"to see him with his blue ribbon and star, and a cabbage under each arm, or a chicken in his hand, which, after he himself has purchased at "market, he carries home for his dinner."*

This last of the knights-errant, while wandering in Italy, in 1717, met with an adventure as unpleasant as any of Don Quixote's. He was suddenly arrested at Bologna, by order of the Papal Legate, and conveyed to Fort Urbino, where he was closely imprisoned for a month, and no person allowed to speak with him. It appears that he was suspected of some design against the Pretender's life, -a charge of which it is hardly necessary to assert the absolute falsehood t; and he was set at liberty with every possible civility and reparation. The English Government, however, warmly resented this insult to an English subject, and it was for some time doubtful whether the squadron of Admiral Byng should not be directed to avenge it.

In the summer of 1719 Lord Peterborough was

Lady Hervey to Mrs. Howard, June 7. 1725. Suffolk Letters.

The conduct of King George's Government, as regards the Pretender's life, was not only above suspicion, but most laudably active. I find, for example, in Boyer's Political State, 1719, vol. ii. p. 344., that " Paul Miller, a private trooper in the Horse Grenadiers, having made a proposal to Mr. Secretary Craggs "to go and assassinate the Pretender, was by Mr. Secretary's "warrant presently taken into custody of Mr. Bill, the Messenger; and the matter being laid before the Lords Justices, "their Excellencies ordered that he should immediately be discharged out of His Majesty's service, and proceeded against "with the utmost severity."

66

CHA P.

X.

1719.

X.

1719.

CHA P. at Paris; and though neither employed nor trusted by his government, resolved to play some part in their affairs. He contrived to enter into confidential correspondence with the Duke of Parma, whom it was of great importance to detach from the cause of Alberoni, in order to prevail through the Duke upon his niece, the Queen of Spain. To prevent suspicion, Peterborough refused to proceed in person to the Duke's Court, but undertook to meet an accredited agent from Parma at Novi, in the Piedmontese States.* There a conference was accordingly held; and there Peterborough, exerting his usual skill and meeting his usual success, obtained that letters should be immediately despatched to Queen Elizabeth Farnese, earnestly pressing for Alberoni's removal. At nearly the same time, Marquis Scotti having been gained by a present of fifty thousand crowns from the Regent, returned to Madrid to counterwork his late employer, and to use his personal influence over the mind of the Queen,

All these little rills of intrigue, when they flowed together, produced an irresistible torrent. On the

Earl of Peterborough to Earl Stanhope, Novi, Nov. 20. 1719. Appendix. According to San Phelipe, Lord Peterborough had been requested by the Regent to begin this negotiation, but it seems, on the contrary, to have proceeded solely from himself. Dubois writes to Stanhope (October 20. 1719. Hardwicke Papers, vol. xxxviii.), "My Lord Peterborough est en liaison avec toute "sorte de gens.. Il faire peut de bien et beaucoup "plus de mal. J'y prendrai garde sans l'effaroucher. Je rends "très humbles graces à V. Exc. de la bonté qu'elle a eu de "m'avertir de ses indiscretions."

peu

X.

1719.

evening of the 4th of December, Alberoni had CHAP. transacted business as usual with the King, and seen no change in his Majesty ; but next morning there was put into his hands a Royal Decree dismissing him from all his employments, and commanding him to leave Madrid in eight days, and the Spanish territories in twenty-one. All his endeavours to obtain an audience of the King or Queen were in vain; and, though permitted to write, he found his letter unheeded. He was compelled to set out within the time appointed, and had the further mortification of being overtaken at Lerida by an officer sent to search for papers which were missing from the public offices, and which were discovered in the Cardinal's baggage. It was, however, some consolation to him before his departure, to receive the visits and hear the condolences of larger and more splendid levees than had ever flocked around him in the meridian of his power. Many who had hitherto stood aloof, or even opposed him, now forgot his errors, and hastened to acknowledge his services. Such conduct the Cardinal himself calls a a riddle; but it is familiar to the Spaniards: their noble character seldom bends before the mighty, and never turns aside from the fallen!

Cardinal Alberoni pursued his journey to Italy, where he passed the remainder of his long and chequered life; at first in exile and concealment, at length in Papal confidence and favour. He sur

* See his Apology, Hist. Register, 1722, p. 209.

CHAP. vived till 1752, and I shall hereafter have occasion X.

to mention him again, as fomenting the discords in the Pretender's family. His attempt against the little republic of San Marino was still more unworthy; and even had it been successful, would have brought no advantage commensurate to its disgrace. But Alberoni could never remain tranquil. It would seem, in fact, as if superior talents were often conjoined by nature with a certain restlessness which compels them to seek out for themselves some employment. Few men who could be useful in action are happy in retirement.

It was hoped by the Court of Madrid that the dismissal of Alberoni would appease the Allied Powers, and obtain more favourable terms of peace. In reply to the States-General, Philip still continued to insist on the proposals lately made by his minister, and to refuse his accession to the Quadruple Treaty. Under these circumstances both Stanhope and Dubois saw the necessity of renewed exertions. Stanhope undertook another journey to Paris, and concerted his measures with the French and the Imperial ministers; and on the 19th of January, 1720, was signed by these three statesmen a declaration, binding themselves not to admit any conditions contrary to the Quadruple Alliance. Immediately afterwards Stanhope despatched Schaub, his confidential secretary, to carry a duplicate of this declaration to Madrid, while Du

*This duplicate, with the original signatures, is preserved in the Hardwicke Papers, vol. xxxvii.

X.

1719.

bois, on his part, sent directions to Marquis Scotti, CHA P. Father d'Aubenton, and others in the French interest, to unite their exertions with Schaub's, and use their influence over Elizabeth. The struggle was arduous, from the difficulty of prevailing with the Queen; but that point once gained, it was more easy for her to prevail with her husband. Some difficulties that could not then be overcome were eluded by referring them to be discussed at a future congress, to be held at Cambray. But on the 26th of January Philip issued a decree, announcing his accession to the Quadruple Alliance, and declaring that he gave peace to Europe at the expense of his rights and possessions. He also renewed his renunciations of the French crown, and promised to evacuate Sicily and Sardinia within six monthsa condition which he punctually performed. It is remarkable that the orders to the Marquis de Lede arrived just as the two armies, drawn out in front of Palermo, were in motion against each other, and on the point of engaging in a great and decisive battle. Thus was that unnecessary bloodshed successfully averted; and thus, by the firmness, skill, and union of the French and English Governments, and especially of Stanhope and Dubois, were laid the foundations of a solid and happy peace for Europe, which endured for upwards of twelve years.

In the affairs of the North the union of England and France was no less salutary. On the death of the King of Sweden, the new Queen had been glad