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LONDON: n..T.P rO. CHARLES D,..V. .K x„. Pov.«r. I^DCCLXXXIL /•• -■'.'■ ;-.^,r- 3).] LETTER T O THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL of SHELBURNE. >-'«rt My Lord, AT a time when the affairs of this country were in the higheft de- gree critical, when the nation had been brought almofl: to the brink of ruin by an adminiftration, whofe con- duct had rendered them the juft obje6ls of public execration, and of public pu- nifliment, your lordftiip was called to take a (hare in the councils of your fo- vereign, and placed in an elevated and B important "^w^^T^lii •■i«"if ' I 6 ] important ftation. Other noblemen and gentlemen, diftinguiflied for their abili- ties, and their fteady oppofition to the meafures of the late miniftry, were cal- led into office at the fame time ; and from your united efforts confiderable ex- pe6lations were formed, that the na- tional calamities might at leaft be in fome degree alleviated, that a plan of public oeconomy might be adopted, and that fome flop might be put to a war, which had been commenced in wicked- nefs and in folly, which had been carried on with the mofl: wanton profufion of blood and of treafure, and by which Great Britain had been injured and dif- graced beyond the example of any for- mer period. But though men flattered themfelves, when your lordfhip came into office, that you would co-operate with others in ^^mn f"v ' "" ( 7 ] in promoting the interefts of the nation, yet it was not in the Earl of Shclburne that the public chiefly repofed their con- fidence. In the fpecclies of your lord- Ihip in parliament, in oppofition to the meafures of the late adminiftration, you had manifefted a juft fenfe of the dan- gerous fituation into which the nation had been brought by the American war, and of the necefiity of public oeco- nomy -, you had pointed out, in very energetic language, the pernicious ten- dency of the influence of the crown ; and you had difplayed a conflderable knowledge of the political connexions, interefl:s, and tranfaftions of foreign na- tions. But though you had thereby rendered yourfelf confpicuous in the houfe of peers, yet, from whatever caufe it proceeded, the public appear not to have had that confidence in the recli- tude of your intentions, and the up- v- B 2 rightnefs rr" » w t^ t 8 ] riglitncfs of your views, which they had in fome others who engaged in the oppofition. Your conduct, fince your entrance into power, has unhappily af- forded too much evidence, that the fuf- picioii and diftruft of your lordfhip which had been entertained, were not without foundation. The removal of the laft iniquitous and moft corrupt miniftry, and the appointment of men in their ftead who profeffed prmciples totally oppofite, and who had avowed an ardent attachment to the rights and liberties of the people, was a moft important political revolu- tion. It was an event which the fpirit of the nation ought long before to have efFeftedi but which a concurrence of cir- cumftances at length brought about, when there feemed little reafon to form any fuch expeflation. It was, however, . very fj I 9 ] Ycry early fcen, that the fl-ahility of the new miniftry depended upon their union ; and fome apprehenfions were formed of differeiices among them, on account of a known diverfity of fcntiment on cer- tain points. But it was hoped, that a regard to their common intereft, and to the welfare of the nation, which could not be eflentially promoted but by their unanimity, would prevent their having any fuch open difagreements, as would be injurious to the public fervice. Nor was it expefted, that the ambition of an individual, who was defirous of obtain- ing an afcendancy in the cabinet, would have deftroyed the faireft hopes that had been formed of important national be- nefits from the new adminiftration. . ; « V ' The death of the late Marquis of Rockingham, an event greatly to be lamented by the real friends to the beft intereftfi T [ lO ] interefts of this country, gave an oppor- tunity to your lordfhip to aim at ob- taining a more elevated ftation ; and of convinc'ng every intelligent obferver, that your own aggrandizement was much more the objeft of your attention, than the welfare of your country ; or than that union in the cabinet, among men of truly public principles, which could only effeftuate the falvation of the na- tion, at a period of fo much calamity and danger. Without the approbation of your colleagues in office, you haftily and privately obtained from his majefty a grant of the office of firft lord of the treafury -, without appearing to givt yourfelf much concern, Whether this was an appointment agreeable to thofc with whom you had