brought a message from his
majesty, demanding an extraordinary supply, that he might be the better
enabled to secure his kingdoms against the danger with which they were
threatened from Sweden; and he moved that a supply should be granted
to his majesty for this purpose. Mr. Shippen observed it was a great
misfortune that the king was as little acquainted with the parliamentary
proceedings as with the language of the country: that the message was
unparliamentary and unprecedented; and, in his opinion, penned by some
foreign minister: he said he had been often told that his majesty
had retrieved the honour and reputation of the nation; a truth which
appeared in the flourishing condition of trade; but that the supply
demanded seemed to be inconsistent with the glorious advantages
which his majesty had obtained for the people. He was seconded by Mr.
Hungerford, who declared that for his part he could not understand what
occasion there was for new alliances; much less that they should be
purchased with money. He expressed his surprise that a nation so lately
the terror of France and Spain should now seem to fear so inconsiderable
an enemy as the king of Sweden. The motion was supported by Mr.
Boscawen, sir Gilbert Heathcote, and others; but some of the whigs spoke
against it; and Mr. Robert Walpole was silent. The speaker, and Mr.
Smith, one of the tellers of the exchequer, opposed this unparliamentary
way of demanding the supply: the former proposed that part of the army
should be disbanded, and the money applied towards the making good
such new engagements as were deemed necessary. After several successive
debates, the resolution for a supply was carried by a majority of four
voices.

* This year was rendered famous by a complete victory which,
prince Eugene obtained over the Turks at Peterwaradin upon
the Danube. The battle was fought upon the fifth day of
August. The Imperial army did not exceed sixty thousand men;
that of the infidels amounted to one hundred and fifty
thousand, commanded by the grand vizier, who was mortally
wounded in the engagement. The infidels were totally
defeated, with the loss of all their tents, artillery, and
baggage, so that the victors obtained an immense booty.

{GEORGE I, 1714--1727}

DIVISION IN THE MINISTRY.

The ministry was now divided within itself. Lord Townshend had been
removed from the office of secretary of state, by the in