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Les diagrammes suivants Mlustrent la mAthode. rata elure, : 2X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 i U 4 ,1*^^.1 '■«*.,, Hi i ) I yt ^-, c c ^ f ' r ^-*r/-2 A N EARNEST ADDRESS To the PEOPLE of Great-Britain and Ireland. r PiKc ONE SHILLING, j n- ■ ■ ■r^.. • ' ti' %. ^1 ^t .1 L-M&A. «!«..4J^-;^^>*«A.<,^'ii'ii,J - •>4| •'■mm -k~i« •"■'"£ji ' t ^ >fj-'' ■»' w *" ■■ ■■>■' .h ; .,.,-,■»«■■ > ■■:i?i . - »|P)f<»" •■" I . ij 1 Hiimjpp^pp A N EARNEST ADDRESS To the PEOPLE of Great- Britain and Ireland : Occafioned by the DifmiflTion cf W I L L I A M P I T T, Efq. From the Office of Secretary of State. ! 5k 'Or aHC LONDON: Printed for W. OWEN, at Temple- Bar. MDCCLXL ^■f^i^mimmmim ■■'._, » _ . *' I ■« f * ■ ■ ' ' ■■■ L - I 1 ' I -;K>Hbur.: '"t;;' o: I'/ A N ■..;;:':;,(/.. ^'i:.. ;:: Earneft Addrefs, &c* ,'.) n:::n--:: .: -i:'.) f.'i ',1 ?^=t- TrUfidsy and Fellow- SubjeSts, HIS earneft and ferious Addrefs to You, is written not in the Spirit of Party, Envy, Fadlion, or Difap- pointmcnt. It is occafioned by the Dif- mipion of a very eminent Man, fro^i an elevated Station, which he has filled with Honour and Integrity ; an Event which fu- ture Hiftorians will hardly be perfuaded to record, as it appears to be diametrically oppofite to the Honour, Intereft and Qon- ftitution of this Country.— It is far from my Intention, to endeavour to heighten the Cha- ra^er of Mr. Pitt, by any fulfome Flatte- B nes, ^ >' [ * 1 rics, or depreciate thofe of his Enemies (for '. cvreA that great Man has his Enemies) by ^ any ftudied Abufe — All I afk is, to be read with the fame Candour and Impartiality that I write — to be permitted to lay unqueftion- able Fads before you, and in the moft friendly Manner to exhort you to exert your- fclvcs, by all fair and honeft Means, when the Honour, Intereft, and Glory of your Country, is at Stake. — To the Friends of their Country I write — By the Friends of their Country only I defire to be read — If wrong, 1 have erred through a Warmth of Zeal to ferve my Country — If right, I have attained the utmoft Height of my Ambition ; the Defire of being ranked amongfl the low- eft Clafs of thofe, who have endeavoured to the utmoft of their fmall Abilities, to render fomc eflential Service their Fellow-CitizenS. It is a Truth too notorious to be here infiftcd upon, that the Origin of the prefent War, was entirely owing to the Perfidy and ^i^ri(^an Incroachments of the French-, a People [3 ] People deftitute of all Principles of Mora- lity, Honefty, or Jaftice— .A People who account Perjury a venal Crime, and break through the moft folemn Treaties, with as much Eafc, as Sampfon broke his Bonds, when Intereft, Humour, or Aml^ir tion excite them to it — A People more no- torious for their Breach of Public Faith, than the Inhabitants of old Carthage^ who, in procefs of Time became fo infamous, that Punica Fides was a proverbial Expre(^ iion amongft the Romans, when they would cxprefs any thing fuperlatively falfe or trea- cherous. Providence, indeed, wearied at length with the repeated Crimes of thefe Wretches, configned them to Deftrudtion ; and Carthage^ once the Arbitrefs of the World, was no more. — ^That the fame Fate may attend upon the Nation, that not only imitates, but improves upon their Plan, is the Wifh of every true Briton' 1 (hall now proceed to lay before you, the incoherent Meafures taken by the lafe Mini- ftry, at the Beginning of the prefent War j 3 2 offer [ 4 } ' offer fom<5 Reflections on the Methods they- made ufe of to encounter our mod artful Ene- my } recal to your Memory the time, when this unhappy Nation was on the very Brink of Deftru<5tion ; point out to you the Man, who (under God) reach'd out his friendly Hand to fave us, and was our great Prefer- ver i recount the Conquefts and. Vidtoriea during his Adminiftration j and laftly, to clofc the Scene, tell of his unacountablc Difmif- fion from the Public Service, when ^e vain** ly flattered ourfelves, that Snccefs, Unani-t mity, and Gratitude had placed him abovQ the Reach of Envy, Ignorance or Trea- chery. , . It was in the Year 1755, that the French \i\ America liaving received greatReinforcementSi from Old France J to the N umber of 6000 Men of the feledled troops, advanced with hafty ftrides, and formed their Camps, and built their Forts upon the Ohio. The late King, upon repeated Remonftrances from America^ was at laA pleafed to appoint a Commander in Chief J the unfortunate, the unhappy , Bl^AD- iif- 'if * [ S ] Braddock, was the deftlned Commander. . — An Honour fatal to himfeif, and to his Country — This Officer complains in his Let- ter to the Englijh Miniftry, that he had in- numerable Difficulties to ftruggle with j that he was in a mountainous Country, pathlefs, and unknown j that he was difappointcd ia every thing he had to do either with Eng- land or with the Provinces — That, inftead of 2500 Forces, and 200 Waggons, he re* ceived only 20 Waggons, and 200 Horfcs ♦—That he was obliged to make a Road acrofs Mountains and Rocks of a very great Heighth, not only irnmenfcly fteep, but divided by the mod rapid Rivers. How well the Englijh Miniiftry were acquainte4 