of the revenue assigned for the support of the civil list, which had been alienated, or abridged, so that the whole neat produce might amount to the sum of 700,000l. per annum.

crecy, resolved upon by the house; and report | other necessary occasions; and at the time of upon whom the majority fell; that the majority his demise, after the deduction of 3700l. a had fallen upon the 21 persons following; viz. week, which was applied to public uses, was Sir Richard Onslow, bart. Robert Walpole, the produce of the Civil List revenues that were Spencer Cowper, James Stanhope, Hugh Bos- continued and settled upon queen Anne, during cawen, William Pulteney, Nicholas Lech- her life." Which question occasioned a warm mere, Daniel lord Finch, John Aislaby, Tho- and long debate. Those who proposed it had mas Vernon, Algernon, earl of Hertford, Ed-two things principally in their view; First, To ward Wortley Mountague, sir David Dalrym- vindicate the present ministry from the asperple, bart. George Bailie, sir Joseph Jekyll, sions, cast upon them, and industriously spread knt. Thomas Erle, Richard Hampden, Sir about, by the emissaries of the late managers, Robert Marsham, bart. Alexander Denton, that the courtiers designed to give the king a Thomas Pitt, sen. Thomas lord Coningsby. larger revenue than his predecessors had enAn objection being made by some mem-joyed; and, second, To make good the branches bers to sir Joseph Jekyll's being one of the said committee, he having not taken the oaths at the table; it was readily answered, that the same was not owing to any voluntary neglect, sir Joseph Jekyll being employed in the circuits, as judge of the county palatine of Chester. Whereupon it was resolved, That sir Joseph Jekyll being a member of this House, was capable of being chosen of the committee of secrecy, although he had not been sworn at the table; and it was also ordered, 1."That the books and papers ordered to remain in the custody of the clerk, till this committee was chosen, be delivered to the said committee; and that they do examine the same, and report to the House what they find material in them; and that they, or any five of them, do meet this afternoon, and sit de die in diem;' 2. That the said committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records."

The leading men among the Tories, being sensible of the first and pretending to be igno rant of the consequences of this preliminary question, insisted a long while, "That it was ensnaring: that what had been done by former parliaments ought not to be a standing rule for the subsequent that supposing the parliament had given king William a revenue of 700,000l. per annum for the civil list, they ought to consider, that he was to pay out of it 50,000l. per annum to the late queen, then princess of Denmark; 15 or 20,000l. per annum to the late duke of Gloucester; and 40,000/. for the dowry of the late king James's queen : that after the late queen's accession to the throne, the parliament taking notice that the The committee of secrecy met that evening, produce of the civil list revenues exceeded what and chose Mr. Robert Walpole their chairman; they had been given for; the sum of 3700l. per but that gentleman being the next day taken ill,* week, (that is 192,400l. per annum) was taken the committee chose Mr. Secretary Stanhope out of them, and applied to other uses ; notwithto supply his place of chairman, and for dis-standing which deduction, the late queen had patch sake, subdivided themselves into three committees, to each of which a certain number of books and papers were allotted.

Debate concerning the Civil List.] May 13. The committee of the whole House having examined the accounts laid before them, relating to the Civil List, in the reigns of Charles 2, James 2, William 3, and queen Anne, and other papers on that head, the courtiers offered the following question, viz. "That it appears to this committee, that the sum of 700,000l. per annum was settled upon king William, during his life, for the support of his household, and

did not believe to have truth and justice on its side. He lived to see the success of a cause, for which he bad laboured with zeal and integrity. But his enjoyment of the blessing of the suc cession was very short. A misfortune in his family is supposed to have produced the fatal effect. His son possessed some of his parts and abilities, but his very different use and application of them are well known." Tindal.

* "As soon as the king was informed of Mr. Walpole's indisposition, his majesty shewed a great concern for the health of a person of his abilities and merit, and sent his physician to visit him." Oldmixon.

honourably maintained her family, and supported the dignity of the crown: however if the present revenues of the civil list were not sufficient, they were ready to consent to an addition.”

The courtiers answered, "That the question before them was founded upon facts, which, if denied, they were ready to prove by the records of the House."

Sir William Windham still urging that the question was ensuraring,

Mr. Secretary Stanhope answered, “That he would be very plain with them, and own, that as 'twas notorious, that great endeavours had been used to alienate the affections of the people from the king and his government by false suggestions, that they designed to plunge the nation into extraordinary expences, they thought it highly necessary to clear his majesty and his ministers from that malicious aspersion." To this the

Lord Guernsey replied, "That the disaffection of the people, if any, did not proceed from his majesty, but from the hardships his ministers put on the friends of the late ministry."

To which it was returned, "That as soon as it was made known to the world, how the late ministry had used the whole nation, nothing

that could be done against them, would then be thought a hardship; but, however, that neither that noble member, nor any of his family, had reason to complain of hardships."

