THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT
 
 THE 
 
 O F 
 
 MR. W I L K.E S 
 
 IN THE 
 
 Pulchra pro libertate. 
 
 VIRGIL. 
 
 PRINTED IN THE YEAR MDCCLXXXVL
 
 , v Colle 
 
 ( V ) JLdbra 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 r I 1 HIS o&avo volume is a faithful tran- 
 fcript of the three volumes of the 
 Speeches of Mr. l^ilkes^ which I formerly 
 printed in duodecimo, with the addition of 
 feveral Speeches^ fince the period of the laft 
 publication, drawn from the fame fources, 
 with equal diligence and attention. The 
 two prior volumes, with the Notes, make 
 the 176 firft pages of this volume, and the 
 third continues to page 296. The reft is 
 new matter, and on a greater variety of in- 
 terefting fubje6ls. 
 
 I have not given many additional Notes ; 
 but they will, I hope, be found ufeful and 
 explanatory. 
 
 London, Dec. 9 , , 7 S6. ^ THE EDITOR, 
 
 a 5 ADVER- 
 
 '.. J--
 
 ( vii ) 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 PREFIXED TO THE TWO FIRST VOLUMES. 
 
 I have collected the Speeches of Mr. Wilkes in the pre- 
 fent Houfe of Commons from news-papers and oral 
 tradition for two reafons. The firft is, they contain, 
 in my opinion, many bold truths, efpecially refpe&ing 
 America, which are of importance, and in this conve- 
 nient form they will be found more ufeful. The other 
 reafon is, if that gentleman ihould ever fwerve from 
 the great line of public duty, and declared attachment 
 to the people, which he has often pledged himfelf to 
 purfue through life, the moft general infamy may over- 
 take him, and punilh his apoftacy. 
 
 The Protefts of the Lords on the fame fubject with 
 fome of the Speeches I thought would be acceptable to 
 the political reader. 
 
 Some Notes are added, chiefly by way of illuftration, 
 for which I am anfwerable. 
 
 London, Julys, 1777. THE EDITOR. 
 
 A D V E R-
 
 ADVERTISEMENT, 
 
 Prefixed to the Third Volume. 
 
 THE Speeches cf Mr. Wilkes in the Houfe of 
 Commons are here continued to the end of the laft Sef- 
 lion of Parliament. I have collected them, like the 
 former, from news-papers and oral tradition. I think 
 no apology neceffary either to the public, or to that 
 gentleman, for the freedom which I have ufed in the 
 notes with fome characters of high rank and dignity. 
 Truth ought to be preferred to every motive and con- 
 fideration. 
 
 Adminiftration appear fyftematically to treat the 
 Houfe of Commons with contempt. They fuffered the 
 Lords in the laft Seffion to have the communication of 
 two important papers, Lord Howe's letter to Lord 
 George Germaine, dated Sept. 20, 1776, andlikewife 
 another letter from Lord Howe and his brother to the 
 fame Secretary, dated Nov. 30, 1776; both which 
 were refufed to the reprefentatives of the people. They 
 have fince been given to the public. Mr. Wilkes moved 
 for the Proofs of the marriages of the King's Brothers, 
 of which the Houfe of Peers were ;n poileffion. The 
 motion was received very unfavourably by adminiftra- 
 tion; but as the fubjedt is highly interefting to every 
 Englishman, they are now firft printed with g*eat care 
 and fidelity in the Appendix, 
 
 London, July 14, 177$. THE EDITOR, 
 
 Houfe
 
 Voras .of January 26, 1775. 
 
 A motion was made, and the queftion being propofed, 
 " That the ,0haplain to this Houfe do preach be- 
 ." fore this Houfe, at St. Margaret's Weftminfter, 
 " upon Monday next, the thirtieth day of this in- 
 <f ftant January, 
 
 JL HE Lord Mayor, Mr.Wilfas, faid, that he was 
 /or the obfervanee of the day, not in the ufual manner 
 by fafting and prayer to deprecate the pretended wrath 
 ,of heaven, but in a very different way from what fomc 
 other gentlemen had propofed ; that it mould be cele- 
 brated as a feftival, as a day of triumph, not kept as a 
 faft; that the death of the firft Charles, a determined 
 enemy of the liberties of his country, who made war 
 on his people, and murdered many thoufands of his in- 
 nocent fubjedbs, an odious, hypocritical tyrant, who 
 was, ki the great * Milton's words, ipfo Nerone neronior, 
 jhould be confidered as a facrifice to the public juftice 
 
 * In another place Milton fays, Earn animi magnitudinem vobis, 6 cives, injocit 
 Deus, ut deviftum armis veftris et dedititium regem judicio \ndyto judicare, et con- 
 demnatum punire, primi mortalium non dubitaretis. Poft hoc facinus tarn ilia/Ire 
 nihil humile aut anguilum, nihil non magnura atque excelfvirr^ et cogitare ct fecere 
 deUetis. . . .amorelibertatis,juftitiae, honeftatis, patrJae denique caritate accenfos, tyran- 
 sum funiiffe. Joannis Miltoni, Angli, pro populo Anglicano dcfeniio. 
 
 B of
 
 of the nation, as highly approved by heaven, and 
 ought to be had in folemn remembrance as the moft 
 glorious deed ever done in this, or any country, with- 
 out which we mould at this hour have had no conftitu- 
 tion, degenerated into the moft abject Haves on the 
 face of the earth, not governed by the known and equal 
 laws of a limited monarchy, but fubjedt to the impe- 
 rious will of an arbitrary fovereign. 
 
 VOTES of Feb. i, 1775. 
 
 A motion was made, and the queflion being put, " That 
 " leave be given to bring in a bill for fhortening the 
 " duration of parliaments, &c." 
 
 The Lord Mayor, Mr. Wilkes, faid, that the queftion 
 now before the houfe had been fo frequently and fo 
 ably fpoken to by the honourable gentleman *, who 
 made the motion, and that it was in general fo per- 
 fe&ly well underftood, that he ihould trouble the 
 houfe wirh few words on that occafion, and that he 
 rofe chiefly to return the worthy member thanks for 
 this truly patriotic endeavour, and his fpirited perfe- 
 verance in a bufinefs of fuch importance. He added, 
 Frequent Parliaments, Mr. Speaker, are the ancient 
 conftitution of England, and the right of the people to 
 them arifes from the nature of all delegated power, 
 and the neceffity of a controul. If a reprefentative in 
 the firft feflion of a parliament adts contrary to the 
 duty of the truft rcpofed in him, is it fit that his con- 
 ftituents fhould be compelled to wait till the end of a 
 tedious period of feven years before they can have an 
 
 * Mr. Aldcnnan Sambrtdge, Member for London. 
 
 opportunity
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 opportunity of depriving him of a power, which he fo 
 early abufed ? I think the cafe now mentioned actually 
 exifts in the very dawn of this new parliament. Seve- 
 ral gentlemen have talked of the laft parliament in the 
 terms of reproach and indignation which that profli- 
 gate afiembly moft juftly merited. I fear, fir, the pre- 
 fent parliament are treading in the fame fleps, which 
 conducted their immediate predeceflbrs to the utter 
 hatred of the nation. They feem to advance with 
 giant ftrides to a like deteftation from this age, and 
 from all pofterity. The people without doors, efpeci- 
 ally in the fapital, make no fcruple to affirm that the 
 majority of this houfe have even thus early, in one 
 great instance, acted contrary to the plain duty, which 
 they owe to their country, and to the facred truft re- 
 pofed in them. I allude, fir, to the contempt Ihewn 
 of the Petition * of fo refpectable a body as the Mer- 
 chants of the city of London trading to North America. 
 This the majority have done in defiance of all decency, 
 and of the great principles of the conflitution. I am 
 forty to obferve, that the alarm is already become gene- 
 ral, that from this early abufe of their truft, the dele- 
 gated powers, which the fame men have fo lately re- 
 ceived for the fecurity and prefervation of the rights 
 of their eonfiituents, will be employed through a courfe 
 of the next feven years for their deftrudtion, and that 
 of our fellow-fubjects in America, unlefs the excellent 
 
 * Thefecond petition of the Merchants, Traders, and others of the City of L-Wo*, 
 prefented by Mr. Alderman Hay ley, Member for London, to the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, Jan. 26, 1775, ftates, " that by the resolution to which the houfe hath come, 
 " refpedling the reference of their faid petition [the^r/? Petition of Jan. 23, 1775,], 
 11 they are abfolutely precluded from the benefit of \ucb a bearing, in fupport of their 
 " faid petition, as can alone procure them that rd-ef y which the importance and prefeqj 
 " deplorable ftate of their trade require." 
 
 B 2 motion
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 motion of the honourable gentleman fliould arrefl them' 
 in their career. 
 
 A new argument, fir, in favour of the motion in your 
 hand feems at this time to arife from the nature of moft 
 of the Petitions complaining of undue elections, which 
 have been prefented to us in this firft feffion of the par- 
 liament. The general complaint is that of bribery and 
 corruption. Short parliaments, fir, if they did not to- 
 tally eradicate this nioft pernicious practice, muft ne- 
 ceffarily diminilh the evil in no fmall degree. By the 
 frequent return of appeals to the people, the public 
 money in the mmifter's hands would not be fonpd al- 
 ways adequate to the crooked counfels of an infidious 
 court, nor to a determined purpofe of regularly coun- 
 teracting the wiflies of a nation. The floodgates of 
 the treafury, however widely opened, would on fuch 
 repeated occafions fcarcely afford torrents copious and 
 impetuous enough to carry away all fenfe of duty to 
 the conftitudon, all regard to the laws and liberties of 
 the country. If this houfe were elected for a * Jhort term 
 only, a commerce of corruption between the minifter 
 and the reprefentative could not grow up to acquire 
 the ftrength and confiftency which is given by a pe- 
 
 * The Houfe of Commons was confidered as a controul, iffuing immediately 
 from the people, yzdJptfiLty to be refolved into the mals from whence it arofe. 
 
 Thoughts on the caufe of the prefent Difcontents, 8vo edition, page 66. 
 
 If the perfons to whom the truft of government is committed hold their places for 
 fh(.rt term ; if they are chofen by the unbiaffed voices of a majority of the Hate, and 
 fubject to their inftrudlioas; liberty will be enjoyed in its higheft degree. But if 
 they are chofen for long itrvs by a part only of the ftate ; and if during that term 
 they are fubject to no controul from their conftituents ; the very idea of libeity will 
 fee loft, and the power of chining reprefentatives becomes notl-ung but a power, 
 lodged in a /=w, to chufe at cei tarn periods a body cf inaf.cn for themfelves and foe 
 be reft of the community. 
 
 Dr. Price's Obfervations on Civil Liberty, f.fth edition, p. 10. 
 
 riad
 
 C 5 ) 
 
 ricd of fcven years fecurity, and independency on the 
 power by which we were created *. 
 
 I beg the indulgence of the houfe, fir, for only one 
 more ihort obfervation. This motion flrikes me as a 
 kind of parliamentary tell, which brings every thing 
 home to our conferences. It cannot fail of meeting 
 in this houfe the fupport of all the true friends of the 
 ancient conftitution of England, of all who mean to 
 act honeftly, for they run no rifque. They are fure 
 of the applaufe, and free choice of their conftituents, 
 on every frefh appeal. The venal and interefted, all 
 who think lightly of their ties and obligations to their 
 matters, and do not hold themfelves bound to hear and 
 redrefs the injuries of the nation which they reprefent, 
 but are regardlefs of the feelings -f- of the people, in- 
 tent only on the public plunder ; all thefe have their 
 terrors, and certainly not ill-grounded^ on the firft fug- 
 geftion of an appeal to their conftituents. From fuch 
 
 men 
 
 * In 1692 King William rejected a Bill for triennial parliaments, after it had 
 parted both houfes. But in a following year he thought proper to give his aflent. 
 
 Dr. Price's additional obfervations, page 46. 
 
 f The virtue, fpirit and effence of a Hoxife of Commons confifts in its being the 
 exprefs image of the feelings of the nation \_not of 558 acntlcmm met in St. Stephen's 
 CbaptlJ] Thoughts on the caufe of the pr^fent Difcontents, p. 67. 
 
 By the King. 
 A Proclamation, 
 
 For diflblving the prefcnt Parliament, and declaring the calling of another. 
 Whereas we have thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to 
 ilifiblve this prefent Parliament, which now ftands prorogued to Tuefday the f.f- 
 teenth day of November next : We do, for that end, pxiblifh this our Royal Procla- 
 mation; and do hereby diffolve the faid Parliament accordingly : And the Lords 
 Spiritual and Temporal, and the Knights, Citizens, and Burgefles, and the Corn- 
 miffioners for Shirei and Burghs of the Houfe of Commons, are difcharged from 
 their meeting and attendance on Tuefday the faid fifteenth day of November next. 
 And we being defirous and refolved, as foon as may be, to meet cur ptople, and tt havt 
 tbiir advice in Parliament, do hereby make known to all ov.r loving fubjecls, our 
 Royal Will and pleafure to call a new Parliament; and do hereby further declare, 
 That, with the advice of our Privy Council, we have this day given order to our 
 
 B 3 Chancellor
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 men only, an oppofition to this motion is to be ex- 
 pefted. The reprefentative who is confcious of hav- 
 ing merited well of his condiments, will always re- 
 joice at the opportunity of applying for frequent 
 proofs of their regard and truft ; will deiire, will ear- 
 neftly folicit, this appeal; while the man who has 
 adted contrary to the clear dictates of his duty, and be- 
 trayed his truft, will naturally dread every fuch occa- 
 fion, will tremble even at the diftant view of the fpi- 
 rited indignation, with which he would be rejected. 
 A guilty mind, fir, frequently braves the filent re- 
 proaches of a wounded confcience, but can feldom 
 bear up againft that public contempt and infamy, 
 which I truft will always purfue parliamentary prof- 
 titution. 
 
 VOTES of Feb. 6, 1775. 
 
 Refolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, 
 " That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, 
 " to return His Majefty our moft humble thanks, for 
 " having been gracioufly pleafed to communicate to 
 " this Houfe, the feveral papers relating to the prefent 
 " ftate of the Britijh Colonies in America, which, b'f 
 
 Chancellor of Great Britain, to ifTue out writs in ihie form for callin? a new parlia- 
 ment; which writs are to bear tefte on Saturday the firft day of Odlober next, 'and 
 to be returnable on Tuefday the twenty-ninth day of November following. 
 
 Given at our Court at St. James's the thirtieth day of Sep- 
 tember, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-four, 
 in the fourteenth year of our Reign. 
 
 God fave the King. 
 Journals of the Houfe of Commons, vol. XXXV. page 3. 
 
 "His
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 ** His Majefty's commands., have been laid before this 
 " Houfe, and from which, after taking them into our 
 " moft ferious confederation, we find, that a part of 
 " His Majefty's fubjects in the province of the Mafla- 
 " chufets Bay have proceeded fo far to refift the au- 
 t( thority of the fupreme legiflature, that a rebellion 
 " at this time actually exifts within the faid province 
 " that we beg leave, in the moil folemn manner, to 
 " aflure His Majefty, that it is our fixed refolution, 
 "-at the hazard of our lives and properties, to ftand 
 " by His Majefty, againil all rebellious attempts, in 
 " the maintenance of the juft rights of His Majefty 
 " and the Two Houfes of Parliament." 
 
 And a motion was made, and the queftion put, 
 " That the faid refolution be re-committed ;" 
 
 The Lord Mayor, Mr. Wittes, faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The bufmefs before the Houfe, in its full extent, 
 refpe&ing the Britijh Colonies in America, is of as great 
 importance as was ever debated in parliament. It com- 
 prehends almoft every queftion relative to the common 
 rights of mankind, almoft every queftion of policy and 
 Icgiilation. I do not mean to enter into fo vaft, fo well* 
 trodden a field. I will confine myfelf to the immediate 
 bufmefs of this day. The Addrefs now reported from 
 the committee of the whole Houfe appears to be un- 
 founded, ram, and fanguinary. It draws the fword un- 
 juftly againft America ; but before adminiftration arc 
 fuffered to plunge the nation into the horrors of a civil 
 war, before they are permitted to force Englifhmen, 
 .to iheath their fwords in the bpwels of their fellow- 
 
 B 4
 
 C * ) 
 
 fubjefts, I hope this Houfe will ferioufly weigh tlitf 
 original ground and caufe of this unhappy difpute, 
 and in time reflect whether juftice * is on our fide, and 
 gives a fandtion to the intended hoflile proceedings. 
 The affumed right of taxation without the confent of 
 the fubjecl: is plainly the primary c?.ufe of the prefent 
 quarrel. Have we then, fir, any right to tax the 
 Americans ? That is the great important queftion* 
 The fundamental laws of human nature, and the princi- 
 ples of the Englifh conftitution, are equally repugnant 
 to the claim. The very idea of property excludes the 
 right of another's taking any thing from me without 
 my confent, otherwife I cannot call it my own. No 
 tenure can be fo precarious as the will of another. 
 What property have I in what another perfon can 
 feize at his pleafure ? If any part of my property is 
 fubject to the difcretionary powers of others, the 
 whole may be fo likcwife. If we can tax the Ameri- 
 cans without their confent, they have no property, 
 nothing they can call their own with certainty, for we 
 might by violence take the whole as well as the part. 
 The words liberty and property, fo dear to an Englifh- 
 man, fo pleafing in our ears, would become a cruel 
 mockery, an infult to an American. The laws of fo 
 ciety are profeffedly calculated to fecure the property 
 
 * The enquiry, whether the war with the Colonies is zjuj} war, will be bed de- 
 termined by fitting the power over them, which it is the end of the war to main- 
 tain: And this cannot be better done, than ia the words of an Act of Parliament, 
 made on purpofe to define it. That Acl, [fefftdin 1766] it is w^ell known, de- 
 clares^ Thnt " this kingdom has power, and of right ought to have power, to make 
 *' laws and Statutes to bind the colonies, and people of America, in all cafes lubat- 
 *' tvir." Dreadful power indeed! 1 defy any oae to exprefs flavery in ftronger 
 language. It is the fame with declaring, " that we have a right to do with them 
 44 v\ ha: we pleafe." Dr. Price's Obi'er rations on Civil Liberty, p. 34.
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 ef each individual, of every fubjedt of the ftate. This 
 point is no lefs clearly determined by the great prin- 
 ciples of that happy conftitution under which we live. 
 All fubfidies to the crown have always been coniidered, 
 and exprefsly declared, to be grants from the Com- 
 mons of the realm, free gifts from the people. Their 
 full confent is ftated in the grant * Much has been 
 faid of the Palatinate of Chefter, and the Principality 
 of Wales, and the period of their taxation; but, fir, 
 there is a more remarkable cafe in point, which alone 
 would determine this queftion. If gentlemen will 
 fearch the Records in the Tower, and the Chapel of 
 the Rolls, they will find that the town of Calais in 
 France, when it belonged to the imperial crown of 
 this realm, was not taxed till it fent a reprefentative 
 to parliament. A Thomas Fowler actually fat and voted 
 in this Houfe as a burgefs of the town of Calais. 
 From that period, and not till then, was Calais taxed. 
 The Writ out of Chancery, and the Return in the 
 reign of Edward VI. are ftill extant. I faithfully gave 
 them to the publick from attefted copies -f". 
 
 It 
 
 * The preamble of the Aft patted in the year 1775, ch. 42. intrtled, " An Aft 
 ** for granting to His Majefty a certain fum of money out of the Sinking Fund, and 
 " for applying certain monies therein mentioned for the fervice of the year 1775; 
 " and for further appropriating the fup plies granted in this feffion of parliament," 
 is in the following words, " We t ywr Majejly't rri'.Jl dutiful and loyal fubj eft t, the C- 
 44 rms of Great Britain, in Parliament afitmbltd, tmuatdt ra-.fing the ntcejfary fufp'iei, 
 " which w have (btarfully GRANTED te your Majify i* tb'uftjjitn eff>arliament,iavc 
 " refotvtd to give and GRANT to your Majffty the fum herein after mentioned, C?<-. fiCr." 
 
 f Retornamentum Parliamento de Anno Regni Regis Edwardi Sexti primo. 
 Eilwardus Sextus, Dei gratia Angliae Francia? & Hiberniae Rex, fidei defenfor & in- 
 ferea ecclefiae Anglicanae & Hibernis fupremum caput, dileiStis fc fidelibus fubjedis 
 ^eputato & confilio villae fuae Califi* falutem. Quia de avifamento & affenfu coii- 
 filii fui, pro quibudam arduis & urgentibus negotiis, nos ftatum & defenfionem regni 
 poftri Anglise & ecclefias Anglicanae concernentibus, quoddaro parliamentum nof- 
 tfum apud civitatem noftram Weftmonalterieniem quarto die-Novembris proceden- 
 
 tis
 
 ( '0 ) 
 
 It will, I forefee, fir, be objected, Is America theft 
 to enjoy the protection of Great Britain, and to con- 
 
 th teneri ordinavimus, & ibidem cum prelatis magnatfbus & preliberis dicTi regni 
 noftri colloquium tenere & tracTatum, vobis mandamus, firmiter injungentes, quod 
 immediate poft rcceptionem hujus brevis noftri nominari & elegi facietis vifmm ho- 
 norabilem & difcretum inhabitantem intra VJllam noftram prediclam ad afiendendum 
 Bnrgenfera pro pariiamento noftro predicto pro villa prcdidla & Marchiis ejufdem, 
 prt> negocfis in eodem parliamento agendis juxta formam cujufdem adhis in parlks- 
 mento domini Henrici nuper regis Anglire oc~la\*i, nnper patris noftri percariQinn, 
 apudLondinumpredi(ftodie Novembris anno regni fiii vicefimo primo et exinde per 
 diverfa? prorogationes ufque Weftmonafterium quarto die Februarii anno regni fxfi 
 vicefimo feptimo adjornato & tune edito & pofteavis, eumque ad didlos diem & lo- 
 cum venire facietis. Ita quod idem Burgenfi? plenam & fumcientem poteftatem pro 
 fe & communitate villae &i Marchiarum prediftarum habeat ad faciendum & confen- 
 tir:idnmiis quac tune ibidem deeoconfiliodi<5li regni noflri, favente Deo, contigeriat 
 ordiuari fubter negociis antedi<5lis. Jta quod per defe&um poteftatis hujufmodi fcrip- 
 tune, improvidam eleclionem Burgenfis predidli didla negocia infra non remaneant 
 quovis moJo ; & cum eleclionem & nominationem illam fie faceretis, illas nobis in 
 Cancellariam noftram c'.iftincle Sc apte fub figillis veftris ad diclos diem & locum 
 debite certificetis, indilate remittentes nobis hoc breve una cum retornameiito no- 
 minis ejufdem Burgenfis diclobrevi confuto. Tefte meipfo apud Weftmonafterium 
 feuindo die Augufti anno regni noftri primo. 
 
 This is a true copy of the original record remaining in the Chapel of the Rolls, 
 having been examined. HEN. ROOKE, Clerk of the Rolls. 
 
 Excellentiflimo & metuendiiTimo domino noftro Edwardo Sexto Dei gratia An- 
 gluc Franciae & Hibernise Regi fidei defenfori Js interea fupremo capiti Anglicanse 
 tt. Hibernicae ecclefiae. Nos veftri humiles Major Burgenfes & liberi homines 
 communitatis Villac veftrse Califis benigniffimo modo quo poterimus gratiae veftrre 
 certificamu?, quod virtute honorabilis brevis veftri de fummonicoe parliame. ti nuper 
 nobis diredli & deliberati cui iftud retornamentum nimirum eft annexum, per af- 
 fenfum tc confenlum totius Comitatis villre veftrae Califiae predidlre & Marchiarum 
 ejutdcni, unum hominem de melioribus &: difcretioribus villx veftrae Califiae pre- 
 didtae elegi fecimu 1 ;, videlicet Thomam Fowler dictse villx veftrs generofum, ad 
 aliendendum Bursrenfem ad parliamentum v eft rum predidlum ad diem & locum in 
 picdicto brevi veftro fpeciftcatum, qui quidem Burgenfis plenam & fufficientem 
 .poteftatem pro fe & tola comitate villse veftrae Califine predicts & Marchiarum 
 ejufdem habet ad faciendum & confentiendum iifque tune ic ibidem de communi 
 c< nfilio veftro, Deo favente, contigerint ordinari, prout breve v illam prediction in 
 fu ex.igit & requirit. In quorum prtmifforum teftimonium nos predidli viri hu- 
 miles Major Burgenfes & liberi homines communitatis villae veftre Califise pre- 
 dict.B fc Marchiarum ejufdem Sigillum Majoratatxis Officii Villx veftrae Califiae 
 predidtae prefentibus fecimus apponi. Datum vicefimo die Octobris anno re,rni 
 gratix veftro primo. 
 
 This is a true Copy of the original record remaining in the Chapel of the Rolls, 
 been examined. HtN. ROOKE, Clerk, of the Rolls. 
 
 tribute
 
 tribute nothing to the fupport of that parent ftate, 
 which has fo long afforded it fafety and fecurity, which 
 has carefully and tenderly nurfed it to this hour of its 
 prefent ftrength and greatnefs ? The Americans them- 
 felves have given the fulleft anfwer to this objection, in 
 a manner not to be controverted, by their conduct 
 through a long feries of years, and by the mod ex- 
 plicit declarations. Equally in words and a&ions, of 
 the moft unequivocal nature, they have demonftrated 
 their love, their ardour, their ftrong filial piety to- 
 wards the mother country. They have always ap- 
 peared ready, not only to contribute towards the ex- 
 pences of their own government, but likewife to the 
 wants and neceflities of this ftate, although perhaps 
 they may not be over-fond of all the proud, expenlive 
 trappings of royalty. In the two lalt wars with France 
 they far exceeded the cold line of prudence. With 
 the moft liberal hearts they chearfully gave you nearly 
 their all, and they fought gallantly and vicloriouily 
 by your fide, with equal valour againft our and their 
 enemy, the common enemy of the liberties of Europe 
 and America, the ambitious, faithlefs French, whom 
 now we fear and flatter. Our Journals, iir, will bear 
 \vitnefs to the grateful fenfe we had of the important 
 fervices of our brethren in America, by the great fums 
 we fliall find voted to be * repaid them for what they 
 
 * In the examination of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, of Philadelphia, before a Com- 
 mittee of the Houfe of Commons in 1766, printed in the " Parliamentary Debates," 
 vol. II. p. 1 10. 
 
 Queft. Were you not reimburfed by Parliament ? 
 
 Anfw. We were only reimburfed what, in your opinion, we had advanced be- 
 yond our proportion, or 'beyond what might reafonably be expecled from, us ; 
 ;nd it was a very fmall part of \vh.it we fpent. Pennfylvania, in particular, dif- 
 burfed about .500,000, ar.d the rcimburfements, ia the whole, did not exceed 
 
 expended
 
 expended in the fpirited warlike expeditions, which 
 they carried through with equal courage and conduct. 
 The fiege and capture of Louifbourg, the various fuc- 
 cefsful operations againft the general foe, without the 
 lead knowledge, much lefs participation, on our part, 
 are the fulled proofs of the warm affection of their 
 hearts to this country, and of their readinefs to bear 
 more than their lhare of the public expence and bur- 
 then. But, fir, the whole was the gift of freemen, our 
 fellow-fubjedts, who feel that they are, and know 
 they have a right to be, as free as ourfelves. What 
 is their language even now, at a moment when you 
 are planning their deftrudtion, when you are branding 
 them with the odious appellation of rebels ? In the 
 late * Petition of the Gongrefs to the King, they de- 
 clare, they are ready and 'willing , as they ever have been, 
 when constitutionally required, to demon/Irate their loyalty 
 tohisMajefty, by exerting their moft ftremious eff&rts in 
 granting fupplies end raifing forces. This is the unani- 
 mous refolution of a Congrefs, compofed of Deputies 
 from the feveral colonies of New Hampshire, Maffa- 
 
 * From this definitive fyftem of Colony Adminiftration, adapted face the eon- 
 civfton of tie loft ti'ar, have followed thofe dijftreffes, dangers, fears, and jealoufie-j, 
 that overwhelm your Majefty's Colonies with affliction ; and we defy our maft fub- 
 tle and inveterate enemies to trace the unhappy differences between Great Britain 
 and thefe Colonies, from an tarbir f cried, or from other caufcs than we have af- 
 fcgned, &c. &c. 
 
 We prefent this Petition only to obtain redrefs of grievances and reljef from 
 fears and jealoufies, occafioned by the fyftem of fiatutes and regulation^ adtfttd 
 Jinct the dofe cf the loft war, &c. &c. 
 
 Petition of the Congrefs to the King, Oftober 16, 1774. 
 
 Place us in the fame fituation that we were at the clofe of the lajl -war, an^our 
 former liarmony will be reftored. 
 
 the Congrefs to the People of Great Britain, October 21, 1774. 
 
 They were alarmed by a new fyfltm of f;a utcs and regulanom, adopted fof the 
 adminiftraticm of the Colonies^ that filled their minds with the moft painful feari 
 and jealoufies. Petition of the Conrefc to the King, July %, 1775. 
 
 chufet's
 
 ( I? ) 
 
 ehufet ! s Bay, Rhode I/land, and Providence Planta- 
 tions, Connecticut, New- York, New Jerfey, Pennfyl- 
 vaniii, the counties of Newcaftle, Kent, and SufTex on 
 Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the Two Carolina*. 
 I have heard, fir, of a plan of accommodation, 
 which, I believe, would reconcile all differences. But 
 alas ! fir, it does not come from any fervant of the 
 crown. It comes from the * noble Lord, to whom 
 
 this 
 
 * The Earl of Chatham. In the houfc of Lords, on the joth of May 1777, Earl 
 Gower, Lord Prefldent of the Council, with that mild, winning air ofmocefty 
 and meeknefs, which characlerife the B.^df-ir-i fchool, declared, that ** he mutt 
 " affirm, no public notice whatever by any man or body of men, by any Afiem- 
 " bly or Congrefs, by any printed American newfpaper or pamphlet, had been 
 " taken of Lord Chatham's plan of reconciliation between Great Britain and her 
 " Colonies \ that it funk immediately into abfolute oblivion, fur not even a hint was 
 " thrown out on the other fide the water, complaining that the proportion was re- 
 " jedled, or acknowledging, that if the bill hatl palled into a law, it would have 
 " produced a reconciliation, or that it contained even the outlines of a fit accom- 
 " modation, or any thing to proceed upon, and therefore he was plainly right in 
 " giving his vote againft the noble Earl's proposition, and the bin that accompanied 
 " it, two years ago." The \vovds were taken with great exaclnefs. The Duke 
 of Gnifton heard them, and artlwered many parts of Lord Gower's fpeech; but, 
 whether from ignorance, or malice to Lord Chatham, I do not determine, his 
 Grace was filent on the plan of reconciliation. To eitablilh the -veracity of Earl 
 Gower, I (hail produce an extract of only one public aft, the Addreis of the 
 General Affembly of Virginia, prefented on the 14th of June 17751. to his Excel- 
 cellency the Right Hon. John Earl of Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, &c. &c. 
 and printed in all the American newfpapers. It is reprinted in Alnaon's Ameri- 
 can Remembrancer, vol. I. p. 1 1 3. 
 
 " Thera was, indeed, a plan of accommodation offered in parliament ; which,. 
 " though not entirely equal to the terms we had a right to afk, yet differed but in 
 "few points from what th,e General Congrefs had held out. Had parliament been. 
 difpoied fincerely, as WB are,, to bring ;Jiout ;v reconciliation, reafonable men had 
 " hoped, that, by meeting us on this ground, fomethinr; might have been doae. 
 ; " Lord Chatham's BUI, on the one rapt* and tlie terms, of the Congrefs on the other % 
 " would have formed a bafts for negotiation ; wliich a fpirit of ivccomnaodation ou] 
 "bothlides, might, perhaps, have reconciled. It came recommended, too, from 
 gne whofe fuccefsfui experience in the art of government fhoul.d have enfuceil 
 to it fome attention from thofe to whom it was tendered. He had fhewn to the 
 f* world, that Great Britain, with her colonies, united fir.miy undec a juit and 
 *< honeft government, formed a power which, might bid defiance to the moft 
 u potent enemies. With the changis qf miiufters t however, a- total change o 
 
 " meafure^
 
 ( '4 ) 
 
 this country has the moft eflential obligations, to whom 
 it is fo highly indebted for its late fplendor and glory. 
 The plan is, to affemble another Congrefs in the fpring ; 
 the parliament of Great-Britain and the deputies ^of 
 tjie feveral colonies to meet together, jointly empow- 
 ered to regulate the various quotas to be paid by each 
 province to the general treafury of the whole empire. 
 I would in addition to that plan propofe, that a regu- 
 lation, fimilar to what adually takes place with refpe6t 
 to Scotland, be adopted as to America. The propor- 
 tion of each colony might be fettled according to the 
 land-tax in England, at one, two, or more ihillings 
 in the pound. I am not deep politician enough to 
 know what the proportion ihould be of each Province, 
 which will vary greatly in half a century, but I fpeak 
 of each quota being at all times to be regulated accord- 
 ing to the land-tax of this country. The very exten- 
 iive and flourilhing colonies of the Maffachufet's Bay, 
 Virginia, and South Carolina, for inftance, fhould 
 contribute more, the fmaller and poorer colonies of 
 
 " meafures toqk place : the component parts of the empire have, from that mo- 
 " ment, been falling afunder ; and a total annihilation of its weight, in the political 
 " fcale of the world, feems juftly to he apprehended." 
 
 O ! happy Privy Council of England, where _/&nVjf and truth prefide ! 
 
 " When Earl Go\ver was appointed Prtfidcnt tf the Council, the King, with 
 " his ufnaljinerrity, afTured him, that he had not had one happy moment, fmce 
 rt the Duke of Bedford left him." Junius, vol. I. p. 172. 
 
 " Is there any one mode of thinking or acling with refpecl to America, which 
 ** the DuhofG>dfti,nhas not fucceffively adopted and abandoned ?" Ib. p. 89. 
 
 " In America, we trace you [the Duke of GraftonJ from the firft oppofition to 
 " the Stamp-Acl, on principles of convenience, to Mr. Pitt's furrender of the 
 " rijht ; then forward to Lord Rockingham's furrender of the fa<5l ; then back 
 " agiin to Lord Rockingham's declaration of the right ; then forward to taxation 
 with Mr. Townfhend ; and, in the laft inftance, from the gentle Comvay's un- 
 " defermined difcretion, to blood and compulfion with the drike of Bedford." 
 Page 83. 
 
 " Was not l,r.rA Ckatbim the firft, who raifed the Duke of Ore ft to the rank 
 u and poft of a Minifter, and the firft whom he abandoned ? Did he not join with 
 " Lord Rocklnghaiw, and betray him ? P. 88. 
 
 New
 
 ( 15 ) 
 
 New Hampshire and New Jerfey lefs ; but, fir, I in- 
 fill, not a ihilling can be taken without their confent*. 
 After this clay's debate, Ihould the Addrcfs now moved 
 for be carried in this Houfe, I greatly fear that not 
 only this wife plan of the noble Lord, but every 
 idea of a reconciliation between this country and her 
 colonies, will be utterly impracticable. 
 
 The Americans, fir, have of late been treated, both 
 within doors and without, in a manner, which marks 
 no fmall degree of injuftice, and even a wantonnefs of 
 cruelty. We have been repeatedly told to-day, that 
 they complain of the Navigation Aft, and infill on the 
 repeal of it. We have authentic evidence to the con- 
 trary. |n the refolutions of the Congrefs^ they dehre 
 only to be put on the footing they were at the clofe of 
 the late war, " as to the jyftem of Jlatutes and regula- 
 " tions ;'* nor among the various acts, of which they 
 folicit the repeal, have they once mentioned either 
 the Navigation or Declaratory Aft. It has likewifc 
 JDeen afferted, that they are froward and angry enough 
 to wijb to throw off the fuprernacy of the -j- mother 
 country. Many exprefs refolutions, both of the Ge- 
 neral Congrefs, and the different Provincial Aflemblies, 
 are the fulleft evidence of the fenfe, which the Ameri- 
 cans entertain of their obedience and duty to Great 
 Britain. They are too numerous to be quoted. Their 
 
 * Doncques pour continuer mon propos, y a-t-il Roy ne Seignenr fur terre, qni 
 ait pouvoir, outre fon ilouiaine, de mettre un denier fur ces fiibjets : fans ofirny 
 et confentement dc ceux qui le doivent payer, finon par tyrannic ou violence ? 
 
 Memoires de Philippe de Comines, folio. Paris, de I'lniprimerie Royale, 
 
 1649, page 218. 
 
 f I never faw a froward child mended by whipping, and I would not have the 
 wither country become a flepmoiber. Our trade with America brings in, com- 
 munibus annis, two millions a year. 
 
 Lord Chefterfield's Letter of Dec. 25, 1765. 
 
 full
 
 claim, as flated by themfelves, is fo explicit and 
 clear, that I beg leave to read it to the Houfe from 
 their Petition to the King *. It declares, We ajk but 
 for pence, liberty, andfafety. Surely, fir, no requeft was 
 ever more modeft and rcafonable, no claim better 
 founded. It exprefsly mentions ; We ivijh not a dimi- 
 nution of the prerogative, nor do we f olid t a grant of any 
 new right in our favour* Tour royal authority over us, 
 and our tonneftion with Great Britain, we foall always 
 carefully and zealoujly endeavour to fupport and maintain. 
 
 What a contraft, fir, does this make wkh the pro- 
 ceedings of adminiftration at home! They are fe- 
 dulouily endeavouring to tear afunder thofe powerful 
 ties, which have long and happily knit and bound us 
 together. 
 
 The Addrefi, fir, mentions the particular province 
 of the Mafiachufet's Bay as in a flate of actual rebellion. 
 The other provinces are held out to our indignation as 
 aiding and abetting. Many arguments have been em- 
 ployed by fome learned gentlemen among us, to involve 
 them in all the confequences of an open, declared re- 
 bellion, and to obtain the fulleft orders for our officers 
 and troops to ad\ againft them as againft rebels. Whether 
 their prefent ftate is that of rebellion -f-, or of a fit and juft 
 refiftance to unlawful afts of power, to our attempts to 
 rob them of their property and liberties, as they ima- 
 gine, I fhall not declare. This I know, a fuccefsful 
 refiftaace is a revolution, not a rebellion. Rebellion in- 
 
 * In the ftrft Congrefs, figned O&ober 26* 1774. 
 
 } The oath of allegiance binds no private man to more tten the-law direfts, and 
 has no inriuence upon the whole body of every nation : many priitees or* kwion t 
 tbeit fubjtflstofly by ti>* injuries, Ifjfct-, atid mifcbifft brought uptnthan: RBLLioif 
 of itfelf is neither good nor evil, more than any ottier war, but is juft,. or un 
 juft,, accordJDg to tbs caufe w mauuer of it. Algernon Sydney, p. 4 1 6. 
 
 deed
 
 dee'd appears on the bide of a filing Tiemv, but 
 /z///o/z flames on the bt>- ii;-phte of the vi^, >rious war- 
 rior. Who can tell, fir, wnethe'r in confequence of 
 this day's violent and mad Addrejs to His Majefty, the 
 fcabbard may not be thrown away by them as well as 
 by us ; and mould fuccefs attend them, whether in a 
 few years the independent Americans may not celebrate 
 the glorious asra of the revolution of 1,775, as we do 
 that of 1688 ? The generous efforts of our forefathers 
 for freedom heaven crowned with fuccefs, or their 
 noble blood had dyed our fcaffolds, like that of Scottijb 
 traitors and rebels ; and the period of our hiftory, 
 which does us the mofl honour, would have been 
 deemed a rebellion againfl the lawful authority of the 
 prince, not a refiftance authorized by all the laws of 
 God and man, not the expulfion of a tyrant. 
 
 The policy, fir, of this mealure I can no more com- 
 prehend, than I can" acknowledge the juftice of it. Is 
 your force adequate to the attempt? I am fatisfied it is 
 not. What are your armies ? and how are they to be 
 kept up and recruited ? Do you recollect that the fingle 
 province of Maffachufet's Bay has at this moment 
 30,000 men well trained and difciplined? Do you not 
 know that they can bring near 90,000 men into the 
 field ? They will do it, when every thing dear to them 
 is at flake, when they have their liberties to defend 
 againft cruel opprefTors and invaders. You will not be 
 able to conquer and keep even that fingle province. The 
 noble Lord * with the blue ribband propofes only 
 10,000 of our troops to be there, including the four re- 
 giments now going from Ireland ; and he acknowledges, 
 with great truth, that the army cannot enforce the late 
 
 * Lord NORTH. 
 
 C ab
 
 aft of parliament. Why then is it fent? Bofton indeed 
 you may lay in afhes, or it may be made a flrong gar- 
 rifon; but the province will be loft to yon. Bofton 
 will be like Gibraltar. You will hold in the province 
 of Maflachuflet's Bay, as you do in Spain, a fmgle 
 town, while the whole country remains in the power 
 and pofleflion of the enemy. Your fleets and armies 
 may keep a few towns on the coaft, for fome time at 
 leaft, Bofton, New- York, St Auguftine ; but the vaft 
 continent of America will be irrecoverably loft. A few 
 fortrefles on the coaft, and fome fea ports only, will 
 remain in your pofleflion. All the back fettlements 
 will be independent of you, and will thrive in the rapid 
 progreffion of your violences and unjuft exactions on 
 the towns. A new and amazing landed intercjl will be 
 created. The ancient ftory of the Philofopher Calanus 
 and the Indian bide will be verified. Where you tread, 
 it will be kept down ; but it will rife the more in all 
 other parts. Where your fleets and armies are ftationed, 
 the pofleffion will be fecurcd, while they continue ; but 
 all the reft will be|pft. In the great fcale of empire, 
 you will decline, I fear, from the decifion of this day ; 
 and the Americans will rife to * independence, to power, 
 to all the greatnefs of the nioft renowned flates, for 
 they build on the folid bafis of -jr general publick-li^ 
 berty. 
 
 I tremble, iir, at the almoft certain confequences of 
 fuch an Addrcfs, founded in cruelty and injuftice, 
 equally contrary to the found maxims of true policy, 
 
 * The Declaration of Ind:ptndencv, by the Reprefentatives of the United States 
 of America in Congrefs alTcmhloc-, was made oil the 4th of July, 1776, about a 
 ye;.rand a half after this Add-eji of the Houfe of Commons. 
 
 f In Congrefc at Philadelphia, April 16, 1776, RUfolved, That no/at'ff be 
 imported mto any of the Ur.i:iti diana 
 
 and
 
 ( I? ) 
 
 and the unerring rule of natural right. The 
 ricans will certainly defend their property and their 
 liberties with the fpirit of freemen, with the fpirit our 
 anceftors did, and I hope we Ihould, exeBt on a like oo 
 cafion. They will fooner declare themfelves indepen* 
 dent, and rifque every confequence of fuch a c'onteil, 
 than fabmit to the galling yoke, which adminiftration rs 
 preparing for them. An Addrefs of this fanguinary na- 
 ture cannot fail of driving them to defpair. They will 
 fee that you are preparing not only to draw the fword, 
 but to burn the fcabbard. In the moft harfh manner 
 you are declaring them rebels* Every idea of a reconci- 
 liation will vanifh. They will purfue the moft vigo- 
 rous meafures in their own defence. The whole conti- 
 nent of North America will be difmembered from Great 
 Britain, and the wide arch of the raifed empire fall. But 
 I hope the juft vengeance of the people will overtake 
 the authors of tllefe pernicious counfels, and the lot's 
 of the firfl province of the empire be fpeedily followed 
 by the lofs of the heads of thofe minifters who adviled 
 thefe wicked and fatal meafures, 
 
 VOTES of Feb. 22, 1775. 
 
 A motion was made, and the queftion put, te That the 
 " Refolution of this Houfe, of the iyth day of Fe- 
 " bruary 1769, that Jobn IVilkes, Efquirt, having been 
 tf in this fcffion of Parliament expelled this Houfe, was, 
 *' and is, incapable of being eleftsd a Member to fetvt 
 " in this frefent Parliament, be expunged from the 
 C z " Journals
 
 " Journals of this Houfe, as being fubverfive of the 
 " rights of the whole body of electors of this king. 
 " dom ;'' 
 
 The Lord Mayor, Mr. Wilkes, faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The motion, which I {hall have the honour of fub- 
 mitting to the Houfe, affects, in my opinion, the very 
 vitals of this conftitution, the great primary fources of 
 the power of the people, whom we reprefent, and by 
 whofe authority only, delegated to us for a time, we are 
 a part of the legiflative body of this kingdom. The 
 proceedings of the laft parliament, in the bufmefs of 
 the Middlefex elections, gave a juft alarm to almoft 
 every elector in the nation. The fatal precedent then 
 attempted to be eftablifhed was confidered as a direct: 
 attack on the inalieniable rights of the people. Many. 
 of the moft refpectable bodies in this kingdom exprefled 
 their abhorrence of thofe arbitrary meafures. They 
 proceeded fo far as to petition the crown for the difib- 
 lution of that Parliament, as having been guilty of a 
 flagrant abufe of their truft. Above 60,000 of our 
 fellow-fubjects, freeholders of the realm, carried their 
 complaints to the foot of the throne ; a number furely 
 deferring the higheft regard from every Minifter, 
 whofe whole attention was not engrofled-by the 6000 
 borough electors, who return a majority for him to 
 this Houfe. The people, fir, were in a ferment, 
 which has not yet fubiided. They made my caufe their 
 own ; for tkey faw all the powers of government exerted 
 againfl the conftitution, which was wounded through 
 my iitfes, and the envenomed lhafts of a wicked admi- 
 
 niflration
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 niftration pointed at our laws and liberties no lefs than 
 at a hated individual. The plan was carried on for 
 ibnie years with a fpirit of malevolence and rancour, 
 which would have difgraced the very worft, but with a 
 perfeverance which would have done honour to thebeft, 
 ca-ufe. I do not mean, lir, to go through an irkfome 
 detail of the various perfections and injuries which 
 that perfon fuffered, I hope with a becoming forti- 
 tude. I have forgiven them. All the great powers of 
 the ftate were at one time combined to pour their ac- 
 cumulated vengeance on me. The two Houfes of ; 
 liament chofe me as the mod acceptable victim 
 could be facrificed at the fhrine of 'heir court i,. 
 and even * imperial Jove pointed his tnundcr-. 
 red with uncommon n-ratb, at my devoted head. I 
 fcorched, but not confumed. The broad line Id of t'ie 
 law protected me. A generous public, and my noble 
 friends, the freeholders of Midcllefex, the ever r eady 
 friends of liberty and their country, poured bai.:: inuo 
 my wounds. They are healed fo that fcarcely a fc.ir 
 remains. But, fir, I feel, I deeply feel the wounds 
 given to the conftitution. They are ftill bleeding, and 
 this Houfe only can heal them, as well as reftore the 
 conftitution to its former flate of purity, health, and 
 vigour. May I be permitted to point out the mode 
 of cure, and the falutary methods, which I think you 
 ought to apply ? Before I proceed to the remedy, I 
 fhall beg the indulgence of the Houfe to ftate the cafe 
 with precifion and accuracy. I hope they will forgive 
 
 * In Junius's letter to the King of Dec. 19, 1769, it is faid, " the deftrr.ftion of 
 " one man [Mr. Wilkes] has been now, for many years, the//r object of your go- 
 " vernment ;" [not the bapfAnefs ff mil!:i>is, -whim God bad ctmm<tted to bit cart, but 
 tht deftru(itw 'fane man, whim be tught ta have frcttfltd as hisfubjef}.] 
 
 Junius, vol. II. p. 38. 
 
 C 3 a dry,
 
 C 22 ) 
 
 a dry, but candid and Ihort, narrative of the, principal 
 
 fads, becaufe I mean to argue from them. I will give 
 
 . 
 them as brief as pofiible, and with all the impartiality 
 
 of a bye-ftander. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes was firil elected for the. county of MiJ- 
 dlefex, on the 28th of March 1768. He was * ex- 
 pelled the 3d of February 1769, and the fecond time 
 
 chofen, 
 
 * In that refolution of the Houfe of Commons, the/V/? article in the A^-e^att 
 Fund of Mr. Wiikes's crimes^ which were the pretended caufes of his 'expulfan and 
 ir.rapaciff, is the being author of the Prefatory Rnrurks on Lord Weymouth's exe- 
 crable epiftle, relative to the flill unexplored mafiacre in St. George's Fields on the 
 icth of May 1768, which the prefent Comptroller of his Majefty's Houfehold, 
 Sir William Meredith, thought a very good reafon for Mr. Wiikes's clcflhr. In 
 h;s pamphlet of " The Qiieftion ftated," Sir William fays, " Was I a freeholder 
 " of Middlefer, fo far am I from thinking, that to 'make the fevereft animadver- 
 V- ijons on fuib a letter is a ground of ia^a/-acity t the more a man arraigns (what 1 
 " take to be) fuch unconstitutional pofitions, the Jitter he ii to be emrujteil -with the 
 (t ng'vts of the people^' p. 29. No profecution whatever on the charge of that infle*t t 
 jcatuiai'out t and feditious libel, as the Prefatory Btmnrki were voted to be by bo'h 
 H?u'~,s''f Parliament, of \vhich Mr. Wilkes avowed himfelf the author, has been 
 carried on againft him in any court of law. I fhall only tranfcribe the famous libel, 
 and forne paifeges relative tt> it, without any obfervatbns. 
 
 The Prt/M'y Remarks were, 
 
 Dec. 10, 1768: 
 
 I find you tte f^He-ivlng aat/rert'c flate paper, the date ofivbicb, prior by nnre tlan 
 tbrec ivttlts to the fatal \otb of May, Jbeios hoiv hng the horrid maJJ'acre in St. George's 
 Fields had teen plannid ar.d J termir.ed upon, before it was cnrn\;d into cxecutkn, and 
 I iv ' "g a bel'yb frtyejf can be brctdcd oitcr i>v fame infernal fp:r;ts "Without one moment's 
 r,m.rf . 
 
 Exti-acl from Mr. Wilkes's Addrefs to the County c f Middlefex. dated frori fhe 
 
 King's Bench Priibn, Dec. X7, 1768. 
 
 I hold myfelf accountable to you for every aftkn of my life, \\hich refpefts the 
 pu'iiic. I defiretoflanJ, or fall, by your free and unbiased judgement. I \viih to 
 
 be diredled b> your counfel and inftrucStion in all matters of importance. 1 take 
 
 the enrlieft opportunity, gentlemen, of dating to you ibe following particulars, 
 fi ! to be f;iin>e'd and publifhed, in the St. James's Chronicle of December the 
 jot!:, a letter of the Se;retary of State [Lord Weymouth], written from St. James's 
 on the 1 7th of April to Mr. juftice Ponton, with fome Prefatory Remark}, lavovv 
 the publication of both. I will go further, and declare, that I firft, feveral months 
 age, tranfmiUed to the prefs the letter of the Secretary at War [Lord BarringtonJ, 
 gated May the nth, returning thanks in :be King's name to the officers and foldiers 
 
 of
 
 C 3 ) 
 
 chofen, without oppofition, the i6th day of the fame 
 month. On the day following the election was vacated, 
 
 and 
 
 of the third regiment of 'Guards, for the rank and foul murders committed in thefe 
 fields on the loth of that month. My hand trembled, while I copied what I 
 Mufhed to read ; and I gave it to the public in the only way my prefect Gtuation 
 could admit, with the hope of promoting a parliamentary enquiry into that bloody 
 tfanfaclion, which I truft this fecond publication will now accomplish, and becaufe 
 I think this free nation has a right to be fully informed of the conduct of adminif- 
 tration in fo important a concern as the lofs of the lives of many fubjects. Admi- 
 niftration complains of me for having published the letter of the Secretaiy of State. 
 I complain to the nation that fuch a letter has been written. This is not a letter on 
 any perlbnal bufmefs or pleafure. I would have fcorned to have published any fuch. 
 This letter was from a Secretary of State to the Chairman of the Quarter SelTions 
 at Lambeth, and is written in characters of blood. It affects deeply the confti- 
 tution of this country, and every man in our ifland. I will at prefent leave it to 
 the heaeft indignation of every Englifhman. I fhall now only add, that if I have 
 not given to the public a moft accurate and faithful copy, 1 afk pardon of the Se- 
 cretaiy of State. If I have, then I will fay, that for the innocent blood of our 
 c*ountrymen fpilt in confequence of that letter, the writer of it ought to a(k firgive- 
 nefs of God and his country, and pafs the remainder of -his life in penitence and 
 tears. 
 
 Extract from the Journals of Feb. 3, 1769, vol. XXXII. page 175. 
 Evidence was given to the Houfe, by two of their members in their places, that 
 the letter printed in the faid newfpaper is an exafi co y of the original letter ad 'refled 
 to, and received by, Daniel Ponton, Efquire, Chairman of the Quarter Seilions at 
 Lambeth. 
 
 The Speech of Mr. Wilkes, when a Prifoner, at the Bar of the Houfe of Commons, 
 
 Feb. 3, '1769- 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I acknowledge that I tranfmitted to the prefs the Lt-t-r of the Secretaiy of Stale, 
 Lord Weymodlh, and that I wrote and published the P-.f.tary Remarks to it; and, 
 fir, whenever' a Secretary of State fhall dare to write fo bloody a fcroll, I will 
 through life dare to write fuch P'tfitw Remarks, as well as to make 'my appeal to 
 the nation on the occalion. I a(k pardon, fir, that I made ufe of too mild and 
 gentle exprenlons, when I mentioned fo wicked, fo inhuman, fo cowardly a maf- 
 facre, as that in St. George's Fields on the icth of May. I pledge myfelf to 
 the Houfe, that whenever a day 'hall be appointed to go into this important inquiry, 
 I will bring evidence here to prove the truth of every word I have affeited. I 
 hope the Houfe, fir, will fend for Mr. Ponton, and examine him, whether !ie did 
 or did not receive that letter from the Secretary of Sta:e. If he anfwer- m the af- 
 firmative, I am fare, from the \irtus of this Houfe, thr.t the)' will immediately 
 order an impeachment againft the Secretaiy to be carried up to the Bar of the 
 Houfe of Peers. 
 
 C 4 Extucl
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 a- 1 he was declared by a majority of the Houfe inca- 
 pab 'e of being elected into that Parliament. Not with- 
 ftanding this refolution of the Houfe, he was a third 
 time, on the 1 6th of March, elected without oppoiition ; 
 for I fuppofe the ridiculous attempt of a * Mr. Uingley, 
 who had not a fingle freeholder to propofe, or vote for 
 him, can hardly be called an oppoiition. That elec- 
 ti n however was declared void the next day. On the 
 1 3th of April Mr. Wilkes was a fourth time elected, 
 by a majority of 1 143 votes againft Mr. Luttrell, who 
 had only 296. The fame day this Houfe -J- voted, 
 
 Extract from the Journals of Feb. 2, 1769, vol. XXXII. page 176. 
 
 Refolved, That the Jnt-:dufl\ n to the copy of a Letter, addreffed to Danid 
 Pontjjn, rfquire, Chairman of the Quarter Sellions at Lambeth, and doted St. 
 Ja-nes's, the 17^ of April 17^8, contained in a certain newfpaper, intituled, 
 " The St. {. -.ir-le, or che Britiib. Evening Poft, from Thursday Decem- 
 
 " her t ! e 8th, to Ssf.irc'ay, Derrrnber the loth, 1768, printed by Henry Baldwin, 
 ' at the Britanr.h l-ri.^ln~-Gffi:e, No. 108, Fleet-Street," of which Jntrfdufll.n 
 John WUkeF, Efqir.re, a Member of t'., s Houfe, has now at the Bar of this Houfe 
 cr .-'; lei 1 , liimfelf to be the author and ;-'uMifher, is an iruclent, fcandalous, and fe- 
 diclous libe 1 , tending to in^ame and ftir up the minds of his Majefty's fubjects to 
 (edition, and to a total mhverfion of all good order and legal government. 
 
 Extract from the Journals of Feb. ?, 1769, vol. XXXIJ. page 178. 
 A motion being made, and the queftion being put, that John Wilkes, Efquire, a 
 cr of this L'oufe, who hath at the Bar of this Houfe confeffed himfclf to be 
 t' - uthor and puMi.'.^er of what this Houfe has refolved to be an infolent, fcan- 
 diilous, and feditious libel, &c. &c. &c. b? expelled tb'n toufe. 
 The Koufe divided. 
 
 Tellers for the Yeas 5 Lord F derick Campbell,? 
 
 t Mr. Stevens. 5 y 
 
 So it was refolved in the affirmative. 
 
 * This unfortunate pcrfon had been perfoaded by the Duke of Grafton to fet up 
 
 for Middlefex, his grace being determined to feat him in the Houfe of Commons, if 
 
 ; but a fingle vote. It happened. unluckily that he could not prevail upon any 
 
 r to put him in nomination. Junius, vol. I. p. 60. 
 
 t S.; Norton, when it was propofcd to punifh the Sheriffs, declared in 
 
 tie Houfe of Commons, that they, in returning Mr. Wilkes, had done no more than 
 
 SKir duty. Junius, vol. I. p. 70. 
 
 " that
 
 " that Mr. Lut.tr.ell ought to have keen returned." On 
 the 29th of April, a Petit ion was preferred to the 
 Houfe from the freeholders of Middlefex by a worthy 
 Baronet -*, who is not only an honour to this Houfe, 
 but to human nature ; notwithstanding which, the 
 Houfe on the 8th of May refolved, " that Henry 
 " Lawes Luttrell, Efquire, is duly eledted a Knight 
 " of the Shire to ferve in this prefent Parliament for 
 " the county of Middlefex." 
 
 Thefe, fir, are the great outlines, the leading facts. 
 I will not trouble the Clerk to read all the refolutions, 
 to which I have alluded. They are frefh, I am per- 
 fuaded, in the memories of gentlemen. I only call 
 for that of Feb. 17, 1769, refpedling incapacity as the 
 certain confequence Qtexpuljion 
 
 [The Clerk read the Refolution.] 
 
 Now, Sir, I think it fair to ftate to the Houfe the 
 whole of what I intend to move in confequence of the 
 facts ftated, and the refolution juft read. The firft 
 motion I intend is, " that the Refolution of this Houfe 
 " of the i7th of February, 1769, That John ^Vilkes^ 
 fl Efquire^ having been, in this Sejfion of Parliament, ex- 
 (< felled this Houfe, was, and is, incapable of being elefted 
 " a member to ferve in this prefent Parliament, be ex- 
 " punged from the Journals of this Houfe, as being fub- 
 ( ' verfive of the rights of the whole body of electors of 
 " this kingdom." This I hold of necefftty to reilore the 
 conftitution, which that Refolution tears up by the roots. 
 I lhall then, if I fucceed, if juftice and a reverence far 
 
 * Sir George Sayile, B^onet ; Member for Yorkfhire. 
 
 the
 
 the constitution prevail in this Parliament, proceed to 
 the other Motion, " That all the declarations, orders., 
 ?' and refolutions of this Houfe, refpecting the election 
 " of John Wilkes, Efquire, for the County of Middle- 
 " fex, as a void election, the c|ue and legal election of 
 * e Henrv Lawes Luttrell, Efquire, into the laft Parlia- 
 " ment, for the County of Middlefex, and the incapa- 
 < city of John Wilkes, Efquire, to be elected a Metn- 
 " ber to ferve in the faid Parliament, be expunged 
 " from the Journals of this Houfe, as being fubvec- 
 " five of the rights of the whole body of electors^ of 
 " this kingdom.'* 
 
 The words of the Refolution of the i yth of February 
 1769, which I mean more particularly to combat, are, 
 44 ivas and is incapable/' and the explanation of them the 
 fame day in the order for a new writ, " in the room of 
 " John Wilkes, fquire, who is adjudged incapable 
 " of being elected a Member to ferve in this prefent 
 " Parliament." In the firft formation of this govern- 
 ment, in the original fettlement of our conftitution, 
 the people expreffly referved to themfelves a very con- 
 fiderable part of the legiflative power, which they con- 
 fented to fhare jointly with a King and Houfe of Lords. 
 From the great population of our ifland this right 
 could not be claimed and exercifed perfonaHy, and 
 therefore the many were compelled to delegate that 
 power to a few, who thus were chofen their deputies 
 and agents only, their reprefentatives. It follows, from 
 the very idea of a choice, that fuch choice mufl be 
 free and uncontrouled, admitting of no reftridtions, but 
 the law of the land, to which the King and the Lords 
 are equally fubjecl:, and what muft arife from the na- 
 ture of the truft. A Peer of Parliament, for inflance, 
 
 cannot
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 carmot be ele&ed a Member of the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, becaufe he already forms a part of another 
 branch of the fame legiflative body. A lunatic has a 
 natural incapacity. Other inftances might be men- 
 tioned, but thefe two are fufficient. The freedom of 
 election is then the common right of the people of 
 England, their fair and juft lhare of power; and I hold 
 it to be the moil glorious inheritance of every fubject 
 of this realm, the nobleft, and, I truft, the moil folid 
 part of that beautiful fabric, the Engliih conftitution. 
 Here I might lean, fir, on the moft refpectable autho- 
 rities which can be cited, the fupreme judicature of 
 this kingdom, and the venerable judges of former ages 
 as well as of our own times. / met them accidentally this 
 morning in the courje of my reading, as an old friend * of 
 Wilkes and Liberty, now alas ! loft to every fenfe of 
 (duty to his country, frequently tells another great af- 
 fembly, that he accidentally meets in this manner all his 
 tirefome quotations. , The Houfe of Peers, fir, in the 
 
 * The Duke of Grafton. Junius in a letter to his Grace of May 30, 1769, fays, 
 f you complained that your friend, Mr. Wilk.es, who had furfered fo much for the 
 " party, had been abandoned to his fate - as for Mr. Wilkes, it is, perh ps, the greateft 
 '.' misfortune of his life, that you fhould have fo many compensations to make in the 
 " clofet for your former friend/hip with him. Your gracious mafter underftands 
 " your chancier, and makes you a persecutor; becaufe you have been a_/V*W." 
 Vol. I. p. 79. 
 
 Now, my Lord, let me aflc you, Has it never occurred to your Grace, while you 
 were withdrawing this defperate wretch [Mac >uirk'] from that juilice which the 
 laws had awarded, and which the whole people of England demanded againfl him, 
 that there is another man, who is tbe favourite, of Us wintry, whofe pardon would 
 have been accepted with gratitude, whofe pardon would have healed all our divi- 
 fions ? Have you quite forgotten tliat this man was once your Grace's/r/n// or is 
 it to murderers only that you will extend the mercy of the crown ? Vol. I. p. 59. 
 
 Was he [the Duke of Grafton] not the bof^m friend of Mr. Wilkes, whom he now 
 purfues to deftruclion ? Vol. I. p. 89. 
 
 ' -The Duke of Grafton took the office of Secretary of State, with an engagement to 
 fupport the Marquis of Rockingham's adminiftration. He refigned however in a 
 little time, under pretence that he could not act without Lord Chatham, nor tear t 
 ret Mr, Wtlkti abandoned. Junius, vol. I. p. 5. note. 
 
 cafe
 
 cafe of Afhby and White in 1 704, determined, (i a 
 " man has a right to his freehold by the common 
 " law; and the law having annexed his right of 
 " voting to his freehold, it is of the nature of his 
 *' freehold, and muft depend upon it." On the fame 
 occafion likewiie they declared, " it is abfurd to fay, 
 "the eleftors right of chufmg is founded upon the 
 " law and cuftom of parliament. It is an original right, 
 " fart of tbe conjiitution of the kingdom, as much as a 
 "parliament is, and from whence the perfons elected 
 " to ferve in parliament do derive their authority, and 
 tf can have no other but that which is given to them 
 " by thofe that have the original right to chufe them.'* 
 The greatefl law authorities, both ancient and modern, 
 agree in the opinion, that every fubject of the realm, 
 not difqualified by law, is eligible of common right. 
 Lord Coke, Lord Chief Juflice Holt, and Mr. Black- 
 ilone *, are the only authorities which 1 fliall cite. I re- 
 gard not, iir, the flavifh, 'courtly do&rines propagated 
 by lawyers in either houfe of Parliament, as to the 
 rights of the fubjedt, no more than I do as to what 
 
 * Doctor Blackftone is Solicitor to the Queen. The Doctor recolle&ed that he 
 had a place to prefcrve, though he forgot that he had a reputation to lofe. We have 
 now the ftood fortune to underftand the Doctor's principles as well as writings. For 
 the defence of truth, of law, of reafon, the Doctor's book may be fafely confulted ; 
 but whoever wifhes to cheat a neighbour of his eftate, or to rob a country of its 
 rights, need make no fcruple of confuting the Doctor himfelf. Junius,vol. I- p. 93. 
 
 Mr. Grenville quoted a pafiage from the Doctor's excellent Comtntntarie;, which 
 direilly contradicted the doctrine maintained by the Doctor iu the Houfe of Com- 
 mons. Page 122. 
 
 In the Cownentarits, after a long enumeration of ififqualifkations, it is added, " But, 
 fubju^ to thefc 7-eftridlions and difqualifi.cations, every fubject of the realm is eligi- 
 " ble of cnmmon rigb'." 
 
 Cotnmentaries on the Laws of England. By William Blackilone, Efq; Vinerian 
 Profi-iior of La\v, and Solicitor-Gkiieral to toe Queen, 4X0 aution, printed aC 
 Oxford in 1768, vol. I. page 176. 

 
 they pronounce high treafon and rebellion. Such doc- 
 trines are delivered here only to be reported el few he re. 
 Thefe men have their reward. But the venal tongue 
 of a proftitute advocate or judge is beft anfwered by 
 the wife and fober pen of the fame man, when in a for- 
 mer cool moment, unheated by party rage or faction, 
 after the fulleft deliberation, he gave to the nation, to 
 the prefent age, and to pofterity, a fair and impartial- 
 detail of their undoubted rights, and when he laid 
 down in clear and exprefs terms the plain law of the 
 land. Lord Coke fays, " He which is eligible of corn- 
 fc mon right, cannot be difabled by the faid ordinance 
 fe in Parliament, unlefs it had been by act of Parlia* 
 " ment." Lord Chief Juflice Holt declares, " the. 
 ff election of knights belongs to the freeholders of> 
 " counties ; and it is an original right, veiled in and. 
 " infeparable from the freehold, and can no more be 
 " fevered from their freehold, than their freehold it- 
 " felf can be taken away." Mr. Juftice Blackftone, in 
 the firft book of his Commentaries on the laws of En- 
 gland, has the following words, " fubjedt to thefe re- 
 " ftri&ions and difqualifications, every fubjecl: of the 
 " realm is eligible of common right* This common 
 right of the fubjecl:, fir, was violated by the majority 
 of the laft houfe of Commons; and I affirm, that they, 
 and in particular, if I am rightly informed, the * no- 
 ble Lord with the blue ribband, committed by that 
 
 .* This is a miftake. Lord Stanly, now Earl of Derby, declared -at tliat time in 
 the Houfe of Commons, " That the worthy magiilrate [the Lord Mayor,- Mr. 
 " JVtlket'] wasmiftak.n in afcribing to the noble Lord with the blue ribband thatde- 
 ciaration. It was his father, the late Lord Strange ,who made ufc of tint expcef. 
 fion." 

 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 aft fagb treafon againjl Magna Cbarta. This houfe only, 
 without the interference of the other part c of the legif- 
 lature, took upon them to make the law. They ad- 
 judged me incapable of being eledted a member to ferve 
 in that Parliament, although I was qualified by the 
 law of the land, and the noble Lord declared in this 
 houfe, " if any other candidate had oiily fix votes, he 
 " would feat him for Middlefex." I repeat it, fir, 
 this Violence was a direct infringement of Magna 
 Charta, high treafon againft the facred charter of our li- 
 berties. The words, to which I allude, ought always 
 to be written in letters of gold : " No freeman fhall 
 " be ditfeifced of his freehold, or liberties, or free cuf- 
 ** toms, unlefs by the lawful judgment of his peers, or 
 " by the law of the tend." By tlie cohdudt of that 
 majority, and of the noble Lord, they afuimed to them- 
 felvts the power of making the law, and at the fame 
 moment invaded the rights of the People, the King, 
 and the Lords. The two laft tamely acquiefced in the 
 
 Gcnersl Fitzroy, Member for Thetford, and Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen, like- 
 vile aflerted, tf That the mag'iftratc \v:e alto miftaken in attributing his cxp'.ifion to ' 
 " the noble Lord with the blue ribband, for itwasajuft, znAtiie favourite, meafureof 
 " the noble Duke, his brother, who was then Minifter." The Lord Mayor, Mr. 
 Wilkn, replied, that what one brother had, perhaps with more truth than difcretion, 
 confeffed of the other,' ought to be the fubject of an impeachment from all the Com- 
 mons of England againft the Duke of Grafton, on the very evidence of the Member 
 who fpoke laft; and he expatiated on the infolence, as he termed it, of a Peer's inter-* 
 fering in the elections and privileges of the Common?, and of declaring tuba Jhould fit 
 in that Houfe. Such barefaced ufurpations on the rights of the people were, he faid, 
 the old genuine Smart maxims, \uhich he hoped had taken their flight at the acceflion 
 of the Brunfwick line. He concluded, that the Houfe ought to be alarmed at this 
 open avowal, that the expulfion of one of their members was ?.favtur:te meafure of 
 an arbitrary Minifter, the Member of another Houfe, and predetermined in another* 
 place ; that lie could not fupprcf s his indignation, that any man coiild entertain the 
 idea of deriving a kind of imputed family merit from a violation of the law? of his 
 country perpetrated by a brother ; and that the approbation and voluntary confeflion 
 of a crime commuted by another, but almoft incapable of proof, argued a degree of 
 folly moft juftly the object of pity, but a total want of principle, with excited 
 horror. 
 
