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I t- it ^' < > .'II *^v •, r- "•,•, - ■ 4 - .'.1 Cl «i.v X' f-'^f: ^ i}di i* •i 'C t # 't MM THOUGHTS O N T H B QUEBEC ACT, I TH E ceiTion of Canada and its dependencies, to Great Britain by the laft treaty of peace> was fo valuable an acquifition, that its profperity and welfare muft ever be an obje^ of impor- tance to this kingdom; the advantages gained by it were no lefs extenfive to our commerce, than it was a perma-* nent fecurity to the tranquility of our colonies, by fixing the limits of our ■weftern dominions in that part of the globe, and thereby preventing any fu- ture difpute or controverfy of right arifmg between the two nations ; which, ivas the original caufe of the laft B war. ( 6 ) war. The treaty of Utrecht had fully fettled the extent of our northern colo- nies, but the weftern limits of thofe on the fouthern continent, was unhappily left to the decifion of the fword on a future day, which, fortunately for the peace of our dominions in that part of the world, was decided in our favour. The fecurity of our colonies was not the only advantage acquired ; the mono- poly of the fur and peltry trade was gained by it, and the extent of our fifliery greatly enlarged, as well as a moft extenfive territory, of near 1200 miles in length, and about 400 in breadth, which was ceded to us by that treaty. The eftablifhing of a fet- tled form of government in fo great a dominion, muft undoubtedly be an ob- ject of attention, and much more fo when we confider the increafed popu- lation in thofe parts within thefe few years ; in fixing upon which, there are fome particular points to be attended to, which ought to be confidered as the funda- t v ) ' *'■ fundamental principles of a government, intended to be given to a conquered king- dom. Firft, To adopt a government fuit- able to the gemus of the people ; Second- ly, One that does not violate a treaty of peace, and thereby leflen the faith of the nation, and leave open a jufl: claufe to invade the tranquillity of the king- dom in future ; Thirdly, One that can be executed with the feweft inconve- niences, and be fupported with the leift expence. How far the prefent bill is likely to efFe£t thefe ends, I fhall exa- mine, and conf^der the objections pleaded againft it, and prove that they are founded upon falfe and erroneous principles ; which I fhould be happy if I could think they arofe from an inconfiderate attention to the fubjed, and the intention of the bill, than an uniform, confiftent plan of condua, which charafl;erifes the op* pofers of it. + - V ■ ^i The ■( 8 ) If The general objedions are. That it has oot an aflembly. That it takes away the tri^l by juries in civil cafes* That it is a free toleration of the ca- tholic religion. That the jurifdidion will extend over other colonies. That it will prejudice our fifliery. That it is eftablifhing an arbitrary go- vernment, inflead of giving one on the principles of our conftitution. To confider whether the government intended to be given them is fuitable to the genius of the people, we muft take a view of the inhabitants, their cuftoms, Ijianners, land difppfitions ; and from a mature confideration of thpfe, deduce the principles we mean to eftablifh the governmcQt upon. The ^ ( 9 ) The Canadians form the greateft num- htr of inhabitants of thofe dominions, by the vaft difference of near 400 to one ; the generality of thcfe people are of amiable difpofitions, tradable, and eafily governed ; and having been long ufed to the French laws, they have had a rule of condudt for their adiions that they have learned from their infancy, and which by the diligent and impartial adminiftration of the French governors, and the particular policy of the French in forming the conftitution of their colo^ nies, were perfedly happy. — Now the end of all government being to pro- mote the happinefs of the people, thq* through different means — the laws the Canadians were under, perfcdly an- fwered the end of the inftitution ; the people were happy, they had juftice to the merit of their caufe, and they flou- riflied even under the continual drain- ings of a long war. When we confider this vaft trad of land, inhabited by a people unambitious, fond of peace, in- Z duftrious. I! . ( to ) diiftrious, and chcarful in Uieir fituation, and happy under a government not per- plexed with the vague forms of feme inftitutions, (and which overload our conftitution, and retards the procefs of our laws) but founded on the mod fim- ple principles of policy, we fliould pro- ceed with the utmoft caution in making any alteration ; a thorough knowledge of hu'nan nature is required in the in- , veftigation, humanity muft guides the cautious hand of power, or inftead of promoting the happinefs of the people, we deftroy the principles upon which their felicity depends : any innovation on their eftablifhed cuftoms and general rule of condudt will perplex them, and create fearful ideas of oppreflion, and caufe them to fpeculate on things