^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ .*\^ ^ 1.0 I.I 11.25 m m ■ 2.2 lu m^j. Warn U ^ l''<^ 6% ^ / / /> '/ m Photographic Sciences Corporation ^ ^^^ iV \\ 23 WIST MAiN STRir WEBSTM.N.Y. 145M (716)872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notas tachniquaa at bibiiographiquaa Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha b^at original copy avaiiabia fo.' filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba bibllographlcaliy uniqua. which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction. or which may aignificantly changa tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. 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I I Coiourad pagaa/ D Pagaa da coulaur Pagaa damagad/ Pagaa andommagAaa Pagaa raatorad and/oi Pagaa raataur^aa at/ou paiiiculAaa Pagaa discoloured, stainad or foxai Pagaa d6colorAas. tachatias ou piquAaa Pagaa datachad/ Pagaa d6tachtes Showthroughy Tranaparanca Quality of prir Qualit^ inigala da I'lmprasaion Includas supplamantary matarii Comprand du material aupplAmantaira Only adition avaiiabia/ Saula idition diaponibia I — I Pagaa damagad/ I I Pagaa raatorad and/or laminatad/ [~T] Pagaa discoloured, stainad or foxad/ I I Pagaa datachad/ r~71 Showthrough/ [7^ Quality of print variaa/ rn Includas supplamantary material/ r~| Only adition available/ Th po of fill Or be th( ale oti fir ale or ^. Th ah Til wl Ml dil en be rifl re( m( Pagaa wholly or partially obacured by erreta slips, tissuaa, etc., have been refilmed to enaure tha beat poaaibla Image/ Lea pagaa totalement ou partiellement obacurciea par un feuiilet d'errete, une pelure. etc., ont At* filmAea i nouveau da fa9on A obtenir la meiilaure imege possible. This item ia filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document eat film* au taux da rMuction indiqu* ci-daaaoua. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 2DX MX 28X 32X Th« copy filmed h«r« hat b««n r«produc«d thanks to th ) o«noroaity of: Library of tha Public Archives of Canada L'axamplaira fllm4 f ut raproduit grica A la gAnArosltA da: La bibliothiqua das Archives pubiiques du Canada The imagaa appearing here ere the beet quellty poeeible considering the condition end legibility of the orlginel copy end in keeping with the filming contrect speclficetions. 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Tous les eutres exempleirus origineux sent filmAs en commenpent per la pramlAre pege qui comporte une empreinte d'Impreeelon ou d'iiiustretion et en tiirminant par la darnlAre pege qui comporte une telle empreinte. The lest recorded freme on each microfiche shall contein the symbol —^>( meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol ▼ ( neanlng "END"), whichever eppllee. Un dee symbolee suivants apparoTtra sur la darnlAre imege de cheque microfiche, selon Ie ces: Ie eymbole — ► signifie "A 5UIVRE", ie symbols ▼ signifie "FIN". IMaps, plates, cherts, stc, mey be filmed et different reduction retlos. Those too Isrge to be entirely included In one exposure ere filmed beginning In the upper left hend corner, left to right end top to bottom, ee meny frames ee required. The following diagrams illuatrete the method: Les certes, pisnches, tsbieaux, etc., peuvent Atre fllmto A des tsux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui clichA, 11 est film* A partir de i'engle supArleur geuche, de gauche k droite, et de haut an bee, en prenant la nombre d'imegee n4c«eeeire. Les diegrammes suivants iiiustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 V ^ 2iuia»as«is«Eiiiiau!^^ POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS At the PRESENT CRISIS gKS&&Sli!kiSig&StSUSiSMS^ilMlim6iSlt [ Price Eighteen-pence. ] "^p* ••Tt^ *-9"lf *T%^ *J>TU J^ 'ft," 'f vummmm T .'^, P «^^ .4. Jil 'W 'k Prln Political G)nfiderat!ons; BEING A FEW THOUGHTS O F A CANDID MAN AT THE PRESENT CRISIS. Jh a Letter to a Noble Lord retired from Power. CONCOB3IAE LONDON, Printed for J. H i n x m a n, at the Globe in Pater- nofter Row. 1762. A . •: . :..J^ 1 - — *— — ^Magtiv in populo cam ft^pe coorta eft Seditio, fxvitque animis ignobile vulgus, Jamque faces et faxa volant, furor arma miniftrat. Turn pietate gravcm, ac mentis, fi forte virum quern Confpexere, Hlent, arredis auribus aftant; lile regit didtis animos, ct p^dtora mulcet. Virgil. FEW THOUGHTS O F A CANDID MAN AT T H B PRESENT CRISIS. In a Letter to a Noblb Lord. My Lord, YO U, who iire allowed by your entt- mies and friends to have as much good-nature as any man living, will, I hope, readily pardon the freedom and length of this addrefs. I know there are people who think you have paid more attention to gaining the former than to retaining the latter, B how- PTT [ i ] however tried and inviolably attached to you; whether this exceeding fociality of your hu- mour, or political opinion of your fuppofed interefls, deferves the blame of your friends, I will not venture to fay; but from one of your friends you are at liberty to fuppofe that the prefent addrefs is offered to your perufal, at a time when you have leifure both to read and think. It matters very little to your Grace, who it is fets you upon thinking. No doubt, if you are pleafed to think at all, you will think rightly, after having acquired fuch deep experience of men and things, in the courfe of near half a century, in the heat of public affairs. My Lord, the happinefs yOu may now enjoy in your retreat from power is a fulled, I humbly fubmit it to you, not unworthy your moft feribus contemplation. The re-» fledipns arifing from it may have an influence very ufeful upon your condU(^ for the reft of your days, if it is at all impoftant to you to con- r I 3 1 continue the poiTeiBng your mind in that tranquillity which mufl be wiflied for by every good and wife man, and which (hould precede and attend the clofing of that great part you have fo long played with ae could never teach to one of his mcfi. celebrated f::holars. A warmth of imagina- tion, a certain reftlefsnefs of difpofition, or, in other words, a^love to be doing, occafioned him often to fpoil the bed pidure, I mean befl when left at a certain point of perfection, becaufe he could not help returning frequently to the piece, and again working over and confuting the fame colours by a handling too bufy. B 2 How [ 4 1 How often has the fame dirpofition been feen in rtiany great men, who have never left public affairs till affairs have left them ? Had they fortunately known the juft point where to have flopped, they would have been happy, adored, and perhaps immortalized. • But, my Lord, this inclination to be bufy without end, is not yours, I believe j for I believe willingly what I hope reafonably. You are happy, very happy, in your retire- ment, in your reflexions upon what is pafl or is to come, in being approved by your Sovereign and the people, unpenfioned, un- prejudiced, and mafler of yourfelf. Your fludies, your amufements, four duties of life, are all your own, and, although in a private flation, you arc not forgot to have fpent your life and fortune in the fervice of your Prince and country, and for the once doubt- ful eftablifhment of a family now feated firmly on the throne of thefe kingdoms. I II Give leen :vcr loint :en Id. I 5 ] Give me leave to expatiate a littlo more with you, on the fubjedt of your retirement from power. You have been long a Mini- fter, be once, for once, the Philofopher. It has been fald, that no man can be ac-<: counted happy till the end of his life, and it may be faid, with equal propriety, that no ma^ can be accounted truly great till the end of Jiis power. The firft was the anfwer of no lefs a perfon than the legidator of the Athenian commonwealth to the queftion of a monarch, and the latter obfervation, I believe you 'ill allow it, may find an example in a flate as free and as polifhed, I may add too, as changeable as Athens. The hidory of that celebrated republic very early has inftrudted us, that every perfon, who undertakes the admi* niftration of public affairs among a free peo- ple, mufl expedt fooner or later a reverfe of his authority. Fatal indeed was the reverfe in that nation, which ere6led ^catues, not till after death, to the memory of its great men. . !i; t 6 I men, after having firfl IjanKhed theoi^ or deprived thend of life, upon fome fuddeu chan^je of popular opiniofi. - ■ ^ • 4 Without mentioning the military leaders among the Athenians, who fufiered from this uncertainty of the popular humour, k h fufiicient to mention Ariflides and Phocion» both cf them remarkable for the integrity of their condu^ in civil a£^rs, and their con-» tempt of wealth ; both fharers in one compOrtunity of adorning the remainder of his life with the calm and virtuous dig- nity of a private ftation. by The diredtion of a capricious, ever dif- contented, and jealous people, is always an ungrateful, dnd often a dangerous tafk, in the reKnqui^fliing (if which it is pei^haps well worth the retiring, were it only to look back, in the hour of tumult, upon thofe feas from which few other ^at men have eicaped with honoili^, if with life, and to fee the ftorm roll over in fctnrity. If the knowledge of truth is any defirable acquiiition, this too is the acquiiition of a retreat from power. A lexAire for reflection, for liberal amufements, and the ingenuous converfation of men of merit, is fc^mething valuable to perfons capable of t^jtUng its |)leafures and (hining in it, and will [ 8 1 Will always make fufficient amends for the defertion of fuch attendants as thofe are who are only fufFered to be familiar with greatnefs, becaufe they have jufl genius enough to con- trive the being fometimes neceilary to its fupport. My Lord, it is my great concern, from the zeal I have for your real interefts and honour, that men of this cad, in the prefent difficult and important crifis, may poilibly attempt urging you to quit your private flation, and to embark once more, upon their account only, in a bufy, fadtious, and turbulent world fo late in life. Your firfl fcheme and declara^ tions to all your friends did honour to your wifdom and moderation, that you would re-^ tire without a penfion, though not rich, and without anger, though you thought yourfelf a little neglected. I am fure many a true friend of your Grace has often applauded that refo- lution, however greatly his own interefts la your good-will to him may fufFcr now by your '!