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38 shook, took his part and retired. It was generally supposed that the King had a decided preference for him, but I have very good reason to believe that it went no further than liking his conversation better than that of the other Ministers, on account of his knowing more of foreign affairs and because having been in Lord Sunderland's school, he was naturally inclined to the Germans.

"During the first twenty years of George II. there were three parties, first, the old Whigs, who entirely composed the administration; secondly, the discontented Whigs, who one after another quarrelled with Sir Robert Walpole and the main body; thirdly, the Tories, to whose character and principles sufficient justice has not been done owing to the never-ceasing outcry of Ministers in confounding them with the Jacobites. In fact they were the landed interest of England who desired to see an honourable, dignified government, conducted with order and due economy and due subordination, in opposition to the Whigs, who courted the mob in the first instance, and in the next the commercial interest. The Tories, being men of property and precluded from all degree of Court favour since Queen Anne's time, lived upon their estates, never went to London but to attend Parliament, and that for a short time, while the Whigs surrounded the Court, governed the two Kingdoms, knew confidentially all that passed at home and abroad, were in the secret of everything, and provided for younger brothers, cousins, nephews and dependants, whose wits were sharpened by their advancement. The Jacobites were, in fact, quite a distinct party, which likewise had its sub-divisions, consisting of men of great rank, great property and great numbers. The Duke of Beaufort was at the head of what was called the 'Remitters,' who remitted annually large sums to the Pretender till the party was finally broken up. All Scotland was enthusiastically devoted to the exiled family, with a very few exceptions. In 1756, going through the country as a traveller, I heard many