that they are intirely unacquainted with, and likely awaken a fpirit of difcon- tent and faction, and annihilate that peace and tranquility, that the primi** tive governnient, and their thorough knowledge of the laws of it, and the willing-* I )i- SI if hi,' M % 'I ( " ) WUllngncfs of obedience in their difpo- litions infurcs to them. The oppofers of this bill are much in favour of eila- blilhing of auaflembly: fach a mcafurc, which is as inconfiilent as it is almoil: impradticable, when confidered on equit- able principles) would be the very means of creating murmur, and throwing the inhabitants into the utmoft perplexity, Unufed to political fpeculations, they are fcarcely acquainted with the idea of one, much lefs can they relifh being governed by a power they are ignorant of : as alfo the inequality of the proteftant fet- tlers to the catholic, would render an aflembly chofcn by them exceedingly unjuft. Popular afiemblies are fubjed: to many inconveniences, and England experiences in the conflitution of her other colonies how ill adapted they are to preferve the order and peace of go- vernment ; much more fo would they be in a colony where the ideas of legi- flation are fo limited, that the confe- quences of giving them an afiembly would ( « ) would be fo contrary to the form of* government that they have always been under, that thofe who are well acquainted with the difpofition of the Canadians fay, it would be rejeded with the utmoft ill humour and difcontent, and be con-- fidered as an oppreffive inftitution. The next point to be attended to, is the con- fequcnces that would refult to this king- dom as well as the colony from inftitut- ing of an affembly. Quitting the idea how ill fuited fuch an inftitution is to the difpofition of the inhabitants, I fliall refledt on the confequences that might be expected would refult from adopting fuch a meafure. It firft would occafion a meeting of men who moft likely would by no means be qualified to give laws to fo numerous a body, or be able to cohfult about the political affairs of the province; being chiefly planters and traders, the felf ruling principle of human nature, would be the conftant guide of their adions, and on that principle alone fuch an idea ought to be rejeded ; y| ^ •i .^ .t. ( ti $ fc]t€tei 5 and as it wotild not only take ofF their attention from their bufinefs, and thereby occafion a negle£t of the true intefeft of the colony, but would* fill their minds with chimerical ideas of importance, and idle fp^culations, great- ly to the difad vantage of the order and peace of the province : that in time Canada would be as over-run with patriots as BoiloHt The northern colonies would have ex- perienced a much greater degree of feli- city, had their government confifted only of a governor and council, with a board of trade, and other inferior officers and magiftrates to enforce the police of the kingdom, inftead of their aflemblies, where the moft important affairs of the ftate are cavilled in a manner that wotild difgrace the moft illiterate afTembly, and the dignity of government and maglftracy excited to ridicule under the mafk of patriotifm, and the public manners de- bauched under the puritanical mafk of a C religious ( H ) religious zeal : thefe are the evils that we experience; confequences that we. have before our eyes, of the danger of too freely admitting popular alTemblies, and the riots and diforder they caufe by their ungoverned and unreftrained power; and which when permitted to pafs un- heeded, become undaunted to the greateft degree, and almofl ungovernable without the difagreeable exertion of a military power. If thefe evils, of which we have proofs, arife in a colony which is faid to arrive to fome degree of civility, what may not be expedled from an affembly being admitted in a colony like Canada ? The advocates for fuch an inftitution have, little confidered human nature, its paf- iions, its vices, and the tendency of cur adions when ungoverned and un- reftrained. The government of the French colonies particularly deferve our attention, and is worthy of our imitation ; they take every precaution of a wife and prudent nation, to fecure good order and government ; a governor is appointed with ,' >*;h ( '5 ) with a proper power, and a council efta- blifhed to give him afliftance, as well as to guard the rights of the crown. A council of commerce is appointed to judge of, and to adopt plans for the pro- motion and regulation of trade; the adminiftration of juftice is not impeded by unneceflary forms and methods, and every care is taken for the well manage- ment of their internal connections, under the moil jiifl, prudent, and efficacious laws : without any of thofe pompous ideas of popular governments, which our countrymen are elated with, the people are happy, they are virtuous and induftrious. Happy would it be for this kingdom, were fuch plans adopted for the government of our colonies, inftead of that diforder and anarchy, that almoft univerfally reigns in them ; harmony, induftry, and virtue would be difFufed through every rank of fociety. The noble perfonages who planned this bill, wifely confidered thefe mate- Cz rial '* ''W { »6 ) rial paints ; a^d in giving them a go^ vernment, had the view of making a, great and flourifliing body of people h^ppyj inftead of creating in them a power to cjcf^roy tl^eir ^ ^ace and trai^-* '■in- :f. The objedions to their being governed by the French laws, are founded upoa the fame yarrow principle an4 injudicious ^nfi4ie^ftion that pleads for an aflfembly, (.et \is t^ke a view of the Canadians be-i ^re theconqueft, and obferye how thofa laws operated under the French admini^ ftration ; let i|s div^ft oqrfelves of na* tional prejudice, and-ipipartially ^pnfider tjhofe l^ws tha,t were adi^i^ift^red fp ipuph to the happinefs of the pex^ple; a,nd not bec?iuf^ tjiey were the la,ws of an enemy reje£t ; tjh^m,, when they are found by ei^pefience to be fo well adapted for the government of tl^e peo-. pie, and fo productive of order, har-? mony, and felicity : Laws however difr ferent they ni^ay be in form, if they. - . efFea V \ '. :■» ( 17 ) cfFe£t thofe great ends, the difputing about whether they are French, or Dutch, or Englifh, is but vain cavilling, and 9, difgrace to a Britifh legiflature. France fenfible how neceflary the ftrid attention of the mother country is to the welfare of her colonies, and that their profperity depends upon their con*- duQ: and management at home, does it\ every particular adopt the moft prudent meafures both for preferving a regular cjivil government, and for extending their trade : a moft judicious council of trade is appointed, compofed of men of the moft approved abilities, with a falary to make it worth the attention of gentlemen^ and who ^ are under a pro-» hibition not to engage in any trade themfelves ; the diligence of this boar4 and their deputies to the minuteft cir- cumftance of trade, render them as refpediable to the planters, as they are ferviceable to the prefervation of a juft find regtitar traffic. If fuc:h an inftitution, , ' ' ' ' * "VVhich li . It ( i8 ) which is founded upon the jufteft prin-' clples of policy, was adopted in our co- loniesy would be a moft beneficial plan for the adjuftment of our commerce. The judges of the admiralty quickly decided any difpute that arofe, or any fraud committed by the planter or merchant, and fo fpeedily that no inconvenience from unneceflary delays flowed from the inftitution. Indeed the civil laws that France governed Canada by, were par- ticularly adapted to preferve unity in fociety, concord in government, and obedience to the ftate : being fimple in their principles, the inhabitants wer^ bred up with an early knowledge of them, and feldom ki^owingly tranfgreiTed againil \heta. One particular which ftrongly marks the attention of the French government to the welfare of the colonies, and what does them more honour than f^veral boafted libertiesi in our conftitution does to Great-Britain, is their Code Noir^ the humanity and juftic^ in this, and other ordinances to- wards i r »9 ) wards thofe our fellow creatures, Oiovr feelings that refled the higheft honoup on that nation. '4 Now changing thofe laws that they have been long accuftomed to, and giving them a new code, would be attended with fo many inconveniences and per- plexities, that the general confufion it would occafion is a fufficient reafon to rejed the propofal; the people having an other rule for their adions fo dif- ferent to their former one, would be con- tinually violating them; and would juftly complain of the cruelty of being governed by laws that they were igno- rant of, and fo contrary to the principles of thofe they were bred up in : that the bleffing intended to be given, would, prove an oppreffive evil. The trial by jury in civil cafes in Canada, caufes an endlefs confufion; the almoft general diflike of it throughout the province,^ fufficiently ftiews that it is but ill adapted to a people whofe ideas of law and civil ; govern- I : ! » ( ao ) government are lb confined ; the refined policy of juries can never be fo well fulted to their limited notions of things. A principle of fubordination is natural in the people, and they look upon a de-» cifion from their judges with more awe, and more chearf My pay obedience to their edidts, than to the opinions of their equals, whofe too frequent want of unanimity in their determinationsi caufe a miftruft of partiality, and in general is looked upon by the people as rather an arbitrary inftitution, than a free one : not only that, perfons who are well acquainted with Canada, know the great difficulty there is in procuring people to attend as jurors, that the execution of tlie laws are fo impeded* and caufe fo great a lofs of time to the people, in a climate where it is fo pre- cious, that it occafions an almoft general murmur ; as well as their being obliged to defray the expences of their attending, an univerfal difapprobationof them. The introducing of a new mode arid form