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'^ [ Price One Shilling and Six Pence. ] pnpn^ \ ^ V. **-^- **-,%u* •"-■*<* M ^^# y ^.:> .'. 1 ri V. U ^ \ PREFACE. 1 /"T^HE Author of the two following Pieces having A had no other intercourfe with the Publiflier, than that of fending them to him anonymoufly, could not attend to the correftion of the prefs j and having ob- fcrved feme Errata, he requefted the Publiflier by letter, to offer to the public a cheaper and more correft edi- tion of both pieces together, the objeft of both being the fame, and the fubjedl of both not unconnefted. This requell having been complied with, he begs leave to trouble the Reader with a few words on the Occafion of two pamphlets, which have been fo favourably rc-^ ceived. *|- '*'# The Addrefs to the Cocoa-Tree was provoked by a Piece intitlcd, J Letter from the Cocoa-Tree to the Country Gentlemen^ whicli was written with an Air of Authority, and with a mofl bitter Malevolence towards the Prin- ciples of the WHIGS, towards the Charadlers of fome Great Men, who profefs thofe principlej, and particu- larly towards ONE, whofe Name will be revered, as long as the lad Rebellion, and his Conduft in exr tinguifliing it, arc remembered. . , A 2 ■•"■' [ IV ] The Anthor of i\\e J(/i/rr/s thought It not unbecoming any perfon, who is fenfible of the Benefits of the Re- volution, and zealous for the Family on the Throne, to cxpoftulate with the Gentlemen of the Cocoa-Tree, on the fubjeft of a letter, which pretended to contain their fentiments, and to direft thofe of their friends in the Country. He hopes he has done this, without giving perfonai v Tence to any of them, and wifhes he could have done it, without difpieafing them, as a Party. It appeared very ftrange, that, after a perfevering^ Oppofition to Minifters for upwards of forty years, they Jhould treat the firft oppofition, in which they were not concerned, as an Attack of the King's Prerogative ; that thefe Champions of Liberty fhould at once con- found the Mlnifter's caufe with the KING's, and take fo large a Stride, in favour of a Miniller, with whom they had not had time to become much better acquaint- ed, than the reft of the nation were. ^ Whatever their motives or views might be, the world will prefume, upon comparing their prefent with their former condudl, that either their Prefent condud is, or their Former condufl was, a deliberate political HY- POCRISY. They know beft where to fix the Impu- tation ; and it is moft refpedlful towards them, as well as moft natural, to fuppofe, that they are fincere in their prefent conduft, it being moft agreeable to the principles, which diftinguilhed their Party before the Revolution, and in the latter part of the Reign of Queen Ann. >-<^ [ ] I '« But however finccrcly they may r^t prefent fupport a Miniller, who is not efleemed by the WHIGS, they will be obliged, in their fupport of him, to contradid themfelves fo frequently, that they ought not to wonder, if now and then they Ihould be reminded of their pajl conduft, efpecially, fince they have thought fit to fpealc of Oppofition with Acrimony, and deny the Whigs that liberty of cenfuiing public mcafures, which they themfelves have exercifed, without referve, for fo man;- years. It is much to be lamented, that thcfe Gentlemen, who feem to have mixed a little regard to their own Tntereft with their zeal for their country, did not duly confider, to WHOM they were precipitately devoting themfelves ? They muft have fallen into fome Inconfiftency, in fupporting «;;v Adminiftration, after fo undeviating an Oppofition as theirs. But as they had it in their power, at the beginning of this winter, to choofe either Side, it fcems ftrange, they did not choofe <:hat fide, which, when predominanc, would expofe them to the leaft in- confiftency. The prefent Minifler will have occafion for all the meafurcs, which have appeared odious to theniy and as the Oppofition to him will be more formidable^ than any they ever made to his Predeceflbrs, he may have occafion to take fome meafures much harder to digeft. L_U.U«*!J"_ [ vi ] They have already experienced an inftancc of thi'j, in the mode of" raifing u certain duty, which brought them to tl)c unavoidable ncccflity of joining with, and almoll heading the Onpofuiun, rather than be incon- fiflcut to a degree of infamy. They merit the thanks of their Counties for thir,, and it is pity, they do not merit them for the whole of their condudl this winter. However, it is to bo hoped, that the experience they now have, how much more dilUcult, and how much lefs reputable it is, to forward the Views of the prefent Minifter, than to oppofe them, will have the good ef- fe' «y of .11 o,h„ '"^"'"^'••"-"o»JV-.W„. :4* r r t r i . 4 . It.. . / i : A N A D D R E T O 1' H E m COCOA-TREE. GENTLEMEN, IH A V E read with due attention the manifefto, which you have been pleafed to publilh, and to addrefs to the country gentlemen, for the dircftion of their future conduft ".nd engagements. As you feem to think thern under your influence, you aded prudently, and kindly^ in giving them a direftion, where to follow you. I will not diminifh the amufing idea of your prefent confequence, which you raife in their minds, and have perhaps admitted into yours. But I (hall endeavour to convince both you and them, that you have mifrepre- fented, or at leaft millaken, the con.^ ft of the Whig?. as v/ell as your own. In doing this, I (hall prcfume the B [ 2 ] letter, which is dated from your head-quarters, to be yours, it having hitherto not been difavowed by you. Your capital complaint is, that an oppofition is form- ing againlt the meafures of government, which you in- terpret to be a perfonal diflike to minifters, and rather think it a formed dcfign againfl his Majefty's indepen- dency and prerogative. Whoever looks into the hiftory of the two laft reigns, will fmile to hear you complain of oppofition. But I leave the ridicule to others, and admit, that the prefcnt oppofition is partly grounded in a perfonal diflike to a miniller. You have had fuch diflikes formerly, and were much difpleafed with thofe, who cenfured them. Give us leave to account for ours, before you quite fhut up our mouths with the independency and ptevogati-ve of the crown. You attribute the whole of the oppofition to thr6e very great names. I mull: differ from you in this, as a matter of fad. The prefent oppofition is known to fpread through the whole kingdom, I had almoft faid, through the united kingdom, and exifted in the minds of the people, before the lirft of the perfons you hint at retired from bufinefs, before the fecond was baniflied from court, and before it was fuggelled that the third would openly patronife the caufe, which has been the fupport of his illuftrious houfe on the throne. 4 You aflign motives to the condudt of thofe three great perfons, which you have no right to aflign, and which C 3 ] h differs not many degrees from trcafon to impute to One of them. It is neediefs to confute flanders, which no one believes, or to exprefs the contempt, which every man feels, at feeing the weapons of party fo miferably handled. If I apprehend you right, gentlemen, the dotftrine, upon which your letter is founded, is this, *' That the " King having a right to appoint his minifters, the *' people have no right to oppofe them." If this be not your dodlrine, then all you fay of prerogative, and indeed the whole of your letter, is foreign to the purpofe. I rather believe it to be your meaning, becaufe we hear the fame language from the other advocates of the pre- fent minillry. Permit me toextradl a different doftrine from Whig principles. W e apprehend, that the pretenfion of a minilkr to his power fhould be Natural^ Conjiitutionaly Gently ajjerfed, and Generally admitted. If he fails in all thcfc rcfpedils, we apprehend the prerogative of the crown to be no Ihelter from the warmefl oppofition, which a free people may conlHtutionally form againfl fuch a minilter. This has been invariably the doftrine of Whiggism, and an oppofition is forming to the pre- fent minilter, upon no other motive, than that he is fuppofed to be defeftive in each of thofe qualifications. 