IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 IS t: m 2.5 2.2 I.I ^ i^ III: - lis 1 2:0 1.8 /. 1.25 1.4 !.6 ^ 6" » V (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles solvents apparattra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — »- signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent 6tre film6s 6 des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour itre reprodult en un seul clich6, 11 est film6 d partir de Tengie sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et da haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. lies diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 > - A L E T T E R • TO His grace the DUKE of N******** O N T H E Present Crisis in the Affairs of GREAT-BRITAIW e o N r A I N I N G Reflections on a laTe Great Resignation: TO WHICH IS ADDED, A LETTER from a RiGHt Hon. Person To — , ^ in the City: ToQBTHKRWtTK A LETTER to the Right Hon. the EARL of B*** N A lATE Important R e s i g n at i o », AMD Its probable Co n s e q.u e n c e s. i\ Such flames as high in patriots burn. Yet ftoop to bicfs a child or wife. ^^m^^^^^m^ Pope. i • ■ « 4k i f ? f M ■ • • 1 ' • ' { *■ " . It t ^ A i i 1 * i 1 1 • A ^ 'i L E T T / E R • t Mis grace rnt D tJ K E 6 F , ♦ Jq******** 6 N t H E \ » V I'RESBNT C K 1 N t H B i s i S Affair i OF • R E A t B R i t A \ fij C N t A 1 K 1 N (J ' tLttitCiitHi 6tt A fcAtt GiEA* KiiidvAffOHt . T d S T H i k W I' • r A A L E T T E R from a Right Hdn. P6rf<» 10 *****«^ m t^ t O N D 6 1 * - J'rinted for Rv Gk i F F 1 1 H s, i» ^e StRAN'l^# • * * s (i ,1 i 11 JL S S S» s & Hov. 3|5S •-T «• ►i»v ^ h t> •) i*Maia idM LETTER T O T H B DUKE Of N********'. My L oittt D***, YOUR Grace may perhaps te furprifec! at the coll* tents of this letter ; but I flatter myfclf the im* partial public will not think the points here difcufl^ cd unimportant, nor improperly addreffcd ; fmce you are liow fuppofcd to have the iupreme dire£tion of the aflfairs 6f this nation. Your adminiftratlon has occafioned much political reafoning; your friends have ofteh proclaimed the juftnefs of your meafures, your enemies as often ar* raigned them : in this letter^ my Lord, I ftiall fteer a middle couffe : no dupe to prejudice, unwarped by faftioni 1 (hall freely praife or condemn, ivhen I fpeak of paft times, as your conduft defervet. The afl'airs of this kingdom, for a few years, havebeeil ihanaged with fuch wifdom and prudence, that the efFefts appear in every comer of the world : Britain is alike vic^ torious by fea and land, a circumftance which, I believe^ will be very difficult to fliew was ever the cafe before* This fhort, but bright period, was preceded by one the •J. . ^~u _/^ . !_ ....^ a..^ ««rs>A' ii«t^i^^«rcf»i . QTin tnf* nOi> rtieftic government of the nation was torn by faction } in a wiord, by blunder! and knavery we w«re in a very A low I C 2 ] . low and pitiful condition. Foreigners wonder, that a gO' vcrnmcnt, which political writers reprefent as the mode! oFperfeftion, fliould be in a manner fo unhinged, andcon- fufed, at the breaking out of a war ; when it is fuppofed, that a monarchy fo powerful as this, whofe affairs are well conduced during a peace, would not, in the natural courfe of things, be at fuch a lofs when a war became neceflary. The furprize is natural to thofe who are not acquainted with what itaf not improperly be called, (he eflence of o«r governhient. Sir -Robert Wftlpole, who continued prime minifter much longer than any one before, or fmce his time, owed the duration of his power, in a very great meafure, to his keeping his country in profound peace : it is true, in this he gave up the intereft of his country to fecure himfelf ; but with many prime minifters that is but a trifle. The fprings of our government are eafily contmued in their nitural motion in peace; but when a war breaks out, a vaft quantity of new machinery is ne- ceflary; the management becomes more complicated, much greater abilities are required to conduct it, and the pilot muft have great Ikill, or he will not avoid the mul- dtndc of rocks that fuitound him. If we confider thefe points with attention, we cannot wonder at the confufion fo generally evident in a Brilifli miniftry when this difficult trial is made: nor can wc wonder at the unpatriot fpirit of thofe, who facrifice the intereft of their country to their own, fmce that is quite confiftent with the nature of man. In faft, we did not find the miniftiy, at the breaking out of the prefent war, more prepared for fuch an event than their predecefFors, nor more willing to refign their power to thofe who were abler to conduft the ftate machine ; but warded- off the dreadful blow of a war. as long as poflible, in hopes to prolong the peace, by negociation at any rate. At laft, unable to ftem the torrent, they were obliged ' to refign their places, or rather to ftiare them with ano- ther faftion; and then was produced that coalition of parties, fo greatly advantageous to this nation, and fo honourable to themfelves. You, my Lord, was nearly conneifted with that event, and I cannot here deny the UiibuLc of praife due to you for your fhare, in the conduft of the following campaigns: they were great and gloriouis, ^rj redounded as much to^ Jhe honour of the then mini- ftry. -■* iiti»il Jcr, that a go* t as the model nged, and ton- i it is fuppofed, lifairs are well natural courfe amc neceflary. ot acquainted Tie eflence of ha continued efore, or fmce n a very great )found peace : ^ his country iniAers that is !nt are eafily 1 but when a chinery is ne- complicated, iSt'it, and the void the mul- n, we cannot It in a BrJliOi nor can we facrifice the : that is quite we did not 1 prefent war, predece/Tors, ofe who were irded- off the in hopes to were obliged [n with ano- coalition of tion^ and fo was nearly re deny the I the conduct and glorious:, it then mini- ftry. C 3 1 ftry, as to the bravery of the people they guided. While they continued united, the war was carried on with all imaginable vigour, and our arms were attended with the greatell fuccefs. Moreover, this coalition of parties united fuch interefls, that war was conduced with as much feeming eafe, as if all was peace abroad, as well as harmony at home. No fupplies were demanded for the fervice of the nation,, but they were immediately granted by parliament, and raifed by the credit of the miniftry. A late great refignation has, to appearance, diflblved this union ; at leaft, it is certain, that the adminiftration of the affairs of the nation is no longer in the fame hands* You muft certainly allow, my Lord, that an event fo fud- den, fo unexpected, and of luch importance, muft greatly alarm the nation : not perhaps from a want of a good opinion of thofe who continue in power, but from a fear of its being the occafion of a bad peace concluding fo glorious a war. I juft now mentioned the difficulty an Englifti miniftry finds in conducing one ; this refults in a very great meafure from the want of fupplies to fupport it. A parliamentary intereft may procure their being voted ; but the people, my Lord, muft have an opinion of a miniftry before they can be raifed; and a good opi- nion always arifes from the confideration of paft times. Your Grace has too much experience to be furprifed at the ftrefs I lay on raifing the fupplies. Nor can you wonder at the forefight of the people, in not fubfcribing to funds, when they cannot depend on the miniftry's pur- fuing thofe raeafures that are for the advantage of the nation. The value of ftock is fo nearly connedled with the public affairs, that every man, before h*e fubfcribes his money for the ufe of the government, will undoubt- edly confider the ftate of the nation, or, in other words, the ftate of the miniftry ; for, by woeful experience, we have often found, that the former is but too nearly de- pendent on the latter. The nation had a high opinion of the great Commoner who lately bore a ftiare in the adminiftration of affairs ; 9nd I believe It was very juftly founded : this opinion a- rofe from the fuccefs that • attended his meafures, which M.XI.S X UXI3iXiaLIV££ VVILCXXX' ly fpeaks fomc alteration ; for as he has met with little <^pbiition in parliament; and, according to the genera! A 2 notion. t 4 3 notion, poflc/Rd his M^jcfty's good opinion, why /houl4 ]^c rcfign ? A near enquiry may perhaps unfold the caufe of an ev^nt which appears ftrangc, merely for want of jrcfleftion, The fuccefs of this war has been fo entirely on our *|ide, that we cannot be the leaft furprizfd at our enemies trying every meafyre to change their bad fortune ; 'till very lately they have been utterly difappointed : (I fay *till very lately, becayfe their fuccefs in the late negociation Is quite unknown.) Finding how unlikely they were to gain any ;hing by continuing the war, they very judi^ cioufly reco^ledicd the pacific overture from Great^Britain ^nd PrulTia ; and they propofed a congrefs, which was ac- cepted : in the interim, a negociation was opened between pur court awd that of France. The terms demanded by the French rainiftry were fuch, that a compliance with them would at onpe have given up the advantages we |ia,ve gained in this burdenfome and expenfive war. The refufal gave rife to new propofals, and new anfwers, 'till %he negociation w^s fpun out to fome length : almoft at the conclulicm of it, (if it is ended) the court of Spaii^ inade foiqe new demands on, Great-Britain ; and, in their memorial, as "w^e have reafon to believe, threatened us lyith a >yar, unlefs we were more modeft in the terms to >vhich we eixpefted our enemy to agree, The French 'mit liifter, who condu^led the negociation, no fooner departs^ ^nd new refolu^ions are taken, than the principal perfon-i 9ge in the miniftry, who had been fo inftrumental in the 5;onduft of the war, refigns his poft. This is the ftiorl; |hte of the aftkir that ^lls fo many men with fyrprize. That there is fome caufe which produced this effeft, \s certain J and it is alfo clear, that we cannot prpve what that caufe is; byt from many attendant circumlknces, your Grace will allow me at leajft to form fome conjee- fures.-r-.We know extremely well, that the late minifter's ^axim was to make no peace with France, untij ve could command fiich a one as would fecure our pofleffions in At ptierica, and repay us, by an acceflion of trade, for the enormous expenccs of the war. This plan he made the ,|;u1q of his naeafures, and we aw to ftippofe th^t he infift^ W, as far, as his power reached, o^ the fame bei^ig regards ?d in the late negociatioi^ with M. BujfTy. If he met witl^ ^0 o|)|)pfilion^ wh^t ihoyl4, bcqarioii his irefighation ? no^ thipgi n, why (houl4 nfold the caufe ^ for want of itirely on our It our enemies fortune ; 'till ted: (I fayVill ite ncgociation yr they were to hey veryjudi-» I Great-'3ritain which was ac- pened between demanded by •mpliancc with idvantages we ve war. The V anfwers, *tiU ;th : almofl at ourt of Spain ; and, in their threatened us I the terms tq l^e French 'mil boner departs, neipal perfon^ mental in the '< is the (hori; th f^rprize. ed this effeft, 5t prove what circumilancesy fome conjecf late minifter's untij we coulcj tlTeflions in An trade, for the he made the that he infiftr beipg regardu f he met witl^ ^nation? non thiP§? t 5 1 thing : but U is well known, that the C— 1 were divided in their opinions concerning the terms of the peace, and that it was with great difficuHy this minifter could get thofe offered by France then, rejefted. However he car- ried his point fo far as to get BulTy difmilsM for the pre- fent. Frcfcntly after comes the Spanilh memorial, which Is followed by his refignation. r r ^» Your Grace will not be furprifed at my fuppofm^ Ir. P***'s motives to confift in his being againft the meafuref that he then found were likely to prevail. As he was for continuing the war, we are confeaucntly to fuppoie that the prevailing opinion in the miniftry was for peace. But it may be alkecf perhaps why he fhould not promote a peace as well as the reft of the miniftry? we may certainly anfwer, that his aim was peace ; but that his idea of that peace, was diifcrent from theirs. He thought the terms then in debate were not good enough ; they thought other- wife. And as he found the contrary opinion likely to, fuc- ceed, he thought proper not to be concerned in an affair which he could not approve. It will certainly be aikcd, why the peace does not appear which this gentlepian dif. ^pproved ? and it will be objefted, that fo far are we from ^n appearance of peace, that new preparations are now making for war, , . Your Grace knows very well, how impoffible it is to point out particulars in fuch affairs as thcfe. When we argue from conjefture, we muft be content with appear- ances, and not expeft to have every affertion grounded on fafts. The notion which 1 have advanced) is entirely confiftent with the objeaions here fuppofed to be formed. Two campaigns paired after the Marlborough miniftry was removed from their employments, but it was clearly fore- feen, what turn the affairs of the nation would take whea a new fetcame in, whofe hopes, and private interefts wero founded in a fpeedy peace. And accordingly, at the peaco • of Utrecht, the advantages of a long and glorious war were ^iven up, and facrificed to the private views of a new fac* tion. ^ ■ . , The Oxford party then found themfelves unable to con- tinue a war, which required gre^t fupplies to be raifed, by the credit or the miniitiy; ana as tnc uxxii>.