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The privy council was dissolved, and a new destroying all that had been done for above one declared, of which the earl of Nottingham twenty years to secure and justify the excluwas president. Out of the privy counsellors a sion of king James and his pretended heir. Now cabinet council was formed, consisting chiefly can there be to a prince attacked in so imof the lord-chancellor, the duke of Marlbo-portant a point, any room for pardon or dissimurough, the earls of Nottingham, Sunderland, lation? the lords Hallifax, Townsend, Sommers, and general Stanhope. All these had distinguished | themselves by their professed opposition to the late measures, and the peace.

The governors of places were also most of them changed. General Erle was made governor of Portsmouth. There were as many alterations in Ireland as in England. Before the king's arrival, the behaviour of sir Constantine Phipps had been such, that the regency had removed him, as well as the archbishop of Armagh, from being lords-justices of that kingdom, and in their room appointed the archbishop of Dublin and the earl of Kildare, for which they had the king's letter of approbation and thanks. Alan Broderick was made lord chancellor of Ireland, and William Whitshed chief justice. The privy-council was also dissolved, and another named, of which the dake of Ormond was one.

Besides there was a kind of necessity to espouse one of the two parties, who had by turns prevailed under king William and queen Anne. By that means he would be freed from the continual trouble of managing and keeping the balance even between them, and perhaps from the danger of having both turn against him. The Whigs were really enemies of France and the Pretender, and could not be otherwise; they had constantly declared for the Protestant succession, and though in some of their proceedings the spirit of party no less appeared than a true zeal, yet they might be depended upon. To the Whigs the court of Hanover was indebted, for obliging the French king and the duke of Lorrain not to suffer the Pretender in their dominions, and for the advices of what was contriving against the interests of the Protestant successor. This being the case, there was no room to deliberate which party to chuse. All these changes were made before the co- King William, accustomed from his youth to ronation, which was fixed to the 20th of Oc- dissimulation, might have deliberated, or seemtober. The king is by some blamed, for noted to have done so; but the elector of Hanhaving joined to the great number of Whigs a few more of the Tories, which they suppose would have prevented the general discontent of that party. But it was very difficult for the king not to do as he did. The inclination which the Pretender had indiscreetly asserted, the queen had for him in the latter years of her life, could be ascribed only to those who had the management of affairs. The ministry, resolutely beat to end the war, notwithstanding the complaints of all the allies (who placed their safety in the humbling of France) and particularly, notwithstanding the repeated opposition of the duke of Hanover, they could not but be sensible, that, if he one day becaine their master he would not fail to sacrifice them to his own, and the resentment of the allies, whose projects they had disappointed, and whose hopes they had confounded. It was therefore natural to think, they bad taken mea- Having in my Answers to addresses of both sures to prevent any danger from him. A thou- houses of parliament, fully expressed my resosand circumstances supported these conjec-lution to defend the religious and civil rights of tures: The dowry paid to king James's queen: all my subjects, there remains very little for me the small reward offered for taking the Pre- to say upon this occasion.—Yet having been tender; the conniving at the listing of men in willing to omit no opportunity of givingst his service: the suffering the revolution to be possible assurances to a people, who have al publicly talked and preached against, and doc-ready deserved so well of me; I take this oc tries to be vented, destructive of the princi-casion also to express to you my firm purpose, ples on which it was built: the little care to to do all that is in my power for the supporting have an eye to Scotland, to redress the griev- and maintaining the churches of England and ances complained of by that nation, and which Scotland, as they are severally by law estawere capable of driving them to extremities: blished; which I am of opinion may be efEngland unprovided of troops as well as Scot- fectually done, without the least impairing the land and Ireland, whilst under frivolous pre- toleration allowed by law to protestant dissentences several regiments were kept in Flanders; ters, so agreeable to christian charity, and so all this amounted to a sort of demonstration, necessary to the trade and riches of this kingthat the queen's death alone had prevented the dom. The good effects of making property sedefeating of the Protestant succession, and the cure are no where so clearly seen, and to so

over, absolute master in his German dominions, and consequently unused to faction and party, was hardly capable of that dissimulation, so requisite in a government like that of England.

VOL. VII.

Notwithstanding all the changes and the disgrace of so many persons, no ill effects followed. Addresses from the universities, the counties, cities, boroughs and corporations, expressed the public joy and satisfaction at the king's accession, though in a very different stile; for some insinuated that the protestant succession had not been in danger, whilst others spoke of the late ministry in very severe terms, and mentioned the utmost dread of their mea sures.

