English Premiers from Sir Robert Walpole to Sir Robert Peel Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ...with Spain, he warmly supported it. He had nothing to conceal, nor could the appearance of these documents have any other eifect than that of proving how laudably he had acted. Nor did he take revenge on those who had deserted him by offering any factious opposition to their plans. He approved the supply of one million to the Portuguese, to enable them to make head against Spain, but declared that if the government should see fit to put an end to the war, he would not be the one to embarrass them with his private views on the subject. But his manly conduct at this crisis did not make the rhymers of Grub Street relent. Their venal lampoons have long since floated down to oblivion in the sewers of literature, while his fame has been sung by Thomson and the stricter censor of Olney. To these Lamartine adds the obscure Hammond, styling him and the author of " The Seasons " the two greatest court poets f Even in the House of Commons Pitt was virulently assailed; but he bore his sufferings with patience and insults with disdain. He knew that the triumph of those who exulted Cowpers " Table Talk." t "Biographies and Portraits," vol. ii. p. 10. oyer his fall must be short; and the boldness with which Bute pushed his pretensions confirmed his opinion. Not content with displacing Pitt, the royal favourite looked with an evil eye on the wide-spread influence of Newcastle: he envied him the title of First Lord of the Treasury, and.wished to be premier in name as well as in fact. The reins of government to him were all golden, and frequent doles of from 40,000 to 95,000 were paid him for secret service and for the King's privy purse. Such was his compensation for having been hooted and pelted in Cheapside on Lord Mayor's day. Newcastle endured...