( !br the c who atoefs, o con- to its , from h and prefent )QiIibly ftation, ccount world eclara- :o your uld re* , and irfelf a friend It rcfo- efts in OW: by your ■f i i f 9 ] your continuance in the fame difpofitions. Such a friend, if you confulted him, would ailure you, that he dreads really nothing fo much, for your own fake, as to fee you attempting to run again the race of public life with a new generation of young ipen, who have fprung up, the children of your cotemporaries, in a new feld of adion, of new notions, and a quite altered world. To do fo would be to facrifice your repofe, and probably the reputation you now fo highly poiTefs with your country and the world. On the other hand, difappointed men, accuflomed to venality, and expeding nothing from a fyftem of government that begins with views of reforming abufe in offices, of a free, uncorrupt parliament, and under a Prince not addidted to the pleafures of a vicious life, will naturally wj(h to fee things put again upon the old footing, I mean that when government was under peculiar necefli- ties) and they will therefore ad upon the fame C prin- 'III! f,o] principles and confiderations as thofe which induced the noble youth of Rome to attempt to overthrow the eftablifliment of a virtuous rcpuWic in its infancy. They obferved» that> tinder the former eftablifhment, efe a quo impe&'es^ uM jusy uhi injuria opus Jity ejfe gratia kcum, eJfe beneficitty et irafci et ignofaere ptjffe: inter amtcum et inimicum dif crimen noffe ; but that the fchtme of adminiftration now founded upon principles ill futted to corrupt men, accuflomed to all the advantages of party, and to the long poiTeflion of royal favour, was rem furdam^ inexorabilem\ falu' hrtorem melioremque inopi quam potentiy nihil hxamenti nee Venice habere \ Ji modum excejferis pcriculofam ejfe j in tot humanii erroribus folam innocent i am vivefe. How eafy then is it, my Lord, for ftich a fort of men as I have deA:ribed to form an oppofition, to raife a clamour, and to increafe their party againft the meaiures of any Sovereign in a free country, determined to reign and to be obeyed only upon princi- pies of integrity, moderation, and virtue ? But M ij'i . ill: 'M t «' 1 But I cannot conceive that you, my Lord, can ever be perfuadtid by iiich men as tbefe are to join with any fuch oppofitipn, and to fet up a ftamlard for ^ir adherents to refort to, in order to combat dangers to the txtn* (litution, which are feen only to exift through die medium of their particular paeons and iflterefts, and to oppofe even the authority of the throne itfeif. I think that, of all men, you, my Lord, will be the la& to abet fadions and republican principles in the (late* You have ever publicly held, that opposition to the fervants of tl ^ King and people, in times of di£iculty and daiiger, is an c^pofi- tion to the conftitution itfeif: that, in fuch a cafe, the general interefls of the nation are fure to fuifer, and that therefore no crime is greater than that of a fet of men, flopping by violence the great machine of govern- ment, till fuch time as their vanity, ambition, or avarice fhall be gratified at the public ex- pence, and even entailed upon pofterity. C 2 N w I [ 12 ] No body is better acquainted than youf" fclf, my Lord, with how much unhappy fcandal to government, men of faces and fpi- rits not eafily a(hamed or daunted have re-* ceived the wages of calumny and vociferation. The very remedies applied, with the bed intentions, to fadion at different times, have increafed the evil of it 3 and to fuch un^ juflifiable oppoiitions may be attributed many weaknefTes of the flate, many indecifive fleps in the fervants of the crown and people ; for, while the interefts and the contrivances of factious and able men frequently difconcerted the befl intentioned fchemes of adminiflration, nothing was to be hoped for or expeded from the wifdom and integrity or even courage of the befl minifler thus encumbered and em« barraffed. !.a; Too often, in refped to this country, may be applied the refledion of the Roman hiflo- nan: Dum Hii! rour- lappy fpi- 'e re- ation. beft have un- many e fleps I; for, ces of icerted ration, d from age of id em- y, may I hifto^ f Dum [ '3 ] . bum ad fe qui/que omnia trahity nihil relu quum ejfe virium in medio, diJir^Sfam lacera-^ tamqite rcmpublicam magis quorum in manufit^ quam ut incolumis Jit quari, I believe, my Lord, you will acknowledge the pidture I have drawn to be a true one. You have found men to be the fame in every period of your life. You are no ftranger to the undertaking of the great talk, never to be accomplifhed, of obliging every one. You know that nothing can fatisfy difcontented tempers, nothing oblige ungrateful ones. You are very fenfible, that there is no difficulty in making an oppofition popular, and rendering the many dupes to the interefts of a few. Such, my Lord, is the malignity of human nature, in the general view of it, that almo/l every man, excepting fome few perfons of your Grace's generofity of difpofition, hears the accufation of a fuperior with pleafure -, as if the degradation of a higher character was a real elevation of his own : befidcs that it is a much i!-: [ 14 ] much eafier bufinefs to oppofe than to defend. The vivacity of the attack furprizes the audi- tor, the vehemence of it engages his attention, and the courage of it conciliates his favour. It is the delight of every ordinary mind to judge others, to criticife minutely, to new model every thing by its own ideas, to raife and to pull down. To this obvious caufe it muft be attributed, that, in all ages and in all free governments, every orator who watches the temper of the people, is fure to be heard with applaufe, and to draw after him, like the figure of the Gauli(h Hercules in the antique, his multitude by the ears. There are (eldom wanting opportunities for the exertion of fuch powers in a free country. Medical Authors obferve that every year has its peculiar and predominant difeafe $ and it feems that in the fame manner every free country has, at certain periods, its pecu- liar political mania. The more popular every conflitution of government becomes, the I '5 J the more liaUe it is to the violence of thefe phrcnfies. Our countrymen, my Lord, ge- nerally of an atrabilaire and aduft tempera* ment, are very apt to be fclzed v^ith them : in fuch a ftate of difcompofure they are eafily inflamed to a very unhappy excefs, and when once they lay afide that good fcnfe and good humour for which they are remarkable above all other nations' in Europe, the dreadful extremities to which they have paffcd have beei marked with blood m the annak of our hiftory. You, my Lord, remember timetf when the crown fliook on the head of the Sovereign; when the laws were almoft filent in the midfl: of arms ; when a mob was op- pofed to a mob, and the leaders of the flate became of neceffity the condudors of a rabble. It will be no wonder then if present or approaching times fhould afford us the fame miferable fpedacle of fadtion fo much to be lamented. The colours may indeed be differ- ent, I i !