416 
repeated which he had found effectual 
with King james, after he had voted for 
the Bill of Exclufion. He avowed his 
pure and only intention was his Majefty’s 
honour and fervice. In 1700, allthe for- 
mer fondnefs for him revived, with great 
improvements: but this part of the 
King’s character will be further opened, 
when this Lord’s charaéter comes to be 
diftin&tly explained. 
Burnet’s account of the King’s cold- 
nefs, referve, and averfion to bufinefs, has 
been cenfured as groundlefs ; but its truth 
and reality is fupported by many paflages 
in thefe letters, and moft exprefsly by a 
letter of Lord Somers. There we are 
told, that, during the whole winter of 
3697-8, he would not fpeak to any in his 
fervice about his affairs: That he feemed 
to wait the iffue. of party-contefts to fee 
which would prove the ftrongeft. His 
Lordfhip reprefented it being neceflary to 
employ any party, any fet of men, in 
whom he could confide, and that his af- 
fairs languifhed for want of vigour. 
About eighteen months afterwards, the 
King declared, the oppofition which was 
made in the Houfe of Commons, he plainly 
perceived, was intended againft himfelf, 
though pretended only againft his minif- 
ters, and therefore, with the exception 
of one man only, he would aét with vi- 
geur. No intimation is given who this 
one man was. 
SOMERS. 
Every tranfaftion of this great man 
was accurate and perfect in its kind. 
Truth and propriety appear in all his let- 
ters, nor are there any fymptoms of affec- 
tation: there is a peculiar eafe and force, 
and nothing can be jufter than all his fen- 
timents ; but all reprefentations of this 
great man, as of the beft of writers, are 
needjefs, they being in fact fo well known. 
When the Duke of Shrewfbury retired, 
he acted the part dfa true friend, im his ma- 
pagement in parliament, and in the cabi- 
net. He urged every proper motive to 
engage him to return to bufinefs; and, 
when the Duke was abroad, every thing 
directed to him, gave him juft notices of 
what paffed, and tended to preferve in his 
rig proper regards to the public wel- 
aie. 
Yhe Tories hated him becaufe he was 
fe able, fo honeft, and fo hearty, a friend 
cf the King’s. Harley and the then pa- 
tricts envied him, on account of his fu- 
petior parts and abilities. Both hoped 
en bis removal from place and power. 
From the Port-folio of a Man of Letters. 
@ popular, was a melt fen{elefs, clamour. 
[Dec. }, 
In the Houfe of Commons, a lift of the 
Privy Council was ordered to be read. 
As they began with the Lord Chancellor, 
there was much railing and paffion; but 
nothing was alleged, excepting his grants 
from the crown; but thefe were found 
trifling, compared with what had been al- 
lotted to others: noone had then fo juft a 
pretence to favours of this kind. At 
this time he was acquitted of all imputa- 
tions by a great majority. They would 
have proceeded, but the worthy and fin- 
cere Duke of Leeds happening to come 
next in courfe, his grants appeared to 
amount to soool. a year and upwards, 
and, for his fake the impartial Tories 
and Patriots of thofe days {pared others. 
Offenders, and not offences, in all ages 
and places have been the chief objects 
of wiath and clamour. Impartial and 
equal juftice, efpecially in public affairs, is 
a mere pretence ; for, when or where have 
we feen this appear in real effects ? 
The King’s anfwer with regard to the 
Irith grants was afcribed toSomers, but this 
falfe and groundlefs opinion was pro- 
moted with the view of making him 
odious ; therefore, when the bill came be- 
fore the Houfe of Lords, he was abfent 
the whole time, excufed it on account of 
illnefs, and feemed unconcerned. Oa 
this account, we are affured, the King. 
turned him out with marks of difpleafure, 
and that he did notrefign. Portland, Al- | 
bemarle, and Lady Orkney, when thus 
touched in intereft, joined with Jerfey and 
Rochefter in compaffing his difgrace. Ie 
may not be improper here toremark, that 
Harcourt was the chief manager in this | 
Irifh affair, and drew up the report. 
However, fuch was the merit and im- 
portance of Somers, that all attempts 
were made immediately after to en- 
gage him to return to his office. The 
Duke of Shrewfbury was empowered tao 
this purpofe ; and old Sunderland feemed 
bufy in trying all methods, but his fince- 
rity was juitly fufpected. But there 
were maily private and public reafons, 
fufficient to confirm a man of much lefs 
wifdom in his refolution for retiring. 
After having parted with one fo able 
and faithful, the King’s cooler thoughts 
fuggetted to him many uneafy reflegtions. 
Halifax was fent for, and every thing 
faid to engage him to continue in bufinefs. 
His anfwer was, he would ferve as far as _ 
was confiftent with his regard and obli- 
gations to Somers. 
His paffing fo many grants, though then 
It 
