JAMES THE SECOND.

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chara cter of this great magistrate had descended with the title CP ^ P -of Nottingham to his eldest son. This son, Earl Daniel, was - ]6 8 7 _ _an honourable and virtuous man. Though enslaved by someabsurd prejudices, and though liable to strange fits of caprice,he cannot be accused of having deviated from the path ofright in search either of unlawful gain or of unlawful pleasure.

Like his father he was a distinguished speaker, impressive,but prolix, and too monotonously solemn. The person of theorator was in perfect harmony with his oratory. His attitudewas rigidly erect; his complexion so dark that he might havepassed for a native of a warmer climate than ours; and Irisharsh features were composed to an expression resemblingthat of a chief mourner at a funeral. It was commonly saidthat he looked rather like a Spanish grandee than like an Eng-lish gentleman. The nicknames of Dismal, Don Dismallo,and Don Diego, were fastened on him by jesters, and are notyet forgotten. He had paid much attention to the science bywhich his family had been raised to greatness, and was, for aman born to rank and wealth, wonderfully well read in thelaws of his country. He was a devoted son of the Church,and showed his respect for her in two ways not usual amongthose Lords who in his time boasted that they were her espe-cial friends, by writing tracts in defence of her dogmas, and byshaping his private life according to her precepts. Like otherzealous churchmen, he had, till recently, been a strenuoussupporter of monarchical authority. But to the policy which 'had been pursued since the suppression of the Western insur-rection he was bitterly hostile, and not the less so because hisyounger brother Heneage had been turned out of the office ofSolicitor General for refusing to defend the King’s dispensingpower.*

With these two great Tory Earls was now united Halifax, Halifax,the accomplished chief of the Trimmers. Over the mind ofNottingham indeed Halifax appears to have had at this time agreat ascendency. Between Halifax and Danby there was an

* Johnstone’s Correspondence; Mackay’s Memoirs; Arbutbnot’sJohn Bull; Swift's wrilings from nil) to 1714, pttssifti; Mansion's Letterto the Earl of Nottingham, and the Earl’s answer.