hitherto a6led, or whether they would continue to aft under the arrangement which would be the refult of your lordfliip's elevation. ,p-y-y ' This [ n ] This was a ftep naturally calculated to deftroy that union, without which the great interefts of the people could not be promoted, and which therefore it cannot be fuppofed that your lordfliip would have taken, if you had been a6lu- ated by a fincere attachment to the wel- fare of the nation, or if your own per- fonal aggrandizement had not been the ultimate objeft of your aim. I 'I It is pretended by your friends, that you had a juft and reafonable claim to the office you now hold, upon the death of the late Marquis of Rocking- ham, from your rank, abilities, and in- fluence. Admitting this to be your opinion, it might be very natural for you, when that unfortunate event hap- pened, to ftate your pretenfions to the other noblemen and gentlemen, who were affociated with your lordihip in the l< I] I' [ 12 ] the new adminiftration. But if you had really been influenced by a regard to the interefts of the public, you would cer- tainly have continued in the ftation in which you were, when you found your removal to the treafury difagreeable to your colleagues, rather than the nation fhould have loft the fervices of Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke, men who each of them poflefled abilities much fuperior to your own i or rather than have been the means of breaking up an adminiftration, from which the public had formed fuch flat- tering expeftations. '. . But it has been intimated, by your lordftiip and vour friends, that if his majefty thought proper to place you at the head of the treafury, he had an un- doubted right to do it by virtue of his royal prerogative, nor had the reft of his minifters any right to oppofe it. 2 With I 13 I With refpeft to his rnajefty's preroga- tive, that will enable him at any time to make a peer of the weakeft, moll con- temptible, and moft worthlefs man in his dominions, and to place him at the head of the treafury the next week. Thus far his majefty's prerogative un- doubtedly extends -, and the only fecu- rity againft fuch an exertion of it, ex- cepting the royal wifdom, .is, that no perfons of rank or chara6ler would aft with fuch a man, and that it is not very probable that the parliament would grant fupplies to fuch a minifter with much liberality. But the extent of the royal prerogative in this cafe is not a difputed point. Your lordftiip, therefore, could have no intention to enlighten your au- ditors when you introduced this topic ; but it might ferve to throw fome ob- fcurity over the matter in debate 5 and you knew it tobeafubjeft Q^ which C the r H 3 the generality would not choofe, fronl motives of delicacy or of policy, to ex- prefs themfelves with much perfpicuity. At all events, your; declamation in .fup- port of the prerogative would certainly recommend you in one place ; and, if it did not recommend you fo much to your countrymen at large, or if it did not well harmonize with your former fpeeches againft the pernicious influence of the crown ; yet, if it contributed to eftablifh you in the royal favour, and in the treafury, the great obje6ls of your ambition might poflibly be attained* However this might be, when it is con- fidered, that one great purpofe for which the new miniflry was formed, was to re- duce the enormous and pernicious in- fluence of the crown, it mufl be mani- feft, that the manner in which your lord- Ihip obtained from his majefcy the office you poflefs, was a natural ground of 2 ,>^ jealoufy jealoufy and of diftruft to the reft of your colleagues. Your lordfhip has faid in parliament of " the fyftem of fecret advifers," that it is " a baleful and ac- curfed fyftem*." In this opinion, my lord, you have the concurrence of the wifeft and heft men in this country j and their ardent wifh is, that it may not be revived under your lordlhip. - It appears, that before the dcceafe of the Marquis of Rockingham, your lord- fhip had differed fo much in opinion from other members of the cabinet, that Mr. Fox had expreffed the greateft un- wiUingnefs to ad in concert with you, and had declared his intentions of re- figning. The principal point in conteft was, the acknowledgment of the inde- pendence of America. Your lordfhip i f Almoa's Parliamentary Debates, vol. X^''. p. 47. .