• ' ll i [ 16 ] cnt, but the cfFcdls of human paflions will be for ever the fame. The prefcnt crifis of this country, my Lord, with regard to its affairs both at home and abroad, is the moil difficult and import- ant one fince we have been a people: and the permanency of every bleffing we enjoy under Providence depends upon our unani- mity, from the diflblution of which only can our enemies form any hopes of overturning the column of national glory and happinefs fo lately and fo highly raifed, at the expence of fo much blood and treafure poured forth with prodigality. That a nation divided againft itfelf cannot ftand, however brilliant its vidtories, however powerful its alliances and its refources may be, and however ex* tenfive its expedlations, is a truth that wants no facred authority to prove it; and the hiftory of all ages prefents to our minds the terrible image of the once nobleft fpedtacle under heaven, of great, wife, and free nations deprived t '7l deprived of power, knowledge, liberty, and funk into flavcry, ignorance, wcakncfs, and barbarity ^ the effect of faction. You therefore, my Lord, at this import- ant crifis, in diffenting, as I make no doubt you will difTent, from every unreafonable fcheme of factious oppofition to government, and in refufing to lend the afliflance of your* friends to the private views of any particular fet of men, if any fuch fcheme is really formed, will fhew, not only the important weight you retain in the fcale of government, by the effedl which your neutrality, and dif- approbation of violent means, will produce, but you will aft in a private ftation a public part, the moft replete with glory to your own character, confiftent with your general con- duct towards your country and your Sove- reign, and which will pafs your name down to pofterity as a true and faithful fervant of the crown with a more illuftrious title than ihc Greateft Monarchs can beftow, in the D utmoft t .8 1 utmod plenitude of their power, the title of an Honed man, without prejudice and without refentment. li Ml The Heroes of antlquitv, who are faid to have combated monfters, and were therefore deified, were, when diverted of the covering of mythology, no other pcrfons than men devoted to the good of the country in which they lived, which they adorned with laws, with arts, and arms, who quelled tyrants of every kind and deflroyed the power of faction and prejudice, and reiirted the madnefs of tho people as well as that of their leaders. I imagine, my Lord, you will leave now the adive parts of this Heroic patrbtifm to younger men than ypurfelf, who pofTefs the fame parts and vivacity which diflinguifhed you fo early in life. Much may be cxpeded from them when warmed by your example, and formed by your admonitions and expe- rience. I imagine that in the mean time ' you • '*: itleof ; and faid to ircforc vering 1 men which law8» lots of faction of tho 'c now tifm to bfs the [uifhed :peded ample, expc- time you ^ r «9 1 ybu will content yourfelf with retraining, by 3rour influence, thb more vehement part of your friends from didrefling his Majefty and the public, and with encouraging others, in- timidated or mifled, to give all pofTible aid and adaftaoce to government. His Majefty, at the beginning of his reign, was pleafed to declare his deiire of the afUd- ance of every good and honed man in carry- ing on the great bufinefs of his government. And if ever there was a period, through all the annals of the Briti(h hiflory, in which that afliftance was peculiarly neceflary to the Sove- reign and the true interefls of his people, it is fo in the highefl degree at the prefent crifis $ the exceflive difficulty and importance of which make it the duty of every good and honed man, as a member of the community, to fupport, fo far as his influence may extend, the meafures of his Majefty, independently of any men wno now are, or who have been till now his fervants, and of all.other perfonal confidcrations, D 2 Un- f ^^W" w \\\i !!|i m I [ 20 ] Unhappily for their Sovereign and their country, often many of the heft and ableft men, whofe influence and concurrence in the public fervice would be of the utmoft utility, are thofe who fland lead forward to promote it, who, either unwilling to draw with others in a fubordinate part, from too great a con-* fciojfnefs of their own abilities, or who, content to purfue their own private affairs, amufements, or duties in the latent paths of life, leave the hard tafk of directing the public opinion, of combating prejudic ;s, whe- ther old or new, equally deftrudtive of the common intereft, of refilling the violence of fa£tious and corrupted men, of Hnding out frefh refources for every exigence of govern- ment, of fupplying the nerves of an extenfivc war, or laying the foundations of a folid and lafling peace, who leave, I fay, thcfe very arduous tafks to one almofl alone in the public fervice; obedient to the commands of his Sovereign and his dtity^ the objedt of private envy, and alh the virulence of public faction. Such I i ■'■'rt' iil! r I!! their ableft in the utility, 'omote others a con-* who, affairs, aths of ng the B, whe- of the ence of ing out jovcrn- :tenfive lid and Ce very ; public of his private fadtion. Such Such men like Atticus may fuffcr the ftate to perifh, rather than hazard their own tran- quillity or reputation in imititing a Cicero or a Cato, by flinging their weight into the ballance at a time when the afliflance of all might preponderate to the prefervatioii ©fall. But you, my Lord, who never felt an in- difference to the fate of your country, will not think that fuch a negled of its interefls can be juftified eafily in any man, fince there is no man fcarcely fo contemptible in his abilities or connexions, but he may add his mite in fome way or other to the general flock, and do fome fcrvice to his country. Whoever the m^n is who thinks that the difcharge of private duties will excufe a total negledb of all public ones, he is certainly miflaken in point of morals, and is fo too in point of his own in- tereft, if it is true, that whatever pafTe*: in go- vernment necefTarily come& home in its cffedls to the peace and property of every private man. m I II li! ll'l '.:■ i'i 1 1' : in: i " i man, according to the plain maxim of the good old; Romany fublica prodendo tuaneqmc' qua^ferveu But what fhall we fay, my Lord, if thertf ^c any men, I hope there are not any fueh men, who not only refufe to ferve in concur** rence with another fervant of their prince, but who are determined to oppofe and embaitafs the counfck of their Sovereign, becaufe they ure not allowed to have the fole diredliOH and execution of them ? I am bold to declare^ that if under fuch prefling difficulties a peace becoming' necef&ry Oiould be made inade^ quate to the £inguinre3&pe(fl:ations of a peo* -pie blooded with conquefl, and perhaps imtno^ derate in fome of it£ eiqsedationfi^ the ioiper^ fe£tions of that peace mufl be ifflpoted ttioft jttftly to the men who (hall refufe dieir a^i^ tance to make the peace or artf oil the wai^. Whenever therefore that event of peace , (hall happen, let it be aiked any candid man, whe- i il'l t i^ =''5 whether in common juflice thofe perfons on^^ ly ought to be pofTeffed of the popular appro- bation and applaufe, whb, when the veflel is in a ftorrii, weakened by a long and dange- rous voyage, and now driving among rocks and quickfands, quit the veflel with precipita- tion, and without Aiffering their firiends io touch one rope or oar, leave the helm to a iingle perfon, faithful indeed to his duty, but unequal perhaps in flreiigth without fpme af- iiftance to carry the vefle! fafe luto harbour, leave it too determined to perfecute and pur- fue the fervant of the public for any ill confe- quences of their own condud): with all that vengeance with which the never-forgiviiig and unjuft temper of mankind conflantly pur- fues thofe it has injured mpfl. Such an unfortunate fituation of this coun- try, my Lord, is not, I truft, nowexifting, and it is to be hoped never will exift j but that it may not be the cafe, every eflTort of good and honefl men ought to be exerted to pre- ill ,1 ' 1^ :!' f>4l prevent it, and to fupport at. this crliis the mea- fures of his Majcfty in the perfon of his fcr- vants. The voice, the genius, the influence of all ahle and difintei^fled men (hould unite to preferve that important concord of all orders inthe flate, which till this threatening and dark period has remained long unbroken, and has made this little ifland to become the cen« ter of univerfal commerce, and maritime do. minion, a great and mighty nation, which is the aftonifhment of the prefent, and will be the wonder of future ages. My Lord, in order to form a juft idea of a right plan of condu(5t for men of calm, can- did, and difinterefted difpofltions to purfue at this jundturtf, .who, have any weight iii go- vernment, we (hould- do well, I humbly ap- prehend, to take a general view of the ciccum- flanccsi under v/hich his Majefty, his imme- diate fervants, and the interefls of this nation both at home and abroad are underflood to be at this particular period. It :i lis fcr- cncc of mite to orders ^g and en, and le ccn- me doi- rhich is will be idea of n, can- irfue at in go- lly ap- iECum- imme- nation ood to ly [ 25 ] It is with the utmoH; concern and indigna-*^ tion that every good fubjedt mufl have fcen the bafe and daring attempts of men of very low reputation and abilities to render con- temptible and unpopular the character of their Sovereign, and who have taken the advantage of a time for infulting Majefly itfelf with im- punity, when the accumulated difficulties of government crowd uppn the throne. What a iituation is this for a young prince who dif- covers how much his inexperience of public life, of the manners and paffions of unreafon* ble and corrupt men is unequal to his own intentions and integrity, and to the didiates of a heart overflowing with goodnefs to his own fubjedts and all mankind ! EmbarraiTed by the evils of an enormous and extenfive war begun before his reign, and in a long feries of events encreafing with the load of government at the fame time all the fceblenefs of it, he muft with the deepeft concern find himfelf not on- ly encumbered with the management of pre- carious alliances, with the flubborn oppofiti- £ on I.i ; I a6 ] on of foreign and inveterate enemies, render- ed defperate by their loiTes, and with the