3792. = political progres of Britain. 25 
cand state in Christendom. By one of these transac~ 
tions, concluded about this time, Frederick tells us, 
** that the kings of Poland and England had formed 
*‘ an offensive alliance, by which they divided the 
_** Prufsian provinces. Their imagination fattened 
*‘ on that prey; and while they declaimed against 
“¢ the ambition ofa young prince, they were already 
“¢ enjoying his spoils*.” Had their most sacred 
majesties been ‘able to read Shakespeare, one might 
have suspected that Falstaff was their favourite hero. 
«“ Now,” says the knight, ‘ fhall I see the bottem 
* of Justice Shallow. Ifthe young dace be a bait 
*¢ for the old pike, I see no reason in the law of na- 
* ture but Jmay snap at him.” But the dominions of 
a Frederick were not to be partitioned by such adver- 
saries as George or Augustus. In 1742 when Wal- 
pole found himself in a minority, a mefsage was sent 
to the prince of Wales, importing, that if he and is 
‘party would make proper advances, fifty thousand 
pounds per annum fhould be added to his revenue, and 
two hundred thousand pounds thould be disbursed to 
pay his debts. It is needlefs to expatiate on such a 
proposal. It was rejected; and even the friends of 
the prince, when they mounted the saddle, seem to 
have been afhamed of attempting so profligate a pro- 
ject; for in March 1751, at the distance of nine 
years, they suffered his royal highnefs to die insol- 
vent. Walpole was driven from his post, and a com- 
mittee were appointed to inquire into his conduct. 
it appeared, ‘‘ that, during the last ten years, he had 
** touched for secret service, one million four hun- 
* History of my own times, chap. ii. 
VOL, Ix. Db t 
