To shew his zeal for the protestant succession, BOOK VI. the lord treasurer, at the suggestion of the duke 1712. of Devonshire, who had given notice of a motion for the same purpose, brought in a bill giving precedence to the whole electoral house, as part of the royal family--which by an emulation of eagerness passed both lords and commons in space of two days. the pole com the Tower. Mr. Walpole, late secretary at war, having by Mr. Walhis activity, eloquence, and knowledge of business, mitted to rendered himself extremely obnoxious to the tories, advantage was taken of an act of indiscretion on his part when in office, not only to expel him the house, but commit him to the Tower. The case was this: Mr. Walpole, in contracting with certain persons for the article of forage, was desirous that a friend might be admitted to a par majesty's yachts without her special command. You know your orders, and how far they authorise you to carry over the prince. You know the respect and consideration due to the prince, and his great merit; therefore it is needless for me to tell you what respect and consideration you ought to shew him. I can assure you I have a particular respect and esteem for him, and I shall always be glad to do the prince all the service that lies in my power. "I am your most humble servant, "STRAFFORD." Capt. Desborough, thus encouraged, ventured to take on board his yacht the prince and his retinue Jan. 8, 1712. 1712. BOOK VI. ticipation of the profits; in lieu of which, the contractors agreed to give him five hundred guineas for his share of the same. But the name being concealed, a bill for the amount was paid into Mr. Walpole's hands and indorsed by him. On a strict examination, it appeared that no part of the money was retained by Walpole; but the house nevertheless voted the acceptance of it to be an act of corruption, and proceeded to expulsion and commitment. The censures of the house were treated by the friends of Mr. Walpole with contempt, and he was immediately rechosen by the borough of Lynn Regis. Upon which the house came to a remarkable resolution, "that Robert Walpole, esq. having been this session of parliament committed a prisoner to the Tower of London, and expelled this house for an high breach of trust in the execution of his office, and notorious corruption when secretary at war, was and is incapable of being elected a member to serve in this present parliament." Debates on The Barrier Treaty. Another business of far greater consequence next engaged the attention of the house, viz. the consideration of the barrier treaty with the States. As on the one hand it was a great object with the late whig ministers to obtain the guarantee of Holland in support of the protestant succession, it was no less a favourite point with the States that England should guaranty to them in return the 1712. quiet possession of their barrier in Flanders. And BOOK VI. a treaty containing these reciprocal conditions was signed by lord Townshend at the Hague, October 29, 1709, wherein the barrier was settled to consist not merely of various places acknowledging the sovereignty of the crown of Spain, but of several very important towns captured during the course of the war from France-as Lisle, Tournay, Menin, and Douay. This treaty was regarded by the present ministers as a grand obstacle in the way of peace, which could not too soon be removed. And though it had been solemnly ratified by the queen, it was now condemned without reserve by the house of commons, who came to divers resolutions upon the subject, importing 1st, "That in the treaty for settling a barrier, &c. under colour of securing the protestant succession, were several articles destructive to the interests of Great Britain, and highly dishonourable to her majesty. 2dly, That lord viscount Townshend had not any orders or authority for negociating or concluding several articles in that treaty. 3dly, That lord viscount Townshend, who signed, and all those who advised the ratifying of that treaty, were enemies to the queen and kingdom." The States General, astonished and alarmed at these proceedings, wrote a very respectful letter to the queen, stating the necessity of a powerful barrier for the security of 1712. BOOK VI. England as well as Holland, and expressing their readiness to explain or modify any articles of the treaty which should not essentially affect the preservation of the Dutch nation, and entreating her majesty to continue towards them that precious friendship and good will with which she had hitherto honoured them. But the current now set strongly against them; and the house of commons, in an inflammatory representation to the queen, charged the allies in general, and the States General in particular, with having been grossly deficient in furnishing their quotas of men and money; and, in answer to their various memorials, they received only a cold and vague assurance from the queen, "that she would contribute what was in her power towards the satisfaction of the States General, without abandoning the interest of her own kingdoms*." Scottish One of the most laudable measures of this high church and tory parliament was the bill brought in with very general approbation for granting a toleration to the Scottish episcopalians. Seventeen members only divided against this popular measure; and of these fourteen were Scotch. The general assembly of Scotland, alarmed at so daring and dangerous an attack upon the rights of the CHURCH, on the first intimation of this bill, drew up a long representation to the queen, setting BOOK VI forth, that the act of 1707, for securing the pro- 1712 testant religion and presbyterian government in Scotland, was declared to be an essential and fundamental condition of the treaty of the unionthat they could not but express, therefore, their surprise and affliction to hear of a bill offered for such a large and almost boundless toleration, not only threatening the overthrow of their church, but giving a licence to errors and blasphemies, &c. to the dishonour of God, the scandal of religion, and the confusion of that church and nation. And they did beseech, nay obtest her majesty by the mercy of GOD, to interpose her authority against such a manifest and ruining encroachment." Notwithstanding this rancorous opposition of the GODLY in Scotland, who regarded prelacy with scarcely less detestation than popery, the bill passed, with a remarkable clause prohibiting the magistrates of that kingdom in future to execute the sentences of the judicatories of the kirk, which was by this means divested of its temporal terrors; and as its spiritual censures have gradually fallen into contempt, it is now only the phantom of its former self. This bill was accompanied by another for restoring the right of patronage; which passed with little opposition, though certainly incompatible with the act of union, and as it was also pretended by the rigid presbyterians, to scriptural warrant. |