nd. The two courts were, in fact, little better than hostile
camps. Walpole had been for long years the confidential and favored
servant of George the First. The {275} natural expectation was that he
would be instantly discredited and discarded when George the Second came
to the throne.

So, indeed, it seemed at first to happen. When Walpole received the news
of George the First's death he hastened to Richmond Lodge, where George
the Second then was, in order to give him the news and hail him as King.
George was in bed, and had to be roused from a thick sleep. He was angry
at being disturbed, and not in a humor to admit that there was any excuse
for disturbing him. When Walpole told him that his father was dead, the
kingly answer of the sovereign was that the statesman's assertion was a
big lie. George roared this at Walpole, and then was for turning round
in his bed and settling down to sleep again. Walpole, however, persisted
in disturbing the royal slumbers, and assured the drowsy grumbler that he
really was George the Second, King of England. He produced for George's
further satisfaction a letter from Lord Townshend, describing the time,
place, and circumstances of the late King's death. Walpole tendered the
usual ceremonial expressions of loyalty, which George received coldly,
and even gruffly. Then the minister asked whom his Majesty wished to
appoint to draw up the necessary declaration for the Privy Council.
Walpole assumed as a matter of course that the King would leave the task
in his hands. George, however, disappointed him. "Compton," said the
King; and when he had spoken that word he intimated to Walpole that the
interview was over. Walpole left the royal abode believing himself a
fallen man.

"Compton," whom the King had thus curtly designated, was Sir Spencer
Compton, who had been chosen Speaker of the House of Commons in 1715. He
had been one of George the Second's favorites while George was still
Prince of Wales. He was a man of respectable character, publicly and
privately, but without remarkable capacity of any kind. He knew little
or nothing of the business of a minister, and it is said that when
Walpole {276} came to him to tell him of the King's command he frankly
acknowledged that he did not know how to draw up the formal declaration.
Walpole good-naturedly came to his assistance, took his pen, and did the
work for him.

[Sidenote: 1727--Compton's evaporation]

If the King had