signatures at the Hague, that blame belonged solely to himself, and to his scruples in affixing his name to a separate treaty; and finally, he answered for the high honour and undiminished friendship of his two brother Ministers.

*

Stanhope, on his part, convinced by the truth of these remonstrances, acknowledged that he had been misled by unfounded suspicions and suggestions, and had wrongly accused Lord Townshend on the matter of the French treaty. "We must now, however,” added he, “look forward "instead of backward." He declared that he frankly cast off his own doubts, and promised to use his influence with the King to efface the unfavourable impression which His Majesty, like himself, had conceived, from the delay of the signatures. Accordingly, he vindicated Townshend's conduct to the King and to Sunderland, and had already, in a great measure, re-established His Majesty's former good humour and complacency before the arrival of Townshend's own letter of defence. That letter completed the good work; the King, like Stanhope, now candidly acknowledged his mistake, and desired Horace Walpole to convey to Townshend the strongest assurances of his entire satisfaction and confidence in the matter of the signatures. Nor did His Majesty give any hint to Horace Walpole of other causes for displeasure. Stanhope, on his part, warmly expressed to Horace Walpole his feelings of friendship and esteem for the brother Ministers; entrusted him with conciliatory letters to both, and earnestly requested him to lend his good offices for effacing all unpleasant recollections, and establishing a cordial and complete harmony between them. At the same time, however, he frankly warned Horace Walpole that

* The authentic details of what passed between Horace Walpole and Stanhope, are, except one or two scattered hints, only to be gleaned from two letters of the former to the latter, on December 8. and 23. 1716, N. S. Coxe, who has printed these letters, has added some particulars from his own ideas of probability. Where could he find any authority for saying that "Walpole reminded Stanhope that he owed his high situation to "Townshend and his brother," or that "Stanhope expressed a high sense "of his obligations to them?" There is not a word to that effect in any contemporary statement, and the favour thus implied never existed, as I have shown elsewhere.

1716. HORACE WALPOLE RETURNS TO ENGLAND.

255

rumours were abroad of cabals against the King's authority, begun by Townshend and Walpole with some of the Prince's adherents, and more especially with the Duke of Argyle; nor did Stanhope deny his own suspicions that there was some truth in this intelligence.* Nevertheless, Horace Walpole, knowing these rumours to have no foundation in fact, and being naturally of a sanguine, confident temper, did not doubt but that his speedy return to England with the letters of Stanhope, and the declarations of the King, would thoroughly heal the late and hinder future dissensions. cordingly, on the 3d of December, after a stay of only ten days, he again set out for England; but his journey was so much delayed by unforeseen accidents, his missing the yacht over the Maesland Sluys, and afterwards the contrary winds, that he did not arrive in London till the 22d. He then delivered his letters and messages, to the perfect satisfaction, as it seemed, of Townshend and Walpole. But a new storm was already in the air, and scarcely had the first been iulled before it burst.

Ac

In order to explain the causes of this second and decisive Ministerial tempest, it becomes necessary to revert to the King's jealousy and dislike of his son. We have already seen with what extreme reluctance His Majesty, on leaving England, had conferred upon His Royal Highness even the most moderate degree of authority. Every step, every word, from the Prince, were now most suspiciously watched, and most severely scrutinised at Hanover. Causes of displeasure soon arose, partly, it is true, from the Prince's fault, but much more from his necessary circumstances and position. The heir-apparent of a Crown seldom fails to be

* Horace Walpole writes to Stanhope, Dec. 23. 1716: "And as to the 'King's interest.... what has been imputed to Lord Townshend and the "others as a heinous crime, will be found to have been the most glorious "and faithfullest part of their administration, for the service of His Majesty. "I take this liberty with you because you talked in a very free though in a very mistaken manner to me on this subject." (Coxe's Walpole, vol. ii. p. 147.) The important fact of this frank intimation of the suspicions then at work and soon to cause Townshend's downfall, is quite overlooked or suppressed in Coxe's narrative. It would not have been compatible with his charge of treachery against Stanhope.

66

hated by the monarch in proportion as he is loved by the nation; and his only sure road to Court favour lies through unpopularity. Now the Prince, being less cold and reserved in demeanour than his father, and also in some degree acquainted with the English language, was naturally better liked by the multitude: he increased his popularity by a short progress through Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire, and by several acts of grace, such as the dispensing with passports between Dover and Calais*, which were all ascribed to him. Party-spirit, moreover, with its usual unerring instinct, darted upon this vulnerable point for assailing His Majesty's person and government. The Prince's affability of manner, his disposition to unite all parties, his fondness for English customs, were loudly extolled, with the covert insinuation of the King's deficiency in these qualities; and addresses to His Royal Highness were prepared and presented from several counties with the most loyal expressions, but often with the most dangerous designs. This, says Lord Townshend, is the wisest step the Jacobites have yet taken**; but it was, also, eagerly promoted by Lechmere, Hampden, and the other discontented Whigs.

