rnment; they would apprehend that the
administration was so weak as to want so extraordinary a provision for
its safety; that the gentlemen of Britain were not to be trusted; and
that the good affections of the people were restrained within the
limits of the house of commons. They affirmed that this bill, far from
preventing the expense of elections, would rather increase it, and
encourage every species of corruption; for the value of a seat would
always be in proportion to the duration of a parliament, and the
purchase would rise accordingly; that a long parliament would yield
a greater temptation, as well as a better opportunity to a vicious
ministry, to corrupt the members, than they could possibly have when
the parliaments were short and frequent; that the same reasons urged for
passing the bill to continue this parliament for seven years, would be
at least as strong, and, by the conduct of the ministry, might be made
much stronger before the end of that term, for continuing and even
perpetuating their legislative power, to the absolute subversion of the
third estate of the realm. These arguments served only to form a decent
debate, after which the bill for septennial parliaments passed by a
great majority, though twenty peers entered a protest. It met with the
same fate in the lower house, where many strong objections were stated
to no purpose. They were represented as the effects of party spleen;
and, indeed, this was the great spring of action on both sides. The
question for the bill was carried in the affirmative; and in a little
time it received the royal sanction.

DUKE OF ARGYLE DISGRACED.

The rebellion being utterly quelled, and all the suspected persons of
consequence detained in safe custody, the king resolved to visit his
German dominions, where he foresaw a storm gathering from the quarter
of Sweden. Charles XII. was extremely exasperated against the elector
of Hanover, for having entered into the confederacy against him in his
absence, particularly for his having purchased the duchies of Bremen and
Verden, which constituted part of his dominions; and he breathed nothing
but revenge against the king of Great Britain. It was with a view to
avert this danger, or prepare against it, that the king now determined
upon a voyage to the continent. But as he was restricted from leaving
his British dominions by the act for the further limitation of the
crown, this clause was repealed in a new bill that pas