The first time the king was present at the privy-council, after he had taken the oath relating to the security of the church of Scotland, he made the following declaration :

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great a degree, as in this happy kingdom; and I assure you, that there is not any among you shall more earnestly endeavour the preservation of it than myself."

to their royal highnesses. The prince met the princess beyond Rochester, where she was attended by the countesses of Dorset and Berkeley, who had been named two of the ladies ofthe bed-chamber. Their royal highnesses passed through the city of London in a chariot with six horses, followed by another, in which were the two young princesses, and came to St. James's on the 13th of October.

The day appointed for the coronation drawing

At the same time the prince royal was declared prince of Wales, and took his seat at the upper end of the board, at the king's right hand. Soon after the treasury was put in commission, and also the admiralty. The commissioners of the treasury were the lord Hallifax, sir Richard Onslow chancellor of the ex-near, the king, as usual on such occasions, adchequer, sir William St. Quintin, Edward Wortley Montague, and Paul Methuen. Those of the admiralty were the earl of Orford, sir George Byng, George Dodington, sir John Jennings sir Charles Turner, Abraham Stanyan, and George Bailie. John Aislabie was made treasurer of the navy, and the earl of Cholmondeley was appointed treasurer, Hugh Boscawen comptroller, and Edmund Dunch master of the king's houshold. Dr. Samuel Garth was knighted, who had lately published a Latin dedication, which he intended to prefix to an edition of Lucretius three years before: but it was not then thought seasonable.

vanced some of the peers to higher titles, and created some new ones. Five days after, the coronation was performed at Westminster with great magnificence. There never was so great an appearance of lords spiritual and temporal as on this occasion, no less than 17 archbishops and bishops, though two sees were then vacant; all the dukes in or about London, except the duke of Buckingham; seventy earls and viscounts, and amongst them the earl of Oxford and viscount Bolingbroke; and as many barons. The demonstrations of joy throughout the kingdom on the coronation-day seemed to be general, and were in proportion as splendid as at London, some few places excepted, where the rabble shewed their hatred to the protestant succession, by riots and outrages. The university of Oxford (who, the day before, had presented to the king by Dr. Gardiner, their vicechancellor, a book of verses on the death of queen Anne, and the accession of his majesty to the throne) on the coronation-day, conferred unanimously, in a full convocation, the degree of doctor of civil law on sir Constantine Phipps, with all imaginable marks of honour and esteem.

The first affair the king turned his thoughts to was the execution of an article of the treaty of Utrecht, the demolition of Dunkirk; fron whence the trade of England and Holland had been greatly incommoded during the late wars. Instead of executing this article, the French king had entirely evaded it; and therefore Mr. Prior, who was still resident at Paris, was ordered to present a Memorial to him, pressing the performance of the 9th article of the treaty of Utrecht. The French king, who had used the distinction of the letter and spirit of treaties to justify his noncompliance with the treaty of partition, adhered to the letter of this, and pretended he had fulfilled it in the utmost ex

On the 9th of October, N. S. the two eldest princesses of Great Britain, Anne and Amelia, set out from Hanover, to go by easy journies, to the Hague; the youngest princess Caroline being left at Hanover, on account of a late indisposition. Three days after, the princess of Wales set out for Holland, attended by the countess of Pickleburgh; and, on the 17th, arrived at the Hague, with the two eldest princesses her daughters. The next morning she received the compliments of the states general, by deputies nominated for that purpose; and, the weather being fair, she appeared in the afternoon in the Voorhout, attended by a very numerous train of coaches; and, in the evening, kept a drawing room, at which all the ladies and persons of distinction of that place were present. The next day she received visits from the French ambassador, and other foreign ministers. The earl of Berkeley and Sir John Walter of the green cloth were come thither five days before, having left the squadron of men of war at Helvoet-sluys, with orders for the yachts to come up to Rotterdam. The princess being informed by the earl, that the wind was easterly, on the 20th of October, N S. she went on board a yacht of the states of Holland, accompanied by the earl of Alber- His answer was not satisfactory; Prior marle, and the rest of the deputies of that pro- was recalled, and the earl of Stair sent in his vince; by the count of Hanau, and the countess, room, who prosecuted the affair with great viher sister, prince William of Hesse, and the gour. The court of France would not yield, prince of Anhault. The earl of Strafford accom- and declared in express terms, Mardyke was panied her also part of her way to Rotterdam, not Dunkirk, and that the treaty of Utrecht where being arrived, she embarked on board did not deprive the king of the natural right of the Mary yacht, and with the two princesses a sovereign, to make what works he should and their retinue, landed at Margate, October judge proper for the preservation of his subjects. 11, O. S. and the next evening arrived at Ro- The truth is, the plenipotentiaries of Great chester. The prince of Wales, having early Britain had been too negligent in the affair. that day received the news of her arrival, set In stipulating the demolition of Dunkirk, it was out about seven o'clock in the morning, accom. doubtless their intention that another and better panied by the dukes of Somerset and Argyle, harbour should not be made on that coast: but and the earl of Bridgewater, lord-chamberlain | then it should have been so expressed; other

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wise in such articles all advantages will be taken by those on whom they are imposed.