with the Situation of the Country, or the proper Difpofition of the Forces appointee^ for that Service, will beft appear by the fubf fequent account^ On the loth of Jme^ Mr. Braddock fe^ out on his March for Fort du ^efne ; he had before ordered his army to be divided into. |W9 Parts—The firft confided of ab-^ut 1300 i^mmm t 6 I 1300 Men, with the General at the Head, with the Ammunition and Artilieryj the fecond, with the Stores and Provifions, was led by General Dunbar ^ whofe Force con- fided of near 800 Men; but Braddoek marched fo faft, in order to attack the Ene- my, before a Detachment of 500 regular Troops could reach them, that Tiunbar was left near 40 Englijh Miles behind. The dreadful Slaughter that fell upon the EngUJJ:) Army in the enfuing Battle, is too well known, to be expatiated upon here. The Blunders of the £«:^///2> Miniftry, threa- tened all our Colonies in America with Ruin and Defolatlon ; all the Efforts made to pre- Tent the Incroachments of the French^ and recover our juft Rights, were fhamefully weak and ineffectual, and the Year 1755 will be remembered in the Annals of Greats Britain with Shame and Sorrow. If you all remember the Meafures purfued by the Miniftry at this moft critical Time, afraid of entering into a War, which they were un- ;&ble to condu(S):^ afjraid of forfeiting their placesj I i t 7 1 Places (the moft lucrative ones in the Kirig;- dom which they had divided among thera- felves) by Mifmanagement, they would have patched up a Peace with the French Court, on Terms that would have been fatal to the Honour and Intereft of the Nation, had not the Voice of the People, the Voice of Li- berty, been heard ; the People were the true Judges of the Infults and Injuries fuftained by their Country, and the proper Methods of avenging them j they would no longer be deluded by the palpable Chichanery of their natural Enemies the French, with one Voice they demanded a War ; a War, as it would in all Probability have been dangerous to re- fufe, was granted and managed by the Mi- niftry, as long as they were fufFered to have the Diredtion of it, in fa fcardalous a Man- ner, that it is fincerely to be wiihed that iEra could be blotted out of the Englijb Hiftory. J^ M The War had fcarcely commenced, when our ^j/Ajw/ Managers, akrmed to thehigheft Pegree f ' I [ 3 ] Pcgrce it a few flat-bottom*d Boats, which Report told us, were colle<9:ing in fome of the Ports in France ^ threw the whole Nation Jnto an extreme Pannic, with the News of ^ French Invafion— Our Fleets, our proper, our natural Defence, were thought of no Service. -^ And in order (as they called it) to protfd us, as if, like Children, we were not to be truftcd without Guardians, they brought a Difgrace upon this Nation, which all the Waters in all the Seas that furround it, cannot wafh out : A large Body of hireling Hanoverian and Hejjian Troops were tranfported hither from the Continent 5 a Meafure fo pufillanimous, fo abfurd, and ridiculous, as expofed us to the Scorn and Contempt of every Court in Europe j for it was well known, that all the vaft Prepafa* tions that were at this Time forming in France^ were deftined againft the Ifland of Minorca j the Report of invading England^ the attempting of \Vhich never entered into the Heads of the French Miniftry, being only I only r 9 ] only a Tub thrown out by them for our ftate Whales to play with. Notwithftanding the Parliament was more generous than ever, in their Grants and Supplies, notwithftanding the Largcnefs of our Fleets, the Number of our regular Forces — yet nothing was done — America was utterly negledted, our Ships lay rotting, off the Ports of FrancCy which yet they could not efFedually block up, and our Sol- diers lounging in their Camps, or in their Qiiarters i public Credit was ftrained to a very high Degree, when the News arrived that a large Body of French Troops, under the Command of the Marlhal Duke de Richlieu, had effcdually made good their Landing on the Ifland of Minorca, and were a(Stuallv Maflers of all the Places in the Ifland, Fort /S/. Philips ai;d the other adjoining Forts, excepted. If we confider the Conduct of the M'l- nlHry at this critical Jundlure, it will appear C mod i; [ 10 ] inoft aftonifhing ; certain it is, that (o early as the Month of ^//rg-///?, 1755, Advice was received in Ejigland of the vaft Armament that was preparing at Toulon j the Earl of Brijiol, AmbafTador at Ttiririy Mr. Birtksy Conful at Nice, Mr. Banks, Conful of Car^ tbagefia, all the other Confuls in the Medi- terranean, General Blakeney, Governor of Minorca, General Foivke, Governor of Gib' raltar^ and Sir Benj. Keene, Ambaflador at the Court of Madrid, gave pofitive and re- peated Advice? of the certain Deftination of the Toulon Armament. Notwithftanding all this, fo great was the Inattention of the Efiglifh Miniftry to the Honour and Intereft of their Country, and the Fate of the im- portant Illand of Minorca, that no Prepa* ration were made for its Relief, nor was any Fleet ordered to fail from England for its Protedion, untill the Eighth of March, 1756 ; a Fleet, confifling only of Ten Ships of the Line, altho' it was publickly known that the French Fleet confiflcd of