jealoufy and envy of neighbouring and pow- erful ftates, but above all muft he feel feverely die neceflity of reiifting any &6lion at home. I do not fay, my Lord, that fuch a fa mufl have its fhades. Is it poilible to attempt deftroying the dodrine of infernal daemons^ that men being corrupt and wicked in general, cannot be governed but upon corrupt and wicked principles, and not to expcA a fcvere oppofition to even the beil of Sovereigns ? In fuch a cafe the youth of a Sovereign will naturally be fet light of by men hackneyed in the ways of the world, and grown KWUI1 [ 27 ] grown ftubborn in iniquity : his firmnefs and magnanimity will be reprefented as obftina- cy, hk frugality as fordidnefs ; if he employs his hours indefatigably in the high and labo- rious duties of his exalted flation, if he nei- ther breaks in upon the peace or property of any of his fubjedts for vicious gratificati- ons of pleafure, or the dangerous views of am- bition, but iilently purfues one fteady path of uncommon virtue, ardent to become a bleifing to his own fubjeds, and to be the delight of mankind, that very condud will produce the moft malignant envy, even at the foot of the throne. I am fbrry to have occalion to obferve, that princes, and even private men, have of- ten more authority from their vices than from their virtues over the minds of bthers ; bad men whenever they oppofe thcmfelves to good ones, will never want adherents, they need but ftamp with their feet, and there will arifc legions to fupport their caufc. What E 2 re- «i: 'I iiii 1^' M Iw II! m k ^ [28] refources are there to be found in the pafHons of mankind ! avarice, luxury, profufion and indigence, long habituated to feed from the hand of corruption will all rife in arms, and promife very probable hopes of placing at the moft exalted point of power any one who will undertake to be the great difpenfer of corruption. Whenever he (hall wave his golden wand, the demons of vice will fur- , round his circle. Yet, my Lord, I believe you will agree with me in thinking, that if it is poilible to put the reins of government at any time into the hands of virtue, it is poffible to do it with the greatefl hopes of fuccefs at the beginning of a reign, when the prince declares himfelf the enemy of corruption, and requires nothing of his people but to be free j when the tea- fons pleaded for encouraging venality no longer fubfiH: in the firm eftablidiment of the throne, once in danger from a foreign pretender, but now filled by a Sovereign born 5M tint i :i (lions 1 and ^1 1 the f'fl , and ng at ifl 5 who fer of ■ e his 3 fur-. m agree ibic to e into it with inning limfelf •y-Saa lothing ' ■■i.'.H' »e real- ity no ent of ■ 1 foreign n born 1 ia ■ft !^wB^ [ «9] in this country, and at a time too when the fate of the nation, in the greatefl crifis of its affairs, depends upon the virtue of every order of men amongft us. How happy an opportunity is there then offered, under thefe circumftances, of deftroy- ing, or rather fuffering to die away, all an-^ tient diftindtions fo fatal to the common good, which would certainly perifh of themfelves, fince the object of them is no more, if they are not kept alive by the induftry of fa 1 the latter are accuftomed to make few fucb neceiTary didindions, but to look upon the immediate iervant of the Crown as the only perfon among the general fervants of the King and people to whom they are to plaxx the whole account of the good and evil of govern* ment. Men therefore fadioufly difpofed, and interefted in a change of the adminiflration^ have little elfe to do, in order to cfk{t it, but to render the immediate agent of the Sovereign ridiculous and unpopular by falie accufations and reports, or by invidious di- ilindtions. To what a (hameful degree of indecency fuch kind of attempts have been often carried, I need not mention. Our con*- ftitution indeed feems to favour fome licen- tioufnefs of this fort. It is true that all att^ck$ within doors and without upon the Minifter, as he is called, do not afieft the fafety of the Sovereign, but they prevent the Sovereigei from doing all the good he intends, and deprive him of every means of carrying on the ordinary buiinefs of his government, without II iS t3«J without he VflW lean on a party for it) whicbi whenever it is the cafe, is Aire to feize^yery poft in the flate, to {land between the King and the people till both are lubducd by the power of an oligarchy^ and in fuch a crifis it has been always found that the enemies of the nation, however fallen and didrefTed^ have obtained hopes, time, and at length vigour to avail themfelves of the weaknefs of a divided government* Let us then fuppofe that an oppofition is actually formed, but declared to be againft the Minifter, not againfl the Sovereign : whenever this is the cafe, pef fons not to be milled by names will with difficulty enter into this difliadion of condud, but will, I am afraid, confider fuch attempts as didtated at this time by a fpirit of republicanifm too prevalent among us, and that an oppofition to the Minifler is in reality an oppofition meant to tlie King< One [33 1 Of^e prejadice, my Lord, fcems to have coloured almoft all the late political debates in this country, with great detriment to the caufe of truth, the refpedt due to the Sovereign, the charadler of his fervants and the mixed con^ Aitutton of Britifh liberty. The prejudice 1 I mean is the laying it down as a political maxim, taken for granted, that the Minifter does every thing, and the King does nothing; an opinion very artfully propagated by men who find it their intereft to oppofe both. I know indeed that by fundamental law the King can do no wrong ; becaufe the King cannot adt without the advice of his privy council ; nor enadt without that of his parli- ament aiTembled ; but J beg leave to inlid that the word, the Minifter ^ is a term intirely un- known to our oonftitution. It was borrow- ed, and very improperly borrowed, with ma- ny other bad phrafes and bad principles, from France and other arbitrary governments. Moft Princes in fuch governments, either of weak abilities or intirely funk in all the effe- F minacy E 34 1 minacy of pleafure, delegate the charge of public bufinefs to one man only, the Prime Minifter, as he is called, or fubordinate of Roys^l Authority, who ftands next to the throne, the fole oracle of its counfela, and ihe ^hatonel of. all k& fa,vours. The Qritifh fonftitujtion,, formed of three gieat, orders of the State, admks np fuch nanie as the Ml^ i^i/ler, li^o, r*ot even the title of a GaJ:»i|ir,(; Counfelloi:. From the outlijses of t^his iy- §ein a^e to, be tra<:ed pij^ny pojifeiical truths. It is the prerogative of the King of QreajC Britain to de<;lare war or pe&^e with the adn vice of tiis pi;ivy council. The right of pror yiding for the charge of either is in the re- prefentatives of tlie people; thorough thcsft thcie is a free accels to. the Sovereign for every national grievance to, be heajrd and to be re-' dreflied, and by them the King has a cp^flanl. and open comm;i!nication with all his fu}^e<^9. He has a right to nominate his fervants, the great officers of flate, who are alfo the fer- vants of the people, and truftees for the be- nefit lis) ncfit of both King and people, the falarics of thofe great offices being provided for by parliament. My Lord, this (hort IketcH of our confti- tution is unnccefTary indeed to you, but it may be ufeful perhapis to ihany who have ne^ ver th6yght at all upon the fubjedl; and th^ inference I mean to draw from it, is, liiat under this happy form of government fub*- fiftihg ihvlolate as it does, confidering the exceeding good intentions of his Majefty, that he has both abilities and inclination to a^t himfelf at the head of the eohflitution, and to be really a King over a free and willing people> no perfuns can pretend a high affec- tion and duty to his perfon, and a regard fot his family, with any appearance of fince- rity, yet at the fame tithe endeavour to rert- der unpopular, and even odious, the meafures of the Sovereign aiider a preteict of any dan- ger to the conftitutiofi, and of running do wh the Mlnifter only, F 2 Let .^■"-(2 m^ 1 ■ 1; 1 R ^ ■ p i i 1 11' ll'i?!:'. if'ili 1 I, ' 1: 'iiji .