tinguished himself by his eloquence in debate,
eclipsing his schoolfellow, Walpole, and gaining an extraordinary
ascendancy over the House of Commons. In May he had charge of the bill
for securing the Protestant succession; he took part in the impeachment
of the Whig lords for their conduct concerning the Partition treaties,
and opposed the oath abjuring the Pretender. In March 1702 he was chosen
commissioner for taking the public accounts. After Anne's accession he
supported the bills in 1702 and 1704 against occasional conformity, and
took a leading part in the disputes which arose between the two Houses.
In 1704 St John took office with Harley as secretary at war, thus being
brought into intimate relations with Marlborough, by whom he was treated
with paternal partiality. In 1708 he quitted office with Harley on the
failure of the latter's intrigue, and retired to the country till 1710,
when he became a privy councillor and secretary of state in Harley's new
ministry, representing Berkshire in parliament. He supported the bill
for requiring a real property qualification for a seat in parliament. In
1711 he founded the Brothers' Club, a society of Tory politicians and
men of letters, and the same year witnessed the failure of the two
expeditions to the West Indies and to Canada promoted by him. In 1712 he
was the author of the bill taxing newspapers. But the great business of
the new government was the making of the peace with France. The refusal
of the Whigs to grant terms in 1706, and again in 1709 when Louis XIV.
offered to yield every point for which the allies professed to be
fighting, showed that the war was not being continued for English
national interests, and the ministry were supported by the queen, the
parliament and the people in their design to terminate hostilities. But
various obstacles arose from the diversity of aims among the allies; and
St John was induced, contrary to the most solemn obligations, to enter
into separate and secret negotiations with France for the security of
English interests. In May 1712 St John ordered the duke of Ormonde, who
had succeeded Marlborough in the command, to refrain from any further
engagement. These instructions were communicated to the French, though
not to the allies, Louis putting Dunkirk as security into possession of
England, and the shameful spectacle was witnessed of the desertion by
the English troops of their allies almost on the battlefield.
Subsequently St