 2 exercife
 
 exercife of a power, which had been in a great inftance 
 fatal to their predeceffors, had put an end to their 
 very exiftence; but the people, fir, and in particular 
 trie fpirited freeholders of this county, whofe ruling 
 paflion is the love of liberty, have not yet forgiven the 
 attack on their rights. So dangerous a precedent, of 
 ufurped power, which may in future times be cited and 
 adopted in pra&ice by a defpotic minifter of the 
 crown, ought to be expunged from the Journals of 
 this Houfe. 
 
 I have heard and read rrwch of precedents to juftify 
 the proceedings of the laft Houfe of Commons. I own, 
 lir, I value very little the doctrine of * precedents. 
 There is fcarcely any new villainy under the fun. A 
 precedent can never juftify any action in itfelf wicked, 
 a robbery for inftance on the heaths of Hounflow or 
 Bagfhot, of which there are innumerable precedents. 
 The bafeft actions may be juftified by precedents drawn 
 from bad times and bad men. The fole queftion is, 
 Whether this power is not a diret ufurpation on the 
 rights of the people? If that is proved, I care not how long 
 the ufurpation has continued, how often been praftifed. 
 It is high time to put an end to it. It was the cafe of 
 General Warrants. One precedent however, the moft 
 infifted upon, I muft take notice of, becaufe it is faid 
 fully to come up to the point, but, in my opinion, iri 
 almoft every part it proves the contrary of what it has 
 been brought to fupport. I mean the remarkable cafe 
 of Mr. Walpole in 1 7 1 1 , a period, in which the rankeft 
 Tory principles were countenanced more than in any 
 other of our hiftory prior to 1760. The cafe, fir, has 
 
 * One precedent creates another. They foon accumulate and conftitute Law. 
 What yefterday was fedl, to-c!. y i? doctrine. 
 
 Junius, Dedication to the Engli/h nation, p. 3. 
 
 beer}
 
 been fo partially quoted, even by a * perfon whofe folo 
 merit here was an aiTumed accuracy, which he never 
 poffefled, that I ihall deiire it may be read to the Houfe 
 from the Journals. 
 
 [The Clerk read,] 
 
 " Refolved, that Robert Walpole, Efquire, having 
 " been, this feffion of Parliament, committed a prifoner 
 " to the Tower of London, and expelled this Houfe, 
 "for an high breach of truft in the execution of his office, 
 " and notorious corruption, when Secretary at War, was 
 " and is incapable of being elected a Member to ferve 
 " in the prefent Parliament." 
 
 Now, fir, I mufl obferve, that even that Houfe of 
 Common's, at an zera fo hoftile to the liberties not only 
 of England but of Europe, did not venture to adjudge 
 Mr. Walpole incapable of being elected a member to 
 ferve in that Parliament only becaufe he was expelled ; 
 but in the body of the Refolution itfelf they added ano- 
 ther reafon, which would be trifling, if the former was 
 fufficient and adequate to the point, the high breach of 
 irujl in the execution of bis office, and notorious corruption, 
 
 * Jirerrtiab Dyfrn, Efq; formerly Clerk of the Houfe of Commons, Member in 
 the prefent Parliament for Horfham in Sullex. 
 
 I: is well worth remarking that the compiler of a certain quarto, called The cafe 
 tftbe lafi eleflionfor the canny -f MidJlefex conjiderc;!, has the impudence to recite this 
 very vote, in the following terms, (vide page u) " Refolved, that Robert Walpole, 
 " Efq; having been -that leffion of parliament expelled the Houfe, was and is inca- 
 " paWe of being elc&ecl a member 'to ferve in the prefent parliament." There can- 
 not be a ftronger pofitive proof of the trta b'ry of the compiler, nor a ftronger pre- 
 fumptivc proof that he was convinced that the vote, if truly recited, would overturn 
 his 'whole 1 argument. Junius, vol. I. p. 145. 
 
 After convicting Mr. Dyfnn of giving a falfe quotation from the journals, and hav- 
 ing explained the purpofe, which that ctnttmptibit fraitd was intended to accomplilh, 
 
 I when
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 t1t>en -Secretary at War. As truftees for the nation, 
 they affigned a public caufe, which muft intereft every 
 member of the community. In the cafe of Mr. 
 Wilkes, the laft Houfe of Commons declared, " that 
 " John Wilkes, Efquire, having been, in this Seffion 
 " of Parliament, expelled this Houfe, was and is in- 
 " capable of being elected a Member to ferve in this 
 " prefent Parliament*." The having been expelled, 
 whether juftly or unjuftly, is the only reafon, which 
 they gave to the world. I lhall not yet, fir, difmifs 
 the cafe of Mr. Walpole. It will prove another pro- 
 pofition maintained by me : it will Ihew the injuflice 
 of the late Houfe of Commons in feating Mr. Luttrell, 
 as Reprefentative for the County of Middlefex. The 
 fad: was, that the Houfe in Queen Anne's time, having 
 expelled Mr. Walpole, ordered immediately the iffu- 
 ing of a new writ. At the fubfequent election Mr. 
 Walpole was again returned. A Mr. Taylor, who 
 had a minority of votes, petitioned ; but the election 
 was vacated. Had the doctrine propagated by the 
 late majority, and by the noble Lord with the blue 
 ribband, been juft and founded, Mr. Taylor ought to 
 have been the fitting member, the Houfe Ihould have 
 refolved that he ought to have been returned, and that 
 the groffeft injuftice had actually been committed 
 againft him. But even that Parliament, whofe me- 
 mory the nation execrates, flopped fhort in their career 
 of iniquity, and did not proceed to fuch enormous 
 wickednefs. It was referved for the prefent ra, when 
 fhame has loft its bluih. Mr. Luttrell was for fome 
 years permitted *> fit here as reprefenting the County 
 of Middlefex, although a great majority of the free- 
 holders abhorred and reprobated the idea of bis repre- 
 
 D fenting
 
 ( 34 } 
 
 fcnting them, on every public occafion declared it, and 
 in their Petition to this Houfegave the record of it under 
 their hands to all pofterity. 
 
 Sir, when the flrong, imanfwerable reafons, on which 
 any dodrine is founded, bear me out, I care little about 
 precedents. I recoiled: however another inftance in 
 more aufpicious times, when a glorious monarch de- 
 fended the conflitution, which he had reftored. It di- 
 rectly meets the objection fo much relied upon; " that 
 " expulfton neceffarily implies incapacity" It is the laft,. 
 which I fhall delire the Clerk to read, I wifh him to 
 turn to the Journals of Feb. 20, 1698, 
 
 [The Clerk read*,] 
 
 i( Refolved, that Richard Woollafton, Efquire, being 
 " a Member of this Houfe of Commons, and having 
 " fmce been concerned, and aded, as a receiver of the 
 " duties upon houfes, as alfo upon births, marriages, 
 " and burials, contrary to the Ad, made in the fifth 
 " and lixth years of his Majefty's reign, for granting 
 " feveral duties upon fait, beer, ale, and other liquors, 
 <( be expelled this Hoitfc" 
 
 Now, fir, I defy all the fubtlety of the moft expert 
 court lawyer among us, all the fophiftry of the bar, to- 
 reconcile Mr. Woolafton's cafe with the favourite court 
 tenet, " that cxpulfion necefTarily implies incapacity" 
 The fad is afccrtained, and indeed admitted, that a 
 new writ did ilfue for the borough of Whitchurch in 
 HampflTtire, and that Mr. Woollafton was re-eleded, 
 and fat in the fame Parliament. Incapacity therefore 
 in the fame Parliament does not neceflarily follow ex- 
 fulfion. 
 
 7 I am
 
 t 35 ) 
 
 I am ready to admit, that, where a clear legal incapa- 
 city exifts, all votes given to a perfon incapacitated are 
 thrown away, if they are knowingly given to him. 
 But, fir, I beg leave to aflert, that this was not the cafe 
 in the Middlefex bufinefs* Mr. Wilkes was qualified 
 by the law of the land ; and the freeholders, who per- 
 fectly underftood the clear point of law, as well as 
 their own rights, expreffly declared in the Petition pre- 
 fented on the 29th of April 1769 to the Houfe, " Your 
 " Petitioners beg leave to reprefent to this honourable 
 " Houfej that the faid Henry Lawes Luttrell had not 
 " the majority of legal votes at the faid election, nor 
 ** did the majority of the freeholders, when they voted 
 " for John Wilkes, Efquire, mean thereby to throw 
 fl away their votes, or to wave their right of reprefen- 
 ft tation; nor would they, by any means, have chofen 
 "" to be reprefented by the faid Henry Lawes Luttrell, 
 *' Efquire. Your Petitioners therefore apprehend he 
 " cannot fit as the reprefentative of the faid County in 
 *' Parliament) without a manifeft infringement of the 
 * f rights and privileges of the freeholders thereof." 
 
 This Houfe, fir, is created by the people, as the 
 other is by the King. What right can the majority 
 have to fay to any county, city, or borough, you lhall 
 not have a particular perfon to be your reprefentative, 
 only becaufe he is obnoxious to us, when he is quali- 
 fied by law ? Every county, city, or borough, has an 
 equal right with all other counties, cities, and bo- 
 roughsj to its own choice, to its own diftincf deputy 
 in the great council of the nation* Each is free and 
 
 D 
 
 independent, invefted with preciiely the fame powers. 
 
 I do not mean, fir, now to enter into the argument, 
 
 Whether it may not be fit to give this Houfe the power 
 
 JD 2 of
 
 ( 36 > 
 
 of expullion in the firft inftance, for very flagrant arid 
 infamous crimes, either committed, or of which the 
 member may be convicted, fubfequent to his election. 
 The fending the member back to his condiments on 
 fuch ground might be conlidered as an appeal to the 
 people. If however his conftituents fhould differ in- 
 opinion from the majority of this Houfe, if they fhould' 
 think him fit to be re-elected, he ought to be admit- 
 ted, becaufe he claims his feat under the fame autho- 
 rity by which every member holds the privilege of fit- 
 ting and voting here, a delegation from the people, 
 their free choice. The firft appeal to the conftituents 
 might in many cafes appear juft and reafonable. The 
 appeal certainly lies to them, for they are the fountain 
 of this power. We exercife their right. By their re- 
 prefentation only we are a Houfe of Parliament. They 
 have the right of chufmg for themfelves, not a Majo- 
 rity here for them. 
 
 Sir, I will venture to aflert, that the law of the land, 
 by which all courts of judicature are equally bound, is 
 overturned by the power lately exercifed by a Majority 
 of a Houfe of Commons. The right of election by 
 law is vefted in the freehold. It is not placed in you, 
 but in other hands, in thofe of the freeholders, or the 
 conftituents. Your predecelibrs not only robbed a 
 particular county of its nobleft privileges, but they 
 changed the conftitution of a Houfe of Commons. 
 The freeholders of this county and the nation abhorred 
 the proceeding, and poured their execrations on the 
 treacherous authors. From us not only they, but the 
 law and confdtution, now expect a full reparation of 
 the injury, by refcinding the Refolution. 
 
 This
 
 ( 3.7 ) 
 
 This ufurpation, if acquiefced under, would be at- 
 tended with the moft alarming confequences. If you 
 can reject thofe difagreeable to a majority, and expel 
 whom you pleafe, the Houfe of Commons will beyHf- 
 created and felf-exift-ing. You may expel till you ap- 
 prove, and thus in effect you nominate. The original 
 idea of this Houfe being the reprefentative of the com- 
 mons of the realm will be loft. The confequences of 
 fuch a principle are dangerous in the extreme. A 
 more forcible engine of defpotifm cannot be put into 
 the hands of a Minifter. I wiih gentlemen would at- 
 tend to the plain confequences of fuch proceedings, 
 z;nd canfider how they may be brought home to them- 
 felves. A member hated, or dreaded, by the minifter, 
 is accufed of a crime ; for inftance, of being the author 
 of what he thinks a libel. I feleft this cafe, as 'being; 
 the crime the leaft likely to be committed by any 
 one gentleman of the prefent majority of this Houfe. 
 No proof whatever is given on oath before you, be- 
 caufe you cannot adminifter an oath, except in the 
 cafes provided for by adt of Parliament. You deter- 
 mine the/<z# however, and thus the Minifter begins 
 with invading the rights of Juries. Before any trial, 
 he gets the paper voted a libel, and the member he 
 wifhes expelled is voted to be the author, which is a 
 fact this Houfe is not competent to try and determine. 
 Expulfun means always, as it is pretended, incapacity. 
 The memoer is accordingly adjudged incapable. He 
 .cannot in confequence be re-eled:ed, and thus .is to- 
 tally excluded from Parliament. By fuch manoeuvres 
 a minifter may garble a Houfe of Commons till not a 
 lingle enemy of his own, or friend of his country, is 
 Heft here, and the reprefentation of the people in a 
 
 D *
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 great degree annihilated. Corruption had not lent 
 defpotiim wings to fly fo high in the reign of Charles 
 I, or the minifter of that day would have been con- 
 tented with expelling Hampden, and the four other 
 heroes, becaufe they had immediately been adjudged 
 incapable, and thereby incapacitated from thwarting in, 
 parliament the arbitrary meafures of a wicked court. 
 My expullion was an eafy victory over liberty and the 
 constitution. It went with wonderful expedition 
 through all the forms of this Houfe, for it was known 
 to be a meafure previouily adopted in the cabinet, 
 whofe members have through the * prefent reign fre- 
 quently dared to deliberate on the invafion of the 
 deareft rights of their country. 
 
 Upon all thcfe confiderations, fir, in order to quiet 
 the minds of the people, to reftore our violated con- 
 ilitution to its original purity, to vindicate the in- 
 jured rights of this county in particular, and of all the 
 electors of this kingdom, and that not the leaft trace 
 of the violence and injuftice of the laft parliament in 
 this important caufe may difgrace our records, I hum- 
 bly move, " that the refolution of this Houfe of the 
 " jyth of February 1769, that John Wilkes, Efquire, 
 
 * One of the firft acts of the prefent reign was to difmifs Mr. Legge, becaufe 
 1:<? had feme years before refufed to yield his intereft in Hampfhire to a Scotchman, 
 ^Sir Simtom Stuf rtj t recommended by Lord Bute. This was the reafon publickly 
 nifigned by his Lordfhip. Junius, vol. II. p. 35. 
 
 The tranfadlion, to which Junius alludes, is related at large in 3410 pamphlet 
 Compiled from original papers, intituled, Some Account uf the Charafttr of the late 
 K gbt Honourable Henry hilfon I tgge. 
 
 Mr. Legge received a verbal meffage from Lord Biite by MY. Martin [Samuel 
 M*rtin Efc/.~\ Dec. 12, 1 7 159, the purport of which wa?, as it ftands upon Mr. 
 Legge's paper, " that he fhc'.'Hi bid adieu to the County of Southampton at the, 
 " general eh-clion, and afiift, as far as lay in his power, the Prince of Wa.et'i [now 
 *' George the Thiru'r] tani'maficn of tzo* member t." p. 16. 
 
 Before the trJons were grown, fuch things were remarked, that every man of 
 rctiedlion dreaded the moment of maturity. 
 
 ( - f having
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 *' having been, in this feffion of Parliament, expelled tins 
 6( Houfe, WAS, and is, incapable of being elefted a Mem- 
 " her to ferve in the prtfent Parliament, be expunged 
 if from the Journals of this Houfe, as being fub- 
 " veriive of the rights of the whole body of electors 
 ft of this kingdom." 
 
 VOTES of March 29, 1775- 
 
 Ordered, That the order of the day for the fecond 
 reading of the Bill to incapacitate William Abraham, 
 James Anderfon, junior, &c. &c. from voting at elec- 
 tions for Members to ferve in Parliament, and for the 
 preventing bribery and corruption in the election of 
 Members to ferve in Parliament, for the Borough of 
 Hindon, in the county of Wilts, be now read. 
 
 Sir Cecil Wray, Member for Eaft Retford, gave no- 
 tice in a very fpirlted manner, that he would move the 
 .Committee to infert likewife in the Bill the names of 
 the Bribers, the Candidates themfelves. The Lord 
 Mayor, Mr. Wilkes, obferved, that the puniminent: 
 ought to extend farther as to all the parties, and men- 
 tioned a great defect in the Statute Law agamft Bribery 
 and Corruption ; that at prefent a perfon convicted of 
 bribery and corruption was indeed incapacitated from 
 voting for a Member of Parliament, but not from 
 becoming himfelf a part of the legiilative body, and 
 actually fitting in that Houfe. He added, that there 
 was at that time a * gentleman in a high and lu- 
 
 * The perfon alluded to is fuppofed to he Bamher Gafcoyne, Efq. Member for 
 Truro in Cornwall, now a Loi\l of Trade, who was profecuted to coaviftiou for 
 Bribery at a former eleftioii for Maiden in Effex, 
 
 P 4 crative
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 crative office under the Crown, beftowed upon him 
 imce he was perfonally convicted of bribery and cor- 
 ruption, who was admitted and acknowledged to be a 
 Member of the Houfe of Commons in this very Par- 
 liament. He appealed to the Minifter himfelf, who 
 was prefent, for the truth of the aflertion ; but no an- 
 fwer was given. He further remarked, that the mode 
 propofed by fome gentlemen, of profecuting the 
 electors of Hindon in a court of law, inftead of punifh- 
 ing them by the prefent Bill, would let half the guilty 
 efcape, even fuppofing a lawyer could be found public- 
 fpirited enough to undertake fo many and expenlive 
 caufes, under the known circumflance of the poverty 
 of the parties, and their inability to pay the penalties ; 
 for, as the law now ftands, any perfon guilty of bri- 
 bery and corruption, who informs againft another 
 equally guilty, faves himfelf, and acquires a perfonal 
 indemnity ; that this would certainly be the cafe of 
 the venal wretches at Hindon, and confequently 94 of 
 them might efcape the punifhment which all the. i8S 
 fo highly merited ; whereas the mode of a Bill in Par- 
 liament dealt out equal and exemplary punifhment to 
 all the guilty. 
 
 VOTES of October 26, 1775. 
 
 Refolved, That an humble Addrefs be prefented to 
 His Majefty, to return His Majefty the thanks of this 
 Houfe, for His mod gracious Speech from the 
 Throne. 
 
 To
 
 ( 4* ) 
 
 To aflure His Majefty, that we have long lamented 
 the condition of our unhappy fellow fubjects in Ame- 
 rica^ feduced from their allegiance by the groffeft mif- 
 reprefentations, and the moft wicked and infidious pre- 
 tences, &c. to declare, that His Majefty's faithful 
 Commons took a iincere part in His Majefty's paternal 
 detire, rather to reclaim, than to fubdue the moft re- 
 fractory of His Colonies, &c. the rebellious war now le- 
 vied is become more general, &c. that we thankfully 
 acknowledge the gracious confiderations, which in- 
 duced his Majefty to fend a part of His Electoral troops 
 to the garrifons of Gibraltar and Port Mahon, &c, 
 that we are bound in duty to return His Majefty our 
 particular thanksr for pointing out to us, from the 
 Throne, the conftitutional refource of our well-mo- 
 delled and well-regulated national Militia, &c. and to 
 Aflure His Majefty, that we hear with the higheft fa- 
 tisfaction the affectionate declaration of the Father of 
 bis People^ &c. &c. &c. 
 
 The Lord Mayor, Mr. Wiikes, faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I entirely agree with the honourable gentleman *, 
 \vho feconded the Motion for an Addrefs to his Ma- 
 jefty, that every man ought now to fpeak out ; and in a 
 moment fo important as the prefent to the whole em- 
 pire, I think it ill becomes the dignity and duty of 
 Parliament to lofe itfelf in fuch a fulfome adulatory 
 Addrefs to the throne as that now propofed. We 
 ought rather, fir, to approach our Sovereign with 
 found and wholefome advice, and even with remon- 
 
 * Governor Lyttelton, Member for Bewdley, now Lord Weftcote, a Lord of the 
 Treafury. 
 
 ftrances
 
 ft ranees againft the conduct of his minifters, who have 
 precipitated the nation into ^mmjujl, ruinous , felonious , 
 and murderous war. I call the war with our brethren 
 in America an unjuft, felonious war, becaufe the primary 
 caufe and confeffed origin of it is, to attempt to take 
 their money from them without their confent, con- 
 trary to the common rights of all mankind, and thofe 
 great fundamental principles of the Englifh conftitu- 
 tion, for which Hampaen bled. I affert, iir, that it 
 is in confequence a murderous war, becaufe it is an ef- 
 fort to deprive men of their lives for ftanding up in 
 the jufl caufe of the defence of their property, and 
 their clear rights. It becomes no lefs a murderous war, 
 with refpedt to many of our fellow-fubjects of this 
 ifland ; for every man, either of the navy or army, 
 who has been fent by government to America, and 
 fallen a victim in this unnatural and unjuft conteft, 
 has, in my opinion, been murdered by adminiftration, 
 ?ind his blood lies at their door. Such a war, I fear, 
 fir, will draw down the vengeance of heaven upon this 
 devoted kingdom. 
 
 I think this war, fir, fatal and ruinous to our coun- 
 try. It abfolutely annihilates the only great fource of 
 pur wealth, which we enjoyed unrivalled by other na- 
 tions * y and deprives us of the fruits of the laborious 
 
 induftry 
 
 * The Sneech of the LORD MAYOR, M>: JWh.<, from the Huttings at Guild- 
 hall, to the COMMON HALL, April 5, 1775. 
 
 Gentlemen of tbs Livery) 
 
 It would iil become me on this important day to take up rriuch of your time. 
 I very readily compiled with the requeft of feveral refpedlahle Citizens to call this 
 Common Hall, from every feeling of jufticeand hnrnanity to oiir persecuted brethrei} 
 in America^ and the, ital fonfequences I forefee of theiviolent proceedings now 
 carrying on, xvhich muft fo deeply affecT: the profperity, not i:nly of this, the firil 
 Opmmercial city in ths vv'orld, but likewile the whole kin^'.!prq. I \vill only, gen-: 
 
 tlemen,
 
 ( 4J } 
 
 fnduftry'of near three millions of fubjecU, which 
 rered here. "That commerce has already taken its 
 flight, and our American merchants are now deploring 
 the confequences of a wretched policy, which has been, 
 purfued to their destruction. It is, fir, no lefs ruinous 
 with regard to the enormous expence of the fleets and 
 armies necefifary for this nefarious undertaking, and 
 of confequence the enormous fupplies to be raifed *, 
 fo that we are wafting our prefent wealth, while we 
 are destroying the fources of all we might have in 
 future. An humane mind muft contemplate with 
 
 tlemen, beg leave to read to yon, from yarn- own records on this fubjecl, the words 
 of a petition from this Metropolis to both Houfes of Parliament, long before ti\s 
 prefent unhappy conteft between the Mother Country and ner American Caloaiet 
 began, fo long ago as the year 1739. 
 
 " The Citizens of London are too deeply interefted in whatever affe<5b the 
 f trade of this nation not to exprefs the utmoft anxiety for the welfare of that only 
 f fource of our riches. The petitioners apprehend, that the trade from thefe His 
 ." Majefty's kingdoms to His American Colonies, is of the u'mtft importance, and alms/I 
 f f the only profitable trade this nation wiv in/oys unrivalled by others." 
 
 If, Gentlemen, the trade to our American Cahnies near forty years ago was, accord- 
 ing to the declared opinion of this Metropolis, of fuch importance, the amazing en- 
 tries for feveral late years made in the books of the Cuftom-houfe, which are al- 
 moft daily before yur eye?, will befl demonftrate to what an immenfe magnitude 
 it is fince grown, and that fuch an objedl calls for our moft earneft, unwearied 
 attention and regard. Whatever yoxir determinations may be, you may be affured 
 of the hearty concurrence of your Chief Magistrate. 
 
 * In the Speech from the Throne on the fame day His Majefty declared, 
 ," among the many unavoidable ill confequences of this Rebell'tor, none ajfefls m 
 " more fenfibly than the extraordinaiy burthen which it muft create to my faithful 
 " Hibjecls." This paffage is a clear demonftration, that the Speech from the 
 Throne muft be conndered as the Speech of the Minifter, not rf the Sovereign. 
 The Minifler, who controls the finances of a ftate, would naturally dwell on the 
 great expence of a rebellious war; but a good and humane King, who loved his 
 people, would be more fenfik.'y affixed by the idea of the cruel effufion of the blood, 
 and the lofs of the lives, of many thowfands of his fubjects. 
 
 En 1744, Menin eft attaque par les Franjois. On dit a I.ouis XV qu'en 
 brufquant une attaque qui coutera quelques hommes, 0:1 fera quatre jours plut6t 
 dans la ville. " Eh bien," dit le Roi, " prenons-la quatre jours plus taix'. ; 
 f j'airae mieux perdre quatre jours devant iuie place, qu'un feul de mes fajets." 
 
 Journal de LOTUS XV. 
 
 agony
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 agony the dreadful calamities and convulfions, which 
 are the confequence of every civil war, and efpecially 
 a civil war of this magnitude and extent. 
 
 I fpeak, fir, as a firm friend to England and Ame- 
 rica, but ftill more to univerfal liberty, and the rights 
 of all mankind. I truft no part of the fubjects of this 
 vaft empire will ever fubmit to be Haves, I am fure 
 the Americans are too high-fpirited to brook the idea. 
 Your whole power, and that of your allies, if you had 
 any, even of all the German troops, of all the ruffians 
 from the North, whom you can hire, cannot effect 
 fo wicked a purpofe. The conduct of the prefent ad- 
 miniftration has already wrefted the fceptre of America 
 put of th*' hands of our Sovereign, and he has now 
 fcarcely even a poftmafter left in that whole northern 
 continent. More than half the empire is already loft, 
 and almoft all the reft in confufion and anarchy. The 
 miniftry have brought our Sovereign into a more dif- 
 graceful iituation than any crowned heacj now living. 
 He alone has already loft, by their fatal counfels, 
 more territory than the three great united powers of 
 Kuffia, Auftria, and Pruffia, have together by a wicked 
 confederacy robbed Poland of, and by equal acts of 
 violence and injuftice from adminiftration. 
 
 England was never engaged in a conteft of fuch im- 
 portance to our rnoft valuable concerns and pofTeflions. 
 We are righting for the fubje&ion, the unconditional 
 fubmilfion, of a country infinitely more extended than 
 our own, of which every day increafes the wealth, the 
 natural ftrengch, the population. Should we not fuc- 
 ceed, it will be a lofs never enough to be deplored, a 
 bofom friendlhip foured to hate and refentment. We 
 fliall be coniidered as their moft implacable enemies, 
 
 an
 
 45 ) 
 
 art eternal feparation will follow, and the grandeur o 
 the Britifh empire pafs away. Succefs, final fuccefs, 
 feems to me not equivocal, not uncertain, but impof 
 fible. However we may difier among ourfelves, they 
 are perfectly united. On this fide the Atlantic party- 
 rage unhappily divides us, but one foul animates the 
 vaft northern continent of America, the general con- 
 grefs, and each provincial afTembly. An appeal has 
 been made to the fword ; and at the clofe of the laft 
 campaign what have we conquered ? Bunker's Hill 
 only, and with the lofs of 1 200 men. Are we to pay 
 as dearly for the reft of America ? The idea of the 
 conqueft of that immenfe continent is as romantic as 
 unjuft. 
 
 The honourable gentleman *, who moved the Ad- 
 drefs, fays, " the Americans have been treated with 
 " lenity." Will facts juftify the aflertion ? Was your 
 Bofton port Bill a meafure of lenity ? Was yaw fijbety. 
 Bill a meafure of lenity ? Was your Bill/or taking away 
 the charter of the MaJJachufet's Bay a meafure of lenity, 
 or even juftice ? I omit your many other grofs provo- 
 cations and infults, by which the brave Americans 
 have been driven into their prefent ftate. He afferts 
 that they avow a difpofition to be independent. On 
 the contrary, fir, all the declarations, both of the late 
 and the prefent congrefs -f-, uniformly tend to this one 
 object, of being put on the fame footing the Americans 
 were in the year 1763 J. This has been their only de- 
 mand, 
 
 * John Dyke Acland, Efq. Member for Callington, in Cornwall. 
 
 f The firft Congrefs was held Sept. 5, 1774, at Philadelphia. The fecond 
 May 10, 1775, 
 
 | Quelt. What was the temper of America towards Q reat Britain kfm tbe 
 ysar 1763 ? 
 
 Anfw-
 
 C 4 )' 
 
 filand, from which they have never varied. Their 
 daily prayers and petitions are for liberty, peace, and 
 fafety. I ufe the words of the Congrefs the laft year* 
 Theyjuftly expect to be put on an equal footing with 
 the other fubjefts of the empire, and are willing to 
 come into any fair agreement with you in commercial 
 concerns. If you confine all our trade to yourfelves, 
 fay they ; if you make a monopoly of our commerce j 
 if you fhut all the other ports cf the world againft us, 
 do not tax us likewife. If you tax us, then give us a 
 free trade, fuch as >ou enjoy yourfelves. Let us have 
 equal advantages of commerce, all other ports open to 
 us ; then we can, and will, chearfully, voluntarily pay 
 taxes. You will have a free-will offering given with 
 pleafure, not grudgingly. 
 
 It muft give, fir, every man who loves this country, 
 the deepeft concern at the naming in the Addrefs 
 foreign troops, Hanoverians and Heffians, who are noav 
 called to interfere in our domeflic quarrels, not to dwell 
 this day on the illegality of the meafure, the danger" 
 and diigrace attending foreign mercenaries. The militia, 
 indeed, are we are told to be now employed, and that 
 noble infdtution is at prefent complimented by minif- 
 ters, but we know they hate the very name of a militia t 
 and that meafure is adopted only becaufe the embody- 
 
 Anfw. The heft in the world. They ftibmitted willingly to the government of 
 the Crown, anil p:tid, in all their courts, obedience to Aifts of Parliament. Nu- 
 merous as the people are in the feveral old provinces, they coft you nothing in 
 forts, citadels, ^arrifons, or armies, to keep them in fubjcc'tion. They were g<H 
 verned by this country at the exper*.ce only of a little pen, ink, and paper. They 
 were led by a thread. They had not only a refpecl, but a:i affection for Great 
 Britain, for it: laxvs, its cuftoms, and manners, and even a fondnefs for its falhion-^ 
 that greatly increafed the commerce. Natives of Britain were always treated with 
 particular regard ; to be an Olii-Ergland-mari, was, of itfelf, a character of fome 
 refpect, and gave a kind of rank amoug us. Dr. Franklin's Examination, p.. 1 1 1. 
 
 ing
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 ing of thofe forces enables adminiftration to butcher 
 more of our fellow-fubjedts in America. 
 
 Sir, I difapprove not only the evil fpirit of the whole 
 Andrefs, but likewife the wretched adulation of almoft 
 every part of it. My wifh and hope therefore is, that 
 it will be rejected by the Houfe ; and that another du- 
 tiful, yet decent, and manly, Addrefs will be prefented 
 to the King, praying his Majefty to Iheathe the fword, 
 prevent the farther effufion of the blood of our fellow- 
 fiibjects, adopt fome mode of negotiation with the ge- 
 neral congrefs, in compliance with their repeated peti- 
 tions, and thereby reftore peace and harmony to this dif- 
 traded empire. 
 
 VOTES of Novemder 27, 1775. 
 
 A Motion was made, and the Queftion being propofed 
 (f That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Ma-' 
 " jefty, humbly requefting, that his Majefty would 
 " be gracioufly pleafed to impart to this Houfe, who- 
 " were the original authors and advifers to his Ma- 
 " jefty of the following meafures, before they were' 
 " propofed in Parliament for taxing America, 
 f< without the confent of its Afiemblies, for the pur-' 
 " pofe of a Revenue, &c. &c." 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The Addrefs to his Majefty, which * the honourable 
 gentleman has moved this day, is fo eflentially differeot 
 
 * Mr. Alderman Oliver, Member for London. 
 
 from
 
 C 48 ) 
 
 from all other late addreffes to the throne, that I own 
 it meets with my hearty concurrence. I think it, fir, 
 cf the utmoft confequence to know the original authors 
 and advifers of this unjuft, pernicious, and calamitous 
 war, which has already deluged with blood a part of 
 America, and fpread horror and devaflation through 
 that whole northern continent. When fo many pro- 
 vinces of the empire are already loft, and the reft ac- 
 tually engaged in a cruel, civil war, we ought not to 
 fit down in a criminal fupinenefs. It becomes our duty, 
 as the grand inqueft of the nation, to find out and pu- 
 nim the delinquents, by whofe fatal counfels fuch evils 
 have been brought upon this convulfed and almoft 
 ruined ftate. We owe it to the people at large; and 
 feveral of us have it in exprefs charge from our con- 
 ftituents. 
 
 We are, I fear, fir, on the eve of an eternal, political 
 feparation from the weftern world, unlefs a very fpeedy 
 reconciliation ihould take place. If the prefent mo- 
 tion happily meets with fuccefs, I am fure it will do 
 more towards a fincere, lafting, and hearty union with 
 America, than all the captious and fallacious propofals 
 of adminiftration. The Americans will then believe 
 we indeed defire a reconciliation with them, and they 
 will at length begin to have confidence in our counfels, 
 when they fee the vengeance of Parliament fall on the 
 authors of our common calamities. The principles of 
 violence and injuftice, which have hitherto prevailed, 
 they will fee, if the Houfe is really in earneft to treat, 
 yield to equity and moderation ; a negociation on fair, 
 equal, and juft terms, may enfue, and a general tran- 
 quillity be re-eftablifhed in an empire, which is now 
 lhaken to its very foundation. 
 
 I really
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 I really think, fir, this is almort the only method 
 how left of extricating ourfelves with honour and dig- 
 nity from our j.refent alarming difficulties. You have 
 Voted fleets and armies, and your forces figure greatly 
 5n the papers of the Secretary at War, and in the ex- 
 penfive eftimates on your table. But the minuter 
 knows very well they are riot equal to the mad projeft 
 of fubjugating the vaft continent of America, nor do I 
 believe the whole ftrength of this kingdom adequate to 
 fuch an attempt. After a very bloody campaign you 
 have conquered only one bill of lefs than a mile's cir- 
 cumference, for you were fuffered to land as friends in 
 the only fea-port town of any confequence which you 
 poflefs. Would the noble * lord, whom his Majefly 
 has lately raifed to one of the higheft civil offices, if 
 he were fent on a military fervice, would he venture; 
 even at the head of the whole Briiijh cavalry, to ad- 
 vance ten miles into the country ? He would not, I am' 
 perluaded, be fo rafli, nor do I think his fpirit quite 
 
 * Lord George Sa:kvil!<: Gerriiaine, one of His Majefty's Principal Secretaries of 
 State [fir Amtrka}. 
 
 From the London Gazette of April 16, 1760. 
 
 This Cov.rt [a Central Cwrt-lMartiaf],npon the confiderntion of the whole matter* 
 before them, is of opinion, That Lord George Sackvllle is guilty of having d'ftbcjtJths 
 orders of Prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick, whom he was by his Commillicm and In- 
 fl ructions diretecl to obey, as Commander in Chief, according to the rules of war f 
 and it is the further opinion of this Court, that the fai'd LW George Sa:kville is, 
 rid he ^is hereby adjudged, unfit to Jcrvc His Majtjly in any MILITARY cafadtj 
 "Htbjiiver. 
 
 From the London Gazette of Nov. u, 1775- 
 
 His Majefty having pleafed to appoint the Right Honourable Lord Getrgt Sack- 
 viile Germaine to be One of Ris MajeAy's Principal Secretaries of State, his Lord- 
 ftiip WAS this day, by His Majefty's conimaiul, fwom oae of His Majdty's PrLi- 
 cipal Secretaries of State accorilingly. 
 
 E daring
 
 daring enough to make the .attempt. And is any mi- 
 nifter weak enough to flattter himfelf with the conqueil 
 of all North America ? The Americans will difpute 
 every inch of territory with you, every narrow pafs, 
 every ftrong defile, every 'Thermopylae, every Bunkers 
 Hi/1. A train of moft unfortunate events will probably 
 enfue, and the power of recruiting, perhaps fubfifting, 
 your weakened forces, at fuch a diftance, be loft. After, 
 an unavailing ft niggle of a very few years, when the 
 ruined merchant and manufacturer befiege your doors, 
 you will perhaps think of naming ambaffadors to the 
 general congrefs, inftead of the wild and expenfive jobb 
 and farce now in contemplation, of thirty commiffi- 
 oners, with a falary of four thoufand pounds each, to 
 cry Peace, ivben there is no Peace. 
 
 Yet, fir, I think Peace abfolutely neceflary between 
 Great Britain and America, and therefore I approve 
 the prefent motion, as holding out the olive branch. 
 The Americans are rapidly incrcafmg in population, 
 and in the knowledge of all the ufeful arts of life. 
 Alas! iir, thej are not ignorant even in the fafhionable 
 art of murdering our own fpecies. The late worthy 
 governor of Pennfylvania * declared at the bar of the 
 other Houfe, that that province now grew more corn 
 than was fufficient for the fupply of its inhabitants ; 
 that they exported conliderably every year; that they 
 perfectly understood the art of making gunpowder, and 
 had effected it; that they had eftablifhed feveral works 
 to procure faltpetre; that they had the materials and 
 means in great plenty of cafting iron cannon; that, the 
 art of calling both brafs and iron cannon, as well as of 
 fabricating fmall arms, had been carried to great per* 
 
 * Richard Penn, Efq; was examined beforethe Houfe of Lords, Nov. 10, 1775. ' 
 
 ' fedtion ;
 
 fedHon; and that they were expert in fhip-building i>e- 
 jrond the Europeans. He declared likewife, that (ingle 
 province had actually enrolled 20,000 men in arms, 
 embodied, but not in pay, and had 4000 minute men 
 ready on the firft notice of any danger.- The authentic 
 accounts of the preparations for the forming, training, 
 and difciplining troops in the Maflachufets Bay and ifi 
 Virginia are equally formidable, nor are they inconfi- 
 derable in the other united provinces* Every idea of 
 force therefore on our fide muft appear infatuation. 
 
 All wife legiilators, fir, have calculated the flrength 
 of a nation from the number of its inhabitants, the la- 
 borious, flrcng, and active. The population in molt 
 parts of America is doubled in the courfe of nineteen 
 or twenty years ; while that of this ifland is known ra- 
 ther to have decreafed iince the year 1692. The emi- 
 grations of late from the three kingdoms have been 
 amazing and alarming. Our own people have fled in 
 multitudes from a government, under which they 
 ftarved. It appears from the niceft calculations, that 
 many more of our fellow-fubjects have voluntarily left 
 this kingdom for America never to return than I 
 believe adminiftration has hitherto fent in their pay 
 both of fleets and armies never to return in any 
 confiderable proportion I n^an of the force fent. The 
 Americans, fir, are a pious and religious people. With 
 much ardour and fuccefs they follow the firft great 
 command of Heaven, Be fruitful, and multiply. While 
 they are fervent in thefe devout exercifes, while the 
 men continue enterprifing and healthy, the women 
 kind and prolific^ all your attempts to fubdue them by 
 force will be ridiculous and unavailing, will be regarded 
 by them with fcorn and abhorrence. They are daily 
 
 2 ftrength-
 
 flrengthening ; and if you lofe the prefent moment of 
 reconciliation, to which this motion tends, you lofe alL 
 America may now be reclaimed or regained, but cannot 
 be fubdued. 
 
 Gentlemen, fir, do not feem to have confidered the 
 aftonifhing difadvantages, under which we engage in 
 this contefl againft the combined powers of America, 
 not only from the diftance and natural ftr>ength of the 
 country, but the peculiar and fortunate circu-mftances. 
 of a young, rifing empire. The Congrefs^fir, have not 
 the monftrous load of a debt of above one hundred and 
 forty millions, like our Parliament, to ftruggle with, 
 the very interefl of which would fwallow up all their 
 taxes ! nor a numerous and hungry band of ufelefs- 
 placemen and peniioners to provide for; nor has luxury 
 yet enervated their minds or bodies.. Every Ihilling; 
 which they raife will go to the man who fights the 
 battles of his country. They fet out like a young heir 
 with a noble landed eftate, unincumbered with enor- 
 mous family debts ; while we appear the poor, old, 
 feeble, exhaufted, and ruined parent, but exhaufted 1 
 and ruined by our own wickednefs, prodigality, and 
 profligacy. 
 
 Sir, I daily hear the Americans, who glow with a. 
 divine zeal for liberty in all its branches, mifrepre- 
 fented in this Houfe, and the oftenfible minifter is dili- 
 gent in propagating the moil \injuft calumnies againflr 
 them. The noble lord with the blue ribband told us y 
 t\\e liberty of the prefs was loft throughout America Trig- 
 Boble lord deceives us in this, as in many other things. 
 From experience we know that his intelligence can- 
 never be relied upon. The liberty of the prefs, the 
 bulwark of all our liberties., is loft only in Bofton, for 
 
 his
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 Ms lordihip's minifterial troops govern there only. The 
 prefs is free at Water-Town, but feven miles diftant 
 from Bofton, at Philadelphia, Newport, Williamf- 
 burgh, and in the reft of North America. I will give 
 the Houfe the demonftration. General Gage's fooliih 
 and contemptible proclamation againft Samuel Adams 
 and John Hancock, two worthy gentlemen, and, I dare 
 to add, true patriots, even that proclamation, declar- 
 ing them rebels and traitors, while the generals Wafli- 
 ington, Putnam and Lee, with all the naval comman- 
 ders inarms, were unnoticed by him, appears reprinted 
 in all the American papers. His letters likewife to 
 Governor Turnbul! and others, in which he mod heroi- 
 cally apologized for his inert conduclr, as neceffaryfof 
 the protection of the army the protection of an army! 
 and of an army, which we were taught to believe would 
 look all oppofition into fubjection, awe the factious, and 
 give fecurity to the well affected thefe letters too were 
 all faithfully copied. I believe all the curious, futile 
 orders he has iffued, all his unmeaning declarations and 
 proclamations, will be found as exadt in the Pennfyl- 
 vania,. Water- Town, and other American news-papers, 
 as in the Gazette, publiihed by his authority at Bof- 
 lon, which in other refpects is as partial and falfe as 
 that of the American Secretary publiihed by authority 
 in this capital. 
 
 The * honourable gentleman, fir, who fpoke laft, 
 fays, the " prefent addrefs is trifling, for we already 
 " know the author and advifer of all the late meafnres 
 " againft America; that the noble lord with the blue 
 *' ribband will avow them, and has done it.'* I wiih to 
 hear fuch a declaration. Will the noble lord avow 
 
 * Anthony Storer, Efq; Member for Carlifle. 
 
 E 3 himfelf
 
 fjimfelf the advlfer of only one of the late flagitious 
 meafures, that of eftabliihing Popery and defpotic, 
 power in Canada ? The father of that monftrous birth 
 I thought had prudently hitherto chofen to remain con- 
 cealed. He likev/ife tells ys, tf the motion now before 
 " us is coupled with nothing, and leads to nothing." I 
 \yill tell him what it ought to lead to, what it ought to 
 be coupled with f \ mean an impeachment, fir, which I 
 t;ruft will follow, as the next motion of the honourable 
 gentleman, who fpoke firft in this debate. Whoever 
 <did advife the meafures lately purfued, wjiich have loft 
 half our empire, I confider as a criminal of fo deep a 
 dye, that his head would be a juft facrifice to the ho- 
 nour of England and the peace of America. The word 
 impeachment, I hope, will always ftrike terror to the ear 
 and heart of a wicked and arbitrary minifter, and that 
 the npbleft and moft important prerogative of this free 
 people, fecured to us by pur great deliverer, king Wil- 
 jiam JII, in the " A& for the further limitation of the 
 .". crown, and better fepuring the rights and liberties of 
 " the fubjeft," will ftiortly have its full efFedt, " that 
 " no pardon under the great feal of England be plead- 
 f i able to an impeachment by the Commons in Parlia? 
 f ment." 
 
 VOTES of March 21, 1776, 
 
 A Mption was n)a4e, and the Queftionwas put " That 
 K leave be given to bring in a Bill, for a juft and 
 
 " equaj
 
 (e equal Reprefcntation of the People of England in 
 - " Parliament." 
 
 Mr. mikes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 ' All wife governments, and well-regulated ftates, have 
 been particularly careful to mark and correct the va- 
 rious abufes^ which a confiderable length of time al- 
 mofl necelfarily creates. Among thefe, one of the moft 
 ttriking and important in our country is, the prefent 
 unfair and inadequate ftate of the reprefentation of the 
 people of England in Parliament. It is now become, 
 fo partial and unequal from the lapfe of time, that I 
 believe almoft every gentleman in the Houfe will agree 
 with me in the neceflity of its being taken into our 
 moft ferious -confideratioh, and of our endeavouring to 
 find a remedy for this great and growing evil. 
 
 I wifh, lir, my flender abilities were equal to a tho- 
 rough inveftigation of this momentous bufmefs. Very 
 diligent and well-meant endeavours have not been want- 
 ing to trace it from the firft origin. The moft natural 
 and perfect idea of a free government is, in my mind, 
 that of the people themfelves aflembling to determine 
 by what laws they chufe to be governed, and to efta- 
 blifli the regulations they think neceflary for the pro- 
 tection of their property and liberty againft all vio- 
 lence and fraud. Every member of fuch a community 
 would fubmit with alacrity to the obfervance of what 
 had been enacted by himfelf, and affift with fpirit in 
 giving efficacy and vigour to laws and ordinances, 
 which derived all their authority from his own appro- 
 bation and concurrence. In fmall inconfiderable ftates, 
 
 E 4 this
 
 C 56 ) 
 
 this mode of legislation has been happily followed, 
 both by ancient and modem times. The extent and 
 populoufnefs of a great empire feems fcarcely to ad- 
 mit it without confuiion or tumult; and therefore our 
 ancejftors, more wife in this than the ancient Romans, 
 adapted the reprefentation of the many by a/kt>, as an- 
 fwering more fully the true ends of government, 
 Rome was enflaved from inattention to this very cir~ 
 cumftance, and by one other fatal aft, which ought to 
 be a flrong warning to the people, even againft their 
 own reprefentatives, the leaving power too long in the; 
 Jiands of the fame perfons, by which the armies of the 
 republic became the armies of Sylla, Pompey and Cse- 
 far. When all the burghers of Italy obtained the free- 
 dom of Rome, and voted in public aflembU^s, their 
 multitudes rendered the diftinction of the citizen of 
 Rome and the alien impoflible. Their affemblies an4 
 deliberations became djforderly and tumultuous. Urn 
 principled and ambitious men found out the fecret of 
 turning them to the ruin of the Roman liberty an4 
 common-wealth. Among us this evil is avoided by 
 reprefentation, and yet the juftice of the principle is pre- 
 fer ved. Every Englifhman is fuppofed to be prefent 
 in Parliament, either in perfon, or by a deputy chofea 
 by himfelf, and therefore the refolution of Parliament 
 js taken to be the refolution of every individual, and 
 to give tp the public the confent and approbation of 
 every free agent of the community. 
 
 According to the firft formation of this excellent 
 conftitution, fo long and fo juitly our greateft boaft and 
 JDeft inheritance, vve find that the people thus took care 
 no laws ihould be enacted, no taxes levied, but by their 
 confint., expreffed by their reprefentatives in the great; 
 
 councij
 
 ( 57 ) 
 
 council of the nation. The mode of reprefentation in 
 ancient times being tolerably adequate and proporti- 
 onate, the fenfe of the people was known by that of Par- 
 liament, their fhare of power in the legiilature being 
 preserved, and founded in equal: juftice. At prefent it 
 is become infufficieat, partial, and unjuft. 
 
 From fo pleafmg a view as that of the equal power, 
 which our anceftors had, with great wifdom ant] care, 
 modelled for the commons of this realm, the prefent 
 fcene gives us not very venerable ruins of that majeflic 
 and beautiful fabric, the Englifh conftitution. As the 
 whole feems in diforder and confufion, all the former 
 union and harmony of the parts are loft or deftroyed. 
 It appears, fir, from the writs remaining in the King's 
 remembrancer's office in the exchequer, that no lefs 
 than 22 towns fent members to the Parliament in the 
 23d, 25th, arid 26th, of Edward I. which have long 
 /ceafed to be reprefented. The names, of fome of them 
 are fcarcely known, to us, fuch as tliofe of Canebrig 
 and Bamburg in Northumberland, Perfhore and Brem 
 in Worcefterlhire, Jarvall and Tykhull in Yorkftiire. 
 What a happy fate, fir, has attended the boroughs of 
 Gatton am} Old Sarum, of which, although ipf# periere 
 ruinse, the names are familiar to us, the clerk regu- 
 larly calls them over, and four, refpecfcable gentlemen 
 reprefent their departed greatnefs, as the knights at a- 
 jporonation reprefent Aquitaine and Normandy?. The 
 little town of Banbury, petite- ville, grand renom, as 
 Rabelais fays of Chinon, has, I believe, only 17 elec- 
 tors, yet gives us in its reprefentative *, what is of the 
 utmoft importance to the majority here, a firft Lord of 
 the treafury, and a Chancellor of the exchequer. Its 
 
 * Lord North is Member for Banbury, 
 
 influence
 
 ( 58 ) 
 
 influence and weight on a divifion, I have often feen 
 overpower the united force of the members for London, 
 Briftol, and feveral of the moft populous counties. Eaft- 
 Grinftead too, I think, has only about 30 electors, yet 
 gives a feat among us to that * brave, heroic lord at 
 the head of a great civil department, now very military, 
 who has fully determined -J- to conquer America but not 
 in Germany. It is not, fir, my purpofe to weary the 
 patience of the Houfe by the refearches of an antiqua- 
 ry into the ancient flate of our reprefentation, and its 
 variations at different periods. I lhall only remark 
 ihortly on what paffed in the reign of Henry VI. and 
 ibme of his fuceeffors. In that reign, Sir John For- 
 tefcue, his chancellor, obferved that the Houfe of Com- 
 mons confifled of more than 300 chofen men; various 
 alterations were made by fucceeding Kings till James II. 
 No change has happened fince that period. Great 
 abufes, it muft be owned, contrary to the primary ideas 
 of the Englifh conftitution, were committed by our for- 
 mer princes, in giving the right of reprefentation to 
 feveral paltry boroughs, becaufe the places were poor, 
 and dependent on them, or on a favourite overgrown 
 peer. The land-marks of the conftitution have often 
 been removed. The marked partiality for Cornwall, 
 which fmgle county ftill fends, within one, as many 
 members as the whole kingdom of Scotland, is ftrik- 
 ing. It arofe from yielding to the crown in tin and 
 lands a larger hereditary revenue than any other En- 
 glifh county, as well as from the duchy being in the 
 crown, and giving an amazing command and influence. 
 
 * Lord George Germaine is Member for Eaft Grinftead. 
 
 f- This feems to allude to the celebrated Expreffion of Mr. Pitt in the Houfe of 
 Commons, that be had conjucrtd Amtr'ua in Germany. . . 
 
 By
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 By fuch abufes of our princes the conftitution was 
 wounded in its moft vital part. Henry VIII. reftored 
 two members, Edward VL twenty, Queen Mary four, 
 Queen Elizabeth twelve, James I. fifteen, Charles I. 
 eighteen, in all feventy-two. The alterations by crea- 
 tion in the fame period were more confiderable, for 
 Henry VIII. created thirty-three, Edward VI. twenty- 
 <?ight, Queen Mary feventeen, Queen Elizabeth forty- 
 eight, JaniS I. eleven; in all 173. Charles I. made 
 no new creation of this kind. Charles II. added two 
 for the county, and two for the city, of Durham, and 
 two fpr Newark on Trent. This Houfe is at this hour 
 compofed of the fame reprefentation it was at his de- 
 mife, notwithflanding the many and important changes 
 which have fince happened. It becomes us therefore 
 to enquire, whether the fenfe of Parliament can be now, 
 on folid grounds, from the prefent reprefentation, faid 
 to be the fenfe of the nation, as in the time of our fore- 
 fathers. J am fatisfied, fir, the fentiments of the peo- 
 ple cannot be jyftly known at this time from the refo- 
 lutions of a Parliament, compofed as the prefent is, even 
 though no undue influence was pracYifed after the re- 
 turn of the members to the Houfe, even fuppofing 
 for a moment the influence of all the baneful arts of 
 corruption to be fufpended, which, for a moment, I be- 
 lieve, they have not been, under the prefent profligate 
 adminiftration. Let us examine, fir, with exa&nefs 
 and candour, if the * reprefentation is fair and per- 
 
 * The reprefentntion mufl be complete. No ftate, a fan of which only is repre- 
 fented in the legiflatnre that governs it, is felf governed. Had Scotland no repre- 
 fentatives in the Parliament of Britain, it would not be free; nor would it be 
 proper to call Britain free, though Enghnd, its other part, were adequately 
 reprefented. The like is true, in general, of every country fubjecT: to a legislature 
 in which fvmt of its parts, or fome clalles of men in it, are reprefented, and others 
 iwt. Dr. Price's Additional Obfervations on Civil Liberty, pa^e 6. 
 
 feel;
 
 ( 60 ) 
 
 feft ; let us confider of what the efficient parts of this 
 Houfe are compofed, and what proportion they bear, 
 on the large fcale, to the body of the people of En- 
 gland, who are fuppofed to be reprefented. 
 
 The fouthern part of this iiland, to which I now 
 confine my ideas, confifts of about five millions of 
 people, according to the moft received calculation. 
 I will ftate by what numbers the majority of this Houfe 
 is elected, and I fuppofe the largeft number prefent of 
 any recorded in our journals, which was in the famous 
 year 1741. In that year the three largeft divifions ap- 
 pear on our journals. The firft is that of the 2 1 ft of 
 January, when the numbers were 253 to 250 ; the 
 fecond on the 28th of the fame month, 236 to 235 ; 
 the third on the pth of March, 244 to 243. In thefe 
 divifions the members for Scotland are included ; but 
 I will ftate my calculations only for England, becaufe 
 it gives the argument more force, The divifion there- 
 fore, I adopt, is that of January 21. The number of 
 members prefent on that day were 503. Let me v 
 however, fuppofe the number of 254 to be the ma- 
 jority of members, who will ever be able to attend in 
 their places. I ftate it high, from the accidents of 
 iicknefs, fervice in foreign parts, travelling and ne* 
 ceflary avocations. From the majority of electors 
 only in the boroughs, which return members to this 
 Houfe, it has been demonftrated, that this number of 
 254 iseleded by no more than 5723 perfons, generally 
 the inhabitants of Cornifh, ^and other very iniignificant 
 boroughs, perhaps by not the moft refpedtable part of 
 the community. Is our Sovereign then to learn the 
 fenfe of 'his whole people from thefe few perfons? 
 Are thefe tb + e x men to give laws to this valt empire, and 
 
 to
 
 ( 6. ) 
 
 to tax this wealthy nation ? I do not mention all the 
 tedious calculations, becaufe gentlemen may find 
 them at length in the works of the incomparable Dr. 
 Priae, in Poftlethwaite, and in Burgh's Political di-f- 
 quiiitions. Figures afford the cleareft demonftration, 
 incapable of cavil or fophiftry. Since Burgh's calcu- 
 lations only one alteration has happened. I allude to 
 the borough of Shoreham in SufTex. By the act of 
 1771, all the freeholders of forty Shillings per annum 
 in the neigbouring rape or hundred of Bramber are 
 admitted to vote for that borough ; but many of the 
 old electors were disfranchifed. It appears likewife, 
 that 56 of our members are elected by only 364 per- 
 fons. Lord chancellor Talbot fuppofed that the ma- 
 jority of this Houfewas elected by 56000 perfons, and 
 he exclaimed againft the injuftice of that idea. More 
 accurate calculations than his Lordfhip*s, and the un- 
 erring rules of political arithmetic, have fhewn the in- 
 juftice to be vaftly beyond what his Lordftiip even 
 fufpected. 
 
 When we confider, fir, that die mod important 
 powers of this Houfe, the levying taxes on, and enact- 
 ing laws for, five millions of perfons, is thus ufurped 
 and unconflitutionally exercifed by the fmall number 
 I have mentioned, it becomes our duty to reftore to 
 the people their clear, rights, their original fhare in 
 the legiilature. The ancient reprefentation of this 
 kingdom,, we find, was founded by our anceftors injuf- 
 tice, wifdom, and equality. The prefent ftate of it 
 would be continued by us in folly, obftinacy, and in- 
 juftice* 
 
 This evil has been complained of by Tome of the 
 wifeft patriots our country has produced. I lhall beg 
 
 leave
 
 ( 5 
 
 leave to give that clofe reafoner Mr. Locke's icfefif irt 
 his own words. He fays, in the treatife on civil go- 
 vernment, " Things not always changing equally ^ 
 " and private interefl often keeping up ctiftoms and 
 " privileges, when the reafons of them are ceafed, ic 
 (f often comes to pafs, that in governments, where 
 " part of the legiflative conlifts of reprefentatives 
 " chofen by the people, that in tracl: of time this re 
 " prefentation becomes very unequal and dtfpuppor* 
 " tionate to the reafons it was at firft eftablifhed upon,- 
 " To what a;rofs abfurdities the following of a cuftom* 
 
 O O ' 
 
 e( when reafon has left it, may lead, we may be fatis- 
 " ned, when we fee the bare name of a town, of which 
 " there remains not fo much as the ruins, where 
 " fcarce fo much houling as a iheep-cote, or more in- 
 *' habitants than a fhepherd, is to be found, fends as 
 " many reprefentarives to the grand afiembly of lavv- 
 fl makers, as a whole county, numerous in people, 
 <c and powerful in riches. This Grangers ftand amazed 
 " at, and every one muft confefs needs a remedy," 
 After fo great an authority a"s that of Mr. Locke, I 
 ihall not be treated on this occafion as a mere vifionary ; 
 and the propriety of the motion I Ihall have the ho- 
 nour of fubmitting to the houfe, will fcarcely be dif- 
 puted. Even the members for fuch places as Old 
 Sarum, and Gatton, who, I may venture to fay at pre- 
 fent ft ant nominis umbra, will, I am perfuaded, have 
 too much candour to complain of the right of their 
 few conftituents, if indeed they have conftituents, if 
 they are not felf-created, felf-elefted, felf-exi'ftent:, of 
 this pretended right being transferred to the county, 
 while the rich and populous manufacturing towns of 
 $irmincrharn ? Manchefter, Leeds, Sheffield, and others, 
 
 may
 
 may have at leaft an equitable (hare in the formation 
 of thofe laws by which they are governed. My idea,* 
 fir, in this cafe, as to the wretched and depopulated 
 towns and boroughs in general, I freely own, is am- 
 putation. I fay with Horace, Inutilss ramos ampufans, 
 feliciores inferit. , 
 
 This is not, fir, the firft attempt of the kind to cor- 
 rect, although in an inconiiderable degree, this grow- 
 ing evil. Proceedings of a fimilar nature were had 
 among us above a century paft. The clerk will read 
 from our journals what palled on the 26th of March, 
 1668, on a bill to enable the county palatine of Dur- 
 ham to fend two knights for the county, and two ci- 
 tizens for the city of Durham. [The clerk reads.~\ In 
 a book of authority, Anchitell Grey's Debates, we 
 have a more particular account of what paffed in the 
 houfe on that occafion. He fays that, " Sir Thomas 
 f( Meres moved, that the fliires may have an increafe 
 66 of knights, and that fome of the fmall boroughs, 
 (( where there are but few electors, may be taken 
 " away, and a bill for that purpofe." We find after- 
 wards, " on a divifion, the bill was rejected, 65 to 
 50." This divifion, however, alludes only to the 
 bill then before the houfe, refpecting the county and 
 eity of Durham. I defire to add the few remarkable 
 words of Sir Thomas Strickland in this debate, becaufe 
 I have not feen them quoted on the late important 
 American queftions. " The county palatine of Durham 
 was never taxed in Parliament by ancient privilege before 
 King James's time, andfo needed no reprefentatives ; but 
 now being taxed, it is but reafonable they JJjou/d have" 
 Such fentiments, fir, were promulgated in this houfe 
 f yen fo long ago as the reign of Charles II. 
 
 J am
 
 ( 64 ) 
 
 t art! aware, fir, that the power, dejure*, ofthtf 
 legiflature to disfranchife a number of boroughs, uporf 
 
 the 
 
 * Junius, in a letter to Mr. Wilkes, dated Sept. 7, 1771, Snd printed at the end 
 of his fecoild volume, fays, " As to cutting away the rotten boroughs, I am as much 
 tl offended as any man at feeing them under the diredt influence of thfc cro'wh, or 
 " at the difpofal of private perfous. Yet, I own, I have both doubts and appre- 
 " henfions, in regard to the remedy you propofe. I fhall be charged perhaps 
 " with an uhnfual want of intrepidity, when J honeftly e'onfefs to you, that I am 
 " ftartled at the idea of fo extenfive an amputation. la the firft place, I question 
 '< the power, dejurt, of the legiflature to disfranchife a number of boroughs, upon 
 " the general ground of improving the conftitution. There cannot be a doctrine 
 " more fatal to the liberty and property we are contending for> than that, which 
 " confounds the uien of zfupreme and arbitrary legiflature. I need not point out to 
 ** you the fatal purpofes to which it has been, and may be applied. If we are 
 *' fmcere in the political creed we profefs, there are many things, which we ought 
 *' to affirm cannot be done by King, Lords, and Commons. Among thefe I 
 " reckon the disfranchifmg of boroughs with a general view of improvement. I 
 " confider it as equivalent to robbing the parties concerned of their freehold, of 
 " their birth-right. I fay that, although this birth-right may be forfeited, or the 
 " exercrfe of it fufpended in particular cafes, it cannot be taken away, by a genera! 
 41 law, for any real or pretended pnrpofe of improving the conftitution. Suppofing 
 " the attempt made, I am perfuaded you cannot mean either King, or Lordsy 
 " Ihould take an adlive pait in it. A bill, which only touches the' reprefentation 
 " of the people, muft originate in the Houfe of Commons. In the formation and 
 t{ mode of pafling it, the exclufive right of the Commons muft be aflerted as fcru- 
 " puloufly as in the cafe of a money-bill. Now, fir, I fh'ould be glad to know 
 " by what kind of reafoning it can be proved, that there is a power vefted ift the 
 " reprefentative to deftroy his immediate conftituent ; from whence he could 
 " pombly derive it. A courtier, I know> would be ready to maintain the affirm-' 
 *' ative. The doctrine fuits him exactly, becaufe it gives him an unlimited opera- 
 " tion to the influence of the crown. But we^ Mr. Wilkes, ought to hold a dif- 
 ** ferent language. It is no anfwer to me to fay, that the bill, when it pafles the 
 " Houfe of Commons, is the aft of the majority, and not the reprefentatives of 
 " the- particular boroughs concerned. If the majority can disfranchise ten boroughs, 
 " why. not twenty, why not the whole kingdom ? Why mould not they make 
 " their own feats in parliament for life ? When the feptennial aft puffed, the le- 
 " giilature did what, apparently and palpably, they had no right to do ; but they 
 " did more than people in general were aware of : they, in ellecT:, disfranchifeil 
 ** the whole kingdom for four years. 
 
 " For argument's fake, I will now fuppofe, that the expediency of the mea- 
 " fure, and the power of parliament, are unqueftionable. Still you find an infur- 
 *' mountable diflkulty in the execution. When all your inftruments of amputation 
 " are prepared, when the unha^>py patient lies bound at your feet, w'itlioiiT the- 
 ' pulibilay of rcfiftanqe, by -what infaMible rule will you direct the operation ? 
 
 Whea
 
 f 65 ) 
 
 the general grounds of improving the conftitution, has 
 been doubted ; and gentlemen will aik, whether a 
 power is lodged in the reprefentative to deftroy his im- 
 mediate conftituent ? Such a queftion is beft anfwered 
 by another. How originated the right, and upon 
 what ground was it at firft granted ? Old Sarum and 
 Gatton, for inftance, were populous towns, and there- 
 fore the right of reprefentation was firft given them. 
 They are now defolate, and of confequence ought not 
 to retain a privilege, which they acquired only by 
 their extent and populoufnefs. We ought in every 
 thing, as far as we can, to make the theory and prac- 
 tice of the conftitution coincide. The fupreme le- 
 giflative body of a flate muft furely have this power 
 inherent in itfelf. It was de faflo lately exercifed to its 
 full extent by parliament in the cafe of Shoreham with 
 univerfal approbation, for near a hundred corrupt 
 voters were disfranchifed, and about twice that num- 
 ber of freeholders admitted from the county of SuiTex. 
 
 When you propofe to cut away the rotten parts, can you tell vis what parts are 
 perfectly jound f Are there any certain limits in fact, or theory, to inform you 
 at what point you muft flop, at what point the mortification ends ? To a man 
 fo capable of observation and reflection as you are, it is unnecefiary to-fay all 
 that might be faid on the fubject. Befides that I approve highly of Lord Chat- 
 ham's idea of infujing a portion of nevt health into the conftitution tc enable it to tear 
 in infirmities (a brilliant expreffion, and full of intrinsic wifdom), other reafons 
 concur in perfuading me to adopt it. I have no objection, &c." 
 The man who fairly and compleatly anfwers this argument, fhall have my 
 thanks and my appiaufe. My heart is alreafly with him. I am ready to be con- 
 verted^-- 1 admire his morality, and would gladly fubfcribe to the articles of hi> 
 faith. Grateful, as I am, to the GOOD BEING, \\hofe bounty has imparted to me 
 this reafoning intellect, whatever it is, I hold myfelf propoitionably indebted to 
 him, from whofe enliglited underftanding another ray of knowledge communicates; 
 to mine. But neither fhou'.d 1 think the moft exaltad faculties of the humaA mind, 
 a gift worthy of the divinity; nor any alTiftance in the improvement of them, a~ 
 iubject of gratitude to my fellow-creature, if I were not fatisfied, that really to 
 iafyrm Che upderftanding corre<3s and enlarges tW bean. JOJJIU5- 
 
 F It
 
 ( 66 > 
 
 It will be objected, I forefec, that a time of perfect 
 calm and peace throughout this vail empire is the 
 moft proper to propofe internal regulations of this im- 
 portance ; and that, while inteftine difcord rages in 
 the whole northern continent of America, our atten- 
 tion ought to be fixed upon that moft alarming object^ 
 and all our efforts employed to extinguifh the devour- 
 ing flame of a civil war. In my opinion, fir, the Ame- 
 rican war is in this truly critical sera one of the flrongcft 
 arguments for the regulation of our reprefentation,. 
 which I now fubmit to the houfe. During the reft of 
 our lives, Hkewife, I may venture to prophefy, Ame- 
 rica will be the leading feature of this age. In our 
 late difputes with the Americans, we have always taken 
 it for granted, that the people of England juftified all 
 the iniquitous, cruel, arbitrary, and mad proceedings 
 of adminiftration, becaufe they had the approbation 
 of the majority of this houfe. The abfurdity of fuch 
 an argument is apparent, for the majority of this 
 iioufe we know fpeak only the fenfe of 5723 perfons, 
 even fuppoiing, according to the laudable conftitu- 
 tional cuftom of our anceftors, that the conftituent . 
 had been confulted on this great national point, as he 
 ought to have been *. We have feen in what manner 
 the acquiefcence of a majority here is obtained. The 
 people in the fouthern part of this iiland amount to 
 upwards of five millions. The fenfc, therefore, of 
 
 * Many in all age?, and fometimes the \Chole body of the Commons, have re- 
 fufed to give their opinion in fome cafes, till they had confulted with thofe that 
 fent them ; the houles have been often adjourned to give them time to do it ; and 
 if this u ere done more frequently, or that the towns, cities, and counties, had on. 
 feme occafions given inflcu> : fiitu to their deputies, matters v/ould probably have 
 better in parliament than they have often done. 
 
 Algernon Sydney, 410 edition of 1763, page 424. 
 
 five
 
 ( 6? ) 
 
 five millions cannot be afcertained by the opinion of 
 not 6000, even fuppofing it had been collected. The 
 Americans with great reafon iniift, that the prefent 
 war is carried on contrary to the fenfe of the nation, 
 by aminifterialjunto, and an arbitrary faction, equally 
 hoilile to the rights of Englishmen, and the claims of 
 Americans. The various addreiles to the throne from 
 moft numerous bodies, praying that the fvvord may 
 be returned to the fcabbardj and all hoftilities ceafe, 
 confirm this affertion. The capital of our country has 
 repeatedly declared* by various public acts, its ab- 
 horrence of the prefent unnatural civil war, begun on 
 principles fubveriive of our constitution. Our hif- 
 tory furniihes frequent inftances of the fenfe of Parlia- 
 ment running directly counter to the fenfe of the na- 
 tion. It was notorioufly of late the cafe in the bufinefs 
 of the Middlefex election. I believe the fact to be 
 equally certain in the grand American difpute, at leaft 
 as to the actual hoftilities now carrying on againft 
 our brethren and fellow-fubjects. The propolition 
 before us will bring the cafe to an ilfue ; and from :i 
 fair and equal reprefentation of the people, America 
 may at length diftinguilh the real fentiments of free- 
 men and Englifhmen. 
 
