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H T VI o p, t'^\ >• 'i:/ouo^ i.)ni: noiii5u,]i3 imsrl ^ o r ..flr lAHO^TA^ J ii ' T T T -I., "a - — -,»- .nU'j» V>«i I k rrO * ^ l " ' 1 • i L 4 •- '-is E^ ujii. / A T '■ . > T '"e R TOT H E People of England, iw LETTER L .*^^.. , ../ i HO EVER has been acciiflomed to read with Attention, the Hifto- rians, Orators, and fatyric Poets of Greece and Kome^ that wrote towards the Decline of thofe States, and obferved the Manners, Purfuits, Objedls, and ruling Paf- lions of thefe People, together with the Symptoms of impending Ruin, preiliged and delineated by thofe Men of fuperior Genius, mufl, on Comparifon with what prevails at prefent in England ^ be deeply touched with A - the % m. '^PHiiai ' ,^ [2] ■ • the Analogy. The Philippics oi Demojlhems are fa replete with flriking Pictures and vivid Reprefentatlons, drawn from Obfcrvation, on what pafTed •sxAihejis during his Time; and fo applicable to the People and prefent State of this Country, that the great Difference of the Names of thofe Perfons who lived, and Places which exifled Two Thouland Years ago in Greece^ have not fufficient Power to with-hoid my Imagination from being im- pofed on by the Similitude of Manners \ or reftrain me fram believing, that I ajm^ read- ing the Hillory of Englijhme?2, and the pre- fent Age. ■■:t r When I fee this Patriot Orator generoully upbraiding his degenerate Countrymen with univerfal Venality and Lofs of public Virtue - defcribini?; them drovvn'd in Floods of Self- love, Pleafure, and public Shows, fupinely negligent of their Country's Welfare ; con- temning the Merit of all other Nations,, themfelves arrogant and felf-fufficient in Ex- cefs ; preferring private Opinion to eftablifhed Wifdom; idolizing Mortals in Power and irreverent to their Gods : What Eye fo dim that cannot diftinguifli the Analogy fo mani- [3] _ ■ feft between the Athenians of his Time aud the EngUp of ours? what Mind fo ftupid as not to forcfee the fame Events ? "■i It feems evident from all I can gather, that the Sti'ength, Happinefs, Military and Civil Glory of all Nations, have ever fLibfifled and encreafed in Proportion to the Under- flanding and Virtue of thofe, who reigned, and thofe who obey'd ; and though Numbers of Inhabitants and Degrees of Riches may be thought by many to oppofe this Obferva- tion, yet a juft Examination will prove the Truth of what is here faid. . Was it not by means of tlie happy Union of thofe fuperior Qualifications in the firfl Cyrils^ that he extended his Empire from the little Realm of Perjla over Nations, al- moft too diftant to be vifited, and whofe Languages were unintelligible to each other, as Xenophon has defcribed them ? Yet fuch is the Fate and Revolution of Empires j Dur rim with all thefe Nations in Subjedtion, with infinite Armies and untold Sums of TreafurCj deferted by Virtue only, fell . the ""' '\[2--: ,_, v',-,' A 2 , ;--:\.:; " , .eaiy ■i'- i ■ • »•> :' J V.V4 -■■1 1^ N [4] eafy Prey of Alexander and a few Maccdo^ '■/.■ V • ' Vi I To this energic Influence of Virtue in the common People, and Undcrflanding united with it in their Leaders, it is owing that tlic Grecians in their rifmg Glory performed al- moft miraculous Exploits. .'.i,^ Toconfirm this Truth, the well fought Field of Marathon^ where Mlltiades and ten thou- fand Greeks defeated fix hundred thoufand Verp.ans^ affords an irrefiftable Evidence : as did the naval Vidjry of Themiflocksy who faved his Country from Perdition, fuch amaz-» ing Atchievements can fmali Numbers adu- ated by their Country's Love, armed with the Sword of Virtue, and conduced by fu- perior Wifdom, perform againfl Millions funk in Effeminacy, Luxury, and Riches. SPARTA remained invincible whijfl her Sons v/ere virtuous, and Leonidas uncon- querably but by Death. ;»; •'♦;! < ^ r '*• Even TheheSy the long Objefl of farcafl:ic Attic Wit, lifted her Head from below the ; ' Puft, DuH:, and walked forth the prevailing Power of Grecci\ by the Virtue of one great Man J like a new Star flic flione forth in Luftrc amongft the other Cities : with Epamimndas its rcfplcndcnt Coiirfe began, with him it blazed, and with him expired. ' ' The whole Roman Glory was entirely owing to the Virtue of its Inhabitants, whilft the greateft Honour attended Integrity in Poverty, and private Parfimony was Praife ; vvhilft their Generals tilled their own little Farms, and the Labour of their Hands gave their Children the Bread of Virtue ; whilfl Merit brought Dictators from the Plough to rule a Nation, the Romans were infuperablc : yet, when their Emperors poflefTcd half the Globe and half the Riches on its Surface, this very People became the eafy Capture of Goths and Vandals. In this Manner will Nations peiifli, who renounce the Dictates ^f Virtue. I4t In all Situations, where Nations are equal in the Qualities of the Heart, the Chief who excclls in Underftanding prevails in his Un- dertakings. [ 6 ] dcrtakings. The Moment Marlborough left the Command of the Army, Villars con- quered the Allies, and the long vanquifhcd triumphed over their former Vigors. Tu- renney who during three Mondis had tra- verfed the Defigns and difappointed the At- tempts of the Auftriam^ being now no more, left an eafy Conquefl over the Troops he had commanded, and his Country to be in- vaded by Montecuculi, . ' . PETER the Rujian Emperor, by Dint of Genius, created a civilized People from Beings little better than Brutes. The very Man, who with more than a Hundred Thou- fand of his Troops fled before the Approach of Eight Thoufand Swedes^ and the fevere Virtue of Charles^ in his Beginning Reign, became at laft his Conqueror, and made his Nation refpedable. t . The prefent Sovereign of Prujia, the patriot King, who has refcued his Suhjeifts from the Rapine of the Law, who inflitutes :and fuflains Manufaduries, encourages Arts and Sciences, promotes Induftry, opens new Trades, extends his Commerce, enlarges his .. . Dominions Dominions, aggrandizes his Name, and holds the Balance of Europe ; is a living Inflance of what exalted Underftanding oa a Throne can effcift for a Nation. 15 In this Manner our ilUiftrious Queen Eli" 'zabeth reigned over the Hearts of a free People, diredled by upright Miniflers to her Subjeds good. In this Manner it might have continued, if the cold, conceited Dif- putatious, man-loving Scot had not filled the Throne of England, and blafted with his Northern Breath the blooming: Plants of Glory which flic had raifed. ;•■) - 'As are the Princes and Minifters, fuch have ever been the People who live beneath their Influence, in Enghmd iiXid all Nations. Even long after Luxury, and every Vice had prevailed at Rome, a virtuous Emperor recalled the People to Greatnefs and Felicity; the Reigns of Trajan and Antoninus Pius were equal in Happinefs and Glory, to the moil flourifliing i^ra of the Roman Name. ■' > Virtue [ « ] I . 