^.t^Ji-^ ^^ x«-w*x power depended on a peace, they haftily patched one up, wMch has been the evident occafion of every war that has i; : / C 6 3 ^ bappcned fmct that time. They a£ted in almoft the very pd with great pru- dence, in not being hafty in fuch alliances; nor can we blame them for the backwardnefs they fhewed, during the whole war: it was but juft policy. They had before been deceived by our government, and they determined not to noakc too great a rifque on the faith of it again. In EngUnd we abufed them for this conduft, and readily at- tributed their motives to the influence of French gold : but did the enfuing peace convince them that their fufoicions weregronndlefs? fo far from it, that your Grace very welf knows It was a- fecond Utrecht. The interefts of this na- tion, and Its allies were eiven nn^ nnt fi./^«* «~ : uti:*..' to continue the war, but for its ncccffity to fccure privat^ ~ ,, / hi I almoft the very , in a peace con- irminiftry, your Uowed their ex- )untry into that lately retrieved, itereft ofanyna- ^ made more to s the certain fign ; meafures j and lom it would be ;s. The Dutch b in the Queen's ' now and then a*s towards the reaty, yet they and afted with eace of Utrecht which their in- t| becaufe they : our aflidance. )f fecuring the :nts; and that It time, never Lord, at the ginning of the treaty againft nd when a fe- nth great pru- ; nor can we 2d, during the d before been ;termined not it again. In md readily at- nch gold : but eir fufpicions •ace very welf fts of this na-. ■■ dii inaumiy ecure private C 7 f At the opening of the prefent war, ^irc, as tftat, «a^* deavoured to invblve the Dutch in it; but experience had made them too wife to piut any truft in a government fo unftable in its foundations, and fo fluftuating in its mea- fures. They had twice paid extremely dear for their alliances with us ; commdn prudence ndw tatkght them to renounce any offenfive cbnndftion with us, to defpife our miniftry, apd laugh at 6ur remonftrances. Thus, my Lord D***^ we loft the alfiftance of this powerful people, which would have been of very great cotneqiience to us in the Ute cam- paigns. I believe the moftfeiifiblc politicians vi>ill agree, that it would haVe been much mi^rfe Udvantagcous forns to have made Flanders the feat of wair, than the country on the other fide the Rhine: thofc fortreffes which were heretofore fo famous, are no lohgcir the fame places ; and the eafe of fupplying an army in Flanders, cfpcciaUy iwhen the Dutch were our friends, muft naturally fee mfiich great- er, than where the war is now carried on* Your Grace will readily perceive from what I have fold, that I am of opinion, a peace at prefent, may not be fo far off as is commonly imagined. As to the preparatio«i& for war, they appear as a gale, which may very fpeediljr be blown over. If this peace is fo far off, and an aufweff given to the Spanifh memorial that is agreeable to the in- tereft of this nation ; it forms a contradiftion to the great Commoner's refigning his poft at fo critical a time. Have we the leaft reafon to fuppofe that he would take diis ftcp merely from caprice? Is it not rather much more iikeiyy that his motive was the difapprobation of the meafures which he perceived were then going to be executed^ Hb Intereft in the adminiftration was not confiderable enough, to direft the affairs ol peace and war; perhaps it would have been for the intereft of this nation, if it had beenfo. I would not be fuppofed from hence, to intimate that wc are jufl going to have a peace : I would only ftiew, that new maxims have been adopted, which, I apprehend, will in the end be produftive of fuch a one as Mr. P*** would never have approved. The prefent campaign, my Lord, is not yet finiflied ; fo that there is time enough yet this winter, to conclude a very admirable peace. I don't know whether wc have not one or two firft rate peace-makers in this kingdom, that would patch up another Utrechc la a mouthy or per- ' ..- haps i I ( ! 5 (! I! ^ 1 haps left lime. *Ti< true, your Grace's abilities are pet* fcftly well known; your difintereltednefs is very cele* brated ; but above all, your former adminiftration has ren-* dered you fo defervedly famous, that Britain cannot but regard you as one of her guardian angels, and the chiet pillar of the ftate; fo that we can have little to fear, as long as your Grace's infinite abilities are employed in the fervice of your *•♦**# the meaning, my Lord D * * *, muft be very obvious* - The prefent miniftry, my Lord, fhould certainly conli- der the opinion of the people j if they are perfuaded that the adminiftration of affairs, is in the hands of men wha will only confider the nation's good, fupplies will ealUy be raifed; and while that is the cafe, the war may eafily be continued. But if any change happens, which fhould give the people reafon to fufpeft that new maxims are adopt* ed; cani it be fuppofed they will fubfcribe to funds? if the. miniftry have not credit enough with the moneyed men to raife the fupplies, they muft either refign their power to thofe who have more credit than themfelves, or make 4 peace, and, by fo doing, finish the period of wanting fucH immenfe fums. As to the firft point, I fhall fay nothing of that ;: but the fecond is much more probable. The national debt, my Lord, is now become an object of very ferious concern to this nation: it would not re- quire a great deal of reafoning to prove, that there is at this time a real criiis in our aftairs, and ariflng, in a very great meafure, from thii enormous debt. The very inte- reft of it now amounts to upward of three millions, vifi- biy! And 1 have great reafon to believe, that when ac- counts come to be fettled, it may difclofe fome unexpeft- ed items, that will not a Uttle furprize the nation. Wheo a government is fo immenfely involved, thofe people who lend money to it, will be very obferving how its affairs go : a ftrong proof of this, is the efFeft which good or bad luccefs has on the price of ftocks. For if the very intereft cf the debt amounts to fo conliderable a part of the an- nual revenue of the kingdom, the value of the principal will depend entirely On the riche* of the nation; and it is very well known how nearly connefted thefe riches are conclude. with -U- .t. every treaty or pca« will reacUly allow that this debt is not an objeft of drea<|, if we increafeojM. trade by the .enfuing peace in propo^- * tioii I abilities are pet* efs is very cele« aiflration has ren<*. itain cannot but Is, and the chief little to fear, as employed in the e meaning, my d certainly confi* •e perfuaded that nds of men wha lies will eafdy be 'ar may eafdy be vhich mould give ixims are adopt* to funds? if die, le moneyed men jn their power to ves, or make 4 of wanting fucH II fay nothing of ble. :come an obje^ t would not re- tbat there is at rifmg, in a very The very inte- ee millions, viA- , that when ac- fome unexpefb- nation. When hofe people who how its a^airs ich good or bad the very intereO: part of the an- >f the principal lation ; and it is thefe riches are ve COilcluQc. i. ohjeO: of drea^^ :ace in propo^- * tloa i^n to tiie increa^ of debt, ^ut If^cii tb« ^o^tmry, ^i Ihould confiderably increafe the burden, without, at thf fame time, enabling ourfelves to bear it^ we muA be ma- iling hafty ftrides toward bankruptcy; The terms ofpeace> which lam informed by viery goo were rejef^ed as long as a certain great mail ivas in the adminiflratioh^ were^ fuch as could not be a- grced to by us^ the leaft Confiftently with our interefts. There ivere fome particular articles which Concerned our trade more nearly than the reft } the one Vas yieldiiig up Guadalhpe to France; and another returning them Canard da, referving only a barrier ; giving them liberty to fi(h oil the Banks of Newfoundland, and ceding the ifle Sable to them for drying their EQu 1 fhall not make a minlite enA quiry into the expediency of agreeing to thefe articles; but: pronounce them to be extremely bad* We Certainly went to war to fecurb our Colonies in North America ; this work, if fuch a peace enfues, we fhall evidently have to perform again. As we haVe been at fuch an immfeiife exr pence in profecuting the war> we may reaitbnably expe€b fome advantage from it ; and how can this be obtained but by retaining our atquidtionsf If we give iip Guadar lupe, we give up an immenib trade with it ; that valuable Ifland produces as much fugar a$ MartiniCo, and iiiftiiitains E great number of failors yearly. The prefervingfo valu- •ble a Conquell will very greatly affift in repaying us oUr ifexpehce in making war. The Newfoundland fUhery is an>^ <>ther prodigioufly important branch of trade : even while the French had by treaty only a fmall £tiare of it,- they •were able to underfel Us iii the principal markets of Eu^ tope, aUd^ eonfcqneutly, almo^ ingrofled the trade ; what therefore will they do when they have the ifland of Sable in their pofleffioh, which is fo well iituated for the fi/hc- ty ? Why it wiU moft certainly be found a fecond Cape Breton Co them, and their fifhery will be juft as valuable io them as it 'W^s before the breaking oUt cf the prefent *rar. Thus we i.i\t\li give up the very point for which war ^as Commenced, and plunge ourfelves into a moft enor- jlnoiis expcnce, without gaining any equivalent, or means lobear it. The people of this nation are deceived with refpeft tat the ftabillty of their commerce. Some men fanc^ flfoni ihie im menf i ry gif xrade we now poHei$> that we Ihall con- ikM C fo ] tinue to keep it. But if fuch a peace as I have juft merf- tioned is concluded, nothing can be more fallacious than this notion., Great Britain, I believe I may with fafety fay, never pofle/Ted fo extenfive a commerce : but a very great part of it is owing to the deftruftion of that of France. We now ferve a multitude of markets, which the French before had entirely to themfelves ; and although neutral nations have profited by the war between us, yet fome branches are entirely in our pofTeifion, The cod fiihery now brings prodigious fums into this kingdom : our iiigar trade is alio greatly increafed ; and the demand for our manufaftures in North America is infinitely fuperior to what it ever was before, Thefe are the advantages we enjoy at prefent ; but will this, my Lord, be the cafe after fuch a peace ? Every article will be totally diiferent. Our trade will be very different from what it is now ; our neighbours^ the induftrious French, will foon poffefs a flourifliing commerce ; and as theirs increale,. ours muft neceflarily diminifh. At prefent we do not feel the bur- den of our national debt fo extremely heavy ; but what Ihall we do when we have loft fuch' confiderable branches of our trade, which is the fource of our riches, and which alone enables us to^pay three millions a year in intereft ? Doubtlefs the great Commoner confidered thefe points with that attention which their importance defervesj and' he could not refleft on them without feeing the abfolute neceificy of making a very good peace. He indeed had fpent many millions, or to fpeak more to the prefent pur- pofe, had greatly increafed the debt of the nation ; but then r^ft not any other minilkr have doive the fame ; and perhajfe without making fuch great acquifitions as we have done during his admmjftration J Has not every mi- nifter, fince we have had a debt, done the fame ? But who ever (pent the nation's money fo much ro its advantage? Mr. P*** certainly knew the confequences of running fo deep in debt ; but he alfo knew, that fuch a peace as he propofed to make, would fully enable us to bear the weight of the burden laid on us to obtain it. • Now, my Lord D**\ we have fome reafon to fear, this nation will find, at a peace, her debt immenfely in*- crcaied, without a proportionable increafe of trade. This i-s a very ferious coniideration,. and muft ftrike a terror into every honeft (nan who loves his country.. , Here 1 have juft meflt' e fallacious than may with fafety erce : but a very ftion of that of rkets, which the ; and although between us, yet jffioD. The cod lis kingdom : our the demand for ifinitcly fuperior le advantages we be the cafe after J diffcFent. Our it is now ; our foon poflefs a ?eafe;. ours muft lot feel the bur- ;avy ; but what lerable branches khes, and which jar in ir>tereft ? 