The Upper House would then be at his mercy.

He had undoubtedly by law the power of creating peers without limit: and this power he was fully determined to use.

He did not wish, and indeed no sovereign can wish, to make the highest honour which is in the gift of the crown worthless.

He cherished the hope that, by calling up some heirs apparent to the assembly in which they must ultimately sit, and by conferring English titles on some Scotch and Irish Lords, he might be able to secure a majority without ennobling new men in such numbers as to bring ridicule on the coronet and the ermine.

But there was no extremity to which he was not prepared to go in case of necessity.