FN560AnaccountofwhatpassedatNorwichmaystillbeseeninseveralcollectionsontheoriginalbroadside。SeealsotheFourthCollectionofPapers,1688。
FN561Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。233。;MS。MemoiroftheHarleyfamilyintheMackintoshCollection。
FN562Citters,Dec。9/191688。LetteroftheBishopofBristoltothePrinceofOrange,Dec5。1688,inDalrymple。
FN563Citters,Nov27/Dec71688;Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。11。;
SongonLordLovelace’sentryintoOxford,1688;Burnet,i。793。
FN564Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。2,3,4,5。1688。
FN565WhittlesExactDiary;Eachard’sHistoryoftheRevelation。
FN566Citters,Nov。20/30Dec。9/191688。
FN567Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。6,7。1688。
FN568Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。7。1688。
FN569HistoryoftheDesertion;Citters,Dec。9/191688;ExactDiary;Oldmixon,760。
FN570SeeaveryinterestingnoteonthefifthcantoofSirWalterScott’sRokeby。
FN571MyaccountofwhatpassedatHungerfordistakenfromClarendon’sDiary,Dec。8,9。1688;Burnet,i。794;thePaperdeliveredtothePrincebytheCommissioners,andthePrince’sAnswer;SirPatrickHume’sDiary;CittersDec。9/19
FN572Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。237。Burnet,strangetosay,hadnotheard,orhadforgotten,thattheprincewasbroughtbacktoLondon,i。796。
FN573Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。246。;Pered’Orleans,Revolutionsd’Angleterre,xi。;MadamedeSevigne,Dec。14/24。
1688;Dangeau,Memoires,Dec。13/23。AstoLauzun,seetheMemoirsofMademoiselleandoftheDukeofSt。Simon,andtheCharactersofLabruyere。
FN574HistoryoftheDesertion;Clarke’sLifeOfJames。ii。251。
Orig。Mem。;Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution;Burnet,i。795
FN575HistoryoftheDesertion;Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution;Fachard’sHistoryoftheRevolution。
FN576LondonGazette,Dec。13。1688。
FN577Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。259。;Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution;LeggePapersintheMackintoshCollection。
FN578LondonGazette,Dec。131688;Barillon,Dec。14/24。;
Citters,samedate;Luttrell’sDiary;Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。
256。Orig。Mem;EllisCorrespondence,Dec。13。;ConsultationoftheSpanishCouncilofState,Jan。19/29,1689。ItappearsthatRonquillocomplainedbitterlytohisgovernmentofhislosses;
"SirviendolesolodeconsueloelhabertenidoprevenciondepoderconsumirElSantisimo。"
FN579LondonGazette,Dec。131688;Luttrell’sDiary;Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution;ConsultationoftheSpanishCouncilofState,Jan。19/291689。Somethingwassaidaboutreprisals:buttheSpanishcounciltreatedthesuggestionwithcontempt。
"Habiendosidoestehechoporunfurordepueblo,sinconsentimientodelgobiernoyantescontrasuvoluntad,comolohamostradolasatisfaccionquelehandadoylehanprometido,parecequenohayjuiciohumanoquepuedeaconsejarquesepaseasemejanteremedio。"
FN580North’sLifeofGuildford,220。;Jeffreys’Elegy;
Luttrell’sDiary;Oldmixon,762。Oldmixonwasinthecrowd,andwas,Idoubtnot,oneofthemostfuriousthere。Hetellsthestorywell。EllisCorrespondence;Barnet,i。797。andOnslow’snote。
FN581Adda,Dec。9/19;Citters,Dec。18/28
FN582Citters,Dec。14/24。1688;Luttrell’sDiary;EllisCorrespondence;Oldmixon,761。;Speke’sSecretHistoryoftheRevolution;Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。257。;Eachard’sHistoryoftheRevolution;HistoryoftheDesertion。
FN583Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。258。
FN584SecretHistoryoftheRevolution。
FN585Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。13。1688;Citters,Dec14/24;
Eachard’sHistoryoftheRevolution。
FN586Citters,Dec。14/24688;Luttrell’sDiary。
FN587Clarke’sLifeofJamesii。251。Orig。Mem。;LetterprintedinTindal’sContinuationofRapin。ThiscuriousletterisintheHarl。MSS。6852。
FN588Reresbywastold,byaladywhomhedoesnotname,thattheKinghadnointentionofwithdrawingtillhereceivedaletterfromHalifax,whowasthenatHungerford。Theletter,shesaid,informedHisMajestythat,ifhestaid,hislifewouldbeindanger。Thisiscertainlyamereromance。TheKing,beforetheCommissionersleftLondon,hadtoldBarillonthattheirembassywasamerefeint,andhadexpressedafullresolutiontoleavethecountry。ItisclearfromReresby’sownnarrativethatHalifaxthoughthimselfshamefullyused。
FN589Harl。MS。255。
FN590HalifaxMS。;Citters,Dec。18/28。1688。
FN591Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution。
FN592Seehisproclamation,datedfromSt。Germains,April20。
1692。
FN593Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。261。Orig。Mem。
FN594Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。16。1688;Barnet,i。800。
FN595Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。262。Orig。Mem。;Barnet,i。
799IntheHistoryoftheDesertion(1689),itisaffirmedthattheshoutsonthisoccasionwereutteredmerelybysomeidleboys,andthatthegreatbodyofthepeoplelookedoninsilence。
Oldmixon,whowasinthecrowd,saysthesame;andRalph,whoseprejudiceswereverydifferentfromOldmixon’s,tellsusthattheinformationwhichhehadreceivedfromarespectableeyewitnesswastothesameeffect。Thetruthprobablyisthatthesignsofjoywereinthemselvesslight,butseemedextraordinarybecauseaviolentexplosionofpublicindignationhadbeenexpected。
Barillonmentionsthattherehadbeenacclamationsandsomebonfires,butadds,"LepeopledanslefondestpourlePrinced’Orange。"Dec。17/271688。
FN596LondonGazette,Dec。16。1688;Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution;HistoryoftheDesertion;Burnet,i。799。;Evelyn’sDiary,Dec。13。17。1688。
FN597Clarke’sHistoryofJames,ii。262。Orig。Mem。
FN598Barillon,Dec。17/271681;Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。
271。
FN599Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution;Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。16。1688。
FN600Burneti。800。;Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。171688;Citters,Dec。18/28。1688。
FN601Burnet,i。800。;ConductoftheDuchessofMarlborough;
Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution。Clarendonsaysnothingofthisundertheproperdate;butseehisDiary,August19。1689。
FN602Harte’sLifeofGustavusAdolphus。
FN603Clarke’sLifeofJamesii。264。mostlyfromOrig。Mem。;
Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution;RapindeThoyras。ItmustberememberedthatintheseeventsRapinwashimselfanactor。
FN604Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。265。Orig。Mem。;Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution;Burnet,i,801。;Citters,Dec。18/28。
1688。
FN605Citters,Dec。18/28。1688;Evelyn’sDiary,samedate;
Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。266,267。Orig。Mem。
FN606CittersDec。18/281688,FN607Luttrell’sDiary;Evelyn’sDiary;Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。
18。1688;RevolutionPolitics。
FN608FourthCollectionofpapersrelatingtothepresentjunctureofaffairsinEngland,1688;Burnet,i。802,803。;
Calamy’sLifeandTimesofBaxter,chap。xiv。
FN609Burnet,i。803。
FN610GazettedeFrance,Jan26/Feb51689。
FN611HistoryoftheDesertion;Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。21。
1688;Burnet,i。803。andOnslow’snote。
FN612Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。21。1688;Citters,samedate。
FN613Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。21,22。1688;Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。268。270。Orig。Mem。
FN614Clarendon,Dec。23,1688;Clarke’sLifeofJames,ii。271。
273。275。Orig。Mem。
FN615Citters,Jan。1/11。1689;WitsenMS。quotedbyWagenaar,booklx。
FN616Halifax’snotes;LansdowneMS。255。;Clarendon’sDiary,Dec。24。1688;LondonGazette,Dec。31。
FN617Citters,Dec28/Jan41688。
FN618Theobjectorwasdesignatedincontemporarybooksandpamphletsonlybyhisinitials;andtheseweresometimesmisinterpreted。EachardattributesthecaviltoSirRobertSouthwell。ButIhavenodoubtthatOldmixonisrightinputtingitintothemouthofSawyer。
FN619HistoryoftheDesertion;LifeofWilliam,1703;Citters,Dec28/Jan71688/9
FN620LondonGazette,Jan。3。7。1688/9。
FN621LondonGazette,Jan。1017。1688/9;Luttrell’sDiary;
LeggePapers;Citters,1/114/1411/21。1689;Ronquillo,Jan。
15/25Feb23/Mar5;ConsultationoftheSpanishCouncilofState。
March26/April5
FN622Burnet,i,。802;Ronquillo,Jan。2/12Feb。8/18。1689。TheoriginalsofthesedespatcheswereentrustedtomebythekindnessofthelateLadyHollandandofthepresentLordHolland。PromthelatterdespatchIwillquoteaveryfewwords:
"LatemadeS。M。BritanicaaseguirimprudentesconsejosperdioalosCatolicosaquellaquietudenquelesdexoCarlossegundo。
V。E。asegureasuSantidadquemassacaredelPrincipeparalosCatolicosquepudierasacardelRey。"
FN623OnDecember13/23。1688,theAdmiralofCastilegavehisopinionthus:"EstamateriaesdecalidadquenopuededexardepadecernuestrasagradareligionoelserviciodeV。M。;porque,sie1PrincipedeOrangetienebuenossuccesos,nosaseguraremosdeFranceses,peropeligraralareligion。"TheCouncilwasmuchpleasedonFebruary16/26byaletterofthePrince,inwhichhepromised"quelosCatolicosqueseportarenconprudencianoseanmolestados,ygocenlibertaddeconciencia,porsercontrasudictamenelforzarnicastigarporestarazonanadie。"
FN624InthechapterofLaBruyere,entitled"SurlesJugemens,"
isapassagewhichdeservestoberead,asshowinginwhatlightourrevolutionappearedtoaFrenchmanofdistinguishedabilities。
FN625MyaccountofthereceptionofJamesandhiswifeinFranceistakenchieflyfromthelettersofMadamedeSevigneandtheMemoirsofDangeau。
FN626AlbevilletoPreston,Nov23/Dec31688,intheMackintoshCollection。
FN627"’TishiernuHosanna:maar’tzal,veelligt,haastKruisthemkruisthem,zyn。"Witsen,MS。inWagenaar,booklxi。Itisanoddcoincidencethat,averyfewyearsbefore,RichardDuke,aTorypoet,oncewellknown,butnowscarcelyrememberedexceptbyJohnson’sbiographicalsketch,hadusedexactlythesameillustrationaboutJames"WasnotofoldtheJewishrabble’scry,Hosannahfirst,andaftercrucify?"
