Debate in the Commons on a Motion for a Vote of Credit.] April 12. After the reading of the order of the day, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to consider farther of the Malt Bill, Mr. Scrope moved, That it be an instruction to the said Committee, that they have power to receive a Clause of Appropriation, with a power to his Majesty to apply such sums of money as shall be necessary for answering and defraying Buch expences and engagements, as have at any time been, or shall before or until the 25th of December 1727, be made by his Majesty, in concerting such measures as he, in his great wisdom, thinks will best conduce to the security of the trade and navigation of this kingdom, and to the preserving and restoring the peace of Europe.

He was seconded by Mr. Farrer, and backed by sir Edmund Bacon, lord Gage, sir William Youge, sir Philip Yorke, Mr. Talbot and Mr. Doddington, who alledged, in support of the motion, That his Majesty was so unwilling to put his subjects to any extraordinary expences, that he had demanded no more supplies this session, than what he thought absolutely necessary for the service of the year: but that, in the present posture of affairs, some unforeseen accidents might require a farther expence, for which no estimate could now be made, because some Treaties, which his Majesty thought fit to enter into, were not yet finished; therefore they ought to enable his Majesty to answer such contingencies; That the House had several times reposed the same confidence in his Majesty, which had never been abused; and what was now asked was only for a short time.

They were opposed by Mr. Ilow, Mr. Winnington, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. St. John Broderick, sir Wilfrid Lawson, lord Morpeth, Mr. Thomas Broderick, Mr. Gore, Mr. Wortley Montague, Mr. Lutwych, Sir William Barker,

presentation of this address, Palm was commanded to leave the kingdom; the British resident at Vienna quitted the imperial dominions, and as the Spanish minister had previously taken an abrupt departure, a rupture with Spain and the emperor appeared to be unavoidable. The most active preparations were made on all sides; Spain commenced hostilities by the siege of Gibraltar, and expected to be seconded by the whole force of the house of Austria. A bloody war would have been the consequence of this attack, had the emperor fulfilled the treaty of Vienna; or had England and France instantly directed their whole force against the restless and ambitious court of Madrid. Fortunately, the pacific sentiments of Walpole and Fleury began to operate on the affairs of Europe, and the government of England exhibited a striking instance of vigour and moderation; of vigour in the preparations for war, and of moderation in suspending the blow, at the very moment in which it was ready to strike with effect." Coxe's Walpole.

Mr. Danvers, Mr. Daniel Pulteney, Mr. Shippen, sir William Wyndham, Mr. Palmer, and Mr. Sandys, who urged, That it was unparliamentary to ask or grant Supplies without an estimate of the expence; That the Clause moved for was inconsistent with that part of the Bill which forbids the issuing of the Supplies thereby granted, to any other purposes than those specified; and rendered ineffectual that appropriation of the public money, which the wisdom of all parliaments had thought a necessary security against the misapplication of it, which was the more to be feared, because no provision was made to oblige any person to account for any money that should be disposed of, by virtue of the power in this clause. That vast sums had already been granted, which appeared sufficient to answer any occasions, as far as their present views could reach; and if any unexpected emergency should demand a further supply, it might be provided for, in the usual manner, when necessity required: That this might be done with less inconvenience, and with less danger of misapplication, than by such a delegation of almost a dictatorial authority to the ministers. That this parliament had already given so many instances of their zeal and affection for his Majesty, that there could be no room to doubt of their readiness to make good whatever his Majesty should expend, in concerting such measures as, in his great wisdom, be should think most conducive to the advantage and interest of his people. That such an unlimited and absolute power ought never to be given in a free government but upon occasions of evident necessity, when the very being of the government is in imminent danger. That the reposing a confidence in the crown, in the disposition of such immense sums of money, as by the advice of unthrifty ministers may be expended, might be attended with great prejudice to the properties of the subject, and great danger to our most excellent constitution, which cannot be preserved, but 'hy a strict adherence to those essential parliamentary forms of granting Supplies only upon Estimates, and of appropriating the same to services and occasions publicly avowed and judged necessary. That the departing from these excellent methods would, by degrees, render parliaments altogether useless. That the precedents alledged to justify this Clause were far from being full to the point, and satisfactory; and if they were, ought not to be followed, lest clauses of the same nature might become so frequent, as in time to lodge in the crown, and in the ministers, an absolute and uncontroulable power of raising money upon the people, which by our wise constitution is, and with safety can only be, lodged in the whole legislature.