^^ if ■ i|i;|! .;. i'lr' If I'ijl - 1 [ 36 ] Let it be aiked any candid man of a com* xnon underflanding, does there appear the lead hazard of tb.e liberty, property, and rights of the people in allowing his Majefly at all times his own rights too, as well as any other member of the flate ? Why is he not to be permitted to chufe his own fervants, or to difcard them ? to be grateful for their fidelity and activity in the public buiinefs, apd to judge of their inclinations and abilities for ferving himfelf and bis people, and to honour with his countenance and protedtion thofe who merit his favour ? I am fure the condition of a King of Great Britain would be the moA miferable upon earth, if he were to be deprived, merely becaufe he is King, of every comfort a private man holds dear to his happinefs and interefls; and if it could be fuppofed that a clamour raifed at any time by a few diifatisfied perfons refufing to concur obeying his commands were to deprive him of the. diligence of thofe other fervants who j^re willing to obey him, and more efpecially if. t 37 J 1^ inftead of being a Prince, he ihould be<^ come at any time a prifoner as it were to his own fervants, watched and guarded for their own purpofes, that all their mifcondud might be charged to his account, and all his merits to theirs. If thefe, my Lord, ihould ever be the views of any particular fet of men» will they be the real friends of the public o^ not? they will not, I think they cannot deferve the ^probation of the people, or the favourable reception of their Prince. Nor will they be able to anfwer for the general confufion and diftrefs occafioned by their un- warrantable oppofition, at any time of great difficulty and danger, when their attempt to ruin any one fervant of the King under pre- tence of ruining the Minifter will be hazard- ing in ladt the ruin of the flate. My Lord, I have faid fomething before upon the diftindions o£ general party. Give me leave to fay a word upon diflindlions of particular perfons. I am fure you and every man ;i!i lii i:ii! if t38 1 matt oJF good fcnfe, or ittdced of li^ttijlhityj muft dcfpife and abhor fuch invidious dlfcri- minations. Did a man's abilities or integrity for the public fcrvice depend upon the points of the compafs, it would be very right to aflc in what degree of latitude or longitude (rorti the great metropolis this itian or that ihan was born? Cornwall or Cumberland, Devonshire or Doii "' re never ibade a man a better fel- low-fttbjctc bccaufe he firft drew breath in one of thofe counties, and a geographical di- ftindion will, I hope, nt nb time prevent, what it has often promoted, the gbod fortune' of a man -of Norfolk, or of Suflcx^ or of anyone town, borough, city, province or divifion in all Great Britain. Hilihl .: . ■ I know, my Lord, the honour you have done to the places of your education. Yet I do not believe you are a better or a wSer naan merely for an education at Weftminfbr* It does not lignify from what great man i take my example. The prefent minifter was bre4 from lave I do an It ake red rom [ 39 1 from a child at Eton, but I dare fay it will be no moti/e to him to prefer Eton men for that rcafon : nor do f think it a very important cir- cumftancc where his eftate lies ; his flake and that of his family is nearly as great, upon Englifh ground, as that of any of the En- glifh n ability, and a Scottish title will only make him, I believe, my Lord, you think fo, more tender than any other man would chufe to be, of the humour prevalent among the lefs fenfible inhabitants of this ifland, who delight in diftindions, and are like their old Britifh ^nccftors, hofpiiibusferi. In the lower offices of government good proofs might be brought of a much greater number of Northerh people preferred, and lefs pub- licly noticed under former adminiflration^, than under the prefent minifter; and, if there are any Scottish or Itifh Lotds or common- ers, now in the gr^at offices ttf ftate, I be- lieve all the world knows he found them there. »r I'^t i k i How- ¥n mm fill ■I'll ' JfSl i 40 3 HowftvcF, my Lord, I am fure no candid man can objedt to their being there, except fuch men as find it convenient at diBFerent times to enforce or leap over a diflindion juft as it fits their interefls. After all, it is paying no great compliment to the prefent minifler, por is it a:ny reflexion upon his predecefTors, to fay that he has good underflanding enough as well as they had, not to rejed: or pre^ fer men for patronymics. To fpe^^k fairly, and, if poilible, to deflroy all d.. mdions whatever, let us for once go to the bottom of all of them. I am fure you, my Lord, who are of the mofl focial temper poflible, will, above all men, thoroughly hate them, when you confider the principle, which has from the beginning of the world fet men at variance. The whole fecret I have ever taken to be this ill-natured proverb, " the fewer the better chear.** A diflinc- tion, a name, it matters not what, ferves at different times the purpofe to keep a few men in, and a great many out of all good things. »'«r m { 4« 1 things. . And from this one fource has flow- ed the long lift pf epithets of party, which have, difhonowed and embroiled religion and government froni the beginning of the world tp the deftrudion of all. common fenfe and commoa honefty. How piuch is the bulk of nankind to be pitied, who fuf&r their pre- judices to be improved in fuch a manner by a few artful men-: who, overturning all the firft principles of religion and good govern- ment, which were meant to unite more clofely^ not to feparate mankjnf^ ellablifh an undu£ influence over their feirowrcreatures, which is thus obtained, by fomenting divifL- ons even unto blood ? Such is the old maxim fo often and fo fuccefsfully purfued, divide and tyraniii^pe. . :>h: l'y;-\f -Iu\:l:: .a/.j UubrioD ^. " But if IS right fometimes to oppofe mea- " furfeain a.fcee government, if not the man.'* True. Oppolition to meafures in fome cafes I allow is neceflary, and that the good of the whole refult* frequently from the colUiion of . . : G the ■.;•(;-, ^ V • ' '>■ I 40 the parts. But then unanimity oUght not t6 be broken merely for the fake of breaking it. 3o.iie objections, in order to jtiftify oppofition^ muft be made with colour to the meafures, that they are contrived or conducted weakly or wickedly, or that they proceed from a fpirit of timidity or indecifion. W' There have been times in the hiftory of all countries remarkable for this indecifive temper in adminiflrations: when mhiilers have lived upon the daily bread of their po- litics. Happy to get rid of a prefent iiicum*- brance, or to remedy a prefent inconveni- ence at the expence of a thoufand future ones. m :] lii;; ir The defcription drawn by the Duke de Stilly of the condud of the miniftry of Charles IX. of France, and his obfervadons upoii it, are fo very remarkable, that I beg leave t<» quote them. .^ U.C ti ^Jl En matiere d'etat rien n'eftpire que cet ^cfprit U ( 43) <^ ^Cpxit d'indecinon. |1 ne faut dans les coo- ^< jondtures difHciles tout abandonner ni tout *' refufer au hazard, mais apres avoir choi// ^* fon but par des reflexions fages et froides *>* 11 faut que tou^es l^s demarches qu'on fait ** tendent si y parvenir. On ne f^auroit en* *^ core trop acbeter ni trop prefer une paix ne* ^* cejfaire. Mais ce qu'il faut eviter; le plus '' foigneufement dans, les circonftances cri- ^* Ciques, c'eit de tenir les efprits du peupic <* en fufpens entre la paix et la guerre. Ce ^' n'etoit pas par de telles maximes que fe ^' conduifoit le confeil de Catherine de Me- ** dicis. §i I'on y prenoit.un parti, ce n*c- ** toit qu.e pour Iq moment et jamais pour la ^' fin,^ et q'etoit toi&jours dans une mapiere £1 *' timide qu'on ne re^iedioit au prefent meme ^' que tres. ipipa^faitenient. Lp defaut de *' tous les efprits qui ont plus de vivaci^e " que de jugement efl de fe reprefenter ce ^' qui efl proche de maniere a s*en laifler f* el^louir^ et de ne voir ce qui efl Ipin qu*au J5 prayers 4'un nuage. S^lqueimmmi^ qutU Q Z *' qyes rj [ 44 ] U qucs joiin^ voila ce qui cdmpofe pour cujc '* I'avcnir." !' m But there is a real Aate of things, as well as the difpofitions of minifters, which pror duces delay, timidity and indeciQon in public adminidrations } I mean unwarrantable op- pofitionS;( my Lord ; great and powerful fa6tioh$ in the (late, and the condition of the times, and of a nation not yet fufficiently armed and pro- vided, for the defence of both its extremities, and its center. A nation, at a certain period, has (lid into an immenfc war of a fudden : the very moment which has been fei?ed by Torcign enemies to fpread terror and difmay among the people, has been feized too by fadiou? fubjeds at home, as an opportunity tp difplay their parts, and to figure in an oppo(i- tion, for the diftre(?ing of government. Vanity, no Icfs than avarice, every hpur^ my Lord, prompts men to be fadiousj arid times arc remembered, when the leaders of fa(flion have beat up for volunteers againft govcrtiment, and [ 4*5 1 and vifited with all the humility of ambition obfcure places to court and bring out men of aftive, fiery, and overbearing difpofitions, of fmall fortunes and great paiiions, but pof- feffed of abilities that recommend the pofTef-* fors to the popular voices in order to join the cry ; to receive favours firft from govern- ment, ^nd then to fly in the face of it. I need not point out to you, my Lordi fads of this kind. They will only fhew, that un- reafonable and vehement Qppofition on one fide, often produces indecifion on the other; iand that when this is the cafe, all the evils of it are to be charged to thofe perfons only, who lay fo terrible a foundation of the caufe of timidity and indecifion in placing every obftacle they can pofliWy invent in the ^ay of government. Men of the bed hearts are often the mofl: timid ; being tender of their felIow-fubje6ts and of human nature, experienced in the fata) reverfes of all human things, and above all n { 4inion unnatural, but becoming habitaal to a conunercial people } A nation inflamed under fuch circumflan- ccs, to whom it may be fard truly, what Demofthenes faid to the Athenians, " your ** erafors have fpoiled you^* is not eafily brought off from the vifionary fchemes of glo- ry, which an excefs of adulation has long pre- fented to its view. From the fpeaker in the fe- nate to the writer