'ed thefe points :e deferves; and' ng the abfolute He indeed had the prefent pur- :he nation ; but le the fame ; and uifitions as we > not every mi- fame \ But who ) its advantage? ;s of running fo i a peace as he >s to hear the 1 it. reafon to fear, immenfely in^ ; of trade. This ftrike a terror itcy.i. ■ Hgte k C 11 '] it will naturally be asked why the minifters, who re- main in employment, may not be as able to conclude a good peace as Mr. P***? This is a queftion, which, at firft fif^ht, appears to carry fome degree of reafon with it : but may I not anfwer, my Lord, that, without confj- dering their abilities, we Ihould reflcft on the motive •which induced that gentleman to rcfign ; which I have already fhewed to be his difapprobation of the meafures then purfuing. This clearly tells us, that the prefent mi- niftry were of a different opinion from him ; or, in o- ther words, that they were inclined to a peace which he did not think good enough : Is it likely, my Lord D * * *, that this party (hould have changed their notion fince his refignation? Nothing furely fo improbable! I have ex- plained how many reafons they may have to make a peace ; nay, that they will be neceffitated to it, for want of fupplies. . • It has been very currently reported, that one material reafon for this great man's refignation, was his being ftrongly oppofed in his defign of entering into a war with Spain» I fhall not here enter into a minute enquiry con- cerning the particular points on which the wifdom of fuch a meafure would depend; but one thing is very certain, •that the affair of a Spanifh war, and a peace with France, \vere very nearly connefted. A war. with Spain would have thoroughly convinced the nation, that the miniftry were determined never to agree to an indifferent peace. The great Commoner was for entering immediately into one : What could be his motives, my Lord, for fuch a conduft? Sure b« r'd not form the fcheme without hav- ing fome rcafoRS I' Was not the memorial of the court of Spain, wb'cy I have before mentioned, the caufe of it? Do we not know, from undoubted authority, that the Spaniards, for fome time paft, anc even at prefent, have been making very great preparations for war I What is the meaning of this? Does it not correfpond with that memorial? Were we not threatened in it with a war? It is true, the Gazette has told us we need not have any fears of fuch an event; but is not that article fince Mr. P***'s r*r.oe nr\t fiirVi n rnticatpnation of circum- ftances clearly fhew, that there is much more behind the curtain relating to a peace, than appears to the world ? If the demands of Spain were refufed, and the jniniftry wci;e jg 2 determined 'il •^ttermlncd t6 profecqte th<5 yrar wkh vlgQUr, why Ihoul^ fhe gtrat Commoner rcfign at fuch a critical period ? In ftiort, my Lord D-*., the Gazette may tell us juft vhattale; it pleafes, aofi the e^niflarics of the prefent in*-*- — 'y m«y fcatter their reports in everhaps would continue the war, M th^y could procure » good peacf ; bqt their abilities muft be confidered, and ^heir intcreil. >|o dopbt we :ftiaU hear of the mo(l pom- ttous flicw? of warliice dcf^gns, till the f , ...,ies for next jrear ar^ granted, and, if poffiWc, raifed ; but then, I, my 4-ortl> ihall expcft to ^leay a different ta|e^^ i .. ^ The |)ec^ In general of this natioa form a very }\iSk opinion of the mihifters who conduft the public affair?: ,^ey judge by a fign, which, in |hefe cafesj, with a few f**^*!'^^*!^ feldom deceives; and that ^s, fuccefs. It ^annot be wondered at, that we ihould have been very foftd of Mr. R -^ it would have beei^ extremely un- H^ratefol if we had not. He, by the w^fdom of his coun- .i«b, and his wciybrmed plans of aftion, brought his Iduntry to its prefent high pitch of glory and profperity, -He focceeded a fct of men who were uhablc to co^duft the great machine of the ftate, and who, in many, very ttiany inftanices, had proved how little they regarded thJ Itttcrctt of their country, when it came to be balanced by their own. Such an admini(b-ation had reduced ys tq that 1«>W decree, from which his abilities raiCed us. Is i|f •fipt therefore very natural, that we Should have a great opinion of a man, who, with no impropriety, has ofteji t>een called the JTaviQur of his country ? It woukj'be fhi, pidity or malignity to deny this juft tribute to a minifter, JO whom we are fo greatly indeb^ted. There are few ob,' jefts but what have their light and dark fides ; unhappily %-«Jt gives me pain to proc!eed--*b«t impartiality muft ^e fatis^ed. c ^.r Somebody has obfcrved, that there is no virtue which |)as ftood the teft lefs faccefsftdiy rfvan tsatriotiffn t "ivin^ VJ? f^r'^y thing for one»« country, is inSced a very ftvcre trial for the human mind to un(tergo, in an age when this. virtue is not \n the gi^cft repute. A|nca>g the antient Romans, sa im, why flioul4 tical period i may tell us ju(t ) of the prefenc «v^^^untry^en| at ^h a time; tells us veiy plainly. I f u 3 plainly,nhat the prefentminiftry v/ill receive no oppofi- tion from him, let their meafurcs be .bni; ; What could a miniftry expeft from the confcquences of making a bad peace, if they were vigoi^oufly oppofed in the H— e of C s? Indeed it woilld be fuch a re- flraint on their anions, that we fhould not be in any 'danger of fcemg a bad one concluded ; fbr they, if they had fuch defigns, would riot be able to keep their feats till they had made one ; and if they did by any means cfibft it, a parliamemary enquiry might be once more let on foot, and perhaps to the great advantage of the liation. If the prefent m-«-y had defigns of making a peace, at any fate, to preferve themfelves in p r, and found tl)eir intcreft ftrong enough to carry their point ; if this, •1 fay, was the cafe, they afted very prudently, in jftop- jping the mouth of a mam, whofe voice in parliamem: vVould have been of fuch fatal confequence to their mea- itires. Had Mr. P — t raifed an oppofition, it would at once haver, ruined all the fchemes of his enemies ; as the vhole kingdom would have been alarmed, for fear of a fecond l/trefeht taking place immediately. His throwing up his pl'ace, at fuch an extreme critical moment, would have tdld the nation very plainly, that defigns were on foot, which he could not think of being the leaft con- cerned in; and his retiring unpenfioned, would have given hirii fuch immenfe influence, that the oppofite par- ty would never have been able to keep poffeifion of their power. Indeed, as the affair (lands at prefent, they may not (b immediately find fuch terrible effefts refalting from the late resignation ; but I believe they will meet with more difficulty, in carrying on the war in fuch a vigorous man- ner, as to conclude it with an advantageous peace, than polfibly they may expeft. This refignation will make a very deep imprelfion on the minds of the people ; they •will now review former times, and compare them with the prefent. They will confider, my Lord, in whofe hands the adminiftration of affairs is fallen ; and will fear, not fo much perhaps a want of abilities in fome of them, as a change in the maxims that we have hitherto proceeded on. I make very little doubt but your Grace, a|i4 ;he refl of the miaiftry, will profecute the war with ^ . ' great I reive no oppofi- • confcquences of ufly oppofed in ild be fuch a re- not be in any Jr they, if they keep their feats by any means be once more vantage of the ••1 naking a peace, — r, and found point ; if thia, dently, in ftop- e in parliament :e to their mea- n, it would at enemies ; as the \f for fear of a His throwing moment, would efigns were on ; the leaft con- , would have le oppofite par- iTeifion of their hey may not fo Biting from the lect with more I vigorous man- >us peace, than m will make a I people; they are them with lOrd, in whofe lien ; and will ties in fome of : have hitherto ut your Grace, e the war with great C ts 1 great vigour, if you are able, that is, if you can niCs money, and if a peace is not too far advanced : there it no fort of reafon to apprehend your concluding a bad peace, if you have it in your power to carry on the warj and it will not be a very great while before we iball fee what arc your and your party's intentions. There are fo many interefts to be adjuAed before a good peace can be concluded, that it muftnecefTarily take up a confiderable time ; or elfe many material points muft be left to be decided by commiifaries ; which, to us, was always one of the moil fatal meafures that could be ad* opted. We have made war for nothing, or worfe than nothing, if we do not obtain a peace that is cleir and ex* {>licit in every particular. The treaty of Aix la Chapellc eft the boundaries of Acadia undetermined^ and even the very country, that ought to be comprepended under that name, was unknown: nay, the very name itfclf ought nor to have been allowed, as having no fettled idea annexed to it. But God forbid, that we Ihould have any neceJlfi/- ty, at a peace, to underftand what parts of North Ameri* ca ought to be comprehended under any titles; for if we do not retain the pofrelfion of every inch of it, we give up what we muft, in the nature of things, one day or other^ go to war to regain. It is to the furprize of every perfon, who knows the ira* portance of the fouthern part of North America, com* flionly called Louifiana, that we have not yet attacked that country which is of fuch prodigious confequetice, and yet fo very weak. You, my Lord D***, have given as a reafon againft it, the expence of marching an army thither, and declared that, according to General Amher^'s calcu- lation, it would amount to nine hundred thoufand pounds. This fum is prodigious, and it would require many argu* meiits to prove it incredible, fince the army might mil down the river Miffifip ' in the fame manner as it did that of St Laurence to attacK Montreal. But what occafion is there to traverfe that immenfe country in any manner? could not a fquadron of fhips be fent' from North America, with troops on board, to attack New Orleans without being at fuch an enormous expence i I know that town is at a confiderable diflance from the fea, and that the river is impaflai^le for fhips of burden ; but then the country is good, and eafily marc^ied through. t a J •Hi through, and _ , is not above three days miarch from the mouth of the river to the city* but the river vould fcrvc for an attack offmali craft, if fuch a march was imprafti* cable. The town itfcif, though extremely neat and pret- ty, is of little or no ftrengthi but would fiirrcndcr on thtf firft fummons from a fmall force : and the whole country; confcquently^ be conquered, as it is the only place of im- portance in it. How much more advantageous would fuch a conqueft be than our boaftcd one of Belleiflcj which coft lis forty times as much, and is not of the fortieth part the €onfequence? if we do not poflefs ourfelves of this coum try, and yet refolve to have it at a peace, we muft cxpcft to give up fomc valuable acquifition for it ; but if we make the conqueA, fuch a cefOon may be favcd. Your Grace muft be very fenfible that there will be no probability of fccuring our colonies, if we leave the French in pofleffion of this moft valuable region : A miniftry that confidered the intereif of this nation in making a peace, would never think of futfcring a fingle fubjcft of France to remain m the whole continent of North America. I have been very credibly informed^ that the Privy Council were divided in their opinions concerning that ar- ticle of the peace, in the late negociation, which return^ ed Canada to France, and made the river St. Lawrence the barrier between the colonies of the two nations. One |>arty, at the head of which was the great Commoner,* waf not for yieldirtg up Canada, and the other, was for accept ing the barrier. I have alfo been told, that there was an «qual dhrifiofl in this queftion, but that was decided in fa- i^our of the former opinion by his M-s-y. Surely^ my 3Lorur arms, we had appening to give , we concluded f the war. But gn now is felt e- le to fuch an e-; fe them, almofi fhall be able to It what may be the C 19 1 the conftquence of a bad one, God only knot's ; though It does not require any very great decree of political fore-* fight, to prove, that a peace, which is not to the greateft degree explicit, muft be foon productive of a frelh war, France, at the conclufion of the treaty of Aix la Chapellc, was in fuch a low ftate, that all Europe expeftcd, flie would not be able for many years to enter into another war J but this opinion has proved an entire midake, for, by mak;ng an excellent peace, (he was foon miftrefs of an cxtenfive and flourifhing commerce, which enriched her fo much, that, at the breaking out of the prefent war, ihe poflTeffed a trade which was really aftoniihing, when we confider that this was all revived in feven years. This (hews very plainly, that if, at the enfuing peace, that-na^ tion regains her colonies, which are the fources of her riches, ftie will very foon he in a condition to rertew the war with us, which ihe will undoubtedy do, as that would )»e the eafieft way to ruin her great rival. Let