was urged to adopt the most effectual means for securing the
Protestant succession, and frustrating the hopes of those who
meditated the overthrow of the established government.
The manly eloquence of this speech excited a transport of
enthusiasm. The peers announced their concurrence by a
loyal address, which was laid on the table for signature, that
it might appear no less the act of each individual than the
determination of the whole body. It was signed by seventy
peers, including those of every distinction and party. In
the House of Commons, also, the moderate Tories vied with
the Whigs in testifying their zeal and patriotism.

The concern of Marlborough for the resignation of Godol-
phin and the dissolution of the parliament, was considerably
tempered by the countenance shown to that moderate class
of Tories with whom he was identified, and particularly by
the distinction conferred on his confidential friend Harley.
The treaties which he had concluded were received with the
most unqualified approbation, and liberal supplies voted for
the prosecution of the war. Convinced that no system of policy
could be stable, while the domestic establishment remained in
uncertainty, the parliament passed several bills for securing
the Protestant succession. An act of attainder against the
pretended prince of Wales and the queen dowager was
followed by another, for the security of his majesty's person
and the succession to the crown in the Protestant line.
This act also contained a clause enjoining all persons to ab-
jure the pretended Prince of Wales; and a second making
it equally criminal to imagine or compass the death of the
princess of Denmark, as that of the king's eldest son and
heir. Strenuous opposition was made to these measures by
the high Tories, at the head of whom was Nottingham; but
their efforts only served to show their general unpopularity.

The bill of abjuration was the last public act of our great
deliverer. His health had been so long declining, and his
infirmities were much increased by anxiety of mind, arising
from the recent feuds at home and embarrassments abroad,
that, during the preceding summer, he had repeatedly prog-
nosticated to his friends his approaching dissolution. His
death was accelerated by an accidental fall from his horse,
while hunting in the park at Hampton Court. Supported
by the energy of his mind, his constitution struggled for

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