TheReview。
DespatchoftheDutchAmbassadorsExtraordinary,Jan。8/18。1689;
Citters,samedate。
FN628LondonGazette,Jan。7。1688/9。
FN629TheSixthCollectionofPapers,1689;Wodrow,III。xii。4。
App。150,151;FaithfulContendingsDisplayed;Burnet,i。804。
FN630PerthtoLadyErrol,Dec。29。1688;toMelfort,Dec。21。
1688;SixthCollectionofPapers,1689。
FN631Burnet,i。805。;SixthCollectionofPapers,1689。
FN632Albeville,Nov。9/19。1688。
FN633SeethepamphletentitledLettertoaMemberoftheConvention,andtheanswer,1689;Burnet,i。809。
FN634LettertotheLordsoftheCouncil,Jan。4/14。1688/9;
Clarendon’sDiary,Jan9/19
FN635Itseemsincrediblethatanymanshouldreallyhavebeenimposeduponbysuchnonsense。IthereforethinkitrighttoquoteSancroft’swords,whicharestillextantinhisownhandwriting:
"ThepoliticalcapacityorauthorityoftheKing,andhisnameinthegovernment,areperfectandcannotfail;buthispersonbeinghumanandmortal,andnototherwiseprivilegedthantherestofmankind,issubjecttoallthedefectsandfailingsofit。Hemaythereforebeincapableofdirectingthegovernmentanddispensingthepublictreasure,&c。eitherbyabsence,byinfancy,lunacy,deliracy,orapathy,whetherbynatureorcasualinfirmity,orlastly,bysomeinvincibleprejudicesofmind,contractedandfixedbyeducationandhabit,withunalterableresolutionssuperinduced,inmatterswhollyinconsistentandincompatiblewiththelaws,religion,peace,andtruepolicyofthekingdom。
Inallthesecases(Isay)theremustbesomeoneormorepersonsappointedtosupplysuchdefect,andvicariouslytohim,andbyhispowerandauthority,todirectpublicaffairs。AndthisdoneIsayfurther,thatallproceedings,authorities,commissions,grants,&c。issuedasformerly,arelegalandvalidtoallintents,andthepeople’sallegianceisthesamestill,theiroathsandobligationsnowaythwarted……SolongasthegovernmentmovesbytheKingsauthority,andinhisname,allthosesacredtiesandsettledformsofproceedingsarekept,andnoman’sconscienceburthenedwithanythingheneedsscrupletoundertake。"——TannerMS。;Doyly’sLifeofSancroft。ItwasnotaltogetherwithoutreasonthatthecreaturesofJamesmadethemselvesmerrywiththegoodArchbishop’sEnglish。
FN636Evelyn,Jan。15。1688/9。
FN637Clarendon’sDiary,Dee。241688;Burnet,i。819。;
ProposalshumblyofferedinbehalfofthePrincessofOrange,Jan。28。1688/9。
FN638Burnet,i。389。,andthenotesofSpeakerOnslow。
FN639Evelyn’sDiary,Sept。26。1672,Oct。12。1679,July13。
1700;Seymour’sSurveyofLondon。
FN640Burnet,i。388。;andSpeakerOnslow’snote。
FN641Citters,Jan22/Feb11689;Grey’sDebates。
FN642Lords’andCommons’Journals,Jan。22。1688;CittersandClarendon’sDiaryofthesamedate。
FN643Lords’Journals,Jan。25。1683;Clarendon’sDiary,Jan。
23。25。
FN644Commons’Journals,Jan。28。1688/9;Grey’sDebates,CittersJan29/Feb8IfthereportinGrey’sDebatesbecorrect,CittersmusthavebeenmisinformedastoSawyer’sspeech。
FN645Lords’andCommons’Journals,Jan。29。1688/9
FN646Clarendon’sDiary,Jan。21。1688/9;Burnet,i。810;
Doyly’sLifeofSancroft;
FN647SeetheActofUniformity。
FN648Stat。2Hen。7。c。I。:LordCoke’sInstitutes,partiii。
chapi。;TrialofCookforhightreason,intheCollectionofStateTrials;Burnet,i。873。andSwift’snote。
FN649LordsJournalsJan。29。1688/9;Clarendon’sDiary;
Evelyn’sDiary;Citters;Eachard’sHistoryoftheRevolution;
Barnet,i。813。;HistoryoftheReestablishmentoftheGovernment,1689。ThenumbersoftheContentsandNotContentsarenotgiveninthejournals,andaredifferentlyreportedbydifferentwriters。IhavefollowedClarendon,whotookthetroubletomakeoutlistsofthemajorityandminority。
FN650Grey’sDebates;Evelyn’sDiary;LifeofArchbishopSharp,byhisson;ApologyfortheNewSeparation,inalettertoDr。
JohnSharp,ArchbishopofYork,1691。
FN651Lords’Journals,Jan。30。1689/8;Clarendon’sDiary。
FN652Dartmouth’snoteonBurneti。393。DartmouthsaysthatitwasfromFagelthattheLordsextractedthehint。Thiswasaslipofthepenverypardonableinahastymarginalnote;butDalrympleandothersoughtnottohavecopiedsopalpableablunder。FageldiedinHolland,onthe5thofDecember1688,whenWilliamwasatSalisburyandJamesatWhitehall。Therealpersonwas,Isuppose,Dykvelt,Bentinck,orZulestein,mostprobablyDykvelt。
FN653BoththeserviceandBurnet’ssermonarestilltobefoundinourgreatlibraries,andwillrepaythetroubleofperusal。
FN654Lords’Journals,Jan。31。1688/9。
FN655Citters,Feb。5/15。1689;Clarendon’sDiary,Feb。2。ThestoryisgreatlyexaggeratedintheworkentitledRevolutionPolitics,aneminentlyabsurdbook,yetofsomevalueasarecordofthefoolishreportsoftheday。GreysDebates。
FN656TheletterofJames,datedJan24/Feb31689,willbefoundinKennet。ItismostdisingenuouslygarbledinClarke’sLifeofJames。SeeClarendon’sDiary,Feb。2。4。;Grey’sDebates;
Lords’Journals,Feb。2。4。1688/9。
FN657Ithasbeenassertedbyseveralwriters,and,amongothers,byRalphandbyM。Mazure,thatDanbysignedthisprotest。Thisisamistake。ProbablysomepersonwhoexaminedthejournalsbeforetheywereprintedmistookDerbyforDanby。Lords’
Journals,Feb。4。1688/9。Evelyn,afewdaysbefore,wroteDerby,bymistake,forDanby。Diary,Jan。29。1688/9
FN658Commons’Journals,Feb。5。1688/9
FN659Burnet,i。819。
FN660Clarendon’sDiary,Jan。1,4,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,1688/9;Burnet,i。807。
FN661Clarendon’sDiary,Feb,5。168/9;DuchessofMarlborough’sVindication;Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution。
FN662Burnet,i。820。Burnetsaysthathehasnotrelatedtheeventsofthisstirringtimeinchronologicalorder。Ihavethereforebeenforcedtoarrangethembyguess:butIthinkthatIcanscarcelybewronginsupposingthattheletterofthePrincessofOrangetoDanbyarrived,andthatthePrince’sexplanationofhisviewswasgiven,betweenThursdaythe31stofJanuary,andWednesdaythe6thofFebruary。
FN663Mulgrave’sAccountoftheRevolution。Inthefirstthreeeditions,Itoldthisstoryincorrectly。ThefaultwaschieflymyownbutpartlyBurnet’s,bywhosecarelessuseofthepronoun_he_,Iwasmisled。Burnet,i。818
FN664Commons’Journals,Feb。6。1688/9
FN665SeetheLords’andCommons’JournalsofFeb。6。1688/9andtheReportoftheConference。
FN666Lords’Journals,Feb。6。1688/9;Clarendon’sDiary;
Burnet,i。822。andDartmouth’snote;Citters,Feb。8/18,。IhavefollowedClarendonastothenumbers。Somewritersmakethemajoritysmallerandsomelarger。
FN667LordsJournals,Feb。6,7。1688/9;Clarendon’sDiary。
FN668CommonsJournals,Jan。29。,Feb。2。1688/9。
FN669Commons’Journal’s,Feb,2。1683。
FN670Grey’sDebates;Burnet,i。822。
FN671Commons’Journals,Feb。4。8。11,12。;Lords’Journals,Feb。9。11。12,1688/9
FN672LondonGazette,Feb。14。1688/9;Citters,Feb。12/22。
FN673DuchessofMarlborough’sVindication;ReviewoftheVindication;Burnet,i。781。825。andDartmouth’snote;Evelyn’sDiary,Feb。21。1688/9。
FN674Lords’andCommons’Journals,Feb。141688/9;Citters,Feb。15/25。CittersputsintoWilliam’smouthstrongerexpressionsofrespectfortheauthorityofParliamentthanappearinthejournals;butitisclearfromwhatPowlesaidthatthereportinthejournalswasnotstrictlyaccurate。
FN675LondonGazette,Feb。14。1688/9;Lords’andCommons’
Journals,Feb。13。;Citters,Feb15/25;Evelyn,Feb。21。
EndTheHistoryofEnglandfromtheAccessionofJamestheSecondVolumeIII