of a news-paper in the gar- ret, there feems to be but one view, to ftudy the difpofition of fuch a people, to follow, not to lead it; for whatever the political difeafe hap- pens to be, thefe ftate empirics arc furc to re- commend nothing but what they firft find is perfectly agreeable to their patients, notwith- ftanding that fuch a treatment of their difor- dcr vnm- [55] >e able tg figure in their little fenates, and fit attentive to theii" own applaufes in judgment upon thofe who fliould be their governors. The great, thp immortal Scipio, who cruflied the rival of the Roman power, complained to the fenate in [ 11 1 in the fevcrcft teriis juft before he fet out upon the expedition againfl Carthage, of the bad efFedts which thefe minute critics of the ftate cccafioned; while they ruined the reputation of the ableft men of Rome, and fpread from barbers fjiop$> and from other houfes of in«* dolcnt reforfe, and the walks upon the foriuPy by falfe reports infamy upon government^ difcontent, and even fedit 'oa into every cor-r ner of the Roman empire. » Popular opinions, my Lord, may be too much defpifed and negleded. Thofe at the head of government, who have thought they always ought to be fo, have fometim'^s fuHered for that aSbiftation of indij6Ference; and who* ever therefore attempts to dired the violent current of popular opinions into their due channel of truth, wi^h candor and integrity, I believe you will be pleafed to think, does fome litde fervice to his country. In the language of one of the Clailics, whom I am the more liberal timd frequent in quoting, . well pi m well knowing your rcfpedt for them, Nee enim isfolus reipublica prodejl qui candidates extrahit et tuetur reoSy fed qui juventutem exhortatury qvi in tanta honorum praceptorum inopia virtute injiruit animosy qui ad pecuniam luxuriamque \ curfu ruentesy pfenfat ac retrahity et Ji nihil aliudy certi moratur. How much, my Lord, and how ufefuUy your example and yoiir fen- timents will have an influence upon the opi- , nions and condudt of others I need not repeat; for if any man is fcnfible, you, my Lord, of all men, are fenfible how hard a talk it is to prefide in the counfels of a ftate where thofe counfels muft take a conftant bias from the condition of it, which in this kingdom is that of immenfe opulence in particulars, and great indigence in the general ; where every exceed- ingly rich family is of courfe a faction j every able rnan*s luxury and want a fpur to his op- pofition, and every the leafl: ill fuccefs is the difmay of a weakhy, difcontented, uncertain and jealous people, as eafily deprefled, as it is often immoderately elevated. ' Much , -■ .i [79] Much therefore ought to ha allowed to thofe who are called to the mofl arduous tafk of affifling their Sovereign in the buiinefs of government. In this view there is one point, which I ought materially to obferve with refped to the fituation of any immediate fervant of the crown, whoever he is now or (hall be hereaf- ter, and to whom the principal bufinefs of exe- cuting the plan of pacification fhall be dele^ .gated at this crifis by the authority of the crown, or in cafe of its failure the province of carrying on the plan of the war. The point I mean is^ my Lord, that it ; is abfolutely neceflary for the public fervice, . if ever we are to have a peace, that as full powers {hould be indulged to the minifter of the peace, whoever he fhall be, as have been allowed to the minifler of the war. By this means the latter has proved fucccfsful beyond jeur mofl fanguine expectations, and by this X ■?.n means #«!; t 80 J means the former only can be escpedted to be obtained with honour, utility and permanency. When I (aid the miniller of the war, I meant tiie late minifler of it ; for hitherto the war has been carried on with the fame fpirit as that which firft roufed this nation from its lan- guor^ the arm of power flretched forth with aU the whole colle£ted force of thefe king* doms has not been withdrawn or relaxed, nor has the plan of conducing the war^ in or- der to procure a peace, been bolftered up with temporary expedients, that weak and w6rn«> out fu^ort of lame and impotent polttkl Nothing has been cramped, nothing unfup- plied; nor can we make the leaft doubt of the fame tenor of conduct being flill maintained with the utmoft rcfolution by thofc perfons who have the honour to advife his Maje% at this time, if the fpirit of levity, prevarication, and fineffe (hould difcover itfelf as ufoal on the part of France in the courfe of any nc*- gotiations for peace. His Majefty knowk what is due to his own dignity, and to the kh tcgrity [ 8i ] tegrity ?.ncl moderation which he has (hewed to his enemies and the world. In the mean time nothing can tend more to make this nation happy, either in the continuance of a jufl and neccifary war, or in fixing a plan of general pacification, than that thofe great perfons, whofe province it is to condud both the one and the other, ihould meet with no difHculties from any oppofition at home; the advantage of which oppofition can only refult to the general enemy, who will undoubtedly rife in his demands from time to time upon the Britifh miniflry in proportion as he finds them embarrafled by any violent cbflaclcs placed in their way at home. The early precautions taken, my Lord, die plans purfucd, and mofl jTuccefsfulIy ex- ecuted with regard to the Spanifh war, are an unanfwerable proof how very lincere and up- right were the fentiments of thofc fervants of His Majeily, who differed with another great man in their opinions of the real intentions M of •I [ 8a ] 6( Spain. It is to be lamented that the warmth of his temper^ the confcioufners of hi^ own vafl powers, and a degree of enthu- liafm natural to every fuperior mind, induced liim at fo very difficult a criiis to withdraw from his Sovereign, and his country, his iervicss fo acceptable and even fo neceifary to botb| and to confider his own honour fo deeply interefted as he confidered it, not in any difference of opinion about the meafure in general, but about the point of timing it^ and the expedling only the return of a courier with the pofitive anfwer of the Spanish court. The event, my Lord, feems to have fhewed that the interefts of this nation have not been at all prejudiced by the delay of the meafure of the Spanifli war; for it was certainly an advantage that the Britifh fubjcd:s in Spain in confequence of that delay gained time to fet- tle their affairs there, and to remove them- felves and their efFe(5ts 5 for had this govern* ment f 81 ] mcnt attacked fo pundtilious a nation, and fy vlndidtive as Spain is, without any obfervance of the law of nations, this impetuofity might have been attended with confequences very dangerous to the properties, and perhaps to the perfons of all the Britifh fubjedls reiident in that country. Inafmuch as the meafures with regard to Spain have now fucceeded, the backwardnefs (hewed by the Britifh nation to commence hoflilities will prove no fmall means towards facilitating a peace with that power, or ex- tending ftill farther our conquefts over its colonies, as it furnifhes the mofl convincing proof pofilble to the whole Spanifh nation, that Great Britain conquers unwillingly, and feels the utmoft concern for a people, whofe natural intercfts fhe efteems as her own. While our arms are thus exerted, neither with a fpirit of avarice, revenge or ambition, we may expedt the fame continuance of ex- tenlive fuccefs as we have hitherto enjoyed, M 2 and w M [ ?4 1 and the fame folidity of influence, whenever our arms (hall be laid down, over the reft of Europe. The opinion which th« fubjedts of all other nations will entertain of the advan- tages experienced by entering intq our alliant:e, or becoming united to us as fellow-fubjeds, their ideas of our equity and moderation will fupport the power we have obtained by the force of fleets and armies, when thofe violent means fhall be no longer exerted. Thus the virtues of old Rome fubdued more of her enemies, than even l>er firm legionary vete- rans, and vi<^orious eagles; and I hope, my Lord, that we fhall be able to apply to our own country the fame glorious eulogium as was addrefled to the immortal genius of that great republic, D^ te minor ^m qupd geris i,^ip?ras; — I have prefifed, my Lord, and I am for- ty that the difpoiitions of the timi^s make it fo very proper for me to prefs agaii; the im- portance and neceffity of full powers at this * crifis [ 85 1 eriiis being allowed to the fervants of hk Majefly, whoever they are or may be. I would detradt from no man's merit in con- ducting a war or carrying on a negotiation. It is no detraction from the aftonilhing abi- lities of the Sovereign of Pruffia, to fay that his fuccefs furpafling the bounds of all human expectation, is owing under providence to the uncontrollable power he pofleffes as an abfolute Sovereign at the head of his people and his armies; as the ear, the eye, the informing fpirit of the collected force of all his fubjeCts, It is well known, that the fuccefs of the Duke of Marlborough, that able ftatefman as well as foldier, both with regard to war and peace, would have been much greater than it was, had not the Dutch deputies cramped his opera- tions of the one in the field, and a faCtion at home the other in