Whitefield commences field-preaching............... The same course pursued by Wesley Breach between the Methodists and the Moravians., 360 And between Wesley and Whitefield................................ State of the Church at that period....................... 368- Alienation between the higher and lower clergy...... 370 State of the Universities....... THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND FROM THE PEACE OF UTRECHT. CHAPTER XI. XI. 1720. In the spring of 1720, the administration of Lord CHAP. Stanhope had attained a high pitch of success and renown. By negotiation, he had driven Alberoni from Madrid; by force, the Spaniards from Sicily. The authority of the Regent had been secured in France, and his friendship with England confirmed; and some fresh difficulties which arose after Stanhope had left Paris in January, were adjusted by another journey of that Minister in March. At the same time the Cabinet of Vienna had been brought into a concert of measures, and the ancient alliance renewed with the Dutch. In the North, the confederacy against Sweden had been successfully broken; Prussians, Danes, and Poles were disarmed; and the languid hostilities which the Czar still continued from his want of temper, must, it was evident, speedily terminate from CHAP. his want of support. XI. 1720. * The Jacobites could no longer fix their station, or conduct their intrigues, on the neighbouring coasts; an edict for their total banishment from France had been granted to Stanhope at Paris. The Pretender had not left him a single great power to afford him aid or countenance, and was reduced to vague hopes and empty promises to the prophecies of monks or the dreams of exiles! Thus, therefore, the exertions of Stanhope had happily restored peace throughout Europe; and it was by pursuing his policy, and treading in his footsteps, that Walpole afterwards preserved this blessing for so many years. At home, the prospect for Stanhope was not less cheering. He had risen to much the highest place in the Royal confidence; a fact so well understood, that we find it publicly mentioned in some foreign State Papers of this period. The defeat on the Peerage Bill had not shaken him or Sunderland; they were not less strong with Parliament; they were not less trusted by the King; and the party of Walpole, hopeless of overthrowing, consented to join them. This junction was on far from equal terms. It made no change at all in the measures, and but little in the men. Walpole received no higher place than Paymaster of the *The Peace of Nystad between Russia and Sweden was signed August, 1721. (Dumont, Suppl. Corps Diplom. vol. viii. part 2. p. 36.) † In March, 1720. See St. Simon, Mem. vol. xviii. p. 153. ed. 1829. Abbé Dubois to M. Landi, Jan. 19. 1720. (Hist. Regist. p. 76, &c.) XI. 1720. Forces (out of the Cabinet), nor Townshend than CHAP. President of the Council; while Methuen was satisfied with an office in the Royal Household.* Their support, accordingly, was by no means warm and willing; they were treated as inferiors, and, of course, behaved as malecontents; but at all events their opposition was disarmed, and their connection with the Tories broken. Another great advantage attending their accession was, healing the breach in the Royal family. Walpole, who had lately ingratiated himself with the Prince of Wales, induced him to write a submissive letter to the King; Stanhope induced His Majesty to receive it favourably a meeting ensued, and a reconciliation was effected. This union, both of Statesmen and of Princes, dashed the best hopes of Jacobitism. Bishop Atterbury writes to James, that, though the reconciliation is far from sincere, it will by degrees become so, or that at least the appearances and consequences of it will be the same as if it really were. "I think myself obliged," he adds, "to represent this melancholy truth, that there "may be no expectation of any thing from hence, "which will certainly not happen."+ Such, then, was the prosperous aspect of affairs, * The vacancies were made by the Duke of Kent, the Earl of Lincoln, and Mr. Boscawen. The latter was rewarded with the title of Viscount Falmouth. Lord Lincoln was a personal friend of Stanhope, had taken office only at his solicitation, and readily relinquished it. + Bishop Atterbury to James, May 6. 1720, Appendix. See also the Marchmont Papers, vol. ii. p. 409. |