that affair were known only to himself and to Commissioner Falconer's
family. To his astonishment he found, at this critical moment, that the
whole transaction had reached the ear of majesty, and that it was soon
publicly known. The commissioner, with protestations and oaths, declared
that the secret had never, by his means, transpired--it had been divulged
by the baseness of his son Cunningham, who betrayed it to the Greenwich
faction. They, skilled in all the arts of undermining a rival, employed the
means that were thus put into their power with great diligence and effect.

It was observed at the levee, that the sovereign looked coldly upon the
minister. Every courtier whispered that Lord Oldborough had been certainly
much to blame. Disdainful of their opinions, Lord Oldborough was sensibly
affected by the altered eye of his sovereign.

"What! After all my services!--At the first change of fortune!"

This sentiment swelled in his breast; but his countenance was rigidly calm,
his demeanour towards the courtiers and towards his colleagues more than
usually firm, if not haughty.

After the levee, he demanded a private audience.

Alone with the king, the habitual influence of this great minister's
superior genius operated. The cold manner was changed, or rather, it was
changed involuntarily. From one "not used to the language of apology," the
frank avowal of a fault has a striking effect. Lord Oldborough took upon
himself the whole blame of the disaster that had ensued, in consequence
of his error, an error frequent in other ministers, in him, almost
unprecedented.