 I do not mean, fir, at this time, to go into a tedious 
 detail of all the various prppofals, which have been 
 made for redreffing this irregularity in the reprefenta- 
 tion of the people. I will not intrude on the indul- 
 gence of the Houfe, which I have always found favour- 
 able and encouraging. When the bill is brought in, 
 and fent to a committee, it will be the proper time to 
 examine all the minutiae of this great plan, and to de- 
 termine on the propriety of what ought naw to be done, 
 
 F 2 and
 
 and to'confider what formerly was actually accomplished. 
 The journals of .Cromwell's Parliaments prove that a 
 more equal reprefentation was fettled, and carried by 
 riim into execution. That wonderful, comprehenfive 
 mind embraced the whole of this powerful empire. 
 Ireland was put on a par with Scotland. Each king- 
 dom fent thirty members to a Parliament, which con- 
 fifted likewife of four hundred from England and 
 Wales. It was to be triennial. Our colonies were 
 then a fpeck on the face of the globe ; now they cover 
 half the new world. I will at this time, fir, only throw 
 out general ideas, that every free agent in this kingdom 
 ihould, in my wifli, be reprefented in Parliament; that 
 the metropolis, which contains in itfelf a ninth part of 
 the people, and the counties of Middlefex, York, and 
 others, which fo greatly abound with inhabitants, 
 Ihould receive an increafe in their reprefentation; that 
 the mean, and inhgnificant boroughs, fo emphatically 
 ftyled the rotten part of our conftitution, fhould be lop- 
 ped "off, and the electors in them thrown into the 
 counties; and .the rich, populous, trading towns, Bir- 
 mingham, Manchefter, Sheflield, Leeds, and others, 
 be permitted to fend deputies to the great council of 
 the nation. 
 
 The disfra'nchifmg of the mean, venal, and depen- 
 dent boroughs would" be laying the axe to the root of 
 corruption and treafury influence, ar well as arijlocrati- 
 cal tyranny. We ought equally to guard againft thofe, 
 who fell thcmfehes, or wbofe Lords fell them* Burgage 
 tenures, and private property in a lhare of the legifla- 
 ture, are monftrous abfurdities in a free ftate, as. well as 
 aa infu.lt on common fenfe. I wifli, lir, an Englifh 
 .Parliament .ty fpcak the. free, linbiafied fehfe of the 
 i body
 
 body of the Englifh people, and of every man among 
 us, of each individual, who may juftly be fuppofed to 
 be comprehended in a fair majority. The meaneft me- 
 chanic, the pooreft peafant and day-labourer, has im- 
 portant rights refpecting his perfonal liberty, that of 
 his wife and children, his property, however inconfi- 
 derable, his wages, his earnings, the very price and va- 
 lue of each day's hard labour, which are in many 
 trades and manufactures regulated by the power of 
 Parliament. Every law relative to marriage, to the 
 protection of a wife, fifter, or daughter, againft violence 
 and brutal luft, to every contract or agreement with a 
 rapacious or unjuft matter, is of importance to the ma- 
 nufacturer, the cottager, the fervant, as well as to the 
 rich fubjects of the flate. Some fhare therefore in the 
 power of making thofe laws, which deeply intereft 
 them, and to which they are expected to pay obedience, 
 Ihould be referved even to this inferior, but moft ufe- 
 ful, fet of men in the community. We ought always 
 to remember this important truth, acknowledged by 
 every free flate, that ail government is inftituted for 
 the good of the mafs of the people to be governed ; that 
 they are the original fountain of power, and even of re- 
 venue, and in all events the lad refource. 
 
 The various inftances of partial injuftice throughout 
 this kingdom will likewife become the proper fubjects 
 of enquiry in the courfe of the bill before the commitee. 
 Of this nature are the many Freeholds in the city of 
 London, which are not reprefented in this Houfe. 
 Thefe freeholds being within the particular jurifdiction 
 of the city, are excluded from giving a vote in the 
 county of Middlefex, and by act of Parliament only 
 Liverymen can vote for the ReprefentativesoftheCitv 
 
 F 3 f
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 of .London. Thefe, and other particulars, I leave; J 
 mention them now, only to Ihew the neceffity of a new 
 regulation of the reprefentation of this kingdom. 
 
 My enquiries, fir, are confined to the fouthern par 
 of the iiland. Scotland I leave to the care of its own 
 careful and prudent fons. I hope they will fpare a few 
 moments from the management of the arduous affairs 
 of England and America, which are now folely en- 
 trufted to their wifdom, and at prefent fo much en- 
 grofs their time, to attend to the Hate of reprefentation 
 among their own people, if they have not all * emi- 
 grated to this warmer and more fruitful climate. I 
 am almoft afraid the forty-five Scotifh gentlemen 
 among us reprefent themfelves. Perhaps in my plan 
 for the improvement of the reprefentation of the inha- 
 bitants of England, almoft all the natives of Scotland 
 may at this time be included. I {hall only remark, 
 that the proportion of reprefentation between the two' 
 countries cannot be changed. ' In the twenty-fecond 
 article of the treaty of Union, forty five is to be the 
 proportion of the representative body in the Parliament 
 of Great-Britain for the northern part of this Ifland. 
 To increafe the members Fof England and Wales bc- 
 
 vond the number, of which the Eng-lilh Parliament 
 
 > .-.<-'. 
 
 confifted at the period of that treaty in 1 706, would be 
 a breach of public faith, and a violation of a folemn 
 
 * Without any abflraft reafoninj npon caxifes and effects we fhall foon be con- 
 vinced hy'txfK'itnce, that the ScDf^nanfflantni from' their own '-country, are always a 
 diftindt and fcparate hody from the people who receive them. In other fettlements, 
 they only love themfelves; in Z'^/aW, they cordially love themfeives, and as cor- 
 dially hate their neighbourr. Junius ; Preface, p. 26. 
 
 The -".vC'ifil Scon are Imngry, and want feeding. Epiflle to Dr. Shebbeare. 
 
 The ff"lt England being in prey, 
 
 To her ungn;in'e<l neft the vita el Seat 
 
 Comes foealung, and fo fucks her princely eggs. Shakfpeare. 
 
 treaty
 
 ( 7' ) 
 
 treaty between two independent flates. My propofi- 
 don has for its bafis the prefervation of that compact, 
 the proportional fhare of each kingdom in the legifla- 
 tive body remaining exactly according to its prefent 
 eftablifhment. 
 
 The monftrous injuftice and glaring partiality of the 
 prefent reprefentation of the commons of England has 
 been fully ftated, and is, I believe, almoft univerfajly 
 acknowledged, as well as the neceffity of our recurring 
 to the great leading principle of our free conftitution, 
 which declares this Houfe of Parliament to be only a 
 delegated power from the people at large. Policy, no 
 lefs than juftice, calls our attention to this momentous 
 point. Reafon, n,ot cuftom, ought to be our guide in 
 a bufmefs of this confequence, where the rights of a 
 free people are materially interefted. Without a true 
 reprefentation of the Commons, pur conflitution is ef- 
 fentially defective, and our Parliament a delufive name, 
 a mere phantom. All other remedies to recover the 
 priftine purity of the form of government eftablifhed 
 by our anceftors would be ineffectual, even the fhort- 
 ening the period of Parliaments, even a place and pen- 
 lion bill, both which I highly approve, and think ab- 
 ibUitely neceffary. I therefore flatter myfelf, fir, that 
 I ihalj. have the concurrence of the Houfe with the 
 motion, which I have now the honour of making, 
 " That leave be given to bring in a bill for a juft and 
 * l equal reprefentation of the people of England in 
 * Parliament,'* 
 
 F 4 VOTES
 
 VOTES of April 50, 1776. 
 
 A Motion was made, and the Queftion being pur, 
 " That the Refolution of this Houfe of the i ;th of 
 " February 1769, that John Wilkes, Efquire, having 
 " been in this SeJ/ion of Parliament expelled this Houfe , 
 e( was, and is, incapable of being clewed a Member to 
 <e ferve in ibis prefent Parliament, be expunged from 
 " the Journals of this Houfe, as being fubveriive of 
 " the rights of the whole body of electors of this} 
 " kingdom." 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The veneration, with which I am deeply imprefled 
 for the conltitution of my country, the love and affec- 
 tion of a native to the noble privileges, the laws and 
 liberties, of England, as well as duty and gratitude to 
 the much-injured freeholders of Middlefex, are the 
 powerful motives of my again troubling the Houfe 
 with a queftion fo frequently agitated within thefe 
 walls, fo fuily difcufTed even thelafl feffion, although 
 not hitherto followed with the fuccefs, which I hope 
 on the prefent occaiion. 
 
 The profligacy, venality, and open attempts againft 
 liberty by the laft Houfe of Commons, have made their 
 memory odious to the people. The annals of our 
 
 country
 
 C 73 ) 
 
 country are difgraced with their various violations of 
 the rights of the fubject. I fliall now confine myfelf to 
 a fingle cafe, Taut it was of the blackeft nature, of the 
 deepeft dye, and branched out into many enormities, 
 which ftill demand ample atonement. I allude to the 
 iniquitous and daring * refolutions refpedting the elec- 
 tions for the county of Middlefex, and the feating Mr. 
 Luttrell in the Houfe, although he had confeiTedly 
 only a minority of the fuffrages of the freeholders, in 
 whom the conftitution has placed the right of election. 
 While thefe refolutions, fir, remain among our records, 
 I conilder a precedent eftablifhed, under the fanction of 
 this Houfe, to rob not only a whole county, bur the 
 entire collective body of electors of this kingdom, of 
 their birthright, and moft valuable inheritance. It is 
 a precedent, which may be brought home to every bo- 
 rough, city, and county, to every freeholder, every elec- 
 tor in the ifland. 
 
 The facts were fully flated to the Houfe in the de- 
 bate on this fubject the laft year, and 1 am perfuaded 
 they live in the memory of every gentleman. I fhall 
 defire the Clerk to read only one refolution. It is that 
 of February 17, 1769, " That John Wilkes, Efq; 
 " having been, in this feffion of Parliament, expelled 
 " this Houfe, was, and , incapable of being elected a 
 
 * The Speech of the Speaker, Sir Fletcher Norton, when he reprimanded the 
 Returning Officer of Sbareham, Hugh Roberts, on his knees. 
 
 In vain have our anceftors been anxioufly careful to fecure the freedom of elec- 
 tions, by all the means human wifdom and forefight could fngseft ; in vain have they 
 particularly guarded againft the partiality of the Returning Officer, and obliged him, 
 by every tie, to a faithful difcharge of that truft, which the Conftitution hath repofed 
 ia his hands, if mm are to be found DARING emugb to fend members to tbis Houje t WHO 
 
 WERE NEVER CHOSEN SY TBS LEGAL ELECTORS. 
 
 Journals; Feb. 14, 1771, vol. 33, p. i6i. 
 
 " member
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 * c member to ferve in this prefent Parliament." This 
 declaration, in my opinion, transfers from Che people 
 to this Houfe the right of election, and by an un-r 
 bounded, uncontrouled exercife of the negative power, 
 the Houfe in effect aifume the pofitive right of making 
 whom they pleafe the reprefentatives of the people in 
 Parliament. I am very ready to admit that there are 
 various natural and legal incapacities ; and when the 
 party is fubject to any one of them, he is not eligible. 
 Aliens, minors, bifhops, are incapable of being elected 
 into a Houfe of Commons. Befides thefe, there are 
 other incapacities arifing from the peculiar circum- 
 ilances of the cafe, and fome created by particular 
 ftatutes. Where however there is no natural or legal 
 difability, the capacity of being elected is the inherent 
 right of every freeman of the realm. He cannot be 
 $ivefted of it without an equal injury to the party, and 
 to the conftituent, in whom the power is conftitu- 
 tionally lodged of determining whom he thinks the 
 mod fit and proper perfpn to act for him in the great 
 council of the nation. The declaration of the Houfe 
 therefore, that any man, duly qualified by law, ihall 
 not be allowed to fit in Parliament as a reprefentative 
 of the Commons of the realm., was afTuming to them- 
 feives the making a new law, to which only the three 
 eftates are adequate. It was disfranchifing a whole 
 county, and confequently in effect the united king- 
 dom. 
 
 The public attention has been fo long fixed on this 
 important bufmefs, that it would b,e the weakeft and 
 vaincft prefumption in me to attempt any new argu- 
 ments in fupport of a right acknowledged by every 
 man, who is not in a deteftable league for the fubver- 
 
 iion
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 -fipn of all our rights, liberties, and franchifes. I 
 ,not enter on a dull repetition of the debates, which 
 for the laft feven years have come on every feffion, nor 
 repeat a multitude of cafes and precedents ; but, while 
 I have a feat in this Houfe, I pledge myfelf to my 
 country, that I will be firm and unwearied in my en- 
 deavours, till every fyllable on our Journals, which 
 marks the injuftice done to the freeholders of Midale- 
 fex, and to every elector in the ifland, be fully erafed 
 or obliterated. 
 
 Since the debate, however, on this queftion in the 
 Jaft feffion, almoft within a fortnight after, a cafe re- 
 fpecting the election at Abingdon was determined here 
 in a manner diametrically oppolite to one part of this 
 pretended law of Parliament, which has been folemnly 
 laid down by all the advocates of the rniniflry in the 
 affair of Mr. Luttrell. They argued, that all the 
 votes given to Mr. Wilkes were thrown away, be- 
 caufe they were given, as they afferted, to a perfon 
 labouring under a legal incapacity, and confequently 
 Mr. Luttrell, with only 296 freeholders, was entitled 
 to his feat in preference to the other candidate with 
 1143. The majority of the electors of Middlefex, 
 fir, fully anfwered this argument in that remarkable 
 petition prefented by the worthy * baronet near me, on 
 the 29th of* April, 1769, in which they afferted, 
 " that Mr. Luttrell had not a majority of legal votes ; 
 " nor did they, when they voted for Mr. Wilkes, 
 " mean thereby to throw away their votes, or to wave 
 "their right of reprefentation, nor would they, by 
 
 * Sir George Savile, 
 
 Than whom a better fenator ne'er held 
 The helm of Rome, when gowns not arms repell'd 
 The fierce Epirot, and the African bold. MILTOV. 
 
 " any
 
 ( 76 ) 
 
 " any means, have chofen to be reprefented by 
 " Mr. Luttrell." Notwithftanding this petition, the 
 Houfe on the 8th of May following declared Mr. 
 Luttrel duly elected. Now let us examine the Hill 
 more recent cafe of the Abingdon election, the de- 
 termination of the felect committee, with all the pro- 
 ceedings of the prefent Parliament in that bufmefs. 
 I will ftate them briefly, and fhall afterwards delire 
 the clerk to read from the Journals the more important 
 paifages. Mr. Bayley's petition was prefented to this 
 Houfe on the 6th of December, 1774. It was con- 
 fined to one fmgle objection, the legal difability of thfe 
 other candidate, no accufation of bribery or corrup- 
 tion, riots, unfair pradtifes, or illegal votes, being ex- 
 hibited. It Hated, " that at the place of election, and 
 44 before the taking of the poll, the mayor of the faid 
 " borough and the other electors were publicly told, 
 " that as the other candidate, Mr. John Mayor, was 
 *' then high fheriff of that county, he xvas incapable 
 * l of being chofen a member to reprefent the faid bo- 
 ** rough in this prefent Parliament, and that all votes 
 ?' given for the laid high fheriff would be thrown away ; 
 *' notwithstanding which, the mayor of the faid bo- 
 * c rough did himfelf vote, and alfo received the votes 
 ** of divers other perfons for the faid high fheriff; and 
 " that the faid high fheriff hath returned himfelf as 
 " duly elected for the faid borough, in manifeft pre- 
 " judice of the petitioner, who, being the only can- 
 " diiiate capable of being elected, ought to have been 
 " returned." The facts, as ftated in the petition, were 
 admitted, as well as the numbers at the clofe of the 
 poll, for Mr. Mayor 146; for Mr. Bay ley only 116. 
 The great quefiion was, whether, if Mr. Mayor was 
 
 not
 
 ( 77 ) 
 
 not eligible, the votes for him were thrown away ; and 
 Mr. Bayley, who had not the majority of electors, 
 fhould be declared duly elected ? The felect com- 
 mittee, on the 6th of March, 1775, reported, that 
 neither Mr. Mayor, nor Mr. Bayley, was duly elected, 
 and that the election was void. The Houfe immedi- 
 ately directed a new writ to iffue for Abingdon. The 
 miniflerial advocates, who infifled on Mr. Wilkes't 
 legal incapacity, can fcarcely find a cafe more exactly 
 parallel. It is equalled only by the well known pre- 
 cedent of Mr. Walpole, and Mr. Taylor, in 171;. 
 Yet the burgefTes of Lynn were not infulted, by hav- 
 ing a gentleman declared their reprefentative, whom 
 they never elected. The Abingdon cafe was of the 
 moft public "notoriety. The returning officer, and all 
 the electors of Abingdon, were publickly informed of 
 Mr. Mayor's legal incapacity. Mr. Bayley polled near 
 half the voters of that borough. His oppoiition how- 
 ever being not to a friend of liberty and the people, 
 bur having made the attack on a fubaltern in the mi- 
 nifteridl forces, he had little chance of being an adopted 
 child of the Houfe, or of a committee [elected from 
 the prefent majority. 
 
 The arbitrary refolution on our Journals, and the 
 appointment of Mr. Luttrell, I confider as an abfolute 
 furrender of the conftitution to the minifte.r. The 
 laws of the land are of no avail, when this Houfe alone 
 can make a new law, adapted to the caprice, violence, 
 or injuftice of every emergency, and when reprefenta- 
 tion in Parliament no longer depends upon the choice 
 of the electors. The people of England may in vain 
 aflemble with the fond hope of effectually exercifmg 
 their nobleft franchife, if the object of their choice is 
 
 really
 
 < 1* > 
 
 really what he ought to be, an independent f pi end 6f li- 
 berty, fuperior to menace or corruption. The minifter has 
 found out a way to bafHe them in all their proceedings, 
 He may, on any pretence, however frivolous; procure 
 an expulfton ; and expul/ion, we knowj means incapaci- 
 tation ; fo that during a long period of feven years, 
 the favourite object of a country's choice may be kept 
 out, and the nominee of a minifler be declared to re- 
 prefent a populous county. Can there be a more fo- 
 lemn mockery of the rights of a free people ? 
 
 While fuch arbitrary refolutions as thcfe reflecting 
 the Middlefex elections remain on our Journals, I 
 think the minifter holds high the rod of vengeance 
 over the head of every member of this Houfe* He 
 {lands here with an uplifted arm, fublimi flagelio, to 
 punifh the refractory, and almoft every action of the 
 majority feems to betray their being either fwayed by 
 the daftardly paffion of fear, or corrupted by the mean 
 principle of reward. We are governed by Solon's 
 plan, prtzmio ef pcena, as Cicero has fummed it up in 
 three words. Is a member obnoxious or unruly ? Ac- 
 cufe him of a libel, or any other crime ; then vote 
 away your own privileges to get at him ; and, before 
 the caufe can come to a trial by a jury of his country- 
 men on oath, examine two or three partial and well- 
 inftructed witneffes under no fuch fanftion, and you may 
 proceed immediately to expullion. You then vote 
 him incapable of being re-elected. The creature of 
 the minifter is received in his place, an4 declared a re- 
 prefentative of the people. A Houfe of Commons 
 may in this manner be fo garbled, as not to contain a 
 fmgle, fair, and honeft rcnrefentative, elected according 
 to the law of the land. 
 
 The
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 The motion of expunging from our Records the re- 
 foliations of which I complain, is, I know, considered 
 by fome gentlemen as a violent meafure. The cafe, I 
 think, requires the moft fpirited mode of redrefs. I 
 wifh as full atonement to the people as poffible. The 
 lafl Parliament gave us an inftance of expunging from 
 our Journals what never ought to have been moved in, 
 this Houfe, the thanks to a ftupid * tory parfon, of 
 
 the 
 
 *' Journals of Feb. 25, 1772, Vol. 33, p. 509. 
 
 The Houfe was moved, That the Entry in the Votes of the Houfe, of the 31 ft thy 
 f January laft, " that the thanks of this Houfe be given to the Reverend Doctor 
 " Noiocllffar tlie Sermon preached by him yefterday before this Houfe, at St. Mar- 
 ' garet's Weftminfter, and that he be defired to print the fame, &c. &c." might bz- 
 read. 
 
 R^folved, Thaf the faul Entry be expunged from the Votes of this Houfe. 
 
 The tory fame of the v, ix'tched Dr. No-weil has lately fuffereu a total eclipfe by a 
 pedantic fchoolmafter of Weftminfter, promoted to the Archbifhopiick of York iu 
 Dec. 1776, 3. Do "or WUllayn Markbam. He preached a fermon, all-powerful ta footbt 
 the foul In jlumhen, nt Bow Church in the City, Feb. 2 1, 1777, before the Incorporated 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel in foreign parts. In whataw/fc arid win- 
 ning fpirit of chri/tianiiy, of gentlenefs, patience, and forbearance, does this Muiifter of 
 the .gofnel of peace ftate the nature, and bewail the wickediiefc, of the deluded parti ft 
 among us ? By what, tender bonds of love and charity does this High Priefi endeavour 
 to bring over the noblemen and gentlemen in the oppofn:on to the court paths of ho- 
 JUJur, peace, and perhaps preferment ? This Caiafbasol York obferves, "nothing 
 " is too mean for the ufes vf parties, as they are NOW conftituted. Parties once had a 
 " principle belonging to them, abfurd perhaps, and indefenfible, but ftill carrying a 
 " notion of duty, by which honeft minds might eafily be caught. But they are NOAY 
 " combination i cf .r.div iJuat!, wiio, inftead of being tlie fons and fervants of the com- 
 " munity, make a league for advancing their private intetejis. It is their bufmefs to 
 " hold high the notion of political honour. I believe and truft it is not injur-iem to 
 " fay, that/ari <J bond it no bitter than tLat, by which the Jvwe/l ar.i ivkkedijl comb'ma- 
 " tions are btid tsgttbtr ; and that it denotes tbt lafiftagc of political depravity ." 
 
 And is really the union in a gre.it national caufc of fuch men as have compofei 
 the prefent apportion, and fet theii- nnmes to the fpirited Pnte/li of the very bft fef- 
 fiou, the Portlands, Richmonds, Devonfhires, Manchefters, Rockingliams, Abing- 
 dons, Chathams, Shelburnes, Efiinghams, Fitzwilliams, Torringrons, 5cc. &c. and of 
 the Saviles, Cavendifhes, Townfhends, Johnftones, Glynns, Wrays, Burkes, Barres, 
 <c. &c. is fuch a combination of individuals in the two Hoafes of Parliament to be 
 Confidered as a bond no better than that, by <wbL-t> the Icnueft and tuiikedtji amiir^i.^i 
 ere btld together? Are they really na bztttr than tit Lwejl and luiiksdrfl camiinathris of. 
 
 p i^terSj
 
 ( So ) 
 
 the rank Oxford breed, for a libel on the Revolu- 
 tion, and the prefent eftablifhment, in a fermon 
 
 preached 
 
 pirates, and banditti? Are they really no tetter than gangs of robbers and highway- 
 men ? , 
 Ne fasvi, magoa facerdos. 
 
 Virgil. JEn. 6. 1. 544. 
 
 Surely inflead of this coarfe compliment we might expe<5l a little favour from 
 his Grace, when he affures us, " the apoftles themfelves, ivith all their advantages, 
 *' were not eafily freed from the entanglement of popular error." If the injfi :d 
 Apnfthi did indeed err, we uninspired private cbrifttans might expedl fome indul- 
 gence, rather than inquifitorial feverity, on account of our papular errors. We might 
 charitably expeft not to be confulered as in a defperate cafe, in the loft ft age of 
 political depravity. 1 hope we are not fo far loft. / believe and truji it is injurious t 
 fay this. 
 
 This political fermori tells US, " ivhat h ajf.tmed upon the preftnt occnfion Is the (r'o- 
 tl risas nature O/I.IBERTY. It realizes and jecures all tht reft ; and by tbofe, -who are 
 tf in the eni'jvment rfir, o-ight to be maintained at all haxardi." Have not the Ame- 
 ricans on this juft ground taken up arms ? " But it remains to be fettled." Was it 
 not fettled by the Revclnim? " Wherein dres it conftft .'" St. Paul, in the Epiftle 
 to the Romans, has anfvvered this queilion of the Archbifhop of York. He 
 makes liberty, glorious liberty, confift in being delivered from the bondage of corrup- 
 ;>>,/;, a praytr, which is often made by the people of England for the High Court of 
 P-ar lament. The ^.poftle -fays, " becnufe the creature itfeif alfo fhall be delivered 
 " from the b'.nda-re rf cirrut-ttor, into the glorious liter y of the children of God." 
 ''chap. \iii. ver. 21. The AFchbifhop goes on, " I ba-ve j 'onetimes thought it a nt:f- 
 lt fartunp t ttjt a Thing fo -valtmkle and important Jfxiuld ba-ve no nucrd in r/ur language 
 " to fXp'tfi ir } excfft one 'which goes tt every thin? that is ibild'and Ic.wAtji" Does tll8 
 fenification ofrljeword liberty really go to every thing that is wild andlawlefs ? Has 
 titia Itarntd Prelate, who is fo deep in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, the Coptic, Perfian, 
 Armenian, Chaldaic, Arabic, Syriac, Phoenician, Palmyrenc, Chinefe, Gentoo, 
 &!c. &c; and above all in the Erfe, who is himfelf a perfedl PJyglott, has he never 
 heard of the'Enjlifh words lieenritufn'-fi and licence to exprefs every thing that iinvtld 
 ahJ k<w!cfs, as iliftinguifheJ from ibcrty. Penfioner Johnfon's Dictionaiy would 
 hltve told liim that ticdmettfmfi is " boundlei^ liferty, a contempt of juft reftraint," 
 He mi^ht there have found the authority of Swft, who f:tys, " this cuftom has 
 .""been always looked upon, by the wifcft men, as an efteft of iicentioufnrfs, and not 
 " of liberty. 1 ' He wtrold in - the fame Dictionary have found that " licence" " is ex- 
 "" brbitant filxrff, contempt of legal and nccefiary rcftraint." Milton unerftood thc- 
 diffference between "^'rrfy- and"//cff, as S\vift did between librrty and Hcert'r^'nefs, 
 atthcagh'the-Arclibifhop of 'York feems to underftand neither. His Grace's idea of 
 liberty comprehends every thin;; that is wrWand latulefa. The monfter is of his - 
 own creation, and then he comes in a rage, like the Sat:trn of the Heathen my- 
 tholojy, to dtftroy 'his own offiprin^. The Englifo Ilomtr, Miltsn, fays, " Licence 
 " tliey mean, whe. they cry ' Kb'n y." Nb two words ever conveyed more diftmcV 
 
 ideas
 
 preached oil the anniverfary of the merited death 
 of the tyrant, Charles I. If fo trifling a buiinefs 
 as a foolifli fermon, neither heard nor read by a 
 (core perfons, called for fo fpirited ameafure, can it be 
 deemed improper or violent, when the rights of all 
 the electors of the kingdom have been openly invaded, 
 and the ufurpation juilified by gentlemen in the higheft 
 offices under the crown ? The circumftance is truly 
 alarming, and demands the utmoft exertions of an 
 honeft zeal and generous ardour for the public weal. 
 
 I own, that I am not fo nice and fcrupulous about pre- 
 ferving every line of the immenhty of the learned lumber 
 in our Journals. They are become the mere regifters 
 of royal edifts, of turnpike roads, enclofures, and mat- 
 ters of private buiinefs. There are many whole pages 
 difgraceful to the nation among our trivial, fond re- 
 cords. My heart bleeds, when I read all the unjuft 
 and inhuman refolutions againft our fellow-fubjedts in 
 
 ideas. The dulleft fchool-boy iu the loweft form at W,ftmin/ler knows the dif- 
 ference. The Englifh language ii not reproached with poverty, but by thofe who 
 are ignorant of it. 
 
 What a melancholy confideration is it for the riling generation, that an illiberal 
 Prieft, one of 
 
 The low-born, cell-bred, felfifh, fervile band, 
 
 although now promoted to be a general officer in the fable army of the minifterial 
 mercenaries of the Church Militant in the Houle of Lords, that fuch a man ftiould 
 have been preceptor to the children of England, to the Prince of Wales, and Biihop 
 of Ofnabrugh ? Was a mere Lor.kivorm, who does not yet know the meaning of ths 
 moft important word in the language of this free country, who is equally ignorant 
 of the tllng, and is found Humbling at the very threshold of t\btn\< t was fuch a per- 
 fon fit for fuch a charge ? The chr'd that n unborn m,iy rue the fatal mi flake. I 
 the next age likewife to deplore the rnifchievous errors of the bad education c 
 their prince ? 
 
 I was really forced to remind his Grace of the great Apoftle Paul. May I 
 foftly whifper in his ear a few words of St. Peter, becaufe they are a good receipt 
 to cure mofrifterial pride and petulance? At fret) and net ufing yt'.ir LIBERTY/br 
 * (lke ftf MALICIOUSNESS honour all men, love the brvibcrbotd. 
 
 The Fkft Epillle General of Peter, ch. ii. v. 16, 17. 
 
 G America,
 
 America, the fleets and armies voted for the vain at- 
 tempt of fubduing the unconquerable fpirit of liberty 
 .among the defcendants of Englifhmen. When I re- 
 flect on the fubfequent proceedings, t:he barbarous 
 and favage manner in which you have carried on the 
 war, by attempting to ftarve thoufands of induftrious 
 fifhermen, and labouring poor, with their families, as 
 well as the burning open and defencelefs towns and 
 villages ; I wifh, for the national humanity and honour, 
 which formerly flood fo high, that thefe black pages 
 of our Journals, and every trace of the cruelties and 
 horrors which followed, were obliterated from the re- 
 cords of this Houfe, of this kingdom, of the human 
 
 race. 
 
 In juftice to the ufurped and violated rights of this 
 county, in a full fenfe of duty to all my brother electors 
 at laro-e, and to prevent the moft fatal and pernicious 
 precedent being ever ufed by a wicked and ill-defigning 
 mmifter to the deflruction of the facred right of election, 
 of national freedom, and independency, I move, " that 
 " the refolution of the Houfe of the 1 7th of February, 
 (( 1769, that John Wilkes Efq. having been in this fef- 
 *' Jion of Parliament expelled this Houfe, was and is, in- 
 sc capable of being elefted a Member to ferve in this pre- 
 * c fent Parliament, be expunged from the journals of 
 S( this Houfe, as being fubvcrfive of the rights of the 
 " whole body of the electors of this kingdom/' 
 
 VOTES
 
 VOTES of October 31, 1776. 
 
 Refolved, " That an humble addrefs be preferred 
 " to His Majefty, to return His Majefty the thanks 
 " of this Houfe, for His mofl gracious Speech from 
 " the Throne : 
 
 To afiure His Majefty, " that while we lament 
 ce the continuance of the troubles which have fo long 
 f( diftradted His Colonies in North America, and of the 
 " calamities and oppreffions which our unhappy fel- 
 f( low-fubjec~ts are ftill fuffering under the arbitrary 
 f( tyranny of their leaders, we cannot forbear to ex- 
 " prefs our deteftatkm and abhorrence of the audacious 
 " and defperate fpirit of ambition, which has at laft 
 te carried thofe Leaders fo far, as openly to renounce 
 fc all allegiance to the Crown, and all political connec- 
 " tion with this country ; and in direct terms to pre- 
 " fume to fet up their rebellious confederacies for lnds 
 " pendent States" &c. &c. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The honourable gentleman*, who {poke laft, en- 
 deavours to mrflead the Houfe. It is certain that no 
 preffing has at this time been carried on in the city of 
 London, or its liberties. No prefs-gangs have dared 
 to make their appearance in that jurifdi&ion. Thofe 
 
 * George Wombwell, Efq. Member for Huntingdon. 
 
 G 2, kwlefa
 
 ( 84 ) 
 
 liwlefs bands of cruel banditti very prudently chofe 
 other fcenes of horror and bloodfhed, of lefs danger to 
 themfelves. The city has hitherto remained in per- 
 fect fafety and tranquillity, in a moft happy ftate of 
 fecurity, by the vigilance, intrepidity, and noble love 
 of liberty, which are confpicuous in its prefent worthy 
 chief magiftrate *. 
 
 The conduct of Adminiftration, Sir, in the late if- 
 fuing of prefs-warrants, before they had tried the ope- 
 ration of the high bounty, is totally unjuftifiable. 
 The Speech, now in your hand, Sir, is fo very pacific, 
 that the large bounty of five pounds for every able, 
 and fifty Shillings for every ordinary, feaman, pro- 
 mifed in laft Saturday's Gazette, might fafcly, fora 
 fliort time at leaft, have been trailed to, the emer- 
 gency not being thought by adminift ration very cri- 
 tical. From the minifter's own ftate of public affairs 
 in the Speech, there was no danger in the experiment. 
 Much cruelty and bloodlhed had been avoided, many 
 valuable lives preferved. 
 
 The affair of Long Ifland has been mifrepre'fented, 
 and greatly magnified. The fuperiority of numbers 
 was very coniiderable. General Howe landed 22,000 
 men. The provincials had only 6,000 effective men 
 on that ifland. They were ordered to retreat, and 
 4,000 did accordingly, without being attacked, em- 
 bark for the ifland of New-York. There was a real 
 miftdke of orders as to the other 2,000, but they acted 
 as brave men always will act under a mi/lake of orders ; 
 they fought. They faw the enemy, left their entrench- 
 ments, and attacked with fpirit. From the fuperi- 
 ority of numbers, and their flanks being neglected and 
 
 * Mr. Sawbridge, Member for London; then Lord Mayor. 
 
 un-
 
 unguarded, they were totally defeated. They did not, 
 however, remain inaflive, like cowards, on an im- 
 portant day of battle. No fuch imputation can be 
 fixed on them. Nothing decifiye can follow from the 
 late fuccefsful affair again!}: the Americans on Long 
 Ifland, no more than from the defeat of the Britifh 
 troops at Sullivan's iiland. New York will probably 
 fall into your hands, but your fituation will in that 
 cafe be fcarcely mended fmce the laft year, for you 
 then pofTerTed the capital of North America, Bofton. 
 Is that great and important town advantageoufly ex- 
 changed for New York ? I forgot that we ftill like- 
 wife poffefs the fifhing hamlet of Halifax. But, Sir, 
 we ought to take a much larger and more compre- 
 henfive view of this interefting fcene, which is now 
 fully difclofed. 
 
 The important difpute of Great Britain with her 
 colonies has for a conliderable time fixed the attention, 
 not only of this nation, but of almoft all Europe. 
 The moft eflential interefts of this country, and, in- 
 deed, of the greater part of the powers on the con- 
 tinent, are deeply interefted in the event. The facri- 
 fice of fo much blood and treafure is to every ftate an 
 object of high importance, but to us, whofe empire 
 feems mouldering away, of the neareft concern. I 
 much fear we are now brought by inextricable diffi- 
 culties to the very verge of deftruction. 
 
 Since our laft meeting, Sir, the fcene, with refpeft 
 to America, has totally changed. Inftead of negoti- 
 ations with various provincial aflemblies, inftead of 
 deliberating on the moft effectual mode of enforcing 
 the parchment declaration of our conjlitutional fupe- 
 G 3 riority
 
 ( 86 ) 
 
 riority over our Colonies *, of our right to bind them in 
 all cafes whatfoever, we muft confider if we have power 
 to bind them in any cafe, for we have now a war to 
 
 * The late adminiflration came into employment under the mediation of the 
 Puke of Cumberland, July 1 1, 1765, and was removed, upon a plan fettled by the 
 Earl of Chatham, on July 30, 1766, having lafted one year and 25 days. 
 
 In that fpace of time 
 The diflraclions of the Britifh Empire were compofed by 
 
 " The Repeal of the American Stamp- Act," 
 
 Bat the r nfiitutiwal fubenority of Great Britain was preferved by 
 
 " The Acl for fecuring the dependance of the Colonies," &c. &c. 
 
 Jljbtrt A<c i :unl ef a late Jlert AtLmMflrMltH, 
 
 [published in Auguft 1766.] 
 
 The Aft, commonly called the Dec'aratory Afl, is fo much the fubjecT; of politico! 
 iifpute, that I fhall give it entire from the Statutes at large. 
 
 Anno Sexto Georgiilll. A. D. 1766. 
 
 An Ac"l for the better fecuring: the Dependency of His Majefty's Dominions in 
 America upon the Crown and Parliament of Gre;it Britain. 
 
 Whereas feveral of the Houfes of Reprefentatives in His Majefty's Colonies and 
 Plantations in America, have of late, againfl Law, claimed to themfelves, or to the 
 General Affemblies of the fame, the fole and exclufive right of impoling Duties anil 
 Taxes upon His Mr.jefty's fubiecls in the faid Colonies and Plantations; andhave^in 
 purfuunce of fuch claim, paffcd certain voter, refolutions, and orders, derogatory to 
 the legislative authority of Parliament, and inconnftent with the dependency of the 
 faid Colonies and Plantations upon the Crown of Great Britain : May it therefore 
 pieafe your moft excellent Majefly, that it may be declared ; and be it declared by 
 the King's moft excellent Majefty, by and with the advice and confent of the Lords 
 Spiritual mid Temporal, and Commons, in this prefent Parliament affembled, and by 
 the authority of the iUme, that the faid Colonies and Plantations in America have 
 been, arc, and of ri^ht ought to be, fubordinate unto, and dependent upon, the im^ 
 perial Crown a:ul Pai-i'iiimci.t of Great Britain; and that the King's Majefly, by and 
 with the advice and content of tho T.ords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons of 
 Great Britain, in Parliament Vtflembled, Lad, batl>, and of right ought to have, full 
 fvwet and a:itoori : y t-i make Lain ar.il StttUttt nf fnffi.itnt force and validity to bind the 
 Csl-n'us and Ptcflu t,f jtmttltci, fubjeSk of tat Crvwn of Greai Britain, in *ll wj'cs luljjt 
 ficver. 
 
 II. And ha it further declared and enabled by the authority aforefaid, That all Re- 
 folutiuns, Votes, Orders, and rruceodings, in any of the laid Colonies or Plantations, 
 \\ hereby the power and authority of the Parliament of Great Britain, to make Laws 
 and Statutes as aforefaid, is denied or drawn iiuo queftion, are, and are hereby de-. 
 tlared to be, utterly null and void to all intents and purpofes whatlbever. 
 
 The Deila'-atnry A'f, and the RffeaJ ff the American Stamp-4tf, received the Royal 
 Affent on the fame day. M;ufh iS, 1766, in the Adjniniftration of the Marquis of 
 
 carry
 
 'carry on againft the Free and Independent flates of Amc- 
 r C'j. ; >a wicked war, which has been occafioned folely 
 by a fpirit of violence, injuftice, and obflinacy in our 
 -rmniiters, unparalleled in hiftory. In the beginning 
 of September, in the laft year *, a very humble and 
 dutiful Petition was fent from the congrefs to his Ma 
 jefty, in which his Majefty was fupplicated " to di- 
 " re6t fomemode, by which the united applications of 
 " his faithful colonifts to the throne, in purfuance 
 <( of their common councils, may be improved into 
 
 * The ftrong defire of peace and reconciliation in the inhabitants of Maffachufet'* 
 Bay, -which has been always confidered as the moft violent as well as powerful of all 
 the American colonies, even immediately after the murdrs by the King's troops at 
 Lexington and Concord, on the i gth of April, 1 7 7 5, is confpicuous in their " Addrefs 
 * to the inhabitants of Great Britain." 
 
 In Provincial Congrefs. Wutertown, April 2.6, 1775. 
 Friends, and Fellow Subjects, 
 
 Hollilities are at length commenced in this colony by the troops under command 
 ef General Gage, &c. &c. 
 
 Thefe, brethren, are marks of miniflerial vengeance againft this colony, for re- 
 fufmg, with her filter colonies, a fubmifiion to flavery 5 but they have nst yet de- 
 tached usfrfjiH our royal Jtvtretgn j we profefs to bi his Ityctl and dutiful fubjefls ; and 
 fo hardly dealt with as we have been, are ftill ready with our lives and fortunes 
 to defend his perfon, family, crown, and dignity ; neverthelefs, to the perfecution 
 and tyranny of his cruel miniftry we will not tamely fubmit ; appealing to Heaven 
 for the juftice of our caufe, -we determine to die or be free. 
 
 We cannot think that the honour, wiidom, and valour of Britons, will fuffcr 
 them to be longer inactive fpeftators of meafures in which they themfelves are fo 
 deeply interefted ; m?afurti purfued in oppofition to the folemn Pmtejls of many 
 noble Lords, and exprelfed fenfe of confpicuous Cnmmons, whofe knowledge and 
 virtue have long characterized them as fome of the greateft men in the nation j 
 meafures executing contrary to the intereft, petitions and relblves of many large re-r 
 fpectable counties, cities, 2nd boroughs in Great Britain ; meafures highly incom- 
 patible with juftice, but ftill puifued with a fpecious pretence of eafing the nation 
 of its burthens ; meafures which, if fuccefsful, muft end in the ruin and flavery 01 
 Britain, as well as the perfecuted American colonies. 
 
 We fmcerely hope that the great Sovereign of the Univerfe, who hath fo often 
 appeared for the Englifh nation, will fupport you in every rational anil manly ex- 
 ertion with thefe colonies for faving it from ruin, and thiir, in a conjlitutignal c^nnc;- 
 tiin luitb uur nwbcr country, we Jhall foon be altogether ajree and hjfpy peofiie. 
 
 Signed by Order, JOS. WARREN, Prefidenfc 
 
 G4 "a happy
 
 C 38 ) 
 
 s{ a happy rnd permanent reconciliation." There was 
 not a word in the/><tf //w>2 which did not breathe fubmiffion 
 and loyalty, and yet the official anfwer of Lord Dart- 
 mouth, fecretary at that time for the American depart- 
 ment, after a long deliberation, was to the laft de- 
 gree irritating. It was, that no anfwer would be given; 
 that is, we will not treat, we (corn to negotiate with 
 yon, we exact unconditional fubmiffion. This anfwer, 
 Sir, in my opinion, might juftly be called indignity 
 and'mfid'., and in a much higher degree than what 
 the Speech fays the Americans have offered to England, 
 after all the provocations on oar part. It drove the 
 Americans to defpair, and, with the violation of our 
 perfidious promifes in Lord Hillfborough's famous of- 
 ficial circular letter *, laid the real foundation of their 
 Declaration of Independency. 
 
 Much 
 
 * The Circular Letter of the Earl of Hillfborough, Secretary of State for the 
 Colonies, to all the Governors on the Continent and I Hands. 
 
 Whitehall, May 13, 1759. 
 
 Indofedl fend you the gracious Speech mr.de by the King to his Parliament at 
 the clofe of the Seffion on Tuefday laft. 
 
 What His Majefty is pleafed to fay in relation to the meaAircs which have been 
 F'irfuer! in Noit'i America will not efcape your notice, as the fatisfaclion His Ma- 
 jefty exprcffes in the approbation his Parliament h,TS given rotham, and the af- 
 furances of their firm fupport in the prosecution of them, together with his royal 
 opinion of the great advantages that will probably accrue from the concurrence of 
 every branch of the kgiflature in the refolution of maintaining a due execution of 
 the laws, cannot fail to produce the moft falutaiy excels. 
 
 from hence it will be nnderftood, that the whole leg-nature concur in ths 
 opinion adopted by his Majefty's fervants, tliat no meafure ought to be taken which 
 can any way derogate from the legiAative authority of Creat Britain over the Co- 
 lonies ; but I take upon me to allure you, notwithstanding infmuations to the con- 
 trary from men with factious and feditious views, th.it His Majefty's prefent ad- 
 mi: uttration have at no time entertained a de&gn to propofe to Parliament to lay 
 any further taxes upon America for the purple of raijing a rtvtnur, and that it is at 
 prefent their intention to propofe in the next Seflion of Parliament to take off the 
 duty npon glafs, paper, and colours, upon confideration of fuch duties having been 
 laii] contrary to the tme principles of commerce. 
 
 Thefe
 
 Much has been faid, Sir, of the prophecy of the 
 ininifters, that the Americans would in the end de- 
 clare themfelves independent. I give the minifters no 
 credit for fuch a prophecy. They went on the fureft 
 grounds. They might very fafely promulgate fuch 
 a prediction, when they knew that the unjuft and fan- 
 guinary meafures, which they intended to purfue, muft 
 bring about the event. They drove the Americans 
 into their prefent flate of independency. The Jefuits in 
 France rifqued nothing when they prophefied in 1610 
 the death of the beft prince that ever reigned in Eu- 
 rope to be within that year. Their's was the fare word 
 of prophecy. They employed Ravaillac to affaffmate 
 their fovereign. 
 
 An honourable gentleman * near me, Sir, attacks 
 the American Declaration of Independency in a very pe- 
 culiar manner. He pronounces it a wretched compo- 
 fition, very ill written, drawn up only with the view 
 to captivate the people. 'That, fir, is the very reafon 
 why I approve it mofl as a compofition, as well as a 
 wife, political meafure ; for the people are to decide 
 this great controverfy. If they are captivated by it, 
 the end is attained. The polifhed periods, the har r 
 monious, happy expremons, the grace, eafe, and ele- 
 gance of a beautiful diction, which we chiefly admire, 
 very little captivate the people of America. Manly, 
 nervous fenfe they relifh, even in the moft awkward 
 
 Thefe have always been, and fti'l nre, the fentimeats of his Majefty's prefent 
 fervants, and the principles by which their conduct with refpect to America has 
 been governed ; and His Majefty relies upon your prudence r.nd fidelity for fuch 
 an explanation of His meaftii-es, as may tend to remove the prejudices which have 
 been excited by the mifreprefentations of thofe who are enemies to the peace and 
 profperty of Great Britain and her Colonies, and to re-eftablilli that mutual con- 
 fidence and affection upon which the glory and tafuy of the Britifh empire depend. 
 
 * Governor Johnftone, Member for Appleby. 
 
 and
 
 C 90 ) 
 
 and uncouth drefs of language. Whatever compofition 
 produces the effedt, which is intended, in the moft for- 
 cible manner, is, in my opinion, the bell, and the rnoft 
 to be approved. That mode Ihould always be purfued. 
 It has the mod merit, as well as fuccefs, on the 
 great theatre of the world, no lefs than on the ftage, 
 whether you mean to infpire pity, terror, or any other 
 paffion. 
 
 The honourable * gentleman, Sir, who feconded the 
 addrefs, fays, the American Declaration of Independency 
 was nofurprize to him nor I believe, Sir, to any man 
 of common reflection, after our hoftilities and cruelties, 
 after the frantic and extravagant career, which adrni- 
 niftration purfued, with a full chorus of approbation 
 from the majority of this Houfe. 
 
 The fpeech in your hand, Sir, which an -j~ honourable 
 gentleman near me has well called a fpeech of hypocrify, 
 mentions the " affurances of amity, which his Majefty 
 te continues to receive from the feveral courts of Eu- 
 " rope." At the beginning of the lad feffion, the mi- 
 nifter gave us in the King's fpeech more explicit affur- 
 ances. It was faid, (( I am happy to add, as well from 
 <c the affurances I have received, as from the general 
 " appearance of affairs in Europe, I fee no probability 
 " that the meafures, which you may adopt, will be in- 
 * e terrupted by difputes from any foreign power/' We 
 have no fuch affurances held out to us this year, that 
 our meafures will not be interrupted by difputes with any 
 foreign power; but we have ftill affurances of amity, 
 which are daily contradicted by the immcnfe prepara- 
 tions of the neighbouring foreign powers, of France, 
 
 * George Finch Hatton, Ef<}; Member for Rochefler. 
 ( Governor Johnftou$,
 
 ( 91 ) 
 
 and Spain, and indeed of the whole hourfe of Bourbon, 
 The accounts from Naples contain little but the vaft 
 preparations making by the king of the Two Sicilies. 
 Are 7 \ve indeed iimple and credulous enough to truft to 
 general vague expreffions of politenefs, againft the clear 
 evidence of fadts? Our miniftry know very well that 
 an American privateer being lately flopped at Bilboa 
 in Bifcay, an exprefs was immediately difpatched to Ma- 
 drid, which returned with the fulleft directions for the 
 releafe of the privateer, and permiffion to furnrfh him 
 with provifions, ftores, ammunition, in Ihort, with 
 whatever he wanted. This fact will not be denied. Is 
 Spain then one of the foreign powers, which again 
 foothes us with thefe honied alfurances of amity ? Has 
 fate ordained, that we are neither to poflefs capacity 
 enough to profit by the example of others, nor even by 
 our own experience? In the very firft year of the pre- 
 lent reign, in September 1761, the Gazette told us, 
 that i( the Catholic king had, at no time, been more 
 " intent upon cultivating a good correfpondence with 
 " England, than in the prefent conjuncture." This 
 declaration was received ferioufly here, held out -as part 
 of the court creed among us, and laughed at by all the 
 reft of Europe. In the beginning of the following 
 January, without any one new fact having occurred of 
 any moment, war was declared by England againft 
 Spain. Will the plaufible, fmooth-tongued French 
 likewife be able to lull us into a fatal fecurity againft 
 the evidence of all hiftory ? Can we expedt to be treated 
 by them in any other manner than the Spaniards were 
 at the time of the famous revolt of Portugal ? The 
 French fent whole regiments, completely officered, in- 
 to the feryice of the houfe of Braganza. They paid 
 
 them
 
 (" 9* ) 
 
 them under-hand the fame as their national troops, ye 
 all the while declared their abhorrence of rebellions and 
 of rebels, iffuing proclamation after proclamation, and 
 recalling their deferters under the moft fevere penal- 
 ties. Sir, there is not a power in Europe, unfubfidizcd 
 by Great-Britain, which does not wiih fuccefs to the 
 Americans. We are conlidered, almoft every where 
 on the continent^ in the odious light of * tyrants and 
 oppreifors. 
 
 The fpeech, Sir, flates, that " if treafon be fuffered 
 " to take root., much mifchief muft grow from it to the 
 " fafety of my loyal colonies." Alas ! Sir, what we 
 call treafon and rebellion, and they juft reliftance and H. 
 glorious revolution, has taken root, a very deep root in- 
 deed, aad has fpread over almoft all the American co- 
 lonies, In this very fpeech, we are told of their num- 
 bers, their wealth, their Jlrengtb by fea and land. The 
 loyal colonies are three, the free provinces thirteen. In 
 laying on the embargo, the exception to the rule is ri- 
 diculous enough. It is as thirteen to three. The Ga- 
 zette fays, " any of my colonies in North America, ex- 
 
 * A French gentleman, whofe univerfal genins is no lefs admired at Peterfburg 
 than at Paris, after mentioning fome fpeecbes in the Englifli Houfe of Commons on 
 American Affairs, writes to his friend at London. 
 
 | 'en ai aufFi fait un, et le void. " Meflieurs, je ne vous parlerai point de la juf- 
 " tice mi de 1'injuftice de votre conduite. Je fens bien que ce mot n'efl q.uc du 
 " bruit, qunnd il s'agit de 1'interet general. Je pourrois vous parler de vos moyens 
 " de reulTir; et vous demander fi vous etes afTez forts pour jouer le role d'oppref- 
 t< feurs. Cela toncheroit un pen de phis pres a la queftion ; cepenJiint je n'en ferai 
 *' rien. Mais je m'entendrai a vous fupplier dejetter les yeux fur les nations qiii 
 " vous haliTent. Interrogez !es ; voyez ce qu'elles penfent de vous, et dites moi juf- 
 " quc'; a quand v(ius avez refolu de faire rirc vos enemis." 
 
 11 5aroit ici un papier qu'on dit erre d'un homme important de votre nation. 11 
 paroit par ce papier qne le projet fecret d.e la mere patrie, eft de foire egorger la 
 moirie de- c->Um'=, ct de reduire le rcfte a la condition des negres. 
 
 Ni>vh!ng fnrely could be more lamentable to thofe who remember the floririfhing 
 : this kingdom, than to fee the infanejoy of feveral uoliappy people, amidttthe 
 \:\dc which our affairs andcondudl exhibit to tbi /com of Euro fe. 
 
 Bui'ke's Letter to the Sheriffs of Biiftol. 
 
 i " ceft
 
 f< 
 
 cept the colonies of New-Hampfhire, MaflachufetV 
 Bay, Rhode-Ifland, Connecticut, New-York, New- 
 Jerfey,Pennfylvania, the three lower countries onDela- 
 C( ware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Ca- 
 <e rolina, and Georgia." Of what other colonies was his 
 Maiefty in polfeflion at his acceffion to the throne? I think the 
 permiffion extends only to the three provinces, which 
 we have not yet loft, to the Roman Catholic provinces 
 of Canada and Florida, and to Nova Scotia. 
 
 We have now been carrying on for two years a fa- 
 vage and piratical, as well as an unjuft, war. Every 
 demand of government has been complied with, and 
 yet the great force employed both by fea and land has 
 not hitherto recovered a lingle province of all the con- 
 federated colonies. On the contrary, the evil grows 
 more defperate *. The laft year only twelve colonies 
 humbly petitioned the throne. This year, by the ac- 
 ceffion of Georgia, we have feen a fccderal union of 
 thirteen free and powerful provinces averting their /- 
 dependency as high and mighty ft ate s, and fetting our 
 power at defiance. This was done with circuitiflances 
 of fpirit and courage in thefe revolted colonies, to 
 which pofterity will do juftice, for it was directly after 
 the fafe landing of your whole force. In return you 
 plundered their coafts, and fet fire to their open towns 
 
 * The wife Archbifhop of York tell us, " tliat we nmft rely on the vuifJom of 
 " our governors, in confidence that NECESSITY will at laft provide thofe remedies, 
 u which fortjigbt did not." 7I6 feimt quite a ntw afflkatkn of the dofirine of NE- 
 
 CESSITY.] , 
 
 Sermon preached in the City before the Society fur the Propagation 
 
 of the Gofpel in foreign parts. 
 
 America is not fubdued. Not one unattacked village, wliich was originally adverfe 
 throughout that vaft continent, has yet fubmitted from love or terror. You have the 
 ground you encamp on ; and you have no more. The cantonments of your troops 
 and your dominions are exactly of the fame extent. You fpread deviation, but you 
 io not enln ge the fphere of authority. 
 
 Letter from Edmund Burke, Efq; to the Sheriffs of Briftol, dated April 3, 
 1777. Briitoled. p. 25. 
 
 and
 
 ( 94 ) 
 
 and defencelefs villages with a barbarity which dif- 
 graces the Engliih name. In the midft of all the cru- 
 elties, terrors, and dev.aftaiions, which follow your arms, 
 for before the.n is as the garden of Eden, and behind them 
 as the defolatc wildernefs , the fpirit of the Americans is 
 ftill unfubdued. I hope, and firmly believe, you never 
 will conquer the free fpirit of the defcendants of Eng- 
 lifhmen, thus exerted in an honefl caufe. They ho- 
 nour and value the bleffings of liberty, and are deter- 
 mined to live and die freemen *, notwithftanding the 
 vain efforts of every arbitrary power in Europe. It is 
 a foolifh attempt to think of conquering and holding 
 the immenfe territory of North America, when the 
 whole country is united againft us. The minifter ar- 
 gues in a trifling manner in the Speech on the decijivs 
 good conferences from events only in the province of 
 New York. They do not prove that we lhall fubdue 
 Virginia, or either of the Carolinas. Succefs in two 
 or three battles or fieges cannot conclude for the 
 final fuccefs of a war, fo extenfive already, fo greatly 
 complicated. 
 
 As to the -f- unanimity at home prophecied of in the 
 Speech, the very idea is ablurd, becaufe impoffible, 
 while the prefent fyftem of injuftice and oppreffion is 
 purfued. The American war has been declared by fe- 
 veral gentlemen in this Houfe to be unjufl, and uncon- 
 
 * If there be one fa<5l in the world perfe&ly clear, it is this, " That the difpofifiori 
 ' of the people of America is -wholly adverfe to [from'] any other than a free govern- 
 " merit." Page 55. 
 
 f They are continually bonfting of unanimity, or calling for it. But before this 
 unanimity can be matter either of vvifh or congratulation, we ought to be pretty fure, 
 that we are engaged in a rational purfuit. Phrenzy does not become a flighter dif- 
 temper on account of the number of thofe who may be infected with it. Delufioa 
 aud weaknefs produce not one mifchief the lefs becaufe they are univirfal. 
 
 Letter from Edrauad Burke, Efq; tn th Sheriffs of Briftol. P. 38. 
 
 ftitutional
 
 ( 95 ) 
 
 ftitutional in its firft principle, and, if perfifted in, 
 ceflarily to bring on our ruin. We have neither force 
 to conquer, nor itrength to maintain fuch extenfrve con- 
 quefts, if we could at prefent fucceed, if we could conti- 
 nue, by every bafe compliance and facrifice of national 
 honour, to perfuade our ancient open enemy, and prefent 
 falfe * friend, France, to wear the political maik of amity, 
 and preferve a precarious peace. France fecretly exults, 
 when flie fees our brave countrymen turning their victo- 
 rious fwords into their own bowels. 
 
 Our fituation, fir, is become truly critical. The con- 
 flitution of this country is at home fapped by bribery 
 and corruption. On the other fide the Atlantic it is af- 
 failed by violence and force of arms. The too fatal 
 fuccefs in this devoted nation is very evident ; but in 
 the new world, I truft, as a friend to mankind, that all 
 the defpotic meafures of a tyrannical adminiftration 
 will prove ineffectual. It cannot be too often held out 
 to minifterial folly and obftinacy, that it is impoffiblc 
 for this iiland to conquer and hold America. They are 
 determined and united. Your fleets may indeed every 
 year carry horror through all their coails. Your ar- 
 mies may poffefs fome fea-port towns, but the nume- 
 rous, and greatly increaiing, people of the provinces 
 will retire into the interior parts, of which you have 
 already had fome experience. Peaceful towns and vil- 
 lages will cover their fruitful plains, and liberty fix her 
 bleft abode among them, the unmolefted, happy i'nha- 
 
 * The great Duke of Marlborough, in a letter to Qvieen Anne, fays, " It is net 
 "my opinio?> only, but the opinion of all mankind, that the fritnitjb.p of Eraace 
 *' muft needs be definitive to your Majefty: there being it. ti-at cwt a mot 
 u if enmity Irrtconc'Uaoie to your Majtfty'i government, and the religion of tbefe king* 
 mt.* 
 Aa Accocnt of the Coruiuft of the Dowager Duchofs ofMarlborough, Page 26$, 
 
 6 bitants
 
 ( 96 ) 
 
 bitants rejoicing that they are frocul a Jove, procul 
 fulmine. 
 
 I heartily agree, Sir, with the * noble Lord in the 
 amendment propofed ; but I go farther, and my 
 opinion is, that if we expecT: to fave the empire, to 
 preferve even for a mort period Canada or the Weft- 
 Indian iflands, or to recover any part of the immenfe 
 territory we have lately loft, we muft recall our fleets 
 and armies, immediately repeal all the afts injurious 
 to the Americans pafled fince 1763, and reftore their 
 charters.. We may then, // they will forgive, and can 
 trujl us, treat with them on juft, fair, and equal terms, 
 without the idea of conipullion. In this way only can 
 hjoundation be laid for the reftoration of peace, inter- 
 nal tranquillity, and unity to this convutfed -f- and dif- 
 membered empire, 
 
 VOTES 
 
 * Lord John Cavendilh, Member for York. 
 
 f- Sir William Draper fays, * That this country is tonvulfed in every part by 
 " anonymous, wicked and incendiary writers." Locke is of opinion, that cppreffion is 
 '' the ^reat caufe of civil commotion," and furely rank, foul a&s of of>f>reff!in have been 
 frequent for many years throughout this empire. The Knight of the Bath being 
 himfelf a line, a very fine writer, attributes, in my opinion, too much to the influ- 
 ence of fine writing, perhaps even of his own very fine writing, for the body of the 
 people are more ufefully employed than in the perufal of polite, elegant authors. 
 Ibt people do not read very much, nor reafon ciolely on every occafioa, but they 
 always /W juftly. Sir William, having fheathed the bloody fwoid, and bid 
 
 Farewell the neighing deed, and the fhrill trump, 
 
 The fpirit-ftirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, 
 
 The royal banner, and all quality, 
 
 Pride, pomp, and circumftance of glorious war, Sluikfpeare. 
 
 hrandimes ihe' peaceful pen, fpills oceans of ink, and amufes himfelf in turning to a de- 
 licate ear fmooth and melodious periods. He never was the miles gloricfus, but a 
 'falft mtdffty does not moke him now conceal the obligation he confers on mankind 
 by his writings, nor content himfelf with anonymous literary applaufe. Locke nobly 
 penjive, regardlefs of clairic.il praife, intent only on ferving mankind, pafled his life in 
 deep refeArches concerning the " Human Uuderftanding," and " Civil Govern- 
 " meat." He does not quite agree with Sir William. He tells us, "'people are 
 
 "noc
 
 VOTES of February 17, 1777* 
 
 The Bill to empower His Majefty to fecure and de- 
 tain perfons charged with, or fufpected of, the Crime 
 of High Treafon, committed in North America, or on 
 the High Seas, or of the Crime of Piracy, was read the 
 third time; .and an ingrofled Claufe was added, by the 
 Houfe, to the Bill, by way of Ryder. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I cannot continue filent while the fate of fo impor- 
 tant a Bill as the prefent is depending before this 
 Houfe. Adminiftration at firft brought in this Bill in 
 a form, which gave a very general and juft alarm to 
 the city, to the nation. If it had paffed in that form, 
 in my opinion the whole kingdom would have been 
 put under an interdift of law. The perfonal liberty of 
 every man in this ifland had been precarious and infe- 
 
 " not fo eafily got out of their old forms, as fome are apt to fugged. They are 
 *' hardly to be prevailed with to amend the acknowledged faults in the frame they 
 " have been accuftomed to. Great miftakes in the ruling parts, many wrong and 
 " inconvenient laws, and all the flips of human frailty, will be borne by thtpec.p!s 
 " without mutiny or murmur. But, if a long train of abufes, prevarications, and ar- 
 " tifices, all tending the fame way, make the d;fign viable to tbepMflt, and they 
 " cannot but//, what they lie under, and fee whither they are going ; it is not to 
 u be wondered that they mould then roufe themfelves, and endeavour to put the rut* 
 " into fucb bandt t "wk'nb may Jl cure to them the ends, for -uibkh government tvat atjirjt 
 <( ert8<4." Locke of Civil Government, book II. ch. 19. 
 
 H cure,
 
 ( 98 > 
 
 cure, depending folely on the will of the minifler, 
 The fpirit of the Bill in its original ftate was oppreffion 
 and tyranny through 'every part of ~the empire. In this 
 ftate the Bill has continued //'/'/ this day. By the patriotic 
 zeal of an honourable gentleman of the law *, a claufe 
 has juft been offered and 'adopted by way of Ryder, as it 
 is called in this ftage of the Bill, which gives peace of 
 mind, and fecurity in fome degree, to every fubjecl: 
 refident in this kingdom, for perfons under this de- 
 fcription are at length declared not to be the objects 
 of this Bill -J-. I fpeak of the claufe, Sir, even as 
 
 pre- 
 
 * John Dunning, Efq. Member for Calne. 
 
 f In Mr. Burke' s Letter to the Sheriffs of Briftol, it is fakl, " the mr.tn oper.v 
 " tive regulation of the aft is to fwfpend the common law, r.nd the ftatute, Hxbtas 
 " Corf-ns (the fole fecurities either for liberty or juftice), with regard to all thofe 
 " who have been out of the realm, or on the high feas, within a given time. 
 " The reft of the people, as I understand, are to continue as they flood before. 
 
 " I confefs, gentlemen, that this appears to me, as bad in the principle, ajd far 
 " wor-fe in its confeqnences, than an univerfal fufpenfion of the Habeas C-rpas ac> ; 
 ".and tlie limiting qualification, inftead of taking out tbejlin^', does, in my humble 
 " opinion, Jharpen and envenom it to a greater degree. Liberty, if I nnderft.iixl it 
 " at all, is a general principle, and the clear right of all the fubjecls within the 
 " realm, or of hone. Partial freedom feems to me a mod invidious mode (jf 
 "flavery." P. 15. 
 
 When Mr. Dunning moved the elaufe of limitation, he faid that he meant to take 
 tbe fling out of the Bill as to ail the people of Great Britain, whom he juftly repre- 
 fented as exceedingly alarmed at the nifpenfion of the Common Law, and the Ha- 
 beas Cor fit i, at the temporary lofs of thofe bulwarks of the conftitution, wliich Mr. 
 Burke admits to be the Jole Jeciirities either for liberty or juftice. The city of London 
 had petitioned the Houfe of Commons on the 14111 of February, and declared, 
 that if the Bill fhuuld pafs into a lav\', it luoiild create the greatefl iinea/ineft. in ibf 
 Winds of many of U:s JlJajiJ}ys gaad Jul'ieSis, and tend to excite tbt Mo/I a.laniur.g dif- 
 turbance!, &c. Jcc. therefore ea>n<f:ly bcfttibing tbc Houfe, that the jaid BUI mjy ri>t 
 fafs info a Law j or at Uaft to take J'uib cafe as In (heir wijdtot m.iy fctm meet, to frt- 
 vint it from bnng extend:*/, in its operation o> ctnfln/tfion, to any of bit Majejly'i j'ul- 
 jeffs rrftdttt in theft kinrJrjm. The great wifli and effort of (hofe gentlemen in oji- 
 pofition, who attended their duty in Parliament, was to have thrcnva out the B:! 1 , 
 and thereby freed t-vcy fubjecl of the empire from the terrors of the arbitrary power 
 ; n poled to be veiled in the prefent adminiftration. \Vhen r^a/'was found imprjch- 
 c.ible after repeated -trials hi -every ftage of the Bill, 'they exerted themfdve;, and 
 
 hap-
 
 ( 99 - ) 
 
 pretended to be amended by an honourable gentleman^ 
 
 happily fucceeded in delivering mod of the inhabitants of Great Britain, Hit M.i- 
 jcfly's fiibjrfis rejident in theft kingdoms, from the fangs of a cniel miniftry. To thern. 
 the nation is indebted for the prefent peace and fecurity of its capital, of thi? great 
 feat of empire, of this whole ifland. Are they now, inftead of being thanked, 
 tf) be harfhly toM by thofe, who did not attend their duty in Parliament,- that' 
 they h.lve dor?e mifchief, that fo far from taking cut th: fiiriir, they Ms&e-jbirptned' 
 tnd envenomed it to a greater d?gree$ that they ought to havfe fu fitted fo wicked aTr' 
 Act to have beert unlverftl, Und to have extended to Great Britain as well as' 
 America? Are they now to be reproached by thofe, who would not join in the' 
 rhinifterial attack, that the Act is far tvorfe in its conf,juenc(ij when by their ge- 
 neroils ftruggles, jnd glbr'ous victory * it can have no cwfequcncr whatever to the 
 moft important part of the empire ? Were they to have facrificed the filcfccuriiiei 
 t'libtr for liberty c,r jufttcc for themfftlvcs, for the whole ifland, to a (peculation) that 
 partial freedom was a tno/i invitiiws mitle cfjlwery f Mr. Blirke judges better for hiS 
 friends; the two SherifR of Briftol. He tells them in this letter, " I rieref ven- 
 " tared to put yohr filid interims upon fpeculative cr3u*/!s." p. 4?. I have not 
 heard of any anfwer to this letter from either of the Sheriffs of Briftol, " that 
 " bone/I well-oi'deredi virtuous city, a people who preferve more of the original' 
 *' Englifh fimplicity, and purity of manr.cn, than perhaps any other," p. 69, in the 
 words of their Member's foliical Creed. As to the two Bii/lol Sberffi ideas of thein 
 fclid interejli, I take it for granted that they exactly coincide with thofe of the 
 Sheriffs of London, the Aldermen Plumbe and Thomas. They well knoxv theii 4 
 own foliif iraertfti, and certainly proceed upon fptcutative gttur.ds efientially dif- 
 ferent, both in nature and extent, from thofe of Mr. 8urhe. Their j'pecu- 
 latiom do not extend beyhnd Exchange-Alley. Mr. Burke's angel geniuj 
 takes in 
 
 The hemifphere cf earth in cleareft ken. Mi troy. 
 
 I will anfwer for moft City Sheriffs, whether of London or 1 Br-Jtcl, at leaft for 
 the prefent London Sheriffs, that they attend to their ovrnfiid mterefs ; and " have 
 11 never troubled fher underftandings with [peculation! concerning the unity of em- 
 " pire, and the identity or diftinclion of legiflativs powers," p. 54. Their fftcu- 
 latiom hovrever are neither partial, nor narro\<'. They {peculate on every thing, 
 on the Omnium with wonderful intelligence and fagacity. If they do not beau- 
 tifully moralize on this frail and feverifh being, they calculate with amazin; 
 exactnefs the great uncertainty of lunan life, and the moft minute degrees of the 
 probability of its continuance in every object of their fpecu/ations. Nor are their 
 Jpecttathns confined to any faction, or influenced by the blind zeal of party. Whigs 
 and Tories, courtiers and patriots, are indifferent to them, as to life annuities, and 
 re-verficnary payments. They even wilh to unite the tory and whir, the cotirtier 
 and patriot in a joint fecurity. 
 