• p C 2 declared. BIB ti |; ! ' I i\ [ 16 ] declared, a3 a reafon for not acceding to this meafure, that the fun of Britain would be fet for ever, when that event fhould have taken place. This, my lord^ was a very proper fubjeft of confidera- tion for the government of this country fome years fince : but it is now much too late. Whatever degradation Great Britain may have fuftained by her fepara- tion from America, the event has al- ready taken place. America is indepen- dent^ We may as well debate whether the city of Calais, or the province of Normandy, fhall now be confidered as part of the Britifti empire, as whether the United colonies of America are now to come under that defcription. The only point that can at prefent be debated is, whether the parliament of Great Bri- tain Ihall formally acknowledge that in- dependence 5 whether they fliall acknow- ledge a faft notorious to all the world. , This II [ 17 ] This aeknowledgment appears neceflary to cur obtaining peace ; but is in no re- lpe6l neceflary to afcertain the fact. Thofe weak, arbitrary, and violent meafures, which have been adopted during the courfe of the prefent reign againfl the colonies of America, have eftablifhed their independence beyond any poflibi- lity of prevention. Of this your lord- fliip has too much underftanding not to be convinced -, though you may afFeft a contrary opinion, from an idea that a compliance with royal prejudices is the beft method of obtaining the royal fa- vour. • To fuppofe that the inhabitants of America, after the blood, and flaughter, and devaftation, which have marked the progrefs of the royal arms in that coun- try 5 after they have fuccefsfuUy refifted the moft vigorous efforts, and the greateft 4 ,. armaments, [ i8 ]: armaments, that we have been able to employ j^^alnft tl he was no adept in courtly adula- tion. In thefe qualities your lordfhip had manifeftly and greatly the advan- tage. - The avidity with which your Iprdfliip grafped at the firft office of power and of influence, regardlefs of the fentiments of your colleagues ; the fedulous induftry with which you courted royal favour, and the zeal which you difplayed in fup- port of royal prerogative, notwithftand- ing your recent declamations againfl: the pernicious and ruinous influence of the crown ', the cool indifference with which you [ " ] you iaw yoiirfelf deferted by men of the hioft fplendid talents, and in whom the public had placed the greateft confidence) thefe were circumftances ftrikingly cha- rafteriflic of difpofitions, totally repugn nant to thofe of genuine patriotifm. It might be fuppofed, that the refignation of Mr. Fox was too precipitate j but this meafure might arife from views of the moft laudable nature^ untinftured by perfonal animofity, or by any intereft- ed or ambitious motives. He might be induced to take this ftep from a full con- viction, that a new fyftem of fecret in- fluence was commencing, under the au- fpices of your lordfhip, and that you were engaged in the fupport of meafures pernicious to the beft interefts of your country. His conduft might be the re- fult of virtue, and of a real and ardent attachment to the public welfare s but who can aflign any other motives for r O your Jt II [■I >! i i ii ii' [ 22 ] your eagcrncfs to gain pofTcllioa of the trcafury, but thofc of felfiflincfs and of ambition ? We may al fo a(k, whethci* any but a prerogative miniftcr, whether any but a miniftier who thought to main- tain his ground by flattering the prince, would dare to threaten the council, or the parliament, with a revival, or exer- tion of the royal negative ? Whtn a conduct like this is adopted by a mi- nifter, juft brought into power upon great and public principles, and who had diftinguifhed himfelf by loud complaints againft the iriflucnce of the crown, is there not the utmoft reafon for fufpi- cion and diftruft, and for apprehending a treacherous defertion of the great in-» ^crefts of the people ? • • ' ' *..* fi • ■ • y »' .- It has been one of the misfortunes attendant on your lordfhip, that your intrigues have been the means of lower- ing 1 1 iVW^^P [ 23 ] ing the general opinion of two gentlemen, of whom the public have for fome years thought very highly. Your friendfliip may have contributed to enrich them, but it has been with fome diminution gf charader. I refer to the penfions which you procured for colonel Barre and lord Afhburton ; and of which you endeavoured to make the marquis of Rockingham appear the author. But notwith (landing your lordQiip's dexteri- ty, the public have been undeceived upon that fubjeiR:. As to colonel Barre, I ac- knowledge the merit and parliamentary fervices of that gentleman ; but no man can reafonably expert to retain the cha- rafter of a difinterefted patriot, if he eagerly embraces the firll opportunity of being rej^aid all that he has loft by that public fpirit, by which he might for- merly be diftinguifhed. The colonel w^5 put into poffeirion of a luci-ative D 2 place § 11. ell El; [ H ] place J and fhould therefore have been content without a penfion, though his place might not