As if nature had not sufficiently handicapped George for a high
part, fate placed him on the throne at the immature age of
twenty-two. Henceforth the boy was master, not pupil. Great
nobles and obsequious prelates did him reverence. Ignorant and
obstinate, the young King was determined not only to reign but to
rule, in spite of the new doctrine that Parliament, not the King,
carried on the affairs of government through the leader of the
majority in the House of Commons, already known as the Prime
Minister. George could not really change what was the last
expression of political forces in England. The rule of Parliament
had come to stay. Through it and it alone could the realm be
governed. This power, however, though it could not be destroyed,
might be controlled. Parliament, while retaining all its
privileges, might yet carry out the wishes of the sovereign. The
King might be his own Prime Minister. The thing could be done if
the King's friends held a majority of the seats and would do what
their master directed. It was a dark day for England when a king
found that he could play off one faction against another, buy a
majority in Parliament, and retain it either by paying with
guineas or with posts and dignities which the bought Parliament
left in his gift.
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