1 You are fenfible, that he has not till lately been known to us. I affirm it, without laying much flrefs upon the place of his birth. B z [ + ] The national reflexions, which have been thrown out on this account, feem to have borne no more ill will towards the natives of North-Britain, than might be cxpefted at a time, when one of them was fo fuddenly and highly exalted, probably againft the fecret wifhes of the wifeft among his own countrymen. They doubtlefs knew, that their interefts would have been better ma- naged, by leaving to the cool and infenfible operation of time, the difficult work of eradicating national pre- judices ; and if they had been confulted, they would have thought it fuiFxient to fee the governnicnt of their part of the ifland in their own hands, and to fee lucra- tive and honourable polls among us diflributed, as they have been by Whig minifters, almoft indifcriminately to Britons in general. They could not advife him to grafp at the whole, in fpite of popular prejudices, whilft thofe prejudices did not moleft them in the enjoyment of a confiderable part, nor him in being a principal figure among the glittering ornaments of the drawing- room. Indeed it is highly probable, that if they had nomi- nated a minifter, from among their own countrymen, they would not have made eleftion of this noble perfon for the purpofe ; partly, becaufe they might have been difpofed to prefer others before him in their own efteem j and partly, becaufe it happens to be a misfortune to his prefent pretenfions, that we cannot trace a fmgle drop of Englifli blood in his famous genealogy ; that he is fo radically Scottifh, that none of the ancient families of that kingdom can boaft of a more unmixed extradlion. The prudent and thoughtful part of his countrymen [ 5 ] could not defirc to fee a perfon at the helm, whofc firft appearance there would revive the old and almoft ex- ploded jealoufies. It has in faft revived them. They will be alive and artive throughout his adminiftration ; and tho' they may fubfide, after that is expired, it will require fome time, to bring back both parts of the united kingdom to that degree of mutual aiFeftion, to which they were advanced at the commencement of the pre- fent reign. But the Whigs do not reft their oppofition upon this, for they have more folid objeftions to him, as a minifter. He has no natural intereft in South Britain, that is, he has no popularity of character ; he is not diftinguifhed by his zeal for the prevailing and conftitutional party principles, nor recommended by long and acknowledged fervices. The want of popularity, tho' not difgraceful in itfelf, for it may in other men be confiftent with a good private charafter, is a ftrong exception againft him. An unpo- pular minifter has not the principal thing necefTary to- wards his ftability in a free country, the corfidence of the people. He has not the motives, which popular men have, to guard the pilblic liberty, and adminifter conjli- tutional advice to the crown. The Whigs therefore naturally diflike him ; for Whiggism is a popular principle. The great objeft of it is the liberty of the people, for which monarchy and legiflature are eftablifhed. A known Whig will of courfe enjoy popularity j he will not flatter the King [ 6 ] with more independency and prerogntive, than he really has ; he will fooncr chufe to retire from court. But fuch a condu6l is not expedled from a miniller, who has no obligation to the people, who has received from them many marks of dillilcc, and may be fuppofed to value himfelf upon the firmnefs with which he dcfpifes the voice of the people. I appeal to you, gentlemen of the Cocoa-Tree, whe- ther you ha^x not made this an objeftion to One minifter at leaft. You thought him improper for the office, be- caufe he was unpopular. Was it fo heinous a guilt, to have maintained this obvious truth heretofore, that you cannot expiate it, without fupporting tnjuo unpopular minifters now? I know, that fome of you are more con- fiftent ; it is to the inconfiftent ones, that I addrefs myfclf, I do them no injuftice in affirming, that they oppofed a minifter, partly for being unpopular, and that they are now inlifted under the banners of the fame mi- nifter, in fupport of another, who is likewife unpopular. But this is only one objeflion to the noble Lord, How has he diftinguiflied himfelf by party principles ? Tour zealous attachment to him, the prefent revival of Tory-Maxhnsy and indeed the whole foundation of his power, will anfvver the queftion. You have been wandering about, gentlemen, for fome years paft, in fearch of a minifter, under whom you might recover your importance, without giving up the abfur- dities of your anceftors. The general decay of your party reduced you to this vagrant ftate. You found 4 ■K [ 1 ] difpontlon In the Whigs, to receive you amicably. But ilill they were WniGS, and gave y^u no hopes to become the predominant party. You tried a new expedient, and pictended that the dillinftion no longer exiiled. The late great minifter received you upon that pre- tence, knowing, that /pis connexion with you could ex- cite no jealoufies. To him it was matter indifFerent, what you profefled, as the credit of ferving your country was all you could then gain. You have been now ad- mitted into confidence by another minifter, whofc credit was feeble among the Whigs, and to whofe power your notions became fignificant. You gave them vent, when you were thus far advanced. Monarchy was now fiiid to be independent, which is only another word for unlimited. The power of the King over his people was compared to that of a private gentleman over his family. Fihner did not main- tain it more abfolutely, than it has been maintained of late. But Fihner maintained it at a time, when great part of the nation knew no better. We are now fo well acquainted with our rights, that we cannot give them up for big-founding words or flimfy arguments. We honour the King ; we both love and honour the prefent King ; but we dillike the minifter, whofe exiftence de- pends upon Tories and Tory-Maxims. T fay this, gentlemen, without meaning any pcrfonal infult upon you, many of whom I know to be very re- fpetlable. If you had not all your views gratified under former minifters, it now appears, why they kept you I « ] at fome diltancc. They could not dig up and deftroy the principles, upon which the revolution was built. You continued, as you hoyAy Jlcady and uniform. If any man was convinced of his error, and left you, you flig- niatizcd him as one, who had betrayed his party. Were I difpofed to offend you, I Ihould fay, that poflibly he had nothing but treafon to betray. This rendered it difficult for Whig miniftcrs to reconcile you fo effeilually, as it was their inte'-eft and wi(h to do. And can you blame the Whigs for fufpeding a new minifter, on account of your attachment to him, at a time, when you profefs the principles, which were the only bar between them and you ? They might fay, and are probably ftill ready to fay, with Pi/o.to his foldiers, in Tacitus, •* Proinde a nobis donativum oh Jidem, quam ** ab aliis ^ro /acinore accipietis." Do not therefore charge the Whigs with an immo- derate paffion for places, at the time when they are refigning them. Charge them, if you pleafe, with party zeal, when they are facrificing their power and intereft to party principles. But remember, that the principles, for which they ftruggle, are the foundation of our pre- fent