I solemnly declare, that I never once heard the least reflection cast upon the King, on the subject of Mr. Wood’s coin:  For in many discourses on this matter, I do not remember His Majesty’s name to be so much as mentioned.  As to the ministry in England, the only two persons hinted at were the Duke of Grafton, and Mr. Walpole:[8] The former, as I have heard you and a hundred others affirm, declared, that he never saw the patent in favour of Mr. Wood, before it was passed, although he were then lord lieutenant:  And therefore I suppose everybody believes, that his grace hath been wholly unconcerned in it since.

[Footnote 8:  Walpole was created a Knight of the Bath in 1724, when that order was revived.  In 1726 he was installed Knight of the Order of the Garter, being the only commoner who had been so distinguished since the reign of James I., except Admiral Montague, afterwards Earl of Sandwich.  He had been offered a peerage in 1723, but declined it for himself, accepting it for his son, who was created Baron Walpole of Walpole, in Norfolk. [T.S.]]

Mr. Walpole was indeed supposed to be understood by the letter W. in several newspapers; where it is said, that some expressions fell from him not very favourable to the people of Ireland; for the truth of which, the kingdom is not to answer, any more than for the discretion of the publishers.  You observe, the Drapier wholly clears Mr. Walpole of this charge, by very strong arguments and speaks of him with civility.  I cannot deny myself to have been often present, where the company gave then opinion, that Mr. Walpole favoured Mr. Wood’s project, which I always contradicted; and for my own part, never once opened my lips against that minister, either in mixed or particular meetings:  And my reason for this reservedness was, because it pleased him, in the Queen’s time (I mean Queen Anne of ever blessed memory) to make a speech directly against me, by name, in the House of Commons, as I was told a very few minutes after, in the Court of Requests, by more than fifty members.

But you, who are in a great station here, (if anything here may be called great) cannot be ignorant, that whoever is understood by public voice to be chief minister, will, among the general talkers, share the blame, whether justly or no, of every thing that is disliked; which I could easily make appear in many instances, from my own knowledge, while I was in the world; and particularly in the case of the greatest, the wisest, and the most uncorrupt minister, I ever conversed with.[9]

[Footnote 9:  Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford. [T.S.]]

But, whatever unpleasing opinion some people might conceive of Mr. Walpole, on account of those halfpence; I dare boldly affirm, it was entirely owing to Mr. Wood.  Many persons of credit, come from England, have affirmed to me, and others, that they have seen letters under his hand, full of arrogance and insolence towards Ireland; and boasting of his favour with Mr. Walpole; which is highly probable:  Because he reasonably thought it for his interest to spread such a report; and because it is the known talent of low and little spirits, to have a great man’s name perpetually in their mouths.[10]