ent chiefly composed of members whose seats
are purchased, and whose votes are bought at the expense of the public
treasure. In such a parliament suppose all attempts made to inquire into
his conduct, or to relieve the nation from the distress which has
been entailed upon it by his administration. Suppose him screened by
a corrupt majority of his creatures, whom he retains in daily pay, or
engages in his particular interest, by distributing among them those
posts and places which ought never to be bestowed upon any but for the
good of the public. Let him plume himself upon his scandalous victory,
because he has obtained a parliament like a packed jury ready to acquit
him at all adventures. Let us suppose him domineering with insolence
over all the men of ancient families, over all the men of sense, figure,
or fortune in the nation; as he has no virtue of his own, ridiculing it
in others, and endeavouring to destroy and corrupt it in all. With such
a minister, and such a parliament, let us suppose a case which I hope
will never happen: a prince upon the throne, uninformed, ignorant, and
unacquainted with the inclinations and true interest of his people,
weak, capricious, transported with unbounded ambition, and possessed
with insatiable warice. I hope such a case will never occur; but, as
it possibly may, could any greater curse happen to a nation than such
a prince on the throne, advised, and solely advised by such a minister,
and that minister supported by such a parliament? The nature of mankind
cannot be altered by human laws; the existence of such a prince or such
a minister we cannot prevent by act of parliament; but the existence of
such a parliament I think we may prevent; as it is much more likely to
exist, and may do more mischief, while the septennial law remains in
force than if it were repealed; therefore, I am heartily for its being
repealed." Notwithstanding the most warm, the most nervous, the most
pathetic remonstrances in favour of the motion, the question was put,
and it was suppressed by mere dint of number.

{1734}

The triumph of the ministry was still more complete in the success of a
message delivered from the crown in the latter end of the session, when
a great many members of the other party had retired to their respective
habitations in the country. Sir Robert Wal-pole delivered this
commission to the house, importing that his majesty might be enabled
to augment his forces, if occasion should