Thirteen Sail of the Line, and Seven Frigates. — True ^mm^'- [ " ] True it is indeed, tliat Commodore Edge- combe was at that Time in the Mediterranean, with a fmall Squadron of Three bhi^is of the Line, and Five Frigates, but the Mi- niftry had no Advice whatever of his Safety, nor knew they whether he was blocked up by GaliJjo7iiere\ Squadron in the Harbour of Mahony or had retreated with his little Fleet to fome neutral Port in thofe Seas, for Se- curity and Protedion ; whether there was a Probability, or even a Poflibility of hi? ever joining Mr. Bytig, who commanded the Squadron fent from England -, they never en- quired, nor indeed did they leem to trouble themfclves about the Fate of that gallant Officer, or of thofe under his Command. I am now obliged to come to a moft re- markable and difgraceful Period in the Englifi Hiftory — the Twentieth Day oi May, 1756, was a Day fatal to the naval Glory of the Brittflj Nation ; our Enemies had the Pleafurt, and our C untry the Mortification, to lee the French Flag riding triumphant over . C 2 the T I II r 12 ] thcvanquifli'd Mediterranean. Unufed to Vic- tory, on the watry Element, our Enemies could fcarce believe they faw 2inEngUJh Fleet, almoft equal to them in Number of Men and Guns, fliamefully retreating before tbem, and meanly giving up the Sovereignty of the Sea, the Pofle/Ton of which hath coft this Nation fuch 3:j immenfe Quantity of Blood and Treafure — A Sovereignty, which had it not been almojl immediately retrieved, by the Care, Honefty, Activity, and Vigilance, of our late glorious Minifler, had rendered this Ifland a petty Province to France, and laid the Sons of Liberty in Bonds — Bonds the more grievous, as they were unac- cuftomed. I ■4 After the Defeat of the Englijh Fleet, which happened almoft in Sight of the Gar- rifon of Fort St. Philip, it would be un- neceffary to mention, that the Governor ap^ pointed to defend that Place, upon the De- parture of Mr. Byng with his Squadron, not only loft all Hopes of Relief, but even defpaired toVic- nemies > Fleet, f Men : tbem, of the od this ' Blood [:h had ed, by gilance, indered cey and -Bonds unac- » Fleet, he Gar- be un- nor ap** he De- on, not ut even efpaired t 13 1 defpaired of holding that important Fortrefs, untill frefh Reinforcements fliould arrive. — The Troops indeed behaved with the utmoft Spirit and Refolution, hv* the Com- mander in chief, (I do not mean the lead Reflection on a Mtin worn out with Age and Infirmities, and who is now no more) was certainly very improper for fo important a Truft. Fort Strugen having been taken by Affault, and Argyle'% and the ^eerCs Re- doubts by Efcalade, he thought proper at laft to beat a Parley, and furrendered upon the moft advantageous Terms. Thus fell Fort St. Philip, the Capital of the Ifland of Mi- norca J a Lofs, which if a Spanifi War ever infues, will not only be the greateft Dif- grace, but Detriment to this Nation, that ever happened — as it is an Ifland moft commodioufly fituated for Trade, betweca the mofl: wealthy Parts of Africa, Afia^ and Europe j an Ifland that not only awed in the moft confiderable Degree, the Fortrefs and Harbour of Toulon^ but was in the laft War fo fevere a Check to tha . I [ H ] the Spanijh Operations in Italy y both by Sea and Land, that every Method was taken by that Court, to get it once mere into their own Hands. — How great the Lofs of Mi- norca was to the Englijh Njtion, will beft appear by the advantageous Situation of the Place, and the great Quantity « " heavy Ar- tillery, Bombs, Gunpowder, occ. found therein, of which the following is as nearly as poflible, an exadt Lift, viz, 800,000/^. of Gunpowder; 290 Pieces of Cannon fit for Service, befides leveral others that had been ruined or difmounted during the Siege j 85 Mortars ; 17,000 Bombs, and about i3>5oo Cannon-Bails. — The Regi^ ments of Cornwallis, Rich, Husk, and Effing- ham, compofed the greateft Part of the Gar- rifon. — Where fome of the Colonels, and mpft of the inferior Officers belonging to thofe Regiments were, during the Time of the Siege, I cannot pretend to fay j certain it is, that they were not upon Duty in th^ Garrifon. Now * ■■-«■ ' [ >5 ] Now it was that the French in Reality triumphed J they had indeed feen (almoft for the firft Time) an Englijh Fleet retreat- ing before them j they faw French Colours flying on the Ramparts of a Fortrefs, once cftcemed im pregnable i they faw this Nation covered with Shame and Confufion, and flattered themfelves they were in a Condi- tion to give Laws as well as Faihions to Europe. This great Stroke to our Honour and Intereft alarmed even our mod pacific Statefmen i Admiral Broderkk^ about a Month too late, was fent with five Ships of the Line to reinforce Mr. Byng; but Advice having been, foon after Mr. Broderick\ De- parture, received in Enghmdy of the Sur- render of Mitiorca^ and the Defeat of our Squadron, Sir Edward Hawke, accompanied by Admiral Saunders, was ordered to take upon him the Command of the Fleet in thofe Parts, and the unfortunate Byng was immediately put under an Arreft, and fent home, not only loaded with Inf\my, but Exe- crations, 'A [ i6 ] crations, and foon after fell a