1. ill in- il'' -' Vi R T u L and Wiidom, Vice and Venality, have ever been ; the firll: the Sources of na-* tional Happinefs and Succefs, the latter of Decline and Ruin. ..V ■ *^ To flatter ourfelves then, that the fame Caufes which deftroyed Greece and Rome will not generate the like Confequences in £77^- lanJy is to delude ourfelves like Children with felf-wiiled, over-weaning Fondnefs. It is to fuppofe that the original Inftitution of all Things is eftabliflied on vague and capricious Principles, and that thofe degenerate Facul- ties of mental Nature, which have begotten Ruin in all other Countries, will not produce the fame Effedt in this Ifland. ^ . It is to believe that Corruption of Heart, and public Virtue ; Love of Eafe and Search of Danger 5 Infolence and true Bravery j Contempt of Heaven and Contempt of Death, can be exifting in the fame People j that the Courfe of Nature is fufpended in our Favour, or that Ejigland is exempted from the Conditions which Providence firft fixt on all created Things. . Is [ 9 ] Is fuch Imagination a lefs Abfurdity than to coiKeive that phyfical Principles, which produce Putrefadion and DifTolution in vege- table and animal Nature, may exift in full Energy, and yet thefe Subflances remain un- altered, incorrupt, and entire, from that In- fluence. . ., ■ • .. { ■ . '■ ■ ■ •' . , ^ ■ . ' •• - . * ■'"'•.■ - -' ■ • . Has not Venality in human Kind, the fame Effedl on the Soul that the putrefadlivc Principle has on Matter ? Does it not deilroy the Union of its Parts, and diflipate that ftrong attractive Power which holds the Mind firm, and refifling all vicious Attacks ? Deprived of Virtue, it no longer pofTefles Strength or Vigor ; It becomes feeble and effete. Yet, as in prefervlng animal and vegetable SubHances from Decay, Art may fupply the Abfence of Nature in fome De- gree 5 fo in Societies and moral Nature, Wif- dom may reftrain the precipitate Fall of Na- tions, and preferve them from total Ruin, , tho' it n->ay never rellore them to their origi- nal Perfection. , . . 1 HAVE frequently thought that the Ro- inaa Word /^/r/2/;, whic^^i fi?nifies Coura ■ . '' ' '. .-■'- ' 1 ■ ' Th 1 s was the unvarying Charadteriflics of Ferjians^ Greeks^ and Romans^ in their Days of greateft Glory, till at Length their Souls, debafed by Corruption and Pleafure, became pufiUanimous in Adion, even in thofe Men r. f: it [li] Vrhofc Minds were not influenced by the cer- tain Fear of future Punifhments. •' :■/ ; Th I s Kind of Cowardice receives a new Caule, and this Obfervation a farther Con- firmation in Chriftian Kingdoms 5 that Being which is depreciated by mean Actions, Cor- ruption, and Injuftice, is eternally haunted by the Dread of oppofing himfelf to Danger, his Fears increafe with his Vices, that very Individual which defpifes his Religion and defies his God, breathe? Iniblence and Out- rage apart from Danger, trembles at the Ap- proach of an Enemy, when Death and con- fcious Guilt recoil upon his Mind, like the timid Deer, who, valuing himfelf upon the Strength of his Antlers, flies at the firfl: Sound of Hounds which purfue him -, or the Lark, which fh rinks to the Bofom of the Earth at the Sight of the Hawk, which hovers over his Head. t.i The Englifhman whofe Valour is infupe- rable whilft Integrity fuftains, Religion ani- mates, and Patriotifm urges him to Battle, mufl yield an unrefifling Vidlory when thofe invigorating Qualities defert him 5 however . , ' B 2 true I i I ii> [12] true this muft be acknowledged to be, it niufl: be confefTed alfo that the common Peo- ple in no Nation have ever been the Caufe of their own Corruption ; it has always taken its Source from the polluted Fountain of the Great, and thence ran muddy thro' the Mul- titude below. \ ■'■ , . . Was it not the Patricians at Rome that by Bribes began to Tap the Virtue, pollute the Hearts, and corrupt the Integrity of the Ro- man common People, by purchafing their Votes in the public Eledlions of their Offi- cers; the Inferior fought not the Great. England was a Nation oi Probity, till thofe who ought to have been the voluntary Clioice of uninflueoced Confent, debafed their own Souls and thofe of their Eledors, by becoming their Reprefentatives thro' Ve- nality and Purchafe. The Man who fells himfelf is more a Slave than he that is fold by another, and deeper impregnated with bafer Qualities of Bondage. . ' ~ . '■ / ,' " " ■ ' " '. Hence, from Iliiflory and Nature, from Obfervation and Reafon, it plainly appears that Nations have ever fucceeded according to ■I 4 I [ '3] to the Virtue and underftanding of thofe who direded them, and have declined and rifen as thefe prevailed, » " ■■ , 'I ' •' '-'■-' ^ That this Kingdom is replete with all thofe fatal Symptoms, which foretold the Ruin of other free States, who (hall deny ? In England the King can do no wrong, for which Reafon the M r becomes juflly chargeable with the Errors and Mifcondud: of the State. As are the Talents and Defigns of this Man, will be the Capacities and Pur- fuits of thofe who are imployed beneath him. If we divide the Scale of mental Nature into ten degrees, and fuppofe that of a M r to be at five, will not all thofe he appoints cither in the Army or the Fleet, in Embaf- fies and Counfel, be below that Degree of Underftanding, his own Judgment muft in his own Opinion be the moft perfed: of hu- man Intelledl in all Plans, Refolutions, and Condud ; he is prevented, by his Ihallovv fhort-fighted Degree of Underftanding, fi cm penetrating into the Conceptions and Schemes of fuperior Minds, and muft neccftarily chufc thofe which refemble him in Size of Capaci- ty., For this Reafon, as Men exceed him and IP i'^ and one another in Excellence, the kfs pro^ bable will it be that they will be employed under him* As thefe Men advance to Per- fedlion in this Scale of intelledlual Nature, they will grow more inconiprchenfible to his confined Underftanding, and be deemed as Vilionaries and Projedtoi-s ; in Proportion as they are adapted by all the exalted Attributes of the Mind to ferve their King and Coun- try, their Counfel will be rejedcd and them-, felves excluded -, judge then what Cataftro-, phe muft attend Kingdoms fo diredted. It is with the human Intelled as with the human Body, each extends according to its natural Size, each has its Limit, beyond which it cannot pafs ; and a Dwarf will reach with his Hand as high as Goliahy before the Duke of ********* will conceive the Ex- tent, Force, and Truth of the Earl of G- ^'s Capacity. -^,:- i:-^ i - . ; ^ From this Manner of Reafoning, when- ever a M r is weak [we fhall talk of the EfFeds of Wickednefs in a fucceeding Letter] all thofe who are under his Diredli- on, and of his Choice, mult participate of ,.,,.. that g • - [15 ] • that national Calamity > the Stream of Poirr Ion which rifes deftrudive in the Head, will ftill run on the fame, thro' the Condudl of all that Body which lies beneath him. ..