' contestable laws of hereditary right, which 'their pretended acts of settlement can never The same fault had been committed in the abrogate. The persons who received this detreaty of commerce with Spain. The advan-claration, thought it their duty to deliver it into tages obtained in the body of the treaty were the hands of the secretaries of state; upon which all explained away by the separate articles, the marquis de Lamberti, the duke of Lorrain's and the result was, that the British goods and minister, was forbid the court, because such a merchandizes paid seven per cent. more than had thing could not be done at Plombieres without been paid before. King George applied him- the countenance of his master; and the folself also to redress this grievance. Spain, in lowing message was delivered to him by the imitation of France, adhered to the letter of lord Townshend: "That it was inconsistent the treaty, and would not agree that the terins with his majesty's honour and dignity, as well should be explained according to the intentions as interest, to admit to audience the minister of the queen's plenipotentiaries; and it was of a prince, who at that very juncture, gave not till after much time and pains that this, and shelter and protection to a Pretender, and an several other difficulties relating to the Assiento open enemy to his dominions." The marquis contract, were adjusted. So true is it, that a transmitted this message to the duke of Lorrain, good negotiator is as rare and as useful as a left London, and, and went to Oxford to wait great general. his master's answer. This gave just cause of suspicion, that the Pretender and his friends had formed a party in that university to advance his interest, as it afterwards appeared. The marquis, having received the duke of Lorrain's answer, dated at Nancy, December the 9th, 1714, N. S. communicated it to the lord Townshend. It was to this effect;

The Barrier Treaty, which was negociating at Antwerp between the emperor and the States General, and which was of great consequence to the trade of England, drew also the attention of the new king. General Cadogan, intinate friend of the duke of Marlborough, was sent as plenipotentiary.

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In the mean time, the behaviour of the jacobite and high church party occasioned the publishing a proclamation for suppressing of riots and tumults. Seditious libels were with great industry dispersed, jealousies infused into weak minds, and the groundless clamour of the danger of the church revived. In November the dukes of Marlborough, Shrewsbury, and Argyle, the earls of Nottingham and Sunderland, the lord Townshend, the marquis de Monteleone the Spanish ambassador, the count de Nostiz, and several other persons of distinction, received, by the mail from France, copies of a paper, printed in English, French and Latin, signed at the top James R. and dated at Plombieres the 29th of August, 1714, N. S. being a kind of manifesto or declaration of the Pretender, aserting his claim to the crown of Great Britain. He says, The revolution rained the English monarchy, laid the foundation of a republican government, and devalved the sovereign power on the people.' Ile observes, That when he found the treaty peace was upon the point of being concluded without any regard to him, he published, in April 1712, his protestation against it.' He then gives the reason of his sitting still for some time past, in these remarkable words: Yet, contrary to our expectations, upon the death of the princess our sister (of whose good intentions towards us, we could not for some time past well doubt; and this was the reason we then sat still, expecting the good effects thereof; which were unfortunately prevented by her deplorable death) we found that our people, instead of taking this favourable opportunity of retrieving the honour and trae interest of their country, by doing us and themselves justice, had immediately proclaimed for their king a foreign prince, to our prejudice, contrary to the fundamental and in

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"I believe, Sir, you no ways doubt of my being extremely surprised to hear by the courier, which came from you, that, when you applied to my lord Townshend to obtain an audience, that minister made answer, that since the chevalier de St. George remained still in my dominions, the king thought fit to forbid you the court: in case his majesty should con tinue in this disagreeable resolution with respect to me, I must submit to his pleasure, and you have nothing else to do, but to return hither as soon as you are able. However, you are first to apply to the duke of Marlborough, and to the king's ministers, desiring them to lay before his majesty the unfortunate situation I am in, if, after having been so ready to let the king know the part I take in his accession to the crown of England, and after having been one of the first to make my compliments, and show my zeal on this occasion, all Europe should be acquainted, that his majesty had some reason to be dissatisfied with me. That I cannot conceive, whence this should proceed, since as

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the chevalier de St. George, the world knows, by what means he came into this country: that every one is informed of the situation of my territories, which are surrounded and cut through on all sides by France: that it is known how I had no share in his coming into my country: that I neither invited him to come thither, nor could I force him to go away: that lately upon the death of queen Anne, I knew nothing of his leaving Bar, till twelve hours after he was gone from thence; and I kew nothing of his return to Bor, till after he was come back, as a traveller, that goes backwards and forwards in an open country, and intermixed with other territories as mine is: the manifesto or declaration dated at Plombieres, which the chevalier de St. George had got printed, I knew nothing more of it, than that

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elections should be made by our loving subjects | with that safety and freedom, which by law they are entilled to, and we are firmly resolved to maintain to them, they will send up to paralament the fittest persons to redress the present disorders, and to provide for the peace and happiness of our kingdom, and the ease of our people for the future; and therein will have a particular regard to such as shewed a firm ness to the protestant succession, when it was in danger."

