o had best earned them. We
should then hear of no factions, no revolts, and no republicanism in
Canada.

It is a curious contrast to the present state of things, that during the
long reign of George II. government was simply a game. Half a dozen
powerful men were the players. The king was merely the looker on, the
people knew no more of the matter than the passers by through Pall-Mall
know of the performances going on within the walls of its club-houses.
It must shock our present men of the mob to hear of national interests
tossed about like so many billiard balls by those powdered and ruffled
handlers of the cue. Yet every thing is to be judged of by the result.
Public life was never exhibited on a more showy scale. Parliament never
abounded with more accomplished ability. England never commanded higher
influence with Europe. If her commerce has since become more extensive,
it was then more secure, and if the victories of our own time have been
on a scale of magnitude, which throws the past into the shade, our
fleets and armies then gave proofs of a gallantry which no subsequent
triumphs could transcend.

It cannot be doubted, that the habits of that rank to which the
statesmen of that day were born, naturally influenced their views of
political transactions. Though party unquestionably existed in all its
force among them, there was no faction. If there was a strong
competition for power, there was little of the meanness of modern
intrigue; and a minister of the days of George II. would no more have
stooped to the rabble popularity, than he would have availed himself of
its assistance or dreaded its alienation.

We now come to one of those negociations which, like a gust of wind
against a tree, while they seemed to shake, only strengthened the
cabinet. A violent attack had been made in the house upon Sir Thomas
Robinson, a great favourite with the king. Walpole strikes off his
character with his usual spirit. Sir Thomas had been bred in German
courts, and was rather restored, than naturalised to the genius of
Germany. He had German honour, loved German politics, and "could explain
himself as little" as if he spoke "only German." Walpole attributes Sir
Thomas's political distinctions simply to Newcastle's necessity for
finding out men of talents inferior to his own, "notwithstanding the
difficulty of the discovery." Yet if the duke had intended to please his
master, he could not have done it more happily than by pres