* I HAVE thus long intruded on your Pa-r tience, my FcUow-Countrymen, to fhow you that what may be here advanced is true in the View of Nature, as deduced from Principle ; and verified by Obfervation and Experience in the Hiftory of Mankind, to convince you that Love of my Country, and not Malevolence to M rs, Truth and not Scandal, Good-will towards Mankind and no latent Averfion againft Indivi- duals, have been my fole Motives to this Attempt, '.. '.-r - , ■ - : ' ■'■•-:;;'. :" :■: i:^ \ r In all Accounts I (hall confine myfelf fe- verely to Truth, and attempt to draw no In- ferences which do not appear evidently de- duceable from preceding Fads : In execut- ing this, however derogatory to the Capaci- ty of thofe in Power, I fear not the Calum- ny of Minions in Favour, Hawkers of mini- ■ llerial Falflioods, Advocates for Deflroyers ' > ■ t** iLU [ i6] of their Country, or even M- felves. ; , ■rs them- ^r If what rtiall be here written appears to be iuft, what honcft ILngliJhman fhall difap- prove of my Conduct ; whatever Diftancc either Chance, Birth, or Riches, may have placed between me and a Prime M r, there muft be ix. more between him and his Country. No Subjed: can be fo fuperior to me in Rank, as this Nation is above him in Dignity. If I prefume to examine the Un- derllandjng of him who prefides at the Helm, let it be remembered it is becaufe I am convinced his Weaknefs mifguides his Fellow-Subjedls. If I am blamed for daring to arraign his Condudl, it is becaufe I am fa- tisfied his Prefumption may ruin his Country. Acquit me then or condemn me, as he is in- nocent or guilty. ' . ' > However, I confide that the patriot De- fign which juftified Dejnoflhenes the Jltljeniariy and immortalized his Name, fhall at leaft • find me, an Englijhman^ prefent Favour and Applaufe ; and Zeal for the Conftitution of my Country vindicate me in the Hearts of all ■ t all Men who yet preferve the Love of Pro- t)]ty and their native Land. As we refemblc the "Greeks and Romans in the Symptoms of declining Liberty and Vir- tue, fuperior Wifdom in the Condudt of our M rs can alone reinftate and preferve us. Let us then examine on what our Ex- pedtations are founded, and what is to be ex- pedled from thofc who prefide in public Af- fairs. It is not my prefent De'fign to fummon xap before your Eyes the Ghofts of Mal- Adminiftration, or turn them back on the Conduct of the two Brothers, during the Jafl Wars \ I mean not now to awaken your Attention to that Flood of Pollution and Corruption, which has been let out, to De- luge Integrity and Juftice 3 I wifh not to bring paft Crimes to your Remembrance, the fquandering your Properties, and invad- ing your Liberties, to aggravate the prefent Mifcondud, or tread backwards thofe Paths which lead to unraveling M 1 Iniquity, I will not hint the Inattention which pre- vailed during the French naval Armaments *«"*'' C and if [in and Ufurpations in America. Objcds vvithia the Ken of every Eye, Tranfadlions of Yef- terday, what has lately part by Land and Sea fhall be lain before you. Behold thofe with Attention, judge impartially from the Condudl in thefe Affairs, what is the Force of that Capacity which diredls them, then remember that E7i^la?jd is your native Land, and reflcd one Moment on the Danger which hangs threatening over it. » To avoid every minute Particular, let us begin with examining the Condudt of our Navies. I No Man, I believe, will prefume to deny that a true Intelligence, of what employs our Enemies, is neceflary to all Minifters who would fuccefsfuUy oppofe their Machina- tions ; and tho' it may be difficult to obtain a fure Knowledge of that Expedition which a Fleet is deftined to go upon, it muft be an eafy Talk to be afcertained of the Number of Ships they are equiping. The Bofom of one Man only may be confcious of the Intention of a naval Armament, when thoufands muft; know the Number which are ai^ming. The; Mini, Minifler may be incorruptable, and the Se- cret impofTiblc to be penetrated. Amongft the Multitudes employed in preparing this Force, many may be found, and infinite Ways contrived, to know the Number of our Enemies Ships. Without this previous Knowledge, on what Balis can it be prefum- cd we oppofe the Fleets of our Enemies ? Yet thr^ neceflary Information, fo eafily pro- cured, mud be confefTed to have been total- ly negledted, difregarded, or unobtained -, or, which is yet more flagrant, the higheft Im- putation of Folly mufl be attributed to the Ad — n.,.. '^^ .^" "'■""•■• '^'^^r-'":' '■'"' ' To prove this Affertlon, let us begin with faying that it was decided that the French Fleet at Brejl fliould be oppofed by the Etig^ lifh, and its Deftrudlion refolved upon ; let us now caft our Eyes on the Manner in which this Defign was plan'd, and the Way in which it was intended to be accomplifjied. I To execute this, Admiral Bofcawen was fent to command a Squadron of Men of War, and in confequence of that Refolve fet Sail from off Plymouth the twentv-feventh of • C 2 ^prily [ 20 ] Aprils with a Fleet confiding of eleven S Wps. of the Line and one Frigate. It has fince appeared, that his Order were to cruize on the Banks of Newfoundlandy to await the Arrival of the French Fleets and intercept tlieir Voyage to America. The fending this Squadron under Admiral Bofcawen^ is a clear Proof that our M rs imagined the Number it contained was fufficient to deAroy the French Fleet;, or it mufl be granted, that if they were pur- pofely fent out unequal to the Attempt, that that Behaviour would be but little better than dooming them a Sacrifice. On tlie fixth of May the French Fleet,^ confifting of twenty- five Ships of the Line, ten of which were employed as Tranfports, their lower-deck guns being taken out ; the reft fully armed^ failed from Brcjl for North-Atnerica^ ' -. . In confequence of the Intelligence that this Fleet was failed, and the Number of it^ Admiral Holbourne was difpatched with fix Ships of the Line and one Frigate, and failed from off Fly mouth the fixteenth of May^ be- ing nineteen Days after Mr. Bojcawen^ and ten [ 21 ] ten after the failing of the French FItct, tu join the Englijh AdmiraL This Reinforcement is an undeniable Proof that the M y was abfolutely un- acquainted with the Number of Ships equip- ing at Brejly for this Expedition, before their failing ; otherwife can it be prefumed they would not have fent a greater Number of Ships with Mr. Bofcawen at firft, fince many more were ready for the Sea ; or would they have fent the Reinforcement by Mr. HoU bourne at all, if tliey had known that Mr. Macnamara would hrwe returned with nine Ships of the Line; the Number of the French Fleet then, and the Part of it which was to return, were abfolutely unknown to our M y before it failed ; for the lait they may be excufed, but the Ignorance of the former is utterly unpardonable. After thefe three Fleets were failed, let us now fuppofe that to happen, which our M y had prefumed and wifhed at Ad- miral Bofcawens failing might be the Event of their Order* ; that is, that he might meet Macnamara with his Squadron of twenty- ; - five , .»; i- I'.