throne, on the 7th May, of the ratifications exchanged between the king and the emperor, which diffused universal satisfaction amongst all parties. Thus terminated a dangerous contest that had, for a space of ten years, divorced England from her ancient ally, Austria; a contest that originated in the connection with Hanover, that was carried on solely for the protection of the interests of the electorate, but that was happily closed by an arrangement alike honourable and advantageous to Great Britain. antiquity, and send them down as unalterable models to the remotest pos. terity, and to set up a perpetual barrier against the improvements suggested and enforced by the advance of intelligence, of numbers, and of the complex power of the state, constituted the peculiar province of that close and inflexible minority, which, with variable success, has from that time to the present exercised extraordinary influence in the English legislature. 1731. POPULARITY OF THE MINISTRY. 175 CHAP. VIII. 1731-1733. POPULARITY OF WALPOLE. ANGRY CONTROVERSIES IN THE RECESS. CHARACTER OF PULTENEY. QUARREL AND DUEL WITH LORD HERVEY. -NEW PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS OF THE OPPOSITION. DEBATE ON THE STANDING ARMY.WALPOLE REVIVES THE DUTY ON SALT, AND DIMINISHES THE LAND TAX.-GROUNDS OF THAT MEASURE.APPREHENSIONS OF A GENERAL EXCISE. POPULAR PREJUDICES ON THAT SUBJECT. ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE EXCISE. RESISTANCE то THE ADDRESS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.AMENDMENTS CARRIED, WITH THE ACQUIESCENCE OF MINISTERS. DEBATE ON THE ARMY ESTIMATES RENEWED. SPANISH DEPREDATIONS ON ENGLISH TRADE. BILL FOR SECURING THE TRADE OF THE SUGAR COLONIES. FIRST TAX IMPOSED ON AMERICA. WALPOLE ALIENATES A PART OF THE SINKING FUND FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES OF THE STATE. FLAGRANT INJUSTICE OF THE PROCEEDING. REASONS FOR AGITATION CREATED BY WALPOLE'S SCHEME OF REVENUE REFORM. STRENUOUS EFFORTS OF THE OPPOSITION TO DEFEAT IT. ITS POPULARITY. INTRODUCTION OF THE EXCISE CLAMOUR OUT OF DOORS. UTILITY EXPLAINED. THE FALSE The WALPOLE was now in the zenith of his reputation. tranquillising effects of the treaty of Vienna became every day more apparent. Even the French minister gradually abated his political objections to it; because, although he resented the acquiescence of the king of England in the pragmatic sanction, he felt that it relieved him personally of much embarrassment, and facilitated the promotion of those pacific views which were so congenial to his temper and his policy. The dissatisfaction of Spain sunk into a murmur, which soon ceased to agitate her cabinet; for it was now generally known that, even had no such stipulation entered into the treaty, the house of Austria never intended to execute the mar riages between the archduchesses and the Spanish princes.* The appearance in London, in the autumn of the present year, of the duke of Lorraine, elected by his imperial majesty as the future consort of the archduchess Maria Theresa, set that question finally at rest. The opponents of the government having now no substantial cause of complaint, resorted to abuse; and the recess was occupied with a fierce paper controversy, which, in the want of more tangible materials, rapidly degenerated into virulent personality. Informations were filed against Franklin, the bookseller, for certain papers in the "Craftsman" reflecting on the conduct of ministers; and Pulteney, on account of his connection with that publication, was forced into a conspicuous position in the front of the conflict.§ Pulteney was favourably circumstanced by birth, fortune, and talents, to sustain that lead in the house of commons to which he was unanimously called by the opposition. He had entered the house early in life, and distinguished himself as a warm and able partisan against the ministry of queen Anne. His eloquence was remark * In the latter end of March, 1731, Mr. Robinson informed lord Har rington that "it had been owned to him that the marriage was never in tended, if it could possibly be avoided; and, at present, the thing was not so much as thought of." + Tindal. The papers referred to chiefly related to foreign affairs, and exhibited considerable skill in the treatment of the subject, as well as implacable enmity to Walpole. Franklin had been "taken up," to use his own words, before, but, upon offering to discover the author of the offensive article, he was liberated without further inquiry. For the last libels, however, he was brought to trial; and a vast crowd of spectators, including a number of noblemen and members of the commons, such as lord Winchelsea, lord Bathurst, sir William Wyndham, sir William Yonge, Pulteney, &c., gathered about the avenues of the court. When the jury came to be called, of the twenty-four who were summoned only eleven appeared; and after some discussion, the trial was postponed to the ensuing term. - See Political State. The liberty of the press was apostrophised in the person of Pulteney, who, it was remarked, upon leaving Westminster Hall, on the day appointed for Franklin's trial, was loudly cheered by the populace. 1731. CHARACTER OF PULTENEY. 177 able no less for originality and freshness, than for wit and variety; and as he was well acquainted with the constitution of the country and the details of government, he could apply his bitter satire or his mocking humour with the certainty of striking the most vulnerable points.