74

niSTOim OF EKfiLANB.

CIUP.

XiV.

Kiss.

opinions, and who, till the moment of the flight of James, had• not given up the hope that the discontents of the nation mightbe quieted without a change of dynasty. Howe, on twenty oc-casions, designated Halifax as the cause of all the calamitiesof the country. Monmouth held similar language in the Houseof Lords. Though First Lord of the Treasury, he paid noattention to financial business, for which he was altogetherunfit, and of which he had very soon become weary. His wholeheart was in the work of persecuting the Tories. He plainlytold the King that nobody who was not a Whig ought to be em-ployed in the public service. William’s answer was cool anddetermined. “I have done as much for your friends as I can dowithout danger to the state; and I will do no more.”* Theonly effect of this reprimand was to make Monmouth morefactious than ever. Against Halifax especially he intriguedand harangued with indefatigable animosity. The other WhigLords of the Treasury, Delamere and Capel, were scarcely lesseager to drive the Lord Privy Seal from office; and personaljealousy and antipathy impelled the Lord President to conspirewith his own accusers against his rival.

What foundation there may have been for the imputationsthrown at this time on Halifax cannot now be fully ascertained.His enemies, though they interrogated numerous witnesses,and though they obtained William’s reluctant permission toinspect the minutes of the Privy Council, could find no evidencewhich would support a definite charge.** But it was undeniablethat the Lord Privy Seal had acted as minister for Ireland, andthat Ireland was all but lost. It is unnecessary, and indeedabsurd, to suppose, as many W r higs supposed, that his ad-ministration was unsuccessful because he did not wish it to be

* Burnet MS. Ilarl. 6584.; Avaux to De Croissy, June 1689.

** As to the minutes of the Privy Council, see the Commons’ Journalsof June 22. and 28., and of July 3. 5. 13. and 16.