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"No heart is fuller of duty to your majesty than mine; nobody has more sincere wishes for your prosperity, nor shall more constantly pray for your majesty's long life, and for your happiness both here and hereafter. I am always, with the greatest respect, and the truest zeal for your service," &c. *

Still, however, the queen persisted in her resolution, and encouraged Harley to maintain his post. On the 9th of February, a meeting of the cabinet council was summoned, as usual, and the customary notice sent to the two ministers. Resolved not again to sit at the same board with the secretary, they waited on the queen, and respectfully repeated their determination. She appeared little concerned at the proposed resignation of the treasurer, but was much affected with the declaration of the general, and employed the most earnest entreaties to dissuade him from his purpose. The fate of England and of Europe hung on his decision; but he proved the warmth of his friendship, and the consistency of his character; he did not belie his repeated asseverations, that he would stand or fall with Godolphin. He firmly and manfully resisted her instances, and retired from her presence with firmness and respect.

This disappointment, however, did not intimidate the queen. The cabinet council assembled at the appointed time, and after she had taken her seat, Harley proceeded to open the business of the meeting, which related to the affairs of his department. The members at first appeared as if absorbed in reflection: half-smothered murmurs were then heard, and the secretary paused. A momentary silence ensuing, the members turned to each other, with looks of surprise and uneasiness, till the duke of Somerset arose, and, with warmth, exclaimed, "I do not see how we can deliberate, when the commander-in-chief and the lord treasurer are absent." On this unexpected observation, which plainly expressed the sense of the meeting, Harley was still more disconcerted, and the queen remained silent. The observation being repeated, the queen broke up the unfinished deli

* The draft of this letter is written in the hand of Marlborough, except a trifling alteration by Godolphin, which is introduced in the text. The original runs thus, "That your majesty is pleased to countenance and support him, to the ruin of your own business, and of your faithful servants at home, which may be attended with the sorrow and amazement," &c.

beration, and withdrew with evident emotions of anger, alarm, and disappointment.*

The result could not long be concealed, and the agitation of the public mind became extreme. Expressions of concern and dissatisfaction were heard in both houses of parliament; and the Commons, in particular, suffered a bill of supply to lie on their table, though ordered for that day. The prospect of the treasurer's resignation excited similar discontent among the monied men in the city, by whom his abilities and integrity were best appreciated.

Still, however, with her characteristic pertinacity, Anne did not abandon her purpose. But Harley was conscious, that with the load of suspicion under which he laboured, detested by the Whigs, and not cordially supported, even by the whole body of Tories, he could not conduct the government against the current of public opinion. He, therefore, entreated the queen to accept his resignation, and his instances were seconded by the prince of Denmark, who dreaded a convulsion in the state. Her resolution was swayed by these alarming symptoms, and the representation of her husband. The next day she summoned the Duke of Marlborough into her presence; and, after some bitter expostulations, which spoke her anger and mortification, she informed him that Mr. Harley should retire from her service.

Accordingly, on the 11th of February, Harley formally resigned the seals. His place was transferred to Mr. Boyle, a zealous Whig; and the office of chancellor of the exchequer was restored to Mr. Smith, who held it, with that of speaker, during the short remainder of the session. The resignation of Harley was followed by those of St. John, Mansell, and Harcourt; and the posts of comptroller of the household, and secretary at war, were transferred to Earl Cholmondeley, and Mr. Robert Walpole, who had gained the esteem and confidence of Marlborough, by his diligence and zeal in office. The queen, however, was too deeply mortified, to accept the recommendation of Godolphin in favour of Sir James Montague, brother of Lord Halifax, for the office of attorney-general; and this post, so necessary to the public

* Conduct of the Duchess, p. 253. — Burnet, vol. v. p. 373. VOL. II.

administration of justice, continued vacant till the close of the year.

Meanwhile the examination of Gregg had proceeded, and though the criminal continued to acknowledge his own guilt, he repeatedly and solemnly declared that Harley was innocent of the slightest connivance in his treasonable practices. As his confession threw no new light on the transaction, he was deemed unworthy of the royal mercy, and preparations were made for his execution. The queen at first refused to consent, and appeared extremely agitated on the slightest allusion to the conduct of the criminal, as it affected Harley.* But as a pardon would have fixed a stigma on the disgraced minister, and as the behaviour of the criminal was highly insolent, she at length gave her sanction; and a dying confession, published in his name and at his request, strongly asserted his own guilt and contrition, and at the same time vindicated the innocence of his principal.

On the 18th of March, a report from the committee of lords was published. Although the examination had produced no new fact, to disprove the asseverations of the criminal, yet as it showed that Harley had been guilty of culpable negligence, in suffering papers of the highest importance and secrecy to remain open to the inspection of the common clerks in his office, it left an unfavourable and indelible impression on his official character in the public mind, though it appeared to produce no change in the sentiments of the queen.

