Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/408

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392
THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.

where he was to be shipt off with three or four more, he came to the place in his proper habit and seized the Capt., who is now in Custody. Lord Bolingbroke assumes the Honour of this discovery to himself and pretends that he put the Messenger upon it; but others don't scruple to say that my Lord was angry with the fellow for discovering it, and that the poor fellow would have but little thanks for his Pains. In the House of Comm. the Whiggs reckon they have carried a great Point by surprize, for on Tuesday last Mr. Stanhop desired that a Gentleman might make a motion after the regular time, and told the House that the motion would be to desire them to take some method whereby they might prevent the listing of men in any of her Majesty's dominions either in the French King's or the Pretender's service; which motion after some debate being deferred till Thursday, and the Tories expecting that it should then be made, the Whiggs fearing that if it were proposed by them they should be strenuously opposed, prevailed with Mr. Freeman to move that an Address of thanks might be presented to her Maj. for her Proclamation, which she has issued out promising 5000l. reward for any one that shall apprehend the Pretender in any of her Maj. Dominions, and bring him to Justice. Lord Hartford seconded him, and said that such an address would be very convenient in pursuance to what the Lords had done, and that that House might seem heartily to join with it he thought it would be necessary for them to vote 100,000l. reward to any that should bring the Pretender dead or alive, to be paid backe by the Nation. Sir Wm. Windham endeavoured to banter this of, saying that it was an extravagant proposition, and that he might as well propose 200,000l., and another 300,000l.; and Mr. Campian very seriously said it would seem a downright affront to her Maj. to vote 100,000l. reward, after she had thought fit to propose but 5000l. He was answered by Mr. Boscowen[1] who alledged that in Proportion 5000l. was as much to be paid out of her Majesty's Private Purse, as 100,000l. by the Nation. Mr. Bromley said that so large a reward as

  1. Hugh Boscawen was member for Penryn.