government, which they apprehend to be under- mined, whenever Tory-Maxims are openly avowed, and to ufe your own words, " it is wifdom to forefee ** fuch danger ; it is courage to meet it in its approach; •* it is our duty to die or to repel it." But if you, gentlemen, and your hereditary doftrines, had been out of the queftion, yet the Whigs could not I i [ 9 T fail 10 diflike the prefent miniller for the foundation, upon which he builds his power. They cannot admit a minirtcr to be a fervant of the King alone. He is the fervant of the Nation too, for he is accountable to the nation as well as to the King. Former minifters have confeflfed this, by the attention they have paid to the opinion and good will of the nation, not merely of our reprefentatives in parliament, but of the people of Great- Britain in general, who do not ceafe to be a confidtrable body, even after they are reprefented. The Whigs are far from difputing the legality of the power, that raifed the prefent rainifter to an emi- nence, which has, in his cafe, very much the appear- ance of a precipice. They only mean to perfevere in affirming and manifefling, that he is not a minifter with their approbation. They might account for it, by declaring very truly, in the moil fair and candid way, that they do not know him. Let him pro- duce his pretenfion, if he has any othfer, to be at the head of the fubjedls of this kingdom, than the Favour of the King. ' As there never was a better King, than the prefent« his favour does honour to the man, who enjoys it. But the Whigs will not diffemble their fentiments under the best King. It is their birthright to fay; that, however honourable fuch a pretenfion may be, they diflike it, luhen ftanding by itfelf \ they are jea- f.ous of it. [ .0 J Nor do they in this extend their liberty beyond con- ftitutionul bounds. They know both the crime and the folly of invading the real power of the crown, and have given too many evidences of their loyalty, juftly to incur the fufpicion of fuch a defign. It appears to thorn fuflicicnt caufc of jealoufy, to fee the favour of the crown the only fupport of him, who diredh the executive part of government ; and whenever this hap- pens to be the cafe, they apprehend, that, if we are in any rcfped more free, than the fubjedls of other monar- chies, wc have a right to declare a jealoufy fo founded. The adminillration of a mere favourite tends, in it* own nature, to reduce the people to abfolute infigni- ficancy. This is the bell of the bad efFeds, to whicU it tends ; without effefting this, it cannot long fubfill. And what may be apprehended from a ftate of abfolute infignificancy in the people, I forbear to explain, in the reign of a prince, who has, and we hope will con- tinue to have, our intire confidence. Poffibly the minifter, whom you are defending fo unconjiitutionallyy may have no defigns, at prefent, againfi: our liberties. It is common for well-meaning men to be miflcd, by the too eager profecution of their views, into meafures, which they did not originally approve; and if ever wrong meafures may be apprehended, without injury to the charader of a miniiler, it is, when the People and He are at variance. This appears to be a much more ferious objeftion to Him, than thofe, which have been drawn from his \ !di m m I ti ] native country, or from his fuppofcJ inexperience in bufincfs ; for this afKedts us immedictdy and 'vilnlh. We are no longer the great people we have been, iC \vc mull acquiefce in the alnioll unlimited power of a fellow fubjcLl o\er us, who has no natural interell among us. The miniller himfelf can hardly fail to fee the force and full extent of this constitutional language. It is much to he lamented, that he did not perceive the Whig objections to him fomewliat earlier; for they have rather gained ilrength by the progrefs and exercife of his power ; unlefs you will convince the nation, that he was applauded by the nobles, the fenate, and the people of England, when he firll exhibited himfelf ns the FAVOURITE miniller. si • v.'.y It might have become you better, gentlemen, to have recommended him to your country friends, by pleading ]\is ferviccs, than to triumph in the unconlUtutional afpet^ of his power. But here you were not a little embarralled. You and they were fenfible, that his fer- vices are not of a long date, and by your own confeffion ihey are not many. He aid not profefs to be the fole miniller, before Mr. Pitt refigned. The conquefl of Martinique had been planned by that gentleman; and we are very ready to yield to his fuccelTor the merit of permitting a fleet to fail, which had been deftined and prepared for fo important a fervice, by another miniller. ' ' 1 I The lofs and recovery of Newfoundland and the con- ijucft of the Havannah have happened under the prefent C 2 y t '« ] adminiftration. The merit of the recovery of Knvfound- land is much weakened by the antecedent lofs of it. If any merit be claimed from the recovery, the world will i'ufped, that it was loll with a view to that merit, it may be molt agreeable to truth, to acquit the mi- niflcr of both. Yon have told us, to whom tO afcribc the merit of the red ud ion of the Ha'vannah \ and as you have no partiality to the iVince of the Blood, whofe advice fe- cured the fucccfs of that expedition, we are happy in taking your word for the fad. The prefent miniftry, you fay, dcfigred it. There was no difficulty in difcovcring where the power of Spain was moft vulnerable ; for every merchant in Lon- don knew, that the Ha'vannah was the key to the Spa- niili Wcll-Indieii. So far the merit of defigning the expedition was inconfiderivble. But there appears to have been extreme difficulty ia flriking the blow and giving the wound. Uncommoa fpirit and perfeverance were requifite, and you, who doubtlcfs know the truth, afHrm, that the befl judge of military merit in this king-dom recommended a com- mander in chief and other officers, who were difUni> guifhed by uncommon fpirit and pcrefeverance. So that the whole of the prefent minifter's fervices is hitherto comprifed in a fhort fpace of time, and in a very narrow compafs ; for we know of no fervice he could do us, nor of any experience he could gain, ,.v^ •^^nfia^Ka .«»'» [ V [ 21 ] In the mean time, to fliew, how remote and chimc- i-ical that day appears to us, I will repeat, in the name of the Whigs, the conclufion of a proteft formerly made in a certain great aflembly j *' Under this Royal Family alone, we are fully con- •* vinccd we CAN live free; and under this Royal ** Family, we are fully determined, we will live " FREE." lam. Gentlemen, Dec. 6, 1 761. Your moft humble Servant, ^ WHIG. it' .] !- i ■ . ♦ ' ' U.'i CONSULTATION On the Subject of a STANDING ARMY, HELD AT THE KING'S -ARMS TAVERN, On the Twenty-eighth Day of February, 1763. THE SECOND EDITION. "Well have ye judged, well ended long debate. Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are, Great things refolved, which from the loweft deep Will once more lift us up. Milton. f Hi' O 1 1 I '^ . V / 'J 'f \ ■» r • (j 1 r.i ) . 