-' .'1 i" five Ships of the Line, fixteen of which vvere prepared for tight! ng, and the reft with their lower-deck Guns out, proceeding as the M y believed at the Time of Holbourne^ failing, iov North-America, " ^- -- • " What would have been the Event of this Rencounter, fince Mr. Bofcawe?? had re- ceived Orders to attack th^. French F I afic th's Q'leftion of Men who can look with un- prejudiced Eyes on the Merits of other Na- tions. With all the true Bravery, Prudence, and Knowledge of that Commander in naval Affairs, and thofe brave Captains joined with him in the Expedition, is there a we^^ found- ed Reafon to believe that twenty-five Fre-/ rh Men of War, circumflanced even as thefe were, would have been defeated by eleven Englijhf If they had not, would not the fhameful Ignorance of th-" M y in the Number of the Enemy's Fleet, a Knowledge which every Man might have obtained who would have been at the Expence of paying for it, and furely the Parfimony of public Money is not the prelent reigning Tafle, have proved the Perdition of his Majefly's Fleets and Subjed:s, to the everlafling Dif- grace of the Englijb Nation. Nay L 23 J f r • ■i 1 il e s Nay fo exquifitely fubtle was the Defign of this Scheme, even the lecond Fleet com-* mantled by Admiral Holboiirne would in all human Probability have fallen into the Hands of the French Squadron alfo j for by the Re- fult it has appeared, that he did not join Mr. Bofcawefi till eleven Days after the tak- ing the j^Idde and L^s. . , J t, ». u By this Accident it might, with the great- eft Probability, have happened that Admiral Bofcaiven being defeated the tenthrof June^ the Day the Englijh and French Fleet met in Darknefs and Fogs on the Banks of New- foundland, that Mr. Holbourne might have fuffered the fame Fate eleven Days after, the very Time of his arriving at thefe Parts. I- mean if the furrounding Obfcurity had not faved the EngliJJj Fleet as it has tlie French. Such was the probable Prefumption when Mr. Hdlmirne quitted the Englijh Coaft, and fuch would have been the fatal Event, if: Mcicnamara had continued the Voyage and, Mr. Bofcawen had met and engaged him. Judge then how pernicious this Ignorance of the [ 24 ] the Number of the Enemy's Fleet would have proved to this once illuftrious Nation, had things fallen out as our M rs origi- nally defigned it* r It is extremely difficult to aflign anyRea- fon for Mr. Holbmrnes being difpatched at all to join Admiral Bofiawen^ the very Di- stance in the Times of failing of thefe Fleets rendered it improbable that he could join the fii ft Admiral before the Engagement between him and Macnamara muft have been totally decided, ?s is manifeft by the Event of his joining Mr. Bofcawen^ n -.'" ■ -v ». . It appears then felf-evident that the fcnd-^ ing this Admiral could have anfwered no o- tbci Purpofe than deftroying two Fleets in- ftead of one, and facrificing more of their Countrymen to the God of War, on the Al- tar of Ignorance. - ^ ■■ \. The Efcape then with which thefe two Fleets have been favoured, and the Succefs which the firft obtained in taking two French Men of War, inconliderable as it is, cannot with the leaft Appearance of Juftice be at- tributed m tHbutcd to the ill-plan'd Defigns of thofd who fent them on the Expedition. Can thofe Men be intitled to Praife for an Error in Judgment, in the French Admiral's lleturn of which they knew nothing ? and who, if he had proceeded on the whole Vo) age to ■ America y would in all Probability have ruined the two Fleets of Englandy fent as they wei e, one after the other, on this Expedition ? With what Propriety then can this unforefeen Event be imputed to the Foie-thought of thofe who prefide in m— - — 1 and naval Affairs ; (liall the Advantage of Accidents, unimagined, be laid to the Account of their Penetration and Wifdom ; as well may you attribute the Winds which blew the Fleet to the Coaft of America to their Sagaciry, as the little Succefs which they have obtained in the Voyage. The juft Reward of thefe Men then, is the Difhonour of planning an Expe- dition that, thro* the Ignorance of what Numbers the Enemies Squadron was form'd, would in all human Probability have been the Perdition of two Englijh Fleets, and Thou- fands of brave Men and ufeful Subjedls of Great Britain, ., . . But as there may be Englijhmen who, prompted by national Prejudige, believe that D Ad- If Admiral Bofcawcn with his eleven Ships was* a Match for Macnamara and iive and twenty French Men of War j let us, fuppofing thiS' to be true, examine the Prudence with which, under this Idea, the Expedition wa& eondudled. < • j , I First it is a felf-evident Truth, that there can be no Evidence or Intelligence of a Fleet's failing to any Part of the Globe, e- qually certain with that of its leaving the Port in which it is equipt j the firft, however well founded it may be in the Opinion and Judg- ment of an Enemy, can in its Nature be no more tlian cafual and the Height of Proba- bility; the fecond mufl be Demonftration and Neceflity. ^ Ml N I sTERs may alter the Nature of theiF Defign in an Hour, and fend ;:i Fleet which was originally equippiiig for one Part of the World, to another ; they may purpofely give out different Tales to cover their Intentions, or the Powers engaged againfl them may be left to divine its Intent only ; thefe Circum- ftances may alter or conceal the true Place of its Deflination. But no Change of Sentiment or Difguife can prevent a Fleet's being difco- vered in failing, out of that Port in which it is armed,. { 27 ] . armed, whether deftined to the Baltic or Africay America or Japany however dubious the Place of its Deftination may be -, neither of thefe can alter any thing in its Manner of Jeaving the Harbour in which it is prepared for the Seas. "J ' '. ' / Supposing then the Strength of the French Fleet had been perfectly known, and Mr. Bofcawen had commanded a Force fuflicient to have defeated it, which he might with Eafe have had under his Command, there being at that Time twenty Ships of the Line at Spithead more than his Squadron* mofi: of them fully man'd. Is there a Boat- fwain of the Fleet who would have fent the Admiral to the Banks of Newfoundland, •where Darknefs palpable like the /Eg^ptian^ is known, by every common Sailor in the Navy, to reign three fucceilive Months in the Year, in one of which the French Fleet mufl have paft thefe Parts of the Seas; where Fogs that conceal more effedlually than the darkefl: Night all Objects which pafs within the Length of a Ship, mull have faved the greatefi Part of that Fleet which they were fent to deflroy ; a Place to which they never might arrive, or never be feen if they did. The ConfcQuence ^f their being fent has evi- ., > D 2 dently [ 28 ] dently proved the Truth of this Obferva-^ tion. ■ '-'■ ^"' ■ ■'' '■ ^ ■'' '"'r What fliall then be faid in Favour 6f that Man who