Sacrifice, whether to Juftice, or to Minlfterial Influ- ence, you, my Fellow Subjcdts, to whom I addrefs myfelf, can beft tell. < \ I i S ' The Nation in a Flame, Minorca loft, the Infults offered to Englijh Ships in the Mediterranean^ a general Defpondencc among the People, the yet remaining Dread of a French Invafion, the Inability of the Miniflry, all confpired to render the People of England gloomy, difcontented, and me- lancholy; in vain you looked round for Succour J no friendly Hand could be found to avert the impending Deflruftion j if you turned your Eyes to Europe^ all was Infa- my, all Difgrace j if you looked towards America^ Defeats, Difappointments, and the Lofs of the valuable Fortrefs of Ofwego, ftared you in the Face. — In j^Jta Affairs wore a ftill much worfe Afpecft -. the valuable Settlement of Bengal was lofl, and the moft horrid, mofl cruel Treatment of your Coun- trymen at Calcutta, brought Tears into the Eyes . I '^ rifice, [nflu- /hom I loft, ips in idencc Dread of the People [id me- nd for p found if you IS Infa- towards and the Ofwego, Affairs ' valuable le mod Coun- nto the Eyes I '7 ] 6yes of every Man that was pofTefled of the ieaft Humanity. — Addreffes from all Cities and Corporations in the Kingdom, complain- ing of the Miniftry, and of their Meafures, were prefented in Abundance to the King, •*— they afked for Redrefs, but where was it to be found ? The Time was not yet come when a Deliverer was to be offered to this infulted, oppreffed Nation. For a fhort Space of Time, indeed, Mr. Pitf had Poffeffion of the Seals, but his Adminidratidn was too ihort, to render it poffible for him to put in Execution the feveral excellent Plans his great Genius had formed ; add to this the Oppofition he met with from the old Mi- niftry, who had conduced the Beginning of this War in the Manner above defcribed, who thwarted all his Schemes, and endea- voured to the utmoft of their Power to ruin his Credit with the King, and with you his Countrymen and Fellow-Subjeds. On this important Occafion, give me Leave to congratulate you in the moft cordial Man- D ner ^^ ui Ci V i If [ i8 ] ner, on your fplrited and patriotic Behavi^ ^ur ; no fooner was your able, your favourite Minifter out of Power, but Addreffcs flowed in from all Parts, and almoft every Corpo- ration in the Kingdom prefcnted him with their Freedoms in gold Boxes, a plain Proof how highly they refented his Difmifllon from the publivj Service. The old Miniftry how- ever Wf nt on in their ufual Manner, but at length finding themfelves unable to profecute the War with the lead Likclyhood of Suc- cefs, and having in vain attempted (notwith- ftanding the great the furprizing Vidories gained by the King of PruJJia about this Time, in which they would willingly have claimed a Share) to regain the Confidence and Goodwill of the People, a Coalition of Parties was the only Thing they could hope for ', this was happily brought about, and to the inexpreflible and univerfal Satisfaction of the Nation, Mr. PITT once more took upon him the important Office of Secretary of State. Now all was Joy, all was Con- gratuUtion, the Genius of the Nation feemed to I ehavi- rourite Rowed ^orpo- 1 with Proof n from T how- but at ofecute f Suc- )twith- idories ut this ly have tfidence tion of id hope It, and sfa(Sion re took icretary 2S Con- feemed to t 19 ] to revive again — The Fears of a French In- vafion were entirely diflipatcd, and we threa- tened to carry the War into the Bowels of our Enemies Country; inftead of talking of Defeats, Vidories were premeditated j Ame- rica was once more thought to be a Country, which we had a natural Right to prefervc, and Plans were formed not only to recover the Forts the French had taken from us in that Part of the Globe, but to make Con- quers in our Turn, and endeavour to make ouilclves Mafters of the whole Country of Canada. Our Fleets were now looked upon as our natural Bulwarks, and the Plan of the War entirely changed from defenfive to cfFenfive ; inftead of hireling Foreigners, vvhofe Arrival here brought Difgrace upon the Kingdom, a national Militia was raifed, who foon atta'iied to the PerfevSiion of Re- gulars, and Britons once nrore had Leave given them to defend their own Coafls. What an happy, What an agreeable Change ! From Difgrace to Vidtory — from Contempt to Glory ! Britain once more bid fair to be P z . thi the Arbitrcfs of Europe^ and to hurl Ruiin and Deftrudtion upon thofe Powers who wantonly or wickedly had the Infolence and ^ Temerity to infult or provoke her. The Violence of Party was cxtinguiflicd, Unani- fnity fuccceedcd to Fadion, and the Voice of Complaint was heard no more. s Under thefe favourable Aufpices the Ye^^r 1758 opened, Activity took Place of Negli- gence, and the Ports of Ckaihaniy Portf" mouthy and Plymouth, were hurried in getting ready Armaments of the grcateft Import- ance. The People foon found the Blefling of their new Minifter, and were not long ii^i waiting for Proofs of his fuperior Genius;, Penetration and Sagacity. Even the old Minifters who had moft violently oppofed him, confcious of their own Inability, con- tented themfelves with following his Direc- tions, and in a Manner v/holy