After some other speeches, which prolonged the debate from two till about five in the afternoon, the country party endeavoured to drop the question, by moving that the Speaker resume the chair; but the question being put upon this question, the same was carried in the negative by 244 voices against 148: after which, the first question was put, and carried in the affirmative by about the same majority.

Then the victorious party moved, “That to enable his majesty to support the dignity of the crown, and to make an honourable provision for the royal family, there be granted to his majesty, during his life, an additional revenue, which, together with the neat produce of the Civil List branches, may make up the clear yearly sum of 700,000l. for the service of his majesty's household and family, and for his other necessary expences and occasions.".

The question being put upon this motion, the same occasioned another great debate. Sir Thomas Haumer, Mr. Bromley, sir William Wyndham, Mr. Cæsar, Mr. Hungerford, and some other leading members of the late ministry, who, on this occasion, were strengthened and backed by some eminent members of the court party, did not at first directly oppose the question, but insinuated, "That before they came to that resolution, it should be proper that a particular of the king's expences should be laid before the House." Mr. Walpole, General Stanhope, Mr. Lechmere, and some other courtiers, who, on this occasion, were joined by some of the opposite party, having exploded that proposal as altogether inconsistent with the king's honour, to have all the private expences of his family and household looked into, as if he had need of a guardian, the country party then moved, that the sum of 600,000l. per annum be given to his majesty, and 100,000l. per annum settled on the prince of Wales. The courtiers perceiving that the proposal of giving the prince of Wales a separate revenue, was only a design to divide the royal family, by lessening the next heir apparent's dependence on the king, opposed it with great warmth; and the question being put upon that motion, the same was carried in the negative by a great majority. The country party having lost these two points, some of that party more openly opposed the main question; among the rest,

had advanced, because it would serve to confirm some matters, which the Committee of Secrecy had found in the papers that were laid

before them.

A courtier, who, at that time, spoke on the opposite side, inade some reflections on the present unthrifty administration of his ma jesty's revenue; and, in particular, took notice of the salaries of the judges being advanced; not, said he, for services done, but expected. Upon the whole matter, the question being put upon the motion before mentioned, about seven o'clock in the evening, the same was carried in the affirmative without dividing.

Debate concerning Pensions. May 18. The Commons resolved themselves into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the several lists and accounts of annuities, pensions, and bounties granted by the late queen, or his present majesty; upon which there arose a warm debate. The leading men among the friends of the late ministry, supported again by a great many courtiers, exclaimed against the pensions given by the crown to several persons of quality, some of whom they named who had no occasion for them; and a motion was made, That an address be presented to his majesty, that he would be pleased to retrench all unnecessary pensions, and grant no more any such for the future. Hereupon,

Mr. Robert Walpole shewed, That they ought not to stint the king's beneficence, nor debar his majesty from the exercise of the most glorious branch of his royal prerogative, which is to bestow his favours on such as distinguish themselves in his service. He was seconded by,

served, that all the pensions about which so Mr. Hampden, who, on the other hand, obmuch noise was made, did not amount to above 25,000l. a year; and to wave the motion made by the country party, he moved, That the chairman should leave the chair; which, being put to the vote, passed in the affirmative, by 191 votes against 188; so that the court party carried it by three voices only.

700,000l. per annum granted to the King for his Household.] May 23. The Commons, in a grand committee on the supply, came to this resolution, viz. That to enable his majesty to support the dignity of the crown, and to make an honourable provision for the royal family, there be granted to his majesty, during his life, an additional revenue of 120,000l. per annum : which, together with the neat produce of the civil list branches, may make up the clear

Sir William Wyndham said, "He had the honour to serve queen Anne, and had the opportunity to look both into her revenue and ex-yearly sum of 700,000l. for the service of his pences; and he could assure the House, that about 500,000l. per annum, were sufficient for the support of her family and civil list; though she reserved about 50,000l. a year for the late king James's consort." The courtiers were glad of this last confession; and

Mr. Secretary Stanhope desired the Committee to take notice of what that gentleman

majesty's houshold and family, and other his necessary expences and occasions. This resolution was reported on the 24th, and agreed to by the House.

Debate in the Lords on a Bill to regulate the Land Forces.] May 30. The House of Lords in a grand Committee, considered of the bill

any member of that august assembly, would speak in favour ofsuch execrable wretches, who designed to have embrued their hands in the blood of their sovereign ;" and therefore moved "That their petition be rejected." Upon this the

Lord Delawar represented, That after the

for regulating the land-forces; when there arose a great debate about a clause, for confining the several regiments to those parts of his majesty's dominions, for which they were allotted; for instance, the twelve thousand men that were on the Irish establishment, to Ireland. The duke of Bucks, the lord Trevor, the lord North and Grey, the bishop of Rochester, and some others of that party, spoke for the clause. But the duke of Marlborough and some other lords shewed the fatal consequences, with which it might be attended, in case of an invasion from abroad, or an insur-party, a rumour was circulated, that he was aprection at home, by a number of enemies, foreign or domestic, superior to the number of forces actually on the spot, where either of them should happen. It was further urged, "That his majesty having trusted his person and family intirely in the bands of the nation, and at the opening of this session told the parliament, That what they should judge necessary for their safety, he should think sufficient for his own; the least they could do for him, was to leave to his wisdom and discretion the disposal of the few troops, that were kept on foot." Some Tory Lords moved, that the foreign officers might be excluded from that number: But,

The Duke of Marlborough spoke in their favour, and argued, "That to exclude officers, who, like the French refugees, had, for above five and twenty years, served England with distinguished zeal and untainted fidelity, would be a piece of injustice unprecedented in the most barbarous nations."

