the army; did either those who
profess to understand the laws of their own country, or they who declare
themselves versed in the interests and transactions of foreign powers,
apply to any other man for promotion or employment, he might then,
indeed, be called the _chief_, but not properly the _sole_ minister.

But it is well known, my lords; many of us know it too well, that
whatever be the profession or the abilities of any person, there is no
hope of encouragement or reward by any other method than that of
application to this man, that he shall certainly be disappointed who
shall attempt to rise by any other interest, and whoever shall dare to
depend on his honesty, bravery, diligence, or capacity, or to boast any
other merit than that of implicit adherence to his measures, shall
inevitably lie neglected and obscure.

For this reason, my lords, every one whose calmness of temper can enable
him to support the sight, without starts of indignation and sallies of
contempt, may daily see at the levee of this great man, what I am
ashamed to mention, a mixture of men of all ranks and all professions,
of men whose birth and titles ought to exalt them above the meanness of
cringing to a mere child of fortune, men whose studies ought to have
taught them, that true honour is only to be gained by steady virtue, and
that all other arts, all the low applications of flattery and servility
will terminate in contempt, disappointment, and remorse.

This scene, my lords, is daily to be viewed, it is ostentatiously
displayed to the sight of mankind, the minister amuses himself in
publick with the splendour, and number, and dignity of his slaves; and
his slaves with no more shame pay their prostrations to their master in
the face of day, and boast of their resolutions to gratify and support
him. And yet, my lords, it is inquired why the people assert that there
is a _sole_ minister?

Those who deny, my lords, that there is a _sole_ minister to whom the
miscarriages of the government may justly be imputed, may easily
persuade themselves to believe that there have been no miscarriages,
that all the measures were necessary, and well formed, that there is
neither poverty nor oppression felt in the nation, that our compliance
with France was no weakness, and that our dread of the treaty of Vienna
was not chimerical.

The treaty of Vienna, my lords, which has been the parent of so many
terrours, consultations, embassies, and alliances is,