Note 374 — Chapter XVI · ON THE STATE OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE REIGNS OF ANNE, GEORGE I., AND GEORGE II. (continued 2)

Mr. Fox declared to the Duke of Newcastle, when the office of secretary of state, and what was called the management of the House of Commons, was offered to him, "that he never desired to touch a penny of the secret service money, or to know the disposition of it farther than was necessary to enable him to speak to the members without being ridiculous." Dodington's Diary, 15th March 1754. H. Walpole confirms this in nearly the same words. Mem. of Last Ten Years, i. 332.