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INTRODUCTION.
xlvii
"The Tories," says Burnet, "pressed hard upon him, and the Whigs were so jealous of him, that he, apprehending that, while the former would attack him, the others would defend him faintly, resolved to prevent a public affront, and to retire from Court and from business, contrary to the earnest desire of the King." The following account of the manner of his resigning, and of his reasons for doing so, is given in a letter from Secretary Vernon to Lord Sunderland's friend, the Duke of Shrewsbury.[1]
- ↑ The following account of this transaction is given in a note to Burnet's Hist.—"The King had given ten thousand pounds to the Earl of Dorset to quit the Chamberlain's staff, and gave it to the Earl of Sunderland, upon which Lord Norris fell very violently upon him in the House of Commons, as a man whose actions had been so scandalous during his whole life, that he never had any one to excuse one crime, but by accusing himself of another. Therefore he hoped they would address his Majesty to remove him from his presence and council, which, though not seconded, was universally well received.
"Some of his friends told him they had computed how the numbers would run in the House of Commons upon any address that should be moved for there against him, and that they did not think there would be more than 160 for it. '160,' said he for it, 'that's more than any man can stand against long; I am sure I won't;' and so resigned the next day, but the King continued to advise with him in private upon all his affairs. To confirm this anecdote, and to show