(ChaptersXI—XVI)
byThomasBabingtonMacaulayCHAPTERXI
WilliamandMaryproclaimedinLondon——RejoicingsthroughoutEngland;RejoicingsinHolland——DiscontentoftheClergyandoftheArmy——ReactionofPublicFeeling——TemperoftheTories——
TemperoftheWhigs——MinisterialArrangements——WilliamhisownMinisterforForeignAffairs——Danby——Halifax——NottinghamShrewsburyTheBoardofAdmiralty;theBoardofTreasury——TheGreatSeal——TheJudges——TheHousehold——SubordinateAppointments——
TheConventionturnedintoaParliament——TheMembersofthetwoHousesrequiredtotaketheOathsQuestionsrelatingtotheRevenue——AbolitionoftheHearthMoney——RepaymentoftheExpensesoftheUnitedProvinces——MutinyatIpswich——ThefirstMutinyBill——SuspensionoftheHabeasCorpusAct——UnpopularityofWilliam——PopularityofMary——TheCourtremovedfromWhitehalltoHamptonCourt——TheCourtatKensington;William’sforeignFavourites——GeneralMaladministration——DissensionsamongMeninOffice——DepartmentofForeignAffairs——ReligiousDisputes——TheHighChurchParty——TheLowChurchParty——William’sViewsconcerningEcclesiasticalPolity——Burnet,BishopofSalisbury——
Nottingham’sViewsconcerningEcclesiasticalPolity——TheTolerationBill——TheComprehensionBill——TheBillforsettlingtheOathsofAllegianceandSupremacy——TheBillforsettlingtheCoronationOath——TheCoronation——Promotions——TheCoalitionagainstFrance;theDevastationofthePalatinate——WardeclaredagainstFranceTHERevolutionhadbeenaccomplished。ThedecreesoftheConventionwereeverywherereceivedwithsubmission。London,trueduringfiftyeventfulyearstothecauseofcivilfreedomandofthereformedreligion,wasforemostinprofessingloyaltytothenewSovereigns。GarterKingatarms,aftermakingproclamationunderthewindowsofWhitehall,rodeinstatealongtheStrandtoTempleBar。HewasfollowedbythemacesofthetwoHouses,bythetwoSpeakers,HalifaxandPowle,andbyalongtrainofcoachesfilledwithnoblemenandgentlemen。ThemagistratesoftheCitythrewopentheirgatesandjoinedtheprocession。FourregimentsofmilitialinedthewayupLudgateHill,roundSaintPaul’sCathedral,andalongCheapside。Thestreets,thebalconies,andtheveryhousetopswerecrowdedwithgazers。AllthesteeplesfromtheAbbeytotheTowersentforthajoyousdin。
Theproclamationwasrepeated,withsoundoftrumpet,infrontoftheRoyalExchange,amidsttheshoutsofthecitizens。
IntheeveningeverywindowfromWhitechapeltoPiccadillywaslightedup。Thestateroomsofthepalacewerethrownopen,andwerefilledbyagorgeouscompanyofcourtiersdesiroustokissthehandsoftheKingandQueen。TheWhigsassembledthere,flushedwithvictoryandprosperity。Therewereamongthemsomewhomightbepardonedifavindictivefeelingmingledwiththeirjoy。Themostdeeplyinjuredofallwhohadsurvivedtheeviltimeswasabsent。LadyRussell,whileherfriendswerecrowdingthegalleriesofWhitehall,remainedinherretreat,thinkingofonewho,ifhehadbeenstillliving,wouldhaveheldnoundistinguishedplaceintheceremoniesofthatgreatday。Butherdaughter,whohadafewmonthsbeforebecomethewifeofLordCavendish,waspresentedtotheroyalpairbyhismothertheCountessofDevonshire。Aletterisstillextantinwhichtheyoungladydescribedwithgreatvivacitytheroarofthepopulace,theblazeinthestreets,thethronginthepresencechamber,thebeautyofMary,andtheexpressionwhichennobledandsoftenedtheharshfeaturesofWilliam。Butthemostinterestingpassageisthatinwhichtheorphangirlavowedthesterndelightwithwhichshehadwitnessedthetardypunishmentofherfather’smurderer。1
TheexampleofLondonwasfollowedbytheprovincialtowns。
DuringthreeweekstheGazetteswerefilledwithaccountsofthesolemnitiesbywhichthepublicjoymanifesteditself,cavalcadesofgentlemenandyeomen,processionsofSheriffsandBailiffsinscarletgowns,mustersofzealousProtestantswithorangeflagsandribands,salutes,bonfires,illuminations,music,balls,dinners,guttersrunningwithaleandconduitsspoutingclaret。2
StillmorecordialwastherejoicingamongtheDutch,whentheylearnedthatthefirstministeroftheirCommonwealthhadbeenraisedtoathrone。OntheverydayofhisaccessionhehadwrittentoassuretheStatesGeneralthatthechangeinhissituationhadmadenochangeintheaffectionwhichheboretohisnativeland,andthathisnewdignitywould,hehoped,enablehimtodischargehisolddutiesmoreefficientlythanever。Thatoligarchicalparty,whichhadalwaysbeenhostiletothedoctrinesofCalvinandtotheHouseofOrange,mutteredfaintlythatHisMajestyoughttoresigntheStadtholdership。Butallsuchmutteringsweredrownedbytheacclamationsofapeopleproudofthegeniusandsuccessoftheirgreatcountryman。Adayofthanksgivingwasappointed。InallthecitiesoftheSevenProvincesthepublicjoymanifesteditselfbyfestivitiesofwhichtheexpensewaschieflydefrayedbyvoluntarygifts。Everyclassassisted。Thepoorestlabourercouldhelptosetupanarchoftriumph,ortobringsedgetoabonfire。EventheruinedHuguenotsofFrancecouldcontributetheaidoftheiringenuity。
Oneartwhichtheyhadcarriedwiththemintobanishmentwastheartofmakingfireworks;andtheynow,inhonourofthevictoriouschampionoftheirfaith,lightedupthecanalsofAmsterdamwithshowersofsplendidconstellations。3
TosuperficialobserversitmightwellseemthatWilliamwas,atthistime,oneofthemostenviableofhumanbeings。Hewasintruthoneofthemostanxiousandunhappy。Hewellknewthatthedifficultiesofhistaskwereonlybeginning。Alreadythatdawnwhichhadlatelybeensobrightwasovercast;andmanysignsportendedadarkandstormyday。
Itwasobservedthattwoimportantclassestooklittleornopartinthefestivitiesbywhich,alloverEngland,theinaugurationofthenewgovernmentwascelebrated。VeryseldomcouldeitherapriestorasoldierbeseenintheassemblageswhichgatheredroundthemarketcrosseswheretheKingandQueenwereproclaimed。Theprofessionalpridebothoftheclergyandofthearmyhadbeendeeplywounded。ThedoctrineofnonresistancehadbeendeartotheAnglicandivines。Itwastheirdistinguishingbadge。Itwastheirfavouritetheme。Ifwearetojudgebythatportionoftheiroratorywhichhascomedowntous,theyhadpreachedaboutthedutyofpassiveobedienceatleastasoftenandaszealouslyasabouttheTrinityortheAtonement。4Theirattachmenttotheirpoliticalcreedhadindeedbeenseverelytried,andhad,duringashorttime,wavered。ButwiththetyrannyofJamesthebitterfeelingwhichthattyrannyhadexcitedamongthemhadpassedaway。Theparsonofaparishwasnaturallyunwillingtojoininwhatwasreallyatriumphoverthoseprincipleswhich,duringtwenty—eightyears,hisflockhadheardhimproclaimoneveryanniversaryoftheMartyrdomandoneveryanniversaryoftheRestoration。
Thesoldiers,too,werediscontented。TheyhatedPoperyindeed;
