CHAPTER XII. BISHOP ATTERBURY'S PLOT. The Pretender writes to Lord Cadogan-The Bishop to Lord Mar, respecting the Whig Government - Dismissal of Lord Townsend-Trial of Lord Oxford-Bishop Atterbury describes to Lord Mar the State of Parties-Duke of Ormonde sent by James to Russia-Atterbury writes a Secret Letter to General Dillon-Marriage of the Pretender with the Princess Clementina Sobieski-Another treasonable Communication from the Bishop-Cardinal Alberoni and Spain-Bishop Atterbury to James III. and General Dillon on the State of the Jacobite Cause-Mismanagement of the Leaders-Atterbury desired to take the Direction-Correspondence between Pope and AtterburyFatal Illness of Mrs. Atterbury-Publications against the Parliament and Hanoverian Succession-Atterbury to Lord Oxford-His Liberality to Dr. Fiddes-Walpole's Proposals to Atterbury rejected-Death of Marlborough-Letters of Pope and Atterbury. As "James III." was stigmatised as "the Pretender by the Government, the Jacobites mentioned George I. only as "the Duke of Hanover," or in their secret communications designate him as "Herne." He is so named in the Bishop's letters. It may be observed that details of the Court figure in his expositions as prominently as political intelligence. He was as well informed as to what was going on in the Palace as he was respecting the proceedings of KELLY THE NONJUROR. 347 the principal Ministers. In the next communication there is a reference to Lord Cadogan, to whom James had addressed a secret letter, which his lordship thought proper to make public. It is evident that the Bishop was not considered sufficiently active as a correspondent, his counsel being required about the marriage (Marsfield) and the Cardinal's hat "the cap;" but his explanation ought to have been deemed satisfactory. The notice the writer gives of the Nonjuring clergyman "Johnson" (Kelly) is not without interest. BISHOP ATTERBURY TO THE DUKE OF MAR. June 15, 1718.. Sir, I ask your pardon for my dilatoriness in writing, but my sense of things (such as it was) being always frankly and immediately given to Mr. Morpeth, who constantly corresponded with you, I thought my repeating it under my own hand might well be spared, particularly in relation to Marsfield and the cap, in both which cases I declare my sense of things to agree entirely with yours, and doubt not but you received early notice of it. I have also waited for Mr. Johnson's* going a good while, intending always to make use of that opportunity; and he is but this moment parting from us. My fault is universal in this respect. I do not remember since his being here last that I have written a syllable to anybody out of England.† I know not why he stayed so long, for it was not at my instance; but I must do him the justice to say that in the little conversation I have had with him (and it has been in all this time but very little) I have observed him to behave with a good deal of reserve and prudence, more than I think usually belongs to his age and degrees of experience. He has been far from meddling here, or venturing to enter with me into matters foreign to what I apprehend to have been the design of sending him. If he *Kelly. This is clear evidence that his communications had not been so frequent as was subsequently alleged. mistook my thoughts upon a certain occasion (as he must have mistaken them under that construction which is put upon his words), I will take effectual care that he shall mistake them no more, and perhaps I am not likely to see him here again on the like occasion. My distance from you, and my natural indisposition towards correspondence of this kind* (especially at a juncture when so many and such malicious eyes are upon me), have made me seem wanting in the expressions of my respect, but my heart has never wanted nor shall ever want it, nor shall anybody outgo me in a real and disinterested regard for your character and eminent services. I have been desirous to know what expectations Petert might have from any of Herne's servants, because I thought if any light of that kind could be gained I might possibly find a way to make a right use of it; but M.‡ has told me, from too good authority, that there are no particular reasons to expect any good from that quarter. I had other hopes when I heard it affirmed to me by a person of consequence that you, sir, had written to Cadogan, and that he had seen the letter; for though he told me at the same time that Cadogan had showed it to George, I was not much shocked with that account, because whatever disposition he was in yet thus he would probably have acted but since what M. has related to me, my hopes of this kind have little or no ground to stand upon; and therefore our business must be when Perry § comes to make that a matter of necessity to them, which they will not it seems make a matter of choice. And I believe the present ill situation and worse prospect of affairs, together with a junction of certain interests that may be made, will probably facilitate this event. It might be so I am sure, were we who wish it as wise and as united as we ought to be. The only danger is lest matters by such a junction should be pushed too far and too hastily so as not to leave them room to run in; for should they be utterly overrun and make room again for Townshend and his people, or any other set of men whatsoever, our condition would be much worse than it is even at present. But these are thoughts of some distance. God grant that our deliverance may not be so far off! : *This is noteworthy. + James. Hon. James Murray. We have been revived within some few days with a glimpse of hope from France. Two or three expresses from thence have given the Court great uneasiness, so as to dispatch Lord Stanhope by post yesterday morning; but of this you will hear other ways sooner than my letter can reach you; and referring you, therefore, to what I have further to say in the enclosed paper, I forbear to add more, but my resolution ever to be, sir, your most obedient and faithful servant, &c. This is endorsed by Paterson "Mr. Rigg to Lord Mar, June 15, 1718." Received at Urbino, August 20th.* Walpole had taken an active share in forwarding the repressive measures of the Whigs, nevertheless when Lord Townshend was dismissed from his employment as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in April, 1717, he resigned with the Duke of Devonshire, Pulteney, and Methuen. This is said to have been an intrigue of Sunderland and Stanhope, who followed the King to Hanover, and prejudiced His Majesty's easily prejudiced mind against his able and useful ministers Townshend and Walpole. As a matter of course the ill-used statesmen went into Opposition. Their being out of office was taken advantage of by the friends of Lord Oxford to bring his case forward. He was brought to trial on the 1st of July, and the Commons not appearing to press the charges against him, he was acquitted, and resumed his place in the House of Peers on the 3rd. The following despatch is remarkable for its exposure of the state of political parties in England. It particularly refers to a section of the Opposition that *Stuart Papers. 350 STATE OF THE FUNds. had gone over to the Government, contemptuously designated "the Herne Tories." The condition of the Court and the administration is depicted with singular force and fidelity. BISHOP ATTERBURY TO THE DUKE OF MAR. Since Morpeth's departure from hence it may perhaps be proper to give some account of the present state of affairs, and to add some reflections upon it, which may be made use of as those to whom they are sent may see occasion. The open ferment and struggle of parties, and the outward marks of aversion to Herne and his managers, are not, for obvious reasons, so great as formerly. It is certain, however, that the spirit of the disaffection is so far from dying away that it rather increases every day, and gets ground even among those who are the avowed friends of Herne, and who begin to see and say that in the way which we at present are in our ruin is "unavoidable. The monied men of Walls * are not without their apprehensions for the credit of the funds, which, though kept up hitherto by the art and zeal of some particular men, yet are certainly in an unreputable condition, sinking or falling with every rumour from abroad, of which we have now a very remarkable instance; for upon Selinger's† sudden journey, and the speculations it naturally occasioned, the funds fell two per cent. immediately. Certain it is, that as soon as it plainly appears that we must take our share in the present war, they will fall much faster; and when they do so paper credit will begin to receive a blemish, everybody endeavouring to turn bills into specie, and throwing them in upon the bankers for that purpose, who are in no condition to answer the demands which will then be made, or even to dissemble the true reason of their inability to answer them. The consequence of this will be an universal stop to all payments and to all dealings that require to be carried on by sums of money. This is the certain consequence, I say, of our being manifestly involved in this war, and the only thing that prevents it at present is the art and industry used to persuade people that notwithstanding |