This speech in its material parts was made the groundwork of the subsequent Bill; the discussion of which took up many and very long days. The Speaker gave great assistance; so did Lord George Sackville. The Ministry early, at last the House itself, except about a dozen persons, totally deserted attendance upon the Bill. As it did not pass the Lords, I shall drop any farther account of it, till it came thither, except to mention some pretty homage which Sir George Lyttelton’s awe made him pay to the genius of his offended friend Mr. Pitt. After the latter’s exposition of his plan, Sir George compared a Militia to the longitude, necessary, but hitherto sought in vain. He had often, he said, heated his imagination with the topic, but his judgment had cooled it again. If soldiers assisted the plan, he should hope better of it; they might avoid the errors of civil men. That hints from Mr. Pitt were important advices; a sketch from him was almost a finished picture: but it ought to be finished, the lines should be very correct. The whole people would not betray the whole people, but sixty thousand might. The most material part of our affairs was our finances; if this institution would hurt them, it was not admissible. The smaller the number, the more practicable; yet there might be danger of another kind. He never wished to see Foreigners, but when no other force was to be had. With ever so great a Militia, you may want them; you cannot march Militia abroad. FOOTNOTES: [26] Vide Hampton’s Polybius, p. 537, where the Rhodians, on a like catastrophe, received parallel assistance. [27] Duke of Bedford. [28] Duke of Montagu. [29] Minister at Vienna, &c. [30] He had been Cornet of Horse, and was broken at the time of the Excise, when his uncle Lord Cobham and Lord Westmorland lost their regiments. CHAPTER IV. Debates on the Treaties in the House of Lords, and in the Commons--Affair of Hume Campbell and Pitt--Hanover and our Foreign Relations--Speech of Charles Townshend--Foreign Powers subsidized by England--Changes in the Administration--Lord Ligonier and the Duke of Marlborough--Pensions granted to facilitate Ministerial Changes--Parliamentary Eloquence--Comparison of celebrated Orators--Charles Townshend, Lord George Sackville, Henry Conway, and Mr. Pitt.