1 ? It ; » ♦ •« a i I-: J. ii ♦ » , » »f I J. li" I CONSULTATION, &c. AS E T of worthy gentlemen, who, partly for their amufement, and partly from motives of public fpirit, have innocently made the nation their care, for many years paft, and have by their connexion with different parts of the kingdom, been able from time to time, to inflame or to cool, as the cafe of the public might require, had a meeting lately at the King^s-Arms^ to which their club was for that day removed from the Coco A -Tree, in order to confider the grand queftion, ,of a Standing Army in time of Peace. .) u if It had never been a queilion among them before, jvhether this meafure ought, or ought not to be oppofed ? for they had fet their faces againft it invariably, from the acceffion of the prcfent Royal Family; and there feemed to be lefs room for a doubt now thari ever, as they admit, that we have a King oft the throne, who reigns in the hearts of his people j and loudly contend, that the prefent minifter has had the honour of abolifhino [ ^(> ] part/ diftinfllons. Yet, it fo happened, that their cir- cumftanccs were materially changed, and they began now to think the point, at leall, problematical, which had for many years appeared to them, as quite in- difputable. A meeting was called for a general confultation. The queftion had fo changed its appearance, that many things were faid upon it, which none of them had ever heard from each other's mouths ; and being diilradled between different motives, and oppofitc engagements^ they de- parted fomewhat from their ufual unanimity, and fome- times, as is natural to dil'tradled minds, they departed Irom the queftion before them. It being neceffary for the country gentlemen to know what is done by their friends in town, that they may regulate their conduft and converfation accordingly, we here prefent them with the fubftance.of this important debate, which was held at the Kirtg^s-Armsy in the month of Februaryy 1 763, about the fame time, when fomc prophet foretold, that the world would he at an end. The chairman was a gentleman whofc folemnity of Agure and manners would have paffed for wifdom in the lall century, and did in fadl raife him to the rank of u iirft rate counfellor in the prefent. He opened the meeting with the following fpeech ; v/ '/;irih'l<^'!h Si, .i [ i7 1 The CHAIRMAN'S Speech. CENT LP. MEN, WE arc aflembled to confider of a weighty matter, in which the nation is not (o much intcrellcd, as we and our friends. The point indeed is trite. It has been fo well worn by us, that if we enter into a dull repetition of what we have faid heretofore, we (hall fpend much time to little purpofc. Our firft objeft, in all queftions of this kind, Ihould be the credit and ftrength of our body. I am forry to mention what you muft all have obferved, that our po- pularity has fufFered much of late j and I am afraid, private interefts, which are quite new among us, may interrupt our union. , To prevent this as fa- as lie.- in my power, I beg leave to lay down one general rule for our debate, which I hope you will judge to be fuitable to the gravity of our charafters. The rule I mean is this, that we keep entirely clear of the merits of the queftion about a Standing Army, and that we reduce our whole debate to this fmgle point, 'whether ixie fliall notu approve or con- demn that meafure. You cannot fail, gentlemen, to fee an effential dif- ference between thefe two queftions. It follows, indeed, E 2 ' .i I 28 I if the meafure be a wrong one, that we ought to cort- demn it. But a thing may be right, which appears to lis to be wrong; and a thing may have been wrong here- tofore, which may now be right ; which confiderations lead into endlefs perplexities about right and wrong, and may have the effedl of dividing us, which wc ought to guard againil more cautioufly, than againft the evil cfFefts of any meafure whatever. Whereas we fhall have a fair chance of preferving our unanimity, and of doing either right or wrong in a fummary way, if we reft the whole matter upon the fingle queftion, abftiadl^dly confidered, whether we fhall or {hall not approve this meafure. I am /ure, gentlemen, none of ycu fufpeft me of any thing unfair, in recommending this method. I have ntf private ends to anfwer. I have the honour, indeed, to be a counfellor, but you all know, that it is not a pro- fitable honour. It only gives me a title and a prece- dency amongft you, which I am not fo ridiculoufly formal as to value. Gentlemen, i iiever had more than one fintrle view, before and fince I came into this fociety ; and, though that view has been varioufly crofled by events, which we could not forefee, yet, it will continue uppermoil in my thoughts, ur.der ail changes of men and times. 1 mention this, becaufe we are at prefent much talked of. Many malignant eyes are upon us. We are fuf- pe«^ed in the country, and envied in town. Let us not weaken our caufe ftill more, by mutual jealoufies. You cannot all be counfellors, gentlemen ; and I am t^*-^' C 29 ] afraid you cannot all have places. Every flick of wood ♦vill not make a ftatue of Alercury. Our laudable confederacy has fubfifted by our inat- tention, both to our private intereft, and to the real merits of any public queftions. Let us not diflblve it by entering into arguments, which may lead to alter- cation. 1 declare that I would rather be in an error, than be convinced againft my will. The queftion then before you is, not the political one, IVhether a Standing Army be a right or a lurong mea- Jure P but thj prudential one, ^whether you *wiU approve cr condemn it ? I beg every gentleman would deliver his refolution freely, and I ihall fum up the debate, and deliver mine, ris becomes me, at the laft.'* When the Chairman had iinilhed his fpeech, there was fome murmuring in the room. Several gentlemen were difappointed by his fcheme or contrafting the debate ; they having been at the pains of preparing themfeives with fpeerhes, extrac'^ed from the Magazines and Parliamentary Debates of forty years pail, all which fpeeches were now to be unvented. Others, who were predetermined to approve any meafure of government at this time, came wi<:h a refolution to approve of this ; but being at a lofs for arguments, they were in hopes to colled fonc from this confutation. However, the moirmuring ceafed, and they were all impreflfed with awe, when a grave, elderly gentleman. Sir Robert Filmer by name, ftood up, and, having adjullcd his I il 1 [ 30 ] Peruke, and put on his white gloves, addrefled the chairman thus : Sir ROBERT F I I M E R'S Speech, " Mr. Chairman', YOU dpferve the thanks of every gentleman here prefent, for direding our debate to the only point, which cometh conftitutionally before us. Whe- ther we Ihall approve this meafure or not ? ^ ' It becometh not fubjefts to canvafs the merits of public meafures. We are unacquainted with the^r- cana Imperii. Kings and their minifters only are the judges of what is fitting to be done. Our bufinefs is to acquiefce, and the merit of our ppflive obedience will be heightened by the inconfiftency of it with fuch profeflions, as we have formerly found it expedient to make. - ' .'; I congratulate you. Sir, and all the gentlemen here prefent, that we have lived to fee the day, when it is our intereft as well as inclination to a !l up to our old prin- ciples. We have travelled through a wildernefs of forty years oppofition, and, though fome of us have fainted by the way, either through hunger or thirft, yet a very reputable number have reached the promifed land. Shall we now forfeit our pofieflion of it by ill-timed [ 31 ] fcruplcs about confiftency? Befides, wherein doth it appear, that we are inconfiftent ? We oppofed our ene- mies, and we ftill continue to oppofc them. We op- pofed this mfeafure in particular, becaufe the iJtanding Army was then meant to intimidate Us. And fhall we not now promote that meafure, when we may perchance turn this engine of theirs againft themfeives, and make ufe of it to fubdue them ? By our enemies I do not mean the French and Spa- niards. Thanks to the wifdom of government, we are pnce more at peace with thofe great potentates. I meant thofe reftlefs fpirits, the Whigs, who are ene* mics to fubordination, and will not acknowledge our power, until we inforce it, in the only way, by which they prevented infurredions from us." Here the chairman interrupted Sir Robert, by re- minding him, that he was entering into the merits of a Standing Army, which it had been propofed to keep quite out of fight in the queflion now before them, *' Whether the Standing Army fhould or