in 3 fettling i • ( 21 ) fettling their landed property, which muft confequently be from giving them, the laws of England, would fo annihi- late their eftabliflied cuftoms, and create fo many difturbances, that the very idea of it would ftrike terror in them ; it would be at once overturning that fecu- rity they refted their lives and properties upon, revoke their confidence in govern- ment, deftroy the bond of union with them, and diflblve thofe ties of obliga- tions that their ancient cuftoms had ce- mented. A wife legiflature, in giving laws to a kingdom, muft prudently guard againft diredlly oppofing efta- bliftied cuftoms, whofe long exiftence has rooted as a principle amongft them, and have grown up and been matured' with the foil, till they become almoft a natural principle in the exiftence of the people. This bill moft judicioufly guards againft fuch innovation, and of expung- ing thofe laws that neither the evils refuhing from them require, or the people themfelves requeft. The moft D eifential ( " ) cflential privileges of Engliflimen, and the principal virtues of our conftitution, the political and criminal laws of this kingdom, are granted them; if thefe two invaluable freedoms had not have been allowed them, an oppofition founded on reafon and juflice might have been made to the bill ; but thefe they will poflefs 10 their full extent, as Britifh fubjeits. The next objedion to this bill, is the free toleration that it grants to the catho- lic leligion. Whoever refers to the defi-, nitive treaty of peace, will fee that the Canadians' free exercife of their religion is flipulated ; this adt only mentions this particular, which it confequently mufl do, in giving a government where the difference is fo widely difproportioned ; it is ridiculous to fuppofe that this claufe is meant to fix the catholic religion as the eflablifhed one of this kingdom, or to propagate an eftablilhment fo fub- verfive of all our privileges, and fo oppofite to the principles of our confli- , tution J ( 23 ) tution ; thofe dark defigns are harboured no where but in the interpreters of a claufc which is meant to give ftability to the public faith, and to fliow our in- tentions of preferving it inviolate. An Englifhman, wherever he fettles, he carries his religion and the pri- vileges of it with him in any of his majefiy's dominions ; but Canada is a French ceded colony, inhabited by fub- jedls of the catholic perfwafion, to which the proteftants are no ways proportioned ; it is a conquered kingdom, ceded under the injunction of having the free exer- cife of their religion and its rights, to which the honor and faith of this nation is folemnly plighted to admit : that how- ever defirable it may be to propagate the proteftant religion, the hazard of attempting it by violating a treaty, and poflibly at the expence of deftroying the lives of thoufands of the human fpecies, are neither confident with its principles, er obedient to its dictates. The errors of the church of Rome hourly lofe T> z ground, I i i«j r ' { a4 ) ground, the craft of pricfts and dcfign- ing men begin to be fecn through by the people, and ihcy glow with a warmth to exercife their own right of undcr- ftanding ; the fupcrftition that had fo mingled with their dodrine, that it was difTicult to perceive any fixed principle in it, is almofl banifhed even in the feat of its nativity and maturation, that gives us room to hope that in time the erroneous principle of its foundation will as imperceptibly give way, as its greatefl fupport was fuddenly over- thrown 5 being now greatly dripped of that delufion that blinded the underfland- ing of its followers, its unfound and falfe principles will more nakedly ap- pear, and its errors make a ftronger impreffion upon the minds of its pro- feflbrs, and in time, work the general effefc of all inftitutions that have not truth for their fupport : that the danger of the catholic religion becoming uni- verfal, even if there was a general tole- ration of it throughout the world, is. but little ( aj ) little to be apprehended. The errors of a declining church, claim not the fame degree of attention from another fiate. as a nation that is immerfcd in error, paganifm, and fuperflition ; the grant- ing a free toleration of thatf would be wUfplly keeping the minds of men in errors of the moil dangerous confequence to their future eternal welfare ; a zeal to eflablifh truth, and to draw the vail that overfpreads and clouds the natural and uncultivated powers of the mind, *and unloofe the fetters that it rivets in man- kind, would be virtuous, and worthy hazarding the chance of war ; but even then, prudence muft govern the warmth of zeal, left in endeavouring to remove one evil, it may eftablifh and caufe others of equal regret and horror. The pro- grefs of truth is flow, though its con- verfion fure ; and perfecution, that child of error aiid fuperilition, only can be enforced when bigotry has ufurped the underllanding, and obliterated the feel- ings of humanity. A miftaken