The Scotch Bill--Speeches of the Duke of Bedford and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Bath, the Duke of Argyle, and the Duke of Newcastle--Character of Archibald Duke of Argyle--The King goes to Hanover--History of the Factions in Ireland--Divisions among the Instructors of the Prince of Wales--Account of the Pretender’s Family and Court at Rome--German Alliances unlucky--Dissensions in the Prince of Wales’s Household--Appointment of Lord Waldegrave as Governor, and Dr. Thomas as Preceptor, to his Royal Highness. March 10.--Lord Bath moved for an account of the produce of the Window-tax in Scotland. It had not, since first laid, brought in one shilling. The Scotch Bill had hitherto only raised some warmth in particular men, who either did not love that nation from prejudice, or from resentments contracted against them during the late Rebellion. It now took a more serious turn. The Duke, who had conquered the Scotch like an able General, who had punished them like an offended Prince, and whose resentments were not softened by the implacability of their hatred to him, was not a little disgusted at seeing measures of favour to them adopted, and himself totally unconsulted upon those measures. Yet he could not, as they were concerted by the King’s Ministers, openly oppose them. It was almost as difficult for him to blow up any opposition against them underhand. The discontented in the House of Commons were either the refuse of the late Prince’s party, or the Jacobites; and even these latter could not be supposed heartily eager against favours being showered on their never-failing allies, the Scotch. In the other House, the only phantom of opposition consisted in half a dozen Jacobite Lords, and in the person of the Duke of Bedford, between whom and his Royal Highness a coldness had arisen, as has been mentioned. In this dilemma the Duke lighted upon a measure, which had ample effect. Lord Sandwich was too much connected with him, and too much detached from the Duke of Bedford, to make it expedient to offer any overtures directly through him: but the Duke sent him to a person[216] who had private connexions with the Duke of Bedford, and who he knew would not be sorry to traverse Mr. Pelham’s measures, to offer him very extraordinary anecdotes on the Scotch affairs, which he might impart to the Duke of Bedford. It is strange how this train caught! That person persuaded the Duke of Bedford to accept and make use of the information, without knowing from whom it came; and it must appear amazing, that a man who could make so distinguished a figure as his Grace did, by the management of the materials, should have submitted to be put in motion so blindly!--but that was his character; when he shone in public with most energy, he perhaps acted the least upon his own motives--but it is proper to enter into a deduction of the Debate.