uch prudential policy
as he now displayed. He found means to separate the parts that composed
the opposition, and to transfer the popular odium from himself to those
who had professed themselves his keenest adversaries. The country-party
consisted of the tories, reinforced by discontented whigs, who had
either been disappointed in their own ambitious views, or felt for
the distresses of their country, occasioned by a weak and worthless
administration. The old patriots, and the whigs whom they had joined,
acted upon very different, and, indeed, upon opposite principles
of government; and there-fore they were united only by the ties of
convenience. A coalition was projected between the discontented whigs,
and those of the same denomination who acted in the ministry. Some were
gratified with titles and offices; and all were assured, that in the
management of affairs a new system would be adopted, according to the
plan they themselves should propose. The court required nothing of them,
but that the earl of Orford should escape with impunity. His place
of chancellor of the exchequer was bestowed upon Mr. Sandys, who was
likewise appointed a lord of the treasury; and the earl of Wilmington
succeeded him as first commissioner of that board. Lord Harrington,
being dignified with the title of carl, was declared president of the
council; and in his room lord Carteret became secretary of state. The
duke of Argyle was made master-general of the ordnance, colonel of
his majesty's royal regiment of horse guards, field-marshal and
commander-in-chief of all the forces in South-Britain; but, finding
himself disappointed in his expectations of the coalition, he, in less
than a month, renounced all these employments. The marquis of Tweedale
was appointed secretary of state for Scotland, a post which had been
long suppressed; Mr. Pulteney was sworn of the privy-council, and
afterwards created earl of Bath. The earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham
was preferred to the head of the admiralty, in the room of sir Charles
Wager; and, after the resignation of the duke of Argyle, the earl of
Stair was appointed field-marshal of all his majesty's forces, as well
as ambassador-extraordinary to the states-general. On the seventeenth
day of February the prince of Wales, attended by a numerous retinue of
his adherents, waited on his majesty, who received him graciously, and
ordered his guards to be restored. Lord Carteret and Mr. Sandys were
the first who