opinion .3 has ( 26 J has arifen on this bill, thfit his majefly^s proteftant fubjeds are deprived of their rights, their power leflened, and their privileges invaded : No, thefe they pol- fefs in as extenfive a degree as in any of the colonies ; the protedion of the proteftant religion is fo coeval w^ith the very exifteiice of our ftate, that' it will always claim the particular attention of the legiflature. The provifion allowed in this ad for the Romifh clergy, is no jnore than the ufual and accuftomed dues to that body, eftablifhed of the laws of England refpeding them, and didated with the greateft prudence ; by poffciTmg the benefits of their profeffion, they are as -equally contented as if they were under the jurifdidion of France^ or any other Romifh power, and keeps them from endeavouring, or even wifhing to efFed it. Pride and ambition are the charaderiftic of priefts of all nations, and no general charader was ever ap- plied more juftly than that ; then to per- jliiit an evil that in time v/ill work \t% I ( 27 ) own cure, in this cafe is a fecurity to fociety, by keeping ftill thofe dangerous paflions in a fet of men who peffefs fuch power over the people as the Romilh clergy. Indeed I look upon the permit- ting a free toleration of the catholic reli- gion, and its benefits to their clergy, a moft prudent meafure, dictated by that forefight and penetration that marks and diftinguifhes a great ftatefman, who in confidering of the means to adopt in the prefent date of things, forgets not that they operate on thofe of the future ; it is for the want of that prudent forefight that too frequently creates a difference of opinions in eftablifhing meafures to remove a prefent inconvenience, which without that precaution may create others of equal confequence, and of a more pernicious tendency. That by freely per- mitting the exercife of thole rights, that they hold dearer than their lives, che afFedions and intereft of the people are fecured, which fhouid always be an objed of attention to Great Britain, as i - they ( *8 ) Aey may be a fecurity agamft che infur- gents of the other parts of America ; for in a cafe of exigency, a force can eafily be raifed from thence : and though from the efficacious meafures lately adopted, relat- ing to the colonies, there is little caufe to fear it will be needful, and God forbid it ever fhould, yet fuch a precaution is becoming a prudent nation. The limits to which the jurifdi£tion of this ad is allowed to extend, has been a fubjed of much altercation ; the principal objedions are, that it takes in lands that do not belong to Canada, and that it will prejudice our Labrador fifhery^ The firft objedion is well known to be of little confequence by thofe acquainted with the parts that are included in the 2uOt ; the other, on a tranfient confidera- tion, appears to be an obje£l of impor- tance, which a little attention will fully obviate and prove the contrary. The extenfive territory that this a<3: takes in, is chiefly deferts, with a few fcattered Indian ( =9 ) Indian fettlements, inhabited by traders and very few others ; now the neceffity of giving thefe people a government is univerfally agreed, and by annexing them under the jurifdidion of Quebec, the difficulties that would attend giving them a feparate government are obvi- ated ; to grant them one different to that of Canada, would be the very means of increafing the fettlements in the Ilionois, which in time would greatly affedt the dependance of the other colonies. There are certain principles of policy that ought to be laid down by a nation refpedting the management of their colonies, which fhould be ftridly adhered to, as by the attention to them the fecurity and de- pendance of the colonies greatly depend; the encouraging, or even admitting (e. * tlements in the interior parts of America, is fo contrary to thofe folid maxims of ^ ' policy that penetrates into the future confequence of things, that it demands the greateft attention to prevent them-; as '.« ^ ( 30 ) as nothing would prove more fatal to the authority of this kingdom over Ame* rica than their population* To pre* vent entirely there being any fettle- ments, is almoft.an impoffibility ; that only can be done by giving a power in the governor of Quebec to appoint a perfon to go there in the proper feafons of the year to infpedl into and ex- amine their fituation and prevent their increaie> which will be the only means to efFedlually prevent it;, an order to forbid them fettling there, will be of little efFeft without feeing that it ii obeyed ; for this may be conCdered as a political truth, that whilft the pofTefFion of America continues to be an obje^ of attention to this kingdom, that will be the beft auxilllary to prefervc it. s^^he objedion that our fifhery would be affected from its great confequence to this nation, both in point of its being the great nurfery of our feamen as welji as ( 31 ) as a material branch of our commercey fccms to carry feme appearance of weight, which when we