fhould not be oppofed ?" Sir Robert, being a man of order, aiked pardon, and then proceeded ; ** Sir, I apprehend, and, if the time would permit, fhould be ready to prove, from the beft writers upon government, that to oppofe the miniflry is oppofmg the prerogative of the King, who hath an undoubted right to appoint and fupport his own fervants. He is our common father, and we are his children. Shall chil- dren direft th^ir father, by wh^t inflruments he ihall [ 32 3 govern them ? and would you take out of his hands the power of chaftifmg his difobedient children ? There is nothing more unnutural, than for the members to fight againll the head. We were uncafy, when we did it ; but you know our motives, and they would have re- conciled us to greater hazards, than any to which we have chofen to expofe ourfelves. When we were op- pofing our enemies, it would have been abfurd to have made ufe of our own doftrines. We have overthrown the Whigs, by perfonating Whigs. We gained our popularity by it, and, under the favour of that il- luftrious peer, who hath lately adopted us, we arrived &'. the ve:-'^ hopeful ftate, in which we and our prin- ciples are a t .it. Now is the time, to ad like ourfelves, and to keep pofTeflicn of the advantage we have gained, by fhcwing, that, as we have the beft of kings, fo we will be the beft of fubjedls ; we will obey implicitly ; we will make our monarch independent, and crulh the men, ivho ihall dare to oppofe his minifter. [hi' iii' I The malecontents indeed are numerous, and have fome advantages of rank, power, and underftanding ; but what are thefe, compared with the advantage of our principles, to which the moil potent monarchs in the world owe the non-refiftance of their fubjeds ? Our enemies have at prefent the people on their fide. The people are intoxicated with notions of liberty. Time and difcipline will reduce them to order, and teach them to place their happinefs, like the fubjefts of other monarchs, in the grandeur of their fovereign. C 33 ] The kings, whom you oppofcJ before, were not na- tives of this ifland. We have now an English king, and an Englilh , I beg pardon, I mean a Br i- TiSH minitter. Let us aft the part of dutiful fubjefts, in fupporting both, againft Fadlion among the great, and violence in the multitude. , ■ a The minifters we oppofed before were not monarchi- cal minillers. They fupported their credit at court, by their credit among the Whigs. We have now a minifte. of our own, who derives his figure and confe- quence, neither from his birth, charafter, accomplifh- plifhments, nor fervices, but from his Royal Mafter. Such a minifter it becometh us to fupport; and what- ever inconfiftency there may be in the mode of fupport- ing him, it will be juftified by the confiftency of fup- porting a minifter fo circumftanced, who is, ftriftly Ipeaking, the fervant of the king, our mafter, for he hath no oth^r intereft to depend on, fave his intereft at court ; and will therefore, in common prudence, do his beft to preferve and extend the antient rights of monarchy, and to diminifh the ufurpations of liberty. Far be it from me, Sir, to perfuade you and our friends to approve of any thing againft your judg- ments J but you may approve without examination, without an officious enquiry into the merits of a mea- fure, and with an implicit confidence in a wifdom greater than yours, and in a power, v/hich ought not to be refifted, nor even to be provoked by cenfures or murmurs. p [ 34 ] I declare, for one, that as the Standing Army is a ineafure to be taken by his majefty's minifler, I fhall think it my duty, as a good fubjedl, a friend to mo- narchy, and an enemy to unfeigned oppofitioiif to fup- port that meafure, by all the influence of my opinion in town and country, to confider my protection as meant in the meafure, and to be thankful to the power, by which 1 am proteftcd." it;"?!- n • Moft of the company applauded the wifdom, mag- nanimity, and fpirit of Sir Robert Filmer's fpeech. It had drawn tears from fome of them, by prefenting before their minds an image of the noble fimplicity of manners, and fentiments in former times. They were not fparing in their encomiums, which flowp'' from the heart, and confirmed him in an opinion, ach he had entertained before, that all he had advanced was convincing and unanfwerable. But there are in all fo- cieties fome men, who are not eafily diverted from the track, in which they have been accuftomed to move, and there were a few in this fociety of a very intraft- able difpofition. Mr. Shippen ftood up next, and de- livered himfelf in the following words : ' J-. . t . , , . . .. , , '; - ■' ' ■ ■ v^:- ■; ■:.■ •■'- •-,•, - 'i*; *>* - V . • |^'^^ii\':: ;; -a: -y. . . J^Hi'xi: ■j'r ; »i^i*..*i>Mryfjri •**•,►»* '•■» *.^v'^' ■ ,• ' i: '♦■'^ ''^ ■'i.j''': i'. ':'. '.':. " - '"■':' *-i~' t '•- . r. I ; '■{ [ 35 ] , /; Mr. S H I P P E N ' s Speech. «* Mr. Chairman, I Have attended with great refpeft to Sir Robert Fil^ mer, and hope he will not think me lefs his hum- l)le fervant, if I declare myfelf not fatisfied. I never before heard any of our friends apply his doftrine to the family now on the throne. I agree to the doftrine itfelf, and would maintain it at the hazard of my life and fortune, were we fo circumftanced, that I could apply it with a hearty good-will. But we have been always taught, that this Royal Family could not avail themfelves of principles, which had been con- trived, for the fupport of another line, and that the laft fervice we could do to our defperate caufe, was that of a perfevering Oppofition, in the courfe of which we have borrowed weapons from the Whigs, and fought them upon the principles of liberty. I have done my part in this way for many years, and have particularly chofen, for my department, the Standing Army, which I confidered, as partly intended to keep me in awe. I have faid fo much againft it, that I cannot appear for it, nor even fufFer a thing to pafs off filently, which I have always condemned from my heart, for very fubftantial reafons. F 2 r [ 36 ] i agree to all that i& faid in praife both of the King and the minifter ; and am only forry, that we are not Tm^, 'lar m our praifes of the King. Our enemies join w. '. us in nothing but this. If we could provoke thin to treafon, we might filence the reproaches, which they have lately revived againft us, with great cruelty. However, as they do not agree with us in opinion about the minifter, we have a fair chance for keeping him to ourfelves, in conjunction with our faithful allies in the North. ' •• ' '.iM..^.->.'^-. ' But this of the army is an aukward difficulty. The thing may be neceflary to government, and perhaps* of great ufe to us. But let us take our credit into confideration. Are we ftrong enough to ftand without popularity ? Will government fupport us againft the people ? It would be great, and, as Sir Robert Filmer calls it, monarchical to do this. But, will it be done? We fhould have fome aflurance of that, before we come plum into all thofe things, which we have called ini* quitous. We fhould, to fpeak plain, be able to filence our country friends by providing for them. Our mi* nifter can create places, and he can create vacancies. Let the country fee the ufe and intent of our prefent compliance. Then I may poffibly get the better of my prejudices againft this meafure, which, I muft own, ftick fo clofe to my mind, that I fhall be in danger of fpeaking againft it, if ever hereafter I ftand up to fpeak for it. In the mean time, Mr. Chairman, I cannot follow Sir B obert upon a mere dry fpeculation about govern- «! ,:i m [ 37 ] ment which none of the kings of the prefent family will countenance, which may be advanced to condemn the Revolution, but appears to me to have no weight in fupport of any Royal Family claiming from the Revo- lution. At