XIII. 1724. CHAP. well-founded, of either timidly or treacherously conniving at the riots. But, being brought before the Lords Justiciary, they were declared innocent, and set at liberty; and this acquittal, being considered a victory over the Government, revived the zeal of the people. A combination was formed amongst the brewers at Edinburgh, engaging not to give security for the new duty, nor to brew if the duty were demanded. The Duke of Roxburgh was at this time Secretary of State for Scotland; he had been attached to Carteret, and was accused by Walpole of fomenting these disturbances. Whether this was really the case, or whether Walpole merely seized the opportunity to acquire a more supple colleague, the Minister now obtained not merely the dismissal of Roxburgh, but the abolition of the office of Secretary for Scotland. Henceforth he centred the power of that department in his own hands; deputing, however, no small share of it to his devoted follower the Earl of Isla. It was Isla who, on the fall of Roxburgh, was despatched to Edinburgh with the view of allaying the storm: he came armed with full powers from Government, and with no small prudence of his own. So firm, yet so skilful were his measures, that the threatening combination of brewers was speedily dissolved. They at first attempted to make terms; but being told that none would be accepted but * Culloden Papers, pp. 86-98. + Walpole to Townshend, August 17. 1725. 66 66 66 XIII. 1724. an immediate return to their duty, "various CHAP. opinions" (I quote the words of Walpole) began to arise among themselves in their assembly, and at last they unanimously agreed to "be determined by a question: - Brew or not. "Which, being put by the chairman, he began "to take their votes, SERIATIM, at the right "hand; but his right-hand man thought it a "hardship upon him to be obliged to speak first, "his left-hand man thought so too, and they could get nobody to give his vote first. At last, one Gray declared he thought they had nothing now “left to do, but to return to their trades; that he "would not be bound by the majority, but began "the vote, and voted BREW! He was immediately 66 66 "followed by another, upon which two warm ones "hoped they would hold out till their brethren "were set at liberty; but those not being sup 66 * ported, the assembly broke up, and such of them "as had their things in readiness fell to brewing "that night; and next day, at noon, above forty "brewhouses were hard at work in Edinburgh, "and ten more at Leith." It is probable that the argument which had most weight with the brewers, was that, after all, the ultimate loss must fall not on them but on the public. This happy termination is mentioned by Walpole, with much satisfaction and high praises of Lord Isla: he adds, "I think we have once more got Ireland *To Lord Townshend, Sept. 3. 1725. CHAP." and Scotland quiet, if we take care to keep XIII. "them so." 1724. The Session of Parliament, which began in November, 1724, was distinguished by three important transactions the impeachment of the Lord Chancellor,― the partial restoration of Lord Bolingbroke, and the first public breach between Walpole and Pulteney. Enormous abuses had crept into the Court of Chancery: the offices of Masters were set up to sale; and the buyers, in consequence, attempted to turn them to their own advantage. The price of these offices having latterly been augmented, the extortions of the holders grew in the same proportion. The suitors' money, the estates of widows and orphans, became a source of private peculation; and the public voice was loud against the Chancellor, Parker, Earl of Macclesfield. In January, he resigned the Great Seal, but did not thereby escape the national resentment. His impeachment was moved in the House of Commons by Sir George Oxenden; his trial took place at the bar of the House of Lords, and continued twenty days. He was unanimously found guilty, and sentenced to a fine of 30,000l.; a motion to disable him from sitting in Parliament, or holding any future office, being, moreover, very nearly carried. His Majesty struck off his name from the List of Privy Counsellors, and Sir Peter King, now created Lord King, was appointed Chancellor in his place. The unanimity of his judges might seem decisive as to his guilt; yet XIII. 1725. it may perhaps be doubted, whether they did not CHAP. unjustly heap the faults of the system on one man; whether Parker had not rather, in fact, failed to check gradual and growing abuses, than introduced them by his authority or encouraged them by his example. " 66 Lord Bolingbroke was still at Paris. Tired," as he says, " with suspense, the only insupportable "misfortune of life, and with nine years of au"tumnal promises and vernal excuses*," he had, early in 1724, another painful subject of embarrassment in the villany of a banker. His wife, Madame de Villette, had invested 50,000l. in the English funds through the hands of Sir Matthew Decker, who now pretended to make a discovery of it to the government as a forfeiture, upon proving her married to Lord Bolingbroke. This brought the lady to England under the name of Villette, and ready, if required, to deny her marriage; and Lord Townshend, who abhorred all dishonesty, and considered Decker's reasons "very bad 66 ones," gave her his zealous and successful aid. But she also seized the opportunity to ingratiate herself at Court, and obtain Bolingbroke's long-desired restoration. The King was by no means fascinated with her; he declared that she talked too much, and without respect; but a well-timed present of 11,000l. to the Duchess of *To Swift, July 24. 1725. Lord Townshend to Horace Walpole, April 2. 1724. XIII. 1725. CHAP. Kendal smoothed many difficulties. A complete restoration was now earnestly and positively pressed upon Walpole by the Court. Walpole, seeing the unpopularity of the measure among his own friends, and afraid of Bolingbroke's future ascendancy, for a long time refused, and made every opposition in his power; but at length, being threatened with dismissal, compromised matters by agreeing to a restoration of fortune, though not in peerage. Bolingbroke, on his part, thought it best to take what he could, if not what he would; but as might be expected, he never forgot or forgave the resistance of the Minister. "Here I am, then," he writes to Swift, "two thirds restored; my person safe, and my “estate, with all the other property I have acquired, "or may acquire, secured to me. But the attainder "is kept carefully and prudently in force, lest so "corrupt a member should come again into the "House of Lords, and his bad leaven should sour "that sweet untainted mass.” * Even this partial restoration, however, could not pass Parliament without some resistance from two opposite quarters - the staunch Whigs and the de James, July 10. 1724. Appendix.) He adds, "You can tell, "Sir, whether that is a just character; she is your old acquaint"ance." * Coxe states this erroneously in his Memoirs of Walpole; he speaks of Bolingbroke's obligations to Walpole, his want of gratitude, &c. But in his life of Horace Lord Walpole (p. 70.), he admits his mistake, observing, that papers have since fallen under his notice, proving the vehement opposition of Walpole to the restoration, and accounting for the bitter and wellfounded enmity of Bolingbroke. |