us fuppofe, that, in the fpace of ten or fifteen years, we have another war with France, which there 1% the greateft reafon to think will be the cafe, if the peace that is to conclude this, be not greatly to our advantage, and quite decifive in every particular: let us alfo reckon our national debt at the end of the prefent war, at one hun- 4red and ten millions ; a calculation, I fear, which will not be found ftiort of the truth : how ftiall we be able, with fuch an enormous burden, to carry on a new war ; un- lefs we referve fuch valuable acquifitions now, as will greatly increafe our trade, and ruin that of our enemies f In fliort, your Grace muft allow, that if we do not con^ elude an excellent peace, we are ai| undone people : this- immenfe debt muft at laft (and that period may not be at a great diftance) rife to fuch a prodigious fum, that the whole revenue of the kingdom will not equal the intereft : the confequences of fuch a crifis muft be an immediate bank- ruptcy, and what fatal effefts fuch an event muft have, it is impoffible to paint : but when the affairs of this king- dom are in fo ticklifh a fituation, the minifters ftiould cer- tainly exert themfelves with the greateft vigour towards carrying us fuccefsfully through a war hitherto fo gloriouf-. iy conducted. They ought never tQ think of a peace that did not cede for ever to us all North America, the coti plhery, and as much of the fugar trade as is poffible. Thefe II I (hoxAd reckon the pmicipal points; but what reafonj* Ihere that we ihould return any thing that is of greatconr fequence, fuch as our acquifitions in the Weft-Indies, aU of them: Senegal and Goree , and our conqueils in the Eaft-Indies. What have the French in their pofTeffion, that can entitle them to make fuch demands. Minorca is their only conqueft ; and the poffeffion of that has now been found entirely ufelefs to us : Belleifle we may readily re* tJjffo, as the keeping it would be abfurd ; I am very much afraid^ and it has been whifpcred about, that we infifted €m the fortifications of Dunkirk being demoliflxed ; whicb^ of ail other demands, is the moft unjuft, the moft abfurd,^ aadthe -moft trivial; and is moreover, an article that tha French will never confent to, unlefs they have fomething. returned by way of an equivalent for it. Perhaps they wiU demand a few barren acres in North America; or fome rooky ifland to.dry a few cod-fifb upon ; but fiire an Eng- liili miniftry will never be fo utterly abfurd as to give upa any thing to obtain— ^nothing ; for Dunkirk is a mere fcare- crow to the mob in England ; and what right could we e, ver pretend to have to fuch a demand : why don't we in- fift on Strafburg being demolilhed, or Lifle? the King of France has a better title to Dunkirk than he has to Alfacc> 1 Miake litde doubt but the French miniihy would be cx^ ftremely glad to hear of fuch a demand, as it certainly would be greatly for then- advantage in the end. in refpcd to our German connexions, they need not be l^e occafion, in the pr^fent ftate of affairs, to retard or perplex us in a peace with France. I fhould think, that oi»e fingle article would conclude every thing there that we have to fettle ; an^ that is to bind both nations, to withdraw their refpeftive armies out of Germany, and leave every thing there on the footmg it was before the war. As to the claims of the feveral German princes, they are much more properly to be confidered in a con^ grefs of themfelves, than in a peace between Great-Bri- tam and France-; as to the fchemc of fecularizations, they are alfo much more connefted with the German peace than the Britifli one. As the French have b ^n fo extt-emely unfuccefsful every where, why fhould we think ^ «-=-""5 a i-t:*;.c, umi .uu nU£ iCCUFC 10 US UlC iliuit cottfiderable of our acquifitions j or in other words, leave evctf eve inc be nai the dc( JO) the ha thi wi |tft I thi I mi I '^° ■■ yc I yf i &^ I oi I tt( i P* I ^'^ 1 da I 3Ut what rcafoB i» lat is of greatcon- c Wcft-Indi€s, all copqueils in the sir pofTdfionj that Minorca is their at has now been e may readily re^ I am very much , that we infifted moUftied; which^ the moft abfurd, n article that the f have foraethinfl^ Perhaps they will mcrica ; or foine^ but fare an Eng" ird as ta give upt k is a Qiere icare« right could wc e* vhy don't we in- ifle ? the King o£ he has toAlfacc. hy would be cx^ y as it certainly >e end. they need not be s, to retard or. odd think, that :hing there that oth nations, to Germany, and : was before the German princes^ idered in a con-* ween Great-Bri- ' fecularizations, ii the German ch have h ^n fo ihould we think to us the inui£ ler words, leave cvcfy. t 21 3 everv thlnff as it is in America, Africa; and the Eaft- Indies.with this addition, to fecure Louifiana to ourfelvc*. Then my Lord D***, how grateful would the naUon be to your Grace, and the reft of the miniftry ! Your names would be aS dear to the people as ever that ijf the great Commoner was. You would then obtam luch a degree of credit in the nation, as few minifters cvercn- ioved. But if, on the contrary, the reverfe happens to be the cafe, what, my Lord, will be the confequence ? Per- haps you may be able to continue in power till the Frendi think proper to pick a new quarrel with us ; but then y ther campaign or two, we may then hope, that bur ad- mihiflration is determined to make no peace but ^)vhat as greatly advantageous ; and we may bear the burden of our debt with eafe, as long as we poflefs fo flouriftiinga commerce. If the people are abfolutely perfuaded-, that your intention is to conduft th^ war with refolution, tift you can fecure an advantageous peace, doubtlefs they wifl give you that affiftance which the late great Commoner fo often received. To convince us that this is your inteni tion, is your prefent bufmefs. Some wilt be very eafily perfuaded j but poffibiy the wary and experienced politi- cmn will not readily conftiue your actions fo favourably as they may perhaps deferve ; having been fo recently itnd fo capitally difappointed. i I an)> &c. &c. &c« « * # * * I I I' I If \ 1 22 3 A Letter from a right Hon. PerS oist m ^ T O ^ rff V V V v in the Citv* t>£AR Silt, Finding, to my great lurpnze, tliat tiie caufe and mari^ ner of my refigning the feals, is grody mifreprefent- cd m.the city, as well as that the moft gracious and fpon- taneous marks of his Majefty»s approbation of my fer- vices, which marks followed my refignation, have been infamoufly traduced as a bargain for my forfaking the public, I am under a neceffity of declaring the truth of both thefe fafts^ in a manner, which^ I am fure, no gentle- man will Gontradift. A difference of opinion, with re- gard to meafures to be taken againft Spain, of the high- eft importance to the honour of the crown> and to the moft eifential national mterefts, (and this founded on what Spain had already done, not on what that court may fur- ther intend to do) was the caufe of my refigning the feals. Lord T. and I fubmitted iii writing, and figned by us, our moft humble ferftlments to his Maiefty^ which being over-ruled by the united opinion of all the reft of the King's fervants, I refigned the feals on Monday the 5th of this month, in order not to remain refponfible for meafures, which I was no longer allowed to guide. Moft gracious public marks of his Majefty's approbation of my ^ fervices, followed my refignation : they are unmerited and linfolicited, and I fhall ever be proud to have reeeiveci them from the beft of Sovereigns. I will now only add, my dear Sir, that I have ex- plained thefe matters only for the honour of truth, not in any view to court return of confidence from any man- who, with a credulity, as weak as it is injurious, has thought fit haftily to withdraw his good opinion, from one who has ferved his Country with fidelity and fuecefs ; and who juftly reveres the upright and candid judgment of it j little fohcitous about the cenfures of the capricious and the -angcneiGUs. Accepc my ilncereft ackuowiedgmeni* for all your kind friendfhip, and believe ra« ever, mth Uiith and efteem, My dear Sir, Your faithful friend, &c# uha ^SDili Hon. PERSorf 1^,«- le caufe and mari- ofly mifreprefent- ;racious and fpon- ation of my fer- ation, have been ny forfaking the ng the truth of n fure, no gentle- pinion, with re- lin, of the high- ►wn> arid to the founded on what it court may fiir- ny refigning the ig, and figned by Maiefty^ which if all the reft of on Monday the n refponfible for to guide. Mort probation of my e unmerited and have receivetl Jiat I have ex- ur of truth> not : from any man/ i injurious^ has >inion, from one nd fuccefs ; anci judgment of it j capricious and :kuowiedgment» rae ever, withp il friend, Sc^^ rionn- A t I I I i L E T T E R -■(JO!,;'' THE EARL of B * * *. I M Y L O R D, Tmce hi^ pfefent Majefty's happy acceilion, have beea |confined to the cabinet, but have not divided the people, fthe latter, when Satisfied, either through ojpinipn or ex- fperiertce of the hbnefty and fuificiency of the minifters, lare more tra^ble to government, and more unanimous ^n ftritiriient, than perhaps any people in Europe. f But, my Lpi-d, though the people of England, with » )leafmg kind of refignation to the will of their fup^riors, jeheld a French minifter, the moft obnoxious to thenif Iperhaps, of any that could liave been lent from the con- hirtent; negociating at this court upon the moft impor- [tant concerns ; yet an event has happened, that, if not [explained, bids fair to unhinge that unanimity, which nas To lately become the glory and happinelS of thi? iiland. It is my zeal for its contmuance, that draws up- [on your Lordihip this addrefs; in which, under the fane* cibn of your Lordfhip's name, a name fo agreeal>le and rcfpeftabl* to the public, I fhaill endeavour to prove, Firft,That a folld; honourable, and advantageous peace. ; 11 ^ I 26 ] \xi the prefent circumftances of Great-Britain, exhaufted gs her people, and multiplying as her debts are, is prcT feraWe to the~moft fpleridid liiiTcefres oF war. ~* Secondly, That fucK a peace 'wopild gIve"'Ureat-Britam an opportunity, with honour and credit for the future, | to decline all continental connexions, attended with fuch | a profufion of blood and tw*fure, as thofe fhe is now en- gaged in. ■ Thirdly, That this ^flem can receive no manner of ihdf j, by tl^eiperignatiqp^of thi fi^ht hoiioffrablc gei^tle- nwrh^. who, *-KW day&^ago, gave up the ifeals of his of- ^ce. Fourthly;, That the fame right honourable gentleman 1 and his friends, whofe ^atffotifht and difintereiled attach-: ment to their country cannot be queflioned, will and jnuft, in confiftence with that character, co-operate in the I fame goo^ vR)rk, whether "hg or.they aije.in place, or out* of place, as they cannot be fulpefted of dillreffing his Majefty's meafures^ even fuppofmg thofe meafures not to ^e their own. My Lord, I cannot enter on a difctrffibifi of the firft of t|?pfe propo|itipn|6, \yitho.ut. obferying, ithat, nptwithftand 3^g tfie ^rfektnefs of our fucjicffes, neither his Majefty,npr ;]Bis foy^J grahdfathe)ri Have iaid, they would pre/cj-ibe, sCrid tibfMgbthte a peace. , The Appointment or the con- ''greTs at |Lu|fbourg, the naming plenipotentiaries, the in- tercotirft of minifters, arfe all of ;hcm to pipny ftepsthat ■thditat(i' d*5Aieg4j)ciation ; and where there is a riegociatioji previoti's tf6' a treaty, it MS;, in all the rable gentleman ntereiled attach- ioned, will and :Q-operate in the in place, or out| of dillreiling his^ meafures not to »6 of the firft of at, notwithftand- his Majcfty, npr woiild prefcribc, meri^ or the con- intiaries, the in- ' pi^ny fteps that is a riegociation 3urfe of hiftory, fome'wha^ is ^o le prevailing, as ^iroftrate, party, he gates of Par^ deal by th? trea* difdain to coi^- i^as pofleffcd of I order to fix the (at we examine {bould the coi^- 1 I npt alfront our ^ that France has e ia what ihall fee be agreed yj^dn at the congreft, :knf her goodlaV*> per^ farming it. But even this acquiefcence, Ijioft humWy^. ^.TZ muft be purchafed by (bme conceifioris^on the part of Great-Britain. What Xl^fe conceffions ought to. be. is the lirefent qUeftioh. ,;;. ,^. , ,. . ■.'ui.'.^'j. - ;- % am nof, my Lord, afraid to ^^hat, accorcii^^^^ the fituation, the ihtereft, at^d even the ge'^^^^^f A^^ ^ut iih nation, they ought to afpire to no acq«" ^ thofe of commerce. The preleflt war was beg""^ ""J^ with a view of enlarging, bul of- P/P^^^.^^S;^ P^J. \X; But tlie expence of bfood and treafure with ^vhic^ U has been attenSed, renders it ^,r,fr^m bemg ,«n;^^^^^\«> that we fhould be indemnifieci, by the enlargement, as Mrell as the fecurlty and prokeaion, of ^ that trade-. The French encrpached upon pur <>f^fe"lf "^.