Note 209 — Chapter XV · ON THE REIGN OF WILLIAM III.

Journals, 10th Jan., 18th, 20th, and 25th March; Lords' Journals, 8th Feb.; Parl. Hist. 1167, 1191; Ralph, 808; Burnet, 219. It is now beyond doubt that William had serious thoughts of quitting the government, and retiring to Holland, sick of the faction and ingratitude of this nation. Shrewsbury Correspondence, 571; Hardwicke Papers, 362. This was in his character, and not like the vulgar story which that retailer of all gossip, Dalrymple, calls a well-authenticated tradition, that the king walked furiously round his room, exclaiming, "If I had a son, by G— the guards should not leave me." It would be vain to ask how this son would have enabled him to keep them against the bent of the parliament and people.