 But to return to the argument-of the partial fufpenfion of the Habeas Co^s. Is 'a 
 tnan voluntarily r ofubmit to the conflagration of his own dwelling-hbule, becaufe 
 Torre diftant buildings of liis are-in danger- of being bmnt ? fc a pliyfic'ran to "give 
 
 H z . . u
 
 on the treafury bench *. His, words, however, Sir, 
 out of the realm, are too loofe and ambiguous, by no 
 means defcriptive enough of the perfons, who are de- 
 clared by adminiflration not to be the objedts of the 
 
 Bp every idea of preferving the head or the heart, from a belief that fuch extremi- 
 ties as the hands or the feet are in an alarming ftate ? Is he to endeavour no cure, 
 becaufe he cannot fave all his patients ? If we cannot beftow the godlike gift of 
 vniverfal, we ought furely to give partial, freedom. When the minority found it 
 Jmpofiible to redeem from Jla-vcry the whole empif e, they faved the moft valuable part. 
 They nobly ftruggled, and fucceeded for us on this fide the Atlantic. I will truft 
 the fons of America to their own virtue and prowefc, by which 1 have no doub: 
 of their being finally faicds 
 
 What mode ofJJavery, however, partialfreedom tan fetm to any man, I freely own that 
 I do not guefs. How partial frcedcrti to fome can be the nKft invidious r:odi ofjlaver-j 
 toothers, is beyond my coniprehenfiori. Yet I can conceive partial fn.ed-.th in foms 
 may make the lofs of liberty more regretted, more fharply fete by others. Among 
 all the different fpecies of fa-very, under which the infulted race of man has fuf- 
 fered, partial freedom ha!s not hitherto been claifed, nor did they ever before accord 
 in fuch friendly, harmonious unifon as they are now found by the Sheriffs of 
 Briftol. 
 
 Mr. Burke fays, " I have not debated againft this Bin in its prog/efs through 
 l( the Houfe ; beotiufe it would have been vain to oppofe, and impojjible t cor- 
 " ; efi it." Page 1 8. The Bill, and the Minifter, were both wsll corretfed by Mr* 
 Dunning. " I cannot confcientioiifly fupport what fs againft my opinion, nor pru-' 
 ' dcntly contend with what I kntio is irrtjijlible. Preferving my principles un- 
 " fhaken, I referve my afiivity for ratior.al endeavours-'' Page 19. Was the Court 
 fucYion more determines! to carry the American High freafstt, than the Ci-vil Lt/} t 
 fill? Was the ftrft kntnon by Mr. Burke to.be more irnfiJlMc rhan the la/1 ? Yet 
 his e fforfs againft the laft Bill were great and laudable, although not fuccefsful.- 
 He did, according to the words of the Preacher, Eccltft\Jl,s y ch. vi. v. ro. nobly 
 ttnttnd with bi>n that <wat mightier than b~ the Lord North. It was a rational en* 
 dta-vaxr. Why was not the fame rational emleavtur exeited againft the American 
 High TrfJoK Bill ? Mr. Dunning's rational tndewjur fucceeded, and he need tot 
 blujb for hit political company, p. 70. The prefervalion of fome property in tho 
 Civil Lift BUI was furely not a confideration of equal importance with the prefer- 
 vation of perfonal liberty in the American High Treafsn Bil'. Tliere can be but 
 one rule of condudl on thefe occasions. Watch every opportnnky of being ul~eftil r 
 at no moment defert the pubik caafe, aaJ of thofe evils, which you cannot pre- 
 vent, ftrive to leuen the magnitude, and corredt the malignity ; " not that I think 
 *' it fit for any one to rely too much on his own underftanding, or to be filled withr 
 " n prefumption, not becoiniug a chriftian man, in his own perfonal {lability and 
 " rectitude." Page 69. 
 
 * Charles Wolfram Corim;ilV ^- ^snA^r for Winchelfea, a Lord of the 
 Treflfury. 
 
 Bill.
 
 Bill. The Bill is profeffed to relate only to treafons 
 Committed in North America by perfons actually re- 
 iident in that quarter of the globe. Gentlemen, how- 
 over, on a tour of bufinefs to Ireland, or of pleafure 
 to France or Flanders, or even on a fifhing party on 
 our own coafts beyond low-water mark, are acknow- 
 ledged to be out of the realm, and may be brought 
 within the a, even as it now Hands. An opening is 
 ftill left for public, or private, revenge and oppreffion 
 to operate. The expreffion, therefore, ought rather 
 to have been out of Europe, than out of the realm, if the 
 former words, moved by my honourable friend, in feme 
 or one of His Majejlys colonies before-mentioned, or on the 
 High Seas, were rejected. But why, Sir, are words 
 fo clear and explicit to be changed, unlefs for fome 
 dark purpofe, which dares not be avowed ? 
 
 This new claufe, Sir, has happpily narrowed the 
 object of the Bill, but in no degree narrowed the 
 proofs, or the nature of the evidence neceflary. I 
 {hall therefore give the Bill my hearty negative, for I 
 will never confent to encreafe the enormous power of 
 the crown at the expence of the freedom of the fub - 
 ject. I will not arm minifters with an-unconftitutional 
 power, dangerous to the people. In the preamble to 
 the Bill it is faid, " Many perfons have been feezed 
 " and taken, who are exprefsly charged, or ftrongly 
 t{ fufpected of fuch Treafons and Felonies, and many 
 " more fuch perfons may be hereafter fo feize4 and 
 " taken." In the firft enacting claufe of the Bill, 
 and throughout, the word Jirongly is omitted, and the 
 flighteft fufpicion may warrant the commitment. The 
 words are, ' All and every perfon or perfons, who 
 > f< hare been, or lhall hereafter be fejzed or taken in
 
 _ 
 
 " the act' of High Treafon, committed in any of His 
 (( Maiefly's colonies or plantations in America, or on 
 " the higjh feas> or in the aft of Piracy, or who are, 
 *' or Ihall be charged with^ or Jufpe&$d of, the crime 
 " of High Treafon, committed in any of the faid co- 
 " Ionics, or on the high feas." It is therefore ap r 
 .parent, that a mere pretended fufpicion, or foolifh cre- 
 dulity, or determined villainy, in a wretched, ig- 
 .norant, mercenary tool of a miniflerial magiftrate, 
 jnay flill render the objects of this Bill, who are the 
 inhabitants of above half the empire, liable to inir 
 prifonment, TJiis imprifonment likewife is to be 
 without bail gr maitiprize, for that cruelty was ftill de- 
 termined to be exercifed by the committee, notwith- 
 ftanding the humane. motion of my worthy colleague * 
 to leave out , thofe obnoxious words. There is not a 
 fyllable.in the Bill of the degree of probability attend- 
 ing thefujpicion. The Bill, greatly amended as it has 
 been, does not even now require an oath, nor that the 
 parties Ihquld be heard in their own juftification, nor 
 confronted with the witnefies, nor. does it mention that 
 fivo witneffes fliall be deemed neceffary for the colour- 
 able ground of a commitment for fo high a crime as 
 Treafon in America, as the law is in other cafes .with- 
 in the kingdom. Is it poffible, Sir, to give more de- 
 fpbtic powers to a bafhaw of the Turkiih empire** 
 What fecyrity is left for the. devoted objects of thi-s 
 Bill againlt the malice of a prejudiced individ.ua!, a 
 vy.icked magiftrate, wl^o,. if he is profecuted after- 
 wards for fo flagrant an abufe of power, will certainly 
 be indemnified,, probably rewarded by a moft arbitrary 
 adininiltration ? Actions may indeed be brought against 
 
 * Mr. Serjant Gly^n, Member for Midillsfex. 
 
 tha
 
 t 
 
 die offender ; bur we know all damages recovered, 
 however greatyare paid by the people, not by the party. 
 Even in the cafe of Petit Treason, by an exprefs adt 
 of Edward the Sixth, no perfon can be convicted, but 
 xm the oath of two fufficlcnt and lawful witneffes, or 
 confeffion, willingly, without violence ; fo careful, Sifj 
 were our wife anceltors of protecting the liberty of 
 the meaneil fubject. 
 
 This cafe, Sir, demands our ftricteft attention and 
 vigilance from what we daily experience of the conduct 
 'of thofe underling officers of every minifter, who 
 traffick and deal out juftice, under the colour of legal 
 magiftracy. There is now, fir, actually in Newgate 
 an American merchant, named Ebenezer Smith Plat, 
 who {lands committed fo lately as the 23d of laft JET 
 nuary, charged with High 'Treafon at Savannah in the co- 
 lony of Georgia in North America. He is committed by 
 the well-known Juftice Addington, N and, as I am in- 
 formed, was not allowed to fee any of the witnefles 
 againft him, nor even to hear their affidavits read. 
 He had before been tried on the fame charge at King- 
 fton in Jamaica, and acquitted. I never faw -him; 
 t)Ut I have read an attefted copy * of the warrant of 
 his commitment. He is charged generally with High 
 
 * To the Keeper of Hii Majefty's Gaul of Newgate, or his Dep;U}'- 
 ^lickllefex. 7 Thefe are in His Majefty's name to authorize and require you 19 
 to wit. j receive int(i your ciiftmiy the body of Eienezxr Smith Piat heixwjth 
 , feut youy charged before me up<?n the oaths of Richard Scriven and 
 
 Samuel Buruet -with High 'I'rejf-j; at Swinnt'b in the Cslovy of Georg-a 
 in No'th Amulca ; and you are to keep him fafe untiil he fliall be deli- 
 vered by due courfe of law ; and for Ib doing, this fhall be your War- 
 ranf. 
 
 Civen under my hand and feal thL :^d day of January 1.777. 
 
 AV. AUUISGION. L. $. 
 
 - ' H 4 ' ' Trcafotf,
 
 ( 104 ) 
 
 Trea/on, which I take to be an illegal commitment. 
 I do not pretend, Sir, to a deep knowledge of the 
 law. I have only the attentive reading of a private 
 gentleman. I build my legal faith on fome known 
 and approved authorities, a Blackftone, a Burne, and 
 a very few others. Thofe authors agree, that every 
 warrant of commitment ought to fet forth the caufe 
 facially, that is to fay, not for treafon or felony in 
 general, but for treafon in comparing the death of 
 the king, or levying war againfl His Majefty in the 
 realm, or counterfeiting the king's coin, or felony for 
 Healing the goods of fuch a one to fuch a value, and! 
 the like. A court may then judge, whether the of- 
 fence is fuch, for which a prifoner ought to be ad-. 
 mitted to bail. If then a juftice living in the capital, 
 under the immediate eye and direction of miniflers, is 
 guilty of fuch an illegal commitment ; what is not to 
 be dreaded from the bafe engines, and flaviih tools, 
 of power in the more remote counties ? Is it poflible, 
 Sir, for too great caution to be ufed by enforcing in, 
 the body of a Bill, which is to fufpend the Habeas 
 Corpus at, the neceffity of an oath *, of two witnejjes 
 
 to 
 
 * The abufe of power in the illegal treatment, which Mr Wilkes experienced in 
 his own perfon in April 1763, gave additional energy to his reafoning, and pointed 
 every argument. There was no accufation on oath againfl him, either before the 
 firft warrant of apprehenfion, or the commitment to the Tower. He was not admit- 
 ted to fee any one of bis accufen, or witnrfles. His Speech in the Houfe of Commons 
 on the firft day of the fubfequent Seffion, Nov. 15, 1763, ftates the enormity of the 
 proceeding againft him fo fully, that 1 fliall give it entire. 
 
 " Mr. Speaker, 
 
 "I think it my duty to lay before the Houfe a few facl*, which have occurred fines 
 our laft meeting, becaufe, in my humble opinion, which I fhall always fubmit to this 
 Houfe, the rights of all the Commons of England, and the privileges of Parliament, 
 have in my perion been highly viojated. I fhall at prefcnt content myfelf with 
 
 barely
 
 to the charge, and of their being confronted with th$ 
 prifoner ? 
 
 The cafe of Plat, Sir, gives us an inftance of another 
 violation of the law, an ev alien of the Habeas Corpus act, 
 that holy ftatute, which minilters hold in abhorrence, 
 and are now allowed in England to evade with impu- 
 
 barely {toting the fafl<, and leave the mode of proceeding to the wifdom of the 
 Houfe. 
 
 " On the 3oth of April in the morning I was made a prifoner in my own houfe by 
 feme of the King's meffengers. I demanded by what authority they forced their 
 way into my room, and was fhewn a warrant ilfued, -wiihwt oati, by Lord Halifax, 
 Secretary of State, in which no perfon was named in particular, but generally the 
 " authors, printers, and publifhers, of a feditious and treofcnable paper, entitled the 
 N'*tb Brito-y No. 45.'' The meffengers infifted on my going before Lord Halifax ; 
 which I abfolutely refufed, becaufe I knew the warrant was illegal. I applied by 
 my friends to the Court of Common Pleas for a Habeas C)r/>ui, which was granted, 
 but as the proper office was not then open, it could not immediately itfue. I was af- 
 terwards carried by violence before the Earls of Egremont and Halifax, whom J in- 
 formed of the. orders given by the Court of Common Pleas for a Habeas Corpus ; and 
 when I was ordered into another apartment, I enlarged on this fubject a confider- 
 able time to Mr. Webb, the Solicitor of the Treafury. / ivat confronted iuith no wit- 
 nefs, no,- d':d 1 fee any accufer. I was carried to the Tower by virtue of another war- 
 rant, iffued likewife without oath, which declared me " the author and publifher of 
 " a moft infamous and feditious libel, entitled the North Briton, No. 45." The word 
 treafonable was dropped. 1 was however with great ftridlnefs detained a clofe pri- 
 foner, and no perfon fuffered to come near me for almoft three days, although my 
 counfel and feveral friends demanded admittance, in order to concert the means of 
 recovering my liberty. My houfe was plundered, my bureaus broke open, by order 
 of two of your members, Mr. Wood and Mr. Webb, and all my papers carried away. 
 After fix days imprifonment, I was difcharged by the unanimous judgement of the 
 Court of Commod Pleas, that the privilege of ibis H*u!e extended to my cafe. Nptwith- 
 ftanding this folemn deciuan of one of the King's fuperior courts of juftice, a few 
 days after I was fervedwith a Subpoena upon an Information exhibited againft me in 
 the King's Bench. I loft no timeinconuilting the beft books as well as the greateft living- 
 authorities; and from the trueft judgment I could form, I thought the ferving me 
 with a Subpcena was another violation of the privilege of Parliament, which I will 
 neither defert nor betray, and therefore I have not yet entered an appearance. 
 
 " I now ftand in the judgment of the Houfe, fubmitting with the utmoft deference 
 the whole cafe to their juftice and wifdom, and beg leave to add, that if, after this 
 important bufmefs has in its fall extent been maturely weighed, you ftiall be of, opi- 
 nion that I am entitled to privilege, I fhall then be not only ready, but eagerly defi- 
 rous to wave that privilege, and to puMttyfelf upon a Jury of my -countrymen." ( 
 
 7 nity ;
 
 t 
 
 - in America, I fear, to fbfpend for very near a 
 twelvemonth. The hiftory of it is this. Plat was 
 iirit confined to the. Antelope for three months, then 
 removed to the Boreas for four weeks, then carried on 
 .board the Pallas, and in her brought in irons to Enr 
 gland. On her arrival at Portfmouth he was, removed 
 on board the Centaur for three weeks, then to the Bar- 
 r ilcur. Oh the 4th of January laftv ^n .Habeas Corpus 
 was obtained, directed to the captain of the Barfieur ; 
 but before it could be ferved, an exprefs was fent from 
 the treafury by their folicitor, and Plat was removed 
 again to the Centaur before the Habeas Corpus could ar- 
 rive at Portfmouth. The return to that Habeas Corpus 
 was thus eluded; but on his friends declaring that they 
 were determined to fue out another, Plat was at laft 
 " fent to the capital, and, in the illegal mode which 
 I have ftated, committed to Newgate .*. J fpeak, 
 Sir, in the hearing of many gentlemen, who ought to 
 contradict me, if I have advanced a fmgle circumftance, 
 not founded in truth. Can minifters, Sir, who are ca- 
 pable of thus trampling on our' moft facred laws, be 
 too narrowly watched, top deeply fufpcted, too, 
 ftrongly guarded againfl ? Do we not owe it to the peo- 
 ple, to demand every fecurity from the fanction of an 
 oath, the number of witnefles, the confronting of them 
 with the prifoner, the hearing him in his own juftifi- 
 catiqn, aud other circumftances, of which not the leaft 
 
 ' * Mr. Plat was returned to the Judges at the Old Bailey, July 2, 1777, as one of the 
 " MitMlefex Prifoners upou orders," in the cuftody of the Keeper of Newgate). 
 
 '*" No. 2Z. Ebenrxtr Smith Plat, committed Jan. 2 j, 1777, by W. Aldington, . Efq ; 
 
 -" charged, on oath of Richard Scriven ;md Samuel Burnet, with High Treaion :,t 
 " Savannah in the Colony of Georgia in North America ; ordered to remain on hi* 
 t' commitment. Was cithe izth day .of May taken by lldbeat C < 
 fiefty's Court of Knag's ^euchi and rcmaiidedi'-'. ^ , : .,
 
 m . t . ( I0 7 ) 
 
 race'is to be found in this criminal, arbitrary Bill ? Is 
 the perfonal liberty of the fubje6t to reft on the mere 
 pretended fuf phi on of a man, who ats probably under 
 the orders of a profeired minifterial agent, ever ready 
 to make his court to power by the facrifice of public 
 virtue and innocence, whofe incapacity perhaps can 
 only be equalled by his meannefs and fordid lull of 
 gain ? 
 
 I regret, Sir, the indecent rage, the extravagant mad- 
 nefs, with which every meafure, and in particular the 
 Bill in queftion, has been carried on againft the Ame- 
 ricans. It precludes every poffibility of a reconcilia- 
 tion, fo ardently to be wifhed. All the meafures re- 
 fpecting America, and this Bill in particular, as it was 
 at firft brought in, bear the ftrongeft marks of a regular 
 fyftem of defpotifm among our rulers. They originate 
 from the latent, dark all-controuling power of the * man, 
 ivho wants wifdom, and holds principles incompatible with 
 freedom. Let us advert, Sir, for a moment to the dif- 
 
 * Mr. Pjtt made ufe of this expremorj in the Houfe of Commons, fpeaking of the 
 Earl of Bute. Junlus fays, " Lord Bate was not of a temper to relir.<juijh power, 
 *' though he retired from employment. Stipulations were certainly made between your 
 *: Grace [the Duke of Bedford] and him, and certainly violated. After two years 
 " fubmiffion, you thought you had collected a ftrength fufficient to controul his in- 
 *' fluence, and that it was your turn to be a tyrant, becaufe you had been a flave. 
 " When you found yourfelf miftaken in your opinion of your gracious mafter's firm- 
 ? nefs, difappointment got the better of all yqur humble difcretion, and carried you to 
 " an excefs of outrage to bis perfon, as diftant from true fpirit, as from all decency and 
 refpecV' 
 
 In a note, Juniut adds, f the Miniftr>- havu-vs endeavoured to exclude the Dowager 
 " out of the Regency Bill, the EARL OF BUTE DETERMINED TO DISMISS THEM. 
 
 " Upon this the Duke of Bedford demanded an audience of the , reproached 
 
 <* him in plain terms, with- his duplicity, bafenefs, falfnood, treachery, and hypocrify 
 ' repeatedly gave him the lie, and left him in convulfions." 
 
 Junius, vol. I. p. 171. 
 
 When the King came out of the clofet, His Majefty appeared in veiy great agita- 
 ^ion, -and faidto'one otJiis-feiTauK, " THE BELLOW bus dint eyiry- thing but firitc 
 
 r--". , i 
 
 ference
 
 ference of two cafes in point, thefufpjcion only o"f high 
 treafon in America, and the actual charge of it here. 
 
 y . ,r O 
 
 A man only fufpe$ed of high treafon in America, for 
 inftance, the giving aid or affiftance to the Congrefs, 
 or to any of the King's enemies, may on coming over 
 to England be committed to prifon ? and by this Bill 
 continue there without bail or mainpnze, or being able 
 to bring on his trial for near a year, till January i , 1 778, 
 to which time this bill is to continue in force. In 
 jhis kingdom, a mznfufpeffed, or even actually charged 
 \yith High Treafon, in confpiring the death of the 
 King, pr levying war in the realm, may have an Habeas 
 Corpus, and be bailed by the Court of King's Bench. 
 The fufpichn therefore of American treafon feeras a 
 (deeper crime in the judgment of our prefent minifters, 
 than an overt-act of Englifti, or more probably Scotijb, 
 treafon, or rebellion againft his Majefty's perfon, title, 
 crown, or dignity, Jt muft be thought, Sir, a deeper 
 crime, becaufe it is more grievoufly punifhed, Do we 
 imagine the Americans will not retaliate, or do we 
 vainly hope to intimidate them ? Their caufe is good, 
 and after all the idle tales of our late vifionary fuc- 
 cefles, the juftice of it muft in the end prevail. They 
 zre now nobly ftruggling under the fha.rpeft fufferings, 
 but I trufl they have Heady zeal an4 unwearied perfe- 
 verance. In all events, the firft moment of a foreign 
 warneceffarily obliges us to withdraw our fleets and ar-r 
 mies. Every part of North America muft then be free 
 and independent. This Bill can only irritate, and will 
 jiot intimidate. It will probably be anfwered by a 
 fpirited refolution of the Congrefs Woiild to God, 
 Sir, the Britilh Parliament equalled that Congrefs of 
 ^ that more than Roman Senate, in wifdom, in. 
 
 fortitude.,
 
 fortitude, in love of their country, in uncorruptednefs, 
 in public virtue ! 
 
 The fecond enafting claufe of the Bill, Sir, impowers 
 " his Majefty, by warrant under his fign manual, td 
 " appoint one or more places of confinement, within 
 " the realm, for the cuftody of fuch prifoners; and a 1 !! 
 " and every magiftrate or magiftrates, having compe- 
 " tent authority in that behalf, are hereby authorifed 
 " to commit fuch perfons as aforefaid to fuch place or 
 " places of confinement, fo to be appointed inftead of 
 " the common gaol." This claufe may operate in 
 manner more to be dreaded than any baniffcment, or 
 confinement out of the realm. A power, which may be; 
 thus grofsly abufed, ought not to be trufted without re 1 - 
 ftriftion to any man. A perfon only fufpe fled, or pre- 
 tended to be fo, may be doomed to a damp and noxious 
 dungeon, in the midft of putrid marihes, or on the' moft 
 fwampy coaft. He may be {lifted in a vault, to whoft 
 foul mouth no healthfome air breathes in. I, Sir, perhaps 
 may at lajl be jfyfpeflea, and poffibly it will not be a 
 flight fufplehn. I have formerly experienced an illegal, 
 clofe *, and rigorous imprifonment in the Tower; but 
 by this Bill I may be fent to the gloomy xvaftes and de- 
 ferts of the North, to the barbarous Highlands of Scot- 
 land, or among the favnges in the dreary IJle of Bute, 
 from whofe bourh I am fure I fliould never return, even 
 as a traveller, much lefs as a prifoner. Is this clauf6 
 ingeniously meant, Sir, as a new mode of re-peopling 
 that ancient abandoned kingdom? 
 
 Much has been faid, Sir, both in the Committee and 
 m the Hou&, about a Dilator, and his extenfive 
 
 * The law of England appoinrs imprifonment in cuftodiam not in ptenarii, acknow- 
 ledges no (toft imprifonment, whereas I \ya^ kept with the moft extreme rigour. 
 
 . Algernon Sydney's Apology in the day of his death. Paga 173, 
 
 powers.
 
 ( IIP ) 
 
 pcxvers. Many periods of the Roman Hiftory 
 been retailed out to us minutely enough, and they havL- 
 furnilhed many parallels. Comparifons between that 
 virtuous republic, and this corrupt monarchy, are ge-< 
 nerally, in my opinion, more brilliant than folid, more 
 beautiful than jurh A Right * Honourable Gentleman; 
 under the gallery has juft obferved that our glorious- 
 Deliverer, William III, was a Dictator here after the. 
 Jufpenjion of the Habeas Corpus Act in his reign. Should 
 the prefent Bill for the fufpe nfion of that ad; pafs into a 
 law, I fhall regard the noble Lord with the blue rib- 
 band as the modern Diftaior of this great empire, as 
 pofTerTed of the moft ample and defpotic powers. The 
 firft important a6t of public bufinefs in the Roman 
 Diftator was to name his coadjutor in office, the Ma- 
 gifter Equitum, or General of Horfe. If public gratitude 
 has any weight with the Diftator here, I am fure for 
 fuch an office he will immediately fix his eyes on the 
 noble Lord -f- at his right hand, who, to his immortal 
 honour, with great and invincible courage, advanced 
 and charged the enemies of our country at the head of 
 the Britijh borfe. In one particular refpe&ing the Dic- 
 tator of ancient times, I defire to fet right a very high' 
 Law-Officer % among us. All the Roman magiftrates 
 were not, as he fays, fuperfeded by that creation. The 
 Tribunes of the People _, but they alone, preferved their 
 authority, even under a Diftator. 
 
 It has been faid, Sir, by another gentleman, who is 
 likewife in a great Law-Office , that in this Houfe a 
 
 * Right Hon. Henry Seymore Comvay, Member far Midhurft. 
 f Lord George Germaine, in 1759 Lord George Sackville. 
 J Attorney-General, Edward Thurlovv, Efq; Member for Tamwofth. 
 Solicitor-General, Alexander Wedderburne, Efq; Member for Okehampton. 
 jLjor Mr, Wtddtrburnf) there itjonutblng abovt bim } which evn tr.,:cbfy c&tnot 
 tritfl. Junius,. vpj. a. p. i S v 
 
 - difcontented
 
 ctifcbntented party have ridiculoufly given into a tone of: 
 Prophecy, which has never-been accomplifhed, and that 
 particularly aboutt a year ago it was the cafe of the 
 Right Honourable Gentleman who fpoke lately under 
 the gallery. It is not, I believe, very parliamentary to 
 quote words fpoken in a former- debate. But if that 
 member's memory goes to, a prophecy of one year, which 
 has not been fulfilled, he will permit mine a fair excpr- 
 fion to another Prophecy of his own, fix years igo, 
 which has been exacily verified.. His Prophecy in this 
 Houfe was, that -if the violent meafures againft the 
 Americans were perfifted in, the colonies, which formed 
 fo great a ftrength to this kingdom in the reign of 
 George II, .would be dijjevered from the Britiih empire 
 in the reign of George III.. No Prophecy, Sir, ever re- 
 ceived a more perfect accomplilhment. This gentle- 
 man wonderfully pofferTes \\\zfecond Jight of his native 
 country. How deeply criminal he and others have 
 been in the bringing his Prophecy to pafs, I hope this 
 Houfe will one day enquire. 
 
 A very extraordinary obfervatipn of the fame gentle- 
 man in the prefent debate, amidft a variety of heteroge- 
 neous matter, it is impoffible for me not to mention. 
 He has laughed at univerfal benevolence, and endea- 
 voured to demonftrate the impoffibility of its exiftence. 
 But, Sir, he has only given us the narrow, contracted, 
 'felfijh ideas of his own heart, and his own * country. 
 His fentiments and his feelings are confined to a very 
 'j&nall infignificant-circle indeed. They are merely Cfan- 
 nijh and Scotijh. His remarks I faw excited a general 
 
 * We mufl be converfant with the Sects in private life/andobferve their principles 
 cf afting to us, and to each other ; the charafteriftic prudence, the ftlfijb nationality^ 
 the indefatigable fmile, the perfevCring afliduity, thu everlafting prpfeflion of a dif- 
 reet aud moderaie refentmer.r. Junius. Preface, p. 25. 
 
 indignation
 
 indignation in this Houfe. An Englifhrrian has ideas 
 infinitely more liberal and enlarged. His heart ex- 
 pands itfelf, and takes in the general good and prof- 
 perity of mankind. It feels not the rancour, and dif- 
 dains the injuflice, of fuch a cruel, perfecuting Bill, as 
 the objecl: of this day's debate. It forms the warmeft 
 ^iflies for the liberty and happinefs of every individual 
 of this late flourishing empire. Umverfal benevolence, 
 and a generous fpirit of humanity, have been no lefs 
 the charadteriftics of the inhabitants of the Southern 
 parts of this ifland, than that gtiod-nature, for which 
 foreigners have not even a name. I will only add, Sir, 
 that I thiiik the moft beautiful fentence of all antiquity 
 is that which was received with fuch applaufe by the 
 generous and free Roman people, and an Engliih fenate 
 will furely adopt againft every meafure of oppreffion 
 and cruelty, homo fum, hUmani nlhil a me 
 
 VOTES of April 16, 1777. 
 
 The Houfe was moved, " That the order made upori 
 *' Wednefday laft, for referring the feveral Accounts 
 " [refpefting the Civil Lift~] which were then pre- 
 " fented to the Houfe, by the Lord North, by His 
 " Majefty's Command, to the Committee of the 
 *' whole Houfe, to whom it was referred to confider 
 " further of the Supply granted to his Majefty," 
 might be read. 
 
 And the faid Order being read accordingly; 
 
 A motion was made and the Queftion being 
 
 put, " That the faid order be dif charged?' 
 
 It palTed in the Negative. 
 
 Mr.
 
 ( "3 ) 
 
 Mr. Wilfa faid, 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 THERE is not a Gentleman in this Houfe, or in 
 the kingdom, more anxious than I am, that the fplendor 
 and dignity of the Crown of England fhould be m in- 
 tained in its trueft luftre, although for above a courfe 
 of fifteen years I have received from the Crown only a 
 fucceffion of injuries, and never in any moment of my 
 life the flighted favour. I had the honour, Sir, of a 
 feat in this Houfe, when the affair of the Civil Lift was 
 firft agitated in Parliament in the beginning of his pre- 
 fent Majefty's reign, when every good fubjedt hoped to 
 have more than the idea of a Patriot King. I then acqui- 
 efced in the propofed grant. The acceptance of an an- 
 nuity of 800,000 1. and the giving up to the public ,the 
 ancient, hereditary revenues of the crown, originated 
 from the Throne. It was propofed to this Houfe in 
 the ufual mode by Mr. Legge, then chancellor of the 
 Exchequer. Parliament adopted the propoiition, and 
 it was accepted with gratitude by the King. The minifters 
 of that time declared to this Houfe the King's entire 
 fatisfaftion, and that his Majefty fhould be happy to be 
 delivered from the difagreeable neceffity of ever apply- 
 ing to Parliament, like his predeceflbrs, to make good 
 the deficiencies of the Civil Lift. It was admitted that 
 the allowance was competent, ample, moft fully adequate 
 to the wants, and even to the fplendour of the Crown. 
 Parliament granted all the Sovereign afked, and made 
 the grant in the very mode propofed by the minifter. 
 The Civil Lift Act expreffly declares in the preamble, 
 that Soojoool. per annum, " was a certain and compe- 
 
 l " tent
 
 " tent revenue for defraying the expences of his Majef- 
 " ty's Civil Government, and fupporting the dignity 
 " of ttte crown of Great Britain/' The nation thought 
 themfelves aflured of not paying more than 8oo,oool. 
 per annum to the Civil Lift, and gave that fum chear- 
 fully for the trappings of royalty. In the Speech at the 
 clofe of that feffion our gracious young Monarch told 
 us from the Throne, that be could not * fujficiently thank 
 us y and that be thought bimfelfmuch obVged to us for what 
 more immediately concerned bimfelf. By this bargain, Sir, 
 with the public it was generally underftood, and in- 
 deed admitted at that time, that his Majefty would be 
 a gainer of near 7,000!. per annum. The noble Lord 
 with the blue ribband has unfairly drawn his calcula- 
 tions from only the loft eight years of the late King's 
 reign. He ought to have taken the whole of that 
 reign together. In fome years the Civil Lift was very 
 deficient ; in others it greatly exceeded the fum of 
 8oo,ocol. As this is peculiarly a day of dry calcula- 
 tion, I will obferve that, from the accounts delivered 
 into Parliament, it appeared, that in the 33 years of 
 George the Second's reign, from Midfummer 17:27 to 
 Midfummer 1760, the Civil Lift produced only 
 26,182,981!. whereas 8oo,oool, for 33 years, amounts 
 
 * The fame dull, threadbare, vulgar expreffion, u I cannot fujjuitntly tbjrt my 
 "faithful Commons," is repeated in the King's Speech at the end of the laft fjfiion, 
 June 6, "1777- " I cannot _>"^rr<'/ tbar.k mjf*i:tful Commons (or the zeal and 
 u public fpirit with which you have granted the large and txtraonKnarj fuppfat, &c. 
 ** &c." Will there never be a ,tJfr.it,:-y of /*<<> from lusf^iibfiil Commons to the 
 King, or of tbanti from the King to his faitbju! Commons ? or are they both to pro- 
 ceed part fa/tt till the poor people of this country find thcir^ff/w/i/v/reprefentatives 
 have given away the very power of giving ? The jmfficieney of 1760 did nctfitjice to 
 176^. The f*fienrj of 1769 did not fujjit e to 1777. How long will the fujfic'ttney 
 <*f 177? /"$<*? When will be the* next demand, and of confeq'uence the next grant 
 of money from his/iu.'A/W Coatnnons, and of confequence the next " I cannot /^.j- 
 " <*rji tktJt mjfii'bfa! Commons :" 
 
 to
 
 ( "5 ) 
 
 to 26,400,000!. fo that there is a deficiency of 217,019!. 
 The gain therefore on a net revenue of 8oo,oool. is on 
 an average above 6,576!. a year. The fum of 8oo,coo!. 
 was at that time thought abundantly fufficient to fup- 
 port the fplendor of the crown, and the Majefty of this 
 great people. His Majefty has received betides 
 172,605!. the arrears of the late King's Civil Lift, 
 100,000!. on account of Somerfet-houfe, and an addi- 
 tional grant of 513,51 il. in the year 1/69, to dilcharge 
 ail incumbrances. The death of the Princefs Dowager 
 of Wales was a favingof 6o,oool.a year, and of the Duke 
 of York 12,000!. a year. Yet, Sir, we are now told of 
 another debt of 618,340!. and called upon to pay that 
 likewife, notwithftanding the former bargain with ibe 
 public. The very propofal implies another violation of 
 public faith. Sir, I will venture to fay, if we are in- 
 deed juft truftees for the people, if we confcientioufly 
 reflect, that their wealth is intruded to our care, that 
 we are the guardians of the public purfe, we ought to 
 flop this growing evil, and reprobate the idea of fuffer- 
 ing their money to be thus fquandered, as well as the 
 country drained by a variety of taxes. I muft add, Sir, 
 taxes impofed to fupply a profufion, which arifes from 
 a violation of a folemn compact with the nation, -and 
 renders the limitation of the expences of the crown by 
 Parliament the moft vague and abfurd of all propofi- 
 tions. The power of controul of the expences of the 
 erown is the being and life of Parliament. What traces 
 do we now find of the exiftence of this power ? Are 
 the accounts on our table proofs of our boafted 
 ceconomy? and is meannefs thus nearly allied to prodi- 
 gality ? 
 
 I 2. ( There
 
 ( "6 ) 
 
 There is at prefent, Sir, a peculiar cruelty in thus 
 endeavouring to fleece the people, when we are in- 
 volved in a moft expensive, as well as unnatural and 
 ruinous, Civil War, and burthened with an enormous 
 load of national debt, the intereft of which even we 
 are fcarcely able to fland under. Is there no feeling 
 for the fufferings of this impoveriflied country ? Are 
 the people really nothing in the fcale of government ? The 
 principal of the national debt is ftated to us at Mid- 
 fummer 1775 to amount to the aftonifhing fum of 
 135,943,051!. and the intereft to 4,440,821!. Is 
 this the time, Sir, that a minifler can with an unem- 
 bar raffed countenance come to Parliament to lay ad- 
 ditional loads on an exhaufted nation, and to afk more 
 of the people's money ? When the greateft fources of 
 our commerce and wealth are deftroyed by the folly 
 and wickednefs of adminiflration, when we have al- 
 ready fpent in this unjuft war above nineteen millions, 
 when above half our empire is loft, and thofe Ame- 
 rican friends, who have affifted us fo frequently and 
 fo powerfully, are forced by our injuftice to become 
 determined enemies, and for their own fafety to en- 
 deavour our humiliation, are we at fuch a moment as 
 this to talk of the greatnefs of the crown, a crown 
 Jhorn of half its beams ? Are we to hear of the happy 
 ftate of the nation, when we have loft more than we 
 have retained of this divided empire, when new taxes 
 and additional burdens on the people, are the moft 
 important objects of government ? Is the Civil Lift to 
 increafe in proportion to the lofs of all thofe refources 
 .of trade and riches, by which it is fed and nourilhed ? 
 Is the nature of the Civil Lift in the body politic 
 Analogous to what Lord Bacon fays cf the Spleen, that 
 
 it
 
 ( H7 ) 
 
 it increafes in proportion to the wafte, decay, and 
 rapid confumption of the other parts of the human 
 body ? 
 
 Sir, we ought to look back to what former Princes 
 and Parliaments have done. I will take the confidera- 
 tion only from the glorious sera of the Revolution, 
 and it lhall be ftated fairly and fully. The Civil Lift 
 was not granted to King William for life till the year 
 1698, when 700,000!. a- year was fettled on him. The 
 diffractions of his government, and of all Europe at 
 that period, are well known. His moft generous 
 views for the public were thwarted at home during 
 the greateft part of his reign by the 'Tories *, as the 
 friends of liberty are now harraffed by them in Ame- 
 rica, according to the late orders of General Walh- 
 jngton to the Continental army, and his fpirited letters 
 to the Congrefs. Queen Anne had the fame revenue 
 fettled upon her. She did not afk the additional fum 
 of 1 00,000 1. to her Civil Lift, but ihe gave unaiked 
 out of it yearly 1 00,000 1. towards carrying on the 
 
 * His Excellency General Wafhicgton flnftly fat.kir. ajl the officers and foldiers 
 of the Continental Army, of the Militia, and all recruiting parties, plundering nny 
 perfon \vhatfoever, whether Tories or others. The tff<Rt of fu .b ftrfom ivlll be af>* 
 plied to fublic ujts in a regular manner; and it is expedtcd ttu.t bumdulty and tendfn;cfs 
 totvotnen and children will diftinguifh bravt Anuf\ctuu t c'jr.ltr.ding jar liberty, from in- 
 famous mercenary ravagers, whether Britiih or Ilemaus. 
 Trenton, Jan. i ? 1777. G. WASMINCTOK. 
 
 Did any Monarch in Europe begin this year with ich a glorious act of humanity, 
 i^nd regard to the public, as Difiator V/afhington in America ? 
 
 " Grecnivll, March 16, 1777. 
 
 " The bearer hereof, Nehemiah Lifcome, being an infamous Tiry and proftjl 
 '( enemy to the United Statts of America, and coafetjuently having no right to a rcfulence 
 " or dwelling on this Continent, is hereby ordered to remove liimfelf immediately to 
 f Long Ifland, &c ? &c, &c. 
 
 " By order of Major Gen. Woojltr, 
 
 " Jxo. Cofiat Ogd(n t A'd-dt-Camp." 
 
 I 3 war
 
 war, a war agalnjl France, befides 200,000!. at leaft 
 towards the building of Blenheim-houfe, and above 
 100,006!. for the fupport of the poor Palatines. We 
 have a refolution of this Houfe, Sir, on a report from 
 a Committee, which ftates this very fully. It is on 
 the Journals of May 13, 1715, and in the following 
 wotds : " Refolved, that the fum of 700,000!. per an- 
 t( mini was fettled upon his late Majefty King William 
 " during his life, for the fupport of his Majefty's 
 " houfehold, and other his neceffary occaiions ; and, 
 " at the time of his Majefty's demife, after the deduc- 
 " tion of 3,700!. a week, that was applied to the 
 , " public ufes, was the produce of the Civil Lift re- 
 " venues, that were continued and fettled on her late 
 " Majefty Queen Anne, during her life." The de- 
 duction for public fervices of 3,700!. a week, or 
 192,400!. a year, from that part of the Civil Lift re- 
 venue called the " Hereditary and Temporary Excife" 
 was firft made in the laft year of King William. Not- 
 withftanding this deduction, the Civil Lift Funds pro- 
 duced in that very year 709,420!. In the firft of 
 Queen Anne the fame Funds with the fame deductions 
 were fettled on her for life, and declared to be for 
 railing 700,006 1. for the fupport of her houfehold, 
 and the dignity of her government. In the 9th of her 
 reign the old Poft-omce act was repealed, and a new 
 General Poft-office with higher rates was eftablifhed, 
 in confideration of which another deduction was made 
 .from the Civil Lift revenue of 700!. a week, or 
 36,400!. a year. Both tlrefe deductions have ever 
 lince been continued. 
 
 George I. had the fame revenue fettled upon him asi 
 Queen Anne ; but if 300,000!. paid him by the Royal 
 
 Exchange
 
 ( "9 ) 
 
 Exchange and London Aflurance Companies, and a 
 million granted in. 1726, towards paying his debts, 
 are included, his income will appear to have been 
 nearly 800,000 1. -per annum. In the firft fpeech to his 
 Parliament he took notice, " That it was his happi- 
 " nefs to fee a Prince of Wales, who may, in due 
 " time, fucceed to the throne, and fee him blefled 
 * f with many child ren." Yet the eftablifliment of the 
 Civil Lift at the beginning of that reign was only 
 fettled at 700,000!. a year. It was not till after the 
 great expences confequent on the .rebellion of 
 the Earl of Mar, and the other perjured Sc ots, who, 
 although they had taken the oaths to his government, 
 traiteroufly waged open and impious war againft a 
 mild and juft Sovereign, that the Parliament paid the 
 King's debts. In the reign of George I. the Prince 
 pf Wales had an eftablifhment of ioo 9 oool.. per. annum. 
 George II. had a very numerous family, and 
 800,000 1. was at firft fettled upon him, with whatever 
 furplus might arife from the duties and allowances 
 compofing the Civil Lift revenues. In 1736, that 
 part of the hereditary and temporary excife, which 
 confifted of duties on Spirituous Liquors^ was taken 
 from the Civil Lift, in confideration of which 70,000 1. 
 was transferred to it from the aggregate fund. The 
 income of George II. including 115,000!. granted in 
 .1720, and 456,733!. in 1747, towards making good 
 the deficiencies, which had arifen in the Civil Lift 
 duties, was 810,749!. per annum, for 33 years. His 
 late Majefty likewife had in his reign a Scotiflj rebel- 
 lion, carried on by many of the fame traitors, who had 
 been pardoned by his father. The expence of that re- 
 bellion to the King and kingdom \vas enormous, for it 
 
 I 4 was
 
 ( 120 ) 
 
 was not confined to the extremities of the ifland, but 
 raged in the heart of the kingdom, and the rebels ad- 
 vanced to within a hundred miles of the capital. 
 Such an event, Sir, not unforefeen, becaufe foretold, was 
 a juft ground for the Parliament's difcharging a debt 
 contracted by fecuring to us every thing dear to men 
 and Englifhmen. 
 
 The eftablilhment of the prefent King, at the yearly 
 rent charge to the nation of 800,000 1. was a meafure 
 at that time equally pleafmg both to the Prince and 
 people. The minifter boafted that there was not a 
 pofliDility of any future difpute about the hereditary 
 revenues, or concerning accounts fufpected to be falfe, 
 wilfully erroneous, or deceitful, kept back, or anti^ 
 cipated, to ferve a particular purpofe. I am aware, 
 Sir, that the Civil Lift revenues have been increafing 
 for many years. The mean annual produce for the laft 
 five years of George II. was 829,150!. and for the 
 firft fix years of his prefent Majefty, it would have 
 been, had the eftabliihment in the late reign con- 
 tinued, 894,000!. In 1775, it would have been 
 1,019,450!. Near 90,000!. per annum of this great 
 increafe has been produced by an increafe in the Poft- 
 office revenue, occafioned chiefly by the late alteration 
 in the manner of franking, and by the falling in of 
 the crofs pofts to the public by the death of Mr. 
 Allen ; but thefe profits would probably, at leaft cer- 
 tainly ought to, have been referved to the public, 
 had the eftablifliment in the late reign been continued. 
 At the foot of one of the accounts on our table it is 
 flared, " The amount of 800,000!. granted to his 
 " Majefty from the 25th of October 1760, to the 
 k th of January 1777, is 12,965,517!. 45. pd. |. 
 
 "The
 
 ( Ml ) 
 
 u The produce as above exceeds the annuity by 
 " 2,381,241!. 95. id. f. But Parliament granted to 
 " pay off the Civil Lift debt, on the 5th of Jan. 1769, 
 " outofthefuppliesfor the year 1769, 513,511!. which 
 " being deducted Ihews the gain to the public to be, 
 ft 1,867,730!. 95. id. |." The bargain concluded 
 for the public was of an annuity to the King of 4 
 clear 800,000!. fubjedt to no deductions, or contin- 
 gencies for his life, on a folemn promife of that be- 
 ing made to bear all the expences of the Civil Lift, 
 and the Royal houfehold. It was a fair compafl of fi- 
 nance between the King and the fubject, ratified by 
 both parties. The moft explicit aflfurances were given 
 by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the King's 
 name, that no more (hould be afked, and that now 
 his Majefty could never be under the difagreeable ne- 
 ceflity of importuning this Houfe with meffages of 
 perfonal concern. 
 
 I have, Sir, carefully examined the Accounts laid 
 before this Houfe, by his Majefty's command, the 
 eight folio books, as well as the other papers. I will 
 venture to fay they are as loofe, unfatisfaftory, per- 
 plexed, and unintelligible as thofe delivered in by the 
 noble Lord with the blue ribband in 1770, a year after 
 the former demand to pay the debts on the Civil Lift. 
 I am, fure, Sir, more loofe, unfatisfactory, perplexed, 
 and unintelligible, no accounts can be. Their defec- 
 tivenefs and fallacy is highly culpable. The coming 
 to Parliament at that time with fuch a demand, but 
 without any account whatever, was an infult to this 
 Houfe, and the now laying before us fuch accounts 
 as thofe on the table is a folemn mockery. Many 
 gentlemen in the Houfe declared the laft week their 
 
 opinion,
 
 C 
 
 (opinion, that, after the flricterT: examination, they 
 could make nothing of thole former accounts. It was 
 not intended they ihould. One particular only fixed 
 my attention as an individual. Under the head of fe- 
 cret and fpecial fervice, I find that between Oct. 1762, 
 and Oct. 1763, a moft memorable year, there was iflucd 
 to Samuel Martin, Efq. 41,000!. We have indeed, 
 Sir, had a week allowed to go through thefe accounts ; 
 but I will venture to affirm, that a year would not bfc 
 fuiEcient to clear them from their fcudied perplexity, 
 to give order and light to fuch a chaos. The moft 
 able accomptants do not pretend to understand them. 
 They would puzzle a De Moivre. ./Egyptian dark- 
 nefs hangs over the whole. There is not one friendly 
 ray of light to lead us through this labyrinth. 
 
 No account, Sir, whatever is given Parliament of the 
 -other confiderable revenues of the crown, befides the an- 
 nuity of 8oo,oool. I do not mean the income of the elec- 
 torate of Hanover, or Bilhopric of Ofnabrug, but what 
 his Majeily enjoys as King of England. That is a fair 
 confederation with us, when the Houfe are providing 
 for the fupport of the luftre of the crown, at prefent, 
 I fear, a little tarnijbed. The extraordinary revenues 
 of the Crown are, the revenue of Ireland, the Duchy 
 of Cornwall, the land revenue within the principality 
 of Wales, the revenue of Gibraltar, American quit- 
 rents, now generally loft, irredeemably loft, the Plan- 
 tation duties .of 4!. | per cent, from the Leeward 
 iflands, fines, forfeitures, and many other particulars, 
 which certainly carry the Royal income to muc'h above 
 one million a year. We may form feme guefles 
 from the grants we find made. From the revenue of 
 the Duchy of Cornwall it appears that 1.7,000!. ilfued 
 i to
 
 to Mr. Brad/haw in one year, and I i,oool. in another. 
 From the 4!. f per cent, in 1769, for hisMajejlysfyeclal 
 fervice, 14,742!. to Sir Grey Cooper. In 1771, John 
 Robinfon, Efq. received 1 0,000 1. of the Virginian 
 quit-rents, the laft payment I believe of that nature. 
 Sir Grey Cooper in 1769 received 2,144!. from the 
 revenue of Gibraltar ; and' in 1765 the fum of 13,804!. 
 was iflued thence for fpecial fervice. Such copious 
 ftreams muft flow from rich and abundant fountains. 
 The Plantation duties of 4!. i per cent, produced, in 
 1753, the fum of 27,377!. Fines and forfeitures arc 
 a very confiderable addition to the Royal revenue. I 
 was plundered in one year of loool. by two fines, one 
 of 500!. for a pretended libel, and another of the 
 fame fum, becaufe I had a laughable poem * locked 
 
 up 
 
 * The Ir.te Speaker of the Houfe of Commons, Sir John Cuft, the weakeft as 
 well as the moft abje<5l of all minifterial tools even in that Houfe, who, by betraying 
 the rights of the Commons expected to become a Lord, contrived in conjunction with 
 'a Mr. Filmer, Clerk of the King's Bench Treafury, to hold out a laughnblt poem to 
 the nation as " blafpbemy." When Mr. Wilkes was a prifoner at the bar of the Houfc 
 'oh the 3ift of January 1769, he complained of this injuftice. 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I am forty to be obliged by the regard I have to truth, and the vindication of rr>7 
 honour, to take notice in this public manner of an injury repeatedly done me \>yyou, 
 Sir, in the Votti of this Houfe, published to the nation by yiur authority, and in year 
 name. I find it is aliened tkiee times, in the fates of laft November, that there is a 
 record of" blafpbemy" againft me. I am fure that no fuch record ever exifted. The 
 aflertion is entirely void of truth. I am therefore neceffitated to make my appeal to 
 the Houfe againftjaz/, Sir, for having charged me with being convicted of a crime, 
 fcf which I am innocent, and fpread an unjuft accufation throughout the kingdom, 
 under the fan 61 ion of the Speaker 'i authority. In the good old Speaker's [Onjlym'i] 
 time, when any miilake accidentally, and none ever but by accident THEN appeared in 
 the Votes, the error was not only always acknowledged with candour, but fpeedily 
 rectified. The falfe charge againft me in fo unjuftifiable a manner ftill remains on 
 your Volts in full force. I feel it, Sir, as I ought ; but I fubmit to the \vifdom and 
 juftice of this Houfe the mode of reparation of my injured honour. 
 
 Journals; Jan 31, 1769, vol. 3*. page 169, 
 
 Ordafed,
 
 ( 124 ) 
 
 up in my bureau, which adminiftration hired a rafcal 
 of a fervant. * to ileal, and then they contrived to 
 
 The 
 
 Ordered, That the Entries in the Votes of the Titles of the copies of the Records 
 piefentedto thisHoufe upon the i^d day of November laft, be fo altered, as particu- 
 larly to exprefs, that the words " for a libel" and for " blafpbemy," contained in the 
 faid Entries, were part of the titles indorfed by the Officer, [Mr. Filmer] who pre- 
 fented the faid Copies, and no part of the faid records ; nor intended to convey any ofi- 
 niin of the Hwfe concerning them. 
 
 In the firft debate on the Middlefex elections in the prefent Parliament, Feb. 22, 
 1775, Charles Van, Efq. Member for Brecon, mentioned this record as for " blaf- 
 " fbe>ny." Mr. Wilkes immediately called him to order, and defired the above 
 extracts frem the Journals might be read. Mr. Van very ingenuoufly confeiTed his 
 miftake. 
 
 * Michael Curry. Not a printer, nor a printer's devil, would afterwarc's aflociate 
 \vith this fiend. He ran away from the capital, firft to Norwich, and afterwards to 
 Briftol, where he delivered the world from one of the moft wretched, as well as 
 wicked, of the human race. On the 3d of Auguft 1 768, he made an affidavit at the 
 Manfion Houfe before the Lord Mayor Harley, which has been printed in all the pa- 
 pers. He was frequently with the peer, who is commonly called jftmmy 'Tivitcber. 
 In the affidavit he fwears, " that when he told his Lordfhip of the robbery he had 
 "committed on his Mailer, Lord Sandwich anfwered, Ym have Javed the nation, 
 *' and you may dtpend on any thing that is in my power ; that, the inducement to him to 
 " commit the robbery was the money offered him, and the large promifes from tbojt 
 " in poioer." His Lordftiip was then Secretary of State. The affidavit likewife 
 ftates, " thatFaden, and Haflhl!, two known minifterial age:.ts, defired him to name 
 <* any fum, and that he might depend on being fupported from any injury he might 
 " apprehend, and firmly rely on being protected b/ tbofe \nfrMtr" Curry was af- 
 jferwards examined at the Bar of the Houfe of Commons on the 3 ift of January 1 769. 
 He then declared, that he " lived for fometime at the houfe of Philip Carteret Webb, 
 " Efqj Secretary to the Treafury, that he was coffined there, that Webb fent him to 
 " Carrington, one of the King's meffengers, who regularly every week fupplied him 
 " with^money, that Webb faid he might depend upon being taken care of, that^e- 
 t( vernmtnt w.uld take cars t>f him fnr Jui-rendtring the cofy, and giving the rvidtn:t 
 " againft Wilkes^ that Carrington declared he was accountable to gove- nmtnt for the 
 <{ money h$ paid him, that L ord Sa>:d-wi:h told him, he might depend on any tb:n% in 
 " bis pvwei y that he had loft his character, that no one would afterwards employ 
 him, Sec. &c." 
 
 There was not a man of honour in Europe apqnainted with this black tranfac- 
 tion, who did not blulh for the conduct of the court of England on this occafiqn. 
 Every liberal idea was facrificed to a perfonal pique of the Prince. The infamy of 
 corrupting a fervant to rob his mafter, the bafenefs of confining a gentleman for 
 a year in prifon, and the meannefs of picking his pocket of 500 /. becaufe he liad 
 
 aloof*
 
 The bufmefs of this day, Sir, is naturally branched 
 out into two parts, both which certainly claim our ftrit 
 attention. His Majefty's meffage points them out to 
 us. The firft is the outftanding debts, the fecond 
 the increafe of the eftablifhment of the Civil Lift. 
 
 Before we proceed, Sir, to take into confideration the 
 payment of the King's debts, we ought to enquire in 
 what manner they have been contracted. The King 
 has enjoyed ever fince his acceffion the greateft unap- 
 propriated revenue of any prince in Europe, and the ex- 
 pences of the whole Royal Family have never exceeded 
 160,000!. a year. A Committee Ihould be appointed 
 for both the purpofes mentioned, and papers very dif- 
 ferent from thofe before us ought to be fubmitted to 
 Parliament. It is impoflible for us now to form the 
 
 a loofe poem locked up in a private clofet, had not been known in the moft 
 defpotic countries, and betrayed a fpirit of injuftice, revenge, and cruelty. The 
 fitteft agent was employed for fuch a bufmefs, Jemmy T-iv-tcbcr, then Secretary 
 of State, bomo foft bunintt natis turpijjimus, JceleratiJJimus, cofitaminatijjimu!. Even 
 Lord Le Defpencer, one of the firft and moft eager court vaflals, who vowed 
 unconditional fubmijjion to the Thane, and fwore fealty at the Ihrine of Bute, even 
 he condemned the breach of honour and convivial friendfhip, without the pre- 
 text of any injury, or even previous quarrel in his brother peer. At the 
 conclufion of the Secretary's fpeech in the Houfe of Lords, Lord Le De- 
 fpencer exclaimed aloud, " that h* never before heard the devil preach a fer- 
 " mon againft fin." 
 
 A great writer obferves, that every man hat a right to bave foifsns in hit thfet. The 
 crime is in tbt vending. 
 
 The conduct of Henry IV. of France on the publication in 1605 of the famous 
 libel called L'ljle ties Hermaphrodite;, was worthy of that great King. 
 
 Ce petit libel (qui etoit affez bien fait) fous le nom de cette Ifle imaginaire, de- 
 couvroit les moeurs et fajons de faire impies et vicieufes de la Cour, faifant voir 
 clairement que la France eft maintenant le repaire et 1'afyle de tout vice, volupte, 
 et impudence, au lieu que jadis elle etoit une academic honorable et feminaire de 
 vertu. Le R;i le voulut voir et fe le fit lire ; ct encore qu'il le trouvit un peu 
 libre et trop hardi, il fe contenta neanmoins d'en apprendre le nom de 1'auteur, 
 qui etoit Arthus Thomas, leyuei il n; voulut qu'sn ricbercbaf, faifant ecnfa'encf, difoit- 
 'd, de facbtr un bomme pour avoir die /. -neriie. 
 
 Journal du regne de Henri I\ r . Par M. Pierre de 1'Etoile, Grand Audiencier 
 en la Chaiicollerie de Paris, vol. III. p, a;3, 179- Ed. La Ha^'e, 1741. 
 
 flighteft
 
 C 126 ) 
 
 flighted conjecture from thefe accounts in what way fo 
 enormous a debt as 618,340!. has been contracted. It 
 is aftonilhing that there ihould remain in cafh in the 
 Exchequer on the 5th of Jan. laft only 35,640!. The 
 Queen has indeed 50,000!. a year very regularly paid; 
 tut the expence of the prince of Wales and the Bifhop 
 ofOfnaburg is charged from 1769101777 only 42,242!. 
 Prince William Henry and Prince Edward, for the fame 
 period, 5,017!. The King's meflage, Sir, leads us to 
 confider the ftate of the whole Royal Family. His Ma- 
 jelly has two brothers, univerfally beloved by the na-* 
 tion. I find no trace of any debts contracted by the 
 crown on their account ; no princely grants to either of 
 the King's own brothers. As an Englifhman I regret 
 the fcantinefs of their incomes. The Duke of Glou- 
 cefter feems doomed to pafs his life abroad; and it is 
 certainly neither from choice, nor from the ill flare of 
 his health. The Duke of Cumberland is happier, and 
 lives in England. He pofiefies all the virtues, and fup- 
 ports with dignity the rank, of a private, benevolent, 
 amiable Nobleman. His income is by no means ade- 
 quate to the fplendor of a Prince of the Blood, of a 
 Prince of the blood fo near to the King as his Majefty's 
 own Brother. How then, Sir, has this enormous 
 debt been contracted ? No outward magnificence has 
 dazzled our eyes ;. no internal, domeftic profufion has 
 been imputed to the Lord Steward of the houfehold *, 
 
 who 
 
 * With the greateft unappropriated revenue of any Prince in Europe, have we 
 not fcen you reduced to jucb vile and fcrdij dijireffei, at Witttd have conduced any 
 other man to a prifon ? Is it not notorious that the vaft revenues, extorted from tbc 
 iabnur and indujlry of your fubjcfit, and given you to do honour to yourfelf and to 
 the nation, are difiipated in corrupting their reprefentatives f Junius. Preface, p. 29. 
 
 In the debate in the Houfe of Lords on the debts of the Civil Lift, April 16, 
 1777, Earl Taibot, Lord Steward of His Majefty's Houfehold, tile tear flatting 
 
 from
 
 ( "7 > 
 
 who almoft alone has continued in office this whole, 
 reign. We have fcarcely the appearance of a Court, 
 even in the capital. Former Kings of England with 
 very inferior revenues were generous and fplendid, 
 their courts pompous and brilliant. All princely and 
 royal vifitors were lodged in their palaces, and fplen- 
 didly entertained *. His Majefty's residence at Wind- 
 for the lafl fummer did not quite revive all the ideas 
 of the magnificence, and even hofpitality, of the 
 Plantagenets, nor efface all the glories of our Henries 
 and Edwards. No {lately buildings, or proud pa- 
 laces, no imperial works, and 'worthy Kings, have ex r 
 cited the public wonder, or called foreigners from the 
 continent to our ifland to admire the royal tafte and 
 magnificence. An honourable gentleman -j~, Sir, tells 
 us of the King's houfes. The former Kings of Eng- 
 land, Sir, lived in palaces, not in boufes. His Ma.- 
 jelt has not yet had a Scotijh rebellion to quell. The 
 Royal revenues have not been expended again/I the 
 Scots, but furrendered to them ; an idea little fufpe&ed 
 by the people of England, when they gave at firft with 
 fuch a liberal, and even prodigal hand. How then. 
 Sir, has this debt been contracted ? There are no out-' 
 ward and vifible figns of grandeur and ex pence. I, will 
 tell the Houfe what is faid without doors, what the nar 
 tion fufpefts, and therefore it becomes our duty fd 
 
 from his eye, told many a piteous tale of the diftrefies of the royul houfeholil, 
 kitchen, and ftables, of half-ftarved nurfes, fkullions, and grooms. . His Loidfhip 
 faid, " he would finiih thofe fcenes of unutterabU -wae with a facft, -which had hap- 
 " pened very lately. The King's coal -merchant declared, that he was fo diftreffed 
 " for money, be iva naJy to turn bii Majejly tjf." 
 
 * When the King's Sifter, the Princels of Brunfwick, paid the lail vlfit to 
 the Court of England, Her Royal Highaefs was in rcady-fu. nijkcd ledgingt in Pali* 
 
 Mall. 
 
 fc Sir Grey Cooper, Bait. Member for Saltalh, Joint Secretary to the TreafuiyV 
 
 inveftigate.
 
 ( "8 ) 
 
 im-eftigate. The nation, Sir, fufpefts, that the re- 
 gular,, minifte rial majorities in Parliament are bought 
 by thefe very grants ; that in one inftance we attend 
 to the evangelical precept, give, and it Jhall be given 
 unto you , and that the Crown has made a purchafe of 
 this Houfe with the money of the people. Hence 
 the ready, tame, and fervile compliance to every 
 Royal edict iflued by the Minifter. Inward corrup- 
 tion * is the canker, which gnaws the vitals of Par- 
 liament. It is almoft univerfally believed, Sir, that 
 the debt has been contracted in corrupting the Repre- 
 fentatives of the people, and that this public plunder 
 lias been divided among the majority of this Houfe, 
 which is allowed to be the moft corrupt afTembly in 
 Europe, while the honeft and fair creditors of the 
 Crown have been reduced to the greateft diftrefs. 
 Companion to them is only made the pretext of the 
 prefent meflage* This, Sir, is a fit object of parlia- 
 mentary enquiry. 
 
 * Other princes, befides his Mnjefty-, have had the means of corruption within their 
 reach, but they have nfed it with moderation. In former times corruption was confi- 
 dered as a foreign auxiliary to government, and only called in upon extraordinary 
 emergencies. The unfeigned piety, and fancTified religion of Ges>-gc the Third have 
 taught him to new-model the civil forces of the ftate. The natural refources of the 
 Crown are no longer confided in. Corruption glitters in the van ; collects and 
 maintains a (landing army of mercenaries, and, at the fame moment, impoverifhes 
 and inflaves the country His Majefty's predeceffors (except that worthy family, 
 from which you, my Lord, [the Duke of Grafton] are unqueftionably defcended) 
 had fome generous qualities in their competition, with vices, 1 confefs, or frailties in 
 abundance. They were Kings, or gentlemen, not hypocrites or priefts. They were 
 at the head of the church, but did not know the vnlue of their office. They faid 
 their prayers without ceremony, and had too little prieftcr.ift in their underftanding, 
 to reconcile the fauctimonious forms of religion with the utter deltruclion of the mo- 
 rality of their people. My Lord, this is fact, not declamation. With all your par- 
 tiality to the houfe of Stu trt, you muft confefs, that even Charles the Second would 
 have blufhid at thofe eager, meretricious careflcs, with which every fpecies of private 
 vice and public proftitution is received at St. JawcSt. 
 
 Junius, vol. II. pages 249, 250. 
 
 The
 
 C 129 ) 
 
 The alarm has fpread through the country. The 
 charge is taken up by almoft every independent man in 
 the kingdom. It is afked, Did the laft parliamentary 
 grant .of 513,51 il. fo lately as 1769, to pay the King's 
 debts, give fatisfaftion to the honeft tradefmen and infe- 
 rior dependents of the crown, or was it diverted another 
 \vay? The majority of this Houfe, Sir, ought not to 
 lie under this fufpicion, nor will they, if they are inno- 
 cent. They ought likewife to vindicate the honour of 
 our Sovereign from the foul fufpicions which are gone 
 abroad on this fubject. A heavier accufation can fcarcely 
 be brought, Mr! Locke, Sir, in his chapter on the 
 D'ljfolutwn of Government, fays, " He (the fupreme Ex- 
 " ecutor) affs contrary to bis truft, when he either employs 
 (t the force, treafure, and offices of thefociety, to corrupt 
 " the reprefentati'ves, and gain them to his purposes, or 
 " openly pre-engages the eleffcrS) and prefcribes to ihcir 
 " choice, fuch, whom he has by felicitations ', threats, pro- 
 ** mifes, or other wife, won to his defigns', and employs them 
 f< to bring in fuch who have promifed before-hand what 
 ts to vote, and what to enaft." What, Sir, was the cafe 
 of Hine's Patent Place in the collection of the cuftoms 
 at Exeter, publicly fold, and the money given, not to 
 a needy public, but to General Burgoyne, to reimburfe 
 him the expences of the Prejlon election, and the fub- 
 fequent profecution and fine of icool. by a court of 
 law, for the outrages committed in Lancafhire againft 
 the facred rights of eledtion ? That inftance alone me- 
 rited an impeachment from parliament againft the pro- 
 fligate minifler * of that day. 
 
 * The Duke of Graftan. 
 
 Junius adJrefleshis Grace in terms almoft of infpiration. " Your cheek turns r&le; 
 for a guilty conlciencfe tells you, you are undone. Come forward, thou virtuous 
 
 K miniiler,
 
 If there is, Sir, a fpark of virtue left among us, we 
 cannot fit down contented with fuch loofe general ac- 
 counts, that fecret andfpecial fervice, the Privy Purfe, 
 
 uninifter, and tell the world by what mtereft Mr. Hine has been recommended to fo 
 extraordinary a mark of his Majefty's favour : what was the price of the patent he 
 has bought, and to what honourable purpofe the purchafe money has been applied. 
 Xothing lefs than many thoufands could pay Colonel Burgoyne's expences at 
 Prefton." Junius, vol II. p. 21. 
 
 No fale by the candle was ever conducted with greater formality. I affirm that 
 the price, at which the place was knocked down (and which, I have good reafon 
 to think, was not lefs than 3,500 1.) was, ivieh your connivance and confent, paid ta 
 Colonel Burgoync, to reward him, I prefume, for the decency of his deportment at 
 Prefton. Page 23. 
 
 Mr. Taylor and George Rofs (the Scotch agent and worthy confidante of Lord 
 Mansfield) managed the bufmefs. Page 24. 
 
 The chafte Dukt of Graf tin had commenced a profecution againft Mr. Samuel 
 Vaugbany for endeavouring to corrupt his integrity by an offer of 5000!. for a patent 
 place in Jamaica. A rule to fhew caufe, why an information fhould not be exhi- 
 bited r.gainft Vaughan for certain mifdemeanours, being granted by the Court of 
 King's Bench, the matter wasfolemnly argued on the 2 yth of November, 1769, and, 
 by the unanimous opinion of the four judges, the rule was made abfolute. The 
 pleadings and fpeeches were accurately taken in fhort-hand, and publifhed. The 
 whole of Lord Mansfield's Speech, and particularly the following extrafts from it, 
 deferve the reader's attention. " A practice of the kind complained of here is cer- 
 " taialy dihonourable and fcandalous. If a man, ftanding under the relation of an 
 " officer under the King, or of a perfon in whom the K' r ig puts confidence, or of a 
 " miii-fter, takes money for the ufe of that confide nee the King puts in him, he bafeiy 
 " betrays the King, he betrays his truft. If ihe King fold the office, it would be 
 " acling contrary to the truft the conftitntion hath repofed in him. The conftitu- 
 " tion does not intend the Crown fhould fell thofe office?, to r.Yife a revenue out of 
 " them. Is kpofiible to heiitate, whether this would not be criminal in the Duke of 
 " Grafton ; contrary to his duty as a privy-counfellor ; contrary to his duty as"S 
 f! miniller; contrary to his duty as a fubject. His advice mould be free according to 
 " his judgment ; it is Che duty of his office ; he has fworn to it." Notwithftanding all 
 this, the chafte Dukt tf Grafton certainly fold a patent place to Mr. Hine, for 3,500!. and, 
 for fo doing, is noxv Lord Privy Seal to the clufte George, with whofe piety we are 
 perpetually deafened. If the Houfe of Commons had done their duty, and impeached 
 the black Duke for this moft infamous breach of truft, how woefully muft pw, har.e/l 
 Atan-fit/ii have been puzzled ! Hisembarratfment would have afforded the moft ri- 
 diculous icene, that ever was exhibited. To fave the worthy judge from this per- 
 plexity, and. the no lefs worthy Duke from impeachment, the profecution againft 
 Va-tgkan was immediately dropped upon my difcovery and pulvlication of the Duke's, 
 treachery. The fullering this charge to pafs, without any enquiry, fixes (hamelefs 
 proftitution upon the face of the Houfe of Commons more ftrongly than ever the 
 Middlefex election. Junius, vol. II. p. 27, 
 
 ibe
 
 C 
 
 ihe fteafurer of the chamber, the Cofferer of the Houfehold* 
 Royal bounties, petifioris and annuities, fwallovv up almoft 
 the whole Civil Lift. There is a general charge of 
 penfions to the arhonnt of 438,000!. The * Penfion 
 
 Lift 
 
 * The Duke of Graf ten during his adminiftraHon carried the Penfan Lift to the ex- 
 treme of infamy. Junius a(ks, " Has not Sir John Meore a penfion of 500!. a year? 
 This may probably be an acquittal of favours upon the turf ; but is it poffible to 
 offer a groffer outrage to a nation, which has fo very lately cleared away the beggary 
 oftbe Civti Lift, at the expence of more than half a million ?" Junius; vol. I. p. 89. 
 " If a late penfion to a broken gambler [Sir John Moo>e~] be an act worthy of 
 commendation, the Duke of Grafton's connections will furnifh him with many op- 
 portunities of doing praife- worthy actions. P. 95. 
 