leaft, if I fupport monarchy by arguments, which 1 have contradifted in my prafticc for fo many years part, I muft have fome reafon to (hew for my couduft, which has not yet occurred to me ; elfe I am determined to condemn, as I have hitherto done, a Standing Army in time of Peace." The known integrity of Mr. Shippcn's heart had its ufual weight, anv» effaced the impreflion made by Sir Robert Filmer's excellent fpeech. It was agreed by many of the company, that Mr. Shippen fpoke more to the purpofe, and that they and their country friends ought to be well fatisfied, before they entered precipi- tately into fuch a maze of inconfiftencies. But fome gentlemen in the company having already been impreg- nated with the reafons, which had not yet occurred to Mr. Shippen, were alarmed at his refolution. They were unwilling to defert him, and at the fame time they were fliocked at the thoughts of returning to the tedious work of oppofition. An explanation therefore was ne- cefTary, and Mr. Courtly, a gentleman of the C o u n- TRY party, very kindly undertook it. [ 38 I Mr. COURTLY'! Speech. •• Mr. Ch AI R M A Nf ' . • i . • . " • , ■ .' I Have the honour to call both the gentlemen, whey have fpoken, my worthy friends. 1 am fnrry to fee them differ in opinion, efpecially as no part of Sir Robert Filmer's argument will admit of the leaft difpute. To fupport the minifter, is fupporting the crown and the prerogative. I and fome other gentlemen are fa fenfible of this, that we have contributed our part to the fupport of government, by accepting places of emolument under the prefent minifter ; and we did it with the entire approbation of this fociety. The minifter wifely thought fit to try our fidelity, before he extended his favours to our whole body. We fhall carry every point, if we anfwer his expeftation. Rome was not built in a day, nor Carthage overthrown in a year. You know that Rome had as fmall a be- ginning as his power, and it will be a work of time to reduce our enemies to the prefent condition of Carthage. Shall we defeat all our hopes at once, by treating our noble patron, as if he were no better, than the minifters who have gone before him ? Can it be expeftcd, after what our enemies have fufFered by their perverfe conduft, that we ftiall be indulged in following our private opi- nions ? You may reft affured, from what I know of the L 39 ] dignity and firmnefs of the prefcnt minider, that every man of" us will be profcribed, who ventures to concur in any inllance with the prefent oppofition. Not a re- lation, or friend of ours, not even a Cullom-houfe ofliccr of our nomination will efcape his refentment. And what can we propofc to ourfelvcs, if our obfti- nacy (hould weaken his hands ? Our enemies are aimoll as well qualified to ferve the ftate, as we, and if tlicy fliould recover their ground, what will become of our places, our hopes, and our credit ? not to mention, that we (hall be expofed to fome ridicule. Thefe arc great evils to run haltily into, for fo trifling a confideration, as uniformity of condud. . Befides, give mc leave, Sir, to obfcrve, that there were reafons heretofore for difliking a Standing Army, which do not now fubfift. You may remember, who commanded it, and what ufe he made of it on a very critical day. I am not willing to repeat grievances, nor to provoke our enemies to infolent triumphs on the event of that day. I only hint at it with a view of fuggefting to you, that as the like occafion will probably not offer again, the army has not now any apparent mifchievous tendency towards us. So that here is not a fingle reafon left for condemning this meafure, and you are furrounded with fuch reafons for approving it, as I confefs to be irrefiftible by me." The company was divided in fentiments upon this judicious fpeech. Thofe, who had accepted places looked alert ; thofe who expefted places, thought it not much ■I ! r 40 ] amifs, and the rcl, who had nothing in hand and nothing to cxpeft, thought Mr. Courtly's roafons unfatisfaftory, after the many things they had formerly heard him fay, about the difgrace of dependence upon courts or mi- nillers. This diverfity of opinions produced a ferment, and might have ended in a political riot, had it been their misfortune to have no more fpeakers among them. But the powers of a new orator calmed the tumult. His accent would have commanded attention, if his words and manner had not. He was no lefs a perfon, than the famous Sir Archibald Mac-Sarcasm, a gentleman of an ancient family in the North, who a few yeara ago entertained t^ . town, in an excellent dramatic piece, which, on account of the popular prejudices in favour of the Scotch nation, has not been exhibited for two or three years pafb. Having be'.2n cruelly difappointed in love, he repaired to this fociety for amufement, and was received as a member, with great refpedl. We are forry, we cannot do juftice to his accent, nor wholly to the dialc^l, in which he fpoke, both which mull be left to the reader's imagination, whilfl: we only record the fubitance of his fpeech, as follows : J.I ' ... -4 , . . .. , ,^ . , ■ ',..•'". ■ ' ., - , * '■ ... , iSi .'' j 'vj -jU [ 4' ] Sir ARCHIBALD MAC-SARCASM'* Speech. '. J ' • 't '>/ . ,. .!!..:. ^ •« Mr! Chairman, • - 1 TH E principle and the form of your prcfent con- fuhation are both very acceptable to me, and I hope, it will terminate in bringing us all to aA as one man, that we may invigorate the meafures of the ftate, and purfuc, with undeviate fpirlt and firmnefs, the fum total of all the political views of a good fubjcdl, I mean, PHiVATH Good. For public good is nothing but an aggregate qua itity of private good, t' ; public being a continuous body compounded of private men. Sir, a pernicious praftice has of late been predominate among the Great, of reftgning their tenures under the crown at pleafure. It is contrary to the fpirit of the Feudal Law, and if the example fhould defcend to the fervile part of life, our hirelings may A-ebcl in like manner at a time, when we are not pecunious enough to emancipate th^m. It Ihews you, Sir, that there was no relevant reafon for abolifliing the Feudal Law, under which there was a regular gradation from the perfeft flavery of a vafial, through the contracted liberty of his Laird, to the perfcv% ^bfolute liberty or power of his prince, ■:. " ' < ^ > ' '.;«>. ,; .:■''■■ ^ .!.«•», G ^.,- W/. [ 42 1 Sir, I forecaft, that ye are all running into anarc'y, if ye do not apply the punitive faculties of the (late to chaftife your contraveeners. What is your doubt anent the matter now before you ? If I roborate my hands againfl a neighbouring clan, fliall it be a queilion among my clan, whether this ought or ought not to be done ? or whether they fliall or fliall not approve it ? Ye ought every man be hailed away, and be incarcerate, if ye prefume to criticife the meafures of fugh a government as ye now have. . ,»..,......, .. . . .■ ..... ^ =-i,,~ I will not mention the king, bec^ufe the opinion of our adverfaries is conform to ours anent his majefty. But I fliall fpeak of the minifter, whofe praifes are above the powers of my countryman, Mr. David Malloch's pen, though he has gotten well by fupporting his lord- fliip's adminiftration in this place. Sir, the grea': and immortal hiihop Burnet y the befthiftorian, that ever thii ifland produced. " At thefe words there was a general uproar in the room, and the chairman, with fome emotion, told Sir Archibald, that his defcription of that hiftorian, if he might be fo called, was quite new to the company, and had never been given to him but by foreigners, and the Whig faftion in England, for whofe fervice he v/rote and a^led. ■m Sir Archibald was fbrnewhat difconcerted at having flipt inadverteriily into Whig language. He afked pardon, and pleaded, that he fliould not have ufed fuch extravagance in fpeaking of that reverend prelate, if he C 43 J had iiOt been his countryrtian ; which ?