served to make him recollect a faying of his father's the Earl of Besb-gh, "that want of

veracity was an effential ingredient in the "compofition of a ftatefman." Of all the Earl's maxims, that was the only one he either understood, or practifed-Diffimulation, ti midity, and irrefolution, were the leading principles of his politics. His diffimulation was fo blended with timidity, that it feemed to arife, rather from an apprehenfion of giving offence, than a conftitutional weaknefs. This apparent, though fallacious mark of diftinction, flattered those who addreffed him, and was misconstrued by them into a mark of respect : by these means, fome followers remained attached to his perfon, whom his infincerity would otherwife have eftranged. He had cunning enough to infinuate, that his irrefolution rather fprung from a deference to the judgment of others, than from his own indecifiveness. There was an air of fincerity in his folemn profeffions, fufficient to deceive those who were not thoroughly acquainted with the duplicity of this heart. Many were fecretly pleased to see a man at the head of the Commons, whofe influence and intereft could command any favour from government; and whofe timid fpirits, and shallow intellects, encouraged VOL. I.

M

them

them to extort promises, either by bullying or perfuafion. In a country, not quite civilized in the middle of the laft century, hofpitality was more esteemed than at prefent. Mr. P. was excellently fitted to shine in this sphere, and promote the pleasures of the table, as he was both focial and generous. He was beloved by his companions, for his converfation convinced them, that his understanding was of the loweft order, and thereby flattered them into a better opinion of their own.

The fervility of the Commons in that age, and abfolute fubmiffion to the will of the Speaker, will scarcely be credited at present; yet the inftances I fhall produce are fo well authenticated, that they muft force conviction on every reader. To ftrike, and intimidate the Earl of Hertford with an idea of his unbounded power and influence, he obliged the obfequious Commons to refolve, "That an entry, re"corded in the journals of the year 1615, " acknowledging the conftitutional prerogative " of the crown, and the legal rights of the "Deputy and Council, fhould be expunged,

as a difgrace to parliament." The next day, Mr. P. after having had the honour of a fecret conference with the Earl, induced that fubfervient affembly to vote, "That the clerk

"had

"had mistaken the fenfe and orders of the "houfe;" though it was proved beyond a poffibility of doubt, that the motion was conceived in those words, which were taken down by the clerk with accuracy and precifion, and repeatedly read to the whole house.

For this fhameless conduct, the Speaker was applauded by his friends, as they foolishly suppofed he was a confummate politician, by conciliating the favour of the Vice-roy, and fhewing the implicit obedience of that fupple Senate, who had difgraced themselves to exalt him. By this fhameful tranfaction we may evidently perceive the tergiverfation and effrontery of an ariftocratic faction, who are always ready to start any infidious question, to excite a popular clamour against government, and then meanly to retract and refcind their own folemn votes and refolutions, at the beck of their chief. Since that difgraceful æra, the dignity of the commons hath been studiously preferved.

The fecond inftance, by which he prostituted the honour of the Commons, was, by procuring an iniquitous act of parliament, to protect and enrich an infamous, difcounting fhopkeeper, whofe crimes were of fo uncommon, and flagi ious a nature, that the laws of his country'

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country had not devised any punishment for them. Some years after, this man became a member of that house, in whose journals he is ftill recorded for every fpecies of meannefs and fraud. As his pofterity are now peers of the realm, I do not choose to mention his name, left it fhould be voted a breach of privilege.

Cætera defunt.

e

I

NUMBER XXXVII.

Difficilis, facilis, jucundus, acerbus es idem ;
Nec tecum poffum vivere, nec fine te.

MARTIAL.

To JEOFFRY WAGSTAFFE, Efq.

SIR,

THINK it will furnish out a whimsical spe

culation, to confider the various traits which peculiarly distinguish his Excellency Lord Sancho; and alfo the various difcordant notions which our great men have entertained, at different times, about this heteroclite being. By these means, we may form fuch an idea of his principles and politics, as cannot be fuggefted, either by panegyric or invective. If your pa

per

per is not fervilely devoted to the court, you may gain fome credit, by admitting an essay written on this fubject, with freedom and im partiality.

On his Excellency's arrival he was, like the reft of his predeceffors, complimented, careffed, and flattered. Amidft the general feftivity, the pleafures and fnares of the table were not neglected in this hofpitable country. Sancho was a bon vivant, and being both a foldier and a man of wit, was early habituated to a jovial life, and feemed to relifh our Hibernian mode of affociating, claret and politics :-He laughed and joked, talked with Mr. P. of hounds and horfes, and entertained fome of the Dublin So. ciety with a lively account of the cultivation of Norfolk turnips. He ufually difpatched a meffenger every week to Rainham for dogs of every fpecies, from a fox-hound to a turn-fpit-these. he prefented to our nobility and gentry, and feemed to have no other view, than improving the canine breed in this kingdom.-Mr. P-nfby, like a wife minifter, was charmed by the diffipated manners of the Vice-roy; fwore "he was the very man they wanted, that they "would do his and the King's bufinefs, and "carry him triumphantly through the feffion." In the mean time, the fprightly Governor's