render him quite fo rich, as he might have been if he had always voted as former minifters would have dircfted him. The acquifition of great wealth, and of a high reputation for pa^ triotifm, are not often to be expefted by the fame man. He who is folicitous to obtain the former, muft generally be con- tent to relliiquifli the latter. As to Mr, Dunning, it required neither Grecian, nor Roman virtue, in a man who had accumulated fo large a fortune by his profefiion, to promote the interefts of his country without a penfion, If the dignity of the peerage could not be fup- ported without a penfion, that acutenefs of underftanding by which Mr. Dunning has always been diftinguifhed, fliould have taught hini, th^t the title of Lord Aihburtonj when accon^panied with ^ , , ^^fr.,,-' ': ■ ■ " ■ '■■ :■,* ■ ■■" ■'■- ■ * ■■■■■; ■-;- " — penfion, ill [ 25 ] penfion, would not be an accedion of dignity, but a real degradation. But this is a fubjeft on which lam not difpofed to dwell i the merits of Mr. Dunning as a conftitutional lawyer, and his im- portant parliamentary fervices, have de- fervedly raifed hiih high in the eftima- tion of his country ; and I am forry that their luftre ftiould in any degree have been tarnifhed, by his defcent into a peerage. The concurrence in thefe penGons, and the defence of them, appear to me to be the moft cenfurable part of the conda6l of Mr. Fox and of Mr. Burke, during the fhort time that they were in adminiftration. It was probably a fa- crifice that was made to peace, and to your lordfhip ; but it was a facrifice that ought not to have been made. They (hould have had the firmnefs to refift k every :'!! ■f i .• -i I I I. i; 'K [ 26 J every meafure of this kind, and not have been led to countenance any thing of fo exceptionable a nature, either by complai- fence to your lordfhip, and your friends, or by any perfonal efteem for the gentle- men on whom the penfions were con- ferred • A miniftry brought in on great and public principles, fhould have ad-^ hered to thofe principles y and not have hazarded their credit with the nation, by conferring penfions even on the moft meritorious of their friends. It was of infinite importance to maintain their re- putation with the people -^ and this could hardly be done, by giving penfions to fome of tlieir own party, almoft as foon as they came into office. The gentle- men on whom thefe penfions were con- ferred were, indeed, the more immediate friends of your lordfhip -, but the whole of the new adminiftration naturally in- curred fome part of the public cenfure ♦, 'S on ,tii t 27 ] 'dn the occafion. If there were any ho-^ fiourable method by which penfioruS might have been conferred on Mr. Barn^ and Mr. Dunning, as a reward for their public fervices, the merit of which I am in no refpeft inclined to leffen, it muft have been by a vote of parliament, in a manner fimilar to that lately beftowed on Mr. Grattan by the parliament of Ire- land. But grants of this kind by mi- nifters only, and by minifters whofe elo- quence againft penfions was fo ftrongly in every man's memory, and to gentle- men who had themfelves difplayed equal eloquence on the fame fubjeft, were iiot likely to increafe the public confideu ^ in the new adminiftration, or to convince mankind that their principles and con- duft were perfeftly fuitable to their pro- feffions. ,, -fi i «•{ ^i«* ' • ?* ; ri, ^ One circumitance which has contri- ';■ buted i : ' ■•) t 28 ] butcd to prevent the nation from wholly defpairing, that fome meafures might be adopted beneficial to the kingdom, though your lordftiip prefides in the adminiftra- tion, is, that fuch men as the Duke of Richmond, Lord Camden, and Lord Keppel, ftill remain in office. It cannot, indeed, Se expedled, that thefe noblemen will continue to aft in concert with you, if they fee you openly promoting meafures ruinous to the nation. But they may continue in office, till they dif* cover it abfolutely neceflary to quit all connexion with you, and then find toc^ kte., that they have contributed to the promotion of your defigns, and to the eftabliftiment of your power j arid that they have unintentionally been the means of injuring their country. As to the Duke of Richmond, the general tenor of his conduft in parliament has given lum a juft claim to public confidence ; ii '' and ■ [ 29 ] applaufe. He has laboured with great zeal, with great ability, and with inde- fatigable induftry, to promote the na- tional interefts 5 free from arifl"*"cratic prejudices, he has nobly fupported the rights of the people at large ; and has exerted himfelf, in a manner that muft ever be remembered to his honour, to procure a more juft and equal parliamen- tary reprefentation. When Mr. Fox retired from