people to make collections and abstracts for him upon different subjects. Still, even if both Lord Sunderland and the Craggs had lived, I do not imagine it would have made much difference; it might have occasioned more intrigue both within and without doors and some short struggle, but the Walpoles must have got the better in the end, especially upon the plan which the Court had adopted, perhaps necessarily, of governing by the House of Commons, for which Sir Robert was eminently qualified by the plainness and soundness of his understanding, his steadiness, experience, and country conviviality, and his merits which stood very high among the Whigs at the latter end of the Queen's reign. He was just the opposite of the Duke of Newcastle. He thought for himself, had no such people as Stone, William Murray, &c., to think for him. Instead of Mr. Stone doing his business and he Mr. Stone's, he did nobody's business, nor suffered anybody to do his. At his levée, when he was applied to about revenue matters, he used to say, 'Convince Lowndes, and I have no objection.'[1] He confined the Secretaries of the Treasury to the official business, and did not suffer them ever to meddle with the higher lines, or the Cabinet, or the House of Commons. One of the most bustling members of the House of Commons who was always supposed to have a private pension, had nothing more than the privilege of breakfasting with his valet de chambre. He was of a perfectly even temper, and the most good-natured man living. Once he lost his temper at a Council, but he broke up the Council immediately after, saying no man was fit for business with a ruffled temper. When George I. died, he waited on George II. to acquaint him, who desired him to go to Sir Spencer Compton to congratulate him, and to assure him of his cordial support: taking it for granted that he would be called up to the House of Lords and have one of the White Staffs, which was all that he expected. Sir Spencer Compton, who was a dull heavy man, made no answer, except that he believed that it was usual for a King on his accession to say a few
- ↑ Secretary to the Treasury.
