content, added to
other complaints which had been so long repeated against the minister,
exaggerated and inculcated by his enemies with unwearied industry, at
length rendered him so universally odious, that his name was seldom or
never mentioned with decency, except by his own dependents.

MOTION FOR REMOVING SIR R. WALPOLE FROM HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCILS.

The country party in parliament seized this opportunity of vengeance.
Mr. Sandys went up to sir Robert Walpole in the house, and told him,
that on Friday next he should bring a charge against him in public.
The minister seemed to be surprised at this unexpected intimation; but,
after a short pause, thanked him politely for this previous notice, and
said he desired no favour, but fair play.*

* Upon this occasion he misquoted Horace. "As I am not
conscious of any crime," said he, "I do not doubt of being
able to make a proper defence, _Nil conscire sibi nulli
pallescere culpae_." He was corrected by Mr. Pulteney; but
insisted on his being in the right, and actually laid a
wager on the justness of the quotation.

Mr. Sandys, at the time which he had appointed for this accusation,
stood up, and in a studied speech entered into a long deduction of the
minister's misconduct. He insisted upon the discontents of the nation,
in consequence of the measures which had been for many years pursued at
home and abroad. He professed his belief that there was not a
gentleman in the house who did not know that one single person in the
administration was the chief, if not the sole adviser and promoter of
all those measures. "This," added he, "is known without doors, as well
as within; therefore, the discontents, the reproaches, and even the
curses of the people, are all directed against that single person. They
complain of present measures; they have suffered by past measures; they
expect no redress; they expect no alteration or amendment, whilst he has
a share in directing or advising our future administration. These,
sir, are the sentiments of the people in regard to that minister; these
sentiments we are in honour and duty bound to represent to his
majesty; and the proper method for doing this, as established by
our constitution, is to address his majesty to remove him from
his councils." He then proceeded to explain the particulars of the
minister's misconduct in the whole series of his negotiations abroad. He
charged him with having endeavoured