 The penfion of 1,200 1. a year to Paoli can be accounted for only two ways, 
 either by the courtly principle now eftablifhed among us, of giving appiaufe and 
 afliftance to all thofe, who have betrayed the public liberty, from the King "of 
 Sweden to the late General of the Corficans, or as hufh-money to conceal the 
 lhare of our court in the facrifice of Corfica to France. When Baron Van Swieten^ 
 the late Minifter from the Emprefs Queen to the King of Pruflia, was in London, 
 he faw and converfed with Paoli. The Corfican lamented, that in the late war 
 againll France bt couU not be prcfent every where in bis iftand in e-vtry aflion. The 
 Baron replied, that is no reafon for your doing nothing -where you <0i:re. The penfiou 
 then ought to have been given him by France, not by England. " Le Compte dc 
 " Grandmaifon prit le village d'Olmetta, d'ou le General Paoii s'etoit enfuit des le 
 " premier ebranlement des troupes." Hifleire des Revolutions de Corfe. Par 
 >1. 1'Abbe de Germanes. Paris, vol. III. p. 65. " II manquoit totabment de 
 " cette bravoure, le foutien des ecats naiffans; et fi neceffaire vis-a-vis d'une 
 " nation belliqueufe, qu'elle ne peut etre fUppliee par aticune autre qualitc. 
 *< Ou ne 1'a vu dans> aucune action a la tete de fes compatriotes. II fe te- 
 " noit toujours en arriere, et ne manquoit pas d'etre le premier a faire re- 
 " traite des qu'il voyoit le fucces douteux," vol. II. p. iS8. " PaM ignorant la 
 " vietoire fuyoit d'une cote, tandis que nom nous rctiriens de 1'autre." vol. III. p. 9$, 
 There is a remark;ible appearance of candour and impartiality in this hiilory. The 
 Abbe received the folemn thanks of the ftates of Corfica for the two firfl volumes, 
 " II fut aiTete^ que Ton ecriroit, au nom des Etats a M. 1'Abbe Germanes nns 
 " lettre de remerciement fur les peines et foins qn'il avoir pris;" *cc. &c. ' fa .. 
 " tout eperdu, laiffa, pour fe fauver a travers les rochers, fon cl:tv-.l et fon pott- 
 *' feuille a Murato," p. 132.. : ' Le General Paoli fe hata de quitter fa patri*; ^- 
 n laiflant Abattucci a la tete des Nationaux qui tenoier.t encore les arnics ; il fe 
 " fauva de Baftihca fur Quinza, et dela fe remlit a Porto Vecchio avee Clement 
 " fon frere, quelques autrci chefs, et une centaine de Coifes attaches a fa perfonne,. 
 " ou a fes ritbfcs)' vol. ill. p. 148. " 1'envie de pei-putuer fon gouvernement fuc 
 *' fa premiere raiiba d'tt&t, et il-pre'fera' toujours jc. grandeur ferJKattili a U 
 
 K i
 
 C '3 2 . ) 
 
 Lift is. the, great grievance. From 1769 to 1777, there 
 is a fmgle line of i 7 1 ,o.ool. fecret and facial fervice, if- 
 fued to Sir Grey Cooper. In the fame period, under 
 the fame article, 1 14,000!. to * John Robinfon, Efq; 
 exclufive of enormous fums on the fame heads to the 
 Secretaries of State, and the Secretary of the Poll- 
 office, generally in one ihort, fmgle line. When we 
 know, Sir, what profecutions have been carried on, a 
 loofe article of 6o,oool. in one year, as la\v charges, 
 ought to alarm us no lefs for the liberty of the Prefs, 
 than for the private property of individuals againft un 
 founded claims of the crown. We have feen the cruel 
 invalion of both in this reign. Under the head of Con- 
 tingencies of divers natures, we are loft and bewildered 
 
 " <&/n nation il etoit beaxicoup moins capitaine que politique. An dffaut de bra- 
 " vonre, il fubftituoit Tart d'en mbntrer. Feignant de chercher le peril au com- 
 " mencement d'une action, il trouvoit toujours des amis difcrets, qui arretoient fon 
 " ardeur quoique timidt da"i le combat, il etoit iardi dans le confcil, et ferme dan; 
 " fes project ft ne pouvant phis maintenir fon pays dans la liberte dont il pretendoit 
 " etre le reftaurateur, il fiit mart let armes a la nta'm a la tete de fcs compatriotes, 
 " il pafferoit pour un /jt'i-os." p. 48. Such is the judgement paffed by a French 
 Abbe on a republican General ? What \vas the glorious anfwer of the young 
 Naflhu, after\vards our great Deliverer, to fome courtiers of Charles II, who hi 
 the cit- fpenite fituation of Holland from the conquefts of Louis XIV. advifed him to 
 accept the fplendid offer of being Sovereign of the Provinces under the protection 
 of EngUind and France ? The hero replied, / <h>Ht not furtive the liberties of my 
 (ojt>y- I will die en the la/I dyke. Paoli ought to have died, {word in band, on 
 the laft/rr? mountain of Cornea. But he now vegetates inglorioufly in a foreign coun- 
 try, an*!, as Plautus happily expreffes it, in mundltiit, mottitiii, deliciifqut tetatulam 
 ogit. He attends regularly, bows low, and fmiles eternally, at the levee of a 
 Ki"g, by whom he is again moft gracioufly fmiled upon, careffed and penfaned. 
 With the fpoils of his eiiflaval countr/, stid an F.nglifli penjion, this brave, frm, 
 fierce, indep<ndent republican crouches at a court, and confoles himfelf, far from 
 tbofe -vile guns, in a drawing room, in a fwect intercourfe of bows and fmiles with 
 the ribbanded and titled fl.ives of power, under the contempt of all Europe. The 
 fenfnn was given him, at the intercelFion of Lord George Gcrnialnt, in the admi- 
 niftralion of the Duke of Graf 191. His treachery recommended him to the Duke: 
 a fitnilitude of character and comluft naturally captivated the heart of Gtrmanicut. 
 * Member for liarvvich, Joint Secretary to the Ti eafury with Sir Grey Cooper. 
 
 by
 
 C 133 ) 
 
 by a rambling account, in which it is impofiible .to 
 guefs the Icaft particular. We find MeJJrs. Amyand and 
 Siebel receive 38,692!. to pay bills of Exchange ; and 
 in another line, Thomas Pratt, Efq; 8,139!. to pay ano- 
 ther bill of Enchangc. For what national purpofe, or 
 public fervice ? Such accounts, Sir, are only calculated 
 for fuch a fervile Parliament. Pen/zons, annuities, and 
 royal bounties, fliall with much caution be touched by 
 me even in this Houfe. One word only I fliall men- 
 tion of literary patronage, becaufe it feems to be a favo- 
 rite fubjefh We are, Sir, hourly told, that genius and 
 learning are now foftered by the propitious beams of 
 royal favour, and all the polite arts encouraged and pa- 
 tronized. The two famous Dodors * Sbebbeare and 
 
 Johnfon, 
 
 * Dr. Shebbeare was tried in 1758 for printinr ami pnblilliing " A Sixth Let- 
 " ter to the People of England." The Information was exhibited by Lord Cam - 
 den, when Attorney General. Jt ftated, that the htel " (ended to traduce the 
 tl Revolution, and to reprefent it as the foundation cf all thofe imaginary evils .ind 
 " calamities, which he, the faid Defendant, would falfely infmuiite the fubiec'ls of 
 " this kingdom did labour under; and alfo to afperfe the meinoiy of King William 
 * c Jll, and of George I, &c. and alfo to afperfe, frandalize, and vilify King 
 " George II, &c. and to infmuate that King George II. had no concern for the 
 *' people of England, nor any regard for the intereft, honour, or welfare of this 
 *' kingdom." Another charge was omitted by the Attorney General Mr. Pratt, 
 from a motive of delicacy, for Dr. Shebbeart; had bafard'.xed the whole royal fa- 
 mily in the " Sixth Letter to the People of England." It was publifhed in the 
 time of the late v/ar with France. A jury found the Dodlor guilty. He was 
 fined, pilloried, and imprifoned. Lord Mam-field, who tiied the c;n;;'e, declared, 
 that the (t Sixth Letter to the People of England'* approached tie marefl to Ili?l) Trfa- 
 fon, loitboul nftually committing it, of ary paper bi ever read.. His Lordthip'i nicr, 
 exquifite jxidgement in fuch a matter cannot be controverted. The family connec- 
 tion with his own brother, Lord Dunbar, the late Pnttrtdtr'i confdtnt':al f.-crttary^ 
 his early ftudies at Oxford, the whole caft and colour of his life, make his opinion 
 of value, his teftimony unqueftjonable. In a letter addrelfed to his Lordfhiji, 
 Juniusfays, " In your earlier days you were but little infected with Ae prudence 
 " of your country ; you had fome original attachment. 1 :, which you took every 
 " proper opportunity to acknowledge. The liberal fpirit of youth prc- 
 " vailed over your native difcretion. Your ?.eal in the caufe of an unhappy 
 'prince was exprefied with the fincerity of wine, and fome of the folcmnities of 
 
 K ' religion."
 
 ( '34 ) 
 
 *, are in this reign \heftate hirelings calle$ 
 penfioners. The piety of our Sovereign to the me- 
 mory of his grandfather, as well as gratitude to our 
 glorious Deliverer, fhould furely, Sir, have prevented 
 the names of thefe two Doctors from difgracing a 
 Civil Lift, which both of them had repeatedly and pub- 
 licly declared the King's family had no right to, but 
 ought to be conlidered as a flagrant ufurpation. Thefe 
 two Doctors have in their writings treated the late 
 King, and King William, with the utmoft virulence 
 and fcurrility, and they are the known pcnfioned advo- 
 cates of defpotifm. The two other inftances are ridicu- 
 lous enough. David Hume was penfioned in this pious 
 reign for attacking the Chriftian religion, and Dr. 
 Beattie for anfwering him. In this manner is the pub- 
 lic treafure lavifhed; but thefe, I own, are mean ob- 
 jects, and of trifling concern. The great mafs of th 
 debt remains unaccounted for, and is fufpedted to be 
 contracted for the mplt criminal purpofes. It is ne- 
 
 ." religion.'' In a note to this paffage yunius adds, about Lord Mansfield, " Thi? 
 " man was always a rank Jacobite. Lord Ravenfworth produced the moft fatis- 
 " : r-orv evidence of his having frequently drunk the Pretender's health upon hi 
 
 Dr. Siiebbeare's character is admirably drawn by the author of the " Heroiy 
 Epiftle to Sir William Clumbers." 
 
 Wretch ! that from flander',s filth art ever gleaningj 
 Spite without fpirit, malice without meaning : 
 The fame abufive, bafe, abandoned thing, 
 When pilloried, or fcnjimed by a king. 
 
 * Ftnftoti, n. f. [f>enji'>ri, Fr.] An allowance made to any one v^ithou? an equiva- 
 lent. In England it is generally underftood to mean pay given to a ftatt hireling 
 
 f'ir treajon Cc hit country. 
 
 Pen/loner . n. f. [from ptnji<>i>~\ i. One who is fupported by an allowance paid at 
 the will of another; a dependant. 
 
 2. A flave offtake hired by a ftipend to obey his matter. 
 
 A Dictionary of the Englifh Language, in 2 vo\s. fol. by 
 
 Dr. Samuel Johnfon. 
 Vide Dr. Johufcn's Falfe Alurm^ and all his political traces. 
 
 ceffary.
 
 ( '35 ) 
 
 ceffary to fatisfy the people that the enquiry ihould be 
 made, and therefore I hope the Houfe will inftrud the 
 committee to that purpofe. 
 
 Let me now, Sir, fuppofe, that parliament acquiefces 
 with the prefent claim, what chearful ray of future 
 hope have we to comfort us that future demands will 
 not (ucceed ? Will this be the laft couh job, even of 
 the prefent minifter ? No affurances whatever are given, 
 not a hint of economy, or frugal management, or the leaft 
 care of the public treafure in future. Surely fuch a 
 mode of proceeding is highly unbecoming, indecent, 
 and contemptuous. 
 
 May I, Sir, pafs the invidious (freights of Calais, 
 and confider the ftate of the neighbouring monarchy 
 with refpedt to the king's houfehold and debts ? By 
 two new edi&s for the regulation of the French King's 
 houfehold expences, penfions, and royal bounties, all 
 arrears are to be difcharged within fix years, and a 
 fixed refolution is declared four concllier avec une fage 
 economic les depenfes que liclat de fa eouronne peuf 
 exiger* From the firft of lafl January all future ex- 
 pences whatever refpedHng the houfehold are to be 
 paid in the courfe of the current year. The very firft 
 article is, " Pannee revolue de toutes les depenfes de 
 " la maifon du Roi, tant par enterprifes que par 
 " fournitures, fera a 1'avenir paiee comptant au Trcfor 
 tf RoLal, dans le courant de Tannee fuivante, a raifon 
 " d'un douzieme par mois.' Would to God, Sir, 
 fuch a fpirit of juftice and reformation crofled the 
 channel to this capital ! We, alas ! have not a gleam 
 of hope of any reformation. The French King, Sir, 
 has likewife two brothers, Moniieur, and the Comte 
 d'Artois. They have found in their fovereign an af- 
 
 K 4 tectionate
 
 fecYipnate and generous brother, not a gloomy tyrant, 
 
 like * Louis the Xlth. They are an united and 
 
 happy family. What the King has given them in im- 
 portant grants, and en apanage, as it is called, enables 
 them to fupport with eclat their high rank. The new 
 regulations of the French King's houfehold expences and 
 debts are founded in juftice, and occafion no extraordi- 
 nary burden to his people. The frft Prince of the 
 Hanover line obferved the fame conduct ; for the mf- 
 fage of George I. to this Houfe, of July n, 1721, is, 
 " that being refolved to caufe a retrenchment to be 
 " made of his Civil Lift expences for the future, and 
 " rinding that fuch a retrenchment cannot well be ef- 
 " fected without difcharging the prefcnt arrears, v 
 (< Majefty has ordered the accounts thereof to be .. 
 ' Before the Houfe, and hopes he may be empowered 
 " to raife ready money for that purpofe, on the Civil 
 " Lift revenues ; which, to avoid the laying any new bur- 
 (< den on his people, his Majefty propofes mall be re- 
 " placed to the Civil Lift, and re-imburfed by a deduc- 
 (f tiom to be made out of the falaries and wages of all 
 " office.s, and the penfions, and other payments, from 
 (C the crown." The venal parliament of 1769 gave 
 the money out of the current expences of the year, with- 
 out a lingl<; line of any account. 
 
 When we are repeatedly told, Sir, of the prefent 
 fplendour of the Britifh diadem, of the extent of ouf 
 
 '* Mezeray, hiftcriojmpher of Trance, lays, " Confines nous le [Louis XI]. 
 " depeint fuuritujtwtut 'fotifynneux et ja/oux de fa fuiffanee, trei abfolu dans fa -vo- 
 " Ionic'*, qui ne parJannoit fr,':nt, qni a ttnibltmr.t fjule' fit fujets, et avec cc!a le 
 " nciiUur dft Princes [tke btjt of Kings'] de fon terns. O^UELJ POUVOIENX ETRS 
 
 " J.tS AHTRES ?'' 
 
 Abrege Chronoloj'.ique de 1'Hiftoire de France, par le 'Sieur de Mezeray, 
 afiie du France. Vol. VII. p. m. E<1. Amftei'dani, 1755. 
 
 empire,
 
 ( 137 ) 
 
 empire, and the greatnefs of our fovereign, I own that 
 the diminijhed rays of the crown occur to my painful 
 imagination. I am not dazzled, but mortified. It 
 brings to my recollection what was find of Philip the 
 IVth of Spain, when Louis XIV. was taking all the 
 towns, one after another, in the Netherlands, " Sa 
 " grandeur rejjemble a celle des fvjjes, qui de-viennent grands 
 " a proportion des terr.es, quon leur oJe." 
 
 The * noble lord near me has faid, that he wiflied a 
 drift review of the whole eftabliihment of the crown, 
 as to the Civil Lift. I perfectly approve the idea. 
 Almoft the whole requires a new regulation. I think 
 the judges in particular ought not to be paid out of the 
 civil lift, but by the public. They cannot be now 
 difplaced, but they may be ftarved by the crown. The 
 fpirit of their independence ought to extend as well to 
 their falaries, as to their commiffions. I obferve, Sir, 
 in the Civil Lift accounts on the table, an article, 
 " Lord Howe and Sir William Howe Commiflioners, 
 " for rejloring peace in America lool. per week each, ar- 
 " rears 1,742!." The noble Lord with the blue rib- 
 band has juft called them Ambaffadors. Have we then 
 already acknowledged the United Colonies of America as 
 a fovereign ftate, like the United Provinces of Holland? 
 If we have not, that event muft happen. The peaceful 
 mode adopted by the brothers, according to my calcu- 
 lation, will not foon rejlore peace in America. It may 
 poflibly be the period of the Trojan war, ten years at 
 leaft, fo that the nation may compliment the Hozue fa- 
 mily with above one hundred thoufand pounds free gift, 
 at the rate of lool. per week each brother, beiides the 
 
 * Lord John Cavendifh, Member for York. 
 
 fettled
 
 fettled pay and perquifites, as officers. But, Sir, what 
 connection has fuch an article as this with the Civil 
 Lift, with his Majefty's houfehold ? 
 
 Let us not now, Sir, ralhly proceed in the iniquitous 
 method of deciding on thefe two important queftions, 
 the expenditure, and the increafe of the Civil Lift, 
 without hearing the evidence, or hearing it only in 
 part. We have not fufficient Data to proceed. By 
 fuch injuftice we loft America. We profcribed the in- 
 habitants of Bofton without hearing them, and in the 
 fame manner adopted coercive and fanguinary meafures 
 againft the other colonies. Let us not now advance a 
 fingle ftep but with caution, with fear and trembling. 
 We are afked to furnifh the minifters with weapons, 
 which may be employed to our deftruction, againft the 
 liberties of our own country. An increafed undue in- 
 fluence muft neceflarily be created, and the overgrown 
 power of the Crown enlarged. Minifters only want 
 what are called tkcjinews of war. The doctrine is now 
 avowed of the legality of introducing foreign troops in- 
 to the Britilh dominions. The minifter has the power 
 of the fword, when we give him that of the purfe. 
 How many nations have totally loft their liberties by 
 internal corruption, and by mercenary armies? There 
 is an affected falfe alarm about faction and civil difcord, 
 difturbances and * infurrections ; but it is well known, 
 that civil diflentions have often among us been even fa- 
 vourable to freedom. Montefquieu obferves of Eng- 
 land, " On volt la libertt fortir fans ceffe des fiux de la 
 
 * Wife and gwd Kings, being taught by reafon and experience, that nations de- 
 light in the peace and juftice of a good goverment, will never fear a gtneral In- 
 fvrrttilon, whilft they take care it be rightly administered, and find tbtmftlvtt by 
 ti>ii meant (i>ejafe, Algernon Sydney, page 417. 
 
 " dif cords
 
 ( 139 ) 
 
 & cKfcorde et de la f edition, le Prince ioujours chaneelant 
 !' fur un trone inebr ratable" 
 
 I defire, Sir, to fubmit to the noble Lord near me, 
 whether, in point of form and precedent, inftead of 
 fafcharging the order for referring the King's mefTage to 
 the committee of fupply, which his Lordlhip has 
 moved, it would not be more proper to inftrucT: the 
 committee on the two important points of the meflage, 
 the paying his Majefty's debts, and the addition to the 
 (landing revenue of the Crown. If his Lordlhip and 
 the Houfe adopt that mode, I ihall then move, " That 
 " it be an inft ruction to the faid committee, that, be- 
 " fore they proceed to conlider of his Majefty's moil 
 f f gracious meflage, they do confider of the caufes of 
 " the debts due on account of the Civil Lift, and like- 
 " wife what further proviiion may be neceflary to fup- 
 <c port the fplendor and dignity of the Crown of Great- 
 " Britain.'^ 
 
 VOTES of Feb. 21, 1777. 
 
 A Petition of the Truftees of the Britljh Mufeum \^5as 
 brought up and read. 
 
 Ordered, That the faid Petition be referred to the 
 coniideration of a Committee of the whole Houfe.
 
 VOTES of April 23, 1777. 
 
 Ordered, " That the Account of Annual Expence 
 " and Income of The Britijh Mufeum, from the firft of 
 " January 1768, to the gift of December 1776, be re- 
 " ferred to the faid Committee [to conjider further of 
 " the Supply granted to His Majefly]" 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 Before the Petition of the Ymfttes ef ibe Britijb 
 Mufeum is referred to the conlideration of the Commit- 
 tee of Supply, I beg the indulgence of the Houfe to 
 fubmit a few general ideas on that fubjedt, entirely in- 
 dependent of party and politics. The encouragement 
 pf all ufeful knowledge, and the prote&ion of the arts 
 and fciences, with a particular attention to our own ma*- 
 nufaftures, appear, to me, Sir, juft objefts of public re- 
 gard, and highly deferving parliamentary confideration, 
 efpecially in this great commercial country. Among 
 the many proofs of the improvement of our national 
 tafte, and love of polite literature, the eflabliihment of 
 the Britifh Mufcwn claims the pre-eminence. It rofe 
 under the favourable aufpices of this Houfe, has been 
 carefully watched over by us, and I hope will Hill con- 
 tinu.e to receive our friendly proteftion and fupport. 
 Various branches of learning have already derived fm- 
 
 gular
 
 gular advantages from that rich repofitory, and I think 
 it may be made yet more extensively ufeful to this 
 kingdom. This, Sir, can only be done by this Houfe, 
 by parliamentary amftance. I fhall at prefent confine 
 myfelf to general ideas, and only throw out fome 
 hints for a future day's confideration. 
 
 It feems to me, Sir, highly expedient that the Truf- 
 tees of the Britijh Mufeum Ihould not only be enabled 
 adequately to fulfil the objeds of their public truft, 
 by making what is already collected as ufeful as poffi- 
 ble to the nation, but ftill farther to extend the laudable 
 purpofes of their inftitution. Their prefent funds, we 
 find by their Petition, are incompetent even to the con- 
 tracted plan now purfued. It is a general complaint, 
 that the Briti/Jj Mufeum is not fufficiently acceffible to 
 the public. This muft neceffarily happen from the de- 
 ficiency of their revenues. The truilees cannot pay a 
 proper number of officers and attendants. This will 
 to-day be in part the confideration of the committee, 
 into which, the Houfe will foon refolve itfelf. But, 
 Sir, I wilh their plan much enlarged, efpecially on two 
 important objects, Books and Paintings. This capital, 
 after fo many ages, remains without any confiderabie 
 public library. Rome has the immenfe collection of 
 the Vatican, and Paris fcarcely yields to the miflrefs of 
 the world by the greatnefs of the King's Library. They 
 are both open at ftated times, with every proper accom- 
 modation, to all ftrangers. London has no large pub- 
 lic Library. The beft here is the Royal Society's ; but 
 even that is inconfiderable, neither is it open to the 
 public, nor are the neceffary conveniences afforded 
 ftrangers for reading or tranfcribing. The Britijh Mu-\ 
 fium, Sir, is rich in Manufcripts, the Harkiqn CQlleSllon % 
 i .the
 
 ( 14* ) 
 
 tlie Cottonlan library \ the collection of Charles I. and ma- 
 ily others, efpeciaHy on our own hiftory; but it is 
 wretchedly poor in printed books. I wiih^ Sir, a fum 
 was allowed by parliament for the purchafe of the moft 
 Valuable editions of the beft authors, and an Act pafled 
 to oblige every printer, under a certain penalty, to fend 
 a copy bound of every publication he made to the 
 Briti/h Mufeum. Our poflerity, by this and other ac- 
 quifitions, might perhaps poliefs a more valuable trea- 
 fure than even the celebrated Alexandrian collection ; for, 
 notwithstanding that felfifhnefs, which marks the pre- 
 ient age, we have not quite loft fight of every beneficial 
 profpect for futurity. Confiderable donations might 
 likewife, after fuch a fandtion of parliamentary appro-* 
 bation, be expected from private perfons, who in Eng- 
 land, more than in any country of the world, have en- 
 larged views for the general good and glory of the 
 flate. 
 
 The Britijh Miifeum, Sir, poffefles few valuable 
 paintings, yet we are anxious to have an Engli/h fchool 
 of painters. If we expect to rival the Italian, the 
 Flemilh, or even the French, fchool, our artifts muft 
 have before their eyes the finifhed works of the greateft 
 mafters. Such an opportunity, if I am rightly in- 
 formed, will foon prefent itfelf. I underftand that 
 an application is intended to parliament, that one of 
 the firft collections in Europe, that at Houghton> made 
 by Sir Robert Walpole, of acknowledged fuperiority 
 to moft in Italy, and fcarcely inferior even to the 
 Duke of Orkans's in the Palais Pvoyal at Paris, may 
 be fold by the family. 1 hope it will not be difperfed, 
 but purchafed by parliament, and added to the Britijh 
 Mujeum. I wifh, Sir, the eye of painting as fully 
 # -gratified,
 
 ( '43 ) 
 
 gratified, as the ear of mufic is in this I/land, which 
 at laft bids fair to become a favourite abode of the 
 polite arts. A noble gallery ought to be built in the 
 fpacious garden of the Britijh Mufeum for the recep- 
 tion of that invaluable treafure. Such an important 
 acquifition as the Houghton coilettion, would in fbme 
 degree alleviate the concern, which every man of 
 tafte now feels at being deprived of viewing thofe pro- 
 digies of art, the Cartons of the divine Raphael. King 
 William, although a Dutchman, really loved and 
 underftood the polite arts. He had the fine feelings 
 of a man of tafte, as well as the fentiments of a hero. 
 He built the princely fuite of apartments at Hampton- 
 court, on purpofe for the reception of thofe heavenly 
 guefts. The Engliih nation were then admitted to 
 the rapturous enjoyment of their beauties. They 
 have remained there till this reign. At prefent they 
 are periming in a late Baronet's * Jmoky boufe at the 
 end of a great fmoky toTpnJf. They are entirely fe- 
 creted from the public eye ; yet, Sir, they were pur- 
 chafed with public money, before the acceffion of the 
 Brunfwick Line, not brought from Herrenhaufen. 
 Can there be, Sir, a greater mortification to any Eng- 
 lifh gentleman of tafte, than to be thus deprived of 
 feafting his delighted view with what he moft defired, 
 and had always considered as the pride of our 
 ifland, as an invaluable national treafure, as a common 
 
 * Sir Charles Sheffield's boufe in St. James's Park, now called the Queeem's 
 Palace. 
 
 f The royal Procruflcs, who has founded an Academy of Painting, after an 
 exaft admeafurement, obierving very fagacionfly, that " the Car :<>., were /*> long, 
 and ought to be cut Jhcrtsr," % facrilegious hand was found, which Ao'rf/co rtftrtm ! 
 
 mangled the divine works of the moft divine artift, that they might exactly fit 
 
 &cir prefeat improper, ignoble fituation, 
 
 blefling.
 
 ( 144 ) 
 
 blefiing, not as private property? The kings of 
 France and Spain permit their fubjefts and Grangers 
 the view of alithe pictures in their collections ; and fure. 
 Sir, an equal compliment is due to a generous and free 
 nation, who give their prince an income of above a mil- 
 lion a year, even under the greateft public burthens. 
 
 A remarkable opportunity, Sir, of improving the 
 national tafte m painting, which was lately loft, I hope 1 
 may now be recovered. The incomparable Sir Jomua 
 Reynolds *, and fome other great painters, who do 
 honour to our country, generouily offered the late 
 bifhop of London -f- to adorn the cathedral of St. 
 Paul's, that glorious monument of the magnificence 
 of our anceftors, with fome of their moft valuable 
 works; but the proposition had to encounter the ab~ 
 furd, gothic prejudices of a taftelefs and ignorant pre- 
 late, which were found to be infuperable. We have 
 the fatisfadlion at prefent of having in the fee of Lon- 
 don 'I a gentleman 7 not only of folid piety, but of 
 
 the 
 
 **Sir Jofbua Reynolds has given this iflruid a fair claim to the following beautiful 
 lines Mr. TickeU: 
 
 See on her Tu'unt and. her Gu'do's urns 
 Her tilling aits forlorn Hcfpir:a mourns ; 
 While Britain wins each garland from her brow, 
 Her ivit and frttdcmfirjl, utr painting new. 
 f- Dr., Richard Terrick. 
 
 \ If I "may 'be indulged a conjecture, it Ihould be that not &e filiJ piety, nor 
 the /ot/ learning, nor che clajjlcal taftt, nor the merited correction, which, in the 
 caufe of polite literature, the prefent Bifhop of London gave the mitred cyn'ick of 
 Claucefler, captivated Mr. WUku fo much as that love of liberty, and deteftation of 
 tyrant", which are confpfcu'oUS in the writings of our excellent Diocefan. In his 
 lectures " De facra Poefi Hebrsorum," a wonderful vvwk fmm the Clarendon Preft 
 at Qxfcrii, with tha -rnp- -.matur of the Vice Chancellor Browne in 1753, this 
 worthy Prelate quotes with diftinguilhed pniife the tnfpired verfes fung at all the 
 public fefcivals of the Athenians in honoarofthe Greek heroes, Harmodius and 
 Ariftogitoti, vrhd flew the tyrant Hipparchus. The good Bifhop declares the 
 verfes to be " ingenioli cete poetx, et veldt bow civu" 
 $ >C. .Robert Lowth. 
 
 Nun*
 
 the founded learning, and of exquifitc, clafiical tafte, 
 I hopejat fuch a favourable moment the proportion 
 will be renewed and accepted* 
 
 As 
 
 Num verendum erat, ne quis tyrannidem Pififlratidarum Athenis inftaxirare p.u- 
 dieret, ubi in omnibus conviviis, et aeqiie ab infima plebe in compitis, quotklie 
 cantitaretur XxoAwy illud Calliftrati nefcio cujus, fed ingeniofi eerte poets, et 
 valdt bvni (;vit f 
 
 O?t 
 
 Iva crffl nr;i 
 TuJijv TS f n 
 
 Ev /ut/e?B xXa 
 flc-TTio AgfAoJjOf 
 o)' Afiyi7jf tv -S 
 Av^j Tvgflsvwy Ii 
 
 AH <T$wy xXis; icc-flai x7' 
 
 Quod fi port 7</tfj /'//a* Martias e Tyrannoonis quifpiam tale aliquod carmen 
 plehi tradidiilet, inqxie Suburram, et fori circulos, et in ora vulgi intiiliiret ; actum 
 profeflo fuiffet de partibus deque dominatione Csefaram : plus mehercvle Vj4ui(l<;t 
 tmum Aojuoiisv /xEXo; quam Ciceronis Philippics omnes. 
 
 The following is a literal tranflation of the Greek Ode : 
 
 In myrtle branches will I hear my dagger, 
 Like Harmodius and Ariftogiton, 
 When they ftabbed the tyrant, 
 And gave the Athenians equal laws. 
 
 Oh ! mod beloved Harmodius, you are not dea<?, 
 But they fay you are in the iflands of the bleffed, 
 \Vith fwift- footed Achilles, 
 And Diomed, the fon of Tydous, 
 
 Ju myrtle branches will I bear my dagger, 
 Like Armodius and Ariftogiton, 
 When in the Athenian facriiices, 
 fliey flew HipparchUJ the tyrant. 
 
 It The
 
 ( 146 ). 
 
 As almoft all arts and fciences, as well as fomc of 
 the moil ufeful manufactures, have a connection with 
 
 each 
 
 The fame of you two fhail ever fpread through the earth, 
 Oh ! moft beloved Harmodius and Ariftogiton, 
 Becaufe you flew the tyrant, 
 And gave the Athenians equal laws. 
 
 Another important circumft..nce on this great occafion was neglected by the 
 Roman heroes, Brutus and Callius. The dead body of the ufurper ought imme' 
 diately to have been thrown into the Tiber. Mark Antony's eloquent, but fe- 
 ditious and peftilent, funeral oration had not in. that cafe been pronounced, nor 
 the multitude driven to madnefs by his infidious artifices and the affecting fpeclacle 
 of the corpfe of Csefar, mangled with many wounds. The republic, perhaps, had 
 furvived, at leaft during the life of Brutus. The name, and family of the tyrant, 
 might, after the Ida of .Vlarcb, have been rendered odious by popular fongs, and the 
 Biihop blames the Romans for no*t copying from the Greeks in this refpect. Li- 
 berty might have triumphed, and fo general a horror of tyranny been diffufed 
 through the republic, that Suetonius could never have fhocked all pofterity by a 
 detail, ridiculoufly minute and difgufting, of the monllrous crimes of the ufurper's 
 fucceffors, when no longer controlled by fear or any lejal reftraints. That writer, 
 however, argues in my opinion againft despotic power better than Sydney, Locke, 
 or Price. > 
 
 The idea in the Greek verfes, which the Biihop fo juftly admires, of the tw 
 heroes hearing their daggers in branches of myrtle, was taken from, what happened at 
 the feaft of Panathenxa. The Athenians cr.rried large myrtle Lrancbet in all their 
 great lolemnities and facrifices. Among thefe the patriotic darken of Harmodious 
 and ArUlogitpn .were concealed. Undoubtedly they thought with all antiquity, 
 that thofe, who trample on the equal rights of mankind, and rife fviperior to the 
 laws of their country, fo that they cannot be brought to a formal trial, nor made 
 to expiate their crimes by the jiuord ofjufliu, may be righteoufly punifhed by the 
 daggL> uj fat> 10.. im. The Greeks and Romans not only fftke dagger], but ufett 
 tbtm in the caufe of liberty, for they believed that the moft acceptable facrince t* 
 the Gods was an ufurper, or human tyrant. 
 
 fiSlmf. baud ulla amplior 
 Poteft, magifque opima maclari Jo\i 
 Quam rex intuits. BENECA. 
 
 When the City of Lodon, in 177:, voted zfilvcr evp to Mr. JVtlkes for his de- 
 fence of freedom in the cafe of the printers, and left the defign and ornaments to 
 his direction, the Death of C#(ar in the Roman fenate w^as the fubject of his choice. 
 It is certainly one of the greateft facrifices to public liberty recorded in hiilory. 
 The tia^ , ; / in the nrft quarter of the City Arms> which of courie were to be 
 embofied on the vafe, does not feem to have fuggefted to him either the idea of 
 the dagger, with which Sir William Walworth ; a Lord Mayor of London in the 
 
 reign
 
 ( 147 ) 
 
 each other, they will likewife give each other a mil- 
 tual afliflance. The beautiful art of engraving, which 
 is now carried among us to an aftoniihing degree of 
 perfection, will come to the aid of her lifter />. inling. 
 We have fhewn our attention to that art this very ief- 
 lion. I hope hereafter, even in this cold, raw cli- 
 mate, to be warmed with the glowing colours of our 
 own gobelins tapeftry, and I wifh encouragement was 
 given by parliament to that noble manufacture, which 
 in France almofl rivals the powers of painting. The 
 important advantages of fuch a commerce too we may 
 learn from our neighbours. 
 
 I am not alarmed, Sir, at the great expence, which 
 fome gentlemen feem to dread as the inevitable con- 
 fequence of what I have mentioned. The treafures of 
 a ftate are well employed in works of national magni- 
 ficence. The power and wealth of ancient Greece 
 were moft feen and admired in the fplendour of the 
 temples, and other fublime ftrudtures, of Pericles. 
 He boafted, that every art would be exerted, every 
 
 reign of Richard II, killed Wat Tyler, or of the " curtana," the " fhort fword" 
 of St. Paul, according to the idle difputes of dull antiquarians ; but probably it 
 furnifhed the hint of 
 
 The dagger wont to pierce the tyrant's bread. POPS. 
 
 Julius Caefar is reprefented in the bafs-relief on the vaff, as he is defcnbed by 
 all hiftorians in that important moment, gracefully covering himfelf with the toga, 
 and falling at the hafe of a pedeftal, which rapports the ftatue of Pbmpey the 
 (Jreat. Brutus, Caflius, and the other noble Romans, who confpired to reilore 
 freedom to their country, form a circle around the body of Caefar. Their da^en, 
 after the gnsl'.ke ftrokc, feem reeking with the tyrant's blood, and are raifed to 
 heaven. Every eye is fixed on Brutus, who is in the attitude of congratulating 
 Cicero on the recovery of the public liberty, and pointing to the proftrate and ex- 
 piring ufurper. The figure of Bnitus ftands ou: in very bold and high rc/iw, ii 
 particularly ftriking, and the capital of the whole groups. At the bottom of the 
 Vafe is the following infcription^ encircled with my n't and </u!t leaves : 
 May ever}' tyrant feel 
 
 Twe keen, dsep fearchkigs of a patriot fteel ! CHURCHILL. 
 
 L z citizen
 
 citizen in the pay of the ftate, and the city, not only 
 beautified, but maintained by itfelf. The fums he ex- 
 pended on the public buildings of lettered Athens, in the 
 tnoji high and palmy ftate of Greece, after the brilliant vic- 
 tories over the Perfians, diffufed riches and plenty among 
 the people at that time, and will be an eternal monument 
 of the glory of that powerful republic. The Parthenon 
 only, or Temple of Minerva, acknowledged to be the 
 morr. beautiful piece of antiquity now remaining in the 
 world, which is of the pureft white marble, coft, with 
 its flatues and fculptures, above a thoufand talents, 
 near 200,000!*. 
 
 One obfervation here, Sir, naturally occurs, which 
 juflice to the Irujlees of the Britijh Mufeum demands. 
 No public money has ever been more faithfully, more 
 frugally applied to the purpofes, for which it has 
 been given, than what they have received. Perhaps 
 the Trujlees of the Britijh Mujeum are the only body of 
 men, who have never been fufpected of want either of 
 fidelity or ceconomy. I think, therefore, we may 
 fafely truft them farther, not penurioully, but largely, 
 on a great, national concern, efpecially when their 
 accounts are fo frequently fubmitted to the examina- 
 tion of parliament. 
 
 Learning, Sir, and the polite arts, have fcarcely" 
 more than three enemies, ignorance and ftupidity al- 
 ways, fuperftition often. The noble Lord with the 
 blue ribband -f-, who is at the head of the finances of 
 this country, poflefles wit, genius, a great deal of 
 true tafle, and a very cultivated undeflftanding. The 
 
 * In the Tables of the learned Dr. Arbuthnot, the Attic Talent is valued 4 
 193!. 151. 
 f Lord North, Firfl Lord of the Tretfury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer 
 
 6
 
 moft important eftablifliment of this kingdom in taftc 
 and literature now fupplicates the affiftance and pro- 
 tection of this Houfe. The fine arts have in his Lord- 
 ihip a judicious admirer, and of confequence a gene-* 
 rous benefactor, a powerful protestor. 
 
 VOTES of April 29, 1777. 
 
 A motion was made, and the Queflion being put, 
 " That the refolution of this Houfe, of the i7th of 
 " February 1769, that John Wilkes, Ef quire, having 
 " been in this SeJ/ion of Parliament, expelled this Houfe, 
 *' was, and is, incapable of being elefted a Member to 
 te ferve in this prefent Parliament, be expunged from 
 <( the Journals of this Houfe, as being fubverfive of 
 " the Rights of the whole Body of Electors of this 
 fs kingdom ;" 
 
 Mr. Wijkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The important Rights of Eletion in the people are 
 fo deeply interefled in the Queflion, which I think it 
 my duty to move again to this Houfe, that no apology 
 can be neceffary for my embracing this, and every, op- 
 portunity, which the forms of parliament permit, of 
 bringing this bufinefs again to our confideration. 
 
 Every Eledtor in the kingdom, Sir, was injured by 
 the refolution of the laft parliament in the cafe of the 
 
 L 3 Middlefe*
 
 %Aiddkfcx Eleflions. A fatal precedent is thereby cre- 
 ated of making an Incapacity by a Vote of this Houfe, 
 \vhere the law of the land, and common right, ren- 
 dered the party eligible. The words of the Refolution 
 of the iyth of February, 1769, are, " That John 
 61 Wilkes, Efquire, having been in this Seffion of Par- 
 " liament, expelled this Houfe, WAS, and is, incapa- 
 " ble of being elected a Member to ferve in this pre- 
 " fent Parliament." By this arbitrary and capricious 
 Vote the Houfe eftabliihed an Incapacity unknown to 
 the laws of the land, It is a direct afluming of the 
 whole legiilative power, for it gives to the Refolution 
 of one Houfe the virtue of an ad; of the entire legifla- 
 ture to bind the whole. The King, the Lords, the 
 Commons of the realm, fuffer alike from this ufurpa- 
 tion. It effectually deftroys both the form and eflence 
 of this free conftitution. The right of reprefentation 
 is taken away by this vote. It is difficult, Sir, to de- 
 cide, whether the defpotic body of men, which com- 
 pofed the laft rotten parliament, intended by the whole 
 of their conduct in the Middlefex Elections to cut up 
 by the roots our moft invaluable Franchifes and Privi" 
 leges, or only to facrifice to the rage of an incenfed 
 court one obnoxious individual. In either cafe the 
 rights of the nation were betrayed by that Parliament, 
 ?nd bafely furrendered into the hands of the minifter, 
 that is, of the crown. 
 
 We are, Sir, the guardians of the laws. It is our 
 duty to oppofe all ufurped power in the King or the 
 Lords *. We are criminal, when we confent to the 
 
 exercife 
 
 * Thefollowing extract from the fpeech of Mr. Wilken to the Lirery of London, 
 when he quitted the office of Lord Mayor, Nov. 8, iy75> gives a remarkable inftance 
 t>f an attack on the liberty of the fubjeft by the Houfe of Lord* in the preceding 
 
 The
 
 exercife of any illegal power, much more, when we 
 ' either exercife, or folicit it ourfelves. This the late 
 
 Houfe 
 
 " The laft year, gentlemen, has paffed without any attack on our rights an-' pri- 
 vileges from the Houfe of Commons. That arbitrary and unprincipled body has 
 been almoft wholly employed, with the induftry and fpirit of nends, in the vain and 
 wicked attempt of perfecting their plans to eftablifh dtfp'j ifm in N:w England, and 
 Popery in Canada. They have flamed the Britifli laurels with the ^iltleli blood of 
 our fellow-fcibjecls in America. Bat the Houfe ef Li-d* early in the prefent year 
 made a direct attack on the rights of every Commoner in England, aad the effenthd 
 privileges of this city. They ordered a citizen, Mr. Randall, unheard, into cuftody, 
 without any appeal to a Jury, only for difrefpectful words againft a Member of their 
 Houfe [Lord Lyttelton"), AUhough parties, they endeavoured to eft.ibliih themfelve;; 
 judges in their own caufe, in equal violation of the dictates of common fenlc and jirf- 
 tice, and in the firft inftance, not; by an appeal from an inferior court to them, as 
 the fupreme judicature of the kingdom. The Gemltm a Ujbsr of the B'.a k /?^[Sir 
 Francis Molyneux] came repeatedly with his aftiftants here to feize a citizen ; but 
 notwithftanding the exprefs affertion in the order of the peers, that he (Tumid find it 
 zfujjicicnt -warrant for the attachment of the body of a freeman, Mr. Randall remained 
 fafe in his own houfe under the protection of the laws, and your Chief Magiftrate. 
 The officer of the Hcafe cf Lirds preferred an ignominious retreat to VVeilminfter to 
 the certainty of his own commitment in the city by a reai'y fufficis>;t warrant, which 
 i would have ififued if he had perfevered. He made a report of what be b u-l nit j.)// ; 
 and that dif^raceful entry in the J<.u>-nali of the Houfe of Lords gives us another de- 
 monftration, that in this frte country all ufurped authority muft in the end yield to 
 law and the conftitution, for Mr. Randal has ever fmce remained among us in per- 
 fect fecurity, as uiimolefted from the illegal attacks of the Loidi, as Mr. Miller has 
 been from the late fimily outrages of the Commons, &c. 
 
 From the pre-eminence, gentlemen, to which your favour railed me, I now re- 
 furn with pleafure tq my former itate of one of your magiftmtes, and to mingle with 
 the mafs of my fellow-citizens, &c. &c, &c." 
 
 Juivui in the letter of May z'i, 1770, fays, <( The arbitrary power they [the 
 Lvrdi] have amimed of imputing fines and i-am-mitting daring t-le-ifurt-, will now be ex- 
 ercifed in its full extent ;" and in a note he adds, " The m "> -VJM 'cfi;i* and overcomes 
 this iniyuitcus power, aj/hmett by the LORDS, mujl bejufported by the <w *'! ;'//. We 
 have tin laws f cur Jide, and ivan! ni'b:n^ hut an intr'fid latd-r. IVhtn : u b a nan 
 Jljndi forth, Ut the nation Ivik-ta it.- It h n.t HIS cattfc, but OUR OWN." 
 
 Junius, vol. II. p. ,". 
 
 In an Addrefs to the Liv'eiy of London from the Sheriffs Wilkcs and Bull, dated 
 April 6, 1772, it is faid," \Ve may congratulate our counttymen that the number of 
 thefe unfortunate perfons has not been attempted to be increafed this fefiion by any 
 )l'rgal Roy it Proclamations, or commitments d:ir.r.g pi. -/'?, made by i;btr ,f the :<uio 
 ffoufes of P arlinnter.t . Their Lite usurpations on the perfonal rights and privileges of 
 the people feem to be given up and furrendered. TJic 1. //j have not d;-ed f<> un- 
 an order- of imprifonment, nor to impofe any fines at their arbitrary 
 L 4 will
 
 C i5 ) 
 
 Houfe of Commons * did in the Addrefs to his Ma- 
 jelly to difpenfe with the laws by iiTuing a Proclamation 
 
 for 
 
 Will for offences Cognizable by Jxriei. Ko man has been committed at their bar for 
 ^vhat their f-t t, not the laws, declare feditious, nor for what they fo readily find a 
 libel on a brother Peer, nor have they ventured to condemn any per fin on the fir/I ori- 
 ginal btartag '.f a Cfuf,, *,btcb ought to cotm Ltfon t'otm /_) by atpealfiont the inferior 
 Ciurtt after the verdict of a Jury. The Houfe of Commons have tacitly accjuiefced 
 in the claim made by many of our worthy fellow-citizens for the ptoplt at largt, that 
 the ronftitueuts have a right to be fully informed of the proceedings of their fervantt 
 in Parliament. Their A*l/f S indeed afiert, " that it is an indignity to, and a breach 
 " of, the privilege of this Houfe for any perfon to prefume to give, in written or 
 * printed riewfpapers, any account, or minutes of the Debates, or other proceedings, 
 " of the Houfe, or of any Committee thereof:" but the usurpation was apparent, as 
 well as the >.- rity to their rnaSers, and the br'acb of the pr'wtltgei of their confti- 
 tuents Their other Rej^lu'i.a in confequence fell into contempt, " that upon difco- 
 " very of the authoi-s, printers, or publifhers of any fuch written or printed newfpa- 
 " per, the Houfe will proceed againil the offenders with the utmoft fe*erity." Se- 
 veral honefl printers, in defiance of their illegal orders, gave, the public all the 
 particulars of their proceedings during the laft Seffion, proceedings which the 
 Houfe prudently endeavoured to hide in a darknefs fuited to their deeds. 
 The moft natural effect followed, a general abhorrence of them through the 
 nation. The fame pcrfons, who alTerted our right the laft winter, have through 
 the prefen.t fefiion continued the exercife of it in its fulleft extent. Notwith- 
 fb.nding the Report of the " Committee to examine into the feveral fails and 
 " circumftances relative to the late obflruaions to the execution of the orders 
 " of the Houfe, and to confider what further proceedings may be requifite to enforce 
 " a due obedience thereto," was, in exprefs terms, that the Houfe jkmld order, that 
 tbejaiJ]. MILLER le taken into (tiftody nf the Serjeant at A'lns attending the Haufe, the 
 faid MILLER is ftill at large, ftill continues the fevereft attack upon them by faith- 
 fully publifhing their proceedings, ftill braves their indignation, and fleeps fecure in 
 the city. Among the number of daily offenders of this kind, the corrupt majority 
 in the Houfe of Commons have not prefumed to commit a fingle printer, although 
 
 r by 
 
 * That their practice might be every way conformable to their principles, the 
 Houfe proceeded to advife the Crown to publifli a PrMamM-m univerfally acknow- 
 ledged to be illegal. Mn.Moreton [Chief Juftice of Chefter, and Attorney-General 
 to the Queen] publickly protefted againft it before it was iffued; aqd L,ord Manf- 
 field, though not fcrupulous to an extreme, fpeaks of it with horror. It is remark- 
 able enough that the very men, who advifed the Prcdamatiu:, and who hear it ar- 
 raigned every day both within doors and without, are not daring enough to utter on 
 word in us defence, nor have they ventured to take the leaft notice of Mr. Wtlk<i 
 foi' dixhargb^ the perfcns r>pr>rchcnded under it. 
 
 Letters of JUMKS, vol. II, y. if&.
 
 ( '53 ) 
 
 for the apprehending of two perfons, not felons, but 
 honeft laborious Printers, Wheble and Thomfon, in 
 
 1771. 
 
 by the late Royal Marnagi Bill they have invaded the primary inherent rights of hu- 
 man nature, and the divine inftitutions, in the perfons of the descendants of the late 
 moft excellent King, and, regardlefs of the cries of the ftarving poor, employed 
 themfelves this whole Saftion only to entlave the family of a Prince, whofe memory 
 becomes every day more dear and facred to all true Englishmen. The people are now 
 made the judges of the conduct of their reprefentatives ; and the full exertion of the 
 l-kei-ty of the <?/, that great bulwark of all our liberties, in fupport of the conftitu- 
 tion, with the other acquisitions for the public, will render this asm ever memorable 
 in our annals. Thefe triumphs over the ministerial faction we hold more important 
 at this period, becaufe they have been gained, when the Chief Magiftrate of the ca- 
 pital [f ft. 'Ham Ntjb, E .^; j had betrayed the rights he was chofen to defend, and 
 trampled upon the known privileges of all the electors of this great city, which his 
 upright predeceffor [Brafs Crejby, Efj^] vindicated with true fpirit and courage, 
 &c, &c." 
 
 Mr. WHkei in the firft Parliament of this reign had the honour of being ordered to 
 tie taken into cuftody by the Gemiemxn Ujher of the h/ack Rod attending the Houje of 
 Lirdswbex tbtir Lordjbtp* knew ; was at Pans. In his letter, dated Oft. 22, 1764, 
 from Paris, to the Electors of Ayleftniry, whom he formerly reprefented, the ground 
 of the complaint againft him to the Lords is ftated. The complaint originated from 
 Lord Sandwich. By an unnatural Alliance ketiticm Church and State, between that 
 Lay Lord, and the RiglH Reverend Father in God, Dr. William Warburton, Bifhop of 
 Gloucefter, a complaint of privilege had been made to the Houje of Lords, that the 
 name of IVaibur^n had been put to fome notes on the Ejfoy on IVuman, which the 
 Bifhop difclaimed, I believe with truth, certainly with great warmth. The flout 
 Earl and meek Bifhop helped each other to put on their ipiiiual armour, and joined 
 their forces in this holy war, which they carried on with rciigkus rage andprieftfa 
 cruelty In the letter from Paris it is faid, " After the affair of the North Briton, th 
 " government bribed one of my fervants to fteal a part of the Effay *n /?W.j, and 
 " the other pieces, out of my houfe. Not quite a fourth part of the volume had been 
 *' printed at my own private prefs. The work had been difcontinued for many 
 *' months, -before I had the leaA knowledge of the theft. Of that fourth part only 
 " twelve copies were worked off, and I never gave one of thofe copies to any friend, 
 *' In this infamous manner did government ge: poJfeiiion of this new fubject of accu- 
 *' fation, and, except in the cafe of Algernon Sydney, of this new fpecies of crime ; for a 
 " Stuart only could make the refinement in tyranny of ranfacking and robbing the re- 
 '< cefies of clofets and ftudies, in order to convert private amuftments mtojlate crimes, 
 K After the fervant had been bribsd to commit the theft in his mailer's houfe, the 
 " moft abandoned man of the age [_:be Earl of Sandivick], who in this virtuous reign 
 4< had rifen to be Secretary of State, was bribed to make a complaint to the Heufe of 
 " Lord:, that I had pub'foeJ an infamous poem, which no man there had ever feen. 
 * It was read before that great affembly of g>-ai-t Lords and pious prelates, excellent 
 fjudg't / wit avi potty, aod orderetl to lie on the table, for the clerks of the Houfe 
 
 "to
 
 ( 154 > 
 
 177 1 ' Yet I have heard this day, and frequently of 
 late, that very Houfe of Commons, notwithftanding 
 
 this 
 
 to copy, and to puWfh through the nation. The whole of this proceeding was, I 
 *' own, a public infult on order and decency ; but was committed by th litufe ef 
 * Lords, not by the accufed Member of the Houfe of Commons." 
 
 Journals of the Houfe of Lords, Nov. 15, 1763, vol. XXX. p. 415. 
 
 Complaint was made to the Houfe of a printed Paper, intituled An EJJay on Woman, 
 with n:t.s, to which the name of the Right Reverend Dr. Warburton, Lord 
 Bifhop of Gloucefter, a Member of this Houfe, is affixed, iii breach of the Pri- 
 vilege of this Houfe, ttc. 
 
 And fome paffages in the faid printed papers being read, 
 
 It was refolved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled, 
 that a printed paper, intituled, " Jin EJJay on Womam" with the notes, &c. highly 
 reflecting upon a Member of this Houfe, is a manifeft breach of the privilege 
 thereof, &c. &c. 
 
 Journals of the Houfe of Lords, Jan. 43, 1764, vol. XXX. p. 456* 
 The Lord Mansfield, Lord Chief Juftice of the King's Bench, fat Speaker. 
 
 Ordered, That Jobn W'lket, Efquire, of Great George Street, Weftminfter, 
 [knion to be then in Paris'] do attend this Houfe to-morrow \in Weflmin/ier']. 
 
 Journals of the Hovife of Lords, Jan. zq, 1764, vol, XXX. p. 458. 
 The Lord Mamfield fat Speaker. 
 
 The Yeoman Ufher, being called upon to give an account of the fervice of the 
 .Order of this Houfe for the attendance of Mr. WHkn, acquainted the Houfe, "that 
 " he went, with their Lnrdfhips faid order, yefterday evening to Mr Wilkes's 
 " houfe in Great George Street, Weftminfter ; and that Mr. W-.lkefs fervant told 
 " him, he believed his Mafter was in France, for that he faw a letter from him on 
 " Tuefday lall from Paris ; that he coxild not tell the date of it ; but as he was told 
 " it was fix days in coming, he fuppofes it was dated about the 1 1 th of this month.' ' 
 
 Refolded, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled, That 
 it appearing to this Houfe, that John Withes, Efquire, of George Street, Weft- 
 minrter, is the Author and PUBLISHER of the " EJfay en Woman," with notes, &c. 
 he be, for the faid offence, taken into the cuftody of the Gentleman UJher of the 
 ELick Red. 
 
 Accordingly, Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament af- 
 fevnhled, that the Gentleman UJher of the Black Rod, attending this Houfe, do. 
 FOR-IHWITH [at Paris'] attach the body of the faid Jobn Wilkes, and bring him 
 in -fafe cuftody to the Bar of this Houfe, to anfwer for the faid offence ; And this 
 Jball be ycu>- fujjicicnt warrant in that behalf. 
 
 To Sir Septimus Robinfon, Knight, Gentleman Ufier of tbc Black Uo^attending 
 thi'' Houfe, his Deputy or Deputies, and every of them. 
 
 Dominus M-.nifitid, Capitalis Jullicir.rius Banci Regii, declaravit pnefens Par- 
 li;;n\i.'iitum continuandum effe ufque ad et in diem Mercurii, vicefimum quintum 
 diem inftmtis Januariii, hora undecima Auroras, Dominis fie decernentibus. 
 
 This unconftitutional power of the Gentleman UJber of the Black Rod, an iron ted, 
 fcy which the Lords have frequently and fordy chaftifed the nation, was deftroyed 
 
 3 ^
 
 ( "55 ) 
 
 this and many other violations of freedom, fpoken 
 of here with great applnufe. Gentlemen, Sir, look 
 much difp leafed. There is not, however, Sir, I am 
 fatisfied, one Gentleman of the law, who will now get 
 up in his place, and juftify the illegal Proclamation, 
 which was protefled againft in this Houfe by fome of 
 the ableft Lawyers among us before it iffiied, and has 
 lince been univerfally condemned. It was by me fet 
 afide judicially, and a man apprehended under that 
 Royal Proclamation difcharged *. 
 
 I obferve 
 
 by Mr. Wilkts in 1775. Although it may continue a rod of anger, it will be no 
 longer a rod (Aftrength or t>ff> fjfion, a fceptre to rule the people. It is broken , and like 
 unto a rttd. 
 
 The Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, rcfelving, on the motion of Lord Sand- 
 wich, that Mr, lVillt.es had p--b!:Jh^d a poem, which be conceaaled from every 
 friend, and they gave to the world, demonftrated a tolerable fhare both of folly 
 and falfehood in their Lordfhips. It was properly indeed moved by the father of 
 all fraud and treachery ; rut mankind deemed it in their Lordfhips a retaliation 
 without the leaf* colour of jnftice, very unbecoming the Supreme Court of Ju- 
 dicature in the kingdom, very becoming the Old Bailey. I ftiall conclude this dif- 
 graceful bulinefs with the words of Mr. Wiikei at the Bar of the Court of King's 
 Bench, April 20, 1768. 
 
 " As to the other charge againft me for the pu&Hcatien of a poem, which has 
 given juft offence, I will alTert that fuch an idea never entered my mind. I blufh 
 again at the recollection that it has been at any time, and in any way, brought to 
 the public eye, and drawn from the obfcurity in which it remained under my 
 roof. Twelve copies of a fmall part of it had been printed at my houfe at 
 my own private prefs. I had carefully locked them up, and I never gave one to 
 my moft intimate friend. Government, after the affair of the North Briton, bribed 
 one of my fervants to rob me of the copy, which was produced in the Houft of 
 Peers, and afterwards before this honourable Court. The nation was juftly of- 
 fended, but not with me, for it was evident that I had not been guilty of the leaft 
 offence to the publis. 1 pray God to fa give, as I do, the Jury, who have found me 
 GUILTY OF PUBLISHING a Potm I concealed ivitb care, and vabicb is not even yet 
 PUBLISHED, if a precife meaning can be affixed to any word in our language." 
 
 The deepeft guilt Was Lord Mansfield's, for the Jury were partly infnared by 
 the fubtleties and pretended legal dillinclions, partly cajoled by the nods, winks, 
 and fmiles, of that arch enemy of freedom, the artful Scottifh Chief Juftice, who 
 hurried on, and tried this caufe, while Mr. Wilkes was dangeroufly ill in his bed 
 at Paris from the confequences of an affair of honour. 
 
 * The attack of the late Houfe of Com^nns on the poor Printers, who were pro- 
 tected by Mr. Wdkn and two ether njgiftrates ; is of fo remarkable a nature, and 
 
 has
 
 C '56 ) 
 
 I obferve, Sir, on all occafions, a Tendernefs * for 
 the proceedings of that Parliament, which is in no 
 
 refpedt 
 
 has been attended -with fuch happy confequences to the public, that it ought to be 
 given at large. Since the beginning of that conteft to the prefent time, the penple 
 have regularly been informed of the proceedings of their fervanti in the Houfe of 
 Commons, in the making of laws to bind them. Almoft every newfpaper has 
 during the Seffion of Parliament given us in a formal manner the Minutct and De- 
 lates of both Houfes, under their refpedlive heads, Houfe of Lord^ and Houfe of 
 Commits. This is an acquifition of no fmall importance to the public in a flate, 
 \vhere the people have fo confiderable a mare in the government. It was a vidlory 
 obtained in the caufe of liberty, not indeed fo glorious as that of Minden, nor fo im- 
 portant as that of Culhden, but meriting civic crowns to three magLftrates. The 
 following Refolution of the Houfe of Commons, however, ftill continues on their 
 Journals. 
 
 Journals of April 13, 1738, vol. XXIII. p. 14?. 
 
 Refolved, " That it is an high indignity to, and a notorious breach of the 
 ** privilege of, this Houfe, for any News-writer, in letters, or other papers (as 
 il Minutes, or under any other denomination), or for any printer or publisher of 
 
 * any printed News-paper, of r.ny denomination, to prefume to infert in the faid 
 
 * letters or papers, or to give therein, any account of the debates, or other pro- 
 
 * ceedings of this Houfe, or any Committee thereof, as well during the recefs, a 
 the fitting of Parliament ; and that this Houfe will proceed with the utmoft fe 
 " verity againft fuch offenders." 
 
 Did the court of Inquifition even at Gca ever endeavour to throw a more Stygla* 
 gloom over their horrid proceedings than the reprefentatives of a free people 
 Aid by the foregoing refolution ? The glorious triumph of the friends of the peo- 
 
 * This is happily accounted for in thofe incomparable lines of the " Epiftle to 
 * Dr. Shebbearc" publimed the laft month, where the poet apoftrophizes th* 
 prefent Houfe of Commons : 
 
 Thrice has the fun commenced his annual ride, 
 
 Since, full of years and praife, thy mother died. 
 
 'T\vas then J fa\v thee, with exulting eyes, 
 
 A fecond phcenix, from her afhes rife j 
 
 Mark'd all the graces of tr-y loyal creft, 
 
 Sweet with the perfume of its parent neft. 
 
 Hare chick ! how worthy of all court careffes> 
 
 How foft, how echo-like, it chirp'd addrcflti. 
 
 Proceed, I try'd, thy fnll-fledg'd plumes unfold, 
 
 Each true-blue feather fhall be tipt with gold. 
 
 Ordain'd thy race of future fame to run, 
 
 To do, whate'er thy mother left undone. 
 
 Jn all her fmooth, obfequious paths proceed, 
 
 for, know, poor opfofu':o wants a head, Page 15*
 
 ( '57 ) 
 
 reTpeft merited. If, however, they had been guilty 
 ef no other outrage againft the freedom of the iub- 
 
 pie over the left corrupt Houfe of Common? fhall ha given from their own Jour- 
 nals. The chace of a brace of Printers, by the boundt of Lord North, and thf 
 grty-btundi of the King, as his Majefty's meflengers are called, with all the dou- 
 blings and turnings, will perhaps be amufmg. Lord North's fatk of boundi ar? 
 acknowledged to be the moft {launch, and the bell-fed in Europe, as well at 
 lo have the moft expert wUfpw^i** 
 
 Journal of Feb. 8, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 139. 
 
 Complaint being made to the Houfe, of the printed News-paper, intituled, 
 *< The Gaxftteer and Ncio Daily AdvtJti[tr t Friday Febrvary 8, 1771, printed for 
 " R. Tbompf'M ;" and alfo of the printed News-paper, intituled, " The M:ddlcftx 
 < Journal, or Chronicle of Liberty, from Tutfday, Fekruiry c, to Tblirfday, Februarjf 
 " i~7 l > printed for J. Wbtbl".\" as mifreprefenting . the fpeeches, and retieclinj 
 on feveral of the members of this Houfe, in contempt of the order, and in breach 
 of the privilege, of this Houfe ; 
 
 Ordered, That the fold R. T/jomffon do attend this Houfe upon Monday morninj 
 next. 
 
 Ordered, That the faid J. Wbtblt do attend this Houfe upon Monday morning 
 pext. 
 
 Journals, Feb. n, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 154, 
 
 Ordered, that the faid R, Tbomffon and J. Wbebls do attend this Houfe upon 
 Monday morning next. 
 
 Journals, Feb. 14, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 162. 
 
 Ordered, That the faid R. Tborr.ffon and J. Wbzble do attend this Houfe upon 
 Tuefday morning next. 
 
 Journals, Feb. 19, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 183 and 184. 
 
 The order of the day being read, for the attendance of R. Tb.tnpfM and J. IVbtlk ; 
 and the faid R. TLwif.-a and J. WbMe not attending ; the meffenger to whom the 
 erders of the 8th dny of this inilant February were delivered, being called upon to 
 give an account of the fervice thereof, acquainted the House, That he had lerved 
 Ihe orders of the faid 8th day of February, for the attendance of the faid R. Tbsmp- 
 fon and J* Wbsbl;, upon Monday the nth day of tlu's iuftaut February; but that 
 he has not ferved them wich any further order for their attendance, on this day, 
 
 *CC. &C. 
 
 Ordered, That R. Thomhfi* do attend this Houfe upon Thurfday morning next. 
 Ordered, That jf. Wbtble do attend this Houfe upon Thurfday morning next. 
 
 Journals, Feb. 21, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 194. 
 
 The feveral orders of the day being read, for the attendance of R. Tbomffon and 
 J. Wbtkle ; 
 
 And the fold R. Tbompfon and J. V/btblt not attending, according to order; 
 
 the meflenger, to whom the faid orders were delivered, being called upon 
 
 $o give an account of the fervice thereof, acquainted the Houfe, That he wenf 
 
 fe th hoKte of the kid R. Tbompfon on Tuefday Evening lail ; and being informed
 
 ( -58 ) 
 
 ject, this alone refpe&ing the Middlefex Ele&ions, 
 by which the conftitution is overturned, was fufficient 
 
 for 
 
 by his fervant, that he was not r.t home, he left a copy of the order for the at- 
 tendance of the faid R. Tbomffon, with the faid fervant, and defired him to give 
 the fame to his matter when he came home ; that he, the faid meffenger, went 
 again on Wednefday morning to the houfe of the faid jR. Tbomffou, and was again 
 informed, that he was not at home . 
 
 The meffenger alfo acquainted the Houfe, That he went on Tuefday eveninj 
 laft to the houfe of the faid J. WbMt ; that he was told he was not at home, but 
 was expedted eveiy minute ; that he waited at the houfe of the faid J. Wbek!t 
 fome time, bvit he not returning, he, the mefienger, left a copy of the order for 
 the attendance of the faid J. Wheble at his Houfe, and defired it might be given 
 him oh his return ; and that on calling again on Wednefday morning at the houit 
 of the faid J. iVhtkle, he was again informed that he was not at home. 
 
 Ordered, That R. Tbompfon do attend this Houfe upon Tuefday morning next. 
 
 Ordered, That the fervice of the faid Order, by leaving a copy of the fame at 
 the ufual place of abode of the faid R. Tbompjon, be deemed equal to perfonal fer- 
 vice, and be good fervice. 
 
 Ordered, That the fervice of the faid Order, by leaving a copy of the fame at 
 the' ufual place of abode of the faid y. Wheble y be deemed equal to perfonal fervice, 
 and be good fervice. 
 
 Journals, Feb. 26, 1771, Tol. XXXIII. p. zoS. 
 
 The feveral orders of the day, for the attendance of R> Tbompjen and J. Wbtllt^ 
 being read ; 
 
 And the faid R. Tbompfon and J. Wbeble not attending, according to order, the 
 meffenger, to whom the faid orders were delivered, being called upon, to give 
 an account of the fervice thereof, acquainted the Houfe, that he went to the houfe 
 of the faid J. Whtble, in Pater-nofter Row, on Thurfday evening laft ; aod being 
 informed by his fervant that he was not at home, he mewed the faid fervant th* 
 original order for the attendance of the faid y. W~btblr t and left a copy thereof with 
 the faid fervant, and defired him to give the fame to his mafter when he came 
 home ; which the faid fervant promifed to do. 
 
 The faid meffenger alfo acquainted the Houfe, that he went to the houfe of the 
 faid R. Thomson in Newgate Street, on Thurfday evening laft ; that he was told 
 he was not at home ; and that then he fhewed the original order for the attendancs 
 of the faid JR. Thmpjon to, and left a copy thereof with, his fervant, and defired 
 him to give the fame to his Mailer, which he likewife promifed to do. 
 
 Ordered, That the faid John Wheble be, for his contempt, in not obeying th 
 pnler of this Houfe, for his attendance on the Houfe this day, taken into cuftody of 
 the Serjeant at Arms, or his Deputy, attending this Houfe. 
 
 Ordered, That the faid R. 7b-mf>fon be, for his contempt, in not obeying the 
 order of this Houfe, for his attendance on the Houfe this day, taken into the cuf- 
 tody of the Serjeant at Arms, or his Deputy, attending this Houfe. 
 
 Journals^.
 
 ( '59 ) 
 
 for their full difgrace in the annals of our country. 
 The prefent queflion has been fully debated twice in 
 
 this 
 
 Journals, March 4, 1771, vol. XXXIII, p. 224. 
 
 The Deputy Serjeant at Arms attending this Houfe, being called upon to give an 
 account of the fervice of the orders of the Houle of Tuel'day laft, for taking into cuf- 
 tody y. Whtblt and R. Tbimt>t"n acquainted the Koufe, that, though he had been fe- 
 veral times at the refpeclive houfes of the faid J. Wktblc and R. Tjomf-fon, and had 
 made diligent fearch after them, in order to take them into cuftody, he had not yet 
 been able to meet with either of them. 
 
