On my return, I went to Wolterton, for the purpose of inspecting the papers of Horatio lord Walpole, father of the present lord Walpole, whose interesting correspondence during his embassies in France and Holland, were of the utmost importance to my undertaking. I employed several months in perusing and arranging these papers. In the course of this occupation, I traced motives of action unknown to historians, which placed in a new light the foreign and domestic transactions of the cabinet. I also derived, from the conversation of lord and lady Walpole, many facts and anecdotes which elucidated the events adverted to in the papers. The progress of the French revolution, and the uncertain position of Europe compelled me, notwithstanding the expense and loss of time and labour, to suspend my original design, and to defer the completion of The historical and political State, till the return of more quiet and favourable times. With the sanction of lord Walpole, I proposed, therefore, to give to the public a selection of his father's papers. In the course of this undertaking, I met with several letters and papers of Sir Robert Walpole, which made me soli citous to obtain farther information concerning his character and administration. On my arrival in London, I had frequent conversations with the late earl of Orford, who related many anecdotes of his father, which led to further inquiries. It now insensibly became a part of my plan, to blend in the narrative as many particulars relating to Sir Robert Walpole as could be authenticated, and to insert, in the correspondence, as many of his letters as I could obtain. This design was promoted by the kindness of lord Orford, who imparted to me all his father's papers which remained in his possession, and permitted me to use them at my discretion, without the smallest control. The connection and friendship which for a long period had subsisted between Sir Robert Walpole and his brother-in-law Charles viscount Townshend, naturally suggested that the Townshend papers must afford considerable informa tion. The acquisition of these important documents led to the discovery and communication of others, particularly in the Hardwicke, Grantham, Waldegrave, and Poyntz collections. With these sources of information the work gradually expanded, and Sir Robert Walpole from being a secondary, became the principal object. I therefore interrupted the impression of lord Walpole's correspondence, and postponed that publication. I determined to give to the world-The MEMOIRS of the LIFE and |