last to rise superior to this natural weakness of woman. Indeed, it has
to be said with regret for her self-degradation, that she not only
tolerated the love-makings of the King and his favorites, but even showed
occasionally a politic interest in the promotion of the amours and the
appointment of the ladies. She humored her lord and master's avarice
with as little scruple. Thus his principal defects--his sordid love of
money, his ignoble passion for women, and his ridiculous desire to seem
the absolute master of his wife--became in her skilful hands the
leading-strings by which she drew and guided him whither she would have
him go. Through Caroline's influence mainly Walpole was retained in
power. She played on the King's avarice, and poured into his greedy ear
the assurance that Walpole could raise money as no other living man
could. Caroline acted in this chiefly from a sincere love of her
husband, and anxiety for his good, but partly also, it has to be
acknowledged, because it had been made known to her that Walpole would
provide her with a larger allowance than it was Compton's intention to
do. The result was that Walpole was retained in office, or, perhaps it
should be said, restored to office. The crowds of courtiers who love to
worship the rising sun had hardly time to offer their adoration to
Compton when they found that the supposed rising sun was only a meteor,
which instantly vanished. Horace Walpole the younger describes the event
by a happy phrase as "Compton's evaporation." Compton {278} himself had
soon found that the responsibility would be too much for him. He
besought the King to relieve him of the burden to which he found himself
unequal. The King acceded to his wish. Walpole became once again First
Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Townshend
continued to be Secretary of State. The crisis was over.

[Sidenote: 1727--Condolence and congratulation]

Parliament assembled on June 15th, after the death of George the First.
As the law then stood, any Parliament summoned by a sovereign was not to
be dissolved by that sovereign's death, but should continue to sit and
act during a term of six months, "unless the same shall be sooner
prorogued or dissolved by such person who shall be next heir to the Crown
of this Realm in succession." The meeting of June 15th was merely
formal. Parliament was prorogued by a Commission from George the Second
until the 27th of the month.