 Refolved, That an humble addrefs be prefented to His Majefty, That he will be 
 jracioufly pleated to iffue His Royal P'-^tam-nivi, for apprehending the faid J. WLt- 
 */<and R. -t b-jnipfcri, with a promife of a reward for the fame. 
 
 Journals, March 7, 1771, vol. XXXIII, p. 234. 
 
 Mr. Onflow reported to the Houfe, That their Addrefs of Monday laft (that His 
 Majefty would be gracioufiy pleafed to iffue His Royal Proclamation, for apprehend- 
 ing J. Wi'ib't and R. Thompjr.n, with a promife of reward for the fame) had been 
 prefented to His Majefty ; and that His Majefty had commanded him to acquaint 
 this Houfe, that he will give directions accordingly. 
 
 His Majefty's Proclamation, iffued in purfuance of the faid Addrefs, is as fol- 
 loweth : 
 
 By the K I N G. 
 A PROCLAMATION, 
 
 For apprehending J.bn Wbtble and R. Tbonfon. 
 
 GEORGE R. 
 
 Whereas on the eighth day of February laft, complaint being made to the Houfa 
 f Commons of the printed news-paper, entitled, The Gazetteer and New Daily 
 Advertifer, Friday, February 8, 1771, printed for R. Tbompf^n; and alfo of the 
 printed news-paper, entitled, The Middlefex Journal, or Chronicle of Liberty, from 
 Tuefday February 7, 1771, printed for J. Wbtbl'., as mifreprefenting the Speeches, 
 and reflecting on feveral of the members of the faid Houfe, in contempt of the order, 
 and in breach of the privilege, of the faid Honfe ; it was ordered, that the f.iid 
 'J, Wt 'te and R. T ompfoti ihould attend the faid Houfc of Commons ; and they nut 
 having obeyed the faid order, it was thereupon ordered, by the faid Home of Com- 
 mons, that the faid J*. WhMe and R. Ibomffon fhould be taken into the cuftody of the 
 Serjeant at Arms attending the faid Houle, or his Depiry. And whereas the faid 
 Deputy Serjeant having informed the Honfe, that he had not been able to meet with 
 the laid y. Wb oit and K. Tbomfjen, or either of them, though he had been feveral 
 times at their refpective houfes, and had made diligent fearch after them, to take, 
 them into cuftody, an bumble addrtji bath been prejented to ui by tht Knights, Ci'.ixzTV, 
 0n,; Hurcjju, nt the Commijjhntrt for Shires ami Bifght, ;a Parliament nJJ'fmblcd* that 
 yf iv.uld be grcivujly pleajtij to ijut cr Royal P: sJamali.n, far a}, friending the faid 
 
 Job*
 
 this Parliament, many times in the laft Houfe of Com- 
 mons, and I believe every precedent quoted, which. 
 
 could 
 
 John Wheble and R. Tbompfon, ivito a premij'e of a rfK/ard for tie fame : we have 
 thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to iffue this our Royal Pro- 
 clamation, hereby rewiring and commanding ail iur loving fubjetfi ivbatfcever to tiifcovsr 
 and apprehend ', or caufe the faid John Whcbk and R. Thsmpfon, or either of them, to 
 be difcovered and apprehended, and to carry him or them before fome of our Juf- 
 ticesof the Peace, or Chief Magistrate, of the county, town, or place, where he or 
 they fhall be apprehended, who are refpeftively required to fecure the faid John 
 Wbtbh and R. Tbompfin, and thereof give/iWy nonce to one of n.-r f> i n :ip a l Sicmranes ; 
 ef State, to the end he or they may be forthcoming, to be dealt withal and proceeded 
 againft according to law. And for the prevention of an efcafe of the faid Jobr. JVhehle 
 and R. Tbomffon, or either of them, into parts beyond the feas, we do require and com- 
 mand all our officers of the cuftoms, and other our officers and fuhjefts of and in 
 our refpeflive ports and maritime towns and places within our kingdom of Great 
 Britain, that they, and every of them, in their refpeclive places and ftations, be care- 
 1 fill and diligent in the examination of all perfr.ns that jhall pajs or endeav.ur to pafi behind 
 the fens; and if they fhr.ll difcover the faid Job,: Inhibit and R. Ybtmpfon, or ekher ok' 
 them, then to caufe him or them to be apprehended and fecured, and give notice 
 thereof as aforefaid. And we do hereby ftriftly charge and command all our loving 
 fubjeds, as they will anfwer the contrary at their perils, that they do not any ways 
 conceal, but do difcover him or them, the faid John Wbible and R. Thompfon, to the 
 nd he or they may be fecured. And for the encouragement of all perfonr. to be di- 
 ligent and careful in endeavouring to difcover and apprehend the faid J-.hn Wlebh 
 and R. Tbompfon, we do hereby further declare, that whofoever fhall difcover and 
 apprehend the faid John Wbeble and R. Tbwpfon, or either of them, wichin three 
 weeks from the date hereof, and fhall bring him or them, the faid John Wbcble and 
 R. Tbompfon t before fome juftice of the peace or chief magiftrate as aforefaid, fhall 
 have and receive, as a reward for tbt tyco-vsy, affrebauG^, and bringing the fcid 
 ytt*m#Ut*aA R. ra 9 p/i, or either of them, ktfare fucb jujtice ef 'it, peace or chief 
 magiftrate as aforefaid, the fum of Fifty P^.Jsfor < a .b : which our Commifuca^ers 
 of our Treafury are hereby required and directed to pay accordingly. 
 
 Given at our Court at St. James's, the eighth day of March, 1771, in the doventfc 
 year of our reigtit 
 
 GOD fave the KIN G. 
 
 Jetn WleUe was apprehended, and difcharged by Mr. Wilkes, March n;, 1771. 
 If adminiftration had wifhed to have tried th legality of the King's Proclamation, 
 they had the fulleft evidence againft Mr. Wilkes under his hand, for he wrote the 
 fame day an account of his conduct on that occafion to LV Halifax, one of His Ma- 
 jefty's principal Secretaries of State. This was certainly the fpeeJy notice required t 
 be given to a Secretary of State by the Preclammht, Mr. Wilkes took this oppor- 
 tunity Of mtrwing bit arrfffoa^nfe. >v>h the Eari of Halifax. 
 
 Cuildhall'
 
 could be produced, from times the moft favourable, 
 as well as the moft hoftile, to liberty, from the re- 
 markable 
 
 Guildhall of London, March 15, 1771. 
 My Lord, 
 
 I had the honour of officiating this day as the Sitting Juftice at Guildhall. Join 
 H'btble the Publifher of the Middlesex Journal, a freeman of London, was appre- 
 hended and brought before me by Edward Txvine Carpenter, who appears to be 
 neither a Conftable, nor Peace-Officer of this City. I demanded of what crime 
 V.'heble was accufed, and if oath had been made of his having committed any felony 
 or breach of the peace, or if he lay under a fufpicion ftrong enough to juftify his ap- 
 prehenfion or detention. Carpenter anfwersd, that he 'did not accufe Wheble of 
 any crime, but had apprehended him merely in confequsnce of L'is Ma'jtjly't ProcL* 
 math*, for which he claimed the reward of 50!. As I found there was no legal 
 caufe of complaint againfl Whtblt, I thought it clearly my duty to adjudge,- that he 
 had been apprehended in ths City illegally, in direct violation of the rights of an 
 Englishman, and of the chartered privileges of a citizen of this metropolis, and to.df- 
 cbarge him. He then made a formal complaint of the affai.lt upon him by Carpen- 
 ter. I therefore bound him over to proiecv.te in a recognizance of 40!. and Car- 
 penter to appear and anfwer the complaint at the next Quarter Sellions of the Peace 
 for th s City in a recognizance of 40!. himfelf, with two lureties in recognizance, 
 of 20!. each. I am, My Lord, 
 
 Your Lordfhip's moft obedient, 
 Right H'r.vumbk the humble Servant, 
 
 Sari cf Halifax;. JOHN WILK1A 
 
 Extraa from the Guildhall P.ota Book. 
 
 Guildhall, March 15, 1771. 
 
 Jubn tf'bill'j the Publifher of the Middlefex Journal, xvas this day brought before. 
 Mr. A luci :nan W-.lktt at Guildhall, by Edward Twine Carpenter, a Printer, being ap- 
 prehended by him in confequence of a Proclamation in the London Gazette of Satur- 
 day the 9th of March inftant ; but the faid Edward Twine Carpenter not having 
 any other reafon for apprehending the faid Mr. Wbeblt than what appeared in tliat 
 I'riciaixation, the faid Mr. Wbekls was difcharged; and then the faid Mr. Wheble 
 eh.irged Carpenter for affaulting anil unlawfully imprifoning him, and on his making 
 oath of the offence, and entering into a recognizance to profecute Carpenter at the 
 tiext Seffion in Lonc'o i, Carpenter was ordered to find fureties to anfwer for this 
 offence, which he did, himfelf being bound in 40!. and his two fureties in 20!. each, 
 and was thereupon difcharged. Carpenter requefted.a Certificate of his having 
 apprehended Wattle, which was given him. 
 
 Guildhall, March 15, 1771. 
 
 this is to certify, that Jabn Whcbldfos Publifher of the Middlefex Journal was 
 this day apprehended and brought before me, one of His Majefty's Juftices of the 
 Peace for the City of London, by Edward Twine Carpenter, of Hofier-Lane, Lon- 
 4o nj Printer. JOHN WILKES, Alderman. 
 
 M On
 
 ( i6z ) 
 
 markablc cafe of Wollafton in the reign of King WiK 
 liam, to that no lefs celebrated of Walpole, in the lat- 
 ter 
 
 On the application of Carpenter to the Treafury for the reward of 50!. promifed in 
 the King's Proclamation, and producing the above certificate, he was difmiifed with 
 iniblence, and that, with many other royal debts, is ftill unpaid. A'. Tbtmpfon, the 
 rtber perfon defcribed in His Majefty's Proclamation, was afterwards apprehended, 
 iiml carried before Mr. Alderman Oliver, whodifcharged him. 
 
 The circumftances of the whole bufinefs of Miller, and the tontmitment of Mr. Wil- 
 liam Whitham, one of the meffengers attending the Houfe of Commons, are given 
 in the " Report from the Committee appointed to examine into the feveral facts 
 "' and circumftances relative to the Lite obftrudlions to the execution of the orders 
 ' of this Houfe," publifhed by order of the Houfe of Commons. 1 mall however" 
 add fome other particulars not given at large in the Journals. 
 of>v of the Warrant for apprehending J. Miller, the Printer of the London F.veniirg Pojt. 
 
 WHEREAS the Houfe of Commons did, on Thurfday the i4th of this inftant 
 March, adjudge and order, that J. Miller (for whom the news-paper intituled Ths 
 London Evening Poft, from Thurfday March 7, to Saturday March 9, 1771, pur- 
 ports to" be printed, and of which paper a complaint was made in the Houfe of 
 Commons on the faid fourteenth day of March) be, for his contempt in not obeying 
 the order of the faid Houfe upon Thurfday the fourteenth day of this inftant 
 March, taken into the cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms, or his Deputy, attending the 
 fsid Houfe. 
 
 Thefe are therefore to requite you forthwith to Jake into your cuftody the body o 
 the faid J. Miller, anil him fafely keep during tbt pleafure of tie faid H-ntfe and all 
 Mayors, Bailiffs, Sheriffs, Under Sheriffs, Coiiftables, and Headborowghs, and 
 every other perfon are hereby required to be aiding and afiifting to you or your 
 Deputy in the execution thereof. For which this fhall be your fufficient war- 
 ran'. Given under my hand, the fifteenth day of March one thoufand feven 
 hundred and feventy-oue. FLr. NORTON, Sp:aker. 
 
 To Nicholas Bonfoy, Efq; Serjeant at Arms, attending the Houfe of Commons, 
 or John Clementfon, Efq; his Deputy, or to William Whitham, ona of the 
 meffengers attending the Houfe of Commons. 
 
 To all and every the Conftables and other Officers of the Peace for the City of Lonr 
 don, and the Libeitie? thereof, Whom thefe may concern, and to the Keeper J 
 Wood-Street Compter. 
 
 London to wit^ 
 
 Thefe are in his Majefty's name, to command you, and every of you, forthwith 
 Jafely to convey and deliver into the cuftody of the faid Keeper, the body of Wil- 
 liaiji Whitham, being charged before w, three of his Majefty!s Juftices of the Peace 
 in and for the faid City and Liberties, by the oath of John Miller, Henry Page, John 
 Topping, VM! Robert Pag*, for aflauUiaj and unlawfully imprifoninj; liim the faud 
 
 Joh?
 
 ( 1 63 ) 
 
 ter end of Queen Anne. An Archangel defcending 
 among us would fcarcely give a new, original idea on 
 
 this 
 
 John Miller, in breach of his faid Majefly's peace ; whom you, the faid Keeper, are 
 hereby required to receive, and him in your cuftody fafely keep, for want of lureties, 
 until he fhall be discharged by due courfe of law ; and for your fo doing this lhall be 
 to you, and to each of you, a fufficient warrant. Given under our hands and fe*ls 
 this J5th day of March, 1771. 
 
 BRASS CROSBY, Mayor, L. S. 
 
 JOHN WILKES, L. S. 
 
 RICHARD OLIVER, L. S. 
 
 Journals, March 20, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 275. 
 
 The Order of the day being read, for the attendance of Morgan, Clerk to the 
 Lord Mayor of the City of London, with the Minutes, taken before the Lord 
 Mayor, relative to the meffenger of this Houfe giving fecurity for his appearance at 
 the next General Quarter Selfions of the Peace for the City of London to anf\ver to 
 futh indictments as may be preferred againft him, for the fuppofed afiault and falfe 
 unprifonment of J. Miller. 
 
 Apd Jr.mes Morgan, Clerk to the Lord Mayor, attending accordingly, hs was 
 called in ; and the Book, containing the faid Minutes, being produced by the faid 
 James Morgan, was brought up to the Table ; and the Eiitiy of the faid Minuses 
 therein contained, was rend ; 
 
 Ordered, That James Morgan, Clerk to the Lord Mayor, do at the Table txpungt 
 the faid Entry. 
 
 And the faid James Morgan expunged the faid Entry at the Table accordingly. 
 
 Junius obferves, By mere violence, and without the jhadvw of right, they have EX- 
 PUNGED tht record of a judicial preceding. Nit Ling remained but to attribute to tbiir 
 vain l r fte a fewer tffcpfixg tie ivMe dijlrib-.ttion if criminal and civil jujlict. Lird. 
 Cbatlat very properly called tbit the ACT OF A MOB, net of a Senate. 
 
 Junius, vol II. p. i6c. 
 
 Journals, March 20, 1771, vol. XXXIII, p. 276. 
 
 Ordered, " That no other profecution, fuit, or proceeding, be commenced, or 
 ,oarried on, for or on account of the faid pretended aflault, or falfe imprifon 
 ment." 
 
 Notwithftanding this Order, Mr. Wdkti on the 8th of April 17-1 delivered in at 
 the Court of Qu-irter Seffions of the Peace at Gwildhall the two following R-corni' 
 Kr:.-ts, together with thofe (jijobn Wbtblc 2nd E divard Tvi'au Carpenter, and another 
 for a felony committed fay Sarah Ferrand. 
 
 London to w't, 
 
 Jikn Miller, of Pater-noiler Row, London, Printer, rcL 
 
 I'pon condition, that if the above bounden Job n Miller fhall perfonally appear .Jt 
 the next Seflions of the Peace to be'holdcn for the City of London, and then and there 
 profecuto the law with effect, and give evidence on his Maiefty's b-.hatf, upon a bill 
 
 Me
 
 C '.64 ) 
 
 this fubjech I fhall therefore referve myfelf, Sir, 
 for the reply, if I hear any material objections to the 
 
 motion 
 
 of incli<5lment to be exhibited to the Grand Jury againft. WiniamWbitbam, for af 
 faulting and falfely imprifoning him the faid J-bn Militr, in breach of his fakl 
 Majefty's peace: and in cafe the feme ftiall'be found and returned by the faid 
 Jury to be a true Bill ; then if the faid Jtt Millo- fhall perfonally appear befoi* 
 the Jurors that fhall pafs on the trial of the faid W.lixm WLiiba., to be holder 
 for the faid city at the Guildhall- of the fame city, then and there to profecute and 
 give evidence upon the faid indictment,, and not depart tke Court without leaver 
 Then this Recognizance to be void, or elfc to remain in full force. 
 
 Acknowledged at the Manfiou Honle, London, the 15:!! day of March 1771* 
 before us 
 
 BRASS CROSBY, Mayor, 
 JOHN WILKES, 
 RICHARD OLIVER. 
 London to wit, 
 
 WilRam irblthawfof College-Street in the siry of \Veftminfter, Gentleman, 40!. 
 William Hurford, of the City of London, Coal Merchant, 20!. 
 Robert Withy, of Ifling-ton- hi the County of Middlefex, Gentleman, 20 1. 
 Upon condition, that if the above bounder* William Wb;tb\.m do personally appear 
 at the next Seffions -of the Peace to be holden for the City of London, then ami 
 there to anfwer fuch matters and things as fhall be objected againft him on his Ma- 
 jefty's behalf, and in particular fen' aflaulting and falfely imprifoning Jobn Miller, 
 ;md in the mean time to k.ef tbi feact of our Sovereign Lord the King, and to be 
 cf good btba-viour. and not depart the Court without licence ; that then this Recog- 
 nizance to be void and of none effect, or otherwifc to be and remain in full forc 
 and virtue. 
 
 Taken and acknowledged at the Manfion Houfe, Loilon, this i^th Day c? 
 March, 1771, before us 
 
 BRASS CROSBY, Mayor, 
 
 JOHN WILKES; 
 
 RICHARD OLIVER. 
 
 the Grand Jsir/ at Guildhall found the Bills of Indictment' again ft MU'xm 
 D'bttkam and hdvfeni Tl*?i*t Carpenter. 
 
 All the proceeding?: were afterwards moved by Cotkrar', into the Kitig's Bencai. 
 The fccae of tlic Houfe of Commons and the Printers was finally doled by the 
 Attorney-General's, 'J/.</rA,w'.c, grant of th<8 Noli frujtqul. 
 
 Mr.iy t kn recehed the following OrJer to attend the Houfe of Commons on 
 Ihe zcth of March' 1771. 
 
 Hoojt if Commons, Martii 19* die Mjrtl'i, 177^ 
 (C O P Y) 
 
 The Houi'cot Commons having yefterday received 'information that one of the 
 Mcifcngers of this Houfe, after he had arrefted J. Miller, by virtue of the warrant 
 tfc'fl Speaker of the Houfe of Cymmoris, to u>cr for n coaten:pt of the Lid
 
 ( '65 ) 
 
 motion which I fliall have the honour of fubmitting to 
 the Houfe. I can forefee only one objection, which I 
 fhall endeavour to obviate, and I hope the Houfe will 
 think that delicacy ought to yield to juftice. 
 
 Houfe, was carried by n conftahle upon a charge made againft the faid Meflenger 
 by the faid J. Miller", for an alliuilt aiul fulfe imprisonment made upon the fr.id J. 
 Miller in the laid arreft, before Brafs Crofby, Efq. Lord Mayor of the City of 
 -London, where y </.> a H^ik't, E;'q. Alderman, and Ricliard Oliver, Efq. were 
 prefent ; when the Deputy Serjeant at Arms, attending this Houfe, acquainted the 
 ud M&giftrates that the faid arreft of the faid J. Millar was made hy the faid Mef- 
 .fenger under a warrant figned.by the Speaker of the Houfe of Commons; which 
 . warrant was then produced aud fhewa to the (aid Magiftrates, and demanded of 
 them that the faid Meffenger fhould be difcharged, and the fa : d J. Miller delivered 
 up to the aiftody of the faid meifcnger ; and that the fttd Lord Mayor, Jtibn Wilkesj 
 F.J<j. and Richard Oliver, Efq. after .fuch information and demand as aforefaid, 
 figned a warrant for the commitment of the faid mefienger to the Compter for 
 the faid Atppofed afi'ault and falfe 'imprifonment of the faid J. Millsr, and obliged 
 the faid meifenger to enter into a Recognizance for his appearance at the nexC 
 quarter feffions of the peace to be held for the city of London, to anfwer to fuch 
 indictments as fhould then be .found againfl him for the laid fuppofed afiault and 
 falfe imprifonment. 
 
 Ordered, that John K't'kcs, Efj. do attend this Houfe to-morrow morning. 
 
 J. HATSMLL, Cl. Dom. Coin. 
 
 L-jr.dMf March 20, 1771. 
 S I R, 
 
 " I this morning received an order commanding my attendance this day in the 
 Houfe of Commons. I obferve that no notice is taken of me in your order as a 
 Meipber of the Houfe, and that I am not required to attend in my placed Both 
 Ihefe circximftances, according to the fettled form, ought to have been mentioned 
 in my cafe, and 1 hold them abfolutely indifpenfable. In the raie of the Freeholders 
 of Middlesex, I again dim -.nd my feat in Parliament, having the honour of being 
 freely chofen, hy a very great majority, one of the reprefentatives for the f.ii.d 
 county. I am ready to take the oaths prefcribed by law, and to give in my qua- 
 lincation as Knight of the Shire. When 1 have been admitted to my feat, I will 
 immediately give the Houfe the moft exact detail, \\ hich will neceliari'y comjn e- 
 J-iend a full juftincation, of my condudt relative to the late illegal ftnclaman r, 
 equally injurious to the honour of the Crown, and the r ghts of the fubject, and 
 like\\'ife the whole bufmefs of the priatei's. I have acted entirely from a fenfe of 
 duty to this great City, whofe franchifes I am fworn to maintain ; and to my 
 country, whole noble conflitution 1 reverence, and whofe liberties at the price of 
 piy b.ood, to the laft moment of my life, I will defend and fupport. 
 
 " I am, Sir, your humble fervant, JOHN WILKES." 
 Rt. Hon. Sir Fletcher Mortar, 
 
 Sfcattr of the Houfe of Cztni/ioni. 
 
 M 3 Gen-
 
 ( 166 J 
 
 Gentlemen, I obferve, have fcruples of refcinding 
 former Refclutions, not knowing, they fay, where 
 fuch a pradtice may rtop. It is a fcruple in my opi- 
 nion very ill founded. The firft great object is truth, 
 and we ought to follow where that leads. It is a duty, 
 Sir, which we owe in this caie more particularly to 
 the pioplc ; but, alas! their happinefs, their fecurity, 
 their very lives are no longer the objects of confidera- 
 tion with our inhuman rulers, nor, as we have ex- 
 perienced, even of attention with the Majority in this 
 Houfe *. If the laft parliament have acted wrong, let 
 
 us 
 
 Journals, March 20, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 275. 
 
 Ordered, That Jobn Witta, Efquire, do attend this Houfe upon Monday morn- 
 ing next. 
 
 Journals, March 25, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 186. 
 
 Ordered, That John Wilkts, Efquire, do attend this Houfe upon this day fort- 
 night, the 8// day of Jlprll next. 
 
 Journals, March 30, 1771, vol. XXXIII. p. 197. 
 
 And then the Houfe adjourned till Tuefday fevennight, the yb day cf <tyrilncxt. 
 
 Juniui fays, rt upon then' own principles, they fhould have committed Mr. 
 Wti'kcs, who had been guilty of a greater offence than even the Lord Mayor or 
 *' Alderman Oliver. But after repeatedly ordering him to attend, they at lall ad- 
 " journed bcjsnd the Jay appointed for his attendance, and by this mean, pitiful eva* 
 i'fon, gave up the feint, Svjch is the force of confcious guilt." 
 
 Junius, vol. II. p. 163, 
 
 * The laft SelTion gave a moft indecent proof of the truth of this obfervation, 
 as to the conduct of the prefent ^%'er/fy. The honourable Temple Lultrell, Mem- 
 ber for Milbourn Port, ftated in a moft mafterly manner to the Houfe the illega- 
 lity of the Pteft Warrants then in force againft the fuhject, and painted in all the 
 colours of horror and defpair, the cruelties and murders of the Prtf.-Gan^t let 
 Joofe uppn the people. He fpoke with a perfect knowledge of the fuhjec>, with 
 warmth and energy, but he fpoke to an audience grown callous to all feelings 
 for the public, to a fet of men dead to every fentiment of humanity and love of 
 their country, alert only to feize its plunder. He convinced the judgement by the 
 cleared proofs and ftrongeft arguments before he made an appeal to the paflions. 
 Among the variety of fnfts, by which h fupported his motion, one only was 
 futncient to unite all the hardened fharers of the national fpoil againft the humans 
 Bill, wliVh hi- j-ropofed on principles ftriclly juft and conftitutional. The fingle 
 article ot percjuifitcs, extorted from a deferring part of the public, to the Board 
 if Admiralty, uid th;ir 4ijini:rtfi:d firft Lord, for fraufihr.t during an lvprcf<,
 
 us reform their errors. If they have eftablifhed a wicked 
 precedent, we ought to reverfe it. If we have our- 
 ielves committed injuftice, let us afford all the repara- 
 
 was ftated to amount to above 14,000 1. a year. The intended Bill would have 
 been highly beneficial to the failor, by augmenting bis wages, limiting bit time of 
 fir-vice, and providing for him undtr the ittfirmitiet of age, and the fubjects of tho 
 Hate would have enjoyed that fecurity, to which they are entitled under every go- 
 vernment ; but the Board of Admiralty and Lord Sandwich would have loft an- 
 nually 14,000!. Mr. Temple Luttrell was ably fnpported by Governor Johnftone, 
 an officer of diftinguilhed merit in the Royal Navy, a wife and fpirited Senator, 
 as weJT as a friend to the liberty of the fubject. Sir George Savile, Sir Edward 
 Aftley, the right honourable Thomas Townfhend, Sir George Yonge, and feveral 
 ether gentlemen fpoke in favour of the motion ; but the majority refufed even to 
 receive 'the Bill, and to give it zfirjl reading. The generous hopes of Mr. Luttrell 
 to ferve the caufe of this free conftitution and the Royal Navy were at that time 
 blaftcd by the peftilential breath of corruption. The public, however, look up 
 to his firm virtue, and the Englifh failor hopes merited rexvards and protection, 
 from his future efforts at a favourable moment, when the people may have it in 
 their power to vindicate all their rights. 
 
 Votes of March n, 17.77. 
 
 A motion was made^ and the queftion being put, " That leave be given to 
 bring in a Bill, for the more eafy and effectual Manning of the Royal Navy, in 
 " times of war* and for giving encouragement to feamen and fea-furing perfons t 
 <l enter voluntarily into His Majefty's fervice." 
 
 // pajjld in tbe negative. 
 
 The lale Pen/toner David Hume obferves, " 'Tis a maxim in politics, which we 
 readily admit as undifputed and univerfal, That a toioer, however gnat, nvbift 
 granted by law to an eminent magiftrate, is not fo dangerous to liberty, at an atttbtrity t 
 i>owev(r inconfiderable, which be acquirei from violence aud itfurfativn. The exeTcife 
 of an illegal power is in the prtjjing of feamtn tacitly permitted in the crown ; and 
 though k has frequently been under deliberation, how that power might be ren- 
 dered icgal, and granted under proper restrictions to the fovereign, no fafe ex- 
 pedient could ever be propofed for that purpofe, and the danger to liberty always 
 appeared greater from law than from ufurpation. [Mr. Hume did not live to fee Mr. 
 Luttrell't pla.i~\. A continued and open ufurpation of the crown is permitted, amid 
 the greateft jealoufy and \vatcbfuloefs in the people ; nay proceeding from thofe 
 Tery principles. Liberty, in a country of the higheft liberty, is left entirely to its 
 own defence, without any countenance or protection. The wild ftate of nature is 
 renewed in one of the rnoft civilized focieties of mankind ; and great violences 
 and disorders among tbe peofle, the me/ft humane and tbe bejt natured, are committed 
 with impunity ; while the one party pleads obedience to the fupreme magiftrate, 
 he other the fanfiion of fundamental laws. 
 
 Jiflay and Treatifes on feveral Subjects. By David Hwme, Efq. vol. I. p. 408. 
 
 M 4 tion
 
 tion in our power. We have given the world a re- 
 markable inftance of our repentance this very feffiori 
 in the cafe of Mr. Rumbold and Mr. Sykes. "On the 
 22d of November laft the Order to the Attorney-Ge- 
 neral to profecute Thomas Rumbold, Efq. and Francis 
 Sykes, Efq. as principal promoters and foborners of cor- 
 rupt and wilful perjury at the election for Shaftefbury, 
 was difcharged, on the motion of as refpeclable a Gen- 
 tleman * as ever fat in parliament. The Order, how- 
 ever, was made by ourfelves in the very Jaft feffion, 
 on the 1 4th of February preceding the reverfal. 
 
 I have not yet, Sir, an inclination to quit the com- 
 pany of Meffieurs Sykes and Rumbold. Their cafe 
 will ferve me farther in my reafoninp-s. It is a ftronor 
 
 J O t> 
 
 argument againft Expulfion neceffarily including hca- 
 facitation. I will fuppofe, Sir, that, inftead of the 
 Houfe haying determined, in April 1775, in the firit 
 feffion of the prefent parliament, that neither of thofe 
 two gentlemen, on account of their notorious bribery 
 and corruption at Shaftefbury, were duly elected, it 
 had been voted that they were guilty of being the prin- 
 cipal promoters and fuborners of wilful and corrupt Per- 
 jury, a Refolution the Houfe did aftuajly come to 
 in Feb. 1776, and in confequence of fo black a crime 
 they had been expelled. Subornation of wiful and cor- 
 rupt Perjury is furely a moft atrocious fin, and more 
 
 , j i .. . 
 
 merits expulfion, than the writing a Libel. After- 
 wards let me likewife fuppofe the Houfe change their 
 opinion, and find 'that they proceeded without fuffi- 
 cient evidence, a Refolution the Houfe did actually 
 cpme to in November 1776. By the courtly, but un- 
 
 '* Sir George Savile, Baronet. 
 
 parliamentary,
 
 parliamentary, doftrine now pretended to be eftab- 
 lifhed, that Expulfion means Incapac'itation, you would 
 not have it in your power to re (tore them to their 
 feats, although you were perfectly convinced of their 
 innocence. Juftice would call aloud upon you to do 
 it, becaufe it appeared that no Itgal proof, no fufficient 
 evidence, was given, en which, you had founded fb 
 ralli, fo unjufbifiable a judgement. The cries of juf- 
 tice, however, would little avail with a venal fenate 
 againft minifterial defpotifm, or a royal edift in the 
 form of a parliamentary refolution. My firft expulfion, 
 Sir, in January 1764, was for being the A uthor of the 
 North Briton, No. 45. Where is to this hour the legal 
 proof, by the oaths of twelve of my countrymen, to be found 
 of that charge ? I have never even been tried upon 
 that accufation. A court of law determined on a dif- 
 ferent charge, that of the republication, a charge, which 
 might have been brought againft five hundred other 
 perfons. 
 
 As little delicacy, Sir, has been Ihewn by us to the 
 flfls of former parliaments, as to our own rcfohttions. 
 Have we manifefted any tendernefs to the memory of 
 the firft parliament, which was called in his prefent 
 Majefty's reign ? That parliament declared, and de- 
 clared truly, in the Civil Lift Act, that 800,000 1. 
 was " a competent revenue for defraying the expences of 
 " his Majefty's Civil government, and fupporting the 
 " dignity of the crown of Great-Britain.'* Within 
 thefe few days we. declared that 800,000 1. was not a 
 competent fum, and " that for the better fupport of 
 (( his Majefty's houfehold, and of the honour and dig- 
 (( nity of the crown, there ,be granted to his Majefty, 
 * l during his life, out of the Aggregate Fund, the 
 
 " clear
 
 ** clear yearly fum of 1 00,000 1. to commence frora 
 " the 5th of January 1777, over and above the yearly 
 " fum of 8oo,oool. granted by an act made in the 
 * firft year of his Majefty's reign." If the fum of 
 00,000 1. was competent to thefe great purpofes, we 
 had no right to vote more of the peopled money. We 
 were improvident, and prodigal Truftees for the nation, 
 not to ufc a more harm expreffion. Let us hear no 
 more of the amazing depth in finance of any modern 
 Sttlfy *, or of a pretended oeconony in the management 
 of the public, or the royal, revenues. We likewife 
 voted the laft week above 600,000 1. as the laft parlia- 
 ment had above 500,000!., much above a million in 
 all, on the fame pretext; of paying the debts of the 
 King, when his Majefty had enjoyed a competent re- 
 venue of 800,000 1. clear of all deductions and con- 
 tingencies, and thofe debts were of the moft fufpicious 
 nature, even as to the independency of this Houfe. 
 Let us not, therefore, Sir, affect more tendernefs for 
 the laft parliament info flagrant an inftance of injuftice, 
 as the cafe of the Middlefex Elections, than we have 
 fhewn to them, and to ourfelves too, in other refpects. 
 We ought, if we are men of honour and principle, to 
 do juftice to all the electors of this kingdom, and by 
 a formal repeal, to make fat isf action to thofe zealous 
 
 * Henry IV. and S,,I>j, his great Miniflcr of finance, were facrifked by all the 
 mercenary writers of the court in 1763 to George III and the Enrl of Butt, bis 
 ferit Lord of the Treafury, with his incomparable croupier, Sancb,, the Chancellor 
 of the Exchequer, then Sir Francis Daft-wood, now Lord Lt Defrwer. The 
 *roonfhine beams of the two laft falellites only foured our exdfed Cyder and Perry, 
 and then they funk to all appearance beneath our horizon at the fame moment, 
 n the lamented i6th of April 1763. But the glorious luminary round which 
 tbey moved, con'iimes to warm us en this fide the Atlantic with his refulgent rays, 
 perhaps, he fcorchcs our American brethren with his fierce beams. 
 
 defenders
 
 C 171 ) 
 
 defenders of liberty, the fpirited freeholders of this 
 injured and infuked county. 
 
 I defire, Sir, to recall to the memory of many gen- 
 tlemen, what patted in this Houfe in the laft parlia- 
 ment on one of the great debates refpecting the Mid- 
 dlefex Elections. A noble Lord, the darling of his 
 country, as well as the favourite of our army, whofe 
 memory is dear to every Englimman, for he joined to 
 the bravery of Casfar all the mild and gentle qualities 
 of our Englifh hero, Edward the Black Prince, that no- 
 ble Lord, Sir, Hood up in his place here, and folemnly 
 alked pardon of his country for having, as he faid, 
 wounded the conftitution, and violated the rights and 
 privileges of thisr kingdom by voting as he had done in 
 this Houfe in the bufinefs of the Middlefex Elections. 
 He did not Hop there. He was anxious to make pub- 
 lic * reparation for a mi (taken opinion but of fuch 
 moment and he afterwards joined the Oppojition in an 
 important queftion reflecting the difcontents of the 
 people on this very fubject. We may all, Sir, imitate 
 the love of juftice and candour, if we cannot reach the 
 high courage of that illuftrious, immortal character, the 
 late Marquis ofGranby. 
 
 While the Refolution, which I have mentioned, is 
 fufFered to continue on our Journals, I ihall believe. 
 Sir, that the elective rights of the nation lie at the 
 mercy of the Minifter, that is in fact of the Crown, and 
 that the dignity and independency of parliament are in 
 danger of being entirely deftroyed. It is evident, that 
 
 * L^d Granby himfelf thought proper to condemn, retract, and difavow, by a 
 rnofl folemn declaration in the Houfe of Commons, that very fyftem of political con- 
 <ii:ft, which Jvttm had held forth, to .the difapprobatioa of the public. 
 
 Junius, vol. I. p. 51. 
 
 no
 
 ( 17* ) 
 
 no gentleman now holds his feat by the choice of his 
 constituents, but only by the good- will, and at the 
 pleafure of the Minifter, or by the Royal permiffion. 
 The tenure is equally precarious, and unjuft, for the 
 conftitution has clearly lodged in the people the right 
 of being reprefented in this Houfe, by the man, who is 
 the object of their choice. A committee can never have 
 but that fingle queftion to determine, provided the 
 party is by law eligible, and has purfued only thofe 
 methods, which are warranted by law. I will feize 
 every opportunity of importuning, of conjuring', the 
 Houfe, if they have any reverence for the laws, utterly 
 to refcind this unconftitutional and iniquitous refolu- 
 tion. We owe it to the prefent, and to every future, 
 age, and therefore I move, " that the Refolution of 
 " the Houfe of the zyth of February 1769, that John 
 " Wilkes 9 Efqulre, having been, in this Seffion of Par li a- 
 " went, expelled this Houfe, WAS, and is, incapable of be- 
 " ing elected a ^Member to feme in this prefent Parliament, 
 *' be expunged from the Journals of this Houfe, as.be- 
 '< ing fubverlive of- the rights of the whole body of 
 * Electors of this kingdom." 
 
 VOTES of May 9, 1777. 
 
 A Motion was made, and the Queftion being propofed, 
 " That an humble Addrefs, be prefented to His Ma- 
 tf jefty, to exprefs the juft fenfe this Houfe enter- 
 *' tains of His Majefty's regard for the lalting wel- 
 
 " fare
 
 " fare and happinefs of His People; and, as this- 
 " Houfe cannot omit any opportunity of {hewing 
 " their zeal and regard for His Maje/ly's honour, and 
 " the profperity of His Family, humbly to befeech> 
 " His Majefty, that, in conlideration of the High 
 " rank and dignity of their Royal Highneifes the 
 " Dukes of Glouce/hr and Cumberland, He would be 
 " graciouily pleafed to make fome addition to their 
 " annual income, out of the revenues chearfully 
 " granted His Majefty, for the expences of the Civil 
 " Government, and better fupporting the Honour 
 " and Dignity of the Crown ; and to allure His Ma- 
 6( jefty that this Houfe will enable His Majefty. ef- 
 " fectually to perform the fame, as nothing will 
 " more conduce to the ftrengthening of His Ma- 
 " jefty's government, than honourably fupporting 
 " the Dignity of the diiferent branches of the. Royal 
 " Family." 
 
 And the previous Queftion being put, " That that 
 ff Queftion be now put ;" 
 
 It pafled in the negative* 
 
 Mr.Wilkes obferved, that the * tivo honoured gen-- 
 tlemen with the blujhing Ribbands, who oppofed the 
 Motion, declared that they did it chiefly from what 
 they thought a want of delicacy to the Crown, but that 
 in his opinion the real honour and delicacy of the Crown 
 were effentially and deeply wounded by the prefent un- 
 
 * Sir John Griffin Griffin, Member for Amlover, and Sir George Howard, 
 Member for Stamford, have both regiments in his Majefty's fervke, batk of cavaky, 
 Lieutenants-GenenJ, and bttb Knights of the Bath. 
 
 Fortunati amio 
 Ambo awimis, anbs infijnes praeftantibHS annis, 
 
 happ/
 
 < '74 ) 
 
 happy fituation of our Sovereign's own brothers, which, 
 was of the moft univerfal notoriety, and highly to be 
 lamented ; that the elder had been driven into a kind 
 of honourable exile at Rome, and the younger was not 
 enabled to fupport the dignity of his high birth and 
 rank among us ; that as to the cafe of the late Duke of 
 Cumberland,, which had been mentioned, although he 
 enjoyed an income of above 4o,ooo/. a year, he lived 
 with his royal * Father, that great patron of liberty, by 
 
 whom 
 
 * So excellent a King, that waste this SHAKS p E ARE- 
 
 Long his lofs fliall Englai$ weep, 
 
 Ne'er again his likenefs f.e ; 
 Long her ftrains in forrow fteep, 
 
 Strains of immortality. GRAY. 
 
 This humane Prince on many occauons ventured his life in the caufe of libtrt*. 
 Hisdiftinguifhed braver)' at the battles of Oudenarde and Dettingen was the frequent 
 fubjedl of the unfufpecled praife of our inveterate enemies, the French. He was 
 always a fteady friend to the liberties of mankind, and like the farmer princes of bis 
 fcoxvfe, and of the Noffau line, kept a watchful eye over the Houfe of Bourboa, well 
 knowing their determined enmity to this free government, and their long meditated 
 fthemes for grafping at univerfal monarchy. He often checked the reftlefs ambit-ioa 
 of France in its mad career, by the moil firm, wife, and fuccefsful meafnres. At 
 his death he left England in poffelfion of the capitals of the French in Afia and 
 Anierich, and of many other important conquefts there, as well as in Europe and 
 Africa. The moft valuable of thefe conquefts were loft foon after by a flroke of 
 his grandftn't pen, uhich proved more fatal to England than all the fwords of all our 
 eneraicsi 
 
 It is jUttice to the memory of the late King to declare, that he no lefs endeavoured 
 to nuke his people free and happy at home, than to carry the glory of the Britim 
 arms to the higheft pitch every where abroad. During his reign the I, were re- 
 q*cle4and obeyed. Li, erty and juJUtt fat with him on the throne. The execution 
 cf Earl Ferrer, impielfed all-foreign nation? with the' greateft idea of the facrednefs 
 of pur laws, and the protection they afford the meaneft fuhjedt, under a firm and 
 juft fovcrcign. It was likewife believed, that if the Cwn Martial on Lord George 
 Sackv illc hiid pronounced the fentence, which was expecled by all Europe, ?!.e 
 /// of his late Majefty would have ordered it to have been' carried into ex- 
 ecution. 
 
 The penfind Doctors, Shebbeare and Johnfon, and all the other minifterial wri- 
 
 e court, have beeu indefatigable for many yeare in vilifying the memory of 
 
 PAwereign, and tearing the laurels from his tomb. The/fry? addrefs of the 
 
 ZW, to the prefe.it King, on Nov. ,8, I7 6o, is the beft confutation of all 
 
 t># voinwes oi u ItgUn of ri.ele hirelui^v. 
 
 "The
 
 whom all the expences of his houfehold were defrayed, 
 and that he died unmarried, whereas the prefent King's 
 Brothers were both married, and had, with very incom- 
 petent revenues, feparate, families and eftablifhments, 
 which conftituted no part of his Majefty's houfehold 
 arrangements or expences. He added, that we ought 
 not to be prodigal to the Sovereign, and penurious to 
 his Brothers ; that the whole illuftrious Houfe of Brunf- 
 wick claimed our regard and gratitude; that the wif- 
 dom of Parliament mould carry the Houfe into a view 
 of futurity, and of poffible contingencies, to provide in 
 all events for the public fafety, good order, and tran- 
 quillity ; that what the honourable * gentleman, who 
 made the motion, had mentioned with due horror, of 
 .our being obliged to fetch from Rome a Sovereign bcrn and 
 educated there, was not fo wild and abfurd an idea as it 
 had been reprefented by other gentlemen ; that purple 
 fevers, and various epidemical difeafes, had fometimes 
 in a very Ihort period fwept away whole families ; that 
 towards the beginning of this century fcveral Dauphins 
 gf France had died within a few months of each other, 
 and the Bourbon line was believed to be in fome dan- 
 ger of being extinct; that the -\- numerous, immediate 
 pofterity of George II. had been reduced to a very (mail 
 
 The long experience which yve had of his royal virtues, the tetiigriy of hk 
 
 " government, and his uniform care of our law and liberties, rot inteiruptrd in any or.', 
 *' inf.er.ct, during the courfe of fo many years, demand from us the moft grateful ac- 
 " knowledgements ; and will make his memory as dear to us as the height *nd 
 " fplendor to which hi had raifed the rreatnefs of thei'e kingdoms will render it glo- 
 " rious to ail pofterity." 
 
 After the demife of the crown, will tlure he found any I.irA proftitrte eno'wjb, 
 will Shere be a SanrfwV^ to move fuch a paragraph in they?-^ Addrefs of As Houft 
 of Ltr<is to his prefent Majefty's Surc'Jfir * 
 
 * Sir James Lowther, Baronet, Member for CunnherhnJ. 
 
 t Evwy true friend of the Houfe of Bnmfwick. fees vrith afnicltcn, tew rufiJlj 
 feme of the principal branches of the family have topped off. 
 
 Juniu;, vol. II. page 89. 
 
 number:
 
 Climber; that all families might fuffer thefe moft cruel 
 loffes, but in cafes of this great national concern, we 
 couid not be too provident, too vigilant for the general 
 fafety. Mr. Wilkes farther remarked, that it was im- 
 poflible to mifunderftand this bufmefs ; that it was, 
 " Will you drive the King's own Brothers into exile?" 1 
 or " degrade them to the rank of private noblemen?" 
 or " will you Ihew your duty to the King, whofe heart 
 " glows with all the tendernefs of true fraternal affec- 
 " tion, and teftify your regard to the honour of the na- 
 " tion, by making a princely and competent provitlon 
 " for your Sovereign's own Brothers, the two Royal 
 "Dukes, the children of England?" He concluded 
 with expreffing a pleaiing hope, that the vote of every 
 gentleman in the Houfe would be governed by that 
 liberality of fentiment, which ought to characterize the 
 reprefentatives of a great, powerful, and free people. 
 
 VOTES of Nov. 20, 17/7- 
 
 Refolyed, 
 *( rr^ 
 
 " JL H A T an humble Addrefs be preferited to his 
 " Majefty, to return hjs Majefty . the thanks of this 
 f * Houfe, for his moft gracious fpeech from the 
 ** Throne. To affure his Majefty, that we take a fii> 
 " cere part in the confidence which his Majefty ex- 
 
 " prefTeSy
 
 C '77 ) 
 
 tc preffes, that the conduct and courage of his oflkers^ 
 f< and the fpirit and intrepidity of his forces, both by 
 " fea and land, will, under the divine providence, be 
 " attended with important fuccefs That we learn 
 " with much fatisfa&ion, that his majefty is for that 
 " purpofe purfuing the proper meafures, for keeping 
 " his land-forces complete to their prefent eftablifh- 
 " ment; and that, whenever his Majefty {hall be pleafed 
 " to communicate to this Houfe any new engagements, 
 " which he may have entered into for increasing his. 
 " military force, we will take the fame into our confi- 
 " deration; and we truft his Majefty will not be dif- 
 " pointed in the gracious fentiments which he enter- 
 < tains of the zeal and public fpirit of his faithful 
 " Commons," &c, &c. 
 
 The following amendment was moved by Lord 
 Granby, and feconded by Lord John Cavendifh, " That 
 " this Houfe does moft humbly advife and fupplicate 
 '* his Majefty to be pleafed to caufe the moft fpeedy 
 " and effectual meafures to be taken, for reftoring 
 " peace in America, and that no time may be loft in 
 " propoiing an immediate ceffation of arms there; in or- 
 " der to the opening of a treaty for the final fettlement 
 '" of the tranquillity of thofe invaluable provinces, by 
 " a removal of the unhappy caufes of this ruinous ci- 
 " vil war, and by a juft and adequate fecurity againft 
 " the return of the like calamities in times to come. 
 *' And this Houfe defire to offer the moft dutiful affur- 
 " ances to his Majefty, that they will, in due time, 
 " chearf ally co-operate with the magnanimity and 
 " tender goodnefs of his Majefty, for the preservation 
 <k of his people, by fuch explicit and moft fojemn de- 
 " fflarations, and provifions of fundamental and irrevo- 
 
 N " cable
 
 " cable laws, as may be judged neceffary for afcertairt- 
 11 ing and fixing for ever, the refpe&ive rights of Great 
 " Britain and her Colonies." 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 By the eftablifhed doctrine of Parliament, I am au- 
 thorized to confider the firfl day of a new Seflion as pe- 
 culiarly the day of the Minifter, perhaps more peculi- 
 arly fo than even the important day towards the clofe 
 of the Seflion, which is regarded as the day of his tri- 
 umph, and called his opening the Budget. On that day 
 the Minifter -fubmits to the Houfe his flate of the 
 finances of this kingdom, an account of the various 
 fums voted during the Seflion, the ways and means he 
 propofes of raifmg the fupply, the certain and probable 
 expences of the year, and in general the revenues and 
 refources of the empire. This firfl day of a Seflion is 
 Hill more interefling, and holds forth more important 
 matter to our confideration. The Seflion is regularly 
 opened by a fpeech from the Throne, but, although 
 pronounced by the King, it h parliamentary language 
 always to ftyle it the fpeech of the Minifter, that in a 
 fair and full difcuflion of it, the facred name of Majefty 
 may not be made ufe of to controul or check that free- 
 dom of debate, which is the eflence, and conftitute's 
 the great dignity, of an Englifli Houfe of Commons. 
 Tbe Minifter, Sir, then in the fpeech gives us a general 
 view of our fituation both at home and abroad, the 
 probability of the continuance of war or peace, the 
 (tate of foreign powers, fo far as they are likely to af- 
 fet this Empire; and in Ihort whatever has a relation
 
 to our internal fecurity, or foreign connections with, 
 the allies of the crown. But, Sir, this is only the 
 Minifter's coup d'oeil of the kingdom ; his declaration 
 of what he thinks the actual iituation of public affairs* 
 It is a kind of miniflerial chart, which this Houfe may 
 adopt, or reject, at pleafure, and purfue the fame, or a 
 eourfe directly oppofite. I thought it neceflary, Sir^ 
 to premife this before I go into the examination of the 
 paper on our table, and 1 fhall not fcruple to avail my- 
 felf of the right I claim, as one of the reprefentatives 
 of the people, to treat that production as containing 
 merely a iketch of the Minifter's fentiments, as the fub- 
 ftance of the political creed, which he wilhes to be re- 
 ceived by the nation. 
 
 The fpeech, Sir, in my idea, clearly conveys to this 
 Houfe a firm refolution to continue this unnatural, un- 
 juft, and barbarous war, to our utter deitrudtion* It 
 breathes a fpirit of unrelenting rage, cruelty and car- 
 nage, a favage thirft of blood. Yet the torrents of 
 blood already Hied, and the prodigious wafte of national 
 treafure, have hitherto been followed with no fignal or 
 fplendid fucceffes. In the third year of the war no^ 
 thing decifive has happened. We are flill bleeding at 
 every vein to fupport this American conteft, and I fee 
 no probability of a near and final period. We cannot 
 but obferve in the declaration of the Minifter, that per- 
 feverance in error, that fatal obftinacy in the purfuancc*. 
 of this mifchievous plan, which muft end in the ruin 
 of our country, and the complete eftablifhment of ano- 
 ther potent empire from the fragments of the Britifh mo* 
 narchy. Scarcely a faint gleam of hope dawns upon us. 
 Miniilcrs feem determined to ruih on to only imaginary 
 conqueft, but certain irretrievable ruin ; for if the war 
 ihould be continued on the prefent wild and expenfive 
 
 N a plan,,
 
 plan, it will effectually bankrupt the nation. We are 
 told, Sir, in the fpeech, that the Minifter has " a juil 
 " confidence that the conduct and courage of our of- 
 " ficers, and the fpirit and intrepidity of our forces, 
 " both by fea and land, will be attended with impor- 
 '* tant fuccefs." The high fpirit and courage of Eng- 
 liihmen have never been doubted. Would to God, 
 Sir, they were at this time exerted in a good c"aufe, in 
 a jnil and righteous quarrel ! But, Sir, to this hour we 
 know of no important fuccefs. We have fcarcely a cer- 
 tainty of one favourable event of this year's campaign. 
 Even the Minifters tremble for the condition of General 
 Burgoyne. I will however fuppofe, that every advan- 
 tage, which the moil ianguine friend of adminiftration 
 has propagated without proof, is at lafl authenticated, 
 that Philadelphia is taken, and the army under Gene- 
 ral Wafliington totally defeated. Let us recollect, Sir, 
 what pafled after Bofton was taken by the Britilh forces. 
 Our general was foon befieged in that capital of New 
 England, ignominioufly cooped up there many months 
 with twenty regiments, and at laft driven from thence. 
 I know the colouring given to this retreat by the court 
 party among us, and have beeri naufeated with the cant*, 
 terms of our Generals changing their quarters, zndjbiff- 
 ing their pq/ition ; but I know likewife that their artil- 
 lery and ilores were left behind. All the military men 
 of this country now confefs that the retreat of General 
 Howe from Bofton was an abfohite flight. I believe 
 it was as much fo, as that of Mahomet from Mecca. 
 Should Philadelphia be taken, we have indeed one more 
 American town in our pofieffion, if it is not reduced to 
 allies by us, like feveral other towns and villages. Shall 
 
 we
 
 we be able to * keep Philadelphia longer than we did 
 Bofton? Will not experience warrant me to fufpeft, 
 that before the winter is over, we lhall hear of General 
 Howe's being befieged in Philadelphia, and at laft re- 
 tiring from thence with the lofs of his heavy cannon, 
 and warlike ftores, as he did from Bofton ? The object 
 of the laft year's campaign was the conqueft of the two 
 Jerfeys. It fucceeded. This year our troops have 
 been obliged to evacuate both the Jerfeys, which are 
 lately declared to be out of the Kings peace. I will 
 likewife fuppofe, Sir, that the report of General Waih- 
 ington's defeat is confirmed, and the total difperfion of 
 that army. I remember about a month before the af- 
 fair of Trenton, the army of General Washington had 
 fo entirely melted away, that he had not five hundred 
 men under his command : yet the profpec"r. of fuccefs 
 againft the German mercenaries^ there gave him, at a 
 critical moment, a fmall but fpirited army ; and the 
 jufl vengeance of America proved fatal to almoft the 
 whole body of Hemans at Trenton, ^Admitting that 
 General Wafhington has fuffered a fevere check, will 
 he not be able to recruit from an immenfe tract of 
 country devoted to Jlis caufe and perfon ? Still, Sir, 
 two other Provincial armies, in no fmall degree for- 
 midable, fubiift; one in Maflachufet's Bay, the other 
 in South Carolina. They have received no qheck. 
 They may march againft the army of General Howe, 
 
 * " Purfuant to his Majefty's inftru&ions, I evacuated Philadelphia on the 1 8th of 
 " June, at three (Schck in tht morning." 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton's letter in the London Gazette 
 
 Extraordinary of Aug. 24, $778. 
 
 <' Lord CornwalUs with the Britifh grenadiers, and two battalions of Heffian 
 * l grenadiers, took poffeffion of Philadelphia the next morning." [Sept. z6, 1777.} 
 
 London Gazette Extraordinary of Es<?. i, 1777. 
 
 N 3 reduced
 
 reduced and "weakened by the victories, which he is 
 faid to have gained. To give the ftrongefl force to 
 this reafoning, let me put the cafe of a general difper- 
 fion of the Provincial troops in America, and of the 
 diflblution of the Congrefs. What conduct can Great 
 Britain then purfue? How will you preferve a country 
 which extends almoft from Hudfon's Bay to the fou- 
 thern extremity of Florida ? Will you garrifon all the 
 towns of any confequence through that immenfe extent 
 of territory? Will your army feparate, and go into 
 cantonments ? If you do, wherever you are weak, you 
 will be attacked, and your troops probably meet the 
 fate of the Heffians at Trenton. But, Sir, this country 
 neither has, nor can raife, an army adequate to thefe 
 purpofes; and if we could hire all the regimented fava- 
 ges of Germany and Ruffia, the common deftroyers of 
 the human race, we muft fink under the expence. The 
 nation would be beggared by the effort. The * noble 
 Lord at the head of our finances would foon find all the 
 pillars of public credit ihaken to their foundations, and 
 all the fountains of national wealth dried up and ex- 
 haufted. On fuch terms America is not worth the 
 holding. 
 
 I am aware, Sir, that it will be faid, the Americans 
 'will, in cafe of general fuccefs on your part, give up 
 the conteft, and fubmit to the terms you prefcribe. 
 The late experience of General Burgoyne is the fullefl 
 anfwer to this objection. He tells us, that the very 
 Provincials, who were mod forward to profefs themfdves 
 
 loyalifts, and to take the oaths of allegiance, and fubmit 
 t 
 
 * Lord North, firft Lord of the Trenfury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
 
 pncoib?r far E,iabuiy. 
 
 to
 
 to Lieutenant Colonel Baum, were the firft to fire 
 bi?ir, that he was attacked on all fides, that he Jheived 
 great perfonal courage, but was overpowered by mi'i'bers* 
 In ihort, Sir, there was a total deftruction of that de- 
 tachment. Mr. Burgoyne highly blames a Provincial 
 gentleman for being fo incautious as to leave at liberty fucb 
 os took the oath cf allegiance, as if it were a better mode 
 of perfuading the others, to confine their countrymen 
 the moment you content to admit them to fwcar alle- 
 giance. Men are not converted, Sir, by the force of 
 the bayonet at the breaft, nor by imprifonment. It is 
 employing the violence of the highwayman. He takes 
 your purfe indeed, but you recover it from him the in- 
 flant you become ftronger than the robber. Nor is 
 this to be coniidered as treachery. It was a compact, 
 not originating from free will, or mutual cojifent, but 
 founded merely in force, and diifolved in the feme man- 
 ner. But I believe the Americans are neither to be 
 cozened, nor by violence deprived of either liberty or 
 property. I therefore recur, Sir, to the wife amend- 
 mem to the Addrefs, which the excellent * Lord has 
 moved, to fupplicate his Majefty, that no time may be 
 loft in propofing an immediate teffation of 'arms , as the only 
 means of beginning a treaty, and effecting a reconcilia- 
 tion with our American brethren. The hoflile meafures 
 echoed to the throne in the miniflerial addrefs will be 
 .ineffectual, and only ferve to ftrengthen the indepen- 
 dence of the Colonies, and give additional vigour to 
 their refinance. We cannot fucceed by force, nor in 
 this commercial country is the object worth our while, 
 were it poffible. Let us carry thefe plain and certain 
 fads to the foot of the throne, and let Parliament hold 
 
 * The Marquis of Granby, Member for tjie Univerfity of Cambridge. 
 
 N 4 likewife
 
 [ .84 ] 
 
 ilkevvife to the nation the language of truth, a language 
 very different from what we have hitherto heard from 
 Minifters. 
 
 The nation, Sir, has been duped for feveral years 
 by a fucceffion of minifterial falfehoods. When -the 
 Bofton Port Bill patted, the Minifter declared that we 
 Ihould foon have America at our feet, for the reft of 
 the Maflachufet's Bay would defert Bofton. The 
 other provinces, he allured us, would, from a rooted 
 jealoufy, rejoice at her humiliation, and enjoy the prof- 
 peft of dividing her trade. When the whole province 
 became like one man, it was faid the fouthern Colo- 
 nies however difapproved the conduft of New-Eng- 
 land. After both the fouthern and northern colonies 
 united, and made a common caufe, we were told that 
 means were found to prevent the meeting of the Con- 
 grels. General Gage publickly declared, that he 
 would be in the midft of them. He chofe however not 
 then to change his pofition. The Congrefs met without 
 him, and in a perfed fpirit of unanimity, for their 
 \vranglings were never heard but by the gentlemen on 
 our treafnry bench, and the Majority of this Houfe. 
 The non-importation and non-exportation agreements were 
 likewife declared impoffible to fubfift in a neft of 
 'known fmugglers ; yet time has fhewn how ftriclly they 
 have been preferved. It was likewife moft confidently 
 averred, that the cowardly Americans dare not aflern- 
 ble in arms, and that two regiments were fufficient to 
 march through, and fubdue, the rebellious colonies. 
 This however muft be acknowledged to be prior to the 
 fiege of General Howe, and the twenty regiments, in 
 Bofton. I will not, Sir, tire the Houfe with recapitu- 
 lating the regular fucceffion of court tales and fictions. 
 
 They
 
 They have long been the amufement of mankind, both 
 at home and abroad. Even at the prefent period mi- 
 nifters give out, and affect to believe, that thirteen 
 powerful colonies can be conquered, after having for 
 three years baffled all the efforts of this country both 
 by fea and land, trained and difciplined their people, 
 fettled to the fatisfadtion of the inhabitants their re- 
 fpective governments, raifed large armies to ferve dur- 
 ing the war, provided for their pay, and collected im- 
 menfe ftores of artillery, arms, and ammunition, fe- 
 conded by the zeal of all America, and more than the 
 good will and applaufe of all Europe except the court 
 faction among us. But, Sir, although America can- 
 not be conquered, it may perhaps be regained by the 
 mild arts of lenity and juftice, by temper and modera- 
 tion. The fword muft firft be Iheathed, according to 
 the propofed amendment of the noble Lord, and then 
 we may talk of peace on fair and folid terms, on terms of 
 equality as brethren, as heirs of the famer glorious free 
 conftitution. I indulge the hope that things are not yet 
 quite defperate. I am fure peace will be the greateft 
 bleffing to both countries. It is perhaps even more 
 neceffary for us than for them. The infant American 
 ftate feems already to poflefs the ftrength and vigour 
 of the infant Hercules, ready to be exerted in a fimilar 
 manner, in fubduing the monfters of tyranny, cruelty, 
 and violence. Our exhaufted ftate is well known to- 
 our enemies, who triumph in our fatal diffractions, and 
 are preparing to avail themfelves of our finking condi- 
 tion. Sir, I muft again and again repeat, that in my 
 humble fentiment a reconciliation with America is ne- 
 eeflary for the falvation of this country. I mean a 
 firm, lafting agreement with the Colonies on terms of a 
 
 juft
 
 ( i86 ) 
 
 jail equality as to rights and privileges. Any other 
 agreement would not be permanent ; that alone would 
 ive us from the impending ruin. The anfwer of the 
 Privernates to the Romans iuould govern us, Jt bonam 
 pacem, etfdam, e t ptrpetwm -fi malam, bauddiutwnam* 
 The reception fuch an anfwer met with was worthy of 
 the Roman people. JLivy * fays, pars mclior fenatus 
 &d meliora refponfum irakere et ditere^ YIRI et LIBERI 
 sQcem audit am. 
 
 The fpeech, Sir, feems to flatter us with a promife 
 of attention to this great objedt, the reparation of 
 peace to our diftracled and difmembered empire. It 
 fays, " I ihall ever be watchful for an opportunity of 
 ** putting a Hop to the effufion of the blood of my 
 " fubjedts, and the calamities, which are infeparable 
 * e from a flate of war/* The Minifters, Sir, rejected 
 with indignity one happy opportunity of putting a Jlop 
 to ike cjj'itfim of blood t when, even after the battles of 
 Lexington, Concord, and Bunker's Hill, the Con- 
 grefs humbly fupplicated his Majefty, to dlreR fome 
 mode, by which the united application of kis faithful co~ 
 lonifts to the throne may be improved into a bappy and per-' 
 wtanent reconciliation. To the mad infult of the Ame- 
 rican Secretary, Lord Dartmouth, in September 1775, 
 when he told the agents of the Colonies, in the King's 
 mme, that no anfwer woithl be given, all the fubfe- 
 quent calamities of this civil war are to be attributed, 
 and perhaps the lofs of half our empire. Many cala- 
 mities, Sir, are undoubtedly inseparable from a Jiate of 
 war , yet the prefent war againft our brethren in Ame- 
 rica has been attended with peculiar circumflances of 
 cruelty, which fill the mind with horror, with calami- 
 
 $ Livy, lib. viiL c. 21. 
 
 lies
 
 "uobich are not inseparable from ajlate'cf ivar. Are 
 the f calling-knife and tomahawk neceflliry calamities of 
 war? Are they i /if ep arable from -it? God forbid! I 
 have read, Sir, a late proclamation of that great Ge- 
 neral and preacher, Mr. Burgoyne, which is fhocking 
 to a civilized and generous nation. As a flatc-paper 
 it difgraces our country. The Imperial Court have 
 often employed many kinds of irregular troops, Croats, 
 Pandours, and Huflars ; but their names difgrace no 
 public at. If they plunder, they do not torture. 
 The pious preacher, Mr. Burgoyne, complains of this 
 froward and ftubborn generation, and at the very mo- 
 ment of mentioning his confcioufnefs of Cbriftianity, dif- 
 plays a fpirit of cruelty, which is repugnant to every 
 principle of humanity. He boafts that he will give 
 Jlretch to the Indian forces under his direction, and they 
 amount to thsufands. Merciful heaven ! Thoufands of 
 Indian favages let loofe, by the command of a Britiih 
 General, againft our brethren in America ! Human 
 nature fhrinks back from fuch a fcene* At his hcds 9 
 kajht in, like bounds, jhould famine , fword, and fire, 
 crouch for employment *. Mr. Burgoyne's feelings as a 
 man, I fear, will not hereafter be as univerfally ac- 
 knowledged as the military talents of the great. Ge- 
 neral. In the prefent cafe I have that pity for him, 
 and his employers, which they have not ihewn to 
 others. What, Sir, has been, and ftill continues, the 
 conduct of Indian favages in war ? Is it not to exercife 
 the moil mocking cruelties on their enemies, without 
 diftindtion of age or fex ? The conduit of this war 
 goes on a par with its principle. Has the feeble old 
 man, the helplefs infant, the defencelefs female, ever 
 
 * Shakfpeare's Prologue to King Hejjry V. 
 
 expe-
 
 ( 1.88 ) 
 
 experienced the 'tender mercies of an Indian fa-vage? 
 He drinks the blood of his enemy, and his favourite 
 repaft is human flefh ! Is bjlrettk given to theufands of 
 thefe cannibals by the command, in a public manifefto, 
 of one of the King's Generals ? I am bold, Sir, to 
 declare that fuch orders are unworthy the General of 
 any Chriftian King. They are only becoming a Jewifh 
 prieft to a Jewifh King, in the raoft bloody and bar- 
 barous of all hiftories, the hiftory of the Jewiih na- 
 tion. The orders of the Jewifh prieft were, new ga 
 and J mite Amalek^ and utterly dcjlroy all that they have, 
 endfpare them n&t ; btttjlay both' man and ivoman, infant 
 end fite kling, ox and Jheep, camel and afs *. General 
 Burgoyne threatens the Americans with all the -ven- 
 geance of the Jlate, not its juftice, that tbe mejfengers 
 ef wrath will meet them in- the field, delta flatten, famine > 
 and every concomitant borr&r. Not -the fword of even- 
 handed juftice, falling only on the guilty heads of the 
 bold rebels, but the favage tortures of a tomahawk 
 from the thoufands of Indians under his direction, on the 
 innocent women and children. I remember, Sir, an 
 honourable gentleman -f, whom I fee in his place, a 
 gentleman very high in the law, not only humanely 
 propoiing, according to the ideas, and in the language 
 of bis country, but dwelling with rapture on what 
 he clafiically called a jlarvation bill for the poor Ame- 
 ricans. I rely, however, Sir, on the fpirit and prow- 
 efs of the Americans., that they will neither fuffer the 
 fate of the Amalakites, nor retaliate the attempt on the 
 favages of Europe. 
 
 * i Samuel, chap. xv. v&r. 3. 
 
 f Henry Dundas, Efq. Lbrd Advocate for Scotland, member far Etfinburg- 
 tnre. 
 
 This
 
 This year, Sir, we have again in the fpeech rev 
 peated affurances from foreign powers of their pacific 
 difpofitions. The noble .Lord*, who moved the ad- 
 drefs, thinks France will not change, and the honour- 
 able gentleman -f*-, who feconded the motion, aflures 
 the Houfe of the perfect amity of the neighbouring 
 powers. Can any change, Sir, be equally advantageous 
 to Frame as a perseverance in the prefent fyftem ? 
 America now pours all her wealth into the lap of the 
 Houle of Bourbon, which fees her ancient enemy 
 daily perifhing by a fatal civil war. Even the Mi- 
 nifter feems to awake from his long lethargy ; for the 
 fpeech fays, " at this time, when the armaments in the 
 " ports of France and Spain continue, it is thought 
 * c advifeable to make a coniiderable augmentation to 
 " our naval force." Parliament ought to have been 
 informed of the whole truth with refpec~b to the trea- 
 chery of France. 1 am fure, Sir, I mail not be con- 
 tradicted, when I affirm, that France, the government 
 of France, not covetly, nor underhand, not fecretly 
 by merchants only, but directly and openly as a go- 
 vernment, affift the Americans. The two Congrefs 
 Ihips of war, which had the engagement with the' 
 Druid, are now refitting at L'Orient, on the coaft o 
 Britainy, and .furnimed with every neceffary from the 
 French King's ftores at that place. The faft is well 
 known to the Minifter, and tamely fubmitted to ; but 
 this open inlult on the nation is endeavoured to be 
 carefully concealed. 
 
 The old ally of this nation, Portugal, is not ho- 
 noured with the flighteft mention in the fpeech. I will 
 
 * Lord Hyde, member for Chriflchurch. 
 4 \ S.T Gilbert Elliot, Baroaet, member for Roxburghshire. 
 
 give
 
 C 19 ) 
 
 give the Houfe the reafon. Portugal is not only loft t$ 
 
 us, but is become an acquifition to the Houfe of Bour- 
 bon, by acceding to the Family Compact *. By that treaty, 
 Sir, the fubftance of which was published in the French 
 Gazette, all the fubjedts of the Houfe of Bourbon 
 were to be equally favoured with the natives of each 
 refpe&ive ftate, as to every privilege of navigation and 
 commerce. Such a treaty, Sir, directly militates 
 againft many former treaties, of Utrecht, Aix-la- 
 Chapdle, and others, particularly thofe with Spain rf% 
 It will be a fatal blow to the commercial inierefts of 
 
 * The Famt'y Comfafl is a Treaty of the mnft alarming nature to all Europe* 
 An abftraft of it is given in the u Journal Hiftorique ou Faftes du Regne de 
 Louis XV." printed at Paris in a vol. Svo. in 1776, with the French King's 
 privilege. 
 