Thus, even if faultless, the Prince would hardly have escaped suspicions and misgivings from Hanover. But his own conduct was besides indiscreet and caballing. He closely connected himself with the Duke of Argyle, paid court to the Tories and to the Whigs in opposition, and showed the utmost eagerness to hold the Parliament in person. "By some things that daily drop from him,” says Walpole "he seems to be preparing to keep up an interest of "his in Parliament, independent of the King's..... We “are here chained to the oar, and working like slaves, and "are looked upon as no other."*** Under such circumstances, and treated, as they were, with coldness by the Prince, the situation of Townshend and Walpole must, no * Tindal's History, vol. vii. p. 33.

** Coxe's Walpole, vol. ii. p. 76.

*** Letters to Stanhope, July 30. and Aug. 9. 1716, O. 8. Coxe's Walpole.

1716.

CABALS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.

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doubt, have been sufficiently irksome. Nor was theirs an easy course to steer. It was incumbent upon them, for the King's service, to counteract the Duke of Argyle's ascendency, and to gain the Prince's confidence and favour, and in this they partly succeeded. But, while striving for that object, they fell into the opposite danger, by arousing against them jealousy and distrust in the mind of the King.

The integrity and honour of Lord Townshend in this, as in every other transaction of his life, were, I believe, without a stain. His prudence, however, in one or two cases, seems to be far more questionable, and he committed errors which his more cautious colleague successfully avoided. He was persuaded by the Prince to write to Stanhope, pressing the King for a speedy decision as to His Majesty's coming over, and plainly disclosing His Royal Highness's desire to hold the Parliament.* Still more impolitic was the recommendation already mentioned in his despatch of the 2d of November, that a discretionary power should be vested in the Prince. That despatch was, in fact, as a modern writer well observes, the death-warrant of Lord Townshend's administration.** It seemed to add weight and confirmation to the charges of Sunderland of cabals with the Duke of Argyle and other discontented Whigs, and of an intention to set the son above the father. The King, however, suppressed his resentment at the moment, partly, I presume, on account of the arrival of Horace Walpole, and the justification of Lord Townshend precisely at that time from another imputation, and partly to obtain time to consult Bothmar and his other secret counsellors in England. The return of the post, about the middle of December, appears to have kindled His Majesty's latent indignation into open flame; and he vehemently declared his intention of dismissing Lord Townshend from his service.

Townshend to Stanhope, Sept. 25. 1716. O. S. Coxe's Walpole. ** Coxe's Walpole, vol. i. p. 102.

Mahor, History. I.

17

Under these circumstances, Stanhope asserts that he first endeavoured to alter the King's resolution, and that, finding His Majesty immovable, he next applied himself to soften His Majesty's resentment, by representing the past services and high character of Lord Townshend, and the injustice of any open disgrace. These remonstrances wrought upon the King so far as to induce him to permit that Lord Townshend should be offered the appointment to another great and important dignity of state, the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland; so that the loss of his office of Secretary might seem an exchange, or nominally even a promotion, instead of a dismissal. Accordingly, Stanhope wrote to Secretary Methuen, and likewise to Townshend, on the 15th of December, conveying that message from His Majesty in the most gracious terms, and without a single word expressive of the Royal indignation. To Robert Walpole he also wrote on the same day more at length: "If I could pos“sibly have an hour's discourse with you, I am sure I should "make you sensible that the part I have had in the last step "hath been for my Lord Townshend's service. Every cir"cumstance considered, I do in my conscience believe this "was the only measure which could secure the continuance “of a Whig administration with any ease to the King. His "Majesty has been more uneasy of late than I care to say; "and I must own I think he has reason, even though I don't "pretend to know so much of the matter as the King does, "His Majesty receiving many advices which come neither "through my hands nor my Lord Sunderland's. But I can"not help observing to you, that he is jealous of certain in"timacies with the two brothers (Argyle and Isla). I hope "His Majesty's presence in England, and the behaviour of our friends in the Cabinet, will remove these jealousies. "No one can contribute more to this than yourself; and I "must tell you that my Lord Sunderland, as well as myself, "have assured the King that you will do so. You know that "ill offices had been done you here, which might have made "some impression, if my Lord Sunderland and I had not in