Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/97

letter was sent him by the groom of the queen's stables, to desire he would break his staff, which would be the easiest way, both to her majesty and him. Mr. Smith, chancellor of the exchequer, happening to come in a little after, my lord broke his staff, and flung the pieces in the chimney, desiring Mr. Smith to be witness that he had obeyed the queen's commands; and sent him to the queen with a letter and a message, which Mr. Smith delivered, and at the same time surrendered up his own office. The parliament is certainly to be dissolved, although the day is yet uncertain. The remainder of whigs in employment are resolved not to resign; and a certain lord told me, he had been the giver of that advice, and did in my presence prevail on an acquaintance of mine in a great post to promise the same thing; only Mr. Boyle^[1], they say, is resolved to give up. Every body counts infallibly upon a general removal. The duke of Queensberry, it is said, will be steward; my lord Cholmondeley is gone over to the new interest, with great indignation of his friends. It is affirmed by the tories, that the great motive of these changes was the absolute necessity of a peace, which they thought the whigs were for perpetually delaying. Elections are now managing with greater violence and expense, and more competitors, than ever was known; yet the town is much fuller of people than usual at this time of the year, waiting till they see some issue of the matter. The duke of Ormond is much talked of for Ireland, and I imagine he believed something of it himself. Mr.

1. Secretary of state.