 During the remainder of George I's reign, Walpole's ascendancy continued; the political power of the monarch was gradually diminishing and that of his ministers gradually increasing.In 1724 the primary political rival of Walpole and Townshend in the Cabinet, Lord Carteret, was dismissed from the post of Southern Secretary and once again appointed to the lesser office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.In Ireland, Lord Carteret used his power to secretly aid in the controversy over Wood's Halfpence and support "Drapier's Letters" behind the scenes and cause harm to Walpole's power.