e ultimate and principal agent is sheltered from the law
by his guard of mercenaries, wretches who are contented to be infamous,
if they can continue to be rich, and value themselves on their adherence
to their master, while they are conspiring to ruin their country.

The nation, my lords, in the mean time, justly applies for redress to
the power of the legislature, and to its wisdom for methods of procuring
it by law. The commons have complied with their importunities, and
propose to your lordships the bill before you, a bill for making a
publick inquiry possible, and for bringing a minister within reach of
the law.

On this occasion, my lords, we are upbraided with our own declarations,
that the person mentioned in this bill would quickly find accusers, when
he should be divested of his authority. Behold him now, say his
advocates, reduced from his envied eminence, and placed on a level with
his fellow-subjects! Behold him no longer the distributer of
employments, or the disburser of the publick treasure! see him divested
of all security, but that of innocence, and yet no accusations are
produced!

This, my lords, is a topick so fruitful of panegyrick, and so happily
adapted to the imagination of a person long used to celebrate the wisdom
and integrity of ministers, that, were not the present question of too
great importance to admit of false concessions, I should suffer it to
remain without controversy.

But, my lords, this is no time for criminal indulgence; and, therefore,
I shall annihilate this short-lived triumph by observing, that to be out
of place, is not necessarily to be out of power; a minister may retain
his influence, who has resigned his employment; he may still retain the
favour of his prince, and possess him with a false opinion, that he can
only secure his authority by protecting him; or, what there is equal
reason to suspect, his successours may be afraid of concurring in a law
which may hereafter be revived against themselves.

It may be urged farther, my lords, that he cannot with great propriety
be said to have no power, who sees the legislature crowded with men that
are indebted to his favour for their rank and their fortunes.

Such a man may bid defiance to inquiry, with confidence produced by
security very different from that of innocence; he may depend upon the
secrecy of those whom he has, perhaps, chosen for no other virtue; he
may know that common danger will unite them to him, and t