78

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. Council of London had met, and had voted, without one

xxv.

i7oi. dissentient voice, an address expressing the highest re-sentment at the insult which France had offered to theKing and the kingdom. A few hours after this addresshad been presented to the Regents, the Livery assembledto choose a Lord Mayor. Duncombe, the Tory candidate,lately the popular favourite, was rejected, and a Whigalderman placed in the chair. All over the kingdom, cor-porations , grand juries, meetings of magistrates, meetingsof freeholders, were passing resolutions breathing affectionto William, and defiance to Lewis. It was necessary toenlarge the “London Gazette” from four columns totwelve; and even twelve were too few to hold the multi-tude of loyal and patriotic addresses. In some of thoseaddresses severe reflections were thrown on the House ofCommons. Our deliverer had been ungratefully requited,thwarted, mortified, denied the means of making thecountry respected and feared by neighbouring states. Thefactious wrangling, the penny wise economy, of threedisgraceful years had produced the effect which might havebeen expected. His Majesty would never have been sogrossly affronted abroad, if he had not first been affrontedat home. But the eyes of his people were opened. Hehad only to appeal from the representatives to the con-stituents ; and he would find that the nation was still soundat heart.

Poussin had been directed to offer to the Lords Justicesexplanations similar to those with which Torcy had at-