CHAPTER II.

Harley's recovery from his wound.--His firmness and self-possession when anticipating death. His popularity increased by Guiscard's attempt on his life.-Publicly congratulated by the House of Commons on his escape.-His reply.-Act of Parliament passed on the occasion.-Harley created Earl of Oxford.-Extract from Swift's journal to Stella.-Harley appointed Lord High Treasurer, and honoured with the Garter.-Lord Dartmouth's and Lockhart's opinions of Harley.-Extracts from Spence's anecdotes and Swift's correspondence. Curious anecdotes of Harley.-Intrigues of St. John against Harley.—The latter's jealousy of his rival.— Reasons of St. John's hostility to Harley.-Mrs. Masham declares against Harley.-The Queen induced to abandon him. Inquiry into the charges brought against him.-Letter from Harley to Swift.-Memorable interview between the Queen, Mrs. Masham, Harley, and St. John. - Indecent squabble between the parties in the royal presence.-Harley resigns the post of Lord Treasurer.-Accession of George the First.- Harley's sanguine anticipations in consequence.His disappointment.-St. John impeached of high treason.Harley impeached by Lord Coningsby of the same crime, and committed to the Tower.-Popular sympathy for the fallen minister. His noble conduct under disgrace.-Attempts made by his enemies to delay his trial.—Feigned quarrel between the Houses of Lords and Commons.- Unanimous acquittal of Harley.—He retires into private life, and amuses himself by collecting the Harleian MSS., now in the British Museum.-His death.

THE Wound received by Harley, though a serious, was not a dangerous one. The knife, indeed,

was

having broken in his breast, caused him severe pain; so much so, that he apprehended himself to be mortally wounded, and enquired of Bucier, the surgeon, whether his life was in very imminent danger: he did not fear death, he said, but he was desirous of settling his affairs. "This fearlessness of consequences," says Lord Dartmouth, visible by his countenance, which was not in the least altered." Swift styles him "the most fearless man alive;" and St. John, in a letter to his confidential agent, Drummond, observes,—" It is impossible to express to you the firmness and magnanimity which Mr. Harley showed upon this surprising occasion: I, who have always admired him, never did it so much. The suddenness of the blow, the sharpness of the wound, the confusion which followed, could neither change his countenance, nor alter his voice." The accident, however, proved eventually of great service to Harley, by adding considerably to his popularity, which had for some time been on the wane. assassin being a Papist, he was regarded as a martyr to the Church of England; and, moreover, in consequence of the blow having been struck by a secret emissary of France, it was presumed that his zeal for the interests of his own country must have rendered him an especial object of hatred to its enemies. Thus did an accident, a blow from a disappointed maniac, whose arm was guided by motives of mere personal revenge,at once overthrow the schemes of Harley's enemies, and re-establish him in the fulness of his

His

power. On such trifling circumstances often rests the stability of a popular government. A dastardly assassination, the excitement caused by royal marriage, or a successful battle, more frequently serve as props to a falling administration, than acts which might deservedly claim for their promoters the blessings of mankind.

Harley, on recovering from his wounds, had little reason to complain of want of sympathy on the part of the world. Addresses had already

been presented by both Houses of Parliament to the Queen, which, while they deprecated the late "barbarous attempt" on her servant's life, at the same time expressed their conviction that it was Harley's fidelity to Her Majesty's person, and his zeal for her service, which had drawn down upon him the hatred of all the abettors of Popery and faction. The House of Commons, especially, voted that he should be publicly congratulated on his providential escape; and, accordingly, on his return to his Parliamentary duties, after a confinement of a few weeks, from the effects of his wounds, the Speaker, in a formal speech from the chair, expressed to him the joyful satisfaction of the Commons of England at the preservation of "so valuable a life, upon which, under Her Majesty, depended the safe-guard of the religion and constitution of the country." "Sir," concluded Harley's reply, -"The undeserved favour I have received this day, is deeply imprinted in my heart; and whenever I look upon my breast, it will put me in mind of the thanks

due to God; my duty to the Queen; and that debt of gratitude and service I must always owe to this honourable House, to you, Mr. Speaker, and to every particular member." In consequence of the recent outrage, an act of Parliament was passed, making it felony, without benefit of clergy, to attempt the life of a privy-councillor in the execution of his duty; a singular clause being added, which justified and indemnified such persons as had either stabbed or bruised Guiscard in the late affray.

The Queen, owing to Harley's extraordinary popularity at this period, was enabled, at the same time, to gratify his ambitious views, and her own personal regard for her minister, by advancing him to the House of Lords. Accordingly, on the 24th of May, 1711, about two months after the attempt on his life, he was created Baron Harley, of Wigmore, in Herefordshire; Earl of Oxford, and Earl of Mortimer. Swift writes to Stella on the day previous," Lewis whispered me that Mr. Harley's patent for Earl of Oxford was passed in Mr. Secretary St. John's office; so to-morrow, or next day, I suppose, he will be declared Earl of Oxford, and have the staff. This man is grown by persecutions, turnings-out, and stabbing. What waiting, and crowding, and bowing, will be at his levee! yet if human nature be capable of so much constancy, I should believe he will be the same man still, bating the necessary forms of grandeur he must keep up." Two days afterwards, Swift writes to the same correspondent, -"My Lord

Oxford can't yet abide to be called my Lord; and when I called him my Lord, he called me Dr. Thomas Smith, which he always does when he has a mind to teaze me. By a second hand, he proposed my being his chaplain, which I, by a second hand, excused; we had no talk of it to-day, but I will be no man's chaplain alive." On the 29th of the month, Harley was appointed Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain, and on the 26th of October, the following year, was honoured with the Garter.

Of the Earl of Oxford, as a minister and a statesman, and especially of the political events in which he was the principal actor, sufficient, perhaps, has already been said. It remains, however, for us to introduce a few remarks respecting his personal character, and his capacity to fill the high post to which cunning and intrigue, rather than individual merit, had exalted him.

The most favourable character which has been bequeathed to us of Harley, is to be found among the agreeable memoranda of his friend, Lord Dartmouth. According to that nobleman, he understood and loved the constitution of his country; was the zealous advocate of a legal, limited, and constitutional monarchy; was earnest in his contempt and dislike of "scheme-makers," and was as zealously and affectionately attached to the interests of his country as he was regardless, except where his vanity was concerned, of his own. Lord Dartmouth, however, admits that Harley's

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