The late ministry, foreseeing they should be called to an account for their conduct, had frequent consultations how to avoid the storm; and soon after a traiterous libel was published, under the title of," English Advice to the Free"holders of Great Britain." Nothing could be more full of malice and falsehood against the king's person and family; as well as against the Whigs in general, and the present ministry; and it was artfully contrived to raise discontents among the people against the government, and to possess them with an opinion, that the church was in danger by his majesty's administration. It was carefully dispersed through the country, and great numbers of them were intercepted in the city of Exeter. Upon which the government issued out a proclamation, promising a reward of 1,000l. for the discovery of the author of the libel, and 500l. for the discovery of the printer. But to no purpose. The same day, the mismanagement of the late ministry, with regard to Chelsea-college, was made public by order of the privy-counel; upon which, the government of that hospital was changed, and brigadier Stanwick appointed governor.

sentatives, the most remarkable of which were those of the city of London, wherein was this passage; "We desire and expect, that you will inquire by whose counsel it was, that, after God had blessed the arms of her late majesty, and her allies, with a train of unparalleled successes, she was prevailed upon, contrary to the grand alliance, and her repeated promises from the throne to both houses, to send to, or receive managers from France, to treat sepa rately of a peace, without the knowledge and consent of our allies."

In Scotland the Tories published a circular letter, to dissuade the Scotch lords from voting for the Whigs, or, as they pretended, for the sixteen peers, of whom the duke of Argyle had brought a list from England. But this letter made little impression, and the following peers were elected, the dukes of Roxburgh and Montrose; the marquisses of Tweedale, Lothian, and Annandale; the earls of Sutherland, Rothes, Buchan, Loudon, Orkney, Stair, Bute, Deloraine and Ilay; and the lords Ross and Belhaven. All these lords were distinguished by their attachment to the revolution, and had contributed to the union to the utmost of their power. The marquis of Annandale, of the antient family of Johnstoun, had openly declared for king William, though, shortly after indeed, he declared for king James. But he repented of that step, and for his faithful services was employed in places of trust. The marquis of Lothian was a great promoter of the revolution. He had, in the reign of king James 2, married a daughter of the earl of Argyle, beheaded by that prince, purely out of a principle of honour, and, to shew his regard The earl of Strafford being returned to Eng- for a family unjustly persecuted, a certain proof land, an order of council was issued, that the that he would not favour the designs of the Prelord Townsend and Mr. Stanhope, secretaries tender. The earl of Sutherland, known at the of state, should go to him, and demand the ori- time of the revolution by the name of the lord ginal instructions and orders, and all letters he Strathnaver, was constantly attached to king had received from the late ministry, or any fo- William, and had followed him in all his camreign prince or minister, and copies of all in-paigns in Flanders, at the head of a regiment. structions, of which he had not the originals; and also all letters writ by him to any per son whatsoever, relating to his negotiations, from the time of his first being at the Hague. The earl delivered them two trunks, which he said, contained what they desired; and orders were sent to seal up his papers, that were on ship-board, or at the custom-house.

Mr. Prior, who had been deep in the measures of the late ministry, was now ordered home, the earl of Stair being arrived at Paris, where he had several conferences with the marquis de Torcy, and presented memorials about the canal and intended port at Mardyke, and signified to the court of France, that he had orders not to take any character upon him, till he had a clear and positive answer to the

memorials.

The elections for the new parliament were now carrying on with great warmth by both parties, but with most success on the side of the Whigs. The electors in some counties and cities drew up instructions for their repre

He had appeared very zealous for the privileges of the Scots; and did not think the union detrimenta Ithereto. The earl of Stair was already employed by the new government as well as the dukes of Montrose and Roxburgh, and their attachment to it was not doubted. The only one that seemed exceptionable in the list was the lord Belhaven. No man had so strenuously opposed the union, and, had his advice been followed, it would never have taken place. But, finding at length all opposition in vain, he gave way to the torrent. There was one thing capable of making amends for all his non-compli ances, and that was his singly opposing, in the presence of the duke of York, the act of succession passed by a majority of voices in fayour of that prince. He was also a good speaker, which will be always a great recommendation.

The elections for the House of Commons were made with almost equal success, and the Whigs had the majority. Thus all seemed quiet in Scotland, though a storm was then gathering