WILLIAM THE THIRD.

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He accordingly slept at Greenwich, and thence proceeded chap.to Hampton Court without entering London. His return TiJiT"was, however, celebrated by the populace with every signof joy and attachment. The bonfires blazed, and thegunpowder roared, all night. In every parish from MileEnd to Saint James’s was to be seen enthroned on theshoulders of stout Protestant porters a pope, gorgeous inrobes of tinsel and triple crown of pasteboard; and close tothe ear of His Holiness stood a devil with horns, clovenhoof, and a snaky tail.

Even in his country house the King could find no refugefrom the importunate loyalty of his people. Deputationsfrom cities, counties, universities, besieged him all day.

He was, he wrote to Ileinsius, quite exhausted by thelabour of hearing harangues and returning answers. Thewhole kingdom meanwhile was looking anxiously towardsHampton Court. Most of the ministers were assembledthere. The most eminent men of the party which was outof power had repaired thither, to pay their duty to theirsovereign, and to congratulate him on his safe return. Itwas remarked that Somers and Halifax, so malignantlypersecuted a few months ago by the House of Commons,were received with such marks of esteem and kindness asWilliam was little in the habit of vouchsafing to his Englishcourtiers. The lower ranks of both the great factions wereviolently agitated. The Whigs, lately vanquished anddispirited, were full of hope and ardour. The Tories,lately triumphant and secure, were exasperated andMacaulay, History. X. b

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