The two together would have made up a consummate statesman.

The master was capable of forming and executing large designs, but was negligent of those small arts in which the servant excelled.

The master saw farther off than other men; but what was near no man saw so clearly as the servant.

The master, though profoundly versed in the politics of the great community of nations, never thoroughly understood the politics of his own kingdom.

The servant was perfectly well informed as to the temper and the organization of the English factions, and as to the strong and weak parts of the character of every Englishman of note.
Early in 1693, it was rumoured that Sunderland was consulted on all important questions relating to the internal administration of the realm; and the rumour became stronger when it was known that he had come up to London in the autumn before the meeting of Parliament and that he had taken a large mansion near Whitehall.