To have refused this immense estate simply because he was the victim for the time being of racial jealousy is a rare and conspicuous instance in English history of self-sacrifice to honourable motives.  His uprightness of character was again tried by the East India Company, who offered him a L50,000 bribe to exert his interest on behalf of that Corporation; but he was not to be tempted by the offer.  It will be seen later how the great families, such as Cavendish, became allied with that of Bentinck when the pride of nationality had been reconciled.

Once more in February, 1696, was Portland the means of saving the King’s life, through the information he had received of a plot for his assassination by the Papists.  The details of the scheme were eventually laid bare and the conspirators brought to justice.

Few men have had a life so full of activity and importance to the State as this Hans William Bentinck.  While the Ambassadors were tediously endeavouring at Ryswick to bring about peace between England and France and not making much progress, William took the unceremonious course of sending Portland to have an interview with Marshal Boufflers as representing Lewis.  Both were soldiers and men of honour.  The meeting took place at Hal, near Brussels, where their attendants were bidden to leave them alone in an orchard.  “Here they walked up and down during two hours,” says Macaulay, “and in that time did much more business than the plenipotentiaries at Ryswick were able to despatch in as many months.”

“It is odd,” said Harley, “that while the Ambassadors are making war the Generals should be making peace.”  In the end the terms these two men negotiated were elaborated in the Treaty of Ryswick, which was the great instrument consolidating William on the Throne, wresting England from the Stuart ascendancy and completing the work of the Revolution.

Such is an outline of the vicissitudes which this extraordinary man passed through in the course of his exciting career.  He died in 1709 and was succeeded by his son.

Henry, the second Earl, was Governor of Jamaica, and created Marquis of Titchfield and Duke of Portland in 1716.

His death took place in 1726, and he too was succeeded by his son.

William, second Duke, was a Knight of the Garter, as most of the other holders of the title have been, and he died in 1762.  It was through his marriage with the grand-daughter of the Duke of Newcastle that the Bentincks became possessed of Welbeck.

He was succeeded by his son, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, third Duke, K.G., who had been M.P. for Weobley.  This Duke became Prime Minister of England in 1783, when a Coalition Government was in office.  Again in 1807 he was Premier, and was at the head of the Ministry up to shortly before his death in 1809.  Other positions held by him were Viceroy of Ireland, Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1794; Lord President of the Council, 1801; Chancellor of