hoped to see the day when there should not be a peer in England.  His understanding, at the best, is of the middling size; neither hath he much improved it, either in reality, or, which is very unfortunate, even in the opinion of the world, by an overgrown library.[31] It is hard to decide, whether he learned that rough way of treating his sovereign from the lady he is allied to,[32] or whether it be the result of his own nature.  The sense of the injuries he hath done, renders him (as it is very natural) implacable towards those to whom he hath given greatest cause to complain; for which reason he will never forgive either the Queen or the present treasurer.

[Footnote 27:  See note in vol. v., pp. 377-378 of present edition. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 28:  John Digby, third earl of Bristol. [W.S.J.]]

[Footnote 29:  Dr. Trimnel, since Bishop of Winton. [ORIGINAL NOTE.] He was Bishop of Norwich, 1708-1721, and of Winchester from 1721 till his death in 1723. [W.S.J.]]

[Footnote 30:  P. Fitzgerald says “Whiggish.” [W.S.J.]]

[Footnote 31:  The library that made such a sensation in the bibliographical world when it was sold at auction in the latter part of the last century. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 32:  His lordship married the Duchess of Marlborough’s second daughter.  “Account, etc.,” p. 286. [N.]]

The Earl of Wharton[33] hath filled the province allotted him by his colleagues, with sufficiency equal to the ablest of them all.  He hath imbibed his father’s[34] principles in government; but dropped his religion, and took up no other in its stead:  excepting that circumstance, he is a firm Presbyterian.  He is perfectly skilled in all the arts of managing at elections, as well as in large baits of pleasure for making converts of young men of quality, upon their first appearance; in which public service he contracted such large debts, that his brethren were forced, out of mere justice, to leave Ireland at his mercy, where he had only time to set himself right.  Although the graver heads of his party think him too profligate and abandoned, yet they dare not be ashamed of him; for, beside his talents above mentioned, he is very useful in Parliament, being a ready speaker, and content to employ his gift upon such occasions, where those who conceive they have any remainder of reputation or modesty are ashamed to appear.  In short, he is an uncontestable instance to discover the true nature of faction; since, being overrun with every quality which produceth contempt and hatred, in all other commerce of the world, he hath, notwithstanding, been able to make so considerable a figure.

[Footnote 33:  See also “A Short Character,” etc. in vol. v. and “The Examiner,” Nos. 18 and 23, in vol. ix. of present edition. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 34:  The Earl, his father, was a rigid Presbyterian. [ORIGINAL NOTE.]]