herefore devised
by a certain set of intriguing men, totally different from the system of
Administration which had prevailed since the accession of the House of
Brunswick. This project, I have heard, was first conceived by some
persons in the Court of Frederick, Prince of Wales.

The earliest attempt in the execution of this design was to set up for
Minister a person, in rank indeed respectable, and very ample in fortune;
but who, to the moment of this vast and sudden elevation, was little
known or considered in the kingdom. To him the whole nation was to yield
an immediate and implicit submission. But whether it was from want of
firmness to bear up against the first opposition, or that things were not
yet fully ripened, or that this method was not found the most eligible,
that idea was soon abandoned. The instrumental part of the project was a
little altered, to accommodate it to the time, and to bring things more
gradually and more surely to the one great end proposed.

The first part of the reformed plan was to draw _a line which should
separate the Court from the Ministry_. Hitherto these names had been
looked upon as synonymous; but, for the future, Court and Administration
were to be considered as things totally distinct. By this operation, two
systems of Administration were to be formed: one which should be in the
real secret and confidence; the other merely ostensible, to perform the
official and executory duties of Government. The latter were alone to be
responsible; whilst the real advisers, who enjoyed all the power, were
effectually removed from all the danger.

Secondly, _a party under these leaders was to be formed in favour of the
Court against the Ministry_: this party was to have a large share in the
emoluments of Government, and to hold it totally separate from, and
independent of, ostensible Administration.

The third point, and that on which the success of the whole scheme
ultimately depended, was _to bring Parliament to an acquiescence in this
project_. Parliament was therefore to be taught by degrees a total
indifference to the persons, rank, influence, abilities, connections, and
character of the Ministers of the Crown. By means of a discipline, on
which I shall say more hereafter, that body was to be habituated to the
most opposite interests, and the most discordant politics. All
connections and dependencies among subjects were to be entirely
dissolved. As hitherto business had gone