The Whig Supremacy, 1714-1760

542 Pages·1962·23.524 MB·English

by  Basil Williams, C. H. Stuart

THE OXFORD HISTORY
OF ENGLAND
Edited by sir george clark
THE OXFORD HISTORY OF ENGLAND
Edited by sir george clark
I. ROMAN BRITAIN AND THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENTS
By the late R. G. collinowood and j. N. L. myres. Student of Christ Church,
Oxford; Bodley’s Librarian. Second edition, 1937.
II. ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND, c. 550-1087
By sir frank stenton, f.b.a. Second edition, 1947.
III. FROM DOMESDAY BOOK TO MAGNA CARTA. 1087-1216
By AUSTIN L. POOLE, p.b.a. Second edition, 1955.
IV. THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY. 1216-1307
By SIR MAURICE POWICKE, F.B.A.
V. THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY. 1307-1399
By may mckisack, Professor of History at Westfield College in the University of
London.
VI. THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. 1399-1485
By E. F. JACOB, F.B.A.
VII. THE EARLIER TUDORS. 1485-1558
By j. d. mackie, c.b.e., m.c., Emeritus Professor of Scottish History and Literature
in the University of Glasgow.
VIII. THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 1558-1603
Byj. b. black, Emeritus Professor of History in the University of Aberdeen. Second
edition, 1959.
IX. THE EARLY STUARTS. 1603-1660
By the late Godfrey davies, Hon. f.b.a. Second edition, 1959.
X. THE LATER STUARTS. 1660-1714
By sir george clark, f.b.a. Second edition, 1956.
XI. THE WHIG SUPREMACY. 1714-1760
By the late basil williams, f.b.a. Second edition, revised by C. H. Stuart, Student
of Christ Church, Oxford, 1962.
XII. THE REIGN OF GEORGE III. 1760-1815
By j. steven watson, Student of Christ Church, Oxford.
XIII. THE AGE OF REFORM. 1815-1870
By SIR LLEWELLYN woodward, f.b.a. Second edition. Ready 1962.
XIV. ENGLAND. 1870-1914
By the late sir Robert ensor.
THE
WHIG SUPREMACY
1714-1760
By
BASIL WILLIAMS, F.B.A.
SECOND EDITION
REVISED BY
G.H. STUART
Student of Christ Church, Oxford
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1962
Oxford University Press, Amen House, London E. C.4
GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE WELLINGTON
BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS KARACHI LAHORE DACCA
CAPE TOWN SALISBURY NAIROBI IBADAN ACCRA
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© Oxford University Press, 1962
FIRST PUBLISHED 1939
REPRINTED WITH CORRECTIONS 1942, 1945, 1949, 1952
SECOND (REVISED) EDITION 1962
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, OXFORD
BY VIVIAN RIDLER
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
ONULP
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
P
rofessor basil williams, the author of this book,
died on 5 January 1950. The success and popularity of
the book were due to many qualities, but most of all to
the uncommon sympathy and insight which he brought to the
England of the first two Georges. Although he was successively
a professor in three universities in three different English-
speaking countries he did not become an academic teacher
until he was over fifty. Before that time he had been, among
other things, a clerk in the house of commons, a soldier in a
colonial war, a parliamentary candidate, and the loyal friend
of some of the most remarkable men of his time. He saw the
eighteenth century in the light of this rich experience.
The preparation of this second edition has presented an
editorial problem of some delicacy. When The Whig Supremacy
was written Sir Lewis Namier had already made his main
contributions to the knowledge of this period, but in the en¬
suing years and largely through his influence research has been
active, expecially in the fields of parliamentary and party
history. Mr. Stuart, in addition to such other revision as was
needed, has taken into account the results of this research.
While making the appropriate corrections he has been careful
to disturb the original text as little as possible and to preserve
its individual flavour. As in the volumes of this series which have
been revised by their own authors, the new matter is not
marked as such; but where Mr. Stuart expresses opinions which
it is necessary to distinguish from those of Professor Williams
the initials ‘C.H.S.’ are added to the footnotes. A revised
Bibliography, by another contributor who remains anonymous,
refers the reader to the new literature of the subject.
G. N. C.
.
« ‘
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
M
y preface is entirely one of thanks: thanks to my wife for
her judicious reading of the manuscript; to the many
learned friends, indicated in the notes to some of the
chapters, who have corrected my deficiencies in certain sub¬
jects; to my former colleague, Dr. D. B. Horn of Edinburgh
University, for suggestions, inspired by his profound knowledge