admini- ftration, your lordfhip was naturally apprehenfive of a powerful oppofition in parliament ; and you difcovered no ordinary fhare of ikill in political ma- noeuvres, when you prevailed on Mr. William Pitt to take a part in the new miniftry, as now formed 5 by which he might be induced to enter the lifts with Mr. Fox, and thereby afford your lordfliip fome affiftance and fupport E againft 'i\ tl »■ t; * [ 30 ] again ft the vigurous attacks of that very formidable orator. It can, indeed, be no wonder, that fo young a man as Mr. Pitt, hov/ever fplendid his talents, fliould have been brought over to enhft under the banners of your lordfhip. Admit- ting him to be adtuated by the pureft motives, he could not be fuppofed to be a match for that art and dexterity, of which you are known to be fo great a mafter. Whatever your intentions might be, you doubtlefs gave them the moft plaufible appearance : and it muft be flattering to young ambition, to be cal- led to fill fo important an office in the ftate, as that which he now holds at fo early a period of life. The time may poflibly arrive, when he will not confider his connexion with your lordlhip as a fortunate circumftance for his reputa- tion : but, at all events, I hope that his future condudt will not difgrace his ta« - C - lents ,ji .ivi^iiaw [ 3' 1 lents and his defcent. Should he find, that he is brought into power only to promote the ambitious deligns of others, and to fupport that secret influence of which his noble father fo pathetically complained, that fecrcc influence which has made fuch rapid flrides towards the deftru6tion of this country -, whenever he fhall have made this difcovery, it may rea- fonably be hoped, that he will inftanta- neoufly quit fuch connexions, which muft be fo dangerous to his honour and his fame, and adopt fuch a line of con- duft as will be worthy of the fon of the illuftrious Chatham; In one nieafure, of great national importance, he has al- ready pledged himfelf to tlie public ; and cannot defert the interefts of the people without a total forfeiture of his reputa- tion. I will not, therefore, fuppofe this poffible ; but fliall prefume that we may reft affured, that a bill for a more equal E 2 ^ reprefentation : I If ■■ i t 32 ] reprcfentation of the people will receive from Mr. Pitt the moft unequivocal, firm, and vigorous (upport. -v .. . j jt i .,.4^^ The prcfent parliamentary reprcfenta- tion of this country is fo extremely par- tial and inadequate, that it requires an immediate and fubflantial reform ; and no objeft can be more worthy of the at- tention of the people at large, nor is there any which they ought more ar- dently and fteadily to labour to attain, than a more equal reprcfentation. The difficulties, which are fometimes urged refpefting this great bufmefs, have ia them much more of imagination, than of reality. They are either Jftarted by the timid a id the indolent, or by artful men who diflike the mcafure, but who have too ftrong a conviftion of its refti- tude, to venture to oppofe it openly and explicitly, If your lordftiip fliould fin* . _ J cerely El Jli ^^^^mm I 33 ] ccrely employ the influence you have obtained with his majefty, in the pro- motion of this great and important na- tional objeft, it will contribute, beyond any thing elfe, to reftore you to the con- fidence of your country. * : ■r-- -f* ^A. As the removal of Mr. Fox from office is a public evil, in the fame light muft be confidered the lofs of Mr. Edmund Burke. That gentleman poITefles fuch a fplendour of genius, he has difplayed fuch an extent of knowledge, and fuch uncommon powers of eloquence, as have long excited the general admiration. Nor is he entitled to lefs efteem for the qualities of his heart, than for thofe of his underftanding. It is, however, to be regretted, that this amiable man, this elegant and claffic orator, ftiould not be more a friend to fhortening the duration of parliament, and equalizing the repre- - : t^ fcntation f' i. \ i I ■'1' ■J '^; t 34 ] fcntation of the people, than he has been generally fuppofed. He fccms too much under the influence of ariftocratic pre- judices, though the uniform integrity of his conduct entitles him to our ful- left confidence in the reftitude of his intentions. Whatever may be his defefts, they are fo much over-balanced by his merits, that his removal from power is greatly to be lamented; and if public fervices, hitherto unrewarded, are to be recompenfed by penfions, no man can have a better claim than Mr. Burke. When colonel Barre took polTeffion of the office of pay matter of the forces, it is natural to fuppofe, that he muft feel fomewhat aukward at the recolleftion, that the late pay matter had neither place nor penfion. l