the council. Many French generals have failed in undertakings of the higheft importance, by being fettered with plans formed not in the camp and upon the fcene of aCtion, but in the cabinets of priefts, women, I 86 1 women, or iUtefmen fprung from the robc» who neither heard, faw> or underftood what .was really expedient. But there is no need to point out, my Lord, what fatal difadvan- tages in all ages and countries "have attended the execution of any buiinefs of a public nature, in which the utmoft difficulties are to be furmounted, when the commifHon hai been cramped by narrow powers. m ,'i •im If then the work of a pacification, fuch as fl^all give peace to all the nations in Europe, fuph as (hall cut ofif the fources of a future war^ by leaving nothing undecided, and (hall pro- vide ef^dtually for the fecurity of this coun- try,, and obtain all the firfl objedts of the con- ted, and a very ample indemnification for its own damages, and for thofe of its unhappy allies who have groaned under the feverefl fcourge of the moil calamitous perfecution, for the fake of this country only ; if I fay this, work, my Lord, is arduous beyond meafure, say atr- tended with fuch difficulties, that nothing but cofl- i [ 87 ] confumtmtc wifdom, Integrity, and perfcver- ance can furmount them, beyond the analogy of every war, then I aik, does it not become trery honeft man to join all hearts and hands to leilbn thofe difficulties as much as poffihle, and to pufli the veffcl into port ? The obfervations I ha?e juft now made will (how, my Lord, that I mean not to lef- fen the obligations we all have, and (hame be to tho(e who think we have none, to a man, who undertook to guide the velTel in its greaN eft danger, with the utmoft courage and in^ trepidity, when I fay that it was fomething ^ towards his particular fuccefs, that he plan- ned, advifed, and executed without contra- didtion, that he L Trowed the majority of others, to ufc his own cxprc/Hon, and that he was fufFered to carry every thing his own length, and quite in his own way. This was an indulgence certainly uncommon in a free ftate, and which his enemies expedled in (o warm a nsun would have proved his ruin, by fomc IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■^1^ 12.5 1.25 11.4 - 6" 1.6 % ■^> /A «V# '/ Photographic Sdaices Corfwration 33 Wi^i ' MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. M580 (716) •72-4503 4^ ^Ju \ vV [88] ibme great difappointment, or by making hint fcarce mafler of his temper, by too much fuccefs. Hiftory is full of examples that encouraged fuch expedtations* To an excefs of power and confidence of enterprize were owing the fate of the famous author of the revolution at Naples, and the King of Pruffia's misfortunes after the vidtory of Prague. An unbounded power was necefTary in this country to be in veiled in a iingle man under the prefling and terrible circumftances of the times I allude to. You thought it fo, my Lord, and had weight enough with your Sovereign to make him think fo too ; your entreaties, your tears, it is faid, prevailed. Like another Dictator of the Roman flate, in times of uncommon danger armed with the force of zfenat us confultum^ ne quid detrimenti caperet refpuiflica, one man almofl alone af- fumed the whole power of Britifh government in the conduct of the war, and was fuccefsful; fuccefsful beyond our moft fanguine hopes, ' - i - : agd ■Wl mi ttfid ihe wiflies of bis owa cnctnici, and of die enemies of hii country. It IS with pain I recaU ta ttuiid tlie geiieial deprc^oo, the panic of this ^tkmat that tincw What weaknefsi iviiat uncertaintj, what tii9^ pidadon in the ilatef wfaacakrms, what da^ inottrs, what diicontent, dif ifions, and dif« trefs wecc heard and fcen among particulars I Thanks^ my Lord^ to that great nMO^ aiul thanks to your Grace for fnpporting him % A fymt of concord} of determination was rai^ ed in thia country and government^ which £xed its condu^ roufed it from its indeeifion and flumberj^and has crowned it with unparak leled ^cefies in every part of the globe. But, my Lord, inafmuch as the unravelling and winding up the whole is more important and diflicuk than drawing out the clue, I ap- prehend the proportion to be clearly efta** blifhed, that the prefcnt criiis demands a Dic- tator of peace as well as there has been one N of t 90] of ^ar: I only wi(h the duty which remains- to be difcharged were equally adapted to pleafe and fatisfy the views of all men ; and that the path to bt trod now were as eafy to find and to be trod, as that which has been. trod before ; and that it were unembarraiTed with thorns, and fimple in its piirfuit; a path, .which fo few men even of the greatefl: courage, and even of the greateft popularity too I may venture to fay, dare to tread. Yet' J hope no man's intereft in fame or power will fo far diredl: his condudt at this awful crifis, when the Divine Providence has put into the hands of this nation the ballance of its hie between itfelf and its enemies, as to induce him to refufe lending his aflidance to preferve unanimity and mutual confidence amongft us, ' Hpw many men, I fear, my Lord, for their own fakes, will fhrink from touching that enormous weight of public interefls which has long been labouring up the fleep of every difH- ■V [91 1 difficulty, and is nearly placed upon its fum- mit, to fix there for ever the glory and felicity of the Britifh nation on a folid bafis. Our want of unanimity alone can occafion this vafl weight to recoil upon us to our deftrudtion ; and whoever the man (hall be^ I care not who he is, who (hall effedt fo amazing a work, will deferve from his coun- try, and from a more grateful pofterity, the highefl honours that can be paid to a mortal being. I think, my Lord, I need fay no more to you upon this head who are fo well, convinced of the neceffity and foundation .of thefe great and folemn truths ; to you, my Lord, who have * it fo much in your power, and, I flatter my- felf, fo vtiry much in your inclination, to fland < forth in thefe tinies of intemperate heats and rmiftaikdn difcbnterits, prejudices, and faction, the vir pietate gravis et meritis \ have placed for my motto j to reconcile, to allay, - and Ito unite. N 2 But, {9« J fiut, my Lord, inafmuch as, in order to attain the falotary end of a general cooperation of all orders of men, the good fenfe of the 1)ody of the people of Great Britain muft be HfII informed and convinced as well as de« claimed to, before we can hope th;»t they will ^ived themfelves of any veheniient prejudices, ^whic^ they have either formed by the natural difpofitions of mankind, or which they have kamt from their matters in politics, upon tibe fubjed of the general meafures of his Maje%; and as my intention is to comprehend every thing that may juftify them at all times fo hr as they are undoubtedly juftlfiable, I will endea- vour to point out, as well as I can, the poili* bilities and probabilities attending the mixed intere(b of this nation at home and abroad, as they are underftood to be, at this particular ^pe- riod : a wide field of matter indeed ttmay/eem^ but I humbly apprehend laying in d very narrow compafs. Icon- t 93 1 I conceive that it is the more neceBary to enter upon a detail of the principles of the war, becaufe they muft operate upon the principles of a peace» or the manner of con- tinuing the war for the future. Whoever looks back to the peace of Aix la Chapelle will fee in- that indecifive peacp the whole obje^ of the prefent war. The great hlftorian of that part of the late war which was in Italy, but, fpeaking of the war an general, gives the charaiSter of that peace in very ftriking terms : '^ lUud hujufce bel« ' *Mi de quo fcribimus pr^cipuun^ eft, qu6(i tot prseliis tot cl'^ibus, tantorumque Re- gum viribus nihil psne perfedtum eft, quod *V rerum magnitudini refponderit, non princi- "^'pum ambitio fidata, non populorum fta- *Vbilita felicitas; bellum denique vehemens ** atque atrox pax repente concluferit otiofis ** magis optanda et defatigatis necefTariaquam ^ cuiquam opportuna aut gloriofa bellantium.