andtheyhadnotlovedthebanishedKing。Buttheykeenlyfeltthat,intheshortcampaignwhichhaddecidedthefateoftheircountry,theirshadbeenaningloriouspart。Fortyfineregiments,aregulararmysuchashadneverbeforemarchedtobattleundertheroyalstandardofEngland,hadretreatedprecipitatelybeforeaninvader,andhadthen,withoutastruggle,submittedtohim。Thatgreatforcehadbeenabsolutelyofnoaccountinthelatechange,haddonenothingtowardskeepingWilliamout,andhaddonenothingtowardsbringinghimin。Theclowns,who,armedwithpitchforksandmountedoncarthorses,hadstraggledinthetrainofLovelaceorDelamere,hadborneagreaterpartintheRevolutionthanthosesplendidhouseholdtroops,whoseplumedhats,embroideredcoats,andcurvettingchargerstheLondonershadsooftenseenwithadmirationinHydePark。Themortificationofthearmywasincreasedbythetauntsoftheforeigners,tauntswhichneitherordersnorpunishmentscouldentirelyrestrain。5Atseveralplacestheangerwhichabraveandhighspiritedbodyofmenmight,insuchcircumstances,beexpectedtofeel,showeditselfinanalarmingmanner。AbattalionwhichlayatCirencesterputoutthebonfires,huzzaedforKingJames,anddrankconfusiontohisdaughterandhisnephew。ThegarrisonofPlymouthdisturbedtherejoicingsoftheCountyofCornwall:blowswereexchanged,andamanwaskilledinthefray。6
Theillhumouroftheclergyandofthearmycouldnotbutbenoticedbythemostheedless;fortheclergyandthearmyweredistinguishedfromotherclassesbyobviouspeculiaritiesofgarb。"Blackcoatsandredcoats,"saidavehementWhigintheHouseofCommons,"arethecursesofthenation。"7Butthediscontentwasnotconfinedtotheblackcoatsandtheredcoats。
TheenthusiasmwithwhichmenofallclasseshadwelcomedWilliamtoLondonatChristmashadgreatlyabatedbeforethecloseofFebruary。Thenewkinghad,attheverymomentatwhichhisfameandfortunereachedthehighestpoint,predictedthecomingreaction。Thatreactionmight,indeed,havebeenpredictedbyalesssagaciousobserverofhumanaffairs。Foritistobechieflyascribedtoalawascertainasthelawswhichregulatethesuccessionoftheseasonsandthecourseofthetradewinds。Itisthenatureofmantooverratepresentevil,andtounderratepresentgood;tolongforwhathehasnot,andtobedissatisfiedwithwhathehas。Thispropensity,asitappearsinindividuals,hasoftenbeennoticedbothbylaughingandbyweepingphilosophers。ItwasafavouritethemeofHoraceandofPascal,ofVoltaireandofJohnson。Toitsinfluenceonthefateofgreatcommunitiesmaybeascribedmostoftherevolutionsandcounterrevolutionsrecordedinhistory。Ahundredgenerationshaveelapsedsincethefirstgreatnationalemancipation,ofwhichanaccounthascomedowntous。Wereadinthemostancientofbooksthatapeoplebowedtothedustunderacruelyoke,scourgedtotoilbyhardtaskmasters,notsuppliedwithstraw,yetcompelledtofurnishthedailytaleofbricks,becamesickoflife,andraisedsuchacryofmiseryaspiercedtheheavens。Theslaveswerewonderfullysetfree:atthemomentoftheirliberationtheyraisedasongofgratitudeandtriumph:but,inafewhours,theybegantoregrettheirslavery,andtomurmuragainsttheleaderwhohaddecoyedthemawayfromthesavouryfareofthehouseofbondagetothedrearywastewhichstillseparatedthemfromthelandflowingwithmilkandhoney。SincethattimethehistoryofeverygreatdelivererhasbeenthehistoryofMosesretold。DowntothepresenthourrejoicingslikethoseontheshoreoftheRedSeahaveeverbeenspeedilyfollowedbymurmuringslikethoseattheWatersofStrife。8Themostjustandsalutaryrevolutionmustproducemuchsuffering。
Themostjustandsalutaryrevolutioncannotproduceallthegoodthathadbeenexpectedfromitbymenofuninstructedmindsandsanguinetempers。Eventhewisestcannot,whileitisstillrecent,weighquitefairlytheevilswhichithascausedagainsttheevilswhichithasremoved。Fortheevilswhichithascausedarefelt;andtheevilswhichithasremovedarefeltnolonger。
ThusitwasnowinEngland。Thepublicwas,asitalwaysisduringthecoldfitswhichfollowitshotfits,sullen,hardtoplease,dissatisfiedwithitself,dissatisfiedwiththosewhohadlatelybeenitsfavourites。Thetrucebetweenthetwogreatpartieswasatanend。Separatedbythememoryofallthathadbeendoneandsufferedduringaconflictofhalfacentury,theyhadbeen,duringafewmonths,unitedbyacommondanger。Butthedangerwasover:theunionwasdissolved;andtheoldanimositybrokeforthagaininallitsstrength。
Jameshadduringthelastyearofhisreign,beenevenmorehatedbytheToriesthanbytheWhigs;andnotwithoutcausefortheWhigshewasonlyanenemy;andtotheTorieshehadbeenafaithlessandthanklessfriend。Buttheoldroyalistfeeling,whichhadseemedtobeextinctinthetimeofhislawlessdomination,hadbeenpartiallyrevivedbyhismisfortunes。Manylordsandgentlemen,whohad,inDecember,takenarmsforthePrinceofOrangeandaFreeParliament,muttered,twomonthslater,thattheyhadbeendrawnin;thattheyhadtrustedtoomuchtoHisHighness’sDeclaration;thattheyhadgivenhimcreditforadisinterestednesswhich,itnowappeared,wasnotinhisnature。TheyhadmeanttoputonKingJames,forhisowngood,somegentleforce,topunishtheJesuitsandrenegadeswhohadmisledhim,toobtainfromhimsomeguaranteeforthesafetyofthecivilandecclesiasticalinstitutionsoftherealm,butnottouncrownandbanishhim。Forhismaladministration,grossasithadbeen,excuseswerefound。Wasitstrangethat,drivenfromhisnativeland,whilestillaboy,byrebelswhowereadisgracetotheProtestantname,andforcedtopasshisyouthincountrieswheretheRomanCatholicreligionwasestablished,heshouldhavebeencaptivatedbythatmostattractiveofallsuperstitions?Wasitstrangethat,persecutedandcalumniatedashehadbeenbyanimplacablefaction,hisdispositionshouldhavebecomesternerandmoreseverethanithadoncebeenthought,andthat,whenthosewhohadtriedtoblasthishonourandtorobhimofhisbirthrightwereatlengthinhispower,heshouldnothavesufficientlytemperedjusticewithmercy?Astotheworstchargewhichhadbeenbroughtagainsthim,thechargeoftryingtocheathisdaughtersoutoftheirinheritancebyfatheringasupposititiouschild,onwhatgroundsdiditrest?Merelyonslightcircumstances,suchasmightwellbeimputedtoaccident,ortothatimprudencewhichwasbuttoomuchinharmonywithhischaracter。DideverthemoststupidcountryjusticeputaboyinthestockswithoutrequiringstrongerevidencethanthatonwhichtheEnglishpeoplehadpronouncedtheirKingguiltyofthebasestandmostodiousofallfrauds?Somegreatfaultshehaddoubtlesscommitted,nothingcouldbemorejustorconstitutionalthanthatforthosefaultshisadvisersandtoolsshouldbecalledtoaseverereckoning;nordidanyofthoseadvisersandtoolsmorerichlydeservepunishmentthantheRoundheadsectarieswhoseadulationhadencouragedhimtopersistinthefatalexerciseofthedispensingpower。ItwasafundamentallawofthelandthattheKingcoulddonowrong,andthat,ifwrongweredonebyhisauthority,hiscounsellorsandagentswereresponsible。Thatgreatrule,essentialtoourpolity,wasnowinverted。Thesycophants,whowerelegallypunishable,enjoyedimpunity:theKing,whowasnotlegallypunishable,waspunishedwithmercilessseverity。WasitpossiblefortheCavaliersofEngland,thesonsofthewarriorswhohadfoughtunderRupert,nottofeelbittersorrowandindignationwhentheyreflectedonthefateoftheirrightfulliegelord,theheirofalonglineofprinces,latelyenthronedinsplendouratWhitehall,nowanexile,asuppliant,amendicant?HiscalamitieshadbeengreaterthaneventhoseoftheBlessedMartyrfromwhomhesprang。Thefatherhadbeenslainbyavowedandmortalfoes:theruinofthesonhadbeentheworkofhisownchildren。Surelythepunishment,evenifdeserved,shouldhavebeeninflictedbyotherhands。Andwasitaltogetherdeserved?Hadnottheunhappymanbeenratherweakandrashthanwicked?Hadhenotsomeofthequalitiesofanexcellentprince?
