1729. CHAP. Company. Commissioners were to be appointed to XV. determine the disputes as to the limits of the American trade, and as to the claims of Spain for restitution of the ships taken in 1718. Another article stipulated, that to secure the succession of Parma and Tuscany to the Infant Don Carlos, 6000 Spanish troops should be allowed to garrison Leghorn, Porto Ferrajo, Parma, and Placentia, instead of the neutral garrisons provided by the Quadruple Alliance. The question of Gibraltar was passed over in total silence, which, after the noisy pretensions of Spain, was equivalent to a public renunciation. Such, in fact, it was considered by Philip, who now, losing all hope of ever obtaining the fortress, attempted to cut off its communication with the main land, and constructed the strong lines of San Roque, across the isthmus.* The Spanish people, however, still continued to look with indignation on the British banners floating from the summit of the inaccessible rock, and for above half a century longer nursed an ardent ambition for its conquest. 1730. For the conclusion of this peace, and for his other services, William Stanhope was immediately * Mr. Keene was afterwards instructed to remonstrate against these works. But he writes, May 20. 1731: " I was assured "if the whole universe should fall upon the King to make him "desist, he would rather let himself be cut to pieces than conWe might as well pretend to Cadiz as to the 66 spot where the line is." See Coxe's House of Bourbon, vol. iii. p. 240. "sent. ....... XV. 1730. created Lord Harrington, and soon afterwards, as CHAP. we shall find, appointed Secretary of State. In proportion to the satisfaction in London was the rage and resentment at Vienna; and a further mortification to the Emperor ensued in the next Session of Parliament; for, being deprived of his Spanish supplies of money, he attempted to borrow 400,000l. on his credit in London. The ministry immediately brought in and carried through a bill, prohibiting loans to foreign powers without licence from the King under his Privy Seal. It is quite certain that had the Government allowed the loan, the Opposition would afterwards have loudly inveighed against their supineness. Now, however, as loud a cry was raised against "a Bill of Terrors" "an eternal yoke on our fellow-subjects "an advantageous bargain to the Dutch." "Shall "British merchants," answers Walpole, “be per"mitted to lend their money against the British "nation? Shall they arm an enemy with strength, " and assist him with supplies ?" The treaty of Seville was followed in a very few months by Lord Townshend's resignation. I have already more than once mentioned the misunderstandings between the brother ministers; and I need scarcely again advert to the jealousy of power in Walpole, to the violence of temper in Townshend. The former would brook no equal, and the latter no superior. Their constant bickerings * Speech of Mr. Danvers. Parl. Hist. vol. viii. p. 788. XV. 1730. CHAP. were often appeased by the mediation of Walpole's sister, Lady Townshend, or even of Queen Caroline; but unhappily the former died, and the latter, when she found a breach unavoidable, threw her whole influence into the scale of Walpole. Besides the general causes of coldness, there were, at this time, particular grounds of difference. In foreign affairs Townshend was much incensed against the Emperor, and would have pushed matters to extremity against him if not withheld by his colleague. At home he was disgusted with the timidity and captiousness of the Duke of Newcastle, and wished him to be removed in favour of Chesterfield. Another cause of irritation in the Session of 1730 was the Pension Bill - a measure proposed by Mr. Sandys, and supported by the whole Opposition, to disable all persons from sitting in Parliament who had any pension, or any offices held in trust for them, and to require every member to swear that he had not. In the King's private notes this is termed "a "villanous Bill"- which should be "torn to "pieces in every particular."* But Walpole, though he entertained the same opinion of it, would not run the hazard of unpopularity by taking an active part against it, and he allowed it to pass the House of Commons, knowing that it would be thrown out by the House of Lords. Such, indeed, * The King to Lord Townshend, March, 1730. Coxe's Walpole, vol. ii. p. 537. XV. 1730. was the policy which he pursued with respect to CHAP. this bill during his whole remaining administration; for so strong a weapon of attack was not allowed to rust in the scabbard, and the measure was brought forward again and again by the party out of power. Townshend, on the other hand, complained that the odium of the rejection should be cast solely upon the House of Lords; and foretold, as the event really proved, that the petty manœuvre of Walpole would be soon seen through, and that the Minister would incur even more unpopularity by his disguised, than by a manly and avowed, resistance. Complaint and recrimination were, however, useless. "It has always," says the great Duke of Marlborough *, "been my observation in dis"putes, especially in that of kindness and friend ship, that all reproaches, though ever so rea"sonable, do serve to no other end but the 66 making the breach wider." Between Townshend and Walpole the train of enmity was now ready laid, and any spark would have produced the explosion. The decisive quarrel took place at the house of Colonel Selwyn, in Cleveland Square. Foreign affairs being discussed, and Townshend presuming to differ with Walpole, Sir Robert grew so incensed as to declare that he did not believe what the other was saying! Townshend, losing all patience, raised his hand, and these *To the Duchess, August 26. 1709. XV. 1730. CHAP. old friends, near relations, and brother ministers, seized one another by the collar and grasped their swords. Mrs. Selwyn shrieked for assistance; the men interposed and dissuaded them from going out, as they wished, to fight an immediate duel. But though the encounter was prevented, the friendship could never be restored. - He Townshend, however, made another struggle to establish his power at Court, and obtain the dismissal of Newcastle. He had still considerable personal influence with the King; but finding it quite inadequate to maintain him against his all-powerful colleague, he resigned on the 16th of May. left office with a most unblemished character, and what is still less common-a most patriotic moderation. Had he gone into opposition, or even steered a neutral course, he must have caused great embarrassment and difficulty to his triumphant rival. But he must thereby also have thwarted a policy of which he approved, and hindered measures which he wished to see adopted. In spite, therefore, of the most flattering advances from the Opposition, who were prepared to receive him with open arms, he nobly resolved to retire altogether from public life. He withdrew to his paternal seat at Rainham, where he passed the eight remaining years of his life in well-earned leisure, or in agricultural improvements. It is to him that England, and more especially his native county of Norfolk, owes the introduction and cul |