102

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XVI.

HiSW.

Torring-ton’s trialand ac-quittal.

feeling, there was little difference of opinion. Torrington re-quested to be heard at the bar, and spoke there at great length,but weakly and confusedly. He boasted of his services, of hissacrifices, and of his wounds. lie abused the Dutch, the Boardof Admiralty, and the Secretary of State. The bill, however,went through all its stages without a division.*

Early in December Torrington was sent under a guard downthe river to Sheerness. There the Court Martial met on board ofa frigate named the Kent. The investigation lasted three days;and during those days the ferment was great in London. No-thing was heard of on the exchange, in the coffeehouses, nayeven at the church doors, but Torrington. Parties ran high:wagers to an immense amount were depending: rumours werehourly arriving by land and water; and every rumour was exag-gerated and distorted by the way. From the day on which thenews of the ignominious battle arrived, down to the very eveof the trial, public opinion had been very unfavourable to theprisoner. His name, we are told by contemporary pamphle-teers, was hardly ever mentioned without a curse. But, whenthe crisis of his fate drew nigh, there was, as in our countrythere often is, a reaction. All his merits, his courage, hisgood nature, his firm adherence to the Protestant religion inthe evil times, were remembered. It was impossible to denythat he was sunk in sloth and luxury, that ho neglected themost important business for his pleasures, and that he couldnot say No to a boon companion or to a mistress: but for thesefaults excuses and soft names were found. His friends usedwithout scruple all the arts which could raise a national feelingin his favour; and these arts were powerfully assisted by theintelligence that the hatred which was felt towards him in Hol-land had vented itself in indignities to some of his countrymen.

* Van Cittcrs to the States General, Nov. -£?* 1690. The Earl of Tor-rington's speech to the House of Commons, 1710.