He had long filled lucrative posts, and had neglected no art which could make them more lucrative: but his ill luck at the hazard table was such that his estates were daily becoming more and more encumbered.

In the hope of extricating himself from his embarrassments, he betrayed to Barillon all the schemes adverse to France which had been meditated in the English cabinet, and hinted that a Secretary of State could in such times render services for which it might be wise in Lewis to pay largely.

The Ambassador told his master that six thousand guineas was the smallest gratification that could be offered to so important a minister.

Lewis consented to go as high as twenty-five thousand crowns, equivalent to about five thousand six hundred pounds sterling.

It was agreed that Sunderland should receive this sum yearly, and that he should, in return, exert all his influence to prevent the reassembling of the Parliament.