ordered the Englifi Navy frora thofe Parts where the Enemy's Fleet muft inevitably pafs, to one where they might not have been ordered to fail ? To defert a Part in which they muft be vifible to all the Squa- dron, for one in which they would probably be enveloped in a Cloud, like JE^ieas fecured fiom the Eyes of all Beholders ? What is this but fending Ships the longVoynge U) Ame- rica, with the greateft Rifque of milling in thofe Seas that which they mufl have met in the i?r////6 Channel ? Is not this the firfliln- flance of an Underftanding that has prefided over Fleets and Armies, that preferred a may be to a Demonftration, and quitted a real Ad- vantage in Certainty, for one of lefs Value in Probability only ? Is it not owing to this Caufe that fo little Utility has been reaped from this Expedition, and the French Fleet efcaped al- moft unfeen ? Was there ever a Pcrfon till this Time who would have defertcd the Door of the Houfe of that Man he wanted to meet^ and who muft come out of it, to feek him in the Streets where he never might pafs, and prefer even Darknefs to the noon-tide Hour, '■ for 'I 1 ) [ 29 ] for that Bufinefs ? Is there a Country Gentle^ man who could judge fo diametrically wrong, would he have fent his Game-Keeper ta fhoot Woodcocks by Night? • Yet fuch is the Goodnefs of Heaven as Mr. Bofcawen was prepared, inferior to th? Fleet which left Brejl ; the Abfurdities of thefe Directors have preferved our Navy from a Defeat, and our Nation from a greater public Difgrace. For if Mr. Bofcawen had been ordered off Brejl, the Place which in right Reafon he ought to have been ordered, the Ignorance of our M rs in the Num- ber of that Fleet which firft left Br eft, would have proved the Deflrudlion of him and the Etiglijh Squadron. So gracious v/as the Will of Heaven, and fo abfurd the Judgment of thofe who prelide over naval Affairs in this Kingdom. This Condud: of our M rs is not however without its Advocates -, the Reafons for juftifying their Proceedings in this Manner are yet more extraordinary than the Behaviour itfelf : It is moft gravely ur- ged in Defence of this Condu6l, that the French Squadron was not attacked in Eu-n rope, becaufe their Allies, particularly the Spaniard, ftiould not take Umbrage at our Behaviour j or filch an Adion bring on Hof- tiU ties w i ' tilitics ill Europe. What kind of Capacitie* inull thele Men polTds, who can imagine that an Englijhmcm of common Senfe can be cajoled with fuch frivolous Pretenfions to a Juftification of wrong Meafures. Who can be deluded to believe, that a Fleet, freighted in Frajicevf'wh Arms, Ammunition, Soldiers, and Provifions for America^ can create any Difference of Opinion in a Nation, whether 3t be defeated on the Coail of France or the Banks of Newfoundland, Thefe Advocates muft have well ftudied Grotius and Fuffen- dorff^ who make this Diftindion j and un- derftand human Nature to great Perfe(flion who conceive, that the Spanijh Miniftry can t)c influenced againft England^ or to its Ad- vantage, in favour of, or contrary to its own Intereft to join or oppofe the Powers of F ranee y by fo fubtle a Diftindtion, as our not engaging that French Fleet in Eur ope ^ which you determine to deftroy in America,* A Defeat in this Part of the World of one half of the French Navy^ would have humbled the * That this was given out as a Reafon to cover theil- Miflakes, and not thro' any juft Apprehenfion of Spanijh ^efentment, is now evident from the taking the French Merchant-Ships, and Mr. Hawke\ cruifing for theif Men of War in the European Seas. . . ' !:■:*■..; ^ ■ 4 ^1 ^ [ 31 ] :he Gallic Arrogance, prevented S/>ahi and the Allies from joining the King of France -, and cooled their Ardor for War, in Propor- tion as it diminifhed the Powers with which it mufl be fuftained. 1 \ » I ij The depriving our Enemies of their mi- litary Force is the mofl effedual Method of intimidating their Allies from joining them : few chufe the finking Side of a Qucflion, and add a Probability of their own Ruin to that of thofe who are already deftroying. Though the drowning Perfon feizes every thing to fave himfelf ; yet few catch hold of him that is finking, with the View of going along with him. But in the Manner we have proceeded, what have we done but behaved like Poachers, with all that little defpicable Cunning of fending our Ships at a Diftance, to efFed what it was prevented from doing by the Nature of the Place : a Specimen of that mean Timidity and Weaknefs of Capacity, proceeding from the Exercife of corrupting, and being corrupted^ which has been long too manifell: in all our m 1 Meafures. A Difpofition which effedually difgraces a M r, and infal- ;' J{{:';-;>., ■ ,,'i i [ 32 ] libly ruins a Nation. What have we done more than fliewn, that our Navy though the moft pov^Tfful, and our Seamen the braved ; by the wrong Judgment and ii- niftcr Diredtion of our Rulers in m 1 Affairs, can be rendered abfolutely incf- fedtual. i ■' ' ■ f * » %i J. We have cautioned and not chaftifed the French -, we have fent a brave Admiral, brave Officers, brave Sailors, and feventeen Line of Battle Ships on a ufelefs Parade to Nova Scotia^ at an immenfe Expence, to take two French Men of War and to lofe one of our' own. We have been the Witnefles to the landing their Troops in America^ and not prevented their Expedition. Such is the Concluiion of all the boafled Secrecy, Dif- patch, and ravifliing free-born Subjedls from the Arms of their Wives and Children j and fuch the Refult of the Wifdom of our — 1 Condudtors. m This then having been the Succefs and Cordudt of our naval Armaments ; let us now turn our Eyes on thofe of our Land- Forces, and candidly enquire, if the Wifdom of our M rs has fhone forth more emi- nendy in the Management and Defign of our Army on the Continent of America, - It • • • • f C 33 ] It was at length rcfolved, that General iBraJdock, with two Regiments, and all necef- fary Provifion for a Siege, fliould be fcnt to ulmencdy to defeat the Schemes of the French Nation, which had been artfully ufurpjng the Dominions of our Sovereign. And here it is impofllble to avoid remarking, that the Alarm which was fpread againft the French Infolence and the Meafures taken in confequence of it, were not fo nluch undertaken from the Repre* fentations of the various Provinces oi America ^ as from the pr Vate Intereft which a certain Quaker had in the M y, to whom Lands on the River Ohio had been granted by the Governor of Virginia^ which have fince been ratified in England* This Man, being at the Head of a Sedl which has conftantly fupported the M — -r in all his ftrenuous Endeavours for Power, and Defigns upon his Country, was attended to with greater Deference, and had more Weight than the Remonftrances of Two Millions of faithful American Subjedls, who were flill totally negledled : To much can the Intereft of one Man, who heads afadlious Sedl in favour of a M r, prevail beyond the public Good E of : ^. r. •^J »'J « - a * . 