374 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
Upon the Treasurer for a sum of money which they found to be paid to some Highlanders in Scotland, who they said were Nonjurors and Papists and they mov'd that some per- sons who were now in town might be summon'd to appear before the House to be examin'd about this matter. Lord Wharton said that the Ministers ought to give an account of this, they must not shelter themselves under the Queen's authority, for what ever the Queen did the Ministers that advis'd itt were to answer for. Upon that Lord Treasurer spoke, and much bolder and clearer than ever I heard him before. He said he wou'd always stand by that maxim, and shou'd att any time be willing to be tried upon itt, and he hop'd that some rule wou'd be observ'd whenever they came upon the consideration of matters passt under the last Ministry. As to the calling of witnesses he said there was no manner of occasion for itt in this case, for he own'd that he had paid this money, he own'd that he had advis'd the giving itt, and therefore hop'd that they wou'd immediately come to a censure if they thought he de- serv'd itt, for having effected that service for the sum of 3500/., [for] which in a former reign 16000/. had been given without effect. In short Lord Townshend who made the Motion said he was satisfied and thought My Lord Treasurer had cleared the matter and desir'd itt might be dropt. But then Lord Bolingbrook gott up and said itt wou'd be very hard that after this matter had been brought upon the stage and an accusation had been fram'd against the noble Lord (who had done as great service to his Country and with the least gain to himself that ever any Minister had done), itt shou'd be dropt without doing him the justice to declare him innocent, when they own they thought him so. Upon that he mov'd a Question, that the said sum was well applied, and itt passt without a division. This passage which I have last mention'd will in some measure give an answer to one part of your Lordship's letter, for you will find by this that those great men agree very well in publick what ever little scuffles they may have in private. Your intelligence of an answer giv'n in writing and a Lady's interposing to make up a
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