 their Lives, had never been Compliers
with the Times, while they were common Priests; or slavish prostitute Chaplains
to some Nobleman, whose Opinions they continued servilely to follow after they
were admitted into that Assembly.
    He then desired to know, what Arts were practised in electing those whom I
called Commoners. Whether, a Stranger with a strong Purse might not influence
the vulgar Voters to chuse him before their own Landlord, or the most
considerable Gentleman in the Neighbourhood. How it came to pass, that People
were so violently bent upon getting into this Assembly, which I allowed to be a
great Trouble and Expence, often to the Ruin of their Families, without any
Salary or Pension: Because this appeared such an exalted Strain of Virtue and
publick Spirit, that his Majesty seemed to doubt it might possibly not be always
sincere: And he desired to know, whether such zealous Gentlemen could have any
Views of refunding themselves for the Charges and Trouble they were at, by
sacrificing the publick Good to the Designs of a weak and vicious Prince, in
Conjunction with a corrupted Ministry. He multiplied his Questions, and sifted
me thoroughly upon every Part of this Head; proposing numberless Enquiries and
Objections, which I think it not prudent or convenient to repeat.
    Upon what I said in relation to our Courts of Justice, his Majesty desired
to be satisfied in several Points: And, this I was the better able to do, having
been formerly almost ruined by a long Suit in Chancery, which was decreed for me
with Costs. He asked, what Time was usually spent in determining between Right
and Wrong; and what Degree of Expence. Whether Advocates and Orators had Liberty
to plead in Causes manifestly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppressive.
Whether Party in Religion or Politicks were observed to be of any Weight in the
Scale of Justice. Whether those pleading Orators were Persons educated in the
general Knowledge of Equity; or only in provincial, national, and other local
Customs. Whether they or their Judges had any Part in penning those Laws, which
they assumed the Liberty of interpreting and glossing upon at their Pleasure.
Whether they had ever at different Times pleaded for and against the same Cause,
and cited Precedents to prove contrary Opinions. Whether they were a rich or a
poor Corporation. Whether they received any pecuniary Reward for pleading or
delivering their Opinions. And particularly whether they were ever admitted as
Members in the lower Senate.
    He fell next upon the Management of our Treasury; and said, he thought my
Memory had failed me, because I computed our Taxes at about five or six Millions
a