'ii/}--. :,h Vl >^. [ 3+ ] of the Subjcdls of this Kingdom, and the Honour of its Sovereign. ', ♦ t Wh » Fort Lequef?ie, fcated on the Ohio, m thofe Lands which were granted to this Quaker, was the Objedt which General Braddock, and the Britifh Forces were deftined to demolifh, the French were to be diflodged from thefc Parts, at all Adventures. And in this Place it muft ftrike the Senfe of every Man who refledts one Moment, that this very Perfon, v/hofe Princ iples prevent him from bearing Arms in Defence of this Land, which was granted him, had yet the unrelent- ing Confcience to obtain many Hundreds of his Fellow Subjedts to expofe their Lives, and fall a Sacrifice in repofTefTing the Lands of him, •who, by his profefled Principles refufes to take Arms in Defence of thofe who combat for him, and in Prefervation of that Country which bred him ; fuch are the Proceedings of this Anti-conflitutional and pernicious Being. ^ The Expedition, however, being fet on foot the fame Identical Quaker, who had Influence fufficient to get it refolved on at firft, had yet the farther Intereft of its being deftined to de- fend Virginia : the Reafon of this will foon appear • I [ 35 ] appear more evident i and here, notwithfland- ijig wc fhould allow Fort Lequefne to be a place which ought to be attacked, wc mufl infift that Penfyhania was the Place where the Troops oughi to have been difcmbarked. First, This Country being fuller of In- habitants, and all kinds of Handicraft Work- men, could have eafily fupplied whatever an Army might have flood in need of at that Time. Virginia being a Land cultivated by Negroes, muft, for that rcafon,be more deftitute of European Settlers, than Colonies where Blacks are not in ufe. Secondly, The additional Numbers which might have been thought neceflary to have been raifed for this Expedition to the Ohio^ would have been mor ; cafily levied in Penfyl- 'vania than Virginia, ' Thirdly, The requifite Attendants of a Military Expedition, fuch as Horfes, Carts, Cattle, Provifion, and all kinds of Tools, are Jn greater Plenty in Fenjykania than Virgi- jiia. This is evident from the Neceflity the •Army in Virginia was under, of having thofe Utenfils and Supplies from Penfyhania before }% marched. E 2 Fourthly, ;l i [36] Fourthly, The March of the 'troops to Fort Leqiiejne from Philadelphia^ had been for a much longer Part of the Road through a fettled and cultivated Country, where all Kinds of Refrelhments which are ufefulfor an Army in hot Countries, and fatiguing Ma«> ches, might have been fupplied with greater Eafe, . _ ; '"•',1 ." . - -: Z.tfi ' .■7.1* -i r-.^ . ^. \:.J] ^' « ', _ . _;" ^*»iri The i.iiportant Advantages which attend- ed Penjylvania above Virginia^ though repire- iented to our M- rs in the moll flrong and demonftrative Manner, Were all negle F ., Com- / [ 42] Communication and Power of Support from Fort Lequefne^ and this latter Place niuft of confequence furrender itfelf in a very little Time, into the Hands of thofe who poffefs Niagara : This Aflertion is as true, as that the Power which can ciu off the River Thames at Maidenhead, and turn it into a new Channel, prevents Wind/or from being fupplied v.ith that Water. - 'A This Fortification of Niagara then, fituat- ed between the Lakes, being abfolutely the Pafs by which all Supplies muft go to Lequef- ne, the taking that alone fhould have been the Objedt of our Forces. The Defign on Lequefney fuppofing all to have been honeft that produced it, could have taken its rife from nothing but want of Know- ledge in common Geography, no Eye that follows the Courfe in the Map, which is al- ways taken by the Canadian French from ^ebec to Fort Lequefne, but muft be necef^ farily convinced that the idk\T\gNiagara would have anfwered all the Purpofes of poffefling that and Leqtiefne. ■ ■ ' . . ■' Thus. / •'■':■■■::■ [43] ■ • ■ '. Th u s the difgraceful Defeat of our Army,' the Difrepuration of our General, the Deftruc- tion of our Subjedls, the Expence of the Ex- pedition, and Difhonour of the Nation, might have been prevented. But alas! fuch has been the undcviating Cuftom of the Englijhy fince the Adminiftra- tion of the late Earl of Or — ^, to bear Infults from all Nations inattentively, till the Refer- voir of Injuries being full, the Banks are broken down, and the Torrent of Refentment ru(h- 1 ing forth with too much Impetuofity, deftroys by its Violence and Quantity, the very Bene- fit which it would otherwife have afforded by being deliberately and juftly difpenfed abroad. Too flow in our Refolvcs in the Begin- ning, and too impetuous in the Execution of them at laft, the Zeal for doing, too frequent- ly defeats the Reafons and Powers which con- duct and fupport our Enterprizes. There are not wanting indeed Men well acquainted with thofe Parts of America^ who> with great appearance of Truth, and force of ■ Argument, alledge, that a few armed Veflels J F 2 on [ 44 ] on the Lake Ontario, would have fecurcd us a fafe and eafy Conqueft of Niagara and Fore £ V ^n^' It is indubitably true, that no Ship V t . T-e or Burden can enter that Lake from the Head of the River St Lawrence : confe-r quently the Englijh Ships being firft fet z, Swimming on the Lake Ontario, they mud have prevented all Supplies from going by Water to Niagara, as well as deftroyed all Ships pretended to be built on the Borders of the Lake by the French j as the Englijh by that Condudl would become abfolute Mafters of that Water. r > Hence, by the Cruizing of thefe Ships it being rendered impradicable to fupply Niar gara and Fort Lequefne, a few Months con- fuming the prefent Provifion would have giv- en us Poffcflion of both. Famine being an Enemy which no human Power can refift. 'I V Thus then, by obferving this Condud, a fmall Expence, a prudent Patience, a fteady Perfeverance, and a little Time, would have accompli(hed what has already failed in one fart, ' ---■-•■'■ ^'^■^' ^^#'lL_i_„ ■ . ^i - Let \ [45] <• •% Let us however fuppofe that h was abfa- lutely neceffary that an Army (liould be fent • to the befieging Fort Lequejne from England^ fhall we be permitted the Liberty of aiking thofe who chofe the General for this Expedi- tion, and diredled the Undertaking ; whether • a hot impetuous Arrogance of Temper is that which is adapted by Nature, or fhould be pitched upon in a Man who is fent to Com- mand an Army in a new Land, where Hard- fhips, more than in Eturopean Countries, mufl be undergone by the Soldier, where Affability and Companion, Gaiety, Popularity, and En^ couragement in a General, are the neceiTary Ingredients to fweeten and palliate the Bitter- . pefs of that Draught which War adminifters to the Tafte of all Nations, and to win the People to his Confidence and Obedience. Would a Man of common Underftanding have fent a felf- willed, felf-fufficient, ra(h Com- mander, to oppofe an Enemy in a Country re- plete with Opportunities and Situations for Ambufcade