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fertile of bad rhymers. The poetry of the Berkshire Howardswas the jest of three generations of satirists. The mirth began ■with the first representation of the Rehearsal, and continueddown to the last edition of the Dunciad.* But Sir Robert, inspite of his bad verses, and of some foibles and vanities whichhad caused him to be brought on the stage under the name ofSir Positive Atall, had in parliament the weight which a stanchparty man, of ample fortune, of illustrious name, of readyutterance, and of resolute spirit, can scarcely fail to possess.**When he rose to call the attention of the Commons to the caseof Oates, some Tories, animated by the same passions whichhad prevailed in the other House, received him with loud hisses.In spite of this most unparliamentary insult, he persevered; andit soon appeared that the majority was with him. Some oratorsextolled the patriotism and courage of Oates: others dwelt muchon a prevailing rumour, that the solicitors who were employedagainst him on behalf of the Crown had distributed large sumsof money among the jurymen. These were topics on whichthere was much difference of opinion. But that the sentencewas illegal was a proposition which admitted of no dispute.The most eminent lawyers in the House of Commons declaredthat, on this point, they entirely concurred in the opinion givenby the Judges in the House of Lords. Those who had hissedwhen the subject was introduced, were so effectually cowedthat they did not venture to demand a division; and a bill an-nulling the sentence was brought in, without any opposition.***

* Sir Robert was the original hero of the Rehearsal, and was calledBilboa. In the remodelled Dunciad, Pope inserted the lines —

“And highborn Howard, more majestic sire,

With Fool of Quality completes the quire."

Pope’s highborn Howard was Edward Howard, the author of the BritishPrinces.

** Key to the Rehearsal; Shadwell’s Sullen Lovers; Pepys, May 5. 8.1668; Evelyn, Feb. 16. 168$.

*** Grey’s Debates and Commons’ Journals, June 4. and 11. 1689.

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