^^f ^ '^g' ffew e'd a chain of forts that bade fair, and tJj^t too m a tew years either to thruft us from ^^^ ^ur Pofleffions u^^^^ continent of America, or to render thepi ^n^^y^^^^^f^^^^^^ their mother-country. The queftion is, wh>le matter, were in that fituation, what terms wotild the EngHU^. crowii and miniftry haVe infilled upon? ^ . ; -.._•• As I believe thete is not a man of fenfe m Europe* v^ho doe§ not believe, that, at the tegmnuig of the war fecuritv for otir American fettlements was.allweexpeci ,d, nS all we required, 1 muft be of opinion, rfiat had th; French then ofered us that, they might have had th.t peace, which, I believe, they would be glad of ^7"°Xht nor can we wohder at it in a people that "^^^^^JJf "f ^'f by power. They had a flourilhing marine on the leas oi /urope, 4nd on the continent of America a great em- pire, which they thought nature and art ^^^^^^V ^^^n^ buted to. render inacceffihie to our arms. Some events at the beginning of the war, difadvantageous tous, more m imagination than reality, confirmed them m thej obfti- nacy, and threw us into a defpondency, pr leather fever, that gave the feals t6 the right honouTAble gentleman, V/ho lately r^efigned them. .__,_^^^ ,^^^ _^^^ ^^ eonneftious, the good opinion nis s>ovcic»g*» */•».-. ^Vj w'^ thH Jmage'the peVe paid to his integrity and a . bmttes, left him nothing to wifti for. AU the department* li^ f[^ C 28 3 in government were filled up by his nomination, and e- vcry fcbeme he hid down was adopted, even before it was examined. i'^« '^ ' wi^iwic « ^5^^r«'"^*"^ toftickdofc to the firilhead I pro- f ofed, I fhall not deviate from it (though perhaps it would be no deviation) by any obfejvations on the vaft aqcef. fions his pobularity acuntable ri4icu- Hatooverians to kvourable acci- hable^ that b.is refore more to ever been pro- >imon, that all trft expedition I: of Roqhfort, ''vail and du- 1 it mifcarrki had anyi^ were Is weje to the ifcaririage, and. vas employed ilition, uiougl^ ig mifinanag?- 1 hiftory. A,s ranee, faid by jfted by him,^ sre vulnerable fee the good tion. I think able ; becaufe ice between a confider, that' expen'ce, and the warmeft to point out (^except the^ rherbowrg to. France was > hazard con-.^ iw lar aciri- le n)an|i^r of oar- C ^9 1 wn defeen;s^ 9»A |h^ m&ap^ of gmt^g againfl;. them ibr the future, The cQnc^ueft of Canada, it may be faid, wa? a piai| laid down by the fam« right honounable gentleman. Iiha3| admit that it was, apd that it h^s redounded greatly to hws honour. But wiU the moft idolatjcov^ admirer of that gen- tleman deny, that had not Providence, fox I fliali ftot caU^ it Chance,, co-ppcrated with the ip,credibj[e refoU^ion of the Britiih troops, and the Brififh general, it nmft have, been felt as the moft fatal, and confidered as th? raqft ex- travagant fcheme that ever was attempted to be put inxo, execution by this country^ Whoever throws his eyes up . on the laft letter on that fubjeft, written by the bra v^ G^. neral Wojff, compared with the fubfe^eot operations, which almoift, by miracle, proved to be fuccefsi^l, nui|l:. he of that ppijaipfl. Nptwithiiandi^ig this, I fliall admi^^ that the conqu^ell of Canada was a great, a folid, and a gloripws acquisition to Great-Britain. I ihall not here difpute, tho' perhaps I mi^t be fop-; ported in djfputing it, whether the redu£\ion of JLouis- bo.ur§ was. pJannedby him or not, Be that as it will, it is certain the toqqueft of Louisbpurg was but a negative adr. vantage, and no acauifitiontoCfjfea;-Britain; and that the fame w^s not only planned but executed under a miniftry, in which I believe neither the right honpurable gentlcmaiv, nor his frjends, will pretend that, they had the imalleft in- tereft. Your Lordihip may perceive that I do not her^ at- tempt to raife any argument from the very difputable mea- fure of demoliihing the fortifications of that place, which, by the privateering turn, to our difadvantage, the war ha» taken in tjipfe places, muft, if (landing, have been of infi- nite fervice to the Britifti ihipping. I fhall readily admit, that the conqueft of Goree and Senegal was entirely owing to him ; and that he ft\cwcd great fagacity in faUing in with the plans laid before him for reducing thpfe places, by perfons who were acquainted with their length apd fituation. But, my Lord, the que-, ftion with me is, whether Great-Britain hitherto has foundi thofe acquifitions to be of fo great advam^ge, as they were, given out to be, to our intereft and (;pmmerce; whether they are not, in faft, the grave of Engiilh fubjcils, or whe- ■ ther they ever can compenfate for that immenfe mortalitjjr that i^ ^Q^ailed upon our polTeiSng them* ': "*'*"" The i t 3^ 1 *rhe coriqueft of Belleifle, my Lord, isaftother flower t /hall readily admit to have been added to the Britifh garx land by the fame right honourable gentleman. I call that conqueft, my Lord, a flower, becaufe I think no reafon.« able man, either at home or abroad, can imagine that it will be permanent J or if permanent, that it Svill not coft us fifty times more than it is worth. I ftiall, however ad- mit, that it was right to reduce that ifland, becaufe, what- ever it may be worth to us it is of vaft confequence to, France, and may claim a proper equivalent in a fubfequent ilegociation ; not to mention the great figure we have ac- quired by the conqueft of it in the eyes of all the reft of Europe. Our conqucfts in the Eaft Indies, mv Lofd, 1 tzti by no' means admit to have been in any degree owing to the councils of the right honourable gentleman in queftion i for tho* both the royal troops and fliipping were employed in them, yet the plan was laid and attempted long before riie right honourable gentleman came into the adminiftra- tion I and confidering the prefent conftitution of that com- pany, it may be dilputed whether the advantages rcfulting Horn thofe Conquefts are national or partial. I have ftated thofe confiderations, my Lord, not from any malignity towards the honourable gentleman, but be- caufe "Amicus Plato fed ttiagis amica Veritas," 1 love him much, but my country more ; and I am forry to fee too many of my fellow-fubjefts fo far deluded, as to think that the refignation of Mr. P is but another term for thtf' deftruftion of Great-Britain. Their zeal, by the bye, pays but a very forry compliment to his prefent Majefty and his royal grandfather, and the cbnftitutron of this country / for they cannot attribute all our fucceffes and glory to him without fuppofing him to be what is inconfiftent with the Britifh government, a firft, a fole, nay an independent minifter. Your Lordfhip, I am fure, knows far better than I do, that no man can diftate at a Britiih council-board ; and that every public fcheme that is to be executed, muft have the approbation of the foVereign, or a majority at hi$; council-board, or both* '^ Havin? faid this much, mv Lord, ffive me It^'ve to add,*^ it has been too frequent in this country, in the heat of conqueft, and while the acclamations of triumph are ting- ling in our cars, for both-miniftcr-s and peeple to ftrike in- [ 31 3 .to fpendid deviations from the national intercft; and I ^hink every conqueft is fuch when it cofts more than it is •worth ; and when its importance docs not anfwer its main- tenance. I fhall not here pofitively aver this to be the cafe with regard to the conquefts of Great-Britain during the •prefent war; but if it is, a fafe, and an honourable peace, (that I may, keep to my firft propofition,) may certainly be 'made, tho' wq give fuch conqpcfts up. I have hitherto de- fignedly avoided the mention of our acquifition of Guada- loupe, becaufe the public voice, or rather one part of the public, feems to put it in competition with that of Canada. That it was conquered during the adminiftration of the fight honourable gentleman here pointed at, is certain; Ibut that it was conquered in confequence of his plan, is ■piore than queftionable. If the plan was originally his, he intruded the execution of it to perhaps the moft improper officer, with regard to enterprize, in his Majefty's fervice. The confequence was fuitable to the charafter of the per- fon employed, for it mifcarried, and mifcarried in fuch a manner, that the public is ftill at a lofs to account how it poffibly could mifcar.y. That is was refumed' will not, I believe, be pretended by the gentleman's friends, to have been owing to his advice or direaion; and all the world knows, that we owe the pofleffion of the ifland to that te- merity, which, when unfuccefsful in war, is termed, Madnefs ^nd when fuccefsful, Heroifm. I am far from faying this, to derogate from the merit of the general, the officers, and the troops who made the conqueft. The greateft names ia hiftory owe their luftre to a happy temerity ; and had not the attempt been refumed, the enemies of Great-Britain might have laughed her to fcorn at feeiilg her arms bafHed. \. This review, my Lord, of our viftories and conquefts during the right honourable gentleman's adminiftration, can by no means be thought impertinent, becaufe how- ever important or unimportant they were, it is extreme- ly plain, that the public voice did him injuftice in at- tributing them folely to him, But let ws fall in with t:he madnefs of his admirers fq far, as even to admit he was %he fole direaor, ihall we fwell his other praifes with that ^f having been frugal of the public money. ^ My Lord, I do not fay that he fquaaderea it, but i muix be of opinion, that his was the moft expenfive adminiftration that Greatj ^ritajii fyef (M fge, and, I hopcj^ e.Y« will fee again ; and I C i2 3 ISatalliJie emolowehts that ptimiy tah t^drvih to nS from our conqucfts, are mfuUicieftt to indemnify us for the fixth •part of the aatiual ifttereft 6f the lYi6ncy they coft us. i know, rty Lord, the common caAt of Ihallow |>olitl- ciajis, that the money h allftjcntamongftourfelvcs. Ad- -ttittinf iit b, and that no kind of confidcratlon is to be had •to the principal, but ftill the yearly intcreft hiuft be paid, -aAd it caftnot be paid without a yearly multiplication of taxes J "Ufhat Bhe confaquence of this muft be ih the end, is worthy '«f ferious attention. . i Wheiitfcfe fight honourable gentleman firfl came into tlVfe dlrtfftldift df aflTaits, We were told from the thfrone, that themdre vifl6to«8 our prtiparatiotis for war were, and the ^Mi-e briskly it was puffted, we muft the fooner comfe it^ an end' of it ; or,' in lolher words, the more 'rtoncy ym Jay oUt this year, yoti Will be obliged to lay the left .«ac'«eixft: ^tut. The pifblk chearfully adopted this doc- fdmc: th«money was tMfeU without mwrmuring, and the War went on with Vigdiir; bot, however, it was far from *eing ettdifd. Next year, double the money Was wanted, tt>e fame- IfcngUa^e was mad<4 ufe bf, and the public were tattght> in terms df the homely proverb. Not tolofe a hofe lor St hsi^etfny Worth off tar. The money zttord^gH was ■*gatrt racked without mutmuring. Now, to he fure, thfe imnifettfe Turn miift do the btffinefs; France, before the campaign is over, muft be brought to her marrbw-bonc*^ •ttdthenth^fe isanend of t'hofe immehfe demands. No* the iMX«, and another ftffibn is ufticrcd in with the (km'e irfRirances, and the fame demsjndsj and fhbald the wat (continue, I ftiall not at all be furprizcd to fee the enfifln^ leffidn opened in the fame ftrain. f Taxes-, my Lord, as well as all dther matters of policy *ave their bounds, and thefe are fixed in a juft proportioii ■between' the exigencies of the ftate, and the abilities of ihc ptopltL EitigentJe^ foreign to the intereih of a peo- jpic; eilgericies contrived to replenifh the rattle of pop». ialrity, or to gratify a ^ekfs favouHte, perhaps ft baleful paflion in the people, muft, in the end, create demahd^ that furpafs their ability to fatisfy* This, my Lol-d, evei- has been, and ever will b©, attended with one of two con*. iequences; either the crown muft bccdme abfolufte, btcon^. ^prible. In this country, where ^jublic faith is the feith wparliamcBt, th« kft ooufe^uencc is moft to be fe«r«d The C 33 J ^bK manura^lnrtrj the labourer, and the fQarlnery muft work for the credit of the public ; and a fufiiciency will not remain to fupport either the proper dignity or power of government, or to |infwer the future necellary exigen- cies of (late. SuppoHng, for infldncei the prefent war was to laft, at its prefent expence, for tv^o years longer; that is, fuppoflng the public debt to be tncreafed about. 