* As a writer he excelled in almost every form of composition, and acquired as much celebrity by the stinging ridicule of metrical pasquinades, epigrams, and ballads, as by the force and subtlety of his political pamphlets. He enjoyed amongst his friends a character for good nature and generosity which was denied to him by his enemies, who asserted that he was secretly the slave of the meanest passions, personal ambition and avarice, and that he was subject to ebullitions of temper which would have been contemptible but for the unquestionable courage with which they were associated. † Pulteney appears to have addressed himself with singular success to the foreign policy of the country, and to have made such an impression abroad, as to be greatly courted by those foreign ministers who were displeased with the measures of the British cabinet, especially Palm, the imperial ambassador, who caballed with the opposition, and endeavoured to overturn the ministry.‡ The "Craftsman" was filled with invectives againt Walpole and his friends, and displayed so much knowledge of continental politics that its principal articles were attributed to the pen or the suggestions of Pulteney. It was accordingly assailed in a violent pamphlet called "Sedition and Defamation displayed,” in which Pulteney was personally attacked, and his resentment against "He was a most complete orator and debater in the house of commons, "observes lord Chesterfield; "eloquent, entertaining, strong, and pathetic, as occasion required; for he had arguments, wit, and tears at his command." Speaking of his satirical poetry, his lordship says, "His compositions in that way were sometimes satirical, often licentious, but always full of wit." Several of these pieces are to be found in the "Craftsman." "His sudden passion," says lord Chesterfield, "was outrageous, but supported by great personal courage. He affected good nature and compassion, and perhaps his heart might feel the misfortunes and distresses of his fellow-creatures, but his hand was seldom or never stretched out to relieve them." the administration attributed to disappointed ambition and personal pique. Pulteney replied in a vein of caustic bitterness, and, believing lord Hervey to be the author, reflected in unmeasured terms upon the effeminacy of that nobleman.* A duel ensued, in which Pulteney slightly wounded his antagonist. But the "Lord Hervey was the eldest son of the earl of Bristol, a nobleman," says Tindal," not without wit, but a much better writer than speaker." Middleton eulogises his learning and talents in the dedication to the "Life of Cicero," and even the duchess of Marlborough allowed that he had "certainly parts and wit," although she stigmatised him as a wretched profligate. There cannot be any doubt that his lordship was a man of ability. His appearance, which was somewhat affected, owing rather to the delicacy of his health and the smallness of his stature, than to any false taste in dress or manners, exposed him to the ridicule of his contemporaries. Pope introduced him and Middleton into the "Dunciad," satirising the effeminacy of the one, and the flattery of the other : "Narcissus, praised with all a parson's power, And, with the most malignant indelicacy, attacked his physical debility under the character of Sporus. Lord Hervey, having felt some attacks of epilepsy, adopted a strict regimen, which effectually arrested the progress of the malady. His daily nourishment was asses' milk and a flour biscuit. Upon this hint which the miserable frame of the satirist ought to have warned him against using- he indulged his spleen in one of those invectives which are alike celebrated for their power and their malice. "Let Sporus tremble. A. What? that thing of silk, Satire or sense, alas! can Sporus feel? Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel? Amphibious thing! that acting either part, A cherub's face, a reptile all the rest, Beauty that shocks you, parts that none will trust, Yet, notwithstanding his unfavourable appearance, and the prejudice the king conceived against him, lord Hervey was a great favourite at court, where his lively wit rendered him always agreeable. His political writings were numerous and effective, and a list of them is given by the earl of Orford in his " Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors." Upon the appearance of the "Reply," lord Hervey sent a message to Pulteney, desiring to know whether he was the author of it, to which Pulteney answered, that he would not satisfy him until he stated whether he was the author of the pamphlet. Lord Hervey immediately declared he was not (the pamphlet having been written by sir William Yonge, secretary at war); but Pulteney still refused to make any satisfaction, and a meeting was accordingly arranged in St. James's Park. Pelham, in a letter to lord Waldegrave says, that "both combatants were slightly wounded, but that Pulteney had once so much the advantage of lord Hervey, that he must have run him through had not his foot slipped. The seconds then interfered and parted them. Pulteney embraced his antagonist, expressed his concern at the cause of their quarrel, and declared he would never attack him again; but lord Hervey, maintaining a grave silence, bowed courteously, and they separated " |