Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/379

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

part which related to the Catalans, they confess'd they were glad to find that so much had been done and such endeavours had been us'd to obtain their anticnt privileges for them, and they concluded with a Motion for an Address that the Queen wou'd continue her most pressing endeavours that they might be restor'd to all their privileges. Lord Chancellour clos'd in with the Motion, making an addition att the beginning, viz., to thank her Mat^ for what she had already done, and to express the satisfaction of the House in the Methods that had been us'd for obtaining those conditions for the Catalans. This putt an end to the Debate and Saturday they cook't up the Vote into an Address.

One thing seems a little in the Dark to me which I believe your Lordship can sett in a true light — How it came to pass that the business of the Catalans was giv'n up on a sudden, when itt had been propt so earnestly all along.

I began this yesterday morning, and must now fill up the rest with what happen'd in the Debate yesterday. I have endeavour'd to gett the best account I cou'd from Lords of my acquaintance, for no body was suffered to hear the Debate who was not of the House except Baron Schutts, who staid in the whole day. Lord Wharton began a gencrall attack upon the Peace, call'd itt a bad bargain, a lamentable conclu- sion of such a glorious war, &c. ; then he sett forth the Dangers we were in from France and expatiated upon all the common topicks theWhiggs are daily talking in CofTee Houses, Lord Nottingham afterwards made another Harangue, and after him Lord Townshend, but they concluded without any Motion, only generall complaints. Upon which Lord Bolingbrook took notice how difficult itt was to make a reply to such discourses that aim'd att no particular point, and wherein no Method was observ'd, but he thought what was said might be reduc'd under three Heads, objections to the Peace in generall, the manner of making itt, and the non execution of some parts of itt. He spoke to every one of these Heads, and answer'd what was alledg'd by every Lord who had spoke before him. The Arguments on both sides cant be brought within the Compass of a letter neither wou'd

�� �