800,000 I. a year ; add this to the immenfb ann,iial inte- reft we already pay, and let n^e ask any reafonable mani. whether Great-Britatn, extended as Her eomhierce, and powerful as her armaments are i>otn by fea and land, will be able to anfwerthe demand, and at the fatne time raife the money for the neceffary purpofes of goyeriimeni Your l^ordfhijj may perc6ive, that I make no queflion about raiiing the principal fum> for 1 make ho douot that in two years time it might be raifed. ^ut, my Lord, I am lingular enough to think, that to be one of the wor{|[ fymp* toms attending the civil (Ute of Great-Britain, be.caufe it plainly evinces iht immenfe profit arifing to the public cre- ditors, and which muii abfolutely accrue rrom the labour of the husbandman^ the merchant, the mariner, and the manufafhiref. Here 1 know it may be faid, and it has been faid, why not tax the funds i The anfwer is, fuch a. taxation would be unjuft In itfelf, and deftru£tive of pub-^ lie credit. They who have money in the funds, pay, m <;ommon with thofe who have not, their proportion in the taxes upon the ordinary neceflaries, conveniencies or lu- xuries of life ; aiid fhould the parliament break in to the bargain they made with the public creditors, it mi;ift depart from its good faith, the only conlideratlon which hither- to has fuppoTted publie credit. From what has been faid, I apprehend it to be extreme- ly clear, that the credit of the public muft be overflraihed, the nioment our debts become fuch t^at the government cannot, within the year, raife the ahntial ihterefl^ qf them ; and i (hould be glad to know ho\ 5 to pay, or take my Lord, may iflillions, "with- ord ; or if it is, ut where is the lie when the pu- when the aker- tiis principal, or tt of the natu- lispoincisof it- on it no longer* [> tcftcCt, it is ipk I ought ndt I them in Aske- are already biit hf to the daUgh- iths that malce^ 1 to be hid on* ey the more rc- dcpcndencc of our public crc- lufl do without :h ve may da efting, that \ire ar^ rftther than m my thoughts; jhts of any maa is country. But, t we have done hd perhaps too [I have thought, a foUd, honou- rable I 35 1 taWe* and advantageous peace, is preferable to the mod iplcndid fuccefles of war; when in the middle of thofe SjccelFcs he named his plenipotentiaries for the congreft of Augsbourg. Were that congrcfs now holding ( and I mull acknowledge I am forry it is not) we ftiould not be obliged to comply with unreafonablc demands. Should the French fay to us, " You (hall give us back Quebec, Guadalbupe, or Senegal," we fay. No. What is the con- fequence ? the war continues, but not a war of enterprize and offence, but of felf-defence and jufticc. AVe arc ia poflbffion ; let us throw the labouring oar upon France ; let her fpend thofe furas upon enterprize and offence that we have expended, and then let us lee how long fhe will con*, tinue in her imperious mode. But as I cannot help look- ing upon the French to be a fenfible people, fo I can by no means imagine, that they will talk in that ftrain, or th.at they are not willing to make proper allowances for thofe fuccefTcs that have been attended with fuch a profufioo of our blood and treafuxe. n-j «. The queftion however ilill recurs; what is a folid, ho- nourable, and advantageous peace ? To folve this queftion, my Lord, I muft have a retrofpeft to the principle upon which the war was undertaken and conduced, which wa» that of fecurlry to our American pofTeffions. The con- flucft of Quebec and Canada, tho' rather an accidental, than ^ primary, objeft, is faid to be conducive to that fe cur ity ;. and if it really is, let us retain both. Your Lordftiip heft knows, whether M. Bufly, before he departed from Lon- don, did not publicly declare, that his mafter never would renounce his right to Quebec, were he befieged in his pa- lace of Verfailles by a hundred thoufand men. But, my Lord, I am far from thinking that this declaration was either fincere or unreafonable. It is well known that mini- fters, efpecially French minifters, employ the loudeft lan- guage when they are inftruaed to make the ampleft con- celTxons. Had fuch a minifter as Sir William Temple heard :i^. Buffy make fuch a declaration, he would immediately have whifpered into his mafter's ear, that he was fure he had fomething very like a Carte Blanche m his pocket. I muft therefore think the declaration was made to enhance the value of his conceiliona, and from feme lymptoms, «s imagined he difcovered in his M^eAy'? council, of fond- mis for peace oaapy terms. , . - < . .. _ . %i^^V 'J : > • t 36 I ^ Bj^t, my Lord, as I have already hinted, fuppoling the declaration to be fincere, I cannot think, that even if hi« Moft Chriftian Majefhr flicks by it, it can beof the leaft ob- Aruftion to bur concluding a folid, honourable, and ad, yanta^eous j)eace. Our poifeffion of Jamaica is of, at leaft, as much corifequence to us as our poifelfion of Quebec ; and yet the Spaniarcjs, notwithftanding the many treaties we have had tvith them, and tj>e friendfhip that has for thefe twelve years fubfilted between us anci them, have never fcnbunctd their right to Jamaica. We keep it notwith- ftanding, and I hope we always ihall keep It. In fhort, xny Lord, were a oeace made ' to-morfow under the am- pleft renunciation, on the part of France, of all we have ion^ijicred, I fhould think pofleflion our beft, if not our only,' fecurity, fie mu(^ be a novice in hiiftory, indeed, wh6 is i^^norant that the capital maxim of ^he French mo- narchy IS, that all renunciations are, of thcmfelvcs, void and of no effcft, if they tend to the^rejudice of the crown ; and, my Lord, on the principles of monarchy linked with thofc of hereditary' fucjpcffioil, I am notfure but they arc in the right. At leaft, were I a Britifh minifter or count fellor, } Ihould be extremely tender of advifing his Maje^ fty to renounce, even for himfelf, the moft difputable right he has. *' 3ut the French will not make peace, unlefe we give *' back Quebec.** Then let them mal^e yrar, and try to recover it. As they can havp no hopes of that, it is ab,^ furd to imagine, that, with the viper, they will lick the file, and imagine their blood to be ours. Upon the whole, therefore, if it is in our breaft to keep pofleffion pf Cana- da, agamft all the power of France, as it undoubtedly is j^ and if that pbiTeinon is neceftary for the fecurity of our American colonies, we never gah imagine, that the nego- tiations for peace will be obftru«J^ed on that account. I fhould not even be either furprifed or forry to fee the treaty bet\yeen us and Fran(:e publifhed by authority, >vithout ^ither Canada or Qjiebec being once mentioned in it. No tnan of the leaft knowledge or experience in life can doubt, that the moft exprefs ftipufations on the part of France, on that head, willlaft no longer than h«r inability to break' them. I ftiall now turn my view to the other important con- W^ ^^ !i^ve m^de upon the fiench in America > I mcaa /. ' - ' ^iUt I, fuppoUng thfi that even if hi^ eof the leaft obr iirable, and ad* :a is of, at leaft, of Quebec ; and any treaties we at has for thefc !m, have never eep it notwith- p it. In (hort, under the am- of all we have beft, if not our tiijflory, indeed, fhc French mo- icmfelves, vpid e of the crown ; ;hy linked with re but they arc inifter or count nCm^ his Maje^ iifputable right unlels we give irar, and try to that, it is ab?. Y will lick the pon the whole, effion pf Cana- ndoubtedly is f ecurity of our that the nego- it account. I D fee the treaty ority, y^ithout ned in it. No life can doubt, art of France, bilitv to break' I * nportant con- leaa erica > I mca» t 37 1 that of Guadaloupe. This, tho* a forturtate acquliiffon, muft be acknowledged to be extraneous to the original ne« fcelfary principle upon which the war began ; and there- fore I muft be of opinion, that our returning it cannot af- fcft that fecurity for which we fought at firft. But are we to return it after the expence we h*ve been at in con- quering it ? I ftiould be as loth, my Lord, as any man in England, to agree to our giving back the fmalleft portion of what we have acquired from France, did I not think fuch a ceflion infinitely preferable to the continuance of this devouring expenfive war. But, in faft, is our retaining Guadaloupe of that vaft confequence to this nation as has been reprefentcd ? have not thofe reprefentations been ex- aggerated beyond the bounds of truth, probability, and; give me leave to fay, of poflibility, by a let of meri in this ifland, who find their intereft in difcouraging the planters of our own iflands, and in endeavouring to render their commodity a drug? I (hall readily admit, that the greater the quantity of fugar is that comes to Great-Britain, it is fo much the better for us. But can that fugar be raifed no where but in Guadaloupe ? If the public is not grofly mifihformed by thofe who have the beft opportunities of knowing, the neutral iflands, which France is willing tof relinquifh to us, and which^^ at a very little expence, we can render tenable againft all her power, may with proper cultivation be made capable of producing more fugar than cither Guadaloupe or Martinico, or indeed both together. When I mention this, I am far from undervaluing the ac« quiiition of Guadaloupe. I know it to be of great impor . IT ^ 3? fi find fault, and I think Great- wifely, in the jefly, and the ;e of Hanover; f that a Britiih i^ards his coun- or peace, with- br all that the ", have fuffered ire fuch indeni" •eace , could be nie§,:have had nds, I know, eat-Britain and IS Pruffian Ma- ined not to lay wer to this, wc mfclf, who un- leaft as welf as iks, that if he very good ac*- tliey are ; but, Jreat-Britain to ind vindiftive? that we could lid for another, le, we (hall be iifraace; and i n 1 t vtty \\ttU t^Ul turn the fcale in his favour, as tlie feifc* lance even at prefent is very little more than doubtfuL The Britifti miniftry, therefore, my Lord, may very bo- neftly, and very confiftently with the chara<^er of trua patriotifm, enter upon a negociation, of which the neu- trality of France, with regard to Pruflia and Hanover, « a preliminary ftipulation. Were fuch a preliminary efta- blifhed, it would then be in the power of Great-Britain lo give the King of Pruflia more effeftual afliftaace than ever, and with far Icfs detriment toherfelf : nor can I look upon any minifter, who ftiould oppofe a negociation oa fuch a bafis, in any other light, than that of being an c- jiemy, not only to peace, but to his country. All Europe would applaud fuch a negociation ; and whatfoever the event of the war might be, between his PrufTian Majeftf and his Other enemies, the conftitution of the Germanic body muft revert to its natural fyftem. France, as gua- rantee of the treaty of W^ftphalia, never, in her cooler hours, can approve of thofe connections, which ra^e and refentment againft Great-Britain hurried her into with the houfe of Auftria : it never can be her intereft to fee the proteftant-caufe ruined in Germany, where a balance of power againft the court of Vienna is neceflary for her tefety. In Ihort, my Lord, I can confider the prefent and late conduft both of France and Auftria, only as that ©f two perfons in a delirium, or a fever. France has given fome indication, that the crifis of her diftemper is approaching, and it was the bufmefs of a Britifh minifter to have encouraged and promoted her cure. The ruin of the eleftorate of Hanover and Brandenbourg could fervc only to aggrandize the houfe of Auftria to the prejudice, and, in the end, perhaps to the ruin, of that of Bourbon. "^ Can we imagine, that there- is a thinking man in the French King's dominions, who is infenfible of this truth, and who will not lend his hand towards diflblving the prefent unnatural connexions between the two houles. In what I fay, I am far from pleading the caufe of France- Her dangerous views, her perjuries, and pAffidy, with her perpetual ' enmity to the peace of Europe, and the intereft of Great-Britain are but too well known ; but, ia this cafe, it happens for once, that her intereft, and that of Great-Britain, when rightly underftood, are the fame; A confide ration of which a BritiOi miniftei ought to ^vaii himfclf. il 3 i i C 40 ] hiihfelfj and> iFpfoperly attended to> may not only clodi up the wounds of war, but raifc us to a pitch of fecure greatnefs, that this nation never experienced before. France is now fenilble of her error in attempting to ex- tend her commerce, which fhe could not proteft. The experiment of her ^rivaling the marine of Great-Britain has failed her ; the purpofes for which her abfurd connect tions with the houfe of Auiltia were formed have not an- fwered their ends ; Her fleets are irretrievably Tmti,ra% >the is fighting in Germany againft the only natural allies fhe has there, the proteftants ; and ftiould flie evtn carry her point againft the eleftorate of Hanover, it will neither be worth her while, nor in her power, to maintain her acquifition ; and every intelligent reader may fee> that (he is lenfible of this truth, by the motions of her armies on the frontiers of that electorate. Could flie have prevatled againft Great-Britain, flie would have indemnified herfejf for her expences in the war, not in Germany, but in America. As flie has not prevailed, and as flie has not now the fmalleft probability of prevailing, what is flie to do, but to relinquifli to us the primary objefts for which both nations went to war, and let each of us make the bcft we can of the fecondary ones. This, my Lord, brings me to the fecond propofition I have laid down, which is, that a folid, honourable, and advantageous peace, would give Grsat-Britain an oppor" tunity, with honour and credit for the future, to decline all continental