gave up the Reins of Government into his Hand. What I am now going to relate to you, is a Series pf fuch extraordinary Succe/Tcs, as ought to t' make V [ 8> ] make the Heart of every EngliJJman fwell with Joy and Gratitude. — In Truth Provi- dence feems to have ordained Mr. Pitfs Ad- liiiniftration to be the Mt2l in which the Britifi Arms both by Sea and Land, fl^ouJd lattain to the higheft Pitch of Glory ; — An ^ra not to be parallelled in the Pliftories of England f and which will refledl Honour upon us to our lateft Pofterity. The firfl: Blow the French received during this fuccefsful Adminiftration, was in the Mediterranean^ where Admiral OJborn was ftationed with a Squadron of Men of War, in order to block up Mr. de la Clue^ who was in the SpaniJJj Harbour of Carthagena with a French Fleet , De la Clue lay very fafely in Port, without once offering to ftir out, and waited for a Reinforcement of three Ships of the Line and a Frigate from France, but Admiral OJhborn had made fo judicious a Diipofitlon of his' Squadron, that on the 28th of JJpril, the Englifi Men of War, the Revenge of 64 Quns, thi Berwick of 64, the Prcjlon of cQ, the Monmouth of 64, the Swiftfarc of 7c>. I- 4 [ 22 ] 7©, and the Hampton-Ceurt of 64, fell m withMonficur 1- t 33 ] Guadalupe was aided to the Britijh Domi- nions in the JVeJl-Indies, — The Confterna- tion of the Court of France was inconceiv- able on this important Acquifition ; which annually produces a much larger Quantity of Sugar, than any of our other IHands in that Part of the World, Jamaica only accepted. Thus fell the Dunkirk of the Weji-Indies^ to the Glory of Great-Britain^ and the Shame and DIfgrace oi our Enemies. > Let us now once more turn our Eyes to North America y where we fhall find, that the fame Meafures produced the fame Ef- fedsj the brave, the experienced General Amherfl had the chief Command, ever for- ward to help the public Service j he marched in perfon, at the Head of a formidable Army* to attack Ticonderago, and Crown Point j the former of thefe Pofts was abandoned almoft as foon as Mr. Amherji appeared before it 5 nor did the Garrifon of the latter hefitatc long, whether or not they (hould follow the F Ex- [ 34 ] Example that had been fet them. This was the mod material Place the French had in that Country, as it lies between Albany and Montreal, and, not only efFedtually covered Canada, but led the French to our valuable Colonies, New-England and New-Tork, After the Redudion of Crown-Point, the Attack of the French Fort of Niagara was concluded upon, and the sSiegc was formed, when Mr. Pridcaux, tne Commander in Chief, was unfortunately killed, by the burft- ing of a Cohorn j General Johnjon imme- diately fucceeded him, and carried on the Siege of the Place, with fo mach Refolu- tion and Vigour, that Monfieur D* Aubrey, the French Commander, refolved to rifk a a Battle, in order to relieve it j the Event is known to you all j the Army of our Ene- mies was entirely defeated, and Niagara furrendered within a Day or two afterwards. By this Vidory, all the Communication be- tween Canada and Loidfiana was cut off, the valuable Fur-Trade was fecured to ourfelves, the Navigation of the five great Lakes of Canada [ 35 ] Canada was now in the Power of the vic- torious Army, and the Lois of that moft ex- tenfiv" f .'ountry feemed to be inevitable. Th ne " ' idition of Trance was at this Time truly mill, hie j Diftraclion reigned in their Councils, their Generals were diffident and jealous of each oth^r, they were extirpated . f''om Africa^ their Affliirs in Afia were far fro.n wearing an agreeable AfpeiTt, in America they were difcomfited, and in Europe they met with nothing but Difgraces ; their favourite Projed: of getting Poflefljon of Hanover had proved abortive, their Navy was difpirited, a,nd their Armies unclcathed and unpaid j and inilead of affixing their Allies, as they had promifcd by feveral Treaties, they wanted Af- reliance themfclves j they had to do with an^ Knglifi Minider, who by his Penetration de4: feated all their Schemes, by his Vigilance and Ad:ivity routed all their Fleets and Ar* mies. In Lhis miferable Dilemma, Madncfa and Defpair appear to have infpired their Mi- nifters, they now revived, in Earneft, that Pro- je^^ which before they had only amufed us F 2 \yith ; r i.,i ■> t! [ 3<5 ] with } Great-Britain or Ireland was a<5tually defigned to be invaded j 60,000 of their re-f gular Troops were encamped on theii Coafts j the Brejl Fleet, as foon as ever joined by that from T'oulotiy was to efcort the innumerable Tranfports and flat-bottom'd Boats to the Place of their Deftination. Let us one Mo- ment reflect on Mr. Pitt's Behaviour, at this critical Jundure, in (lead of cauiing 'a dreadful Alarm to be induftrioufly Ipread thro' the Nation, inftead of procuring fo- reign Troops to be brought over for our Defence, he took the mofl €ffe(5lual and pro- per Methods to repel the Aflaults of our Enemies j Mr. Boys was fent to lay before Dunkirk J Rodney bombarded Havre de Gr ace ^ the (killful, the intrepiu Bofcawim, was fta- tioned off Toulon, and the brave and refolute Hawke, with a ftrong Squadron, formed the Blockade of the Harbour of Brejl. With