and Snare ? The Genius o^ which People is to combat their Enemies in that w:iy of Fighting 3 a Man whofe very Preluinption, ^ - 11 ' / ukv. [46] - Idea of Security, and Contempt of his Enemy, cffedlually deceived him into the Ruin of his brave Officers and his Army, with an Addi- tion of Difgrace to his own pec iliar Deftruc- tion; fuch a Difpofition in a General is a greater Advantage to a difcreet Enemy than a thoufand fighting Men added to their Party. • And here permit me to obferve, that it fecms owing to this want of Judgment in thofe who have long appointed our Command- ing Officers, that the Panic at Prejion Pans, the Fatality, as it is politely called, at Falkirk, the Flight at Port UOrienf and the Difgrace at Fort Lequejnt, have thus fucceeded each other, in a great meafure, as well as to the univerfal Corruption of thofe Men from which the Soldiery are generally coUeded. Had the Soldiers poflefled a full Confi- dence in either of the Generals, who com- manded on thefe Days, they would probably have behaved with the fame Spirit they did at Culloden, when the Duke of Cumberland, in whom every Soldier confided, led them to an eafy Conqueft, and rouf^d the Rebels at that Place. It '=*"■ .' '[47] Iris this Confidence of an Army in their General which unites every Hand into one Adlion, animates every Heart to tlie fame Obe- dience, and executes, by a happy Belief in their General's Excellence, what is vainly ex- pelled from the exadl Difcipline of Exercife in a Martinet ; thefe are the Means, and not the Regularity of moving the Legs of a whole Rank, which incite and carry a Soldier on to Vidlory. . ^ . ,. . ,.. .. , ., , ,, . From what has been already faid, is it not felf-evident, that General Braddock fhould, inftead of dividing his Powers, have marched in Union with Mr Shirley to Niagara^ if they were determined to take that Fort by a land Force? , I But by thus having divided their Forces, and his being defeated four Days before Mr Shirley began his march for Niagara, Mr Brad-' dock has given his Enemies that received him fo fatally near Fort Lequefne, the unexped:ed Opportunity and Advantage of being at Nia- gara before the Americans under the Com- mand of Mr Shirley, and aflifting their Coun- ■ . - . ,,v--- ^ ^ try- ■\ '• X I C48] try-men with all the Ammunition, Cannon, and Baggage, which were taken at thisdifgracc- ful Defeat: This Circumftance, if it fhould not totally prevent, will abfolutely retard the tak- ing Niagara, produce mofc Bloodfticd, and expend more Money, When we refledl oh the Behaviour of our Troops on this difaftrous Spot, fo fatal to £«- gli/h Honour, how can we refrain from obferv- ing that the Irregulars of the Provinces held their Bofoms firm againfl that Battle, and that Danger, from which the Regulars and difci- plined Troops turned av/ay ; and that native Courage fupplied to the uncorrupted American, what Art and Difcipline could not impart to the Soldiers of Great Britain, , , •■--*,•' This, in my Opinion, offers an invincible Proof, that a Militia in this Kingdom, raifed amongft the Farmers and Pealants, where Virtue yet remains in a much greater Degree, than amongft that corrupt Rabble of perjured Corporation Borough-men, from whom the Soldiers are chiefly collected, where every mo- ral and religious Influence being effaced by Bri- bery and Venality, all Senfe of Honour and Duty li ^ t !■:• C 49 1 Duty is dcltToycd, would be a more cfFcdual Defence of the Kingdom from all foreign At- tacks^ than ten times the Number of (land- ing Troops, compojOed of fuch miierable Milr <;reants. .f, — l-r«Jii ^^^ti'^ t ^i00 : . ; But alas ! fuch is the Difference in Jud^ ment and Conduct of that M— — y which dired^ the Affairs o£ France and this Kingdom, the Subjeds of a free Nation are not permitted to know the^Ule of Arms, and defend them- fclves, their Liberties, King, and Country,^ whilft thofe which we treat as Slaves in that Natk>n, are encouraged to the Ufe of Military Difcipline, and entruded with Arms to defend, alas, what we call neither L'' )erty nor Property. Show me a greater Paradox in all Nature, and explain to me the Motives to this Beha- viour in the different M ^rs on juftifiable Rt^ions, why a ftee People fhouldbedeniedthc Power of defending their Freedom, and thofe under a Monarchic Government ihould be; openly encouraged to Fight for Slavay. Is ^avery more natural to Slaves than Freemen?, or is Defpotifm a more animating Motive ta the Perfon who lives under it^ than tha Charma of Liberty? „ ^ ,., . ^.,^ ,., .,.^,,.Ji i'j G Thus [50] * Thus, my Countrymen, Ihavc, with the ut- moft Impartiality, laid before your Eyes the true Proceedings of thole who have lately con- duded our Fleets and Armies. From this View does it not too plainly appear, that the Direc- tion of each has been totally miftaken ? Provi- dence indeed, in pity to this favorite Ifle, has almoft deviated f om the common Courfi; of Nature, and once more iaved its Fleets from Dilgrace in ipite of all the Ignorance that fuper- intended them . A Miraclt. only could have favcd the Army commanded by a fclf-Willed Gene- ral, who arrogantly defpifing the Powers of his Enemy, fell the Vidim of his own Folly and their fuperior Knowledge. «— -- Jtf'iijn^ i> • How contemptible muft we appear in the Eyes of all Europe from this Imbecility of M 1 Judgment in the Choice of Gene- rals, what Expectations of Succefs may not cur Foes flatter themfelves with, from this vi- fible Inequality of Underftanding in thofe who diredl, to the Greatnefs of thofe Powers which are to be conducted by them daring a War, when they have feen a State the flrongeft in maricime Force fo totally divefted of i< >«i» 1^ v 4 I <• [51 ] orall Advantage, by the finiftcr Application of its ^^avy j an immenfe Fleet preventing not their Enemies from being fupplied with every thing neceflary to fupport '.hemfelves during a War ? What muft we conceive will be the ultimate E^ent, when M rs, by the natural Bent of their Underftanding, can defeat all our Armaments with fcarce an Enemy to oppofe them ? Will they, whofe Capacities, in Tranqui- lity and at Eafe, might have planned the De- ftrudion of their Enemies Fleet, and yet have failed, be equal to the Condudl of a general War, and Succefs ? ^ Will not thoie, who have been the dudlilc Dupes of their own Incapacity, and a Quaker's felf-interefted Defigns, in appointing ufelefs Expeditions and unequal Generals, be eternally bewildered in the Turbulence of a general War, and the Attention which is neceflary to a Multiplicity of Affairs ? 'ty«t I'' ^' Will thofe then be' lefs open to the Schemes of their Enemies, than to their own Follies, and the Defigns of iheir deceitful Couiitrymen ? Will thofe Eyes which could 'x:^mH G s, not not difcem the true Objed that ihould be pur- fucd, when one only was in Agitation, be capa- ble of fupervifeing to the inikiite Calls of a general War? . 