Hisabilitieswerecertainlynotofahighorder:buthewasdiligent:hewasthrifty:hehadfoughtbravely:hehadbeenhisownministerformaritimeaffairs,andhad,inthatcapacity,acquittedhimselfrespectably:hehad,tillhisspiritualguidesobtainedafatalascendencyoverhismind,beenregardedasamanofstrictjustice;and,tothelast,whenhewasnotmisledbythem,hegenerallyspoketruthanddealtfairly。Withsomanyvirtueshemight,ifhehadbeenaProtestant,nay,ifhehadbeenamoderateRomanCatholic,havehadaprosperousandgloriousreign。Perhapsitmightnotbetoolateforhimtoretrievehiserrors。Itwasdifficulttobelievethathecouldbesodullandperverseasnottohaveprofitedbytheterribledisciplinewhichhehadrecentlyundergone;and,ifthatdisciplinehadproducedtheeffectswhichmightreasonablybeexpectedfromit,Englandmightstillenjoy,underherlegitimateruler,alargermeasureofhappinessandtranquillitythanshecouldexpectfromtheadministrationofthebestandablestusurper。
Weshoulddogreatinjusticetothosewhoheldthislanguage,ifwesupposedthattheyhad,asabody,ceasedtoregardPoperyanddespotismwithabhorrence。SomezealotsmightindeedbefoundwhocouldnotbearthethoughtofimposingconditionsontheirKing,andwhowerereadytorecallhimwithoutthesmallestassurancethattheDeclarationofIndulgenceshouldnotbeinstantlyrepublished,thattheHighCommissionshouldnotbeinstantlyrevived,thatPetreshouldnotbeagainseatedattheCouncilBoard,andthatthefellowsofMagdaleneshouldnotagainbeejected。Butthenumberofthesemenwassmall。Ontheotherhand,thenumberofthoseRoyalists,who,ifJameswouldhaveacknowledgedhismistakesandpromisedtoobservethelaws,werereadytorallyroundhim,wasverylarge。Itisaremarkablefactthattwoableandexperiencedstatesmen,whohadborneachiefpartintheRevolution,franklyacknowledged,afewdaysaftertheRevolutionhadbeenaccomplished,theirapprehensionthataRestorationwascloseathand。"IfKingJameswereaProtestant,"
saidHalifaxtoReresby,"wecouldnotkeephimoutfourmonths。"
"IfKingJames,"saidDanbytothesamepersonaboutthesametime,"wouldbutgivethecountrysomesatisfactionaboutreligion,whichhemighteasilydo,itwouldbeveryhardtomakeheadagainsthim。"9HappilyforEngland,Jameswas,asusual,hisownworstenemy。Nowordindicatingthathetookblametohimselfonaccountofthepast,orthatheintendedtogovernconstitutionallyforthefuture,couldbeextractedfromhim。
Everyletter,everyrumour,thatfounditswayfromSaintGermainstoEnglandmademenofsensefearthat,if,inhispresenttemper,heshouldberestoredtopower,thesecondtyrannywouldbeworsethanthefirst。ThustheTories,asabody,wereforcedtoadmit,veryunwillingly,thattherewas,atthatmoment,nochoicebutbetweenWilliamandpublicruin。Theytherefore,withoutaltogetherrelinquishingthehopethathewhowasKingbyrightmightatsomefuturetimebedisposedtolistentoreason,andwithoutfeelinganythinglikeloyaltytowardshimwhowasKinginpossession,discontentedlyenduredthenewgovernment。
Itmaybedoubtedwhetherthatgovernmentwasnot,duringthefirstmonthsofitsexistence,inmoredangerfromtheaffectionoftheWhigsthanfromthedisaffectionoftheTories。Enmitycanhardlybemoreannoyingthanquerulous,jealous,exactingfondness;andsuchwasthefondnesswhichtheWhigsfeltfortheSovereignoftheirchoice。Theywereloudinhispraise。Theywerereadytosupporthimwithpurseandswordagainstforeignanddomesticfoes。Buttheirattachmenttohimwasofapeculiarkind。LoyaltysuchashadanimatedthegallantgentlemenwhofoughtforCharlestheFirst,loyaltysuchashadrescuedCharlestheSecondfromthefearfuldangersanddifficultiescausedbytwentyyearsofmaladministration,wasnotasentimenttowhichthedoctrinesofMiltonandSidneywerefavourable;norwasitasentimentwhichaprince,justraisedtopowerbyarebellion,couldhopetoinspire。TheWhigtheoryofgovernmentisthatkingsexistforthepeople,andnotthepeopleforthekings;
thattherightofakingisdivineinnoothersensethanthatinwhichtherightofamemberofparliament,ofajudge,ofajuryman,ofamayor,ofaheadborough,isdivine;that,whilethechiefmagistrategovernsaccordingtolaw,heoughttobeobeyedandreverenced;that,whenheviolatesthelaw,heoughttobewithstood;andthat,whenheviolatesthelawgrossly,systematicallyandpertinaciously,heoughttobedeposed。OnthetruthoftheseprinciplesdependedthejusticeofWilliam’stitletothethrone。Itisobviousthattherelationbetweensubjectswhoheldtheseprinciples,andarulerwhoseaccessionhadbeenthetriumphoftheseprinciples,musthavebeenaltogetherdifferentfromtherelationwhichhadsubsistedbetweentheStuartsandtheCavaliers。TheWhigslovedWilliamindeed:buttheylovedhimnotasaKing,butasapartyleader;anditwasnotdifficulttoforeseethattheirenthusiasmwouldcoolfastifheshouldrefusetobethemereleaderoftheirparty,andshouldattempttobeKingofthewholenation。Whattheyexpectedfromhiminreturnfortheirdevotiontohiscausewasthatheshouldbeoneofthemselves,astanchandardentWhig;thatheshouldshowfavourtononebutWhigs;thatheshouldmakealltheoldgrudgesoftheWhigshisown;andtherewasbuttoomuchreasontoapprehendthat,ifhedisappointedthisexpectation,theonlysectionofthecommunitywhichwaszealousinhiscausewouldbeestrangedfromhim。10
Suchwerethedifficultiesbywhich,atthemomentofhiselevation,hefoundhimselfbeset。Wheretherewasagoodpathhehadseldomfailedtochooseit。Butnowhehadonlyachoiceamongpathseveryoneofwhichseemedlikelytoleadtodestruction。Fromonefactionhecouldhopefornocordialsupport。Thecordialsupportoftheotherfactionhecouldretainonlybybecominghimselfthemostfactiousmaninhiskingdom,aShaftesburyonthethrone。IfhepersecutedtheTories,theirsulkinesswouldinfalliblybeturnedintofury。IfheshowedfavourtotheTories,itwasbynomeanscertainthathewouldgaintheirgoodwill;anditwasbuttooprobablethathemightlosehisholdontheheartsoftheWhigs。Somethinghoweverhemustdo:somethinghemustrisk:aPrivyCouncilmustbeswornin:allthegreatoffices,politicalandjudicial,mustbefilled。Itwasimpossibletomakeanarrangementthatwouldpleaseeverybody,anddifficulttomakeanarrangementthatwouldpleaseanybody;butanarrangementmustbemade。
Whatisnowcalledaministryhedidnotthinkofforming。IndeedwhatisnowcalledaministrywasneverknowninEnglandtillhehadbeensomeyearsonthethrone。UnderthePlantagenets,theTudors,andtheStuarts,therehadbeenministers;buttherehadbeennoministry。TheservantsoftheCrownwerenot,asnow,boundinfrankpledgeforeachother。Theywerenotexpectedtobeofthesameopinionevenonquestionsofthegravestimportance。
Oftentheywerepoliticallyandpersonallyhostiletoeachother,andmadenosecretoftheirhostility。Itwasnotyetfelttobeinconvenientorunseemlythattheyshouldaccuseeachotherofhighcrimes,anddemandeachother’sheads。NomanhadbeenmoreactiveintheimpeachmentoftheLordChancellorClarendonthanCoventry,whowasaCommissioneroftheTreasury。NomanhadbeenmoreactiveintheimpeachmentoftheLordTreasurerDanbythanWinnington,whowasSolicitorGeneral。AmongthemembersoftheGovernmenttherewasonlyonepointofunion,theircommonhead,theSovereign。Thenationconsideredhimastheproperchiefoftheadministration,andblamedhimseverelyifhedelegatedhishighfunctionstoanysubject。ClarendonhastoldusthatnothingwassohatefultotheEnglishmenofhistimeasaPrimeMinister。
Theywouldrather,hesaid,besubjecttoanusurperlikeOliver,whowasfirstmagistrateinfactaswellasinname,thantoalegitimateKingwhoreferredthemtoaGrandVizier。OneofthechiefaccusationswhichthecountrypartyhadbroughtagainstCharlestheSecondwasthathewastooindolentandtoofondofpleasuretoexaminewithcarethebalancesheetsofpublicaccountantsandtheinventoriesofmilitarystores。James,whenhecametothecrown,haddeterminedtoappointnoLordHighAdmiralorBoardofAdmiralty,andtokeeptheentiredirectionofmaritimeaffairsinhisownhands;andthisarrangement,whichwouldnowbethoughtbymenofallpartiesunconstitutionalandperniciousinthehighestdegree,wasthengenerallyapplaudedevenbypeoplewhowerenotinclinedtoseehisconductinafavourablelight。HowcompletelytherelationinwhichtheKingstoodtohisParliamentandtohisministershadbeenalteredbytheRevolutionwasnotatfirstunderstoodevenbythemostenlightenedstatesmen。Itwasuniversallysupposedthatthegovernmentwould,asintimepast,beconductedbyfunctionariesindependentofeachother,andthatWilliamwouldexerciseageneralsuperintendenceoverthemall。ItwasalsofullyexpectedthataprinceofWilliam’scapacityandexperiencewouldtransactmuchimportantbusinesswithouthavingrecoursetoanyadviser。