Mr. Hungerford observed, in particular, That they had already given four shillings in the pound upon land, which he could not but think a very heavy and extraordinary tax, espe cially considering they were more than once

ties on coals and culm, granted by an act of the fifth of his Majesty's reign, from the 29th of September 1725, to Lady-day 1751, and by a subsequent act of the sixth year of his Majesty's reign, made perpetual, and which are reserved for the disposition of parliament." This motion was seconded by Mr. Doddington, and backed by sir Charles Turner, Mr. H. Pelham, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Onslow and sir Philip Yorke; but was strenuously opposed by Mr. Shippen, Mr. How, Mr. Hungerford, sir Joseph Jekyll, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Bootle, Mr. Wortley Montague, sir William Strickland, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. William Pulteney, and sir William Wyndhamn. The objections offered against the motion, were, That, by several votes and acts of parliaments, all the exceedings or Surpluses of public funds were to be applied towards the lessening of the Public Debts, or to the increase of the Sinking Fund; and that this disposition could not be altered without wounding public credit, which was already extreme low, since the taking off any part of the mortgage could not but lessen the security of the debt. That it was somewhat strange, such a motion should be made by those very persons who had the honour of being in the administration, who could not have forgot what his Majesty had so strongly recommended from the throne, at the opening of this session, "That the produce of the Sinking Fund might be immediately applied to the uses for which it was so wisely contrived, and to which it now stands appropriated." And that this motion was still the more surprizing, after the large Vote of Credit the House had so lately come to. To all this the Court-Party answered, That the Surpluses on Coals could not be deemed a part of the Sinking Fund, since they had never been appropriated, but were reserved for the disposition of parliament. And the question being, at last, put upon sir William Yonge's motion, it was carried in the affirmative, by 209 voices against 82.

April 27. Mr. Farrer reported the said Resolutions, which being agreed to, a Bill was ordered to be brought in thereupon, which the next day was read the first time.

May 4. The said Bill was read the third time, passed, and sent up to the Lords, and af terwards passed into an Act.

GEORGE THE FIRST'S LAST SPEECH TO HIS PARLIAMENT.] May 15. The King came to the House of Peers, with the usual state, and the Commons attending, his Majesty gave the royal assent to several Bills; after which, the Lord Chancellor read his Majesty's Speech to both Houses, as follows:

"My Lords and Gentlemen;

"I acquainted you at the opening of this session, with the dangers which threatened this kingdom, and the peace and liberties of Europe. I am now to return you my thanks for the zeal and dispatch with which you have proceeded upon the several points I then recommended to your care; for the confidence

you have reposed in me; and for the assurances you have given me of your support and assistance in vindication of my honour and in the maintenance and defence of the undoubted rights and privileges of this nation, so openly and notoriously invaded and attacked.

"The siege of Gibraltar proves, beyond all dispute, the end and design of the engagements entered into by the emperor and the king of Spain; but the preparations I had made for the defence of that place, and the bravery of my troops, will, I doubt not, convince them of the rashness and folly of that undertaking. However, the love of peace has hitherto prevailed upon me, even under this high provocation, to suspend, in some measure, my resentments; and instead of having immediate recourse to arms, and demanding of my allies that assistance which they are engaged and ready to give me, I have concurred with the most Christian King and the States General, in making such overtures of accommodation, as must convince all the world of the uprightness of our intentions, and of our sincere disposition to peace; and demonstrate to whose ambition and thirst of power the calamities of a war are to be imputed, if these just and reasonable propositions are rejected. In the mean time, I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that the crown of Sweden has acceded to the Treaty of Hanover, and that the Convention between me, his most Christian Majesty, and the king of Denmark, is actually signed.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "The vigour and chearfulness you have shewn, in raising so effectually, and upon such easy terms, the necessary Supplies for the service of the current year, are not only instances of your zeal and affection to me, but demonstrate the established credit, power, and strength of this kingdom.

"My Lords and Gentlemen ;

"It would have been a great satisfaction to me, if before your separation I had been able to speak to you more positively, and with greater certainty, upon the present posture and state of affairs but as you have now dispatched the public business, and as the season of the year requires your going into your respec tive countries, I choose rather to put an end to this session, than to keep you any longer toge ther unnecessarily. The provisions you have made, and the perfect union and harmony be tween me and my allies, will, I hope, enable ne, by the Divine Assistance, either to with stand and defeat the designs of our enemies, if their conduct shall bring upon us the necessity of a war; or to improve the blessings of peace if peace can, with justice, honour and security, be obtained."

At this period, Walpole stood in the highe est estimation with the king and nation; and his pacific sentiments were so well known, that all who desired the blessing of peace, wished for his continuance in office; yet rumours of change in administration were believed and

Then the Lord Chancellor, by the King's Command, prorogued the Parliament to the 27th of June.

