istrusted by the
nation, and, surely, nothing can so much obstruct the publick happiness,
as a want of confidence in those who are intrusted with its
preservation.

That common fame is, in this case, sufficient, will not be questioned,
when it is considered that common fame is never without a foundation in
facts, that it may spread disquiet and suspicion over all the kingdom,
and that the satisfaction of millions is very cheaply purchased by the
degradation of one man, who was exalted only for their benefit.

The objection, that there is no sole minister, will create no greater
difficulty; if there be many concerned in these transactions,
_respondeat superior:_ but it is too apparent that there is, in reality,
one whose influence is greater than that of any other private man, and
who is arrived at a height not consistent with the nature of the British
government; it is uncontested that there is one man to whom the people
impute their miseries, and by whose removal they will be appeased.

The affairs of Europe, my lords, will probably be so much embarrassed,
and the struggles between the different designs of its princes be so
violent, that they will demand all our attention, and employ all our
address, and it will be to the highest degree dangerous to be distracted
at the same time with apprehensions of domestick troubles; yet, such is
the present unhappy state of this nation, and such is the general
discontent of the people, that tranquillity, adherence to the
government, and submission to the laws, cannot reasonably be hoped,
unless the motion I shall now take leave to make your lordships, be
complied with: and I move, "That an humble address be presented to his
majesty, most humbly to advise and beseech his majesty, that he will be
most graciously pleased to remove the right honourable sir Robert
WALPOLE, knight of the most noble order of the blue riband, first
commissioner of his majesty's treasury, and chancellor of the exchequer,
and one of his majesty's most honourable privy council, from his
majesty's presence and councils for ever."

He was seconded by lord ABINGDON in the following manner:--My lords, the
copiousness and perspicuity with which the noble lord has laid down the
reasons of his motion, make it neither easy nor necessary to enlarge
upon them. I shall, therefore, only offer to your lordships a few
thoughts upon the authority of common fame, as the evidence upon which
the motion is in part founded.