fach a Minifter to condu61: her Afrairs, with fuch Commanders to execute his Orders, what had Great- Britain to fear? With what Contempt, my Fellow-Subjccls, did you hear the Menaces of your enraged Enemy ? With what [ 37 j what Scorn did you treat their Vows for your Deftrudion ? Secure as the Grecians behind the fcven-fold Shield of Jfjax^ you faw un- difturbed your Opponents Impetuoufly ruih^ ing upon certain and immediate Deftrudtion. Admiral Bofcawen having been driven from the Harbour of Toulon ^ by contrary Winds, was obliged to put into Gibraltar to refit, the French Fleet confiding of 14 Ships of the Line, and 3 Frigates, com- mand^j^ h Monfieur de la Clue^ took that Opportunity of putting to Sea, but the Vi- gilance of Mr. Bofcawen was fuperioi to the Cunning of his Enemies 3 he had Advice of their Departure from one of their Frigates, and followed them with fuch amazing DiPI- gence, that he foon came up with them j the Fren(:h Admial was killed, and the Ocean of 80 Gwvi, on board which he had hoifted his l^h%, .'^s burnt, four other Men of War were take 1 or deftroyed, and the Jlemains of their Fleet got into Cadiz. As foon as this difagreeable News was received in FrancCi the ^enfible Part of their Miniftry were > 1 1, I 38 ] were of Opinion, that this projedcd Invafioa ' could only ferve to |5;eep up the Spirit of tho people, lilready too much funk, and that the iafeft Way was to keep the Brefl Fleet in the Harbour j but they were over-ruled, and the Fatality that attended all the Vrench Armies and Fleets, during the Adminiftration of oup great Miniiler, did not now leave them. The Defeat and Difperfion c ' Jhe French Fleet, off Cape Lagos^ did not, i \ have juft mentioned, fet afide their favourite Pror je<5t of invading thefe Kingdoms. -r— The Ruin of their Army at Minden^ and the Lofs of the Eledorate of Hanover^ which they had in a Manner taken PolTeflion of, urged them on with redoubled Fury. The Men of War were to fail from BreJ}, and the Land Forces were to be tranfported fron^ Valines. It was Winter when thefe Prepa- rations were made, a Seafon, which they fondly perfuaded themfelves w^ould infallibly oblige the Engli/h Squadron, commanded by Admiral Hawkey to quit their Coafts. But they were again difappointed ; our Navy in- deedj, M) t 39 ] deed, was driven by a violent Hurricane Iri- to Torbay^ and Monfieur Conflaiis^ u^ho was the 'French Commander, took the favour- able Opportunity, which that critical Mo- ment prefented, of putting to Sea. The News of the Brefi Fleet being failed foon reached your Ears, but you received it like Men, and every one of you prepared to ex- ert himfelf tothe utmoft, in defence of. your King, and your Country. But our Sufpenfe did not lad long ; Advice was received that the EngUJh Squadron failed from Tor hay, " about the very fame Time that Coirflam had quitted Breft. Mr. Hawke very well knew that our Enemy's Ships of War would be of no Service to them without their Land For- ces and Tranfports, and very prudently fleer- ed immediately for ^iberon-Bay. On the 2oth of November in the Morning, his Fri- , gates made the appointed Signals for feein* the Enemy ; the Coaft was full of dreadful Rocks and Breakers, unknown to our Efig- liJJj Sailors, and the Wind blew a perfeA Hurricane j but thefe were no Difcourase- ments to men refolved upon Victory or Duth \' \ ; I t 4ci ] JOcath — But why (hould I repeat what is eii* graved upon the Heart of every true Briton f ^—Conjlam would neither fight nor fly — His Fleet, a few Hours before, fo formidable, was either difperfed, burnt, funk, or taken* Such was the Event of this Day, glorious in- deed to the maritime Power of Great Bn'" fatjty and to the Officers and Soldiers con- cerned in the AcUon ; an Adion that en- tirely broke the Naval Force of our Ene- mies, and left the Britifi Fleet at Liberty to fail in any Part of the Globe they pleafed, without even the poffibility of meeting an Antagonift. I will not detain you by recapitulating the Vidlories we obtained this Year, by Land and Sea, in the Ea/l-Indies,-^Thc Attempts ot the refolute, the enterprizing T^huroty his Death, and the Lofs of his fmall Squadronj are fufficienty known.-*Lct me prefent to your View, Matters of much greater Im- portance, which bid fair to extirpate our perfidious Enemies, at leaft from the New World, uiilefs a (hamefu! and unconftitu- tlonai [ 4' ] tional Peace (hould render all the politic and prudent Meafures of the great Minifter fruit- lefs, and all the vaft Profufion of our Blood and Treafure void, and of no Effed:. It had been refolved in En^land^ that ^ebed, the Capital of the French in North -America^ fhould be vigoroufly attacked both by Sea and Land, at the Time that General Amherji was making the beft of his Way to the Ri- ver St, Laurence^ by the Road of Crown- ^ .nt J a Body of near 7000 Men, under the Command of General fVolfe^ and a pow- erful Fleet, under Admiral Saunders, were prepared for this Service* The River St. Lawrence, up which they were to proceed, was utterly unknown to the Englijh Pilots i and our Enemies flattered themfelves, that the erroneous Accounts they had given of hidden Rocks and Sands that never