Therewerethereforenocomplaintswhenitwasunderstoodthathehadreservedtohimselfthedirectionofforeignaffairs。Thiswasindeedscarcelymatterofchoice:for,withthesingleexceptionofSirWilliamTemple,whomnothingwouldinducetoquithisretreatforpubliclife,therewasnoEnglishmanwhohadprovedhimselfcapableofconductinganimportantnegotiationwithforeignpowerstoasuccessfulandhonourableissue。ManyyearshadelapsedsinceEnglandhadinterferedwithweightanddignityintheaffairsofthegreatcommonwealthofnations。TheattentionoftheablestEnglishpoliticianshadlongbeenalmostexclusivelyoccupiedbydisputesconcerningthecivilandecclesiasticalconstitutionoftheirowncountry。ThecontestsaboutthePopishPlotandtheExclusionBill,theHabeasCorpusActandtheTestAct,hadproducedanabundance,itmightalmostbesaidaglut,ofthosetalentswhichraisementoeminenceinsocietiestornbyinternalfactions。AlltheContinentcouldnotshowsuchskilfulandwaryleadersofparties,suchdexterousparliamentarytacticians,suchreadyandeloquentdebaters,aswereassembledatWestminister。Butaverydifferenttrainingwasnecessarytoformagreatministerforforeignaffairs;andtheRevolutionhadonasuddenplacedEnglandinasituationinwhichtheservicesofagreatministerforforeignaffairswereindispensabletoher。
Williamwasadmirablyqualifiedtosupplythatinwhichthemostaccomplishedstatesmenofhiskingdomweredeficient。Hehadlongbeenpreeminentlydistinguishedasanegotiator。HewastheauthorandthesouloftheEuropeancoalitionagainsttheFrenchascendency。Theclue,withoutwhichitwasperiloustoenterthevastandintricatemazeofContinentalpolitics,wasinhishands。HisEnglishcounsellors,therefore,howeverableandactive,seldom,duringhisreign,venturedtomeddlewiththatpartofthepublicbusinesswhichhehadtakenashispeculiarprovince。11
TheinternalgovernmentofEnglandcouldbecarriedononlybytheadviceandagencyofEnglishministers。ThoseministersWilliamselectedinsuchamannerasshowedthathewasdeterminednottoproscribeanysetofmenwhowerewillingtosupporthisthrone。OnthedayafterthecrownhadbeenpresentedtohimintheBanquetingHouse,thePrivyCouncilwasswornin。
MostoftheCouncillorswereWhigs;butthenamesofseveraleminentToriesappearedinthelist。12Thefourhighestofficesinthestatewereassignedtofournoblemen,therepresentativesoffourclassesofpoliticians。
InpracticalabilityandofficialexperienceDanbyhadnosuperioramonghiscontemporaries。TothegratitudeofthenewSovereignshehadastrongclaim;foritwasbyhisdexteritythattheirmarriagehadbeenbroughtaboutinspiteofdifficultieswhichhadseemedinsuperable。TheenmitywhichhehadalwaysbornetoFrancewasascarcelylesspowerfulrecommendation。HehadsignedtheinvitationofthethirtiethofJune,hadexcitedanddirectedthenortherninsurrection,andhad,intheConvention,exertedallhisinfluenceandeloquenceinoppositiontotheschemeofRegency。YettheWhigsregardedhimwithunconquerabledistrustandaversion。Theycouldnotforgetthathehad,inevildays,beenthefirstministerofthestate,theheadoftheCavaliers,thechampionofprerogative,thepersecutorofdissenters。Eveninbecomingarebel,hehadnotceasedtobeaTory。IfhehaddrawntheswordagainsttheCrown,hehaddrawnitonlyindefenceoftheChurch。Ifhehad,intheConvention,donegoodbyopposingtheschemeofRegency,hehaddoneharmbyobstinatelymaintainingthatthethronewasnotvacant,andthattheEstateshadnorighttodeterminewhoshouldfillit。TheWhigswerethereforeofopinionthatheoughttothinkhimselfamplyrewardedforhisrecentmeritsbybeingsufferedtoescapethepunishmentofthoseoffencesforwhichhehadbeenimpeachedtenyearsbefore。He,ontheotherhand,estimatedhisownabilitiesandservices,whichweredoubtlessconsiderable,attheirfullvalue,andthoughthimselfentitledtothegreatplaceofLordHighTreasurer,whichhehadformerlyheld。Buthewasdisappointed。William,onprinciple,thoughtitdesirabletodividethepowerandpatronageoftheTreasuryamongseveralCommissioners。HewasthefirstEnglishKingwhonever,fromthebeginningtotheendofhisreign,trustedthewhitestaffinthehandsofasinglesubject。DanbywasofferedhischoicebetweenthePresidencyoftheCouncilandaSecretaryshipofState。HesullenlyacceptedthePresidency,and,whiletheWhigsmurmuredatseeinghimplacedsohigh,hardlyattemptedtoconcealhisangeratnothavingbeenplacedhigher。13
Halifax,themostillustriousmanofthatsmallpartywhichboastedthatitkeptthebalanceevenbetweenWhigsandTories,tookchargeofthePrivySeal,andcontinuedtobeSpeakeroftheHouseofLords。14HehadbeenforemostinstrictlylegaloppositiontothelateGovernment,andhadspokenandwrittenwithgreatabilityagainstthedispensingpower:buthehadrefusedtoknowanythingaboutthedesignofinvasion:hehadlaboured,evenwhentheDutchwereinfullmarchtowardsLondon,toeffectareconciliation;andhehadneverdesertedJamestillJameshaddesertedthethrone。But,fromthemomentofthatshamefulflight,thesagaciousTrimmer,convincedthatcompromisewasthenceforthimpossible,hadtakenadecidedpart。HehaddistinguishedhimselfpreeminentlyintheConvention:norwasitwithoutapeculiarproprietythathehadbeenappointedtothehonourableofficeoftenderingthecrown,inthenameofalltheEstatesofEngland,tothePrinceandPrincessofOrange;forourRevolution,asfarasitcanbesaidtobearthecharacterofanysinglemind,assuredlybearsthecharacterofthelargeyetcautiousmindofHalifax。TheWhigs,however,werenotinatempertoacceptarecentserviceasanatonementforanoldoffence;andtheoffenceofHalifaxhadbeengraveindeed。Hehadlongbeforebeenconspicuousintheirfrontrankduringahardfightforliberty。Whentheywereatlengthvictorious,whenitseemedthatWhitehallwasattheirmercy,whentheyhadanearprospectofdominionandrevenge,hehadchangedsides;andfortunehadchangedsideswithhim。InthegreatdebateontheExclusionBill,hiseloquencehadstruckthemdumb,andhadputnewlifeintotheinertanddespondingpartyoftheCourt。Itwastruethat,thoughhehadlefttheminthedayoftheirinsolentprosperity,hehadreturnedtotheminthedayoftheirdistress。
But,nowthattheirdistresswasover,theyforgotthathehadreturnedtothem,andrememberedonlythathehadleftthem。15
ThevexationwithwhichtheysawDanbypresidingintheCouncil,andHalifaxbearingthePrivySeal,wasnotdiminishedbythenewsthatNottinghamwasappointedSecretaryofState。Someofthosezealouschurchmenwhohadneverceasedtoprofessthedoctrineofnonresistance,whothoughttheRevolutionunjustifiable,whohadvotedforaRegency,andwhohadtothelastmaintainedthattheEnglishthronecouldneverbeonemomentvacant,yetconceivedittobetheirdutytosubmittothedecisionoftheConvention。Theyhadnot,theysaid,rebelledagainstJames。TheyhadnotselectedWilliam。But,nowthattheysawonthethroneaSovereignwhomtheyneverwouldhaveplacedthere,theywereofopinionthatnolaw,divineorhuman,boundthemtocarrythecontestfurther。Theythoughtthattheyfound,bothintheBibleandintheStatuteBook,directionswhichcouldnotbemisunderstood。TheBibleenjoinsobediencetothepowersthatbe。TheStatuteBookcontainsanactprovidingthatnosubjectshallbedeemedawrongdoerforadheringtotheKinginpossession。Onthesegroundsmany,whohadnotconcurredinsettingupthenewgovernment,believedthattheymightgiveittheirsupportwithoutoffencetoGodorman。OneofthemosteminentpoliticiansofthisschoolwasNottingham。AthisinstancetheConventionhad,beforethethronewasfilled,madesuchchangesintheoathofallegianceasenabledhimandthosewhoagreedwithhimtotakethatoathwithoutscruple。"Myprinciples,"hesaid,"donotpermitmetobearanypartinmakingaKing。ButwhenaKinghasbeenmade,myprinciplesbindmetopayhimanobediencemorestrictthanhecanexpectfromthosewhohavemadehim。"Henow,tothesurpriseofsomeofthosewhomostesteemedhim,consentedtositinthecouncil,andtoacceptthesealsofSecretary。WilliamdoubtlesshopedthatthisappointmentwouldbeconsideredbytheclergyandtheTorycountrygentlemenasasufficientguaranteethatnoevilwasmeditatedagainsttheChurch。EvenBurnet,whoatalaterperiodfeltastrongantipathytoNottingham,owned,insomememoirswrittensoonaftertheRevolution,thattheKinghadjudgedwell,andthattheinfluenceoftheTorySecretary,honestlyexertedinsupportofthenewSovereigns,hadsavedEnglandfromgreatcalamities。16
