lmost Twenty Years, Walpole virtually and through
others, has what they call 'governed' England; that is to say, has
adjusted the conflicting Parliamentary Chaos into counterpoise, by
what methods he had; and allowed England, with Walpole atop, to jumble
whither it would and could. Of crooked things made straight by Walpole,
of heroic performance or intention, legislative or administrative, by
Walpole, nobody ever heard; never of the least hand-breadth gained from
the Night-realm in England, on Walpole's part: enough if he could manage
to keep the Parish Constable walking, and himself float atop. Which task
(though intrinsically zero for the Community, but all-important to
the Walpole, of Constitutional Countries) is a task almost beyond the
faculty of man, if the careless reader knew it!

"This task Walpole did,--in a sturdy, deep-bellied, long-headed,
John-Bull fashion, not unworthy of recognition. A man of very forcible
natural eyesight, strong natural heart,--courage in him to all lengths;
a very block of oak, or of oakroot, for natural strength. He was always
very quiet with it, too; given to digest his victuals, and be peaceable
with everybody. He had one rule, that stood in place of many: To keep
out of every business which it was possible for human wisdom to stave
aside. 'What good will you get of going into that? Parliamentary
criticism, argument and botheration? Leave well alone. And even leave
ill alone:--are you the tradesman to tinker leaky vessels in England?
You will not want for work. Mind your pudding, and say little!' At home
and abroad, that was the safe secret. For, in Foreign Politics, his rule
was analogous: 'Mind your own affairs. You are an Island, you can do
without Foreign Politics; Peace, keep Peace with everybody: what, in the
Devil's name, have you to do with those dog-worryings over Seas? Once
more, mind your pudding!' Not so bad a rule; indeed it is the better
part of an extremely good one;--and you might reckon it the real rule
for a pious Rritannic Island (reverent of God, and contemptuous of the
Devil) in times of general Down-break and Spiritual Bankruptcy, when
quarrellings of Sovereigns are apt to be mere dog-worryings and Devil's
work, not good to interfere in.

"In this manner, Walpole, by solid John-Bull faculty (and methods of
his own), had balanced the Parliamentary swaggings and clashings, for
a great while; and England had jumbled whither it could, always in a
stupid, but als