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in many respects, and I hope will find him in a disposition to close with them, whatever he may have written and wished to the contrary. You imagine, I find, Mader (King of Spain) may have a hand in this turn. I much question it, and methinks the treatment since, if I am rightly informed, proves that point but too clearly. I would to God I could find out any one person in the world he had pleased, that was worth pleasing! for I am touched by his misfortunes, sensibly touched, and afraid lest, upon due reflection, he should sink under the weight of them. For which reason perhaps Mercer (the King) will consider his case with an equal mixture of wisdom and tenderness, and afford him so much countenance and support as is consistent with his own great interest and the measures necessary to be observed with relation to it.

The great abilities of Offield (Duke of Wharton) are past dispute. He alone could render them less useful than they might have been.

I do not despair of Coming's (Lord Lansdown's) breaking off from the party, but neither am I sanguine. A letter he wrote gave me hopes, wherein there are these, or as strong impressions as these, for I have it not now at hand; speaking of a late dizziness he had, he adds The times have been giddy, my Lord; and perhaps I may have partaken of the infection. His correspondence with me has been smelt out, and great pains are taken to keep him tight, as they call it.

BISHOP ATTERBURY TO JAMES.

(Extract.)

(Paris) June 16. 1727.

I HAVE had reasons for some time to think, and lately to be satisfied, that my ceasing to deal in your affairs as much as I have done would not be unwelcome to your Majesty, though you have not thought fit as yet to make any such declaration to me. It may therefore, perhaps,

be some ease to you, Sir, if I first speak of that matter myself, and assure you, as I now do, of my perfect readiness to retire from that share of business with which it has been hitherto thought not improper to intrust me. I apprehend that as things have been managed it will scarce be in my power for the future to do any thing considerable for your service, which I never hoped to do otherwise than by the countenance and encouragement you should be pleased and should be known to afford me. That has, in many respects and by various degrees, for some time past, but especially of late, been withdrawn. I have been left in all my disadvantageous circumstances to work, as well as I could, without any assistance or support. The methods I have taken of serving you have been disapproved, and many ways traversed. What I have asked more than once, in order to give me that credit which alone can render me useful, has not been granted me. In the meantime vain airs have been taken up and lessening things said of me by those who, upon many accounts, should have acted otherwise; and they have ventured even to boast that the most secret parts of my correspondence have been sent back to them. I have complained, declared the grounds, and proved the truth of my complaints without redress. What has given rise to this conduct, I forbear to conjecture or inquire. Doubtless your Majesty must have good and wise reasons for not appearing to discourage it. I acquiesce in them, Sir, whatever they are, and from my heart wish that all the steps you take towards your great end, may be well adjusted and proper; and then it matters not much who may be in or out of your confidence, or who has or has not the honour of serving you.

EARL OF STRAFFORD TO JAMES.

June 21. 1727.

THE alteration here* was so sudden and surprising, as no doubt it was to you, that no man knew at first what would be the consequence. The people in the streets ran

*The death of George the First.

backwards and forwards, only asking news and inquiring of one another what was to be done: the sudden coming of the Prince and Princess to town, and calling of the Council, immediately turned the expectation of the mob on seeing the ceremony of a proclamation that night, who are always fond of any show or a new thing. They waited till midnight, and were then told it was put off till next day, when all things were performed without the least disorder: the torrent was too strong for your friends to resist, so they thought it their best way to join with the rest to hinder distinction, that their party may be the stronger whenever dissatisfaction breaks out again, which is generally thought will not be long, since the expectation of many who were very patient in the last reign, with a view of alteration in this, will be disappointed, to which rage must succeed to see their adversaries grin and triumph over them, and all their hopes dashed for ever: what may be the event no man can tell. I hope your enemies will however be disappointed, since I am convinced the same violent and corrupt measures taken by the father will be pursued by the son, who is passionate, proud, and peevish, and though he talks of ruling by himself, will just be governed as his father was: his declarations that he will make no distinction of parties, and turning off the Germans, makes him popular at present; I am satisfied it will not last.

I cannot flatter you to say I believe you will have a majority of friends in the next Parliament, for I find them already desponding and complaining they have ruined their fortunes and are not able to resist this last effort of the Whigs. My endeavours, I assure you, are not wanting to try to keep up their spirits, but the misfortune that has lately happened abroad with this accident happening on the back of it has quite sunk their spirits for the present.

You have still a great many friends zealous in your cause, who only want an opportunity to show it, but common prudence to save themselves and families from immediate ruin obliges them at present to play a very disagreeable game; and though before they had little hopes of mercy, yet should they be found out now they have none.

JAMES TO BISHOP ATTERBURY.

(Extract.)

Near Nancy, August 9. 1727.

I RECEIVED last night from Luneville yours of the 5th, and at the same time a letter from the Duke of Lorraine, writ in his own hand, in which he desires me in the strongest terms to go out of his country in three days, with a plain intimation that if I delayed it longer he should be forced to oblige me to it by force. He does not name the French in his letter, but it is very manifest that this comes chiefly if not entirely from them, and probably upon instances Mr. Walpole made to the Cardinal upon the return of his courier from England. The Duke of Lorraine expresses the greatest concern to be forced to come to these extremities, which are certainly much against his will. But he cannot resist superior force, neither can I, so that I leave this place on Monday

next.

Enfin, in my present situation I cannot pretend to do any thing essential for my interest, so that all that remains is that the world should see that I have done my part, and have not returned into Italy but by force. The journey I have made on one side, and my remaining here till I was forced out, may be thought sufficient proofs of that, and the circumstances of my being drove from hence are such as may sufficiently justify me in not going to Switzerland without that people's consent, whose counsels always must be influenced by France or the Emperor; and even in general I know not whether it would be a right politic for me to expose myself manifestly to be drove out of different States one after another.

EARL OF ORRERY TO JAMES.

(Extract.)

No date, but endorsed (Received, August 1727). FROM the instructions I have given the bearer (J. Hamilton), and even from the public accounts, you will be

.....

convinced that there is not any room to expect any commotion, or disturbance here at present... We are governed by men of arbitrary principles, and I doubt cruel dispositions; our Parliament are all most universally corrupted; our nobility and gentry are for the most part servile, ignorant, and poor-spirited, striving who shall sell themselves at the best price to the Court, but resolved to sell themselves at any; and our Constitution altered into despotic by the aid of mercenary Lords and Commons. For my own part, though appearances are too melancholy, I do not despair of seeing things both at home and abroad put on a better aspect in a little time. I flatter myself that a breach betwixt this Court and some others of real power, is not unlikely to happen; and any appearance of that, much more any hostile stroke, will soon show the real weakness of this fabric, which now seems very strong; and though there do not yet appear many discontented people upon this change of Government, yet it is probable there will soon arise much animosity against it, and perhaps deeper rooted than ever, from the incapacity, stubbornness, and haughtiness of the present King. This prospect alleviates something of our present miseries, which would otherwise be almost insupportable to men of generous mind and well-wishers of their country. Upon the whole, Sir, lot me beg of you never to think of making any rash attempt.

BISHOP ATTERBURY TO JAMES.

(Extract.)

Aug. 20. 1727.

You will observe, Sir, what a spirit of caution and fear possesses your friends at home, and how they dread any alarm being given to the Government, and taken by it. Something, indeed, must be allowed to Jodrell's (Lord Orrery's) temper, which is wary to excess. However, the persons he consulted with have a deference for his advice: and though not perhaps altogether so cautious

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