Brunswick. Had he suffered Roman Catholic priests, whose lives
he could save without infringing any law, to be hanged, drawn, and
quartered for discharging what he considered as their first duty, he
would have drawn on himself the hatred and contempt even of those to
whose prejudices he had made so shameful a concession, and, had he
contented himself with granting to the members of his own Church a
practical toleration by a large exercise of his unquestioned prerogative
of mercy, posterity would have unanimously applauded him.

The Commons probably felt on reflection that they had acted absurdly.
They were also disturbed by learning that the King, to whom they looked
up with superstitious reverence, was greatly provoked. They made haste,
therefore, to atone for their offence. In the House, they unanimously
reversed the decision which, in the Committee, they had unanimously
adopted and passed a resolution importing that they relied with entire
confidence on His Majesty's gracious promise to protect that religion
which was dearer to them than life itself. [313]

Three days later the King informed the House that his brother had left
some debts, and that the stores of the navy and ordnance were nearly
exhausted. It was promptly resolved that new taxes should be imposed.
The person on whom devolved the task of devising ways and means was Sir
Dudley North, younger brother of the Lord Keeper. Dudley North was one
of the ablest men of his time. He had early in life been sent to the
Levant, and had there been long engaged in mercantile pursuits. Most men
would, in such a situation, have allowed their faculties to rust. For
at Smyrna and Constantinople there were few books and few intelligent
companions. But the young factor had one of those vigorous
understandings which are independent of external aids. In his solitude
he meditated deeply on the philosophy of trade, and thought out by
degrees a complete and admirable theory, substantially the same with
that which, a century later, was expounded by Adam Smith. After an exile
of many years, Dudley North returned to England with a large fortune,
and commenced business as a Turkey merchant in the City of London.
His profound knowledge, both speculative and practical, of commercial
matters, and the perspicuity and liveliness with which he explained
his views, speedily introduced him to the notice of statesmen.
The government found in him at once an enlightened adviser and an
unscrup