\pology gave entire fatlsfaftion. But whilft this matter was adjufting. Sir Archibald unluckily forgot the paffuge he was about to quote from bifhop Burnet, and returned to the praifes of the minilter. v i , , ■ -^r; :,;.;:.' ** Sir, it is common in other ftates, for men in the inferior departments of government to afpire to the higheft poll, and by pafling through many a long-tailed compt in the feveral offices, they fometlmes arrive at the ultimate point. But it is an uncommon thing, for a perfon of high rank, whofe pedigree is illuftrate with the name of kings, who himfelf bears a name, which once was royal," (here SW Archibald dropt a tear) *' to condefcend to incumber himfelf with the great fwack of the bufmefs of the public Treafury, and to perpetuate the happinefs of a whole nati-.n, againfl the good-will of the whole nation. ;i t.i This fir, is a phenomenon, which has not appeared in our hemifphere till lately. Long may he continue to illumine this ifland, till his enemies are blinded by his fplendour, and conflrained to fuccumb, and till we his friends have all been cheered with the many good things he can difpone to us ! , , , . Mr. Chairman, my anceftry is as celebrious, as that of the noble lord. I mind not to depreciate myfelf, in admiring his condefcendence ; but this is not the time for ponderating every man's claim. J abdicate mine for the general good, and am willing to co-operate with tlic noble lord, and to eafe his hands of the throng of G z I 44 ] public bufinefs. He will have need of my counfel Toon or fyne. . We have a fore party to contend with. It behoves, that we deliberate with Tvifdom, and aft with firmnefs. It mainly imports, that we fufFer not thofe peftilent heads, the Whigs, to diflocate our fyllem. I gratulate myfelf, Sir, that I was caften in company with you and the worthy gentlemen here prefent. We have fitten together before, but never wi*'h fo fair a profpeft of cementing our union. The alliance is na- tural, and will turn to our emolument, for it cannot jnifgive. We fliall have a full upmaking, when our minifter can bring his great work to perfedlion, and put tlie Cope-Stone upon it. We fhall then be diiferenced from wicked men, who perturbate his adminiftration, and will not imbibe the principle that makes us good ftibjefts.g ^i^. :^ / •■ * ■ * ' Let us make a folemn league and covenant, and join our hands and hearts. I declare upon the honour of a North Briton, that I will rather die ere I will proftitute the name of Mac -Sarcasm, by giving my help or advice to the Whigs. c?^ * c 5 :-;3.i ,iiy: /n ^ Anent the matter now before us, I agree with Sir Robert Filmer. ' The army fhall be approven by me, as it is the meafure of our noble minifter, my friend and ally. It will be fafe in his hands, and harmlefs to all my friends, for moft of the officers are my country- men ; and this reafon I think as lucid and cogent as any, which our other worthy friends have adduced.'* [ 45 ] Sir Archibald Mac-Sarcafm was heard with attention, and univerfally applauded. He fat down with a fmile upon his counte lance, which difcovered a noble con- fcioufnefs of having done well. A gentleman rofe up next, with whom few of the company were much ac- quainted, and a doubt was raifed, whether he ought to be heard, fome having violent fiifpicions about his fanity of mind. Sir Archibald ilufhed with his recent fuccefs, fpoke again, and undertook to prove his infanity, from his havin'/ appeared in oppofition to the prefent miniftry. Sir Robert Filmer thought it fufficiently proved, from his labouring under the fufpicion of Whiggifm, which he affirmed to be a principle no man in his fenfes could entertain. Others atteftcd, that he had many lucid in- tervals, and propofed that the chairman fliould examine the prefent ftate of his mind, before he permitted him to deliver his thoughts. But the chairman coukiTed him- felf unprepared for fuch an examination, in the courfe of which, as is ufual among lunatics, he might throv. out fmart repartees, a fpecies of converfation, to which the chairman had not been accuftomed. He therefore thought it moft advifeable, to let the j^entleman fpeak, and to interrupt him, if he deviate ito the merits of the queftion, which would be the clcai^lt evidence of infanity. The gentleman, whofe namewas Mr.WoR ku m, fubmitted to this. . \ ■ r).-' C 46 ] \< 'I! .' ' : Mr. W O R K U M ' s Speech. " Mr. Chairman, THERE is not a gentleman here, who honours this fociety more than I do, for y.our paft condudl. I have heard one worthy gentleman affirm, that you have been perfonating Whigs, in your oppofition to former minifters. If I did not know the gentleman well, I ftiould doubt his attachment to you. It ill be- comes men of honour to aft a diflembling part. What- ever you have done, I am perfuaded, flowed from your own fentiments j and if you did aft a Whig part, I fliould think it a lefs reproach to you, to fay, that you were, than that you pretended to be, Whigs. - , . Sir, I was in hopes, that ^arty dillinftions were at an end. I have heard many gentlemen here prefent, affirm it very confidently, and am therefore forry to hear them fpeak of themfelves as a diflinft body. I know of no- thing that has diftinguifhed you formerly but your public fpirit ; and I apprehended, that this confultation had no other objeft, than former confultations, the good of your king and country. I will flill believe this, not- withflanding appearances to the contrary, and deliver it as my opinion, that you ought to condemn a Standing Army in time of peace, becaufe you have condemned it for fo many years paft. You could not be miftaken in [ 47 ] a conduft fo invariably repeated. You have at Icafi: forty times heard all the arguments for a Standing Army, and they had no weight with you. You have not heard one of them now, yet you fcem difpofed to favour the meafure. n I believe none of the reafons, that have been alledged for your former or your prefent conduft, becaufe they are all reafons foreign to the point, and would come better from the mouths of your enemies. I believe you to be a moft confiftent body of men, unlefs you convince me of the contrary to-day. Let me beg of you. Sir, to coniider for a moment, what will be faid of you, how little dependence will be placed in your proteftations, if you openly or filently approve that which you thought it honeft, for fo long a fucceflion of years, to condemn with one loud united voice ? You cannot be difpleafed, if I profefs a fincerc concern for your credit as a body. '• Sir, no man ever changed his party without incurring fome fort of difgrace. If you follow the worthy gen- tlemen, who have hitherto fpoken, you may not change your party perhaps, but you will manifeftly change your condudl, by which alone your party integrity can be difcerned. You have juftly aflumed the title of country gentlemen, in oppofition to courtiers. What title will you take next, if ever your engagements at court fhould permit you to go into the country? • ' ' The matter before you has diftinguifhed you more than any other point, as it has been oftener in debate, end given you fo many opportunities of difplaying an [ +8 ] inflexible integrity. If you fliould now difavow, by your condud, all that you have To admirably urged on this head, what will your friends at a diftance fay, w?th refpeft to other afts of public fpirit, which you have taught them to cxpe£l from you, whenever the times changed in your favour ? What will be your opinion about triennial, or annual parliaments, about reducing the number of placemen and penfioners, and other po- pular promifes, in which you feemed rather too lavilh ? What tolerable reafon can be given for a change of hands in the ftate, if you fupport the meafures now for which you made former minifters obnoxious ? Private reafons, I know, may be given, but you would chufe the mafk of public ones. If you will change, confefs that your opinion is changed, retrafl all your pall con- dud, and incorporate with the gentlemen whom you have always oppofed* This would be aboliihing parties in good earneft. - ■<>) m' > > , . % I never knew any reafon before, why you oppofed every meafure in the two laft rtigna, till within the laft five or fix years, but that honeft One of your real diflike of the meafures. One gentleman has affigned another reafon, which I hope was not the true one, that the two laft kings were not natives of Great-Britain. Let me remind you. Sir, that the prcfent minifter is not a native of England. He drew his firft breath indeed >vithin a day or two's journey nearer to us ; but then he is only a fubjeft, if I may be permitted to fay it, and they were kings. Sir, I have no national prejudices againft him on this account, but the multitude have, and after what you have faid of thofe kings, I do not fee, how you t 49 ] can avoid falling in with tliis prejudice of the mul- titude. . .