 "15 Aout, 1761. 
 
 R Le Roi et le roi d'Efpagne concluent un traite on fa^e Aefa;niiie, taut pour eu 
 " quepour le roi des deux Sidles, et 1'infant Due de Parme, contenant z8 articles, 
 " par lefqucls ils etablilfent entre eux une alliance perpetuelle, convenant tie re- 
 ** garder a 1'avenir comme ennemie toute puifiance ennemie de Tun d'eux, et 
 * fe gnrantiffant reciproquement leurs etats dans qnelques parties du monde qu'ikf 
 " foient fitues, fuivant 1'etat ou ils fe trouveront en paix avec les autres-puillances ; 
 " s'obligeantde fe fournir les fecours n^celTaires, de faire la guerre conjuintemont, 
 " et de ne point faire de paix feparee l.nn de 1'autre. Ce traite poite encore fup- 
 ' preflion du droit d'aubaine ea France, en favOijr des fujets des rois d'Efpagae er 
 tl de Sicile; et convention expreffe queles fwjetsdes trois couronnes jor.iroat, dans 
 " leurs etats reciproques, des meme droitb, privileges et exemptions cute les na- 
 * tionaux par rapport a la navigation et au commerce, fans que les autres puill'aTnces 
 4< derEurope puiflent etre admifes a cette alliance de famille, r.i j>rg'tett4>-t, j,qur 
 ** leitrs fujets, le tnemt tratement dans les etats des trois couronnes. 
 
 ** Les ratifications de ce traite furent echangees le 8 Sepaembre." Vol. II. p. 700* 
 
 f The 9th article of the treaty of peace between Great Britain and Spain, con- 
 cluded at Utrecht the 1310 of July, 1713, is in thefe words. 
 
 IX. It is further agreed and concluded, as a general rule, that all and fmgular 
 the fubjedts of each kingdom lhall, in all countries and places, on both fides, have 
 and enjoy the fame privileges, liberties, and immunities, as to all duties, hnpufi- 
 tions, or cuftoms whatfoever, relating to perfons, goods, and merchandizes, fhips, 
 freights, feamen, navigation, and commerce ; and (hall have the like favour in all 
 things as the fubjefis cf Frame, or any other foreign nation, the moft favoured, 
 $)4ye, jpoffefe, and enjoy, or at cvty time bsrcaf:er m-y have, fjfifsj cr tajy. 
 
 3 this
 
 thii kingdom, whenever it is carried into execution 
 by the whole Houfe of Bourbon. 
 
 An univerfal gloom, Sir, feems to be fpreading 
 over our political hemifphere ; yet we are called upon 
 by Minifters to addrefs the throne in fuch terms, as if 
 we were only differing a flight and tranfient misfor- 
 tune, not groaning under the load of exorbitant 
 and enormous taxes, and on the brink of ruin. Since 
 the late augmentation of the Civil Lift, we feem to bo 
 wonderfully improved in chirping addreffes. This is 
 not, however, a piping time cf peace. Compliments 
 during the calamity of a wide extended civil war, 
 brought on by minifterial oppreffion, are abfurd. The 
 profped: from America is covered with clouds and 
 dafknefs. A pleafmg ray of light feems at the prefent 
 moment to beam upon us from the noble Lord's pro- 
 pofition for an immediate ceffation of arms. If that is 
 rejected, I fear the nation will fink in defpair. 
 Teat proportion I confider as the firft, mod necefTary 
 ftep to a reconciliation. After nceffation of arms, I 
 hope our fleets and armies will be withdrawn, all the 
 jate unjuft adts repealed, and the charters reftored. 
 Let us treat with the liberal fpirit of freemen and Eng- 
 lifhmen. Unconditional fubmijfion 9 is umonftilutional fub- 
 tnijfion, and becomes only the flaves of an arbitrary 
 monarch. Force againft the vafl American con- 
 tinent, we have found, avails us nothing. All coer- 
 tion appears to be irnpoffible. The attempts of vi- 
 olence have been followed with deep diftrefs, difgracc, 
 lhaine, and difappointment. Let us, therefore, at 
 laft hear, and obey, the voice of reafon, which calls 
 aloud upon us to fave ourfelves and our brethren. The 
 times teem with events, which muft determine the 
 
 fate
 
 C 19* ) 
 
 fate of this once great and powerful empire." Let 
 us be guided by the principles of lenity and juftice, 
 that the bleffings of peace and union may be reftored, 
 and permanently remain, to the whole empire* 
 
 VOTES of Dec. 10, 1777- 
 
 The Houfe was moved, That an Aft, made in th* 
 6th year of the reign of his prefent Majefty, intituled, 
 " An Act for the better fecuring the dependency of 
 " his Majefty's dominions in America, upon the'' 
 " Crown and Parliament of Great Britain," might be* 
 be read. 
 
 And the fame being read accordingly ; 
 
 A motion was made, and the queftion being pro- 
 pofed, that leave be given to bring in a bill, to repeal 
 the faid Aft. 
 
 And the previous queftion being put, that that 
 queftion being now put, 
 
 It pafled in the negative; 
 
 Mr. Wllkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I chofe, from motives of policy, to delay the mcx 
 tion, which I mean now to fubmit to the Houfe, 
 till the eftabliftiments both of the navy and army for 
 the enfuing year were compleated. After fuch pro- 
 digious preparations for war^ after every fmgle article 
 
 which;,
 
 ( '93 ) 
 
 which the Minifters have afked, has been granted, 
 we are armed at every point for the vigorous profecu- 
 tion of hofhilities, we may, with more appearance of 
 dignity, hold out propositions for peace. This Houfe, 
 Sir, has voted 60,000 feamen, including near 12, oo 
 marines, above 20,000 effective landmen, commiffion 
 and non-commiffion officers included, for guards, gar- 
 rifons, and the forces to be kept up in Great Britain, 
 Jerfey, and Guernfey. We have befides in our pay 
 five battalions of Hanoverians, actually in garrifon, 
 to the eternal reproach of England, at Gibraltar and 
 Minorca ; the various troops of Hefle Caffel, Hanau, 
 Waldeck, Brandebourg-Anfpach, and Anhalt-Zerbft, 
 amounting to above 69,000 of thofe mercenaries ; in 
 all, a land army of more than 89,000 men. This 
 Houfe has not yet been affembled three weeks, and 
 we have already voted away of the people's money no 
 lefs a fum than 8,643,004!. I believe this is only the 
 fixteenth day fince the opening of the Seffion. Every 
 day of the prefent Seffion has therefore, on an average, 
 coil the people above 500,000 1. What a relief to 
 their fears, Sir, will be the adjournment, which Mi- 
 nifters have juft mentioned, of near fix weeks ? How 
 much it will augment the feftivity of the feafon ? Yet 
 I fear, Sir, it will prove only a temporary relief; and 
 that Minifters retreat for a ihort time, to return with 
 redoubled force and fury, to lay frefli burdens and ad- 
 ditional impofitions on this exhaufted nation. 
 
 Amid ft all thefe amazing preparations for war, fcarcely 
 a thought of, or a figh for, peace, feems to obtrude upon, 
 or efcape, any one of our Minifters. What fingle ftep 
 has been taken by adminiftration to put an end to this 
 ruinous war, and to prevent the farther effufion of 
 
 O human
 
 ( '94 ) 
 
 human blood ? A noble Lord * on this fide the Houfe, 
 who is the worthy heir of the patriotic virtues of an 
 illuftrious father, propofed on the firft day of this Sef- 
 fion an immediate ceffation of arms ; but the proposition 
 ivas rejected by a great majority. Scarcely a hint of a 
 wifh for peace has been made by any member of admini- 
 ftration. I will not, however, Sir, be difpirited. Some 
 late events, unknown to the Houfe at that time, may 
 induce the molt violent to liften to thofe healing mea- 
 fures, which, in the infolence of our imagined tri- 
 umphs, we rejected with difclain. The preliminary 
 of peace, which I mail take the liberty of fubmitting 
 to the Houfe, ftrikes at the root of the evil, the con- 
 fefled caufe and origin of the American war. I mean, 
 Sir, the right of taxation, which is enacted in the 
 Declaratory Aft, the repeal of which I, (hall prefently 
 move. I believe, Sir, according to the forms of the 
 Houfe, I muft firft defire the clerk to read that act. It 
 is the fixth of the King, chapter the twelfth. 
 
 [The Clerk reads]. 
 
 To make laws to llnd the Colonies and people of America 
 in all cafes ivhatfoever ! I believe, Sir, this is the 
 ihorteft compendium of ilavery ever given. It is the 
 broadeft bafis of tyranny. In all cafes wbatfoever / 
 therefore in taxation. Three millions of freemen to be 
 taxed at the arbitrary will and pleafure of this Houfe, 
 without a fingle perfon to reprefent them, or to con- 
 trol the expenditure of their money ! If the Ame- 
 ricans could tamely fubmit to this, they would de- 
 ferve to be flaves. They ought to be more contemned 
 than the Cappadocians of infamous memory, who re- 
 
 * The Marquis f Cranky, member for the University of Cambridge. 
 
 fufed
 
 ( '95 ) 
 
 fufed the liberty, which was offered them by the Ro- 
 mans. If we can take a part of their property without 
 their confent, we can take the whole. It is impoffible 
 to draw the line. This Houfe might vote away the 
 whole property of America without the confent of one 
 man on that vafl continent. The very fuppofition is 
 not only repugnant to every idea of the common 
 rights of mankind, but /'/ is agnin/1 the franckifis of 
 .the land for freemen to be taxed but by their confent in. par- 
 liament, as Lord Coke declares. We know by the 
 law of England, that the proteflant fubjedts of our 
 Colonies in America are intitled to all the liberties, 
 privileges, and immunities, of the natural-born fub- 
 jefts of this kingdom. The next ftep to taxation na- 
 turally follows. Minifters might apply an American 
 revenue to the advancement of their own profligate 
 plans, perhaps to the fame bafe purpofes as the taxes 
 levied among us, to the augmentation of an enormous 
 . civil lift, to increafe the overgrown influence of the 
 Crown, and corrupt the reprefentatives of the people. 
 Even without any taxation we have experienced that 
 .the whole produce of American ind.uftry centered in 
 . Great Britain. I do not intend, Sir, to go into a 
 difquifition of the ftale queftion of taxation and reprc- 
 fentation, nor the wretched nonfenfe of a 'virtual repre- 
 fentation here of three millions of fubjedts on the other 
 fide the Atlantic. I remember once before to have 
 fully argued thofe queftions. I lhall now confine my- 
 felf to the repeal of the Declaratory Att, and the other 
 acts injurious to the freedom of America. Without 
 this repeal we cannot, I am fatisfied, have peace, nor 
 I believe would the Americans treat with you on any 
 other terms. They proceeded^ at the beginning, with 
 
 O 2 won-
 
 wonderful temper and coolnefs ; but at laft they fum- 
 med up all their , injuries as comprifed in the Declara- 
 iwy Act, which they reprobated with fpirit. While 
 this act remains in the Statute Book, you never can 
 think of any negociation with the Congrefs. The 
 firft Congrefs, which met in 1774, acted with pru- 
 dence and calm dignity, with moderation and magna- 
 nimity. They did not directly attack the Declaratory 
 Aft. They knew it had palled in an administration 
 compofed of men who had declared themfelves friends 
 to American freedom, and had actually repealed the 
 " Stamp Act." They conlidered it as a brutum fulmcn 
 on the part of this country. They, in dutiful terms, 
 folicited the repeal of the " Bofton Port Bill," the 
 *' Maffachufet's Charter Bill," and that monfter of 
 clefpotifm and popery, the " Quebec Act ;" but they 
 pailed over in filence the " Declaratory Act." Yet, 
 Sir, although no exprefs mention was made of that 
 Act, they put in the ftrongeft proteft againft the claim, 
 or exercife, of any fuch powers in their very^fr/? re- 
 folution. It is of Oct. 14, 1774. " The inhabitants of 
 " the Englifh Colonies in North America, by the im- 
 " mutable laws of nature, the principles of the Eng- 
 " lifti conftitution, and the feveral charters or com- 
 " pacts, have the following rights. Re/bived, ne- 
 " mine contradicente, that they are intitled to life, li. 
 " berty, and property, and they have never ceded to 
 " any fovereign power whatever a right to difpofe of 
 ** either without their confent." 
 
 In the year following, the fecond Congrefs, finding all 
 their endeavours here for a redrefs of their grievances in- 
 effectual, thought it neceffary to hold out a kind of ulti- 
 matum
 
 1 
 ti. 
 
 It 
 
 ( '97 ) 
 
 mattim to this country, and to fpeak the plain, full, 
 manly language of injured freemen. In a " Declara- 
 " tion by the reprefentatives of the United Colonies of 
 North America, now met in Con*refs at Philadelphia, 
 ferting fortrh the caufes and neceffity of their taking 
 up arms," July 6, 1775, it is faid, " we for ten 
 " years inceffantiy and ineffectually befieged the throne 
 " as fupplicants; we reafoned, we remonftrated with 
 " Parliament, in the moft mild and decent Iang;ua2;e. 
 
 ' O O 
 
 Parliament have undertaken to give and grant our 
 
 t_J *j 
 
 money ivithout our confent, though we have ever 
 exercifed an exclukve right to difpofe of our own 
 property, &c. &c. &c. But why fhould we enume- 
 rate our injuries in detail ? By one Statute it is de- 
 clared, that Parliament can of right make laws to bind 
 us in all cafes wbatfoever. What is to defend us 
 againft fo enormous, fo unlimited a power? Not a 
 imgle man of thofe who aflume it, is chofen by us, 
 or is fubjeft to qur control or influence; but on the 
 contrary, they are all of them exempt from the ope- 
 ration of fuch laws, and an American revenue, if not 
 diverted from the oftenfible purpofes for which it is 
 raifed, would actually lighten their own burdens in 
 proportion as they increafe ours." This one Statute, 
 the Declaratory /Iff, is the fountain, from which not 
 only wafers of bitternefs, but rivers of blood, have 
 flowed. 
 
 I ought, Sir, in juftice to the Congrefs, to take no- 
 tice, that even after this they prefented a moft humble 
 and dutiful petition to the King. From the ill-judged 
 reply of the American Secretary, that no anfwer would 
 be given, I fuppofe every idea of obtaining a redrefs of 
 their numerous grievances vaniihed. Yet in this very 
 
 O 3 Decla-
 
 C 198 ) 
 
 Declaration they fay, " we fhall lay down our arms, 
 " when hofiilities fhall ceafe on the part of the aggref- 
 " fors, and all danger of their being renewed Ihall be 
 " removed, and not before." I will venture, Sir, to do 
 this much injured body of men juflice on another fub- 
 jeft againft the falfe and malevolent affertions of the 
 noble * Lord at the head of the American department. 
 His Lordfhip declared to us in the moft explicit terms, 
 ft that the Congrefs had endeavoured to engage the In- 
 " dian favages in their fervice, and would have em- 
 " ployed them in the war." It is well known in what 
 manner they mufl always be employed, not in the ufe 
 of the fword and bayqnet, of which they are ignorant, 
 but of the fcalping knife, and tomohawk, in which 
 they are expert. The Cwigrsft, Sir, in the true heroic 
 fpirit of bravery^ which mercy always accompanies, re- 
 probated the idea of torture and cruelty. They deter- 
 mined on fair, honourable war, unftained by murder or 
 maffacre. I will convict his Lordfhip on the fulleft 
 evidence of the groffeft impoiition on this Houfe, and 
 of a violation of truth. The Journals of the Congrefs, 
 Sir, both that of 1 774 and 1775, have been as regularly 
 publifhed to the world, as the Votes of the Houfe of Com- 
 mons are by you, Mr, Speaker. In the Journal of June 
 30, 17/5, I find the following words, " Refolved, that 
 " the Committee for Indian affairs do prepare proper 
 f< talks to the feveral tribes of Indians, for engaging 
 " the continuance of their friendfhip to us, andneutra- 
 (f lity in our prefent unhappy difpute with Great Bri- 
 '* tain." This was, Sir, after the provocations of the 
 repeated flaughter of their friends at Lexington, Con- 
 cord 3 and Bunker's Hill. But, Sir, although the Con- 
 
 * Loul George Germaine, Member for Eafl Grinfteai 
 
 grtfy
 
 ( 199 ) 
 
 grefs refufed to afk the barbarous aid of the favages, 
 the King's general moft readily and with eagernefs em- 
 ployed them. He boafts of it in his Proclamation of 
 lafl June. No man, Sir, who has read that Proclama- 
 tion, and Major General Gates's letter, will flied the 
 tear of pity over the misfortunes of Mr. Burgoyne. 
 Major General Gates fays in his letter of Aug. 28, to 
 Mr. Prefident Hancock, " the horrid murders andfcalp- 
 " ings pitid for and encouraged by Lieutenant General BUT- 
 " goyne, previous to his defeat at Bennington, will for 
 " ever flain the honour of the Britilh arms. In one 
 t( houfe the parents with fix children were rw.ft cruelly 
 " butchered" Is this, Sir, the mercy of the King, which 
 General Burgoyne in his Proclamation fays, his Ma- 
 jefty's numcrvUi -r mies and fleets in every quarter of Ame- 
 rica were to diiplay as well as his power and jujiice?. He 
 fucceeded to irritate, not to intimidate, his enemies. 
 But, Sir, although I do not feel the lead fpark of com- 
 paffion for the fate of Mr. Burgoyne, I truly commife- 
 rate the fituation of the troops with him. I regret the 
 lois of the brave foldiers who periflied in the action^ 
 and I pity thole who lurvive. I am forry that 800 
 valiant Englilh and Germans were killed in a bad caufe, 
 in fighting againft the bed constitution on earth. Sir, 
 it was infcribed on the tombs of the 300 Spartans, who 
 at TbermopyLs devoted themielves to a glorious death 
 for the liberties of Greece, Pajfcnger, go tell at Sparta, 
 that ive died for having obeyed her holy laws. It ought 
 to be engraven on the tombs of the 800 who fell in the 
 late action, Piffinger, oo tell in England, that we died for 
 having violated bit bo/y con-Illation \ for fuch, in my opi- 
 nion, is the cafe of every man, who has in this civil war 
 drawn his fword againit our brethren in America, and 
 
 O 4 perilhed
 
 ( 20O ) 
 
 perifhed in the conflict. The fituation, Sir, of thofs 
 who furvive, is to be commiferated, not fo much for 
 the calamities which they have fuffered, calamities 
 brought on by themfelves, as for the lofs of honour, 
 which, if we are rightly informed, has accompanied the 
 circumftances of their defeat and furrender. The terms 
 of the Capitulation for General Bnrgoyne, and the vete- 
 ran troops under his command, are ftated to be, deli- 
 vering up their arms, being permitted without molef- 
 tation to embark for Europe, and not ferving againft 
 the Americans .during the war. They have then put 
 themfelves hors de combat. They have agreed no more 
 to face thefe cowardly Americans. They confent, not 
 to meafure i words again with their conquerors during 
 the war ; not to make a fmgle effort to recover their 
 loft laurels. If they had furrendered prifoners of war, 
 they might have been exchanged, and the fortune of 
 war crowned them with future victories. That chance 
 they have given up as well as their arms. We have 
 now fcarcely a company of foot in arms in all the nor- 
 thern Colonies, except Canada. The Englilh at the 
 battles of Prefton-Pans and Falkirk fuffered two mod 
 ignominious defeats. There was however no capitula- 
 tion that the vanquifhed troops fhould not ferve ao-ainft 
 the fame enemies during the remainder of the war. At 
 Culloden they warned away the foul {lain of that nati- 
 onal difgrace in the blood of thofe perjured Scots, re^ 
 bels againft a mild prince, and an equal fyftem of laws, 
 It is, Sir, very remarkable, that the fame men, who 
 ftyled at that time the Scotilh rebels 'infurgents now call 
 the American infurgents by the name of rebels, I will 
 never, Sir, adopt the. appellation. I think the Ame- 
 ricans are fighting in a good cay ft for the defence of
 
 their ju& privi/cges, and chartered, as well as innate, 
 rights. I am fure the proudeil and moft defpotic court 
 in Europe, that of Vienna, would not have treated their 
 fubjects in the manner this court has treated the Ame- 
 ricans, I mean as revels. When the prefent Emprefs 
 Queen, then only Queen of Hungary, fucceeded her 
 father, the Emperor Charles VI. in 1 740, Ihe iecured 
 the affections of her Hungarian fubjecls by readily tak- 
 ing the old oath of the Sovereign of that country, 
 eftablilhed in 1222. The greateit * genius in Europe 
 gives it us at full length. If I, or any of my fucceffbrs, 
 at any time, /hould attempt to infringe your PRIVILEGES, 
 you, and your polierity, are permitted, by virtue of this 
 promife, to defend yourfehw, without being liable to be 
 treated as REBELS. If the anceflors of the prefent Em- 
 prefs Queen had been as wife, the Houie of Auftria 
 would not have loft Switzerland, as they did by injuf- 
 tice and oppreflion. The Americans, Sir, I think, are 
 now defending the privileges of every fubject. of the 
 Britim empire, as well as their own. If this country 
 did juftice to the fame fpirit of freedom in them, which 
 we applaud in our anceflors, we fliould admire their 
 heroifm, and be eager to repeal all thofe ads which 
 are undoubted badges of flavery, particularly the De- 
 claratory Aft, which I fhall always conlider as an inva- 
 lion of the people's rights. Till we do that, we can 
 have no rational hope of any reconciliation. The def- 
 
 * Voltaire fays, Marie-Th'refe, epoufe du Grand Due de Tofcane Franjols dt 
 Lorraine, gagna furtout 1'efprit des Hongrois en fe foumettant a preter 1'ancien fer- 
 ment du roi Andre II. fait i'an 1212. Si moi ou quelques tins de mes fucceifeurs, 
 en quelque tems que ce foit, veut enfraindre vos privileges, qu'il vous foit permis ea 
 vertu de cette promeffe, a vovis et a vos defcendans, de vous defendre, fans pouvair 
 ptre traites de rebtlles. 
 
 In the margin he adds thefe words, ferment [ingulitr et quint devait fai I'slre. Vol 
 Si.cle de Louis XIV. Tom. iii. p. 419.
 
 ( 202 ) 
 
 perate fituation of our affairs, from the variety of cir- 
 cumflances which have been ftated, and the late capi- 
 tulation of a whole army, prove this abfolute neceflity 
 of terminating the bloody civil war, this general favage 
 Indian maffacre. 
 
 The Declaratory Aft, which we had no right to pafs, 
 will never be fubmitted to by the freemen on the other 
 fide the Atlantic. The fpirit of it is hoftile in the ex- 
 treme to liberty. To hind the fubjeft in all cafes whatjb- 
 ever / It is a charter of flavery. I deny the principle 
 of this act as much at home as in America. We ridi- 
 culouily of late bewilder ourfelves with frantic, high- 
 ilown, fonorous expreflions of the omnipotence of Parlia- 
 ment. The gentleft natures appear too fond of power, 
 although they do not abufe it. There are many things, 
 which Parliament cannot do ; many cafes, in which it 
 has no power. We cannot vote ourfelves perpetual. 
 We cannot fill up our vacancies, as the late Houfe of 
 Commons indeed did in the cafe of the Middlefex elec- 
 tion, but all good men abhorred the ufurpation, and 
 the nation were almoft unanimous in their remonftran- 
 ces againft it. We are merely a delegated power from 
 the people, and in that capacity only a third part of 
 the legislature. We cannot therefore furrender their 
 ihare of power, by whofe favour alone we acquire the 
 right of giving any vote in this Houfe. It would be 
 treachery, and even rebellion, in the fervant againft the 
 matter, Can we, Sir, repeal Magna Cbarta? Has rliis 
 Houfe the power to eftablifh the Mahometan religion ? 
 Government is only a truft from the people for tneir 
 good, and in feveral inftances fo far from poffeffing .an 
 abfolute power, we ought to acknowledge, that we have 
 no power at all. I will never admit arbitrary power to 
 
 be
 
 ( 2 3 ) 
 
 be lodged in any man, or body of men. Many things 
 are fo clofely woven in with the conftitution, like the 
 trial by jury, that they cannot be feparated, unlefs 
 the body of the people expreflly declare otherwife, after 
 free and full coniideration. There are fundamental, 
 inalienable rights, land-marks of the conftitution, which 
 cannot be removed. The omnipotence of Parliament 
 therefore, which is contended for, feems to me a falfe 
 and dangerous dodtrine. 
 
 I have great reverence, Sir, for the memory of that 
 whig adminiftration, which paiTed the Declaratory AEt* 
 I fpeak as a public man. I honour them for their fpi- 
 rited refolutions againft general warrants, and ihefeizut'A 
 of papers, by which the perfonal liberty of the fubjedT:, 
 and the moft important fecrets of life, were rendered 
 facred and inviolable. I highly applaud the turning 
 the excifeman out of private houfes by the repeal of 
 the Cyder-Tax. The negociation for the Manilla ran- 
 fom, which fo deeply intereiled many of our braveft 
 men in the navy and army, revived under their au- 
 fpices ; but alas! after many faint and feeble efforts it 
 languilhed and expired. Many excellent regulations 
 of trade and commerce were made by them. But, Sir, 
 I Ihould have thought all their glories fullied by the 
 paffing of this Declaratory Aft, which pretends to efta- 
 blifli a claim of unlimited authority over the Colonies, 
 if I did not believe it was a kind of force on that ad- 
 miniftration, a fort of compromife with the traitors 
 at home for the repeal of the Stamp- Att, which 
 had thrown the whole empire into convulfions. 
 The Stamp-Aft ought, in my idea, to have been re- 
 pealed on the firft great principles of juftice, not on 
 
 the
 
 ( 204 ) 
 
 the narrow ground of political expediency, or from any 
 commercial motives. I was abroad at the time, and 
 may have 1 been mifmformed ; but if I am not, the re- 
 peal was abfolutely neceflary to lay the florm, which 
 raged with the greateft fury, both here among the mer- 
 chants, and in North America, after the paffing of the 
 Stamp Aft. The repeal was warmly oppofed by * fome 
 of the royal family, and the favourite in the Houfe of 
 Lords, by his family and friends in both Houfes, by 
 the whole cabinet, the Lords of the Bed-chamber, and 
 almoft all the King's and Queen's houfeholds. Per- 
 haps the repeal had not been carried, but by the com- 
 promife of this Declaratory Act. I am Satisfied, that 
 the adminiftration, which patted that Aft, never in- 
 tended to inforce it, at leait by taxation. The new 
 miniflry however in the fucceeding year built on this 
 folid foundation of a right to taxation, which they faw 
 was eftablifhed for them. They laid duties on tea 
 glafs, red and white lead, painter's colours, and other 
 things. The right had. been afcertained by their pre- 
 deceifors. The only objedions, which could now be 
 made, were the inexpediency and impolicy of the ex- 
 
 * The Duke of York, the Had of Bute, Lord Mount Stuart, Right Hon. James 
 Stuat Mackenzie, EarlTalbot, Lord Steward of his Majefty's Houfehold, Duke of 
 Ancafter, Mailer of the Horfe to the Queen, Earls of Oxford, Denbigh, Buckin-. 
 hamfhire, Orford, Coventry, Eglingtown, and Lord Robert Bertie, Lords of the 
 Bedchamber to the King, Earl Harcourt, Lord Chamberlain to the Queen, William 
 Blackftone, Efq; Solicitor General to the Queen, Right Honourable Gilbert Elliot, 
 Treasurer of the King's Chamber, Thomas Gilbert, Efq; Comptroller of the King's 
 Wardrobe, David Gr^me, Efq; Secretary to the Queen, Charles Jenkinfon, Efo- 
 Auditor of Accon, r ts to the Princefs Dowager of Wales, John Manners, Efq; Houfe- 
 keeper at Whitehall, Samuel Martin, Efq; Treafurer to the Princefs Dowager of 
 Wales, Honourable Archibald Montgomery, Efq; Equerry to the Queen, 
 
 R to his Majeflv, General 
 
 Bamngton, & c . , &, voted againft the Repeal of the Stamp Act. 
 
 ercife
 
 ercife in thofe inftance*, and at that period. If I had 
 been in England, Sir, at that time, and in parliament, 
 I fhould ilrenuoufly have oppofed the principle of the 
 Declaratory AR ; but I was forced into a cruel exile and 
 outlawry by the wickednefs and injuftice of one admi- 
 niftration, and kept abroad by the tamenefs and timi- 
 dity of another. I was perfecuted with extreme rage 
 and violence by a fet of men who thought themfelves 
 injured, and abandoned by thofe I had effen- 
 tially ferved, who before eucouraged me, and ap- 
 proved my conduit. I was made their fcape-goaf, 
 doomed to bear into the wildernefs the fins and iniqui- 
 ties of a great political party, when in oppofition. 
 Surely, Sir; their iins and iniquities muft have been of 
 a deep dye, and remain ft ill unexpiated, for ipfe aries 
 etiam mine vellerajiccat. I would, Sir, in this impor- 
 tant bufinefs of the repeal of the Declaratory Aft, per 
 fuade myfelf that there is not an obftinacy of opinion, 
 a tenacioufnefs of adhering to what we have once done, 
 merely becaufe we have done it. It feems very clear, 
 that we can have no peace, till the accurfed tbing is re- 
 moved fr^m our camp. From that happy moment I 
 Ihould hope the rude clamours of war would ceafe, and 
 the gentle voice of peace be heard. I truft therefore in 
 this time of general conjlernation, in this day of diftrefs 
 and difgrace to our country, that there will be a per- 
 fed union of fentiment among us, an univerfal concur- 
 rence in this firft preliminary of peace. 
 
 I have only mentioned, Sir, the repeal of the Declara- 
 tory Act, but I mean afterwards to fubmit to the Houfe ano- 
 ther motion for the repeal of the whole fyftem of new fta- 
 tutes and regulations refpe&ing America fince the year 
 1 763. I fix on that period, becaufe the Congrefs complain 
 
 of
 
 (f 
 (.i 
 
 ( 206 ) 
 
 of nothing prior to that sera. They have never hinted at 
 the repeal of the Navigation Aff, nor any otuer acts be- 
 fore that year. In the petition of the Congrefs to the 
 King, in October 1774, they fay, " from this deftruc- 
 " tive fyftem of colony adminiftration, adopted Jlnce 
 ff the conclufion of the loft war, have flowed thofe clif- 
 <e treffes, dangers, fears, and jealoufies, that overwhelm 
 <f your Majefty's dutiful colonies with affliction; and 
 " we defy our moft fubtle and inveterate enemies to 
 " trace the unhappy differences between Great Britain 
 tf and thefe Colonies from an early period, or from, 
 u other caufes than we have afTigned, &c. &c. We 
 " prefent this petition only to obtain redrefs of grie- 
 " vances, and relief from fears and jealoufies, occafi- 
 oned by the fyftem of ftatutes and regulations 
 adopted Jtnce the clofe of the laft war" In the fame 
 year the Congrefs declared to the people of Gteat Bri- 
 tain, " place-us in the fume fituation that we were at 
 (e the clofe of the laft war, and our former harmony will 
 " be rejlored" It is an explicit offer of a compact be- 
 tween the two countries. Their language was exactly 
 the fame in the following year, in their laft petition to 
 the Throne. " They were alarmed by a new fyftem of 
 " Jlatutes and regulations ', adopted for the adminiftra- 
 " tion of the Colonies, that filled their minds with the 
 " moft painful fears and jealoufies." Here then. Sir, 
 Great Britain is at iflue with the Colonies. Repeal 
 thefe unjuft and injurious Afts, and our former harmony 
 will be rejlored. We fhall hear no more of the fword 
 and bayonet on one fide, nor ti\z f calling- knife and tomo- 
 hawk on the other. There will be no more effufion 
 of human blood, no heart-piercing cries of whole fa- 
 milies moft- cruelly butcher edy ox expiring under tor- 
 tures. 
 
 I fear,
 
 ( 207 ) 
 
 I fear, Sir, that I have intruded too long on the 
 patience of the Houfe. I wifh not to tire gentlemen. 
 I am fure, I had rather hear any voice than my own 
 within thefe walls ; but I muft beg, on a bufinefs of 
 this moment, a little farther indulgence to give, as 
 briefly as I can, a general account of the other Acls t 
 which I hope will be repealed. I begin with the 
 fourth of the King. From that period of this inaufpi- 
 cious and inglorious reign, a regular and uniform fyf- 
 tem of attack on the rights and privileges, both of 
 America and Great Britain, has been, except during 
 a Ihort interval, invariably purfued, under the direc- 
 tion, I believe, of the real Minifter. We mall now 
 fee how this fyftem has operated in a variety of Afls 
 againft our brethren in the Colonies of North America. 
 The fourth of the King, chap. 15. is, " An Act for 
 " granting certain duties in the Britifh Colonies and 
 " Plantations in America, &c." Another A6t of the 
 fame year is chap. 34. " An Act to prevent paper 
 " bills of credit, hereafter to be iffued in any of his 
 " Majefty's Colonies or Plantations in America, from 
 " being declared to be a legal tender in payments of 
 " money, &c." In the following year the " A6T: to 
 " alter certain rates of poflage, &c." In the fixth of 
 the King, " An A6t for repealing certain duties in 
 " the Britifh Colonies and Plantations, &c. and for 
 " granting other duties inftead thereof, &c &c." The 
 fubfequent year teemed with two births fatal to Ame- 
 rican liberty. I mean the " Ad to enable his Majefty 
 " to put the cufloms and other duties in the Britifh 
 *< dominions in America, &c. under the management 
 " ofCommiffioners, &c." I muft, however, declare, that 
 I believe the hope of providing for the numberlefs 
 7 hungry
 
 ( 208 ) 
 
 hungry dependents and fycophants, who daily and 
 hourly befeecb and beficge the miniiler, gave rife to 
 this ftatute. The other Adi of the fame year, inti- 
 tuled, " An Act for granting certain duties in the 
 " Britiih Colonies and Plantations in America, &c. 
 &c." I lhall move to be only in part repealed ; for fo 
 much of it as relates to the duties on glafs, red and 
 white lead, painters' colours, paite boards, mill-boards, 
 and fcale-boards, is already repealed by the tenth of 
 the King, chap. xvii. Then, Sir, follows the Act in 
 the eighth of the King, intituled, " An Ad: for the 
 " more eafy and effectual recovery of the penalties and 
 " forfeitures inflicted by the Ads of Parliament re- 
 <c lating to the trade or revenues of the Britiih Co- 
 " lonies and Plantations in America." Thefe Acts 
 are objected to, becaufe duties are impofed by them 
 for the purpofe of railing a revenue in America. They 
 take away the trial by jury, and extend the powers of 
 the Admiralty Courts beyond their ancient and legal 
 jurifdiction. The twelfth of his Majefty, chap. 24. 
 I propofe to repeal, becaufe perfons committing a 
 variety of offences fpecified in that Act, cut of this 
 realm, may be tried in any county 'within ibis realm. 
 This is directly contrary to the firft principles of the 
 constitution, which gives a right to a trial by a jury 
 of the vicinage, who are juftly fuppofed beft to know 
 the party accufed. The fame objection holds in full 
 force againft the Act in 1774, intituled, " An Act for 
 " the impartial administration of jufticc in the cafes of 
 " perfons queflioned for any acts done by them in the 
 " execution of the law, or for the fuppreffion of riots 
 " and tumuks in the Province of the Maffachufet's Bay 
 " in New .England." Another Act, in the fame year, 
 
 chap.
 
 chap. 45, takes away the Charter granted to the inha- ; 
 bitants of the Province of Mailachufet's Bay by the 
 glorious William III. The Quebec Adt followed, 
 which totally annihilated the mild and equal fyftem of 
 Englifh laws, and eflablifhed French tyranny and the 
 Romifh religion in their mod abhorred extent. The 
 Romiih clergy by the faid Adt may claim to bold, re- 
 ceive, and enjoy, their accuftomed dues and rights ; and no 
 perfon prof effing the Romifo rcligicn is obliged to take the 
 oath required by the ftatutein the fir jl year of gueen Eliza* 
 betb. The minifters of the eilab'lifhed church of 
 England were, as ufual, totally negledted by the Scottifh 
 father of this Aft, and even thofe of his own kirk in 
 this inftance. Then comes the fweeping A fit againft 
 the whole Thirteen Provinces, intituled, (t An Adi to 
 " prohibit all trade and inter courfe with the Colonies of 
 " New Hampshire, Maffachufet's Bay, Rhode Ifland, 
 " Connedticut, New York, Newjerfey, Pennfylvania, 
 " the three lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, 
 " Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and 
 " Georgia, &<\ &c>" which trade and intercourfs 
 brought into Great Britain, cov.mimih'us anriis, near 
 two millions annually. The laft adt I ihall mention i3 
 worthy of completing the black' catalogue. It is the 
 Adt of the laft feffion, " to impower his Majefly to fe- 
 4f cure and detain perfons charged with, or fufpedted 
 " of, the crime of High Treafon, committed in any of 
 " his Majefty's Colonies or Plantations in America, 
 " or on rhe high feas, or the crime of piracy/' which 
 is now continued another year. It is fufficient to fay of 
 this Adr., that it fufpends the Habeas Corpus Adt, which 
 Judge Blackitone declares to be a fccond Magna Cbarta , 
 end Jtable bulwark of our liberties ; not very jlable how- 
 
 P
 
 ever, Sir, in this reign, no more than our liberties. 
 There arc, befides thofe which I have mentioned, three 
 other Ads complained of by our brethren in America. 
 The firft is the Bofton Port Adt, which palled in 1774. 
 It was repealed in 1776 ; but the fubftance of it was re- 
 enadted in the fame general Adt, the fifteenth of the 
 King, ch. 5. The Adt likewife " to reftrain the 
 " trade and commerce of the Provinces of MalFachufet's 
 " Bay and New Hampfhire, &c. &c." is exactly in the 
 fame predicament. It was repealed and re-enacted in 
 the fame moment. The third Adt alluded to is " for 
 " providing fuitable quarters for officers and foldiera 
 " in his Majefty's fervice in North America." Ic 
 palTed in 1774, and expired at Lady-day, 1776. Thefc 
 three Adts 1 therefore omit. Perhaps I may have pafled 
 over fome other obnoxious ftatutes fmce 1763; but 
 1 mean v Sir, to propofe the repeal of the whole fyfteni 
 of the late American ttatutes and regulations, without 
 which it is my fixed opinion you can have no perma- 
 nent tranquillity, nor lhall we fee the dawn of peace in 
 our time. I believe the repeal of the Declaratory Aft, 
 and the other ftatutes, to be the necefiary foundation for 
 ?. negociation, if we are really in earneft to fave a finking 
 ; ftate, if we hope to regain our Colonies, not to ruin or 
 abandon them, nor to extirminate their inhabitants. I 
 would treat America as the fitter, not the fubjeft, of .Eng- 
 land. Bologna in Italy is ttyled the fitter, not the fub- 
 jcdt, of Rome. I remember the city of Bologna has the* 
 word Libertiis in the firft quarter of her arms, I wiih 
 that qoddefs all-powerful in every quarter of Italy, of 
 America, of the world. 
 
 I was not prefent, Sir, in the 'Houfe laft Friday 
 evening, but I have heard of the curious political race 
 here at that time between two diftinguijhed parties in 
 
 the
 
 ( 2" ) 
 
 oppofition, as if the minifters were now fairly run 
 down, and all that remained was to divide the fpoil. 
 I was told of very dextrous management, of much 
 cutting and fhuffling, of a variety of propolitions hinted 
 at, on one fide of abandoning the Colonies on certain 
 terms of advantage, on the other of giving up fome 
 rights, and enforcing others with vigour. I have no 
 connection with either party, nor with any party of 
 the (late. Pravoco ad pcpulum will ever continue my 
 motto. But may I venture, Sir, to give both thefe 
 parties a hint or two ? I think that they need not quar- 
 rel yet, for hitherto I obierve no vacancy on the trea- 
 fury bench. Another thing I would juft mention. 
 Perhaps it might be prudent for both the parties to at- 
 tend a little to the opinion of our common mailer. 
 Lord Hilllborongh's circular \eiter to all our gover- 
 nors on the continent and inlands has been brought 
 into this Houfe for various purpofes. I fhall now 
 make ufe of it to convince both parties, all parties, 
 every gentleman, of the necetfity of a fpeedy recon- 
 ciliation with the Colonies, from the declared,,fenti- 
 ments of our Sovereign. The conclufion of that fa- 
 mous letter. is in the following words; " His Majefty 
 " relies upon your prudence and fidelity for fuch an 
 " explanation of his meafures, as may tend to remove 
 u the prejudices which have been excited by the mif- 
 " reprefentations of thofe who are enemies to the 
 " peace and profperity of Great Britain and her Co- 
 " lonies, and to re-eftablifh that mutual confidence and 
 " affeftion, upon which the glory and fafety of the Britijh 
 tf empire depend." 
 
 I believe, Sir, that I have demonstrated to the 
 Houfe, how abfolutely impoffihle it is that mutual con* 
 
 P 2 fdcnce
 
 fidence and affeftion can return between Great Britain 
 and her Colonies, till this Declaratory Aft, the foun- 
 dation of the conteft, the root of the evil, is done 
 away. We are evidently in a declining, and lhall foon 
 be in a defperate, ftate, if this remedy is not immedi- 
 ately applied. I therefore think it my clear duty, not 
 only for the glory, but the very fafety of the Britiih 
 empire, to move, " That leave be given to bring in 
 " a bill to repeal an Act, parTed in the fixth year of 
 " his prefent Majefly, intituled, An Act for the better 
 Sf fecuripg the dependency of his Majefty's dominions 
 " in America upon the Crown and Parliament of 
 " Great Britain." 
 
 VOTES of March 2, 1778. 
 
 Ordered, 
 
 That the order of the day, for the third reading of 
 the bill (now ingrofled) to enable his Majefly to ap- 
 point Commiffioners, with fufficient powers, to treat, 
 confult, and agree, upon the means of quieting the dif- 
 orders now fublifting in certain of the Colonies, Plan- 
 tations, and Provinces of North America be now read, 
 &c. &c. 
 
 Ordered, 
 
 That the order of the day for the third reading of 
 the bill (now ingrofled) for declaring the intentions of ' 
 the Parliament of Great Britain, concerning the exer- 
 
 cife
 
 C 213 ) 
 
 cife of the right of impofing taxes within his Majefly'4 
 Colonies, Provinces and Plantations, in North America, 
 be now read. 
 
 And the faid order being read accordingly; The 
 faid bill was read the third time. 
 
 Refolved, 
 
 That the bill do pafs, and that the title be; An Aft 
 for removing all doubts and apprehenfions concerning taxa- 
 tion by the parliament of Great Britain, in any of the Colo- 
 nies, Provinces, and Plantations in North America and the 
 Weft Indies, and for repealing fo much of an Aft made in 
 tbefeventh year of the reign of his prefent Majefty, as im- 
 pofes a duty on Tea imported from Great Britain into any 
 Colony or Plantation in America^ or relates thereto. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I have not given the leaft oppofition to the progrefs 
 of any one of the conciliatory bills, which have been 
 brought into this Houfe by adminiftration. I thought 
 it the part of candour to acquiefce, to fuffer the bills 
 to go through the committee without interruption, and 
 to receive every improvement, which the noble * Lord 
 with the blue ribband, who firft introduced them 
 among us, or any of his friends on the other fide of the 
 Houfe, chofe to fuggeft or adopt. We are now, Sir, 
 in poffeffion of a plan, with much care revifed and cor- 
 rected by the ojlenfible Minifter here, in the full expec- 
 tation of its being equally pleafing and palatable on 
 
 * Lord North, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Member for Banbuiy. 
 
 P 3 both
 
 ( 214 ) 
 
 both fides the Atlantic as well as this Houfe. The 
 great outlines indeed, Sir, opposition mufl approve, for 
 they are undoubtedly their own. They were long ago 
 traced out by themfelves, although the fpirit of them 
 is now gone. Other means than thofe of coercion have 
 been long fleadily urged. The noble Lord with the 
 blue ribband has as liberally borrowed their ideas as 
 the Chancellor of the Exchequer means to borrow their 
 money on Friday, when he opens the budget. The 
 gentlemen on this fide the Houfe have frequently pro- 
 pofed a revifion of all the acts complained of by our 
 American brethren. Above three years ago a parlia- 
 mentary revifion of thofe ftatutes was warmly preffed 
 on the Minifter ; and it is not three months fmce I had 
 the honour of fubmitting to the Houfe a motion for 
 the repsal of thofe very Ads, which, in a lefs conftitiK 
 tional mode, Commffioners are now authorized toy?//- 
 fend, 1 made that motion, Sir, while America was ftiil 
 free to negotiate, ftill free from all foreign treaties, or 
 folemn engagements as independent ftates, with any of 
 the great powers of Europe. There is fcarcely an idea 
 in the as, for gentlemen feem to agree to confider 
 them together, which has not been fuggefted by oppo* 
 fition. the ' CeiTation of hoftilities on the part of 
 (f his Majefty's forces by fea and land/' the grant- 
 ' ing a pardon or pardons to any number or defcrip- 
 :( tion of perfons within the faid Colonies, Provinces 
 ; < or Plantations," the treating, confulting, and 
 '' agreeing with any body or bodies politic and corpp- 
 
 < rate, or with any affembly or aflemblies of men, or 
 ' with any perfon or perfons whatfoever, of or con- 
 ' cerning any grievances or complaints of grievances, 
 
 < exifting or fuppofed to exift, in the government of 
 :< any of the fajd Colonies, Provinces, or Plantations
 
 <f refpeclively, or in the laws and ftatutes of this 
 " realm refpedting the fame," " the treating of 
 " any aid or contribution to be furnjfhed by any 
 " of the Colonies, Provinces, or Plantations refpec- 
 " lively," " the not impoiing any duty, tax, or 
 " aflefiiuent whatever, payable in any of his Majefty's 
 " Colonies, Provinces, and Plantations in North Ame- 
 " rica, except only fuch duties as it may be expedient 
 (t to impofe for the regulation of commerce;" all thefe 
 important confiderations have been repeatedly urged to 
 ihe Minifter, while the fvvord ftill flept in the fcabbard, 
 before the late deluge of the blood of the fubjefts of 
 this empire in an unjuft and unnatural war. At laft 
 more is offered than was aiked. A repeal of all the ob- 
 noxious acts fince the year 1763 only was propofed. 
 The Minifter now agrees to facrifice the ftatutes of al- 
 moft another year, for he gives up all the ats fince 
 the loth of February 1763, the infamous sera of the 
 peace of Paris, by which the moft valuable conquefts 
 of a glorious war were facrificed. Whence can fuch a 
 change arife ? 
 
 I obferve, Sir, that feveral gentlemen have this day 
 mentioned their converhon, the ^ra, and caufe. A 
 very learned * advocate has faid, that he was converted 
 when Sir William Howe was forced to retire from the 
 Jerfeys. Another honourable -f- gentleman tells us, that 
 he was converted when General Burgcyne capitulated 
 at Saratoga. Waihington and Gates, Sir, are cer- 
 tainly very powerful apoftles. I fhould not be fur- 
 prized, if General Howe himfelf was at laft converted. 
 I believe the a^ra of the noble Lord's converfion is not 
 far diftant. I fufpedt it happened at the fuceefsful mo- 
 
 * Henry Dumhfs, Efq; Lord Advocate for Scotland, Member for EdinburghfhLre. 
 f Charles Baldwin, .14; Member for Shropfhire. 
 
 f 4 ment
 
 ( 116 ) 
 
 ment of the late American negotiation in France, which 
 I greatly fear has eftablifhed their independence. It is 
 irnpoffible not to be charmed with the gentle, meek, 
 fupplicating, humiliating tone of the noble Lord at 
 the prefent moment. We hear no more of the condign 
 punrjhment of traitors, of the vengeance of the ftate 
 againfl daring rebels *. The harm difcord of war no 
 
 longer 
 
 ^ In the Proclamaikn of General Gage,' dated Boflon, June i:, 1775, Samci 
 Sftijms and John Hancock are proclaimed rebels and traitors, and as fuch to be treated. 
 The General fays, " I do hereby, in bis Mjjeftys na>w, offer and promife, his moft 
 ** gracious pardon to all perfons who fh.ill forthwith lay down their arms and return 
 " to the duties of peaceable fubjeds, excepting only from the benefit of fuch pardon, 
 *' Sim-Jtl Adams and Jcbn Hancock, ivbnje offences are of toojiagitious a nature to admit 
 *( of any ctbtr ccujidcration than that of condign pLiniJhmtnt,'' 
 
 In this manner have two of the moft deierving friends of the Britifh conftitution 
 been treated on account of their fteady opposition to every attack of defpotifm. The 
 real fentiments of Mr. Adams, and his affectionate regard for the parent ftate, are 
 happily expreifed in a letter to Mr. Wilkes of the year 1770, the original of which 
 h.as been feen by the editor. When Mr. Wilkes was Lord Mayor, he read to the 
 Livery of London from the huftings on Michaelmas-day a letter from Mr. Hancock^ 
 as Prefident of the Congrefs, although he had been proclaimed a rebel and tmitur in 
 the name of his mifguid^d Sovereign. The two letters are here exadliy copied. 
 
 "SIR, Bofton, Dec. 28, 1770. 
 
 Having been repeatedly foli cited by my friend, Mr. William Palfrey, 1 embrace 
 this opportunity of making my particular compliments to you, in a letter -which he 
 will deliver. My own inclination has coincided with his requeit ; for I fhould pride 
 niyfelf much in a corrrel'pondence with a gentleman, of whom I have long enter- 
 tained fo great an opinion. No character appears with a ftronger luftre in my 
 mind, than that of a man, who nobly perfeveres in the caufe of public liberty, and 
 virtue, through the rage of perfecution. Of this you have had a large portion ; but 
 1 dare fay, you are made the better by it. At Icafl I will venture to fay, that the 
 fharpeft perfeqution for the fake of one's country can never prove a r,al irjurylo an 
 honed man. 
 
 In this little part of the world, a land, till of late happy in its obfcurity, the afy- 
 hipn to which patriots were formerly wont to make their peaceful retreat ; even 
 here the flern tyrant has lifted up his iron rod, and makes his inceflant claim as Lord 
 cfiL:ja>l: but I huv'e a firm perluaiiua in my mind, that in every itruggle, thi 
 country will approve herfelf, as glorious in defending and maintaining her freedom, 
 as fhe has hitherto been happy in enjoying it. 
 
 Were I a native and an inhabitant of Britain, and capable of affording the leaft ao- 
 v'icc, it Ihould conftuatly be ; to confirm the Colonies in :he fulicft exercife of their 
 
 rights,
 
 longer grates on our ears. Peace, harmony, reconcili- 
 ation with our brethren, are the enchanting founds, 
 with which we are now raviflied. The terrible, exter- 
 minating minifter of wrath no longer alarms the re- 
 volted Colonifts with Quos ego The noble Lord, with 
 no lefs policy than pity, fooths them, and in mild ac- 
 cents fays, motos pr&ftat componere fluftus. I much fear 
 however, Sir, the Colonies will never be gathered to- 
 gether again under his minifterial wing. 
 
 rights, and even to explore for them every pofiible avenue of trade, which Ihoulii 
 not interfere with her own manufa&uru. From the Colonies, when (he is wora 
 with age, fhe is to expect renewed ftrength. But the field I am entering is tot* 
 large for the prefent : may heaven forbid, that it Ihould yet be truly faid of Great 
 Britain, %uam Deui vult perderc- ! 
 
 I am with ftricl truth, 
 
 S I R, 
 
 Your mofl humble fervant, 
 John Wilkes, Efq;" SAMUEL ADAMS, 
 
 " My Lord, Philadelphia, Ju'y 8, 1775. 
 
 Permit the Delegates of the people of twelve ancient Colonies to pay your Lord- 
 fliip, and the very refpectable body of which you are head, the juft tribute of grat> 
 liule and thanks fqc the virtuous and unfolicited reientmeut you have Ihewn to the 
 violated rights of a free people. The City of London, my Lord, having in all age^ 
 approved itfelf the patron of liberty, and the fupport of juft government, againft 
 kwlefs tyranny and opprefiion, cannot fail to make us deeply fenfible of the power- 
 ful aid our caufe muft receive frona fuch advocates ; a caufe, my Lord, worthy the 
 fupport of the firft city in the world, as it involves the fate of a great continent, and 
 jns to flir.ke the foundations of a flourilhing, and, until lately, a happy empire. 
 
 North si:crica, my Lord, ivijhcs twjt ardently for a hfling citiaifiion ivith Great Kri- 
 tet:>:, on term of jufl and ejual liberty ; lefs than which generous minds will not ofter, 
 nor brave and free ones be willing' to receive. 
 
 A cruel war has, at length, been opened again/I us, and, whilft we prepare to de- 
 fend ourfelves, like the defendants of Britons, we flill hope that the mediation of 
 .-, ife and good citizens will at length prevail over defpotifm, and reilore harmony 
 -uid jx;ace, on permanent principles, to 'an opprel&d and divided empire, 
 \Ve have the honour to be, 
 
 MY LORD, 
 To the Ri-ht Ho- With great efteem, 
 
 nourabie the Lord Your Lordfhip's 
 
 Mayor and Livery Faithful friends and Fellvto-fuljtfli. 
 
 of t he City of L* n^ . By Order of the Congrefs. 
 
 *>"" JOHN HANCOCK, Prefident. 
 
 The
 
 ( 218 ) 
 
 The conciliatory bills are in my opinion more calcu- 
 lated for this country than America. They appear 
 only meant to keep the minds of the people quiet here, 
 and to amufe this kingdom, not to regain the Colo- 
 nies ; but I trufl the day of reckoning and exemplary 
 punilhment approaches. The prefent dead calm fore- 
 bodes a furious tempeft. The bills hold out what mi- 
 nifters know to be a fallacious hope, a reconciliation 
 with the Colonies on terms fhort of independence. The 
 object is merely to fcreen miniftry from the indigna- 
 tion of the public, and the vengeance of the people. 
 There can be little doubt of this, when the very words 
 of the acts, in the ftate they firft appeared here, are 
 confidered. The premable of one of the acts was, 
 f< Whereas the exercife of the right of taxation by the 
 tf parliament of Great Britain for the purpofe of railing 
 " a revenue in his Majefty's Colonies, Provinces, and 
 t( Plantations in North America, has been found by 
 " experience to occafion great uneaiinefles and diibr- 
 " ders, and has by fundry mifreprefentatlons been 
 " made the means of miileading many of his Ma- 
 "jefty's faithful fubjects." Thefe words are a kind 
 of fecond Declaratory Aft, in which the right of tax- 
 ation is aflerted at the inftant you give Cotnmfffonert 
 power to fufpend it. Was this meant as a healing 
 meafure? Could Minifters really intend to confer a fa- 
 vour, as they affected to think, and yet chufe the moft 
 offenfive, the moft obnoxious, the moft galling expref- 
 fions ? The preamble to one of the other Conciliatory 
 Bills is liable to the fame ftrong objection. It is, 
 " for the quieting and extinguishing of divers jealou- 
 " fies and mifreprefentations of danger to their liberties 
 " and legal rights, which have milled many of his 
 
 " Majefty's
 
 " Majefty's fubjects in the Colonies, Provinces, &c." 
 Muft not fuch exprefiions be neceffarily confidered by 
 the Congrrfs as the laguage of high and direct infult ? 
 The Cojiwiifancrs mult derive all their powers from chefe 
 acts of the legiflature, in which the Americans were 
 accufed and upbraided. Are thefe the winning, per- 
 fuafive arts of peace and reconciliation? Was a recon- 
 ciliation really intended, or have Miniiters only in view 
 to delude the nation, and to incenfe them againft the 
 Americans, with the abfurd hope of at laft compelling 
 them to an unconditional fubmiffion ? 
 
 Adminiftration, Sir, thought the game defperate, 
 and had only in view their own fafety, the prefervation 
 of their power, and perhaps a facility in the enfuing 
 loan. They knew the folemn declarations of the Con- 
 grefs to fo.iie of the greateft powers of Europe fb 
 early as December 17/6, and confirmed laft November, 
 the baiis/of which relied folely on their independence. 
 They poflefs it de fatto. I fear we ihall be obliged to 
 give it them de jure. If the prefent proportions are 
 rejected, we cannot hefitate in preferring the acknow- 
 ledgment of their independence to an expenfive and 
 bloody war, in which at laft conqiiejl is admitted to be 
 an impoffible and frantic attempt. We ought to enter 
 into a federal union with them, and endeavour to fe- 
 cure the advantages of the moft important trade with 
 America by a commercial treaty, which would be re- 
 ciprocally advantageous to both countries unlefs, iiv 
 deed ? the eloquence of our CommifftQntrs can effedt what 
 {he force of our arms has in vain attempted, their re- 
 linquiftung the claim of independence. The adminiftra- 
 tion are perfectly acquainted with the various commer- 
 cial engagements of tli^ Colonifts, frpm "which they 
 
 cannot
 
 ( 220 ) 
 
 cannot recede. It appeared likewife that the military 
 
 - as well as the civil have concurred in reprobating every 
 idea of a dependance on this country. The fceptre of 
 America is departed from Britain. Three months after 
 the Britilh army had taken their capital, the feat of 
 the Congrefs, Philadelphia, Wafhington gave it out 
 ia general orders from head quarters, December 17, 
 1777. " We may on the bed grounds conclude, that 
 " by a fpirited continuance in the meafures neceflary 
 " for our defence, we lhall finally obtain the end of our 
 " warfare, independence , liberty, and peace." In Oc- 
 
 - tober 1 7 74, the Congrefs humbly fupplicated his Ma- 
 jefly for peace, liberty^ and fafety. S}nce that period, 
 fafety had been fecured to them by their own prowefs, 
 
 except indeed on fome parts of their very extenlive 
 icoaft. They had fince been driven into independence ', 
 and began to tafle its fweets. We had cancelled all 
 the ties by which the two countries were long held to- 
 gether ; and fince we had forced them into a very re- 
 lu&ant warfare, they held to the people and the army, 
 as its great end, the manly language of independence, 
 liberty, and peace. America was driven to defperation. 
 It is now, as to us, a bofom friendfhip foured "to an 
 implacable hatred. We have wantonly burnt her 
 towns, butchered her men, women, children, evert 
 infants at the breaft, maffacred the captives in cold 
 blood, fcalped the dying and wounded, and carried 
 lire and fvvord through her moft fertile provinces. 
 What a contrail has her conduct been to a whole Bri- 
 tiih army, and general, who capitulated ! What a no- 
 blenefs in turning away from the humiliating fpedtacle 
 of Englijh foldicrs piling their arms by word of command 
 from their own officers ! Are our Minifters weak- enough 
 
 to
 
 , ( 221 ), 
 
 to expeft to cajole America with a parchment 
 3t the moment they ;declare that they defpair of con- 
 queft by the fword ? The idea imtft to them be per- 
 fectly ridiculous, when the Americans recollect that 
 the noble Lord with the blue ribband, at the beginning 
 of the war, had prophefied that they would be fooq 
 at our feet, and the noble Lord at the head of the, 
 American department had infilled on unconditional fub- 
 ntiffion. The Americans had now tried their ftrength, 
 and found their refources, both on their own con- 
 tinent and in Europe, adequate to all their views.. 
 They faw the world in admiration of their lirmnefs and 
 fortitude, in the warmeft applaufe even of their mili- 
 tary achievements. The zeal of the French nation 
 in their caufe rofe to the higheft pitch of enthufiafm ; 
 and even this ifland might fay to America, in the words 
 of Horace, " te c&de gaudentes Entanni compojiti$ vene-, 
 <f raniur armis." 
 
 The honourable gentleman *, Sir, who made you 
 the motion for the -third reading of the bill, fays, the 
 Americans will fee, " that we do not mean to tax 
 them." They have no confidence, Sir, in any of our 
 profeffions or promifes. The at of parliament of the 
 fefiion, or the fecretary's official letter, they hold in 
 equal contempt. In 1765, there was fo great a ftag- 
 nation of our commerce in confequence of the Stamp 
 Ac!:, that in the following year that unjuit, as well as 
 uncommercial adt, was repealed, and all the fources 
 of trade between Great Britain and her Colonies were 
 again opened, and flowed in abundance. Notwirh- 
 flanding this, in the very next year, duties to be, paid 
 in America were impofed on tea, glafs, paper, and 
 
 * Sir Ore/ Cooper, Bait, membsr for Salufli, jouit fscrel^y to th treafuryu 
 
 other
 
 ( 222 ) 
 
 Other articlee, which threw the whole empire again 
 into convulfions. America faw that we were not to be 
 confided in during 1 the fhort period of a fingle year> 
 and that no tie, even of our own intereft, could bind 
 us to any terms of future fecurity for. them. It is im- 
 pofiible, without the higheft indignation, to reflecl: 
 from what a height of profperity we are now in con- 
 fequence fallen into an abyfs of mifery and ruin. The 
 difpofitions of America in 1766 were moft friendly and 
 affectionate. The wife meafure of the repeal of the 
 Stamp Act diffufed univerfal joy through the thirteen, 
 now revolted, Colonies. At Philadelphia in May 
 1766, they unanimoufiy came to the following refo* 
 hit ions : " That to demonftrate our zeal to Great Bri- 
 *' tain, and our gratitude for the repeal of the Stamp 
 " Ad, each of us will, en the fourth of June next, 
 " being the birth-day of our moft gracious fovereign 
 " George the Third, drefs ourfelves in a new fuit of 
 " the manufactures of England, and give what home- 
 " fpun we have to the poor.'* What were the una- 
 nimous refolutions of the Congrefs not ten years after, 
 in the very fame town ? Our enemies have published 
 them to the world with mockery and triumph. With 
 what perfidy has the province of the Jerfeys been 
 treated ! When that province returned to its allegi- 
 ance, was it reftored to the free exercife cf its trade 
 and commerce, and to the fame protection and fecu- 
 tjty as if it had never revolted ? Or did that province 
 continue under the ban of the empire, as a lucrative job 
 to the friends of the Minifter \ Yet the Minifler, in 
 the King's name, at the opening of the feflion of parlia- 
 ment in October 1775, folemnly held out fuch promifes 
 to the Americans. It is impoffible that the Colonies 
 
 can
 
 ( 223 ) 
 
 can have any confidence in fuch Minifters, or their 
 agents, or CommiJ/iomrs ; and uniefs men, as well as 
 meafures, are changed, no permanent reconciliation 
 can be effected. Our perfidy may, indeed, poflibly be 
 retaliated upon us in a mock treaty and a deluiive ne- 
 gotiation ; but no {table, folid peace can be obtained 
 with the Americans by the authors of their grievances. 
 
 The ear of England, Sir, is rankly abufed by Mi- 
 nifters who pretend to affure us of pacific difpofitions 
 in the Colonies, and a defire to return to their de- 
 pendence on the parent ftate, when not the leafl 
 fymptom of fuch a nature has appeared. Has the 
 Congrefs, or . any one colony, made the leaft overture 
 to a reconciliation, iince their declaration of indepen- 
 dence ? Have not the Americans exp relied the utmoft 
 abhorrence of the Ministers, who are to nominate the 
 CommiJ/ionerSj inftead of a difpofition to treat with 
 them ? and will they entertain a more favourable idea 
 of their creatures ? I muft declare that I fee nothing 
 in the intended negotiation, but difgrace and humili- 
 ation on our part, after our repeated injuries, except 
 indeed a lucrativejob for five bold, hungry dependents 
 of the minifter. Would to God, Sir, I may be mif- 
 taken, and that the Commiffioners may return to Eu- 
 rope with unenvied wealth and bloodlefs laurels ! Their 
 grateful country will honour them to its lateft pof- 
 terity, and their fame will be immortal. 
 
 An honourable gentleman *, one of the greateft or- 
 naments of this Houfe, fays, that he cbferves great be- 
 nevolence among us towards the Americans. I heartily 
 wifh that I could difcover it. Among three fets of 
 gentlemen, mentioned by him, I fear the Americans 
 
 * Sdmsmd Burke, Eftj. member for BrlftoL 
 
 have
 
 C 224 ) 
 
 liave very few friends* All the dependents of admi- 
 niftration, the large majority in this Hou(e, who have 
 voted all the cruel and opprefiive a&s now to be fuf- 
 pended, have certainly no great benevolence towards the 
 .Americans. Thofe, who are accuftomed to pace in 
 the trammels of a defpotic Minifter, and to be obedient 
 to his fovereign nod, naturally abhor the enthuiiaflic 
 Jove of liberty, the uncontrouled fpirit of the fons of 
 freedom in America. I fufpe&likewife that there is not 
 much good-will toward our fellow-fubjects in the Colo- 
 nies, among the inhabitants in the northern parts of our 
 own iiland. It would be a curious fpeculation to in- 
 veftigate the caufes of the marked hatred of the Scots 
 in general to the Americans. Is it, Sir, that although 
 fome fmall parts of America are almoft over-run with 
 lories, as others are with different deftrudtive animals, 
 yet there fcarcely ever was found a iingle Jacobite in 
 all our Colonies? Are the Scots in defpair, becauie 
 they have not been able to find any thing in North 
 America congenial with them ? They cannot there 
 mingle treafon with treafon. Is it that, believing the 
 prefent reiiftance in the Colonies to partake of the 
 nature of a true rebellion, they are jealous of fuch an 
 ulurpation of the Americans on their peculiar preroga- 
 tive ? Scotland feems, indeed, the natural foyer of 
 rebellion, as Egypt is of the plague; but, Sir, no 
 monopolies in this commercial country are permitted. 
 Manchefter and Liverpool would oppofe fuch a mo- 
 nopoly, and juftly claim no fmall lhare in it, from 
 their vigorous efforts in favour of the Pretender in 
 1745. It will, Sir, be a new and curious fpedtacle in 
 1-778, to mark the North pouring forth her hardy 
 fons to quell an American,: not to aid a native, rebel- 
 z lion,
 
 lion, carefully nurfed in our frozen bofom, and after- 
 wards in a tainted part of England kindly tendered 
 and follered in its progrefs to the South. The third 
 let df perfons, lately mentioned, are the country gentle- 
 men. I refpedr, the character, but I fear many of them, 
 are hoitile to America and American rights. They 
 are for the moft part iteady, not burthened or per- 
 plexed with many ideas, and perhaps with few of a 
 very liberal nature. A fingle principle appears of late 
 to have governed them. They hoped to throw off 
 from their fhoulders on the poor Americans a confider- 
 able part of the enormous burdens, under which they 
 groan, of the debts of their late adopted German, and 
 the prefent American, war. The noble Lord with the 
 blue ribband had allured them of a folid and fubjian- 
 ttal revenue from America. On this plan of private 
 ceconomy to them the Minifter bargained for their 
 fupport. Their difappointment, and the fenfe of his 
 jockeyfliip, has undoubtedly much chagrined them 
 but I will not dwell on this fubjecl:. Their eyes feem 
 to be opening, juft as they are drowning. 
 
 Another honourable gentleman * complains, tf that 
 " every thing refpeting the public is in a great de- 
 <c gree negledted, and that fome of our moft impor- 
 ff tant concerns are fcarcely regarded." He has ac- 
 cordingly, with much good fenfe, held out to the 
 Houfe the idea of a committee to examine into the ex- 
 penditure of the public money during this war. I 
 agree with him, that nothing is now fecure, or indeed 
 properly taken care of except the Proteftant fuccef- 
 fion. His propofals meet my full and warm approba- 
 tion. Another committee, however, feems to me dill 
 
 * Thomas Gilbert, Bfq. member for Li&hfiald.
 
 C 
 
 more immediately neceflary, a committee to enquire 
 into the nature and caufes of the failure of the Cana- 
 dian expedition, for we cannot bide the nations fear. 
 I am forry to be informed that the Houfe is to be pro- 
 rogued at Eafter *, for I fear we cannot in this feffion 
 undertake both thefe important concerns. The en- 
 quiry into the Canadian expedition, the lofs of a Bri- 
 tifli army, and the horrid cruelties faid to be com- 
 mitted on our fellow- fubj efts, are of the firfl import- 
 ance, both to vindicate the honour of our foverei^n. 
 
 7 O ' 
 
 and the humanity of the nation. I am mocked, Sir, 
 . at the falie rumours daily fprcad, and the foul re- 
 proaches caft on the common father of all his people. 
 It is circulated in print, Sir, that on the i/th of Oc- 
 tober, after Burgoyne's capitulation, in which Gates 
 demonftrated a refined fenfe of honour, unparalleled 
 in European armies, the Britifh general was received 
 with refpec~t, and dined with the American hero ; that 
 nothing unkind was faid to him, except a&ing hoiu be 
 could find in his heart to burn the -poor country people's 
 houfes wherever he paffed ; and that he anfwered, that it 
 was the King's orders. From all the letters of Bur- 
 goyne it has been repeatedly afferted, that the project 
 of the Canadian expedition originated from the dofct 
 of the King, and the office of the American Secretary ; 
 and that the employing thefavages againft our fellow- 
 fubjects was among the primary ideas adopted on that 
 occalion. The American Secretary, in a letter to Ge- 
 neral Carleton, dated Whitehall, March 26, 1777,, 
 
 * Notice of this hnd been given Che preceding week to the Committee Clerks of 
 both Hout'es, that all private hufinefs might he expedited, it having been determined 
 to piHuy'.ic Paiii;rent on the Thurfday before fcftcr, on the j6th of April. The 
 
 xpt<itcd necfarofK.il from the Marquis de Noailles, on the 13111 of March, ho\y- 
 
 r, kept the Pailiynieat fitting till the jd of June. 
 
