that he could not draw up a proper speech, and requested Walpole’s assistance, which the latter goodnaturedly gave him. When this matter came to be known, Queen Caroline urged to the King how very improper it was to make any one his prime minister, who so far from being equal to the office was forced to seek assistance from the very person whom he was about to displace. The King, struck by the observation, continued Sir Robert in his old station.
“Having got upon this subject, I expressed my suprise to Mr. Walpole that he had not himself given the world some memoirs of his father’s life and times. He said that, at the time his father was principally concerned in the administration of affairs, he was at college or abroad; that he came home about the year 1740 or 1741; that Sir Robert died about three years afterwards; and at that time of life he troubled himself very little in inquiring after such historical anecdotes, &c. If, therefore, he undertook the task at all, he must rely on the information of others. Independent however of this, he thought the world would be little inclined to pay attention to what a son should say of his father. All his statements would be deemed coloured and partial; even where he should be most simple and nearest to the truth.
“He proceeded to mention a singular anecdote of Dr. Kippis, editor of the new edition of the Biographia Britannica. Mr. Walpole in his Royal and Noble Authors had said of that work, that ‘it ought rather to be called Vindicatio Britannica, for that it was a general panegyric upon everybody.’