But if Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke have ceaiied to form any part of the admini- iio* ftratioa * ■ *f^*-= [ 35 ] ftration of this country, your lordftiip has procured a very induftrious and dif- tinguifhed aflbciate in the Lord- advo- cate OF Scotland. Great as the in- feriority of his talents may be to theirs, he is fuperior to either of them in tra£la- bility. Your lordihip cares lefs about mjn, than about meafures ; and he will be as indifferent about meafures as your lord(hip can be about men. You may acquire political philofophy from each other ; but it is hoped, that a regard to your mutual intereft will not be forgot- ten. We may at . leaft anfwer for the Lord Advocate, that he will not forget his own. This being fecured, he will not be inflexible in other points : and it may be extremely ufeful to your lord- ihip to have an aiTociate of fuch commo- dious pliability, ^ * ■, ' ^d femper^ ^ omni -No^e die que pot eft alienum fumere vultum, • z It ; ►• - .** iW if i [ 36 ] It is alfo one of the excellencies of this great lawyer, that he has not ** weak " nerves * ,'* and will not dcfert, for flight circumftances, any caufe in which his employers may think proper to en- gage him. Should the moft improvident and extravagant terms be agreed to for a public loan, he can maintain, as he did in behalf of lord North, in oppofition to Sir George Savile, that the minifter had not " made a corrupt bargain for any bad pur- " pofe, but had afted with all poffible in- " tegrity and induftry, and to the advan- " tage of the public -f ." He can prove, that it is juft, and reafonable, and proper, that a minifter (hould be partial to his friends in the diftribution of a public loan. " A minifter muft be a mere lump of *' ice, divefted of paffions, of friendfliip ' I i. a ♦ Fie/. Almon's Parliamentary Regifter, vol. II. of the prefenc Parliament, p. 346, 347. t Ibid. p. 34J, -^. Ti €C and 1 I [ 37 ] ** and feeling, could he furmount this ** kind of partiality */* Should any ftepa be taken to leffen the public expenditure, or to regulate the expences of the crown, Mr. Dundas can maintain, that the ci- vil lift revenue is ** a pofitive freehold*** and a ** perfonal eftate;" and that we ought riot ** to lay violent hands upon " property the moft facred ;" or to " abo- " lifh places which had been created by " the wifdom of our forefathers -f-." He can affert, that a vote of parliament againft the influence of the crown would be ** replete with darg'^r to the con- " ftitution X" He can oppofe laying an account of penfions before parlia-* ii- ■i * Ffd, Almort*s Parliamentary Re2;i(ler, vol. H, of the prefent Parliament^ p. 348. f Speech of the Lord- advocate on the fecond reading of Mr. Burke's bill, Parliam. Reg. p. 48. X Lord-advocate*s fpeech in oppofition to Mr. Dunning*^ < motion, Parliam. Reg. vol. XVII. p. 466. .tX •■ ^ ment; ■> I( It' % I { 38 ] merit * : and fliould any propofals be made for an inquiry into naval tranC- aclions, he can prove, that this is very unfit and itiiproperj becaufe there are " many incidents and circumftances in " the navy, which the Hoiife of Com- ** mons ought not co inquira. into "f-.** He can alfo harangue upon the dangers that attend public meetings of the people ; and can call upon parliament to fupprefs county affociations §. _-"^l» «.««,;■*»> ■•^■■^f , ^ f- f.*.'pfF«>i .i,i,if J It was obferved by lord Maitland, irt the houfe of commons, in the debate 021 the petition from the county-delegates, that the doftrines laid dov^n by the lord advocate, in his fpeech in oppofition to • ru. his fpeech In oppofition to Sir Geo* Savile's motion for laying the lift of penfions befo'-e parliament, Parliam. Reg. vol. XVU. p. 137. f Speech of the Lord-advotat?, Feb. 19, 1781. Parliam* Reg. vol. XVill. p. 512. § Ibid. p. 283/ ' > - -^^- the [ 39 ] the reception of that petition, were fuch, as, he trufted, *^ would never be fufFered " to pafs without indignation or con- " tempt. They were hodile to the ** foundations of Britifh freedom, and as ** contrary to law as they were to the *' conftitution *." Yet this man your lordfhip hac fele^'ced, as one of the de- fenders of your meafures, and his ad- miflion into office is one of the firft fruits of your adminiftration. You have been the means of depriving the nation of the fervices of Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke ; but you have made ample recompence by the introduction into power of Henry DuNDAS, ^,, ^...;.^:.-: • . ^ :- '•-:•.. '^,*~^ .'