exifled, but in Imagination, would have deterred the Englijh from their Enterprize. But they had to do with Men, whom neither Danger nor Ditliculties could affright ; Men, who did not ferve for any mercenary Views, but G cn- ^ A w [ 42 I ^ndeavo^ired to ex* ad the Fame, and en-! Urge the C^nqae/. oi h^h Country. With thefe generous Sentiments, the Britijh Army appeared before the Walls of Sluebec, where JVIonfieur de Montcalm, the French Comman- der in Chief, and much the bcft Officer they had in North- America, was ported with an Army, infinitely fuperior to that of Mr. Wolfe. The Town had been fcvercly cannonaded, mart of the Houfes were laid in Aflies, but the Time of Surrender feemed not to be near at Hand ; it was neceflary to attack and diflodge Montcalm if poffible, before there could be any Hopes of our making oufelves Mafters of the Capital of Canada > a Battle enfued, but the Impetu- ofity of our Gran adiers,( who inftead of form- ing upon the Beach, until they could be properly fupported, ran in the utmoft Hurry and Confufion to the Enemies Trenches,) render'd in a very fliort Time a Retreat ab- folutely neceflary, which was conduced if> a Manner that did Honour to the Abilities of the General. The News of Mr. WoIfe^s . > Defeat [ 43 ] Defeat arriving in England^ caft a little Damp upon our Spirits, as that Officer was juftly cfteemcd one of the moft able and amiable in our Service ; arid we trembled left our Enemies (hould remain Mafters of Isluebec, a Place which our Countrymen had more than once attempted without Succefs. But our Fears were foon diflipated, for a few Hours after the firft News was brought, an Exprefs arrived with an Account that Mont^ calm was totally defeated, and ^ebec in Pofleflion of the EngliJJj. An Event glori- ous to Great-Britain, beneficial to her Trade^ and advantageous to our Colonies in North- America, Nothing could pofTibly have lef- fened the public Joy, but the great Lofs we fuftained in the Death of General PFolJe, who commanded, who like the great Gujiavus fell at the Head of his conquering Troops, while Vidtory lay bleeding by his Side. An Officer of the decpeft Judgment, clearefl Comprchenfion, and undaunted Bravery, who had introduced fuch an excellent Difcipiine into bis Corps, that Kearjleys fix Battalions I G z will ^ ' [ 44 ] will be remembered, until the Plain of Minden is forgot. In this moft glorious and fuccefsful Manner ended the Campaign in North- America. Such was the Influence of our penetrating and vigorous Minifter, fuch the Power of an unanimous Nation, fuch the Bravery of our Officers and Soldiers ! I could expatiate with the utmoft Pleafure on the other important Advantages during Mr. Titfs Adminiftration, but the Reduction of Montreal, and confequently of all Canada, by General Amherft, the Conqueft of ^t, Domingo, the Extirpation of the French from India, by the taking of Pondicherry, and the Acquifition of the ftrong Citadel of Palais and Ree, are too recent in your Me- mories to be enumerated here. I am now going to enter upon a moft difr agreeable Subjed:, but as I have no other Motives in penning this Addrefs, but the , Profperity of my Country, I Ihall lefs fcruple to give my Opinion on an Event, that has ^^riick eyerjr Lover of this Country with Aftq- ; . > nifhment. [ 4S ] nifhnoent, and raifed the hopes of our de* fponding Enemies to the higheft Pitch. The Frejuh unable to face us in any Quarter of the Globe, their Commerce loft, and their public Credit utterly deftroyed, refolved to endeavour to obtain that by Artifice and Treachery, which they found impoflible to be done by Force of Arms -, ever excellent in Negotiations, ever fure of gaining by Treaty what they lofe in the Field, they de- clared they were weary of a difadvantageous War, and afked for equitable Terms of Peace J thefe were oflFered them, and the World was furprized at the moderation of the victorious Engliftd, — But even thefe were rejedted upon fome frivolous Pretences i the French had a great Point yet to carry, an Important one indeed tb them, and ia which if they wholly fucceed, Infamy will be the Portion of thefe Nations : Their Mi- nifters too well knew, that while this Na- tion was unanimous, and Fadion banifhed from our Miniftry, they could have no hopes pf Succefs 3 but the Ty: was to be diffolved • if Hi \ i i..i> [ 46 ] if poflible, and for that Purpofc, all Methods were to be tried j a proper Pcrfon to be fcnt over to England under the Charader of a Negotiator was now to be pitched upor\. No Perfon was found (o proper as Monfieiir uc BuJJyy a Man whofe Artifice can only be equalled by his Infolence; it is not long fincc this artful Spy and Incendiary arrived here, and the bleffed EfFeds of his Refidencc among us have been remarkably exr fenced, and will be long remembered by the People of this Nation. * Almoft the firft Thing he did in England, was to bully the J5r/V//6Minifl:ry, and threaten Mr. Pitt with having Hanover in his Pocket J our great Minlfter only fmiled at his Prefumption, but little did he think that Bujy was at that very Time endeavouring to effed: his Removal ) nor was the French Emiflary idle in other Things, of the utmoft Confequencc to his Mafter j if Report fpeaks Truth, and there is too much Reafon to Relieve it, he raifed in £7?