Page:Memoirs of a Trait in the Character of George III.djvu/124

Rh flung me out of £1250.'—He means that the majority gave way so far to please the Minister. That the Premier, with a knowledge of his royal Master's sentiments on the subject (and who can doubt he knew them) should yet have suffered his satisfaction to be in any degree alloyed by this bonus to the Treasury, is passing strange indeed! and, we may assume, could not at that time have happened under any other Government, bearing resemblance to a monarchy. The fact inclusively shows that the placability and candour of this considerate Prince allowed even those who might be concluded to be most subservient to what he had so much set his mind on, freely to differ in opinion with him, both by their words and actions, provided they were not open to reproach, like the party who refused the old man the loan of the successful Timekeeper: and who damaged his machines, as if in children's sport.—Another circumstance which highly bespeaks attention, is that Sir George Saville, and some of those who divided with him, would directly have declined all pretensions to compete with John Harrison's superior friend, had they understood the self-denial to which he had constrained himself, pending this business; particularly during the trial of the Watch, to which their own sacrifices bore no resemblance. They had attended in their places in the House, when this, as well as ordinary business, was the order of the day, but unluckily, by suffering country engagements, or amusements,