attentively confider will appear to be falfe. The great difference of the Labrador fifhery and that of Newfoundland requires fo different a policy to govern them, that even their comparifon is no ways juft ; the nature of one requiring all the filence and caution of a fedentary fifhery, while the other is carried on with the greateft noife, conflifion, and buflle, that the policy that governs Newfound- land would be the moft effedual mean§ of deftroying the other ; the neceffity iheti of the fifhermen having a prai pcrty on the coaft arifes from the very nature of the fifliery«^and the annei^* ing them under the government of Quebec muft be of confequence, with-* out indeed they were permitted to have one of their own; that fo far from being any ways an infringement or j)reJudiGe to our fifliery, it muft be ^ E ^ Ipolced ( 32 ) looked upon as a judicious regulation arifing from a thorough acquaintance of the place and its fituation, and a perfe but thofe of the; moil depraved principles and loft to every tender feel- ing, would even vrifli, much more endea- vour, to enOave one human being ; yet the fame humanity that would be (hook with terror at the idea, would ftrongly urge the neceflity of creating laws to prevent it, which when our adions are left without a rule of conduct, moft cerr tainly tends to the worft of all flavery ; fo true is that axiom of Mr. Locke, " that where there is no law, there can " be no freedom." But the enemies to this bill fay. Give them a govern- ment more after the model of your owJi ! give them all the liberties of Englifh- { 36 } Engllflimcn, for they are now our fub- jefts ! prohibit the catholic religion, and not countenance popery and fuperdition ! This is the language of the oppofition, which arifes only from the fpirit of it. When they plead for a more democratic government, they overlook the confu* fion, the inequalityj the inconfiftency that is natural to the inflitution, and which, in the moft civilized ftate, has overcome all bounds of order and regu- larity, and never has been found to be adapted either to preferye the dignity of a ftate, or promotive of the peoples happinefs ; it levels too much the ranks of fociety to preferve the felicity of the community. The confequence that would refult from giving one to the Cana- dians, we may form fome idea from our own conftitution as well as the demo- cracies of the ancients ; even in our own, where the three fettled forms of government are blended in the conftitu- tion with the utmoft perfedlion of hu- 3 man ( 37 ) man wifdoniy fo as each to be a check upon the other, yet the too frequent want of unanimity and concord in that great council of the nation, betrays an imbecility which is confident with its nature; but a faife glare of public fpirit dazzles the eyes of the people^ that they too ofteh applaud the men and forget their meafures ; true public fpirit does not pofTefs that virulence that our patriots annex to their profeffion of it; it is a plan of condudi; upon the principles of virtue and juflice, and confiils in a confcientious difcharge of our duty, and the uprightnefs of our con- dudl, regardlefs of the appjaufe of the populace, who are carried away by a glare of delufive profeffions and falfe appearances. By giving the Canadians an affembly, we give them a power to oppofe our own, we piit in their hands a fword, that like the Boftonians they in time may brandifh and put us at defiance; yet neither the evils that have eonfiantly flowed in all ages from J? an .{ 38 ) an inftitution mat has alt^rayft proved fallacious, nor thofe we experience at "^'the prefent, are fufficient to remove the prejudices in its favour. — ^The public faith was to be as little regarded as jhofe confiderations ! yet were a war ^'to enfue in confcqucnce of violating it, it would then be faid, Why did you . forfeit the national faith, and plunge the kingdom into all the diftreffes of a war, when you had folemnly plighted your word ! It would then be faid. The miniiler was carried away by falfe ap- pearances and fhort-fighted prudence, and never confidered the confequences that mighf naturally be expeded from it ! that he thought France was as indo- lent as thcmfelves, and that he never thought a nation felt an infult on the violation of a treaty. The ftrain would be high for impeachment, and fuch like ; for the language of oppofition is too frequently as regardlefs of fcurrility as obfervant of truth, and in this cafe re- prehenfion would be juii. But to all this a miniiler ( 39 ) a minifter has nothing to oppole, but a confcicntious difchargc of his duty and the reaitude of his adions, which will never fail to gain the approbation and confidence of our difcerning fove- reign, which only can be able to fupport him. t I N I & By the fam jiuthoTi Price One Shittins* Review OF THE PRESENT m ADMINISTRATIO^f. Printed for T. B b c k e f, Cornf r of the Adelphy in the Strand. 17745. Preparing for the Prefs^ m 2 Vols. Odtavoi AN |I I S T O R y OF TH£ PRESENT SESSIONS of PARLIAMENT. II