'i'i':u'iii-j^ii Ik: m '. What more beneficial Suggeftion in Fa-r your of France could Monfieur Machault have infinuated into the Imagination of our M r, than this, of concealing the Fleet of England in Fogs impenetrable to human Vi- iion, rendering them invifible and ufelefs? Who but this Bayes in Politics can elevate and iur-< prize in fb amazing a manner? He has conceal- ed his Ships in Darknefs as efFedlually as his Namefake did his Army at Knightsbridge, Is not this, as a certain Speaker in P — — t began his Speech; *' new in Politics, new in War, ^xA new in Council. ... tilt f^ It is more than probable that Macnamara^ not meeting our Fleet in the European Seas, had Orders to return, and confide in their Invi- fibility on the Banks of Newfoundland for their fafe Arrival in America, In this how little was he deceived? VAii- i/i ■ro; - «rf ,.*, '^ ■ ^i MS fi V'\ - i Hence •«. / C 53 3 * Hence it too evidently appears, tlisftwe are in that finking State which, throtrgh all Ages, has sticnded t!hc Want of Underflarttd^ ing and Virtue. !f then the Refurredion oif i Nation from Sloth andCorrnption, to Hdnout and Efteem, depend on the Capacity ofthofe M-' — rs who dittia it, how dreary and barren IS the Profpe<^ which is etcr^ially offered to our Eyes ? • -f'f •- ' ■!>}' Nf* '*i 'O ■ !■■ .t Is it not the fettled Rule of Providence, that the beft Underftandings fhall always prevail at laft, though in the Beginnii^ fometknes the contrary appears true ; yet here, alas, w6 want that flattering Commencement. It is like the Calculation of Chances ; though the Period that deals at Pharo may be worfted once or more, he muft mfallibly get ♦' e better at thq Year*s End, and ruin thofe who ei^ge with him at the Conclulion. If then the Diredioa of M-^ — 1 Affairs run on in this Channel, what ihall defend us from National De&rudion, which comes failing down before the Wina ^nd Current foil ariaod tipon as :? ■ ^*v* But [54] But as my Intent in this Letter is to ad- moniih you, my Countrymen, before it be too late, and not impute that to a criminal Heart which is but Error in Underftanding; to clear myfelf of all Malevolence againft the private Charaders of thofe who fuperintend, I mod fincerely believe, that no pernicious Intention in the M y has been the Caufe of thefe ill-judged Undertakings and Mifcarriages 5 they have not taken their Source from Spleen, or Refentment to a Party; which too often warp- ing the Minds of M rs, drives theni into unbecoming Actions; their private Refentment urging them to the public Ruin. ;'7* * •■• " . . . \i t 1 N this Inflance, their Hearts being not cul- pable, will excufe them for this fingle Eflay of their Incapacity, in ;he Opinion of all ho- neft Men : But if the Ambition of prefiding iii public Affairs, a Paffion too often and too fa- tally mixed with Weaknefs of Underftanding, fhould ftill goad them on to direcft and ruin, what will then be their Due Tom your Hands? Yet even tho' Incapacity may plead a Par- don, it does not annihilate the Difgrace which » ^^ attends « I ^ [ 55 ] attends the Nation in confequence of it : Tho* the Puniftiment due to premeditated Villany cannot be imputed to the Charge of thofe Di- rectors, yet the Sufferers .:re not alleviated by that Conlideration in the Diilrefs which they bring to a Nation. Weaknefs and Incapacity are even more fatal and deftrudtive than a wicked Heart joined to fuperior Intelledls in a M r : This laft, thro' pure Underftanding, will exert every Faculty; conceiving his own and his Country's Intereft infeparably united,- his Judgment will corred: his Miftakes, and rc-inftate what may have been originally wrong : But want of Intelledl is irremediable ; BO human Power can corredt that Error; its i)atural Lumpiflinefs, like Gravitation in Mat- ter, making it tend for ever to the Center of Darknefs; lik^ Impotence in Nature, pro- ducing nothing, or but ill-{haped Monfters : It is the moil incurable of all Difeafes of the Mind.^^iil bfiU brn t>.n:.r.n-r^ .no ;-rq «• I * » ' I •■ ''*•.!• ^ '4 t.;.- . , . , , . . v, , . .. , i. What I wi(h then, is not to roufe you to thcDeftrudlion of thefe Men, but to your own Prefcrvation ; to awaken your Attention, that d^ -f ",^-'.- • 'V ■ ; ■'■-'■ nods m \,h nod? over the Ruin wWch forroiinds you, tliat,' like the pafalytic Stroke, feems to benfjimb your Faculties. Rile then to die Salvation of your expiring Country j urge to your Repre- ifentatfvcs the Refoltition of obtaining a fupc^ rior Undcrftanding, as effentiaHy neceffary to the Frefervation of this Kingdom, which ought to be dear to every Englijhman. Do not imagine I mean to intimidate you with the Dread of Perils, or alarm you with Ae Idea of Trench Power, to the afking an^ Ignominious Peace. I am no Advocate but for my Country, and for Englifli Glory : all 1 intreat you is, not by exclaiming againft French Perfidy to loie ^he Sight of di^ladng thoTe, who, by the Want of Underftanding, ai« yet greater Enemies to this Nation. ■ tA -»UJt iJt*\. JL As I know that Succefsmuft ultimately de^' pend on Prudence and Underftanding, that Heaven has originally determined that human Glory fhall be the Slave of thefe and Virtue, as youv Lives and Pi^operties, Liberties and Reli- gbn, mu&be the ignominious Vidbimsof wrong ^.v.i ? ' Judg- <^' j> / -I '■" . .V [ 5.7 ] Judgment. Remember how dangeroufly you are at prefent fituated. Will not one Mifcarr riagc in Europe pufli you headlong into the Giilf of Perdition, from that Precipice on istYach. you at prefent ftand expofed ? -^^t)'i*- > '.jvhivio ,^"i:'i f)io8 i '') i ,->'"i )« ^ i Let hot tlie Clamor of Diipatch, and Irti^ . "petuofity of warlike Preparation, deceive you <:i into an Opinion of thefe Men. The head* ftrbrtg Horfe, whofe Violence carries him without' the Gourfe, as efFedually lofes the Race as that which is diftanced : The Traveller I who rides Poft out of the Way, is at the Evening ofiJy more . tired and farther diftant from his Home than he who trots on foberly^ and Fleets and Armies deftined by ftrong mif- . guided Impulfe to wrong Places, ufelefs and > inapplicable Defigns, only fooner exhauft the Powers of a Nation. „ ,',. Let me iniplore you then to remonflrate to Majefty itfelf, if your Reprefentatives refule your Petition, that able Heads may dired his Councils J and that Arms be intrufted to your Hands, in whom Safety can be only placed 5 who love your King and Country, and are H ^ ready ^Kmmf ^m mm 11^8]] Kfldyto oflerisp your Lives a S^nfioe to their PrcfcrvaiionHndiWdfatCi'-iJ.it iTAoin :l '.n:i t jli^BT yx% mot *aii4.thus, almpftin^e4 ?ff4 . expofed %q Uk^, j^^tacks and I^ulf^.of tW9 .. hundred thouiand Soldiers, ourfelves defend- ed tylefs than' ty^ty-thoiif^': i)L£attleioft IB this Ifle dejcldes the Fate of Engkfnd. Re* xtiedy thofc ^yilsi p]^ ypurfelvei, jov^x JCiog^ And Country in Scc^Htys ^j^ife yqur Encr inics by Sea. j8^J}§v^ .me ia vdi^ % h^e uu ^ tcltd, Jeftj Bkplbft frfl/4;ii who negleft^ the ?vo^h^i:k^ oi Caffanika^\^% inattentive, and fcce\c,f • ^f :*J' ■h-