Walpole had a warm conception, vehement attachments, strong aversions; with an apparent contradiction in his temper--for he had numerous caprices, and invincible perseverance. His principles tended to republicanism, but without any of its austerity; his love of faction was unmixed with any aspiring. He had great sense of honour, but not great enough, for he had too much weakness to resist doing wrong, though too much sensibility not to feel it in others. He had a great measure of pride, equally apt to resent neglect, and scorning to stoop to any meanness or flattery. A boundless friend; a bitter, but a placable enemy. His humour was satiric, though accompanied with a most compassionate heart. Indiscreet and abandoned to his passions, it seemed as if he despised or could bear no constraint; yet this want of government of himself was the more blameable, as nobody had greater command of resolution whenever he made a point of it. This appeared in his person: naturally very delicate, and educated with too fond a tenderness, by unrelaxed temperance and braving all inclemency of weathers, he formed and enjoyed the finest and unabated health. One virtue he possessed in a singular degree--disinterestedness and contempt of money--if one may call that a virtue, which really was a passion. In short, such was his promptness to dislike superiors, such his humanity to inferiors, that, considering how few men are of so firm a texture as not to be influenced by their situation, he thinks, if he may be allowed to judge of himself, that had either extreme of fortune been his lot, he should have made a good prince, but not a very honest slave. Finished Oct. 27, 1759. FOOTNOTES: [26] It was said, “no people ever took so much killing.” [27] They were permitted to trade to the French colonies, a privilege denied to them in time of peace. [28] Marquis of Pombal. [29] Malagrida, the chief criminal, was executed long afterwards, but under the clumsy pretence of being condemned by the Inquisition. [30] The motto was with some humour taken from the Revelations: “And I looked, and behold a pale horse [alluding to the white horse in the arms of Hanover] and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed.” Ch. 6, v. 8. [31] At the end of 1758. 1759. Verbis restituit rem. CHAPTER VII. The Author’s motives for continuing this Work in the year 1759--A memorable era--Election of Chancellor of Oxford--Exchange of Prisoners--Death of the Princess of Orange--Capture of Goree--Expeditions to West Indies--Generals Wolfe and Townshend--Mr. Pitt’s character and ministry--Estimates of the year--Mr. Pitt’s speech on Taxes--Jealousies in the Ministry--Royal Message respecting the Militia--Threats of Invasion from France--Havre de Grace bombarded.