ent heads:
the clandestine negotiation with monsieur Menager; the extraordinary
measures pursued to form the congress at Utrecht; the trifling of the
French plenipotentiaries, by the connivance of the British ministers;
the negotiation about the renunciation of the Spanish monarchy; the
fatal suspension of arms; the seizure of Ghent and Bruges, in order to
distress the allies and favour the French; the duke of Ormond's acting
in concert with the French general; the lord Bolingbroke's journey to
France to negotiate a separate peace; Mr. Prior's and the duke of
Shrewsbury's negotiation in France; the precipitate conclusion of the
peace at Utrecht. The report being read, sir Thomas Hanmer moved that
the consideration of it should be adjourned to a certain day; and that
in the meantime the report should be printed for the perusal of the
members: he was seconded by the tories: a debate ensued; and the motion
was rejected by a great majority.

This point being gained, Mr. Walpole impeached Henry lord viscount
Bolingbroke of high treason, and other high crimes and misdemeanors. Mr.
Hungerford declared his opinion, that nothing mentioned in the report,
in relation to lord Bolingbroke, amounted to high treason; and general
Eoss expressed the same sentiment. Then lord Coningsby standing up, "The
worthy chairman," said he, "has impeached the hand, but I impeach the
head: he has impeached the clerk, and I the justice; he has impeached
the scholar, and I the master. I impeach Eobert earl of Oxford and earl
Mortimer of high treason, and other high crimes and misdemeanors."
Mr. Auditor Harley, the earl's brother, spoke in vindication of that
minister. He affirmed he had done nothing but by the immediate command
of his sovereign; that the peace was a good peace, and approved as such
by two parliaments; and that the facts charged to him in the report
amounted only to misdemeanors; if the sanction of a parliament, which is
the representative and legislature of the nation, be not sufficient to
protect a minister from the vengeance of his enemies, he can have no
security. Mr. Atiditor Foley, the earl's brother-in-law, made a speech
to the same purpose; sir Joseph Jekyll, a staunch whig, and member of
the secret committee, expressed his doubt whether they had sufficient
matter or evidence to impeach the earl of high treason. Nevertheless the
house resolved to impeach him without a division. When he appeared in
the house of lords next day, h