Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 17.pdf/749

 7.6

THE GREEN BAG

Hard indeed is the condition of the earl to pay his fine within six weeks, and after when his most commendable actions are his discharge to retire to a country seat turned to his disgrace. He who has a hand wherein he spent the remainder of his life. open as day for melting charity you are But he felt that it was a ruined life. The required to believe must necessarily be energy and ability which had raised him from guilty of corruption or extortion. Such is a clerkship in the office of his father, an obthe reasoning of his accusers, but he has cure country attorney, to the offices of bar rister, sergeant, Lord Chief Justice and Lord your lordships for his judges." More than a century after this trial a Chancellor, now failed, and as a politician similar exordium was made in behalf of he was useless because he had been "found certain political judges who were impeached out." The King, it is said, promised to pay in the state of New York. The result was the fine "out of the privy purse as fast as the same in both instances — conviction. he could spare the money." He did pay On May 25, 1725, the House of Lords as one thousand pounds and sent word that sembled, ninty-three peers being present, two thousand pounds more was obtainable and Chancellor Macclesfield was called in whenever Macclesfield chose to apply for to hear the verdict. Lord Chief Justice it. Strange to say he did not go at once, King put the question to each peer, begin and the death of George I ended the matter. ning with the junior, "Is Thomas, -Earl of The Ex-chancellor sent his son to Sir Robert Macclesfield, guilty of high crimes and mis Walpole, but received word that "his late demeanors charged upon him by the House Majesty and his minister had a running of Commons, or not guilty?" The unani account which had not been settled, and mous answer was "Guilty upon my honor." as there was no saying on which side the Political influence was at once most actively balance was, it would be too great a risk set at work to procure a light sentence, but to pay the balance at present." There the voice of the people was not to be denied. was no present or future for that balance, The Ex-chancellor was fined thirty thou but Macclesfield did not need it, and died sand pounds, ordered to be imprisoned at his country house, in April, 1732, a until the fine was paid, and the King, with broken-hearted man, and a distinguished a sigh, ordered his name to be erased from victim of the spoils system. the list of Privy Councillors. His emolu NEW YORK, N.Y., November, 1905. ments had been so great that he was able