■■•T-.'''» -^ Mr. Fox has fomctimes drawn the charadler of your new affociate in pretty ftrong colours. In one of his fpeeches, * Speech of the Lord-advocate, Feb. 19, 1781. Pailiam. Keg. vol. XYIII. p. H'' • ' ,n: • ^ F2 ■ he \ I. I li f 40 1 he fald of him, that he was one of thofe men " whofe inflammatory harangues " had led the nation, flep by ftep, from *^ violence to violence, in that inhuman *' unfeeling fyftem of blood and maffacre, <' which every honeft man muft deteft, " which every good man mqft abhor, ^' and every wife man condemn -f." In truth, my lord, your bringing this gen- tleman into office, fo foon after your elevation to the treafury, and the avowal wl-lch that appointment implied of your want of fuch a defender, and fuch an af- fiflant, or of your being under fome fe- cret influence not favourable to the inte- refts of your country, afford an evidence of your own principles not very equivp- cal, , No honefl: minifl:er could have any occafion for fuch an advocate. If it were neceffary for the fake of national impar-* f Parliam. Reg. vol. XVI. p. 123. ^ !.«%;?» [ 4« ] tiality, that fbme natives of Scotland fliould be brought into office, on the formation of a new adminiftration, fuch men as lord Stair, or lord Maitland, ought to have been introduced, men who had evinced fome attachment to the com- mon interefts of the country, and not one of the moll zealous and adlive de- fenders of the worfl meafures of the laft miniflry. ; -'i j: .- :.^ ,,-»Sii.,..i 4, t However your lordfhlp may jBatter yourfelf on the addrefs anddexterity which have characlerized your political in- trigues, it h not probable that they will bc! finally fuccefsful. It is not eafy, my Lyrd, for the mofl artful man to deceive lo ig. It may be infinuated by your friends, and favourites, and flatterers, that Mr. Fox*s refignation, becaufe he would not aft in concert with you, ori- ginated in ambition. But no fophiftry ,c:.:: .- . _: can ^ * I I I 42 ] can make it even plaufiMe, that your condu6t was the refult of patriotifm. It might be neceirary for Mr. Fox to refign, in order to give a fignal to the nation, that the old fyftem was reviving. But no motives of a public nature could have induced your lordfhip to divide the cabinet, that you n ^''^*- obtain the firft feat at the board of reafury. If Mr. Fox found, that the principles upon which you afted in the cabinet, whilft fecretary of ftate, were fo inconfiftent with the real interefts of the nation, as to induce him repeatedly to declare his intentions of refigning, his unwillingnefs to continue in adminiftration with you . muft be naturally increaled, when he law ' you placed at the head of the treafury, by which you would necefTarily gain a great acceffion of weight and of influ- ence ; and by which you might be ena- bled to defeat thofe meafures, which he , jj - confidered '^BHSBTB','-- r^TTT — mj-^ — TT-y^' ■ '.■^'i'*' !'..'.* [ 43 ] confidered as eflential to the falvation of tlie nation.. I am far from fuppofing Mr. Fox to be deftitute of ambition ; he makes no fuch pretenfions ; but I hope, that his ambition is perfe6lly confiftent with the welfare of his country ; and that he has a juft fenfe of the value of that fame which he has already ob- tained, and of that afFe6lion and re- gard with which he is viewed by his countrymen ; for the lofs of which, no- thing in the power of kings to beftow can be a compenfation. Ill i ' YoU) my Lord, had an opportunity ♦ of acquiring that fair fame which is the reward of virtue, and which vice, however decorated by titles or by rib- bands, never can obtain. That oppor- tunity, I fear, you have loft for ever. You may have gained the favour of the Kings but you have made an ill bar- gain. *.T •^^'::^&^ l^ t 44 1 gain, if you have purchafed it by dd-* ferting the caufe of your country, and by the facrifice of your fionour, and your Gonfcience. If your lordfhip has become the prime inftrument in the revival and fupport of that secret Influence, to which this country owes fo many of its calamities, it is not eafy to ftate a greater degree of moral or political criminality* I. ■U But I leave you, my Lord, o your own reflections. Your own heart will beft inform you, whether you have been influenced by any principles of virtue, or of public fpirit, or merely by motives of private intereft or am- * bition. If you have been aftuated only by the latter, if you have abandoned the caufe of the public, if you have fa- crificed the welfare of your country, to obtain a greater portion of royal favour, L . no P^-.4! <■ • '1^ [ 45 ] no fituation can confer dignity upoH you. You may be flattered by the vain, the venal, and the interefted 5 but you will for ever forfeit the efteem and regard of men of virtue, of the friends of free- dom and their country 5 you will be ex- ecrated by the prefent age, and by pofte- ■( I am> "*-;'•: T My Lordj u. •^,:^--..-v Your Lordftiip*s, &c^ .•■ ;* . -a ^V. F IN t 5, :l