A letter from Mrs. Burnet to the duchess is here introduced, to show the opinion of the Whigs, and the burst of zeal and attachment which the crisis called forth from their party.

"Tuesday morning. Had I not been prevented, I had yesterday wrote, to wish your grace joy of the late victory, which I hope, if it please God, will have as happy effects as any the Duke of Marlborough ever got. I should have done it before the success, since I was well satisfied the resolution was right, be the event what it would; for 'tis not to be expressed with what indignation it was generally received, that the lord treasurer and the Duke of Marlborough should be put one moment in the balance with Mr. Harley and his party, who in all respects have appeared so far inferior to what they were ever thought to be,

*Letter from Godolphin to the Duke of Marlborough.

though I am confidently told that Mr. Harley would have undertook the weight, if the queen would have ventured.

"The danger the Duke of Marlborough was in of being taken once in Holland by the French, did not more plainly show the love and esteem that country had for him, than this accident has showed, that however displeased some may be, for particular matters, yet that they have an esteem and sense of the great obligations we are under, and the merit of the lord treasurer and the Duke of Marlborough. Had this affair hung longer in suspense, most, if not all the Whigs of consideration would have laid down their places; and not only the bishop of Salisbury, but most of the other bishops, would have come and offered lord treasurer and the Duke of Marlborough all the service in their power, and have been ready to join in any thing to show their regard to the duke and lord treasurer. And this I don't say now, when it may look like making a court after victory, but what was their thoughts when the worst was feared. With respect to things beyond sea, I am glad it came to so short an issue; and I ought to add, out of the regard I have to the queen's character, which cannot but suffer in this preposterous struggle, but also for the honour of lord treasurer and the Duke of Marlborough, it had been better it had lasted a few days longer, that people might have had opportunities to have showed their zeal for them, and to have more firmly united all honest men that mean well together, and discovered who were so. For I am told, that the most humoursome of the Whigs, in the House of Commons, were ready to offer their service, and all, in general, showed anger or contempt at the arrogance of Mr. Harley.

"I will add no more to this letter, but what I pray for, that the lord treasurer and the Duke of Marlborough may make the best use of the great advantages this has given them, and improve the good understanding and confidence this has laid the foundation of, with all wise honest men that love the queen; for I am sure they are the only friends that can be relied on. 'Tis presumption in me to give any advice; but some things are so plainly for their service, that whoever loves them cannot but see it, and consequently cannot but wish, at least, they may do them."

CHAP. LXV..

ASCENDENCY OF THE WHIGS. 1708.

THE dismission of Harley and his adherents was rendered popular by an invasion from France, which was preparing at the moment when the change was in agitation.

The court of St. Germains had long endeavoured to persuade the king of France to invade England, for the purp se of establishing the young Pretender on the throne of his an

cestors. But although they exaggerated the number of their adherents, and expatiated on the internal divisions of Great Britain, Louis had not hitherto listened to their applications; either because he found sufficient employment for his forces in other quarters, or because an unsuccessful attempt might ruin the interest of the Stuarts. At this period, however, circumstances seemed to favour the long-meditated project; while the humbled state of the French monarch induced him to make a desperate effort, in order to create, at least, a diversion in the country on which the fate of the war depended.

The recent disagreement between the ministers and the principal Whigs, the influence of the Tories among the country gentlemen and clergy, the number of those who were really devoted to the Stuart line, the clamours excited against the burdens of the war, and the cry of peace which began to be raised in every quarter, proved an increase of disaffection towards the government, which was readily mistaken by the exiled prince for a proof of attachment to his cause; this opinion was also corroborated by the number of every rank and station, who had carried on, or affected to carry on, a secret correspondence with his emissaries.

It was, however, in Scotland, where the principal leaven of disaffection existed. The warlike clans of the Highlands, secluded among their mountains, nurtured in their prejudices, inured to danger and hardship, and passively obedient to their feudal lords, fostered an ardent and zealous attachment to the descendants of their ancient kings; and this attachment derived new force from the events which had recently occurred. In the first part of the reign of Anne, the Scots had succeeded in extorting the Act of Security, which was calculated to render them a separate and independent nation on her death; and, therefore, they witnessed, with indignation and horror, the union of the two countries, which destroyed their darling hopes, by not only incorporating them with a people against whom they still felt all their ancient rivalry, but even by settling the eventual transfer of their crown on a foreign family. These prejudices were heightened by the alarms wilfully spread among them, that the union with England would be no less detrimental to their commerce and landed property, than to their freedom.

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