TheotherSecretarywasShrewsbury。17Nomansoyounghadwithinlivingmemoryoccupiedsohighapostinthegovernment。Hehadbutjustcompletedhistwenty—eighthyear。Nobody,however,exceptthesolemnformalistsattheSpanishembassy,thoughthisyouthanobjectiontohispromotion。18Hehadalreadysecuredforhimselfaplaceinhistorybytheconspicuouspartwhichhehadtakeninthedeliveranceofhiscountry。Histalents,hisaccomplishments,hisgracefulmanners,hisblandtemper,madehimgenerallypopular。BytheWhigsespeciallyhewasalmostadored。
Nonesuspectedthat,withmanygreatandmanyamiablequalities,hehadsuchfaultsbothofheadandofheartaswouldmaketherestofalifewhichhadopenedunderthefairestauspicesburdensometohimselfandalmostuselesstohiscountry。
ThenavaladministrationandthefinancialadministrationwereconfidedtoBoards。HerbertwasFirstCommissioneroftheAdmiralty。Hehadinthelatereigngivenupwealthanddignitieswhenhefoundthathecouldnotretainthemwithhonourandwithagoodconscience。HehadcarriedthememorableinvitationtotheHague。HehadcommandedtheDutchfleetduringthevoyagefromHelvoetsluystoTorbay。Hischaracterforcourageandprofessionalskillstoodhigh。Thathehadhadhisfolliesandviceswaswellknown。Buthisrecentconductinthetimeofseveretrialhadatonedforall,andseemedtowarrantthehopethathisfuturecareerwouldbeglorious。AmongthecommissionerswhosatewithhimattheAdmiraltyweretwodistinguishedmembersoftheHouseofCommons,WilliamSacheverell,aveteranWhig,whohadgreatauthorityinhisparty,andSirJohnLowther,anhonestandverymoderateTory,whoinfortuneandparliamentaryinterestwasamongthefirstoftheEnglishgentry。19
Mordaunt,oneofthemostvehementoftheWhigs,wasplacedattheheadoftheTreasury;why,itisdifficulttosay。Hisromanticcourage,hisflightywit,hiseccentricinvention,hisloveofdesperaterisksandstartlingeffects,werenotqualitieslikelytobeofmuchusetohiminfinancialcalculationsandnegotiations。Delamere,amorevehementWhig,ifpossible,thanMordaunt,satesecondattheboard,andwasChancelloroftheExchequer。TwoWhigmembersoftheHouseofCommonswereintheCommission,SirHenryCapel,brotherofthatEarlofEssexwhodiedbyhisownhandintheTower,andRichardHampden,sonofthegreatleaderoftheLongParliament。ButtheCommissioneronwhomthechiefweightofbusinesslaywasGodolphin。Thisman,taciturn,clearminded,laborious,inoffensive,zealousfornogovernmentandusefultoeverygovernment,hadgraduallybecomeanalmostindispensablepartofthemachineryofthestate。
Thoughachurchman,hehadprosperedinaCourtgovernedbyJesuits。ThoughhehadvotedforaRegency,hewastherealheadofatreasuryfilledwithWhigs。Hisabilitiesandknowledge,whichhadinthelatereignsuppliedthedeficienciesofBellasyseandDover,werenowneededtosupplythedeficienciesofMordauntandDelamere。20
ThereweresomedifficultiesindisposingoftheGreatSeal。TheKingatfirstwishedtoconfideittoNottingham,whosefatherhadborneitduringseveralyearswithhighreputation。21
Nottingham,however,declinedthetrust;anditwasofferedtoHalifax,butwasagaindeclined。BoththeseLordsdoubtlessfeltthatitwasatrustwhichtheycouldnotdischargewithhonourtothemselvesorwithadvantagetothepublic。Inoldtimes,indeed,theSealhadbeengenerallyheldbypersonswhowerenotlawyers。
Evenintheseventeenthcenturyithadbeenconfidedtotwoeminentmen,whohadneverstudiedatanyInnofCourt。DeanWilliamshadbeenLordKeepertoJamestheFirst。ShaftesburyhadbeenLordChancellortoCharlestheSecond。Butsuchappointmentscouldnolongerbemadewithoutseriousinconvenience。Equityhadbeengraduallyshapingitselfintoarefinedscience,whichnohumanfacultiescouldmasterwithoutlongandintenseapplication。EvenShaftesbury,vigorousaswashisintellect,hadpainfullyfelthiswantoftechnicalknowledge;22and,duringthefifteenyearswhichhadelapsedsinceShaftesburyhadresignedtheSeal,technicalknowledgehadconstantlybeenbecomingmoreandmorenecessarytohissuccessors。NeitherNottinghamtherefore,thoughhehadastockoflegallearningsuchasisrarelyfoundinanypersonwhohasnotreceivedalegaleducation,norHalifax,though,inthejudicialsittingsoftheHouseofLords,thequicknessofhisapprehensionandthesubtletyofhisreasoninghadoftenastonishedthebar,venturedtoacceptthehighestofficewhichanEnglishlaymancanfill。
AftersomedelaytheSealwasconfidedtoacommissionofeminentlawyers,withMaynardattheirhead。23
Thechoiceofjudgesdidhonourtothenewgovernment。EveryPrivyCouncillorwasdirectedtobringalist。Thelistswerecompared;andtwelvemenofconspicuousmeritwereselected。24
TheprofessionalattainmentsandWhigprinciplesofPollexfengavehimpretensionstothehighestplace。ButitwasrememberedthathehadheldbriefsfortheCrown,intheWesterncounties,attheassizeswhichfollowedthebattleofSedgemoor。Itseemsindeedfromthereportsofthetrialsthathedidaslittleashecoulddoifheheldthebriefsatall,andthathelefttotheJudgesthebusinessofbrowbeatingwitnessesandprisoners。
NeverthelesshisnamewasinseparablyassociatedinthepublicmindwiththeBloodyCircuit。He,therefore,couldnotwithproprietybeputattheheadofthefirstcriminalcourtintherealm。25AfteractingduringafewweeksasAttorneyGeneral,hewasmadeChiefJusticeoftheCommonPleas。SirJohnHolt,ayoungman,butdistinguishedbylearning,integrity,andcourage,becameChiefJusticeoftheKing’sBench。SirRobertAtkyns,aneminentlawyer,whohadpassedsomeyearsinruralretirement,butwhosereputationwasstillgreatinWestminsterHall,wasappointedChiefBaron。Powell,whohadbeendisgracedonaccountofhishonestdeclarationinfavouroftheBishops,againtookhisseatamongthejudges。TrebysucceededPollexfenasAttorneyGeneral;andSomerswasmadeSolicitor。26
TwoofthechiefplacesintheRoyalhouseholdwerefilledbytwoEnglishnoblemeneminentlyqualifiedtoadornacourt。ThehighspiritedandaccomplishedDevonshirewasnamedLordSteward。NomanhaddonemoreorriskedmoreforEnglandduringthecrisisofherfate。Inretrievingherlibertieshehadretrievedalsothefortunesofhisownhouse。HisbondforthirtythousandpoundswasfoundamongthepaperswhichJameshadleftatWhitehall,andwascancelledbyWilliam。27
DorsetbecameLordChamberlain,andemployedtheinfluenceandpatronageannexedtohisfunctions,ashehadlongemployedhisprivatemeans,inencouraginggeniusandinalleviatingmisfortune。Oneofthefirstactswhichhewasunderthenecessityofperformingmusthavebeenpainfultoamanofsogenerousanature,andofsokeenarelishforwhateverwasexcellentinartsandletters。DrydencouldnolongerremainPoetLaureate。ThepublicwouldnothavebornetoseeanyPapistamongtheservantsoftheirMajesties;andDrydenwasnotonlyaPapist,butanapostate。HehadmoreoveraggravatedtheguiltofhisapostasybycalumniatingandridiculingtheChurchwhichhehaddeserted。Hehad,itwasfacetiouslysaid,treatedherasthePaganpersecutorsofoldtreatedherchildren。Hehaddressedherupintheskinofawildbeast,andthenbaitedherforthepublicamusement。28Hewasremoved;buthereceivedfromtheprivatebountyofthemagnificentChamberlainapensionequaltothesalarywhichhadbeenwithdrawn。ThedeposedLaureate,however,aspoorofspiritasrichinintellectualgifts,continuedtocomplainpiteously,yearafteryear,ofthelosseswhichhehadnotsuffered,tillatlengthhiswailingsdrewforthexpressionsofwellmeritedcontemptfrombraveandhonestJacobites,whohadsacrificedeverythingtotheirprincipleswithoutdeigningtoutteronewordofdeprecationorlamentation。29