After some other speeches, the question was put, whether the clause should be inserted; and it was carried in the negative by 81 voices against 35. The next day, the Lords read the bill the third time, which, with some amendments, was approved, and sent down to the

Commons.

Debate in the Lords about the Conspirators against K. William 3.] June 1. There was a Debate in the House about a Bill, for continuing the Imprisonment of the conspirators against the life of the late king William. A Petition having been offered in their behalf, the lord North and Grey moved, that a day might be appointed to consider of it; and was seconded by the lord Trevor. They were opposed by Lord Townshend, † who said, “He wondered

R. Blackburn, R. Cassills, J. Bernardi, R. Meldrum, and J. Chambers, were committed to Newgate, in March and April 1696, for conspiring the murder and assassination of king William III. in the 7th and 8th of whose reign and since, several acts were passed for continuing their imprisonment, from time to time, but all of them expired at the demise of queen Anne. +"Charles viscount Townshend, who now took the lead in the adminstration, was eldest son of Sir Horatio Townshend, who was so highly instrumental in forwarding the restoration of Charles 2, that in 1661 he was created a peer, and in 1682 raised to the dignity of viscount. Charles

took his seat in the house of peers in 1697, attached himself to Somers, and acted so cordially with the Whigs,that when William formed a new administration, principally composed of that pointed privy seal. In 1706, he was nominated one of the commissioners for settling the union with Scotland; in 1707, captain of the yeomen of the queen's guard, and in 1709, accompanied the duke of Marlborough to Gertruydenberg, as joint plenipotentiary, to open a negotiation for peace with France; he was deputed in the same year ambassador extraordinary to the states general, and concluded with them the barrier treaty. Soon after the change of the Whig administration he resigned his embassy, was removed from his post of captain of the yeomen, and censured by the Tory House of Commons for having signed that treaty. During the early part of the reign of queen Anne, on account of his youth, he had acted only a subordinate part; but towards the close of that reign his services and decisive conduct raised bis consequence, and he gained great accession of character, with his party, on being prosecuted at the same time with the duke of Marlborough.

hend acquired unremitted assiduity, and from "With parts more solid than specious, Townslong experience, the talent that rendered him an object of his ambition. Though plain in his able man of business, which was the principal language, and often perplexed in argument, yet he spoke sensibly, and with a thorough know ledge of his subject. He was firm, generous, disinterested, of unblemished integrity, and unsullied honour: but he was warm, impetuous, and impatient of contradiction. Initiated in diplomatic transactions during the congress at Gertruydenberg and the Hague, he cherished too great an attachment to negotiation, and was apt to propose bold and decisive measures, which the temperate and pacific disposition of Walpole was continually employed in counteracting.

“During the two months which immediately preceded the queen's death, and the interval which ensued between that event and the arrival of the king, Townshend seems to have secured and governed Bothmar, and the other Hanoverian agents in England; to have supplanted Sunderland and Halifax, and to have obtained the entire confidence of the king, of which he had previously acquired a very distinguished share, by his great reputation for integrity and talents, by the recommendation of pensionary Heinsius, Slingelandt and other leading men of the Dutch republic, and by his uniform adherence to the cause of the Protestant suc cession.

and the key brought and laid upon the table; | quiry, they could have wished some longer and that the Serjeant do stand at the door of time had been allowed them to peruse and dithe House, and suffer no member to go forth. gest several important papers. That in order 2. That Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to to that they would have deferred three weeks the serjeant at arms attending the House, to or a month, the laying their report before the take into his custody such persons as shall be House; but that some gentlemen having renamed to Mr. Speaker by the chairman of theflected on the pretended slowness of the comCommittee of Secrecy, in order to their being examined before the said committee.

mittee. The reading of the said report having lasted from one till about six in the evening, a motion was made by the friends of the late till one time, some till another; but the court, Some proposed the adjourning the debate ministry, and the question put, That the farther consideration thereof be adjourned till party were resolved against any delays; and next morning, but it was carried in the nega-ing, on the motion made by sir Thomas Hanthe question being put about seven in the eventive, by 282 against 175, and ordered, that the Report be now read: And the clerk of the mer, it was carried in the negative by 280 House having read part of it, till half an hour past eight, the farther consideration of it was adjourned.