that a day might be appointed for receiving their Report.' It was ordered, that the Report be received on that day 'nnight, and that all the Members be summoned to attend.

The apprehensions of that momentous day rather incensed than terrified the obstinate Tory faction. On the 4th of June, two men were committed to the Gate-house of Westminster, for toasting the health of the Duke of Ormond, and vilifying the Committe of Secresy; they were, however, admitted to bail. Also, on the 8th, after dusk, a paper favourable to the Chevalier was secretly stuck on the wall in Westminster.

On the 9th, Mr Walpole, from the Committee of Secresy, acquainted the House, that he had a Report to present, agreeable to their order, containing matters of very great moment; that although the Committee had power to send for persons, papers, and records, they did not deem it expedient to exercise this power, conceiving it necessary to secure the individuals implicated before they divulged their proceedings. For this end he was desired by the Committee to move, that warrants be issued by Mr Speaker to apprehend certain persons whom the Chairman should name; and that no member be permitted to leave the House.' The motion was thus stated:-'1st, That the lobby be cleared of all strangers, the doors of the Speaker's chamber locked, the

t

respecting the late Tory ministry.

keys brought and laid on the table; and that the Serjeant do stand at the door of the House, and permit no member to leave it. 2d, That Mr Speaker do issue his warrant to the Serjeant to take into his custody such persons as shall be named by the Committee of Secresy, in order to their being examined before them.' The Speaker accordingly issued warrants to take into custody several persons named by Mr Walpole, in particucular, Mr Mathew Prior, and Mr Thomas Harley; the former was immediately apprehended, and the latter a few hours afterwards.

Mr Walpole then rose and informed the House, 'that the Committee of Secresy had examined the books and papers referred to them, and had drawn up a report, which he had been desired to deliver. It occupied two volumes, one of which contained the Report, and the other an Appendix, having those letters and papers which were referred to in the Report.' The Report was then read and laid on the table, with the Appendix and books 'referred to by the Committee. The reading occupied five hours, after which, a motion was made and supported by the friends of the late Ministry, that the further consideration of it be adjourned to the next morning.' This was, however, negatived by a great majority, and the Report ordered to be read again.' The Clerk of the House having read to half-past eight o'clock, P. M.

Procedure of the Parliament

the further consideration of it was adjourned to the next morning; when the Report was finished, and the consideration of it resumed.

This Report laid open such a series of complicated villanies perpetrated by the late Tory ministry, that none of those concerned dared to defend themselves. From the Report, and Her Majesty Queen Anne's speeches and messages to the Parliament, especially during the late negotiation for peace, it appears that her Tory ministry had caused her to be guilty of many inconsistencies, and to deceive her Parliament by notorious falsehoods. These, however, will be seen in the Articles of Impeachment exhibited against them in Parliament.

Sir T. Hanmer, the Report being read, moved that the consideration of it be adjourned till Monday se'nnight, and was supported by the leading Tories, one of whom also moved, that the Report be printed, for the perusal of all the Members of the House.' Mr Walpole, in reply, said, he marvelled that those Gentlemen who had evinced such impatience to have the Report laid before the House, should now press for adjourning the consideration of it. That as for the Committee of Secrecy, as they had not gone through all the branches of their inquiry, they wished longer time to peruse and digest several important papers. For this purpose they would

respecting the late Tory ministry.

have deferred laying the Report before the House three weeks or a month; but some Gentlemen having reflected on the slowness of the Committee, they now presented it, and the House would require to begin the consideration of it. General Stanhope said, that he would give these Gentlemen all the time they asked, but they themselves having precipitated the Report, he thought they ought to prosecute the consideration of it without delay, lest they might confirm the suspicion, industriously circulated by the friends of the late ministry that the report of the Committee of Secresy would vanish in smoke. Groundless rumours, similar to this, had raised the spirits and insolence of the disaffected, and were the principal causes of the ferment among the giddy multitude. He cordially agreed with the member who had moved for the printing of the Report, that by it not only the House but the whole world might be convinced of the impartiality of their proceedings. But the crimes of some individuals. mentioned in the Report, were so obvious to all, that he thought the House should begin immediately to the impeachment of them.'

The Tories still endeavoured to defer it, by supporting Sir T. Hanmer's motion for the adjournment of the debate; but the Whigs powerful and staunch against every motion for delay, negatived it by a great majority. Mr Walpole

Procedure of the Parliament

then rose and said, he doubted not, that having now heard the Report twice read, the House was fully convinced that Henry Lord Viscount Bolingbroke was guilty of high treason and other high crimes and misdemeanours. He, therefore, impeached him of these crimes. If any member had any thing to say in his behalf, the House was ready to hear him.’

Mr Hungerford alledged, that nothing was mentioned in the Report relative to Lord Bolingbroke, which amounted to high treason.' He was unsupported in this opinion, and Mr Walpole's motion for impeachment passed.

Lord Coningsby then said, the worthy chairman of the Committee has impeached the hand, I impeach the head, he has impeached the clerk, I impeach the Justice, he has impeached the scholar, and I the master. He accordingly impeached Robert Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, of high treason, and other high crimes and misdemeanours.' Mr Auditor Harley endeavoured to justify his brother, as having only executed the immediate commands of Queen Anne; urging that the peace was beneficial to the country, and approven by two parliaments; and concluded by endeavouring to shew that the facts mentioned in the Report, and for which the Earl was impeached, did not amount to high treason, but only to misdemeanours.' Mr Foley, the Earl's