connexions, attended with fuch a profiifioa of blood and treafure as thofe flie is now engaged in. I cannot properly handle this propofition, without fomc flight review of the right honourable gentleman's con- duft while he was in the adrainiftration, with regard to the affairs of Germany. When he entered upon the high poft he has lately refigned, he profefled himfelf to be an anti-continentalift, to a degree that I think (and I be- lieve fo did every wcU-wiflier to the houfe of Hanover^ and the balance of power on the continent) was incon** fiftent with*the honour and intereft of Great-Britain. He was fcarcely, however, warm in his poft, when fome very wfeful diftinftions were made between occafional and fy- Itematicai ailiitances, between temporary and permanenfe meafures, and the like ; all which went fo well down with the public, that, on the i8th of January 1758, nobody "wai- C 4i 1 not only clods itch of fecure ienced before, mpting to ex- proteft. The Great-Britain ibfurd connec* i have nft an- ly TuiUrd » .fhe ural allies fhe ivtn carry her t vfiW neither maintain her yfee^ that (he her armies oi| lave prevailed tnified herfejf nany, but in ihe has not v^hat is ihe to fts for which us make the propofition I lourable^ and in an oppor<< e, to decline :h a profttfioQ engaged in. without fome lemau's con- with regard red upon the himfelf to be fik (and I be« of Hanover^ ) was incon<* -Britain. He en fome very ional and fy- d permanent 11 down with 758, nobody wa» fijrprifcd, when, as f- of ft — rte, heptefentej was wrpnicd, when, as 1 y «. .1. — 7^^, a meffage from his late Majefty, for a fiippfy to the Ha^ hoverian army, until the further neceflary charge thereof could be laid before the honfe. In confequence of th'ii meflage, 100,000 1. was unaniraoufly grafited, fo be takeri immediately out of the fupplies of laftyCar unapplied, and to be remitted with all poftible difpatch. Soon after this;' the defcent uport France, under the Duke of Marlbo- rough, was ^kecuted> and the French were obHged to e- vacuate Hanover t and here our minifter's anfucontinental fyftem feems to have been entit ely at an end^ A new convention was centered into betweefi his Britannic Ma- jefty and the King of Pfuffia, and figned at London oil the nth of April, whereby the King of Great-Britain eni gaged to pay his Priiffian Majefty the yearly fum of 670,000 1. fterling, and each of the coritra^ing powers engaged to coilclude no peace >)vithout the participation of the other ; and the ftini rdlfed that year by parliament exceeded elfeVen millions of money.' The public fuBmitted to this expenc6 without a mur- mur, and the extraordinary fupplies of troops which be-, gan now to be fent to Germany; creatcid r&thet matter of furprize than oppofition; while the public,- tvith the moft fefpefthil refigiration; waited £br the event. In the mean iirae the news of the rednftion of Louilburgh; and fome other advantages gained by our fleets both in Europe and America, gave a new turn to our politics. It waS then pre- tended, by the right honourable gentleman and his friends,' that the andrcpntinental fyftem never was meant to bd purfued longer, than the naval po"^ on the 30th of the fame month, follow- ed the invafion panics ; and the fame right honourable gentleman had again the honour to prefent to the Houfe of Commons another meflage from His Itl'ajefty, inform- ing them, not that he would order any part of the great army •\\re paid in Germany, to come ovier to our defence^ at a time When the nation was fo delliti^te of regular troops, th^t' we cbuld fcarce guard our coafts from Imug- glers ; but that his Majefty would, if he thought proper, caufe the militia, or fuch part thereof as ihall be necef- fary, to be drawn out and embodied, and to march a? occafion ihall require. What followed Unce is too recent to- btf repeated here. Providence certainly interpbfed,almoft mi^aculovifly,.in our favour at the battle of Minden : but I muft be free enough to own, that the odds againfl us before that engagement was fifty to one , and nothing is more certain, as appears by the defence of the noble Lord who watdifgraced on that occafion, than that the vi£lory was owing, next tp the courage ofthe Englifli troops, to their happy difobcdi- cnce of the g-nr-Ps orders. Had matters fallen out Or ttierwife, in what a Htuation here muft the minifter have been, who advifed, and even haftened, the fending over a body of troopS; that,, to all appearance, were too few for conquefl, but too numerous for butchery. Next to Provi- dence, they had only their valour and fpirit to thank for their deliverance* Notwithftanding our fuccefs at the battle of Minden, his late Maje%, as well an the King of J'ruifia, were fenfible how much they bad been uidebted to Providence ; and they wri'ely refolved not to prel'ume too much upon its care, but began to entertain forae ferious thoughts of peace. Ac- coidiogly, on the 25th of November i>59, declarations from caufe. dnt^e t prefented to inefTage, fighed : him to defray ncurred, or to 19; and to take oint or defeat and as the exi- :e of this mef- million of mo- nonth, foUow- bt honourable t to the Houfe ■ajefty, inforin- rt of the great our defence. 4tc of regular fts from imug- lought proper, hall be necef- i to march a^ repeated bere, :ulovifly,.in our be free enougji It engagement in, as appears ^difgraced on wing* next tp appy difobcd^ fallen out or minifter have fending over a re too few for Fext to Provi- t to thank for if Mlnden, his were fenfible [ice ; and they 1 its care, but fpeace. Ac- l declarations from I 43 3 frtom their Britannic and Pruffian Majefties were deliver^ at the Hague to the niiniftcrs of the belligerent powfers, im- porting, that they were ready to fend plenipotentiaries to the place that ihould be judged moA coavenient for hold- ing a congrefs for the re-eftabli(hmeht of the public tran- quillity. Why this propofal did not take place, efpec;ally as we could have treated under the powerful mediation of Spain ; and as his moft Chriftian Majefty oiFered to treat of a particular league with England, under the fame media* tion, is as yet a fecrct to the public. The refufal of the two Emprefles, and the French King, to treat feparately with his Pruffian Majefty, and without admitting the mini- fters of Sweden and Saxony, was fo far from being a rea- Ton why England ihould drop all feparate negociations with FraiAce, tliat it was the ftrongeft reafon for their being continued. Had the feparate treaty gone on, there was no room to doubt, that the general conferences muft have had a favourable liTue. The lofles of the French were at rthat time fo enormous, and they were fo entirely deftitute of refources for the means to continue the war, that ha4 we made the fmalleft advance towards a feparate treaty, which moft certainly was the intereft of Great-Britain to have done, as flie was no principal againft any other pow- er but France, the other parties muft have agreed to fuCh equitable conditions, as muft have put an end to the war, and have faved this nation many millions, befides the lives of men^ m profecuting it upon the continent, as we have fince done to no manner of purpofe. But, my Lord, though a feparate treaty with France was, at that time, the natural, and the only probable ex- pedient that could give peace to Great-Britain, and to Eu- rope, we happened to be fo unfortunately hampered by our engagementLS with Pruffia, that, in faft, we could not aft as an independent power : for while this very negociation was in agitation, a frelh treaty was concluded with the King of Piu/Tja on the 9th of November 1759, the fourth article of which, after renewing our fubfidy of 670,000 1» g yjcarj is as follows : " Their High contra aing parties moreover engajge, viz, on the one part of his Britannic Majefty, both as King and as Eleftor ; and on the other part his Pruffian Majefty, nOt to conclutt any treaty of peace, truce, or neutrality, or iMiy oUier egnvemiQDi whatfoevcr, w^th the powers who I! • C 44 1 - . Ii^ve taken part in the prefent war, but in concert, and by , piiitual confent, and exprefly comprehending each other . therein." . What purpofe could the rene\yal of this article ferve, "While a negociation for peace was propqfed, but to conti- nue, if not to pcfjjetuate the war. On the one hand, wc icnew his Prpflian Majefty wrote to his late Britannic Ma-| jcfty, in terms pot very refpe^ful, even upon ? furmifc of a neutrality for Hanover. We kne\v that he would ftick clofj; by the above wo^ds" of the fourth ?irticle of the conven- tion, and leave nothing either to chance of our manage, ment ; lo that, infaO, by this renewed convention, war or peace did not depend upon our but upon his plcafure. I car^f not plafc tiiis fituation ni a ftronger light, than by fuppofing ;hat this article had been omitted, as it undoubtedly ought! to have l?een, confidering the Vaft alteration of affairs, out ' of the renewed convention. ' What muft have been the confequence?"None; W that Great-Britain would havp been left at Bberty to have a£led for her own Intereft, and j ^perhaps much more for the intereft of his Prulfiari Majefty, 'ihan ftie i^ enabled to do at prefent- ' ' • j . ' inftead of that, it appears by the anfwer which the King j pf PrulTia lent to the French King's father-in-law, King Sta^ \ jiiflaus, \yhen he offered'h'is ^apital of Nancy for th« place ' of congre% f* thai we h£;d not ventured to;* ^ake a fingle I ilep without hi^^ leave."' This apfweris dated from Frejj^ burg, February' 8, 17^0^ and contains in fubftance, that ihe courts of Vienna *and Rulfia had refuted to come into . the meafures which the King "of England ^nd he himfelf . }iad propofed to them. Here is not a fm^le word of France having refufed ; ". but," continues his Pruffian Majefty, <* it i? likely that they will draw the King of France into ,i* the continuance of the "svar, the advantages of which « they alone expeft to reap." " Tliis, we may rcafonably prefume, France was as fenfible of as his'Pruffian Majefty; and ij \yas the very ftrongeft inducement for her to have agreed with us upon juft and equitable terms, which, be- fides the ^Ifwlion of blood, would have faved us at leaft ten miilions of money, foi: I cannot eftimate our ufelefs and feventeen hundred and fixty-onc, at lefs. But to make all the conceflions that the right honou- 1 rable^geiitldniah aiid'hi's f|-iends can require, let Us fuppbfb !oncert, and by ding each other lis article fervp, jd, but to conti- e one hand, wc : Britannic Ma- Dn ? furmife of a vould (lick clofjj of the conven- or" our manage, vent'ion, war or pleafure. I car^? lan by fuppofing ioubtcdly ought, m of affairs, out have been the ain would havp i\vn Intereft, and 'ruffian Majefty, which the King n-law, King Sta^ icy fot the place to;* ^ake a fingle ated from Frey^ fubftance, that ed to come into ^nd he liimfelf word of France ruffian Majefly, g of France into ntages of which may reafonably Pruffian Majefly; , for her to have rms, which, be- 'aved us at leall nate our ufelefs \Af^A nr\A CfV^\r sfs. tte right honou- e, let Us fuppbflb Z AS 1 '|;hc fourth article of the renewed convention of the 9th of November, 1759, to have been omitted; what muft have been the confcquence? We were by that time be- come not only the allies, but phe protestors of his Pruffi- an Majefty. Was not the Britifh nation to be trufted with its own interefts? Why fhould webe guided in Pruf- fian trammels, or in Pruffian leading-ftrings ? It is abfurd to think, fuppofing we had made a feparate peace with France, we either would or could have facrificcd the King of Pruffia. Far from that, it was our interefl to prefervo him, and in him the Proteftant caufe in Germany. A peace between Great-Britain and France muft have left »s at li- berty to have ferved him fo effeftually, as I have already obferved, that the two Empreffes would have had neither the flomach nor the means to have continued the war.