^ One gentleman, Sir, profelfcd his having taken a place ; I vvilh he had made a fccret of it, for 1 have heard him and fome others, who have likewife taken places, exclaim againft dependance in a manner, which charmed me. That which was true fomc years ago, has not ceafed to be true now, and it is the charafter of great minds, to be as uniform and unchangeable as truth. I am perfuaded, our friends did not confider all this, elfe I fliould not have heard the things, which have dropt from fome of them this day. I hope never to hear the like again, and that they will forgive me, if I aft on the prefent occafion, jull as they have adled on the fame occafion, before I was born, and ever fxnce. I beg, Sir, you would indulge me with a word or two upon the real merits of the queftion. ** Here the chairman interrupted him, in the following words : ** Sir, you have been heard with great patience, or rather with great impatience, if I may judge of the feelings of other gentlemen by mine own. I was wil- ling to wait for the mark of your infanity, which I had fixed upon, though you have betrayed many in the courfe of yourfpeech. You have now given me juft caufe to declare, that you cannot be fuffered to fpeak any longer; [ 5° ] and, I hope, as a friend to the peace and harmony of this focicty, thrit you will ^ever be fuft'ereJ to fpcak again." Mr. M.iyor rofe next, and prevented the opprobrious language which feemed to be breaking out againfl Mr. Workum. He exprefTed himfelf thus ; •• - Mr. MAYOR'S Speech. <* Mr. Chairman, I A M not entirely of opinion with the gentleman, who fpoke laft, in every point ; but I think the main of his argument right, and not at all an evidence of his infanity. It is common to charge men with madnefs, who think for themfelves. I have been called a madman more than once, but I value not what other men fay, whilft I know both my heart and judgment to be found. I have nothing to biafs me, for I want no property more than I have, and I know no honour greater, than that of ferving my country. Sir, I do not fee, how you can approve this meafure, without contradifting yourfelves. The oppofition to a Standing Army has diftinguiflied you for many years paft. You will diffolve your body at once, if you make inconfiftency your diftinguifliing mark. How comes it, you have been filent about the Militia, which was fo m- T [ 5' ] lately your fivourlte fchcmc. Many of you have tak.uii commillions. I myfclf have undergone fomc fatiguiu'r campaigns, or camps at Icall, to give countenance to this conllitutional defence of our country." The chairman here interrupted Mr. Mayor, beggirg him to keep to the point, from which he was deviating by the mention of the Militia; and at the fame time begging him not to fpealc fo loud, left their confultation Ihould be over-heard. Mr. Mayor proceeded. •* Sir, I value not who hears me, and as to departing from the point, I don't underftand this new rule of debating. I will fubmit to no rule, Mr. Chairmanvwhich interferes with my liberty of fpccch. I -i The Militia, I fay, was thought by you a more frugal and conftitutional meafure, than a Standing Army ; and that it has been as efleftual for tlie fecurity of the king- dom, you all know, and boalled of it ; and have heard it acknowledged from the throne. Have you forgot, that the Militia was defigned more for peace, than for war ? It was not to go out ^f the kingdom, and for what purpofe was it eftablifhed in the kingdom, but for your defence ? What fignifies your peace, if you are afraid of an enemy's invafion, who did not invade you in time of war? ,: .,..-,. .,,. ., , „ „, ,.:.,,., I approved of any number of forces whilft we had an enemy. I am not aftiamed to fay, I approved of the German war. I am fure, you would not have had even this peace without it. Sir, it was prince Ferdinand, H 2 [ 52 1 that made your peace, by his laft campaign. I think he enabled you to make a better ; but I will not enter into that. I fay, Mr. Chairman, that you have no occafion for any army within the kingdom, except the king's guards and the garrifons. You have a militia within call, and you may keep them difciplined at a fmall expence. ' ' ■ '< t^ . .1 u: If it be ungenerous to difchargc your officers, who have ferved you bravely, give them an honourable main- tenance ; I mean the ofliccrs both by fca and land. The private men may ha\'c employment enough in your ma- nufadures, and the mariners in yourextcnfive commerce, particularly in the valuable trade with theSugarColonies. Sir, the life of the kingdom depends upon the profperity of its trade, and the fccurity of the kingdom ought to depend upon the ocean ar.d the militia. Therefore I declare as you have all done in former davs, againft a Standing Army." -• . — ■ .- -i. Mr. Mayor fpokc fo emphatically, that he would have made an impreflion upon any audience, who were not prepoflefTcd ; but he was heard with fome coldnefs, and gave great oflencc, by departing from the rule of the day. Mr. Grave, a gentleman much refpcdled for his coolnefs and dignity of appearance, flood up to difllpate Mr. Mayor's fpeech, and the company were delighted to fee him. .'?'. ./•» k*i!- ■.■~3»i>rovft ^^jpHon)princi{>le, becaufe it is a mf?afure of gpvemftient. ; *'Mr.;SHi.piPEN condeirins it, bectljufe he :has ho jfuf- ficjent yeaibn to fliew for changing, his condu£l*«. . » < ' Mr. Courtly approves, bccaufe he has aredfort'to Ihew,, having accepted an office of emolument undef the prefent minifter. - * <4. V* ^ , Sir Archibald Ma c -Sarcasm, approves ..becaufe the minifter and^moft of the officers. in Jthe prefsnt ajmy are his countrymen. ; . ' t » ? * I --■ ' ^ ■ Mr. WoRKUM condemned the meafure in a very in-, decent fpeech, which annuls his opinion, though he merits our compaffion as it proceeded from a difordered ilate of mind. « -,' «■ , Mr. Mayor departed from the queftion, therefojrc? his,opinion like\vife is null. fy^ \ ^ '- Arid.Mn Qraye, in his nervous, manly, ^ipi^ay, ari gueu moll unanfwerably for taking the right fidi^ pf approving the meafure. ~ ^ ' ' *\ ^. The opinions then in point of riumbet Hand Uius ; for approving, four } for condemning, one. ■ \ ? , It will now be expe^edi that I declare my opinios^. .Gentlemen, I have been- fq^-nfi^ni^years in a Minorityi\ t^'ui I confefs, it grows irkfom.e -to^tne. lihalltKere- ' /ore not trouble you with any other reafoii foj^my cori- duftj.and I hereby declare, that. I fhair^fcllovV;: :thc opinion of the Majority." ..',--' ■■ ' '. . _,:' " ■ "f'm ■'" ^ The confultation being thus happily ended, 'therfo^ j^iety was adjourned to the Cocoa-Treiu. ,* ' : -■ - . r u. 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