^/Waconfiderable at. . / [ 47 1 Loan at Ten per Cent, in order to recruit the exhauftcd Finances of France, Some confiderable Time was this Man permitted to remain here, vifited, carreffed, and enter* gained by feveral of the firft Rank, in a mod magnificent and pompous manner, as if his Prcfence did Honour to the Nation, an Ho- nour which it is to be hoped he never will be fufFered to receive again.— At length finding Mr. Pitt immoveable in his Demands, hav- ing made Ufe of all his Arts with Succefs, he prepared to quit the Kingdom, but at taking his Leave, he declared that the King of Spain h lent his Mafter feveral Millions and 40 Su.- ^x Ships of the Line, and that unlefs we receded from the greateft Part of our Pretenfions, the whole Force of Spcrin would in a (hort Time be ready to fall upon us — A Lie, the mofl: infamous that ever was told, for we have fince been informed by Authority, that there was not the leaft Grounds whatever for fuch an Infinuation. However, it well became the Mouth of the Man that uttered it, and the Veracity of the ■ 3 M / ■< ; ( li . I ^ I [ 48 ] the Natron whofe Reprefentative he was," Men of Senfe and Refledion were uneafy at his Stay, but when he embarked for France, you, my Fellow- Subjeds, all re- member how greatly you exulted as if yoU had obtained a Vivflory — The Serpent indeed was departed, but his Poifon remained be- hind. . It was now believed, it was indeed ex- pefted, that the War would be carried on again, with greater Fury than ever, under the Conduct of our great Minifter, who had before profecuted it with fo much Vigour and Succefs. — But, with Sorrow I fpeak it, a few Days, fince we were informed that Fac- tions and Divifions had arifen in the Council,, always till now unanimous j that all the Mea- furcs of our great Patriot were rejedled, and that Mr. Pitt, unwilling to be treated as a Cypher, in a Place where he had fo long been heard with Attention, was dijmifed from the Office of Secretary of State. 1 1 .4 • Seme \i u ^i f 49 i Some of you, perhaps, may cavil at the Terra, but it is pretty generally known, that Refignation is only a fofter Term for Difmif- fion J let that be as it may, certain it is, that our Favourite, our valuable Minifter, is at prefent loft to his Country ; now let every Man lay his Hand on his Heart, and anfwer me, whether he does not believe, that Mr. Vitt had ftill kept his Place, had Bujfy ne-- ver came over to England. I do not wifh to be mifunderftood ; nor do I believe that there is any Minifter bafe enough, wilfully to betray his Country j no; do I think, there is any that would intentionally damage it in Its interefts, or Connexions. All I mean is, that Infinuations may excite Jealoufies, as fuperior Talents always do Envy. But Mr. 'Pitt'% Fnemies, not content with his Re- moval, have meanly endeavoured to preju- dice him in the- Minds of his Fellow Sub- jeds, by reprefenting his Patriotifm as only a Bait for a Penfionj when his Majefty ex- prefly declares, that it was given him in con- fideration of his great and important Servi- H ces. « M [ 5° ] CCS. He was permitted to fervc you no longer j he had impaired his Health, and facrificed his Pleafures, and dedicated his Time to your Glory and Intereft. Would you have fuch a Man difmifTed, without a reafonable Recompence, which is often be- flowed on the Undeferving ? Though out ot the Miniflry, he is ftill in Parliament, and will not fit tamely down, if any At- tempt ihould DC made to the Injury of his Country ; and fbould his Afliftance or Ad- vice ever ^ecome neceflary, where is the Man that would give it more freely ? — Others exclaim, that, inftead of retiring, he ought to have thrown himfelf on the People, who would have prote(-led and fup- ported him ; that is to fay, in other Words, they would have had him fet the whole Nation in a Flame, and given every Advan- tage to our artful and perfidious Enemies, by rendering us a divided and diftradted Peo- ple. — What the Operations of the prefent Miniflry will be, it is not eafy to forefee — - . That ^■^ r 51 ] That they may be for the Intereft and Glory of the Nation, is the Wilh of every Honeft Man. the by 'eo- ent 'hat J^r lends f and Fellow- StibjeSisy All that you have now to wifh for is, a glorious and profitable Peace j all that you have to fear is the Divifion of our Councils, and the Arts and Infinuations of your Ene- mies, who are now reduced to the lafl: Ebb, Spain having renounced them. You have feen how the Beginning of this War has been conduced ; fhould the fame Men and fame Meafures take place, Redrefs is in your own Hands. You have a great and glorious King, whofe only Wi(hes are, for the Good and Glory of his Kingdoms. You have a free and independent Parliament j ap- ply humbly to them j they will redrefs your Grievances, nor ever fuifer the War to be carried on by Men incapable of the Tafk, nor a Peace to be patched up that will difgracc the Annals of Great-Britain, You: Blood ao4 •1 '.I r u I?- ■< it Ah' [ 52 ] :\nd Trcafures will not be expended in vain, and you will have the Satisfadion of fee- ii^'^ vour natural, vour in'