al elections showed an overwhelming majority for the Whigs.
The not unnatural fluctuations of public opinion at such a time are
effectively illustrated by the sudden and complete manner in which the
majority was transferred, now to this side, now to that. Just at this
moment, and indeed for long after, the Whigs had it all their own way.
Only a few years ago their fortunes had seemed to have sunk to zero,
and now they had mounted again to the zenith. The King opened
Parliament in person; the Speech was read for him by the Lord
Chancellor, for the very good reason that George could not pronounce
English. That Speech declared that the established Constitution,
Church and State, should be the rule of his Government. The debate on
the Address was remarkable. In the House of Lords the Address
contained the words, "To recover the reputation of this kingdom."
Bolingbroke made his last speech in Parliament. He objected to these
words, and proposed an amendment, with an eloquence and an energy
worthy of his best days, and with a front as seemingly fearless as
though his fortunes were at the full. He contended that to talk of
{103} "recovering" the reputation of the kingdom was to cast a stigma
on the glory of the late reign. He proposed to substitute the word
"maintain" for the word "recover." His amendment was defeated by
sixty-six votes to thirty-three: exactly two to one. In the House of
Commons the Address, which was moved by Walpole, contained words still
more significant. The Address spoke of the Pretender's attempts "to
stir up your Majesty's subjects to rebellion," declared that his hopes
"were built upon the measures that had been taken for some time past in
Great Britain," and added: "It shall be our business to trace out those
measures whereon he placed his hopes, and to bring the authors of them
to condign punishment." These words were the first distinct intimation
given by the Ministers that they intended to call their predecessors to
account. Stanhope stated their resolve still more explicitly in the
course of the debate. Bolingbroke sat and heard it announced that he
and his late colleague were to be impeached for high-treason. He put
on an appearance of serenity and philosophic boldness for a time, but
in his heart he had already taken fright. For a few days he went about
in public, showing himself ostentatiously, with all the manner of a man
who is happy in his unwonted ease, and is only anxious fo