DEATH OF GEORGE THE FIRST.

George the First had not visited bis German dominions these two years, and, therefore, soon after the breaking up of the parliament, he pre

circulated; and a formal attempt was made by Bolingbroke, in co-operation with the duchess of Kendal, to obtain his removal, and to substitute himself in his place. A full account of this intrigue, which has occasioned various conjectures and uncertain speculations, is here given from undoubted authorities.

"The Duchess of Kendal, who, by the death of lady Darlington, remained without a rival in the confidence of the King, had, in consideration of 11,000l. assured lord Bolingbroke that she would obtain his complete restoration; but having failed in effecting her promise, she threw the whole blame on sir Robert Walpole as the person who obstructed the King's designs in his favour and though she was inclined to second all attempts for the purpose of obtaining his disgrace, yet many circumstances prevented her from exerting her influence in fafavour of Bolingbroke.

"She was become timid and cautious; fearful of distressing the mind of the king, who was declining in years and health, and easily depressed. She was unwilling to offend the ministers, who, besides the payment of a pension of 7,500l. from the Exchequer, which it depended on their punctuality to discharge, secured her good-will by private presents, and supplied her with various means of gratifying her rapaciousness. She affected great concern for the interest of England, and sacrificed to her own tranquillity the concerns of the Hanoverian junto. Under these circumstances, it was no easy task to rouse her active exertions; but Bolingbroke paid assiduous court; his wife was no less constant in her attendance, and both anxiously watched for a favourable opportunity, which at length seemed to present itself.

"The eldest son of sir Robert Walpole had heen appointed ranger of Richmond Park, and the minister, while a new lodge was building, took a small tenement on Richmond Hill, where the King after shooting occasionally dined with him, and passed the afternoon drinking punch, of which he was excessively fond, in an easy and convivial manner.

"The duchess, alarmed at this familiar intercourse, and anxious to render these visits less frequent, attempted, by means of some of her German friends, who were generally of the party, to break up the meeting sooner than the usual time of retiring; but their attempts having no effect, the duchess listened to the overtures of Bolingbroke, who artfully fo

pared for his journey to Hanover, where he thought to enjoy the fruit of his labours in peace, or continue his endeavours for the good of the common cause. Having appointed the lords justices for the administration of the government he embarked at Greenwich, on board the Carolina yacht, the 3d of June, attended by the earl of Ilay and the lord Townshend. The king landed, on the 7th, at Vaert in Holland, where he lay that night. The next day he proceeded on his journey to Hanover; and, on the 9th of mented her jealousy against sir Robert Walpole, and prevailed on her to second his efforts.

"He drew up a long memorial, full of invectives against the minister, which the duchess of Kendal secretly delivered to the King. After stating in various instances the misconduct of administration, he concluded by requesting an audience, and undertook to demonstrate that the kingdom must inevitably be ruined, should, sir Robert Walpole continue at the head of the treasury. The King put this memorial into the hands of the minister, who concluded, that the person who conveyed it, could not be ignorant of the contents: after some inquiry, he traced it to the duchess of Kendal, who, on being interrogated, acknowledged that she had delivered it, and attempted to justify her conduct by frivolous excuses. Walpole, in reply, only entreated her as a favour, to second the instances of Bolingbroke, and to procure for him that audience which he so earnestly solicited. The duchess, after several endeavours to excuse herself, promised compliance; and at a proper interval, Walpole besought the King to grant an audience to Bolingbroke; and urged the propriety, by observing, that if this request was rejected, much clamour would be raised against him for keeping the King to himself, and for permitting none to approach his person who might tell unwelcome truths.

"The King declined complying in so positive a manner, that Walpole could not venture to press it any farther in person; but waited on the duchess to renew his application. He found lady Bolingbroke on a visit, and when she retired, was informed, that the King was unwilling to admit Bolingbroke, on a supposition that it would make him uneasy. Walpole repeated his earnest entreaties, and declared. that he could not be easy, until the audience was granted. These pressing solicitations finally had their effect; and Bolingbroke was admitted into the closet.

"While Walpole was attending in an adjoining apartment, lord Lechmere came, and demanded admission for the signature of papers, which he had brought as chancellor of the duchy of Cornwall. He was informed that Bolingbroke was with the King, and that Walpole was also waiting. In the midst of his surprise, Bolingbroke coming out, Lechmere instantly rushed into the closet, and without making any apology, or entering upon his own business, burst out into the most violent invectives against Walpole, whom he reviled as