of eighteenth-century history, on the proof-sheets; and above all
to the general editor of the series, Professor G. N. Clark, for
proposing to me a subject which has been a constant delight,
and for the patience and acumen with which he has so willingly
supervised my labours.
B. W.
London
Lady Day, 1939
REVISER’S PREFACE
M
y preface, like the author’s, is one of thanks; and of
thanks, above all, to the general editor of the series, Sir
George Clark, for his patience in enduring the many
delays in my work. I have also to thank my colleagues on the
Governing Body of Christ Church for granting me leave for
two terms during which the greater part of this revision was
completed. But for such understanding of this period as I possess
and for the interest in it which grows in me still I must thank my
own tutors, Sir Keith Feiling and Sir John Masterman, who
launched me in the study of the eighteenth century. To alter the
work of another man is delicate and difficult; I have throughout
attempted to do justice to Professor Williams and to show a
proper concern for his honour and fame. Yet, as Hardwicke
once observed to Newcastle: ‘Posterity will do . . .justice;...
nobody ought to rely upon their contemporaries for such retri¬
bution.’
C. H. S.
Oxford
,
Lady Day ig6i
CONTENTS
LIST OF MAPS AND PLANS
NOTE ON DATES
I. INTRODUCTORY
Unity of the period i
Scheme of the volume 1-3
Domination of Locke’s ideas: 3-4
Civil government and preservation of property 4-6
Religious toleration 6-8
Influence of popular opinion 8
Restricted area of government action: laisser-faire 8-9
An age of strong personalities 10
II. ENGLISH SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT UNDER
GEORGE I AND GEORGE II
The Hanover Electorate: composition and electors 11-13
Electoral rule in Hanover 13-14
Hanoverian relations with England 14
Limitations on royal power in England 15
Powers left to the Crown 16- 17
(i) Choice of ministers 17- 18
(ii) Control of army and foreign affairs 18- 19
Friction between England and Hanover 19- 20
Schemes for separating Crown and Electorate 20- 21
Prestige of parliament 21- 22
House of lords: composition and powers 22- 24
high claims; protests 24-25
House of commons: composition 26-27
county members 26
borough members 27
elections, duke of Newcastle 28-29
independence 30
negative voice on Crown’s ministries 30
Public interest in parliament 31
Reporting of debates surreptitious 31
High-handed proceedings of commons 32
Ministers appointed by king but dependent on parliament 32- 33
Functions of ministers, absence of corporate responsibility 33- 34
Slow evolution of prime minister’s function 34- 35
Growth of cabinet system 35- 37
37 38
Informality of cabinets -
38
King ceases to attend cabinet councils
38- 40
Inner and outer cabinets
King’s absences in Hanover; ‘guardian of the realm’, ‘lords justices 40- 41
Inconvenience and unpopularity of king’s absences 41- 42
George I and II not popular but more so than pretenders 42- 43
CONTENTS
X
III. ENGLISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE LAW
Local Government. Little part taken by central government in local
affairs 44
Haphazard methods of local administration 45
Vestries 46-47
Manorial courts 47
The lord lieutenant 4°-49
The sheriff 49
Justices of the peace: appointment, qualifications 49_5°
administrative and judicial functions 5I_52
local despots 52-53
Chartered municipalities 53
J.P.s connecting link with central government 54
Relation of central and local authorities 54_5^
The Law. Blackstone 5^57
Independence of judges secured 57
The various courts of justice 5^
Appeal courts 59
Semi-obsolete processes 60
Habeas Corpus act, law of libel 60-61
English pleadings, Fleet marriages, death penalty 61-62
Legal education, inns of court 62-63
Chancellor’s salary, &c. 63
Chancellors Macclesfield and Northington 63—64
Judicial bench mainly good 64-65
Hardwicke: eminence as chancellor; judgements; relations with
Scottish law 65-67
IV. RELIGION AND THE CHURCHES
An Erastian church of England 68
Roman catholic disabilities 68-69
Dissenters’ and Jews’ disabilities 69
Partial relief for protestant dissenters 7°~71
Their remaining hardships 71-72
Quakers. Stanhope’s proposals for catholic relief 72-73
Anti-papist feeling 73
Alleviations of persecution 74-75
Non-jurors 75-76
Established church as engine of state 76
Selection of bishops; Queen Caroline, Gibson, Newcastle 77
Political qualifications for bishops 78
Translation of bishops 79
Bishops’ civil and electoral activities 79-81
Bishops’ pastoral duties 81
Poor plight of country parsons 81-82
Suppression of convocation; Atterbury, Hoadly 82
Discussion on religious principles; deists and their opponents; Tindal,
Hume, and Paley 83—85
Bangorian controversy 86-87
Low state of church of England with exceptions 87-88
The free churches and their schools 88-89