of the Crown and of the Church, and a hater
of Republicans and Nonconformists. He had consequently a great body of
personal adherents. The clergy especially looked on him as their own
man, and extended to his foibles an indulgence of which, to say the
truth, he stood in some need: for he drank deep; and when he was in a
rage,--and he very often was in a rage,--he swore like a porter.

He now succeeded Essex at the treasury. It is to be observed that the
place of First Lord of the Treasury had not then the importance and
dignity which now belong to it. When there was a Lord Treasurer, that
great officer was generally prime minister: but, when the white staff
was in commission, the chief commissioner hardly ranked so high as a
Secretary of State. It was not till the time of Walpole that the First
Lord of the Treasury became, under a humbler name, all that the Lord
High Treasurer had been.

Godolphin had been bred a page at Whitehall, and had early acquired all
the flexibility and the selfpossession of a veteran courtier. He was
laborious, clearheaded, and profoundly versed in the details of finance.
Every government, therefore, found him an useful servant; and there was
nothing in his opinions or in his character which could prevent him from
serving any government. "Sidney Godolphin," said Charles, "is never
in the way, and never out of the way." This pointed remark goes far to
explain Godolphin's extraordinary success in life.

He acted at different times with both the great political parties: but
he never shared in the passions of either. Like most men of cautious
tempers and prosperous fortunes, he had a strong disposition to support
whatever existed. He disliked revolutions; and, for the same reason
for which he disliked revolutions, he disliked counter-revolutions. His
deportment was remarkably grave and reserved: but his personal tastes
were low and frivolous; and most of the time which he could save from
public business was spent in racing, cardplaying, and cockfighting. He
now sate below Rochester at the Board of Treasury, and distinguished
himself there by assiduity and intelligence.

Before the new Parliament was suffered to meet for the despatch of
business a whole year elapsed, an eventful year, which has left
lasting traces in our manners and language. Never before had political
controversy been carried on with so much freedom. Never before had
political clubs existed with so elaborate an organisation or