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CHAP. mies; and that his talents served only to render his frailties more conspicuous and more despised. On arriving at Madrid, in April 1726, Wharton soon began the usual complaints of all those who negotiate with the Spaniards. "I see the Duke "of Ormond has been very active here; but no

body that has not been something conversant "with this Court can imagine how impracticable it "is to do business." * He found, as he says, the King and Queen "implacable" in the affair of James's consort. His own behaviour at Madrid was most strange and indiscreet. According to Mr. Keene, then British consul," the Duke of "Wharton has not been sober, or scarce had a

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pipe out of his mouth, since he came back from "his expedition to St. Ildefonso. On Tuesday "last I had some company with me that he "wanted to speak with, upon which he came directly into the room, made his compliments, "and placed himself by me. I did not think myself obliged to turn out his star and garter; "because, as he is an everlasting talker and tippler, in all probability he might lavish out some

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thing that might be of use to know. . . . . He "declared himself the Pretender's prime minister, "and Duke of Wharton and Northumberland..... "Says he, You will shortly see the event; it is "in my power to make your stocks fall as I "think fit; my dear master is now in a post

* Duke of Wharton to James, April 13. 1726. Appendix.

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"chaise, but the place he designs for I shall CHAP. "not tell you.. .. Hitherto my master's in"terest has been managed by the Duchess of 1726. Perth, and three or four other old women, who "meet under the portal of St. Germain's; he "wanted a Whig, and a brisk one, to put them "in the right train, and I am the man! You "may now look upon me, Sir Philip Wharton,

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Knight of the Garter, and Sir Robert Walpole, 'Knight of the Bath, running a course, and, by "Heaven, he shall be hard pressed! He bought

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my family pictures, but they will not be long "in his possession; that account is still open; "neither he, nor King George, shall be six "' months at ease as long as I have the honour to "serve in the employ I am in!' He men"tioned great things from Muscovy, and talked "so much nonsense and contradictions, that it was "neither worth my while to remember, nor yours "to read them. I used him very cavalierly, upon "which he was affronted; sword and pistol next day; but, before I slept, a gentleman was sent "to desire every thing might be forgot. What a pleasure must it have been to have killed a prime minister!"*

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Soon after these degrading scenes, a letter was delivered to Wharton, under the Privy Seal of England, commanding him, on his allegiance, to return forthwith, and threatening outlawry in case

Letter to Mr. Robinson, April 5. 1726. Hardwicke State Papers, vol. ii. p. 636.

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CHAP. of his failure. Of this Wharton himself speaks with much unconcern. He writes to James, " I 1726. "had rather carry a musket in an odd-named "Muscovite regiment, than wallow in riches by "the favour of the usurper. . . . . I am told, from good hands, that I am to be intercepted by the enemy on my passage. I shall take the best precautions I can to obviate their malice. I set "out, infallibly, on Tuesday next, and hope to be "with you in three weeks, wind, weather, and "Whigs permitting !"

When Wharton first arrived, he had found Ripperda lately returned from Vienna, created a Duke, and ruling the country as prime minister. Great efforts were expected from him for the regeneration of Spain, and the restoration of the Stuarts ; but in caprice, fickleness, and folly, Ripperda might be worthily compared even with Wharton himself. Though a Dutchman, he out-bragged the Spaniards themselves. He passed the day in boasting of the mighty things he meant to do. He gave the most opposite assurances in different quarters; and instead of deceiving others, only made them angry, and himself contemptible. According to William Stanhope, the British minister, "immediately after his landing at Barcelona, all the officers of the gar"rison went to wait upon him, to whom he said, "that the Emperor had 150,000 men ready to "march at an hour's warning, and that Prince Eugene promised, that in case of a war, he would

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* Letter, June 8. 1726. Appendix.

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"have as many more in six months. He told them, CHAP. that if the Hanoverian league should dare to op66 pose themselves to the designs of the Emperor 1726. "and Spain, France would be pillaged on all sides, "the King of Prussia, whom he was pleased al

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ways to call by the name of the grand grenadier, "would be driven out of his country by the Emperor in one campaign, as His Majesty would be "also in the same time out of his dominions in Germany, and out of his English ones by the "Pretender; he added, that a reconciliation be"tween France and Spain should never be, whilst "he had any authority, and only wished to live "till that was brought about; as being assured he "should then die a very old man."

Yet to Mr. Stanhope himself, he professed the greatest confidence and friendship. "As to the Pretender," he said, "he must own his having "talked both here and at Vienna in his favour, but

that in his heart he was as sincerely in his Ma"jesty's interests, as the best subject he had; of "which he would give the most essential proofs

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upon every occasion; that his talking in the man"ner he had done, proceeded from his opinion of "making his court to their Catholic Majesties, "but more especially to appear zealous in his reli

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gion, which was much suspected in this country, "and to avoid passing for a heretic, and falling "into the hands of the Inquisition, who he was

very sure are very watchful over him, and look

upon him as a CRISTIANO NUEVO.

This was

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CHAP. “what he said he would not, nor durst not say to "his confessor; but called God to witness in the 1726. "most solemn manner to the exact sincerity of “what he thus affirmed." Yet when Mr. Stanhope observed that all military equipments were proceeding with the utmost despatch, and at a vast expense-that the Spaniards were adding to the fortifications of Cadiz-that artillery, tents, and magazines were all preparing that a squadron was ordered to put to sea-when it was whispered to him by the Queen's Confessor, and other good authorities, that a war with France and England was absolutely resolved upon-he did not hesitate to assure his Government, that Ripperda's solemn protestations deserved no credit whatever. He concluded that all his speeches were designed only to gain time, and amuse the Court of St. James's, until the arrival of the Galleons and Flota, that were expected at Cadiz in June, with an immense quantity of

treasure.*

Ripperda had evidently taken Alberoni for his model; but altogether wanted both the lofty genius, and the laborious application of that remarkable man. It was soon found, that no reliance could be placed in his assertions, and any folly expected from his character. Rodomontades were his only resource on every occasion. Once at his levee, he boasted that he had six very good friends, God, the

*Mr. W. Stanhope to Lord Townshend, Madrid, December 27. 1725.