Lord Northumberland perceiving it was a day for great men to stand forth, thought it a good opportunity to announce his own dignity; but he said little to the purpose. Still less was said by the young Marquis of Rockingham, though he had prepared a long quotation from Tacitus about informers; and opened with it.
The Duke of Argyle sneered at Ministers out of place—not at future Ministers, for he was profuse in flattery to Stone, who, till lately, he had never heard had an enemy! that, during the Rebellion, happening to be at the Secretary’s office, two men came to solicit Mr. Stone for a place; the refused went away the better pleased of the two, from Mr. Stone’s gracious manner of refusing!
Lord Anson bore his testimony to the unanimity and report of the Cabinet Council. Dr. Madox, of Worcester, ungraciously and rudely said, that though it might be right to countenance converts, yet would it be wrong to entrust the whole to one, who had been a Jacobite. That there were great dissatisfactions already: what would ensue, if a Star-chamber were erected to protect the most unpopular? why not remove Mr. Stone to any other employment? let him come and take his place among your Lordships. He added, that great would be the hardship on Fawcett, if tried in Westminster-hall; for what Jury but would be influenced by the authority and decision of the Council? Lord Holderness notified his assent to the proceedings of the Cabinet Council. The Bishop of Worcester and Lord Sandys had some jarring; and then Lord Ravensworth put a period to this solemn mummery, in which he had acted such various parts, by saying that he was satisfied with his acquittal; that he thought nothing farther necessary to his honour; would take no farther part; did not desire anybody else would; would leave it here—and went away! A silence of confusion ensued for some minutes; nobody rising to speak, the Duke of Bedford, Lord Townshend, Lord Harcourt, and the Bishop of Worcester, went below the bar to divide, and the Bishop of Norwich was going; but no more following, they gave it up without telling the House; all the Tory Lords keeping their seats to vote for Stone and Murray.
FOOTNOTES:
[220] Lord Egmont had written some pamphlets against the Pelhams.
[221] It was written by the Author of these Memoirs.
[222] Lord Ravensworth at first, as is mentioned, [p. 266], thought that Fawcett’s observation on Dr. Johnson’s promotion, had been in relation to the Bishopric; but on recollection and discussion, it appeared to have related to the intention of making him Preceptor to the Prince of Wales.
[223] Lord Harcourt.
[224] The Dean of Durham (Dr. Cowper) and the others were literally detained privately in separate rooms for several hours; yet Murray, one of the accused, as it appeared, had evidently tampered with Fawcett the accuser, and seen him at his own house; so had Dr. Johnson.
[225] Bishop of Norwich and Lord Harcourt.