IntheRoyalhouseholdwereplacedsomeofthoseDutchnobleswhostoodhighestinthefavouroftheKing。BentinckhadthegreatofficeofGroomoftheStole,withasalaryoffivethousandpoundsayear。Zulesteintookchargeoftherobes。TheMasteroftheHorsewasAuverquerque,agallantsoldier,whounitedthebloodofNassautothebloodofHorn,andwhoworewithjustprideacostlyswordpresentedtohimbytheStatesGeneralinacknowledgmentofthecouragewithwhichhehad,onthebloodydayofSaintDennis,savedthelifeofWilliam。
TheplaceofViceChamberlaintotheQueenwasgiventoamanwhohadjustbecomeconspicuousinpubliclife,andwhosenamewillfrequentlyrecurinthehistoryofthisreign。JohnHowe,or,ashewasmorecommonlycalled,JackHowe,hadbeensentuptotheConventionbytheboroughofCirencester。Hisappearancewasthatofamanwhosebodywaswornbytheconstantworkingsofarestlessandacridmind。Hewastall,lean,pale,withahaggardeagerlook,expressiveatonceofflightinessandofshrewdness。
Hehadbeenknown,duringseveralyears,asasmallpoet;andsomeofthemostsavagelampoonswhichwerehandedaboutthecoffeehouseswereimputedtohim。ButitwasintheHouseofCommonsthatbothhispartsandhisillnatureweremostsignallydisplayed。Beforehehadbeenamemberthreeweeks,hisvolubility,hisasperity,andhispertinacityhadmadehimconspicuous。Quickness,energy,andaudacity,united,soonraisedhimtotherankofaprivilegedman。Hisenemies,andhehadmanyenemies,saidthatheconsultedhispersonalsafetyeveninhismostpetulantmoods,andthathetreatedsoldierswithacivilitywhichhenevershowedtoladiesortoBishops。Butnomanhadinlargermeasurethatevilcouragewhichbravesandevencourtsdisgustandhatred。Nodecenciesrestrainedhim:hisspitewasimplacable:hisskillinfindingoutthevulnerablepartsofstrongmindswasconsummate。Allhisgreatcontemporariesfelthisstingintheirturns。OnceitinflictedawoundwhichderangedeventhesterncomposureofWilliam,andconstrainedhimtoutterawishthathewereaprivategentleman,andcouldinviteMr。HowetoashortinterviewbehindMontagueHouse。Asyet,however,Howewasreckonedamongthemoststrenuoussupportersofthenewgovernment,anddirectedallhissarcasmsandinvectivesagainstthemalcontents。30
Thesubordinateplacesineverypublicofficeweredividedbetweenthetwoparties:buttheWhigshadthelargershare。Somepersons,indeed,whodidlittlehonourtotheWhigname,werelargelyrecompensedforserviceswhichnogoodmanwouldhaveperformed。WildmanwasmadePostmasterGeneral。AlucrativesinecureintheExcisewasbestowedonFerguson。ThedutiesoftheSolicitoroftheTreasurywerebothveryimportantandveryinvidious。Itwasthebusinessofthatofficertoconductpoliticalprosecutions,tocollecttheevidence,toinstructthecounselfortheCrown,toseethattheprisonerswerenotliberatedoninsufficientbail,toseethatthejurieswerenotcomposedofpersonshostiletothegovernment。InthedaysofCharlesandJames,theSolicitorsoftheTreasuryhadbeenwithtoomuchreasonaccusedofemployingallthevilestartificesofchicaneryagainstmenobnoxioustotheCourt。Thenewgovernmentoughttohavemadeachoicewhichwasaboveallsuspicion。
UnfortunatelyMordauntandDelamerepitcheduponAaronSmith,anacrimoniousandunprincipledpolitician,whohadbeenthelegaladviserofTitusOatesinthedaysofthePopishPlot,andwhohadbeendeeplyimplicatedintheRyeHousePlot。RichardHampden,amanofdecidedopinionsbutofmoderatetemper,objectedtothisappointment。Hisobjectionshoweverwereoverruled。TheJacobites,whohatedSmithandhadreasontohatehim,affirmedthathehadobtainedhisplacebybullyingtheLordsoftheTreasury,andparticularlybythreateningthat,ifhisjustclaimsweredisregarded,hewouldbethedeathofHampden。31
Someweekselapsedbeforeallthearrangementswhichhavebeenmentionedwerepubliclyannounced:andmeanwhilemanyimportanteventshadtakenplace。AssoonasthenewPrivyCouncillorshadbeenswornin,itwasnecessarytosubmittothemagraveandpressingquestion。CouldtheConventionnowassembledbeturnedintoaParliament?TheWhigs,whohadadecidedmajorityintheLowerHouse,wereallfortheaffirmative。TheTories,whoknewthat,withinthelastmonth,thepublicfeelinghadundergoneaconsiderablechange,andwhohopedthatageneralelectionwouldaddtotheirstrength,wereforthenegative。TheymaintainedthattotheexistenceofaParliamentroyalwritswereindispensablynecessary。TheConventionhadnotbeensummonedbysuchwrits:theoriginaldefectcouldnotnowbesupplied:theHouseswerethereforemereclubsofprivatemen,andoughtinstantlytodisperse。
Itwasansweredthattheroyalwritwasmerematterofform,andthattoexposethesubstanceofourlawsandlibertiestoserioushazardforthesakeofaformwouldbethemostsenselesssuperstition。WherevertheSovereign,thePeersspiritualandtemporal,andtheRepresentativesfreelychosenbytheconstituentbodiesoftherealmweremettogether,therewastheessenceofaParliament。SuchaParliamentwasnowinbeing;andwhatcouldbemoreabsurdthantodissolveitataconjuncturewheneveryhourwasprecious,whennumerousimportantsubjectsrequiredimmediatelegislation,andwhendangers,onlytobeavertedbythecombinedeffortsofKing,Lords,andCommons,menacedtheState?AJacobiteindeedmightconsistentlyrefusetorecognisetheConventionasaParliament。Forheheldthatithadfromthebeginningbeenanunlawfulassembly,thatallitsresolutionswerenullities,andthattheSovereignswhomithadsetupwereusurpers。Butwithwhatconsistencycouldanyman,whomaintainedthatanewParliamentoughttobeimmediatelycalledbywritsunderthegreatsealofWilliamandMary,questiontheauthoritywhichhadplacedWilliamandMaryonthethrone?ThosewhoheldthatWilliamwasrightfulKingmustnecessarilyholdthatthebodyfromwhichhederivedhisrightwasitselfarightfulGreatCounciloftheRealm。Thosewho,thoughnotholdinghimtoberightfulKing,conceivedthattheymightlawfullyswearallegiancetohimasKinginfact,mightsurely,onthesameprinciple,acknowledgetheConventionasaParliamentinfact。ItwasplainthattheConventionwasthefountainheadfromwhichtheauthorityofallfutureParliamentsmustbederived,andthatonthevalidityofthevotesoftheConventionmustdependthevalidityofeveryfuturestatute。Andhowcouldthestreamrisehigherthanthesource?WasitnotabsurdtosaythattheConventionwassupremeinthestate,andyetanullity;alegislatureforthehighestofallpurposes,andyetnolegislatureforthehumblestpurposes;competenttodeclarethethronevacant,tochangethesuccession,tofixthelandmarksoftheconstitution,andyetnotcompetenttopassthemosttrivialActfortherepairingofapierorthebuildingofaparishchurch?
Theseargumentswouldhavehadconsiderableweight,evenifeveryprecedenthadbeenontheotherside。Butintruthourhistoryaffordedonlyoneprecedentwhichwasatallinpoint;andthatprecedentwasdecisiveinfavourofthedoctrinethatroyalwritsarenotindispensablynecessarytotheexistenceofaParliament。
NoroyalwrithadsummonedtheConventionwhichrecalledCharlestheSecond。YetthatConventionhad,afterhisRestoration,continuedtositandtolegislate,hadsettledtherevenue,hadpassedanActofamnesty,hadabolishedthefeudaltenures。Theseproceedingshadbeensanctionedbyauthorityofwhichnopartyinthestatecouldspeakwithoutreverence。Halehadborneaconsiderableshareinthem,andhadalwaysmaintainedthattheywerestrictlylegal。Clarendon,littleashewasinclinedtofavouranydoctrinederogatorytotherightsoftheCrown,ortothedignityofthatsealofwhichhewaskeeper,haddeclaredthat,sinceGodhad,atamostcriticalconjuncture,giventhenationagoodParliament,itwouldbetheheightoffollytolookfortechnicalflawsintheinstrumentbywhichthatParliamentwascalledtogether。WoulditbepretendedbyanyTorythattheConventionof1660hadamorerespectableoriginthantheConventionof1689?WasnotaletterwrittenbythefirstPrinceoftheBlood,attherequestofthewholepeerage,andofhundredsofgentlemenwhohadrepresentedcountiesandtowns,atleastasgoodawarrantasavoteoftheRump?