[116] He resigned the beneficial place of Treasurer of the Navy just after Sir Robert Walpole’s removal, because the Opposition said that his attachment to the Court arose from interest; yet that Minister always thought the Speaker not enough attached to him, and treated him very roughly, especially on his first visit after his disgrace. However, when the votes for the two last members of the secret committee were equal on the ballot for two of Sir Robert’s friends and two of his enemies, the Speaker decided in favour of the former.
[117] As was the case in 1746, when the King refused to make W. Pitt Secretary at War, and the whole Ministry resigned upon it.
[118] The different ways of reckoning the Council, as to be composed of nine, ten, or fourteen persons, arose from including, or not including the Duke, or the four to be named by the King’s will.—Vide the Act.
[119] Richard Grenville, Lord Cobham, and since Earl Temple.
[120] Grenville, a Lord of the Treasury.
[121] Grenville, Deputy Paymaster, and one of the Lords of Trade.
[122] It is remarkable that, in the next reign, Martin became a distinguished tool of the Princess’s minion, Lord Bute.
[123] Brother to Sir Robert Walpole, had been secretary to Earl Stanhope in Spain, was afterwards made Secretary to the Treasury, and Auditor of the Plantations, and was several times Ambassador in Holland and France, then made Cofferer of the Household, and lastly one of the Tellers of the Exchequer, and was created a Baron in 1756, and died February 5, 1757, aged 79.
[124] He paid the greatest court immediately to Lord Wilmington, and the instant the secret committee was voted, he set out for his house in the country, to burn, as he said in the House of Commons, dangerous papers; after which he professed himself very easy for what might happen.
[125] This was so much his foible that, when W. Pitt wanted to reconcile himself to the Whigs, he used to flatter H. Walpole in his speeches in the grossest manner; and when he was ambitious of being Secretary of State, he proposed H. Walpole for it as the only proper person, knowing that would be impossible to be effected, and hoping it would then come by rebound to himself.