^ But, infaft, the alternate flipiilatibn I have quoted is, perhaps, unprecedented in hiflory. His Pruffian Majefly binds Great-Britain to do 'vvhat ? not to make peace with thofe powers fhe is already at peace with ; for I know no war now fubfifting between Great-Britain and either of the Empreffes, or the crowns either of Poland or Sweden. ^^his, I fay, is an unprecedented meafure, and perhaps irreconcileable to common fenfe ; tho' it is plain his Pruf- fian M^jefly made it binding upon us. But, what has been thrown into the fcale of Great-Britain, to counter- balance this incredible conceffion ? Why that the King of Pruffia fhall not, without ourconfcnt, make a feparate peace with any of the belligerent powers! Would to God, in the prefent fituation of things, that it was in his power to do it? Happy would it be for Britain. Hanover \vould foon then be out of danger, and we might avoid the evils of the moft widely diffufed, and the moft expenfive war, that this or any other nation ever was engaged in. Thus far, my Lord, I think it is evident beyond all contradiftion, that the mutuality of, the fourth article ia the convention of November 9, I759» has been 6f terrible confequences to this country, and that it is high time for Great-Britain to clofe the fcene of war. Perhaps fomc rea- fons of a different nature from any I have yet mentioned, may make a folid. honourable, and an advantageous peace, Silf more defirable. We have had, for fome years pafl, an army of the finefl troops the fun ever faw, ferving lin- ger a foreign prince, and in what we may call- a foreign ■ '• ** * -quarrel. ftfl C 46 3 quarrel. To the .amazement of England, snd I may fa^, of Europe, after Broglio had taken the field with one hun- dred thoufand men, when the Count de St. Germain cpro- inanded a feparate army upon the Rhine, fix re^inicnts qf f4igli/?i foot were fent to Germany, under the command of Major-general Griffin, and were foUowed by Elliott* light-horfe ; fo that, at the beginning of the campaign of f?S9f we had in G^ennany twelve regiments of heavy and one.of light-horfe, twelve regiments of foot, and two bat- talions of Highlanders; and, itn the courfe of the campaigi)^ wc had no fewer than twenty-five thoufand Britiih troops, jferving in the fields of Germany, while thofe of England Vicre in danger of lying wafte for want of cultivation ; for, in proportion, as hands were fent abroad, the evacuations were iuppUed by miljtiA, who, after being embodied, ar^, to all intents and purpqfes, as regular tioops, and under as ftri^ military difcipUjie as thofe whioh form^ what WjC ^all^ our Aanding army. Since tbe ridiculous fiauntii^ expeditions two hundred years ago, under Henry Vlll. into Prance, fuch a nume* rous body of JBritifh troops never has f(?rved upon the conti- ;aent, 3ut, my I^rd, how have they been rewarded? by Jbe'uKg ta|c;en at their wojcd; by^having the .poft of bono wi* ^affigned to them. But why? becaule it was tl)e poft cjf .4gnger» Jfa defperate attack was to be made:;_if ^p u;i- tenable pafs was to be defended; if a fatiguing march wajs tp be undertaken, aJJ, all» was to be throvi^n. upon the En- 4glii/h» If ^ny rcmonftrances, however dutiful were made, rtl» anfwpr was ready: " I was unwilling todifoblige you^; ** you defired to have the poft of honour, and yon have had '* it ; it is due to your valour." Thus, under the colour (jf jiaving thejjoft of honour, two or three can^paigns paflTe^, in which .tfie Biitifh troops were expofedtoaU the fury ^d fuperior number of the enemies. Qf. this the battle of ^elinghaufen is a flagrant and a recent proof. The £ng- JifliGenar^l was to fwpport .himfelf the beft 'i^ayhe couW ^gainftithcqe times the number of thofe he commandetj, Jfor above twelve ho.urs, until his brave allies found leifvir^ to come.to his alfiftance, which, by the Uyc, thcy.ft?fini,n^- l^er to have done. , I mention thofe things, niy Lord, not becapfe I thlw^ .the w^ris unfortunate, but becaufc i think we. are unfpj:- ituoAPP ,4a .being at \^ar uppa tbc xpgtincnt of fiurqps* t '^ :i baf fucce/fes iri all other places, joined to' the magnani- mity of his late and'prefew: Majefty, in expollng Hatiovcr Co all the ftiry of its enemies, rather than conclude an in- glorious peace for Creat-Britain, haVe', by this time, awakened the French out of their favourite dreams of obr- tainlng any thing from Greit-Britaln, if they demand it by the way of Germany, and that too, fword in hand. If therefore we can, with honour, and without hurting our intereft, as I apprehend we eafily cart^ (unlefs our notions of honour arc romantic, and thofe of dor ihtereft extrava- gant) make a peace with France, there ne^er can a jurt- fturie exift hereafter, that Wifl call upon us to engage in 21 continental war. I do not meaii by this, that Grest-Br!- tain is never to have any concern in the afi*airs of the con- tinent, fhat would' be as irratibna:! aisher haviiJg too greaf a concern in them; but I muft be of opinion', that fhe never can have a call upon her for the fatne ruinous connexions with it that flic has at prefent. r now, my Lord, come to the third prbpofition I laid dowtt, whicli was, that a pacific fylVem can receive n& manner of ftiock by the refignatibn of the right honourable gentleman, who, a few days ago, gave up the fcals of his office. Wd have been hurt; We are not ruined by the prefent war; and if we ftop at this very crifis, all may yet be recovered. Peace is natUratty the fai^bUrite fyftcm of a minifter ; though the right honourable gentleman is tlve fccond minifter within thefe twenty yedrs who has rifea into power by war. But to ufe the Wbrds" of the poet ; it ^ 'Tis'ap impious greatnefs;i^ *' And mixt with too rhuch horrot to be envied.** The milder virtues of civil Ufearie eaHly cultivated, and more generally underftood. The right honourable gentleman and his friends themfelves cannot, and Will notdeny, that a con- tinental war is a misfortune to this country. The landed intereft feels it feverely, and all ranks and degrees amongft us endure it patiently, only becaufe, as matters have been managed, it is become a neceflary evil : aif evil that is not the lefs lamented, becaufe bravely fupported ; and an evil, fupported by that fpirit of loyalty and patriotilm, not to be pgraiielied in all the preceding annals of BritilTi hiftory. Very few arguments, my Lord, therefore will fuifice to prove the truth of my third propofition. The people of £hgland, even at this timc; a Uttle refemble the cafe of Sancha M C 48 3 Sancha Pancha, and his mailer ; they think thclt- patriot minifter the bcft, the wifeft, arid the moft upright fcrvant any king or nation ever had yet ; yet, fometimes they know not what to make of him ; and they wifti his con- duct were a little more reconcileable to their plain capa- cities. Some late incidents have helped to incrcafe their perplexities. His Moft Catholic Majefty, as is natural for every prince who has the means of doing it, is putting his marine upon a refpeftable footing. The fituation of his affairs with thofe of his fon and brother in Italy, and the formidable preparations of the Turks, faid to be defigned againft Mal- ta, which is a kind of bulwark to his dominions, might very well account for all the preparations he is making. The people of England, plain and uninformed as they are, had no manner of apprehenfion that his Catholic Majefty intended, that his naval armaments (hould take part with France againft Great-Britain. Common fenfe told them, that the Spaniards in a war with England had every thing to fear, and nothing to hope for; and that England could maintain a war againft both the crowns with as little cxpence as Ihe is at with one. In fliort, they thought that a Spanifti war was too good news to be true, provided tht Spaniards themfelves fought for it. Ort the other hand, there was not, and I believe is not, a man of common fenfe in England, who thinks it would be right for us to promote fuch a war; and that while Spain gives us no of- fence, we muft be little better than pirates fhould we give her any. But there was a time, viz. in the year 17 18, when Great-Britain, without any formal declaration of war, de^ ilroyed the whole marine of Spain ; and therefore, no- thing is to ferve us, but to fend a young nobleman of fpirit, in the double charafter of plenipotentiary and ad- miral, or commodore, to demand from them a categori- cal anfwer, as to the deftination of their armaments ; and, upon that not proving fatisfaftory, to fink, bum, and deiftroy. That Sir George Byng, in that year, did, as is faid a- bove* is admitted ^ but how different are the iun£kures ! Great-Britain was then guarantee for the Emperor's domi- nions in Italy ; and, while his Imperial Majefty was en- gaged m a bloody war againft the Turks, the Spaniards, ' ■ ^ t 49 1 moft ungenerous manner, cndcavpurcd to depriv^ of the ifland of Sardinia. The Britlfl^ court had in a him o( .„^ *^.,„«^ vwMiL imtt employed all manner of pacific means to obtain fromthac of Madrid a fufpenfion of arms, but to no purpofe ; and their lidmiral was inftruftcd to fail to the Mediterranean, and, if polfibic, to prevent any further breach of the neutrality cf Italy; but, if poffible, to avoid coming to hoftilities. Every one knows what followed : according to our accounts, the Spaniards were not only intraftablej but were the aggreflbrs. The eonfequence was, that their fleet was deftroycd. How different are the circumftances of the two junci turesi His Catholic Majefty has but lately mounted that throne ; he is applying himfelf to the arts of peace ; he IS endeavouring both to cultivate and protect commerce ; he, as well as his predeceflbr, has hitherto maintained the moft irreproachable neutrality in the prefent war between us and Prance ; (for I mind not the unauthenticated fugge- ftions in news-papers) and the inferefts of his people point out the friend/hip of Great-Britain, as the fureft means of their happinefs and fafety* Mis Catholic Majefty himfelf^ fenfible of this, and, at the fame time, not ignorant of the effefts of popular reports in this country^ fliews difpofi- tions for continuing and ftrengthening the peace between us, and orders his miniftcrs to give the ftrongeft afTurances to our ambaflador for that purpofe. In what a light muft we appear to all Europe j in what a light, my Lord, muft we appear to ourfelves, fliould we wantonly provoke fucH an ally? ._ ' '^ This being the cafe, tvhat has this nation to apprehend from the nght honourable gentleman's refignation ? Will France, will the Emprefs-queen, will any of the other belli- gerent powers, take it amifs? It would be ridiculous to ima- gine that they will Will his Pruffian Majefty objeft to it I Not, if he miftakes not his own intercft.; and no man underftands it better ; for, humanly fpeaking, it is peace alone that can re-inftate his affairs, fecure what he pof- ftfTes, and recover what he has loft. Will the people of England take this reii^nation amifs? Noj riot if they are properiy Inrormed. it has been attended with the high- €lt marks of royal favour towards the refigneet which have been refpeftfully accepted. And, I believe, there is icarcely a man in England, who does not think, that thci right honourable gentleman refigned, only becaufe a great A . . S iriajorifyi I '. h- E $o 1 iffijwity/ at'i ccrtaitr boara^ differ from Mm,: as to rfie manner of making peace j for I muft be of topinlon, that war itfclf is on6 manner of making peace. Thepcojile' of England are too ratioaaFtO thit*^ thtta perhaps to double Ihem, under the delufive proipc^l of ^ futHre expeditions^ the fucceli' of- which is precarious, and may fee abortive^' Are we to keep up the compliment of our army in GeTs- Biany, where the iword isferceiy wanted to hafi:en that deftruOiony which famine, fatigue, and wants of every kind is daily precipitating? There is another confideraf tion, perhaps more important than all : That the power of Great-Britain is at preient higher than ever was known> ihallnotbe disputed; but, niy Lord, the greatnefs of any jj^eople never was known to be permanent, but through fhc moderate ufe of power. A people, who (hall indulge a wanton fpirit of eonque£^, renders allother nations jea» [ni, as to tfiff opinion, that The people i.iJfitain is not yet liii5ciently cxhaufted ; a more plentiful efibfion of blood will do her £brvvce? Soppotiag a defeailve war to be concluded upon^ and that, it is refolved to turn the tables upon France,^ and oblige her either to give us reafonaUe terms, or to, a£)t w America the fame expenfive part that we have, ait. Yon are U}o ipkl) } your manufa^luresare too flouriidung r have at all,, or nothing; never g;ivc over your offeoiwe war, whjle France has a foot of had in America or the Eaft Indies. ^ and put all the powers of Europe, friends, as well asfpesi^ code^ance? Should his Majefty fall upon the means o£ ^verting J the , impending danger of Hanover, and of in- 4emm/yiag his Pruffi^n Majefty, for , withdrawing ovr, troops from Germany, can any c43>je£ttoa be railed to iiich meafures, but fuch as muft proceed &0m tnallgnant ^ipo^on^r and impotent refentment.' We muft therefore^ my Lord, if we reafon confiftentljfj with comroon fenfe, conclude, that, the right honourajbla gentleman and his friends never wiU forfeit the venerably sppeiistion Oi PatfiOt^, ^jyitftscuipting^thci: to renew orta continue the diftreiTes of their country? If ever unanimi« ty was neceflary to a nation,, it is to us at this junfture;: m4 the firft mm wJVQ i^mj^ti to break it in parliament oiwht I lawn of hia intent, and eproach of ba3 told, us, >|>po/lng in icil? This, lal qualities >ries, wticR ler. Under public welo thwarting^ be cabinet; the public ton iQiouid :> withdraw, an we imar , We nauft iufficlently vill do her uded upon^ on France, ircis, or to, t we have QxovHd thi» of men IQ. om are toa lave at all,. war, wh^e aft Indies. {, eH as foes^ means of attd of in- awing our! i railed to> I malignant r ronfiftentljfi bonourajblq vcnerabii; renew^ or tQ r unanimi