But Sunderland succeeded in obtaining such a measure of favour and influence as excited much surprise and some indignation.

In truth, scarcely any mind was strong enough to resist the witchery of his talk and of his manners.

Every man is prone to believe in the gratitude and attachment even of the most worthless persons on whom he has conferred great benefits.

It can therefore hardly be thought strange that the most skilful of all flatterers should have been heard with favour, when he, with every outward sign of strong emotion, implored permission to dedicate all his faculties to the service of the generous protector to whom he owed property, liberty, life.

It is not necessary, however, to suppose that the King was deceived.