*' cc cc There t n 1 There is no doubt but the leaving in the treaty of Aix la Chapcllc the American li- mits to future conferences foWed all thfe feeds of the prefent War; and therefore almoft all men of refledtibn forefaw what has fince hap- pened, and confidered that pacification as little better than a truce. I am afraid indeed few definitive treaties as they are tailed are much better.' France faw the peace bf Aix la Cha- petle in this light, and proceeded wifely enough j her principle was very fimplej fhe thought it for her interefl, that England fhould truft her, andfhe not trufl England j and thefefore difhonoured this nation by a demand of hof- tages which were granted. In the mean time France remained armed, arid repaired her navy, encouraged the Indians to moleft the back fettlements of the Britifh colonies, while this, nation laid up its (hips, reduced' tne number of its troops and artificers, who'toblc refuge in France and Spain. "As if the trea- ty" had been definitive in fa6J as well as in words, occupied totally with reducing the load Vt;u load of public credit, tha,t' there might be. fomething to mortgage in a future war, and attending to a few favjngs, the Britifh mi- niflers feemed dctermintd to cont^end, no more during their power, if poffible, with France, coqcerLing which they believed^ or had argued themfelves and half the natii- on into a belief of it, that France was toowife^ too brave, too much every thing that is grea^ and powerful for this nation to ftruggle with.. Yet the minifters of that time had great me^- rit, my Lord : but their pacific fentiments en-s couraged the enterprizing temper of the^ French government, whofe levity and igno- rance of the internal of this country, from their contempt of it, has always been re- markable: they op^ly fitted out a fleet, em- barked troops, built forts on our territories, difregarded all reprefentations, and defied the Britifh minifters, till they provoked the Bri- tiQi nation. They looked upon the preparati- ons for war in England as a parade meant only to amufe the people ; but which cer- tainly r9M tahily lAflamed them. The war broke out in Amerka: it was impoffible for the reft of Europe to look on, and fee the two dominant powers, who give the tone to the reft of their neighbours, dius furioufly engage, without expeffing the ftorm to fall upon the Continent. AU was fbon in motion there r treaties oiienfive and defensive were made i Olid foes became new allies ; and vei^ folemn engagements were entered into to keep thole out, whom engagements joft before had been entered into to bring in. In a word, France expeded that ftie could plajr a fure card in Europe, and probably gain foniMthing In America. She knew fomebody would fall upon Hanover. If England fupported the Houfeof Auftria againft Pruflia, (he imagin-^ ed the latter would fill Hanover with its troops; as a great traveller at that time has obferved, in his account publiflied a( that country, it was in the King of Prulna's pow* cr to do in four and twenty hours. If Eng^ land fupported PruiHa, (he determined to fall Ill fall the 1 97] fall upon Hanover herfelf. She knew, how- ever the Englifli nation might be averfe to continental meafures, that neverthelefs it has always been, and always muft be obliged to keep pace with every ftep Prance pleafes to take upon the continent^ for fear of her en- creafing her territory and influence With fo much danger fo England, and gaining an extent of coaft fo excefiively formidable as France might do from Bayonne to theZuyder Zee, if England did notinterpofe; befides, (he knew that a i^ation which ads upon the defen- five muft ibllow and fight its opponent u^oa fuchgrou?id as the nation chufes which attacks. Thus, my Lord, were we fbon drawn upon the continent in fpite of all oppofitidn at home. Auftria refufed to fave Hanover, if England would not depart from its folemn guarantee of Silefia, and if England did depart from it, Hanover would have fallen probably a facrifice to Pruflia, in revenge for a breach of public faith. France thought that the fuiferings of O Hanover I 98 1 Hanover would pay for America at the word of events; (he therefore openly declared her in- tentioost and joined with the houfe of Auftria : the latter appeared ready tp malce a (acrifice abfolutely oi all the Netherlands, if France, would dnablp her to a^rd it, and (he wa9 wijil- ing to pledge then) into her hand( fcjif the prcfent, in order that (he might rou^d'her dominions again by recovering Silefia. Thus France faw her great objedt, and the dread of England^ the whole Netherlands bypOtht-. cated> 9M as good as given up to hffic: (he faw top Holland awedj and at heir cotmnands ready to affift her by a neutrality more disfiil than a declaration in the favour of France and her allies. nn »iidT •■•:.» >;^1 The imagination of Auflrla already ^afp^ ed all the dominions of the lefs povtters on the other fide of the Rhine, and France hoped' for all on this fide. The armies of France marched into Germany: and when. England undertook to defend Hanpver, a greats ma^ at *^^ home ^wv orft r 99 ] home oppoicd it; he thought the engagement to defend Hanover would make it of To much the Qiore con'fequence in the eyes of France, and therefore among other rcafons he oppofed k, as neceffarily drawing on the invafion of the elcdorate. However, the fupport of his Mj^efty as eledtor was voted. France haftened to pofiefs herfelf of Hanover ; (he fucceeded : a neutrality was figned. The troops of the ele . : ■ ■ J ::- ■ -i •'" :i)j .jit^t > Hi it tit Ji T'". . i Congrefles ^ftener die^rc^ confidence than baften pacifications where, many powers arb concerned. IThere are . many precedents of tceatus and diiquifitions upon public law, bu^ the noble plainnefs of ou.' admirals and military commanders in their capitulations granted to the enemy during their latel eypeditiphs is worth all the parade of Emba^dbrs ajb a congrefs i and notwithflanding^. the pradice of negotiators andflatefmenin general, who attach themfelves ]t6 the pedantry of old 'form«y there feems to be no reaifon why treaties of the moft com{>rehenfive kind may not iyt carried on with as much fimplicity and pre* cifion in fbile^ form, and matter, as the capi^^ tulation jof a garrifon. This niethod of nego*' tiating, natural enoi^h io a nation which ne- gotiates with vidorio us arms in its hands, and which ought to command its allies, and not tQ be comit&anded by them^ would indeed be -; for t «04 1 for the public fervice, but it might poffibly leffen the importance of men intereflei^ in ceremonies and a train x>f finefTe and details^ calculated to £hew their talentSi to amtife and dazzle the people, but which create delay^ and, what is worfe, a diftruft of iincerity between the powers who are principals in thd negotiation. /# My Lord, I take it to be the intereft of England to proceed at this cri& with the utmoft fincerity; nothing can anfwer happier purpofes than the laying afide every term of inCult to her enemies in deipair, and every immoderate demand which may one day or other excite the fame jealoufy and confederacy among the reft of the powers of Europe againft herfelf as the infolent behaviour of France in her higheil point of profperity occafioned once to her ambitious monarch. The plan of pacification on the part of Great Britain; mud; naturally be entered upon with a retrp*^ fpe the importance of the fubje^ at this jundbire will apologize for en- deavouring to take as comprehenfive a view as poffible of the public interefts. It is be- fides fome confolation to me, that it is in eve- ry reader's power to make the whole of thefe confiderations as fhort as he pleafes ; and I do aiTure him, like Balzac, that if I had had more time I would have made them a great deal^ thorter % as well as have endeavoured to avoid thofe marks of hafte and even of rapidi- ty, which I am too feniible and afhamed that they now carry with them. I (hall conclude therefore, my Lord, in recommending once more, and too often, I dare fay you think^ it cannot be recommended, unanimity to my country men, whatever fyAem of public condu6: they ihall at kft adhere to; and above all to folbw that folid and ufefiil maxim for pre- fer vuig ferving the interefts of all public focieties whaN' focvcr, ''* that the minorities aftfer the firit ** flmggle fhould yield to and unite with nia- **joritie8i" fo that there may be one whole collected force of government moving as one man, and aAuated by one fpirit for the gene* ral good : that we may think of combating nothing but falfe opinions recently adopted, or old prejudices grown up with us, leaving it to men of weak minds and ftrong paflions to attack nominal diflin^tions with as much vehemence as the knight of la Mancha en- countered windmills, becaufe he thought them giants } but above all endeavouring with our utmofl efrorts,that public confiderations (hould prevail over private interefls at this great crifis, with every order of men amongfl us, fo far as human nature will permit us to indulge thd hope. ' ' Your rank, my Lord, your character, and influence, the magnanimity of his Majefty, the :firmnefs, and the integrity of his fervants wiH greatly t MI ] greatly contribute to tliis falutary end. In the mean time, unattached to any fet of men or meafureSy excepting the regard I have the honour to profefs for your perfonal happinefs^ reputation and intereft, and my zeal to be in a more particular manner the Advocate of bis Majefty^ whofe good intentions deferve the mod grateful return from his people, I (hall content myfelf with imitating, as well as I can» l^be good Erafmus in an bonejl mean, preaching concord, and praying for the pub- lic peace, as warmly and as fruitlefsly perhaps as he did for the peace of the church, in times of general diffenfion ; when a number of par- ties divided aod fubdivided, paffing to the very utmoft extremities^ the common intereft and happinefs of all men which laid in the center were torn in places. I dread that the fame kind of fcene is again approaching, when men tired out with their own happinefs and fuc- ^efs will in the heart of the ilate heap fadti- pn upon fa^ion, and that our greateft ene- mies I mmm mid will then be able to pronoance. ifid cveA to fee fulfilled agaiaft this nation the curie denounced by the Roman againft the enemies ofRome, s * Mineat putfo^ AiretfUi gifiHhu^fi tm amor ne/H^ at ecfii cdiumJU i quamh urgentilm imperii fiaist mbiljamfraltanfortuna mtjui foitfi quam b^JHum Hfctrdiam. I am, my Lord^ &c. iiid urie niea See* ■■H