 2 fays,
 
 lays, " As this plan cannot be advantagcoufly executed 
 " Without the affiftance of Canadians and Indians, his 
 " Majefty ftrongly recommends it to your care to fur- 
 " niili both expeditions with good and fufficient bo- 
 " dies of thofe men. And I am happy in knowing 
 " that your influence among them is fo great, that 
 " there can be no room to apprehend you will find it 
 " difficult to fulfill bis Maje/ly's intentions" In the 
 " Thoughts for conducting the war from the fide of 
 " Canada, by General Burgoyne," which were ap- 
 proved by the King, Burgoyne defires a thoufand or more 
 favages. Colonel Butler was directed to dillribute 
 the King's bounty-money among fuch of thefavages as 
 would join the army; and, after the delivery of the 
 prefents, he afks for 4011 1. York currency more, be- 
 fore he left Niagara. He adds, in a letter on our ta- 
 ble, " I flatter myfelf that you will not think the ex- 
 " pence, however high, to be ufelefs, or given with 
 te too laviih a hand I waited feven days, to deliver 
 " them the prefents, and give them the hatchet, which 
 " they accepted, and promifed to make ufe of it." 
 This letter is dated Ontario, July 28, 1777. In 
 another from the fame officer it is faid, " The In- 
 " dians threw in an heavy fire on the rebels, and made a 
 t6 Jhocking /laughter with their fpears and hatchets 
 " The fuccefs of this day will plainly fhew the utility 
 " of your Excellency's conftant fupportofmy unwearied 
 t( endeavours to conciliate to bis M.<iefty fo ferviceable 
 
 */ */ s 
 
 " a body of allies." This is a letter from Colonel Rut- 
 ]er to Sir Guy Carleton, dated " Camp before Fort Stan- 
 " wix, Aug. 15, 1777." Burgoyne's barbarous procla- 
 mation appears to be only a confequence of his fangui- 
 nary mflrucuons. 
 
 General
 
 ( 228 ) 
 
 General Gates's letters have informed the world with 
 what favage ferocity and cruelty the Indians carried on 
 a war, to which they were fo flrongly invited. An In- 
 dian campaign is known to be productive of every 
 ipecies of torture, to which the human frame is fub- 
 jecl:. In the laft campaign fcarcely fewer women and 
 children, in fome parts where the war raged with the 
 greateft fury, expired under the torture of the tomo- 
 hawk andfea/pivg-knife, than were killed by the fword 
 or bayonet among thofe who bore arms. Colonel But- 
 ler's letter to Sir Guy Carleton of July 28th fays, 
 " many of the prifoners were, conformable to the In- 
 te dian cuftom, afterwards killed." Has the * Secre- 
 tary at war yet thanked the favages in the King's name 
 for their alacrity ? I have not had time fully to examine 
 the numerous papers on our table, and therefore I am 
 ignorant whether we have any letter from his Lord- 
 Ihip fimilar to that from the War-office, of the 1 2th of 
 May, 1768, " that having had the honour of mention- 
 *' ing to the Kins; the behaviour of the detachments 
 
 O ^ 
 
 * e from the feveral tribes of Indians, which have lately 
 " been employed mfcalping and tomahawking his Ame- 
 fc rican fubjefts, he has great pleafure in informing 
 " the general, that bis Maye/ty highly approves of the 
 " condudt both of the Indian chiefs and the men, arrd 
 " means that his royal approbation fhould be communi- 
 " cated to them through the general. Employing 7;z- 
 (C dians in fuch a fervice gives him [the humane Secre 
 " tary at War} pain, but it is neceffary. He hopes 
 <c they will continue to perform their duty with alacrity. 
 " Every poffible regard mall be fhewn to their zeal, 
 " and they {hall have the protection of the law, and 
 " this office, under every difagreeable* circumftance." 
 
 * Lord Barruagtonj Member for Plymouth. 
 
 Mr,
 
 ( 22 9 ) 
 
 Mr. Burgoyne held himfelf out as an aftht agent 
 on this occallon, not by the flighteft mention of any 
 fuppofed military talents, but by fuch abject flattery 
 of the American Secretary, as I hope no other man in 
 Europe could commit. He declares in a letter to Lord 
 George Germaine, dated f:om Hertford-ftreet, Jan. i, 
 1777, " I humbly laid myfelf at his Majefty's feet for 
 " fuch active employment as he might think me vvor- 
 (C thy of. This was the fubftance of my audience on 
 " my part. I undertook it, and I now report to your 
 <l Lordlhip, in the hope of your patronage in this pur- 
 " fuit; a hope, my Lord, founded not only upon a 
 " juft fenfe of the honour your Lordmip's friendship 
 " muft reflect upon me, but alfo upon a feeling that I 
 '* deferve it, in as much as a folid refpect, and fmcere 
 " perfonal attachment can conflitute fuch a claim." In 
 his letter of June 22, 1777, he feems to have fully en- 
 tered into the ideas of his principal; for he fays, " that 
 " he met the Indians yefterday in Congrefs, and gave 
 " them a war-feajl according to their cuftom," of 
 which war-feajl we know the moft folemn ceremony to 
 be drinking human blood out of the Ikulls of their 
 enemies. In the fame conference he confents to the 
 mangling of the dead, for he fays that he " allowed 
 " the Indians to take the fcalps of the dead." Surely, 
 Sir, an enquiry into thofe horrors, and the failure 
 of an expedition which has not only difgraced our 
 arms, but degraded the name of Englifhmen, and fixed 
 a foul ftain on our national character, is ftill more 
 worthy of our enquiry than even the wafte of pub- 
 lic treafure, although we are, I fear, if the war 
 continues, too near the brink of a general bankruptcy. 
 
 I obferve, Sir, that gentlemen have this day been 
 very fond of giving advice to Minifters. I am not 
 
 fond
 
 fond at any time of giving advice, but I will for once 
 follow the example. My advice then, Sir, to admini- 
 ftration is, ro fupplicate his Majefty to order an imme- 
 diate ceflation of arms in North America, and to recall 
 his forces. Humanity and juftice call aloud for this 
 meafure. The Minifler has at laft confeffed, we cannot 
 conquer America. To what purpofe then are more tor- 
 rents of blood to be flied ? The Americans will accept, 
 or they will reject, your propofttions. If they are ac- 
 cepted, the war is at an end by concerTion. If they are 
 rejected, the end of the war, conqueft, has been found, 
 "and is now acknowledged to be, impracticable. The 
 ihedding of the blood therefore of a fmgle man for an 
 object, which confefledly cannot be obtained, is not 
 only unjuflifiable, but highly criminal. Many of the 
 meafures of opposition have been at length adopted by 
 Minifters. I hope this, the moft important of all, will 
 have the fame fuccefs. An immediate ceflation of 
 arms was propofed the very fjrft day of this feflion, 
 by an excellent young nobleman on this fide the 
 Houfe *, It will do more than all your Commijfinners 
 can without it. Perhaps it may fave Howe from the 
 fate of Burgoyne. It will give time for cooling on 
 both ikies, and at leaft Ihew that you are relenting to- 
 wards your brethren, and eager for that peace and recon- 
 (filiation, which alone can form the folid happinefs of 
 both countries, . and mull be devoutly wiihed by every 
 friend to their mutual profperity. It may fave the 
 fragments of this difmembered empire, for I own I lhall 
 tremble for the fate of Canada, nearly loft three years 
 ago, as well as for Nova Scotia, the Two Floridas, 
 and even the Weft Indian iflands, if the powerful con- 
 federacy of the Thirteen United Colonies continues, 
 
 * Marquis of Granby, Member for Cambridge Univerfity. 
 
 Sir,
 
 Sir, I heartily wifh fuccefs to thefe Conciliatory Bills, 
 and that we may regain by treaty what we have loft by 
 tyranny and arms. I would agree to almoft any treaty 
 rather than continue this ruinous war, which has coil 
 already above thirty millions flerling, and the lofs of 
 20,000 men. I entirely approve the effort, although 
 I have my fears that it is made too late. Still, Sat bene, 
 fi fat citb. Let the experiment however be tried, and 
 may both Britain and America again form one power- 
 ful empire on the principles of equal liberty, juft, 
 mild, commercial, and tolerant ! We mall then be 
 able to Hand the ftiock of all the adverfe powers of 
 the world, again feared and refpected abroad, and at 
 home a great, united, and happy people. 
 
 VOTES of April 2, 1778. 
 
 A Motion was made, and the Queftion being put, 
 That kave be given to bring in a Bill, more effectu- 
 ally to prevent the dangerous and unconftitutional 
 practice of giving or granting money to the Crown, 
 as a private aid, loan, benevolence, or fubfcription, 
 for public purpofes, without the confent of Parlia- 
 ment. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 In this free country, where the people have fo con- 
 iiderable a ihare in the legiflature, I hold it to be the 

 
 duty of every man to watch over the conftitution. The 
 members of this Houfe are more particularly delegated 
 to a charge of this moment and importance. Any 
 wilful negligence or inattention in us would be a breach 
 of truft. In this thorough conviction I mall take the 
 liberty of fubmitting to your confideration fome late 
 proceedings, becaufe I ain convinced they are, al- 
 though countenanced by the higheft authority, directly 
 repugnant to the genius of our laws and government. 
 The late encroachments on the conftitution by the ex- 
 ecutive power of the ftate have neither been gradual 
 nor inconfiderable. 
 
 Amonor the great outlines of this well-poized con- 
 ftitution, I believe it will be acknowledged, that one 
 of the moft ftriking is, the power aflumed and regu- 
 larly exercifed by this Houfe of granting the money of 
 the people. This creates the dependance of the Crown 
 on Parliament for fupplies. The purfe of the nation 
 has been fubject only to the controul of this branch of 
 the legislature. So great a jealoufy has prevailed on 
 this occalion, that the other Houfe have never been 
 fuffered to make the leaft alteration in a bill, which 
 could in any way be conftrued to be a Money Bill, even 
 by a fine or penalty in an enacting claufe. This, Sir, 
 is the plaftick fewer of our creation. It gives us a cer- 
 tain, not a precarious exiftence. It is the fmgle cir- 
 cumftance, which, under every change of Minifters, 
 enfures our meeting annually within thefe walls. Were 
 the Land and M$lt taxes made permanent, could a re- 
 venue adequate to the whole annual public ex pence, 
 and probable contingencies, with the neceflary ivays 
 and means, be voted by Parliament for a term of years, 
 J iufpect the prefen,t fet of Minifters would advifc as 
 
 long 
 
 o
 
 C 2 33 ) 
 
 long an intermiffion of Parliaments as took place under 
 fome of the Stuarts. I do not mean, Sir, that they 
 have now any thing to dread from the tame reprefenta- 
 tives of an injured people, whom former Minifters, 
 who held the fame principles and conduct, ufed to ap- 
 proach with fear and trembling. Minifters have now 
 drawn the fting of this great popular aflembly. We 
 have feen this very Seffion fuch a fervile complaifance, 
 fuch an extreme of contradiction to themfelves, that it 
 fhocks common faith, and muft difgrace the Majority 
 here in the eyes of all Europe. No Cameleon ever 
 ihifted more fuddenly to the oppofite colour than they 
 have done from infolence, intemperate rage, and war, 
 to meeknefs, peace, and almoft humiliation to the 
 Americans. 
 
 Can any thing, Sir, be more alarming to the ac- 
 knowledged right and privilege of this houfe, than 
 the doctrine lately propagated, and the practice begun, 
 of giving private aids, benevolences, and fubfcriptions, 
 for public purpofes, to the Crown, without the func- 
 tion of Parliament? The conftitution has wifely placed 
 in the crown the right of railing forces on a very prefs- 
 ing and dangerous emergency. It is a power neceflary 
 for the fafety of the ftate, for the defence of the peo- 
 ple. The flrongeft check is however at the fame time 
 given to any improper exercife of this power. It is 
 controlled by the neceffity of an application to Parlia- 
 ment for the maintenance of fuch forces. If troops 
 could be raifed, kept up, and paid, without the con- 
 currence of this Houfe, the liberties of this country 
 muft be at the mercy of the military, and their com- 
 mander in chief, perhaps an ambitious prince. Our 
 itatutc law, Sir, is not iilent on this occafion. Every 
 
 year
 
 year in the mutiny acl: it is expreffly declared, that 
 " the railing or keeping a (landing army within this 
 t( kingdom, in time of peace, nnlefs it be with the 
 " confent of Parliament, is againd law." But, Sir, if 
 the Crown can by a prerogative, which is not difputed, 
 ralfe a (landing army, and by private loans, benevolen- 
 ces, or fubfcriptions, keep this (landing army on foot, 
 no application whatever need be made to Parliament. 
 Our government would then not be that of the law, 
 but of the fword, to which all appeals mud be trifling 
 and inefficacious. Parliaments are now convened to 
 vote the neceflary fupplies, which are regularly a(ked 
 of the commons on the fird day of the feffion. If go- 
 vernment could receive them in any other mode than 
 by the grants of this Houfe, the legiflature itfelf would 
 not only lofe its mod important fundlion, but become 
 unnecedary, and very foon obnoxious. The executive- 
 power mud be truiled with the railing offerees; but it 
 is likewife the duty of this Houfe to their condiments 
 to take care that the number of thofe forces be fo pro- 
 portioned to the defence of the date, that the fecurity 
 of the fubject may be provided for, and yet np alarm 
 given to a nation very judly jealous of the lead danger 
 to its liberties. While the military receive their pay 
 from the grants of this Houfe, the maintenance of the 
 army mud depend on the approbation of Parliament ; 
 but if an artful, or enterprizing, prince can find other 
 refources, the foldier will then look up to the prince^ 
 and not to the reprefentatives of the people. The ex- 
 ecutive and legiflative power mud now concur in the 
 meafure of keeping on foot any number of regular 
 troops, both in its fird adoption, and continuance, or 
 it cannot be the act of all the condituent parts of this 
 
 govern*
 
 government. If a dellgning prince, hoftile, like moft 
 princes, to the caufe of liberty, mould be able to raife 
 an army, and by foreign gold, the mad zeal, or inter- 
 efted views, of a party among us, could contrive to 
 kee.p it on foot, without the aid of Parliament, what 
 fecurity have we for the prefervation of our civil rights 
 and privileges ? The refufal of fupplies in this Houfe 
 to force the difbanding an army could have no valid 
 effect, for parliamentary grants would not be folicited. 
 Future princes might govern, like the Stuarts, with- 
 out parliaments, by the exertion of an over-ftretched 
 prerogative, and even juries be under the controul of 
 a crown officer, when the grand inqueft of the nation 
 was fuperfeded. 
 
 The conftitution of this country, Sir, would be 
 wounded in another branch of the legislature, in the 
 Houfe of Lords, by any grants of money, but through 
 the medium of Parliament. The Peers have un- 
 doubtedly the right to reject a money bill. They 
 may now by their negative force the diibanding any 
 number of troops, which they think unneceflary, or 
 dangerous to the fafety of the nation. This impor- 
 tant privilege would be taken from them, if fnch a 
 body of troops were to be maintained by any private 
 loans, benevolences, or fubfcriptions. The whole au- 
 thority of the ftate would thus be abforbed in the 
 crown, and the two other branches of the legiflaturc 
 become a mere phantom, fuppofing even their forms 
 to be preferved. 
 
 I expert, Sir, that it will be afked, are we not then 
 at liberty voluntarily to give our money to the crown ? 
 Arc free gifts from the fubject to the King illegal ? 
 There is, Sir, fcarcely a country in Europe, which 
 
 hafr
 
 has not groaned under the oppreffion of what are called 
 free gifts- The very term is become ridiculous. Many 
 a peafant has periihed in a loathfome dungeon, be- 
 caufe he would not be compelled to a don gratuil. The 
 Englilh hiftory fupplies innumerable inftances of the 
 cruel exaction of what have been termed voluntary loans 
 and benevolences to the King. Many families have 
 been ruined under the Tudors and Stuarts, becaufe 
 they would not be forced to free-will offerings to the 
 Sovereign againft their confent. The indifcreet ardour 
 of a few begins a fubfcription, or loan; and then the 
 reft of a nation are compelled, under pain of our utmoft 
 royal difpleafure, to the fame exertion, fometimes to 
 their utter deftruction. Neither can equality be ob- 
 ferved in fuch contributions ; whereas the fair and 
 equal proportion of what every fubject Ihould pay to 
 the exigencies of the ftate is one of the moft important 
 objects of every legiflatu re. It becomes then the wif- 
 dom of parliament to put a flop to all abufes of this 
 nature by an exprefs ftatute. 
 
 I have heard, Sir, the Act of the i3th of Charles 
 II. mentioned as an enacting law on this occafion ; but, 
 Sir, it by no means reaches the prefent cafe. That 
 Act only provides, " that no commffions or aids of this 
 11 nature can be iflued out, or levied, but by autho- 
 fe rity of parliament, and that this Act, and the fup- 
 " ply hereby granted, lhall not be drawn into example 
 " for the time to come/* The nature of thofe olds 
 and commijjions was by authority under the great Jeal of 
 England, to empower certain perfons to receive fuch 
 fubfcripttons as his Majejly's good fubjetts Jhould vo- 
 luntarily offer, no perfon, not being a -peer of this 
 realm , infucb offer or prefent, to exceed the fam of 200 1. 
 
 nor
 
 nor any peer of this realm the fum of 400 1. Reference 
 is always had in this Act to commiflions iffued under 
 the great feal. The neceffity, however, of fuch an 
 Act, at a very particular period, plainly fhews the fen- 
 timents of that Parliament, as to the general doctrine 
 of loans and fubfcriptions, without the concurrence of 
 the legiflature. 
 
 There was, Sir, fomething peculiarly offenfive to 
 this Houfe in the manner and time, which the zealous 
 partizans of a defperate adminiftration chofe, for the 
 late unconstitutional mode of levying money without 
 the confent of Parliament. The Minifter had dictated 
 to the majority an adjournment of a very unufual length. 
 Immediately after, their agents were bufily employed 
 in getting fubfcriptions and railing troops. There had 
 not been the leaft previous intimation of the new plan. 
 to this Houfe, nor the ufual meffage from the Crown. 
 No alarming ftate-fymptom had recently appeared, 
 even according to the apprehenfion of Minifters. The 
 noble Lord * with the blue ribband affured us, that 
 he knew nothing of a treaty between America and France f 
 nor did he believe its exigence, fo judicioufly had the 
 immenfe fums we had voted for fecret fervices been ap- 
 plied. The Houfe adjourned on the loth of Decem- 
 ber, and we have on our table a letter from the War 
 office of the i6th, in which the fecretary at war tells 
 a gentleman -f- very near me, that he " was commanded 
 " by the King to acquaint him that his Majefty ap- 
 " proves of the very handfome offers made by the 
 " town of Mancbefter, through him, for raifmg a re- 
 " giment of foot at their own expence, 'the regiment 
 
 * Lord North. 
 
 f Sif Thomas Egerton, Bart. Menitet for Lancafliire. 
 
 5 f*to
 
 * c to confifl of eight battalion companies, % one cora- 
 *' pany of grenadiers, and one of light infantry." The 
 eagernefs of the inhabitants of that loyal town to fub- 
 fcribe could only find a parallel in their efforts during 
 the 'years 1745 and 1746, and in the fplendid zeal of 
 another equally well-affetled town in the fame county, I 
 mean Liverpool. It appears from the fame letter, that 
 the Manche/ler regiment was to confifl of no lefs than 
 one thoufand private men, belides a colonel, lieutenant 
 colonel, major, captains, lieutenants, enfigns, ferjeants, 
 corporals, drummers, and fifers. The fame eftablifh- 
 ment was to take place for Liverpool. Lord Barring- 
 ton promifes, in the King's name, that " the officers 
 " fliall be entitled to half-pay, in cafe the regiment 
 " fliall be reduced after it has been once efiablifhed." 
 This was to be confidered as an engagement from the 
 
 O O 
 
 public, although without the leail communication 
 to Parliament, or confcnt of this Houfe. The fame 
 promifes were made to all the different corps, which 
 were to be raifed during the late adjournment in another 
 part of this ifland, where the Proteftant fucceffion in 
 the illuflrious Houfe of Hanover is now declared to be 
 the idol of the people. All the new-raifed Scottifh re- 
 giments were to be entitled to half-pay. Thefe abfo- 
 lute engagements for public money to be afterwards 
 voted by Parliament, were made indirect violation of the 
 rights of the reprefentatives of the people, and are con- 
 trary to both the fpirit and letter of this murdered con- 
 fiitution. On fuch terms the fecretary at war's letters 
 on our table ftate, that Colonel Gordon's, Colonel Mac- 
 kenzie's, Colonel Murray's, Colonel Maclean's, Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel Campbell's, Lieutenant Colonel Mac 
 Donnell's, the Edinburgh, Glafgow, and Liverpool 
 
 regiments.
 
 ( 2 39 ) 
 
 regiments were to be raifed. Private fubfcriptions for 
 the railing of thefe corps Were at the fame time warmly 
 folicited by the agents of adminiftration, and carried 
 on with an uncommon fpirit, immediately after the 
 adjournment for the holydays. Some great men had 
 the additional douceur of " the lift of the other gen- 
 " tlemen recommended through them for commif- 
 '* fions being honoured with the royal appobation, and 
 " the fecretary's afTurance in the King's name, that 
 " they fhould have commiflions as fcon as the regi- 
 " ment was raifed," befides the bribe of the half-pay. 
 The fecretary of ftate, Sir, for the northern depart- 
 ment, ventured to ailert, in the King's name, that thefe 
 private fubfcriptions were conjlitulional. In a letter from 
 that learned Lord *, the Earl of Suffolk, to Sir John 
 
 Wodehoufe 
 
 # Henri Howard, Earl of Suffolk. In not all the k I oil of all the H<,ivards ran ft 
 foul and polluted a ftream, before or fnice the time of the perjured evidence agatnft. 
 Lord Rullel and Algernon Sydney, the Lord H^ivard of Efcrick, as in the prefeni 
 fecretary of Itate tor tlie northern department. On the 2d of February, 1770, he 
 voted againft the Miniftry in the great caufe of the Midulefex elections, and witli 
 another unhhilhing apoftate, the Earl of Euckinghamfhire, figned the remarkable 
 Prote/!, in which it is declared, " We deem the power which the Houfe of Common* 
 " have affumed to themfelves, of creating an incapacity, unknown to the law, and 
 " tiiereby depriving, in etfecT:, all the electors of Great Britain of their invaluable 
 " right of election, confirmed to them by Ib many folemn ftatutes, a flagrant ufur- 
 " pation, as highly repugnant to every eflenrhil principle of the conftkution, as the- 
 -" claim of fhip-money by King Charlei I. or tluit oltbe fufpending r.nd difpenfmg 
 " power by King Jaine 1 : II This being indeed, in our opinion, a fufpending ajid dif- 
 '' pcnfing power affunied and exercifed by the Houfe of Commons againft the ancient 
 ' and fundamental liberties of the kingdom." To this folemn declaration the naines 
 of the fecretary of ftate for the northern departrr ent, iuid the Lord Lieutenant of Ire- 
 land, are fubfcribed ; yet to this hour no fiuisfaotioa h.is been made to the injured free- 
 holders of Mid lefex, nor in tfcfl to all 'be tltdtr; cf Great Britain. The fame ad- 
 jniuiftration con inue the injury, and have been joined La the violation of the conr 
 ftitution, as well as the plunder of their country, by the Earls of Sul'ulk. and Buck* 
 inghamfh re. 
 
 Lord Suffolk rofe to the favour of his royu! mader by the moft formal and fo- 
 lemn fpecies of hypocrify, and by treachery to his country. He affected to be 
 4ceply religious, and impioufly covered tlie moft cruel and barbarous acls with the 
 
 facred
 
 ( 240 ) 
 
 Wbdehoufe of February 17, it is faid, " I have had 
 Cf the honour of laying before the King a copy of the 
 " refolutions delivered to me, and am now to inform 
 
 facred name of the Deity, with a daring appeal to God and Nature. Lord Chat- 
 ham in the Houfe of Lords, Nov. 28, 1777, faid, " They [the Minifters] have let 
 " the favages of America loofe upon their innocent, inoffending brethren ; loofe 
 " upon the weak, the aged, and defencelefs ; on old men, women, and children ; 
 *' upon the very babes upon the breaft, to be cut, mangled, facrificed, broiled, 
 *' roafted, nay, to be literally eat. Was it by means like tbefe we arrived at that pin- 
 '' nacle of fame and grandeur, which, while it eftablimeci our reputation in every 
 " quarter of the globe, gave the fulleft teflimony of our juftice, mercy, and na- 
 tional integrity? Was it by the tcm'.bavok andfta'fing k/iiff, that Britim valour 
 *' and bumonify became in a manner proverbial ?" Lord Suffolk anfwered, " We 
 " are fully juftified in ufmg every meant which God and nature has put into our 
 <* hands." Parliamentary Debates, vol. IX. p. 25. Were the Brentford bludgeons 
 the mians which God and nature put into the hands of Mat Quirkc and 7-? a If to mur- 
 der the freeholders of Middlefex ? Can it be believed, that a juft Gcd, who has 
 declared that "uibvfo Jktddetb man's blood, by maujball bis bhod be fned, approves the 
 pardon of thefe murderous villains by a piout frincc, the guardian of our conftitu- 
 tution ? Are lomobaioks, fcalpir.g knives, and bludgeons, honourable weapons of noble 
 warfare, or civil conteft ? Are God and nature to be called in to juftify the horrid 
 cruelties of every Indian favage, of the highwayman, foot-pad, or hired alTafiin ? 
 The Earl of Suffolk ilands forth the profelTed apologift of the heroes of Hounjl m 
 and Bagjbot. He has out-bercded Ho id in declamation. General Burgoyne only 
 ftys, that he thought "the Indian alliances over-valued their fervices fometimes 
 4< infignificant, often barbarous, always capricious." Speeches, page 3. Lord 
 Suffolk, declares, that " It was a -very wife and necrjlaryjltp." p. z^. It waj a fa- 
 Tourite court meafure, and originated from the Queen's Palace. 
 
 Lord Chatham faid, " his Majefty [the late Kir.g~\ had too much regard for tha 
 ** militaiy dignity of his people, and alfo too much humanity to have agreed to 
 *< fuch a propofal had it been made to him." Page 96. Lord George Germaine, 
 in a letter to General Carlton, dated Whitehall, 6th March, 1777, declares, " bit 
 *' Maj>Ry [the fiejent King] ftrongly recommends it to your care, to fnrnim both 
 " expeditions with good and fufficient bodies of thofe men [Canadians and Inu'iam."'] 
 
 Boileau obferves very truly : 
 
 (i Un fot trouve toujours un plus fot, qui 1'admire." Thus the dull Suffolk becomes 
 an object of admiration to the duller Bute. That grave Scottish peer condemns in 
 the lump the whole Englifh miniftry. He has no relifh for the wit of Lord North, 
 but he tells Sir James Wright that he finds Lord Suffolk ftffitienttyjerwu. 
 
 The epithet of learned given in the fpeech to Lord Suffolk can hardly be read 
 ferioufly, when it is recollected that his Lordfhip began to learn French after he 
 became fecretary of Hate. Our fathers were taught by Swift to fay, / know no 
 mere than my Lord Mayir, This reproach on the city is now done away, for the 
 common expreiljou isj, / knew no more than my Ltrd i'l^/.c. 
 
 ef you
 
 lc you, that his Majefly is fully fenjilk of the conftitu- 
 " tional zeal and loyalty which dictated thefe refolu- 
 S( tions" The moft important of thefe refclutions, 
 which were agreed to at Norwich, is the raifing mo- 
 ney by a private fubjcription for feveral avowed public 
 purpofes reflecting the army. The fubfcribers not 
 only gave liberally from their own purfes, but pro- 
 mifed to ufe their bejl endeavours, and to exert their ut- 
 jjwft influence in that county and city towards carrying thofs 
 refolutions into execution, contrary to what has been de- 
 monftrated to be the eftabliihed doctrine of the confti- 
 tution, that the crown cannot receive the money of 
 the fubject, for public purpofes, but through the me- 
 dium of Parliament. It otrgfet-fer'ely. Sir, to be the 
 confent of the whole people by their reprefentatives, 
 not the partial benevolence of a few interefted indi- 
 viduals. A few private dilmterefted men may imagine 
 a favourite meafure of their own to be a common con- 
 cern of the ftste, while others make it a lucrative jobb 
 for themfelves and their dependants, by the gift or 
 traffick of commimons, with the reverlion of half-pay 
 for life entailed on the nation. 
 
 I confefs, Sir, that there is one circumftance with 
 refpect to the Manchefter, Liverpool and fome Scottiih 
 regiments, which gives me pleafure. I rejoice that 
 they are to be fent to Gibraltar and Port Mahon, to 
 replace the Hanoverians; for I think not only the 
 fpirit of the conftitution groflly violated, while the 
 (electoral troops of Hanover remain in pofleffion of 
 thofe fortreifes, but the ftatute law of the realm may 
 be evaded. In the " Act for the further limitation of 
 " the crown, and better fecuring the rights and privi- 
 " leges of the iubject," it is declared, " that all and 
 
 R " every
 
 cc every pcrfon and perfons, who iliall or may take and 
 ** -inherit the faid crown, by virtue of the limitation of 
 " this prefent aft, and is, are, or fhall be, reconciled 
 " to, or fhall hold communion with, the fee or church 
 " of Rome, or fliall profefs the Romifh religion, or 
 '* fliall marry a Papift, ihall be fubject to fuch incapa- 
 " cities, as in fuch cafe or cafes are by the faid recited 
 " Ac! provided, enacted, and eftablifhed." We all re- 
 member, Sir, a very near relation of the crown, the 
 Hereditary Prince of Heffe, married to a daughter of 
 England, openly embracing the Romiih religion. If 
 a mifguided prince could ever be fo far perverted as to 
 follow the religion, as well as the maxims, of the laft 
 Stuart king, and the Hanoverian troops fhould then 
 be in poffeffion of Gibraltar and Port Mahon, although 
 the Crown of England would be forfeited, the Elector 
 of Hanover might ftill fecure the poflemon of thofe 
 important fortrelFes, which belong only to the Imperial 
 Crown of this realm. 
 
 I approve likewife the departure of thofe regiments 
 on another account. I recollect what pafled in the 
 march of the Scottiih rebel army fouthward in 1746. 
 I fhall be glad to hear of their abfence, becaufe I do 
 not think an invafion of this country, at the prefent 
 crifis, quite fo chimerical a project as the conqueft of 
 America. I have read in the London Gazette, where 
 truth was found in the laft reign, a " Lift of rebel of- 
 " fleers, in the Manchefter regiment, taken at Carlifle/ 
 by the hero of Culloden. 
 
 I am aware, Sir, that at the period, to which I hav( 
 alluded, many fubfci iptions were carried on, and regi- 
 ments raifed, without a previous application to Parlia- 
 ment. At the breaking out of that rebellion the legif- 
 lative body was not fitting. A long prorogation in the 
 
 Autumn
 
 ( 2 43 ) 
 
 Autumn had taken place, as ufual. The capital of 
 Scotland had furrendered to the rebels even before the 
 Parliament could be aflembled, and never was a more 
 eafy, or perhaps willing, conqueft. The rebels were 
 in full march into the heart of the kingdom. Every 
 thing dear and valuable to Englilhmen was at ftake. 
 Without the moft vigorous exertions, the caufe of pub- 
 He liberty muft have funk for ever. The greatnefs of 
 the crifis called for thofe fpirited meafures, meafures 
 which could not be warranted in times of profound 
 peace and public tranquillity* In this fenfe only ought 
 the famous paffage in Lord Hardwicke's celebrated 
 fpeech to be understood. The firft law of every Hate 
 is the falus populi. When he as Lord High Steward 
 pafled fentence of death on the Scottim peers in 1 746, 
 he obferved, " men of property, of all ranks and or- 
 " ders, crouded in with liberal fubfcriptiom, of their 
 <{ own motion, beyond the examples of former times, 
 " and uncompelled by any law ; and yet in the moft 
 " legal and warrantable manner, notwithstanding what 
 " has been ignorahtly andprefumptuoitfly fuggefted to the 
 " contrary." He delivers the diftum with unufual and 
 indecent warmth, with the furious zeal of a convert ; 
 for of this ignorance and prefumption his Lordfhip had 
 unluckily been himfelf guilty. A well-known letter, 
 \vhich is {till extant, from him to a gentleman in Sur- 
 rey, a near relation of a * worthy member, whom I fee 
 in his place, in the moft exprefs terms condemns all pn- 
 \ttsfubfcriptions to the Crown for public purpofes, as 
 abfoltftely illegal. But, Sir, I confefs that I very little 
 value the fentiments of lawyers in general on the great 
 topics of government. We have indeed in this Houfe 
 
 * James Scawen, Efq ; Member for Surrey. 
 
 R 2. three
 
 three or four gentlemen of the law, of the mod en- 
 larged understanding, and extenlive genius ; but the 
 common obfervation dill holds good, that lawyers, of 
 all profeffions, feem lead to underftand the nature of 
 government in general. They are like under- work- 
 men, who are expert enough at making a fingle wheel 
 in a clock, but are totally ignorant how to adjuft the 
 various parts, or regulate the movement. A truly wile- 
 and deeply learned whig, Lord Hardwicke's profeiled 
 model, the great Chancellor Sommers, would not, I 
 believe, have delivered fuch a doftrine as law. Yet, 
 Sir, in my humble idea, tbofe fubfcriptions were not only 
 justifiable, but meritorious, I will venture to fay pa- 
 triotic, for they tended to the falvation of the country. 
 Perhaps, Sir, after the extinction of that wicked, un- 
 provoked, rebellion, we ought to have adted as we did 
 in the cafe of the embargo on all mips laden with wheat 
 or wheat flour in September 1766. The order of the 
 King and council was certainly irregular, illegal', but 
 it faved the people from famine, and therefore was 
 fanctified by an Aft of the whole legiilature. The 
 preamble of that indemnity bill fays, " which order 
 " could not be juftilied by law, but was fo much for 
 " the fervice of the public, and fo neceiEiry for the 
 " fafety and prefervation of his Maje&y*s fubje&s, that 
 " it ought to be juftified by Aft cf Parliament " 
 
 I expe&, Sir, to hear it objected, that the prefen-: 
 time is by no means a proper feafon for fuch a motion, 
 as we are probably on the eve of a war with France, 
 and the whole houfe of Bourbon. This objection will 
 have no weight with me; for no man can be more zea- 
 lous to ftrengthea the hands of government, even to 
 {train every nerve of the ftate, in a juit war againft 
 4 France,
 
 France, our ancient enemy, the common enemy of the 
 liberties of Europe. I would however do it in a par- 
 liamentary way. I wifh this Koufe, in a good caufe, 
 to grant the ampieft fupplies agamft that ambitious, 
 formidable, and encroaching power, although I think 
 the prefent Miniflers wholly inexcufable in being thus 
 long duped by her flimCy pretexts, and unmeaning 
 verbal aifurances. The meflage to this Houfe, of 
 March 1 7, tells us, that the conduct of France is " con- 
 *' trary to the moft folemn affurances, and fubverfive of 
 " the laiv of nations" Thofe ir.oft fokmn affurances de- 
 ceived none at the time but the credulous court of 
 England, and the Miniflers on the other fide of the 
 Houfe, who wiihed to be deceived. As to the law of 
 nations, in my opinion it clearly juftified the late con- 
 duct of France. I call on any gentleman, the deepeft 
 read in Grotius, Puffendorf, and the other writers on 
 the rights of war and peace, and the law of nations, to 
 prove from a fingle paffage, that the French ambafla- 
 dor's late declaration \s fubvcrjive cf the law of nations. 
 The United Slates of America were, at the conclufion of 
 the late treaty, on a footing with all other ilates. They 
 had by the moft public acts, with a full chorus of ap- 
 plaufe from almoft the whole northern hemifphere, af- 
 ferted their Independency, of which they had at that 
 time near two years full poffcffion* The prefent conduct 
 of France to America likewife receives the fulleft jufti- 
 ficanon from the former conduct both of England and 
 France to Holland and Portugal, when they feparated 
 from the Sprmifh monarchy, and became independent 
 frates. We both went further than France has done 
 in this inftance. France and England at that time fur- 
 
 o 
 
 nilhed entire regiments, ihipsofwar, ammunition, and 
 
 R 3 U
 
 all warlike ftores, to the revolted fubjeds of the Spanilh 
 monarch. The immediate caufe of complaint at the 
 prefent period is only that France has concluded a 
 treaty of a?nity and commerce with America. Is this an 
 unjujl aggrejfion on England ? Is this a juft caufe of 
 hoflilities on our fide, and will it warrant the involving 
 this country as well as France in all the horrors and 
 calamities of war ? France feems indeed to be taking a 
 dreadful revenge on us, by fecuring to herfelf the com- 
 merce of America, as an indemnity for all ftie fuffered 
 during the laft war; but in the treaty fhe has acted ac- 
 cording to the law of nations.. Yet, Sir, if we muft be 
 forced into a war, I do not defpond. With the fame 
 * great Minilter, who fo glorioufly conducted that war, 
 
 and 
 
 * This great Minifter paid the debt to nature on the i ith of May 1 778. On the 
 fame day we find by the fotcs of the Houfe of Commons, " The Houfe being in-r 
 *' formed by a member in his place, that the Earl of Chatham died this morning ; 
 Refolded, neiniat cintradicer.ee, 
 
 11 That an humble addrefs be prefented to hisMaiefty, that his Majefty will be gra- 
 (" cioufly pleafed to give directions, that the remains of lYlllla. Pitt Earlaf Cbjtbam, 
 " be interred at the public charge ; and that a monument be eredled, in the Colle- 
 ' giate Church of Saint Peter's, Weftminfter, to the memory of that excellent 
 " ftatefman, with an infcription expreffive of the public (tje of fo gnat and iirep*-, 
 f< ruble a lofi 5 and to affure his Majefty, that this Houfe will make good the expen- 
 " ces attending the fame." 
 
 His Majefty 's anfwer was on the 1 3th by Lord North. It did not exprefs the 
 royal fenft of, or the leaft concern for, fo gnat and rreftarav/e a lafi to the nation ; but 
 coldly ftated, " that his Majefty had commanded him to acquaint this Houfe, that he 
 f will give directions as defired by the faid addrefs." 
 
 The funeral was indeed public, but conducted with fo difgraceful parfimony and 
 meannefs, that the enemies of Lord Chatham's fame confidered it as an infult from 
 the Coxnt on his afhes, after the unanlmom refolution of the Commons of Great Brir 
 tain, and the known fenfe of the nation. The language of the Sheens H-,i,je at th 
 time was, that a man would make bu covt very ill by atttnding L.'ird Cba'.boui'i f nrr&i. 
 This hint fent half the courtiers into the country, and confined the other half at home 
 by \uddtn ilinejs. 
 
 The laie Earl was employed very little, and never trufted, by the prefent King. 
 JL*>rd Bute's forbearance in the beginning of this reign was indeed wonderful, for af- 
 t^r lit ,icceffion he fuffered Mr- Pitt for feveral months fp continue at the head of
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 and the fame noble efforts in the people, I fhould not 
 doubt of equally brilliant fuccefs, provided we had 
 peace with America, to whom in no fmall degree we 
 owe what fhare of confederation we have among the 
 powers of Europe. The navy of this country, which is 
 its fureft bulwark, owes its greatnefs to our colonies, 
 has grown with their growth, and ftrengthened with 
 ibeir itrength ; a navy which has ungratefully and bar- 
 baroufly laid their towns in afhes. Trade and com- 
 merce, the fupport of moft nations, the chief care of 
 
 affairs. I fufpect it proceeded from political timidity, and perhaps other arrange- 
 ments not being fully fettled. His removal was determined from the evening of the 
 demife of the good old King, but the artful Scot employed all the low cunning of 
 his character to bring it about as the fpontaneous act of Mr. Pitt himlelf. in this he 
 fucceeded. The great Minifter was over-ruled loltb regard to tuafsret to It taka 
 again/I Spain, and refigned O<5t 9, 1761. His meafures \vere however adopted inyt 
 fhort time, and war was at laft reluctantly declared againft Spais the fecorid of Ja- 
 nuary following : but a glorious opportunity of making prize of the Galleonihadbeea 
 loft. 
 
 In the Houfe of Lords, Lord Chatham declared, that tobev be va: employ :d, kit 
 royal mailer appeared all grace, goodn-j', and cendefcoi/io* to Lim at fae>y uf!ifnce t and 
 gave the iuarme/1 affuranccs cf hit fvwerfvl fufp art a>:d cowitmance to a/I bh rmafurei ; 
 yet every thing feemed hollow, and toot made uneafy to him. fit al<-juvyi found liafiif 
 tiuelly deceived, tften betrayed, anil declared that be bad no jcrnple to aiffitt t that tbtst-uiat 
 fame one about the court greater than the King blmfelf. In the Houfe of Commons he 
 had formerly defcribed Lord Bute as wanting ivijdnm, and holding principle! in.tir.pati- 
 ble with freedom. In the February preceding his death he gave it under his hand, 
 in the correfpondence with Dr. Addington, that Lord But: bad brought the King and 
 kingdom to ruin. 
 
 The late teftimony of Lord Bute in the fame publication is very expre^ in favour 
 of Lord Chatham. He told Sir James Wright, " Lord Chatham was one of the very 
 " few he had ever acted with in adminiftration, who had (hewn great honefty and. 
 " generofity of fentiment, with a fincere coudnct, and intention for the King's and 
 " the public welfare." This evidence, given by his moft intldious and concealed 
 enemy, is remarkable ; but the declaration at Madrid of a fair and open foe, of the 
 Spanim Minifter to the Englifh ambafiador in Auguft 1761, not two- months before 
 Mr. Pitt's refignation, is his nobleft panegyrick. General Wall obferved, that at 
 that time the Court of London ivai in the mc.fl JLcurijhiti* and txtft exalted jilxai tin it tad 
 ever knvwti, octaf.ontd ty the great f ft feries of profferititi that cviy fitgh aatn* bad n>er 
 met -with. Lord Chatham lived to fee all our glories pafs away, England covered 
 with fhame and ridicule in the eyes of all Europe and America, above half her em- 
 pire loftj the proud Gaul triumphing, and the King and kiigfaK bnuvbt fa ra, 
 
 R 4 the
 
 the wifeft, have derived their late vigour and fpirit 
 from America. What dreadful commercial calamities 
 have we fuffered fince the unhappy conteft with her ? 
 If Ihe joins the whole houfe of Bourbon againft us, I 
 fhall begin to be alarmed for our own- independence. At 
 leaft the power and glory of England, which have not, 
 till this fatal period, withered like a fair flower, nor. 
 been mowed by the fey the of all-devouring time, that 
 flrikes empires from their root, will be in danger of 
 being cut off by the fword of her juftly incenfed ofF- 
 fpring. We have been found unequal to the conteft 
 with America alone. A Congrefs worthy of Rome, 
 while Rome was free, luvridas contudit minas of an info- 
 lent Minifter, and the venal majority of a Britifh parlia- 
 ment. All our Minifters, Sir, have been groflly ig- 
 norant as to the real ftrength of that vaft Northern 
 Continent. Even the great man, who is now removed 
 into the other Houfe, delivered a very weak and ill- 
 founded opinion here in the debate on the repeal of 
 the accurfed ftamp aft, that tbe force of this country could 
 crujh America to atoms. The force of this country, aided 
 by Heflians,. Hanoverians, and all the other German 
 mercenaries, has effected nothing, but unfoldier-like 
 retreats, in three years. The united force of Europe, 
 Sir, cannot crufh America to atoms, if we coniider the 
 natural ftrengtli of the various component parts of that 
 immenfe continent. Peace, Peace > therefore with Ame- 
 rica ought to be our object. Force has been found as 
 pnavailing, as ill directed, 
 
 I fear our conduct has cemented the union between 
 America and France. Since the affair of General Bur- 
 goyne, and the French acknowledgement of their Inde- 
 pendence^ it cannot be fuppofed that the Americans will 
 
 ever
 
 ( 2 49 ) 
 
 ever think of returning to a Dependence on this coun- 
 try. The experiment, however, Sir, might be made, 
 of endeavouring to detach the United States from 
 France, by an acknowledgment of their Independence, 
 and a league of more than amity and commerce, a treaty 
 offenji-ve and defenfive with the mother country. The 
 fame religion, language, laws, love of liberty, the fame 
 common (lock and progenitors, the genus Latinum, Al- 
 banique paires, a reciprocity of the important interefts 
 of commerce, all thefe might confolidate the bafe of a 
 firmer, more compact alliance than ever yet was form- 
 ed between two Empires. But alas ! perhaps thefe are 
 only pleafing vi lions, mere phantoms of the imagina- 
 tion, unfubftantial mockeries ; and the reality will be an 
 obflinate and bloody war, to be concluded poflibly, 
 even in this reign, in a farther difmemberment of the 
 Britifh monarchy. I heartily wifh, Sir, a war with 
 France could be avoided. I know we are unprepared, and 
 that the people have no confidence in government. They 
 have even a horror of Minifters,who have loft more than 
 half our empire. The provocation of the day cannot juf- 
 tify a war. The treaty is only of amity and commerce with 
 America, not of hoftility againft Great Britain, or any 
 power. England, in my opinion, ought to have done 
 what France has done. But has me, Sir, afted again/I 
 us in a manner to juftify hoiblities on our part ? Is the 
 principle, or the policy, of our conduct quite afcer- 
 tained to be juft wife, or expedient? An ignorant and 
 incapable fet of Minifters, have brought us into fo dif- 
 graceful a fhuation, that we can neither proceed with 
 fafety, nor rtcreat with honour. In fuch contempt is 
 this nation now held, that even Portugal, which was 
 lately almoft a province of this kingdom, looks down 
 upon us with infolence. 
 
 Sir,
 
 C 25 ) 
 
 Sir, the fpirit of liberty is a fpirit of jealoufy. It 
 ought to be more fo than ever at the prefent sera, 
 which feems peculiarly fatal to the caufe of public free- 
 dom in Europe, while it is victorious in the Weftero 
 world. Every man, who wimes well to the free Enolifli 
 government, muft be alarmed for its fafety, when he 
 reflects on the fate of the neighbouring nations, of the 
 inoft conliderable ftates. A late event ought always to be 
 in the perfpective of the true lovers of public liberty. 
 The kingdom of Sweden, by its conftitution one of the 
 freeft monarchies in the world, has recently fallen under 
 the galling yol^e of defpotifm by the treachery and per- 
 jury of its King, The moft folemn legal obligations, 
 and explicit compacts, enforced, as it was fuppofed, 
 by the moft facred fandtion of oaths, were found in- 
 fufficient to fecure the liberties of that brave people 
 from the invafion of the military, at the inftigation, 
 and by the command of a monarch, to whcm every 
 fpecies of fraud and deceit feems familiar. No fove- 
 reign, in any age or country, ever made Wronger and 
 Jefs equivocal promifes to his people, cemented by all 
 the holy ties of religion. The fycecbes from the tbron& 
 always held out a profound veneration for the laws, 
 an inviolable attachment to the eftablifhed conftitution. 
 The pious hypocrite not only exprefled his own abhor-, 
 rence of arbitrary power, but declared that he would 
 confider thofe as the worft enemies of his perfon and 
 government, as the vileft traitors to their country, 
 who ihould in any way, and under any pretence, feek to 
 add to his power, or to introduce an unlimited autho- 
 rity in his perfon. He even pretended to think it his 
 greateft glory to be the firft citizen of a free country ; 
 and he afierted a that to govern it free and independent 
 
 was
 
 was his higheft ambition. He repeatedly, with great 
 parade, reminded the Swedifh nation- of the oaths he 
 had taken to them, and the excellence of the conftitu- 
 tion, to which he was fo religwujly attached, while at 
 the fame time he was meditating the means of enflav- 
 ing his people. Bv the afliftance of the army he has ac' 
 quired the moft abfolute aud defpotic power. Ac- 
 cording to the new * form of government the States 
 
 of 
 
 * From the LVDN GAZETTE of Sept. 5, 1772. 
 
 S'tflbotm, A->g. 21. Yefterday being the day when the form of government, 
 fwarn to by tb- Kif.v, of the 2gth of May, and by the ftates the ift of June, isocit to 
 be aMiflied) and a new one to be produced in a plenum plenorum of all the orders, 
 a large detachment of guards tuai ordered to take fojlejjion of the fyuare cohere the btuft 
 of Ncb/es ftar.ds ; and the palace iujs invtfted on all fdei iuitb troops, and cannon were 
 f laced in the ccur- near the ball where the flates vitre afflmklej. 
 
 The fcene was opened by a fpeech from the throne : his Majefty had in his 
 band the filver hammer of Guftavus Adolphus, with which he made a fignal for 
 filence, an office ufually performed by a i-natv, but none "were prcfent. His Ma- 
 jefty concluded his fpeech by alluring the plenum, that he did not defire the fo- 
 rereignty, and would take a folemn oath to renounce it, which he immediately did, 
 
 His Majefty then ordered the new form of government to be read by a Secretary 
 of revifion. This piece confifts of above forty articles ; the effential ones are ; 
 
 i ft. The- King is to cbu/e tbt fen-.itt himfelf. 
 
 zdly. His Majefty is to call the ftates together whenever he pleafes, and to fe- 
 jiarate them alfo when he pleafes, after three months. 
 
 3dly. The contributions are to be given by the ftates, but, if not granted within 
 three months, the old ones are to remain ; in cafe ofinvafion, or pr effing necejfitj, its 
 Majffty may impcjefome faxes for raifmv money till the Jieses can be nffembltd. 
 
 4thly. iVbtn the flat et are ajjtmblcd, they an ft deliberate upon nothing but what lit 
 Miyejly pleajet to lay before them. 
 
 5thly. His Majgfty has the fole difpofitiou of the army, navy, and finances, and 
 of all employments, civil and military. 
 
 As foon as the whole of this piece was read through, his Majefty afked the ple- 
 num if they would give him their oath to obferve this form of government j which 
 being anfwered in the ammative, he required them immediately to fwear to it, 
 which they did accordingly. His Majefty then required the Speakers of the re- 
 fpedtive orders to come to the table and fign and feal the new form. 
 
 After all this ceremony was over, the King ftood up and faid, that it tvos proper 
 it ibank ^iimi^bty God for bis aj/iftaiice, in bringing about fo happy an event; and 
 pulling Pfalm Book out of his pocket, he began to fing Te D*nm, in wliich lie 
 Wai accompanied by the affembly. 
 
 His
 
 of Sweden cannot afiemble but by the royal permimon. 
 The King is to chufe the fenate. They have no 
 right to deliberate upon any thing but what the King 
 pleafes to lay before them. If the contributions are 
 not granted within three months, the old are to re- 
 main. In cafes of neceffity the King may impofe 
 taxes, till the ftates are affembled, There would 
 have been no neceffity for this, if a flavifh party among 
 his own fubjedts had been willing and able, by any pri- 
 vate aids, loans, benevolences, or fubfcriptions, to 
 put it in his power to fupport a military efTablilhment, 
 and to raife new levies at his pleafure. He, as well as 
 the fovereign of England, has the fole difpofition of 
 the army, navy, and all employments civil and mili- 
 tary. The perjured fovereign of Sweden, by the af- 
 fiftance of only a fmall part of the military, has en- 
 flaved his people, and made himfelf the abfolute tyrant 
 of a limited monarchy, in which he was born and edu- 
 catedy and whofe conftitution he was fworn to pre- 
 fer ve *. 
 
 I know, 
 
 His Majefty then permitted the flates to kifs his hand, after which he left the 
 room, and the Jtates fcpataled it i'.boiit kr.oiv;ng lobttbtr they ivtre to m-.tt again or net, 
 7iis dependi on his M.-j' fly's plea/tire. 
 
 * In the King of Sweden's fpeech at the opening of the diet on the a 5th of 
 June, 1771, he declared, " Born and (wand among you, I learned from my early 
 " youth to love my country, to confuler it as my greateft happinefs that / -uai a 
 " Swede, as my greateft glory, that I was the firft citizen of zfrcc people to fee 
 " this nation happy is my fir ft object; to govern a f>ee and independent pe^le, 
 ** the height of my ambition. Do not fuppofe thefe are vain words, rmtradidted 
 perhaps by the lecret fentiments of my h'-'rt. They are the true picture of a 
 *' hear; glowing with the moft ardent love for gloiy, and for my couiitij . A inart 
 u too houeft to dicb'.te what it does not feel, :o--f> :ul r t er . a r> cedi />- an engage*-. .-." 
 On the 28th of February, 177:, liis Swedifh Majefty folemnly' confirmed by oath, 
 and his fignature, the twenty-four articles of the stsi ~f loud cr eAKgattm to tbt ft>f'e t 
 
 Mr. Sheridan fays, the King t -who that .-n-fnlug [Aug. 19, 1772.] n 'efrtm l.s bed 
 the nKifi linatsd Prince in Europe, in^be Jfate if fwo bwn rindtrtd b'naftlf HO icfs abjilme 
 
 it
 
 f *53 ) 
 
 1 know, Sir, that in the important motion Wfiicfc 1 
 have the honour of fubmitting to the Houfe, I ftand 
 on the firm conftitutional ground of Englifh liberty, 
 and the rights of Parliament. I therefore particularly 
 claim and call for the fupport and affiftance of thofe, 
 whom I love and venerare, the real whigs, and friends 
 of this excellent coniiitution. They are naturally jea- 
 lous of every infringement on the peculiar privileges of 
 this Houfe, as the reprefentatives of all the Commons* 
 The fundamental rights of Englilhmen have always 
 been their peculiar care. Any acceflion of power to 
 the dangerous influence of the Crown, without the 
 fanction of Parliament, they mult reprobate. In this 
 cafe our very exigence, as a legifktive body, is brought 
 into jeopardy* From every principle of duty to the 
 
 mt Stocfcbtttitf than tie French monarch is at ferfaiHts, or tie Grand Seignor at Conftan- 
 tiniple. Page 300. 
 
 " Since the eftablifhment of the late form of government in the year 1720, the 
 *' Swedes had hitherto beheld only f-.rtignen on the throne, Frederick the Firft, and 
 Frederick AUolplms." Page 155. 
 
 A hiftory of the late revolution in Sweden, by Charles Francis Sheridan, Efq. 
 of Lincoln's Itai, .and Secretary to the Britifh Envoy in Sweden at the 
 time of the late revolution. 
 
 The King of Sweden ^L-'inly copies the very expreiiions of the King of England; 
 hut every brave Englishman will exert himfelf that no King of England (hall fuccefs- 
 fully follow the coruh-.ft of :h.' King of Sweden. He vas congratulated in the higheft 
 ilrains of natteiy by the comes of France am'. England, which perfectly agreed in 
 their joy on this victory over Liberty. 
 
 The French Gazette gave a falfe and partial account of this ingleriout revolution, 
 which was faid to be ptu j.>rrp.:' f , and obferved, "tout manquoit a fa Majefte 
 " Suedoife ; el!e ne s'eft pas manquee a elle meme ; fa prudence, fa fermete, fon 
 *' audace, difons mieux, fa <>/ a fupplee a tout. Les fenateurt, affembles dans 
 " leurs lalle ordsiaire, etoient au::fe!ict:-eslcrici?.e des officiersvir.rentleurapporter 
 " 1'ordre tii reft^r tranq>''iles dans 1'appartement ils vov.lurent repliquer, mais 
 " kur pouvoir Ai iftocratique n'impofoit plus ; ils durent obeir." 
 
 The prefent King of Sweden was in Paris at the time of his father's death, in 
 February 1771. It is agreed, that he planned in that capital the raia of the li- 
 berties of his country. 
 
 free
 
 free fyftem of government under which we live, 
 even of felf-prefervation, this motion ought to be fup- 
 ported ; and in confequence I hope for unanimity, when 
 I fupplicate the Houfe, " that leave be given to bring 
 *' in a bill more effectually to prevent the dangerous 
 " and unconftitutional practice of giving, or granting, 
 tc money to the Crown, as a private aid, loan, bene- 
 " volence, or fubfcription, for public purpofes, with- 
 *' out the confent of Parliament.'* 
 
 VofEs of April 10, 17 7 
 
 The Lord North prefented to the Houfe (according 
 to order) a " Bill for enabling his Majefty to fettle on 
 " their Royal Highnefles the Princes Frederick, biihop 
 " of Ofnaburgh, William Henry, Edward, Ernejl, Au- 
 " guftus, Auguftus Frederick, and Adolphus Frederick, 
 " an annuity of fixty thoufand pounds per annum ; and 
 <c alfo to fettle on their Royal Highneffes the T*rin- 
 " cefles Charlotte Augujia Matilda, Aitgufta Sophia, 
 " Elizabeth, Mary, and Serbia, one other annuity of 
 " thirty thoufand pounds per annum ; and alfo to fettle 
 " on his Highnefs Prince William Frederick one other 
 " annuity of eight thoufand pounds per annum ; and on 
 " her Highnefs the Princefs Sophia Matilda one other 
 " annuity of four thoufand pounds per annum ;" and 
 the fame was received, and read the firfl time, and 
 ordered to be read a fecond time. 
 
 Mr.
 
 Mr. Wtlkes faid, 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The very title of the bill, which the noble Lord 
 with the blue ribband has juft prefented to the 
 Houfe, will give the trued pleafure to the friends of 
 the Proteflant fucceflion. A Royal Family, already b 
 numerous, is an invaluable addition to the national 
 ftrength and importance. Every Englishman, who is 
 at heart anxious not only for the permanent, but the 
 perpetual, prefervation of our liberties in the auguft 
 line of Brunfwick, muft now enjoy the higheft fatif- 
 facton. The alarming fears, which our anceftors ut 
 various periods experienced, from a fufpicion of the 
 failure of fucceflion to the Imperial Crown of thefe 
 realms, are not likely to difturb their pofterity. We 
 live in happier times. The gratitude of this Houfe to 
 heaven increafes every year, with the fortunately proli- 
 fic, annual increafe of the Royal offspring-*. We 
 triumph in thofe indearing pledges of our monarch'* 
 love, and the public felicity, which an all-bounteous 
 Providence continues to bellow on this peculiarly fa- 
 voured nation. The kingdom at large contemplate 
 with rapture his Majefty's numerous, and Hill, I hope, 
 increafing progeny, as infuring even beyond our chil- 
 dren's children, to the nail natorum, et qid uafeent-ur ab 
 i/lis, the bleffings and glories of his reign. It is the 
 
 ' * In the fame felTion, by the votes of Nov. 2 r, 1777, it appears that the Houfe 
 " refolved, that a congratulatory meflage be fent to the Queen, on the birth of 
 " anther Princefs to afliire her Majefty that this Houfe will ever retain the trutft 
 *' feutiments of duty and attachment to a Queen to whom this nation owes Jm 
 
 6 duty
 
 c 
 
 duty of his faithful commons here to do more, to prd- 
 vide for them in a manner adequate to their exalted 
 birth and royal dignity* 
 
 The meflage, Sir, from the crown points out to us 
 the provifion, and the mode of it, which is defired. I 
 give my hearty confent to the grant. It will be a 
 grant worthy of the Engliih nation, worthy of the great 
 perfonages, in whom we have now fo important an in- 
 tereft. Hereafter, I truft, we may claim a fhare of their 
 future fame and glory. Yet Sir, I regret, that' it is 
 not made a certain provifion for them during his Ma- 
 jefty's life, and the Duke of Gloucefter's, as well as 
 during the life of , the Prince of Wales, or the fuccef- 
 fors of the reigning monarch. It is only to take effecT: 
 after the demife of the crown, and on the death of the 
 Duke of Gloucefter. Sir, if I underftand the bill in 
 your hand, it compels the Prince of Wales to grant 
 out of the hereditary revenues of the crown the annual 
 fum of 6o,oool. to the King's fons, 30,000!. to his 
 daughters, and 12,000!. to the children of the Duke of 
 Gloucefter, during their refpective lives ; but no per- 
 manent provifion is made for them during the prefent 
 reign, or the life of the Duke of Gloucefter. The bill 
 effectually ties up the hands of the fucceflbr, but leaves 
 the Prince on the throne the option of any provifion 
 for the children and other very near relations of the 
 crown during the life of his prefent Majefty, and his 
 next brother. I defire to be fet right, if I have mif- 
 ftated the bill, which has juft been read to the Houfe. 
 Lord North faid, " the honourable gentlemen is 
 l( certainly right. The King will not be obliged to 
 " make any provifion by this bill for any part of the 
 " Royal Family, during his own life and that of 
 
 "the
 
 " the Duke of Gloucefter." Mr. Wilkes then ad- 
 ded,] 
 
 I fubmit, Sir, to the Houfe, that in this refpsit the 
 bill is imperfect. The provifion for the younger 
 branches of the Royal Family is not an immediate cer- 
 tain provifion, but to take effedt at a diftant period. 
 They are left at the prefent moment without the 
 fmalleft fixed revenue, or fupport, independent of the 
 crown* The fovereign makes no grant, but we ar<j 
 taking away, without his confent, during his minority, 
 a part of the hereditary revenue of the Prince of Wales, 
 for the future maintenance of his brothers, fillers, and, 
 the more remote branches. 
 
 The example of this generofity is not given by the 
 father and the fovereign to his firft fubject, although 
 it comes in the mode of a paternal precept. We leave 
 them now in a ftate of the moft abfolute dependance 
 on the crown, on the caprice of the fovereign, or per- 
 haps the mercy of the Minifter. The bill therefore, 
 in my opinion, ought to be extended to a fettlement of 
 the fame revenues to take place immediately) -and to be 
 fecured by the fulleil parliamentary grants irrevocably. 
 The ftrong ties of blood in the firft degree would in 
 this cafe coincide entirely with the wilhes of the people. 
 I may furely, Sir, leave in all fafety to the fervants of 
 the crown fb acceptable a fervice to the beft of princes 
 and of parents. 
 
 A circumftance, Sir, of the utmoft importance feems 
 .on this occalion to have been intirely neglected by 
 Minifters* It is remarkable that the children of his 
 Majefty's next brother, the Duke of Gloucester, are re- 
 cognized and provided for by this bill, before there has 
 been a notification in any way to Parliament, or to the 
 
 & public,
 
 public, of his Royal Highnefs's marriage. I have 
 not, Sir, the leaft doubt of the legality of that mar- 
 riage, but I know that ftrong doubts have formerly 
 been entertained, even by fome of the prefent Minif- 
 flers. The noble Lord with the blue ribband is as ill 
 informed on this fubject as he has been all along re- 
 fpecting America, when he ventures to alTert, that no 
 man now has the leaft doubt remaining. In confequence 
 of the general uncertainty in the minds of the nation a 
 very few years ago, the Privy Council entered upon the 
 enquiry of the legality of the Duke of Gloucefter's 
 marriage. They received evidence, which, as it is re- 
 ported, fatisfied them ; but as that evidence has never 
 been communicated to the public, a degree of fcepti- 
 cifm I know has continued. I wifh it removed. It 
 will be undoubtedly, when Parliament fhall be treated 
 by Minifters with refpect, when the great council of 
 the nation lhall be furnilhed with the proofs, which 
 flalhed conviction on the minds of the Privy council. 
 The rep refentatives of the people, Sir, have furely a 
 right to examine every thing refpecting the fucceflioa 
 to the Imperial crown of thefe realms, becaufe they, in 
 conjunction with the other two branches of the legifla- 
 ture, have by an exprefs * Act of Parliament the power 
 to mike laws andftattttes of fitfficient force and validity to 
 limit and bind the crown, and the defcent, limitation, inhe- 
 ritance, and government thereof. The maintaining the 
 contrary doctrine by writing or printing is declared a 
 fpecies of high treafon, and whatever flavilh poiitions of 
 j* hereditary, divine, indefeifable right may be adopted 
 
 in 
 
 * 6 Anne, ch. vii. f. i. 
 
 f It is neceflary fometimes to remind the tools of an arbitrary court, that thsra 
 an be no right to the imperial crown of thefe realms but a parltamtntary right. The 
 
 mer
 
 in defpotic countries, and by modern courtiefs here 3 
 the people of England in general confider their crown 
 as the free gift of the nation, fettled on their own terms 
 and conditions *. We know that the Bntiih croxvn is 
 not in the gift of the reigning prince. He is only te- 
 nant for life, while he obferves the original compact. 
 
 mere hereditary right would be ftronger in the houfe of Savoy, and even in that cf 
 Bourbon, than in the Brunfwick line. This will appear from the following more 
 genealogical table. 
 
 1. it 
 Charles I. James 1. 
 
 2. 2. 
 
 Henrietta Maria, Duchefs of Orleans. Elizabeth, Eleftrefs Palatine, Queen o 
 
 Bohemia. 
 
 3- 3- 
 
 Anna Maria, Duchefs of Savoy, wife Sophia, Eleclrefs of Brunfwick* 
 of Viclor Amadeus II. protefted in 
 1700. 
 
 Houfe of Savsy. 
 
 4- 4- 
 
 Marie-Adelaide Duchefs of Burgundy, George I. 
 afterwards Dauphinefs. Houfe of Brunfui:k> 
 
 5- 
 
 Louis XV. 
 HiUfe ef Bourkcn. 
 
 If the Parliament had not changed the order of fucceffion to the crdwn, the HoU<* 
 ef Savoy would have fucceeded, for their right is derived from the daughter o 
 Charles I. whereas the Brunfwick line are defcended from the daughter of James i 
 a degree more removed. The gift of the crown is in the Parliament, in the peopls 
 by their reprefentatives. 
 
 * The firfl King of the Houfe of Brunfwick appeared to acknowledge this witfa 
 gratitude, when he took for the motto of his coronation medal, folenta per pcpuLi. 
 The motto of the prefetit King, Patrix ovanti^ was not fo happily ehofsn. Th 
 Ovation is defcribed as the fmaller Triumph, of which the poor facrince was a Sheep, 
 Ovis. It ftiould feem almoft prophetic ci the American war, for Aulus Gellius 
 tells xis, " ovandi, ac non triumpbandi^ caufa eft, quum aut bella tion rite indiQa, 
 fl neque cumjufto bojie ptfta funt." 
 
 At the Ovation a crown of myrtle, not of laurel, was ufed. The fame learned 
 Roman lays, " quod non Martins, fed quafi Peneriui quidam triumphus foret. ' 
 This too may feera prophetic of the prafent raigu, and of the numerous royal 
 progeny. 
 
 S a The
 
 ( 260 ) 
 
 The people, Sir, in confequence, ponefs the right 
 to be informed of whatever refpe&s the fucceflion. All 
 we know as to the marriages 'of the King's brothers 
 amounts' to this, that they were private and clandeftine, 
 and that no proof of their legality has hitherto been 
 given to the nation. The proofs of thofe marriages 
 ought to be communicated to the two Houfes of Par- 
 liament, while the parties are Hill alive, and the wit- 
 nefles with us may be examined. The fails may now be 
 afcertained with preciiion. If any doufys have been 
 fuggefted in this age, they may be removed by thofe 
 living witnefles, to whom no recourfe can be' had in 
 fucceeding times. I regret that there are fo many bif- 
 toric doubts in our hiftory *. Poilerity has this juft 
 claim on the prefent generation, that our fields may 
 not be again deluged with the blood of a brave people 
 in a fatal civil conteft. Should the fmalleft degree of 
 fcepticifm now exift, the progrefs of it, if not timely 
 checked, is known to be rapid, and it would acquire 
 ftrength even from the general deftroyer, Time. 
 The fulleft light ought now to be thrown on a tranf- 
 action hitherto covered with clouds and darknefs. 
 
 This enquiry, Sir, I likewife conlider as a point of 
 national honour and juftice to feveral foreign princes, 
 who are allied by marriage to the crown of Great Bri- 
 tain. The Houfe of Naflau, to whom we awe the re- 
 ftorer of our violated conftitution, the King of Den- 
 
 * Mr Horace Walp'h publifhed .in 1768, an excellent Quarto, intituled, Hifiorit 
 Do*b:t o the Life and Reign of King Richard tbt Third. The intent of this fpeech 
 fecm;; to be the prevention of all bifloric doubts on the events of the reign of George 
 the Third. Mr. Walpole fays, page 40, " the dwbii on the valid-ty of Edivard'i 
 *< Marriage, were better grounds for Richard's proceedings than afperfion of hi; 
 <> rn'iiiir'i t",n?iir. On that invalidity he clattned the crown, and obtained it ; and 
 <*. vuiU foch univerfsd concurrence, that the nation was undoubtedly on his fide." 
 
 mark,
 
 (. 26. ) 
 
 mark, the Princes of Brunfwick and HeiTe, and others 
 of the Proteflant line, are actually in the parliamentary 
 entail of tl# crown. They will think that we are pro- ' 
 ceeding in a very irregular manner, when we make 
 fettlements on the children of the King's next brother, 
 as legal heirs of the crown after the children of the 1 
 King, before the marriage of his Royal Highnefs has 
 been publickly recognized. 
 
 Sir, in this bill I fhould have been happy if there 
 had been a claufe refpecting her Royal Highnefs the 
 Dutchefs of Gloucester, for whom no -eftabliihment is 
 mentioned, although the Bill contains a provillon for 
 her two children. The honour of the nation, and the 
 fplendor of the Britifh Crown, call upon us to proceed 
 to afcertain an adequate provifion during life for the 
 wives of the Royal Brothers. It would have naturally 
 taken place in a bill of this nature, confecrated to the 
 Brunfwick line, the elected of Heaven and the people, 
 as the protestors of our liberties, if minifters had 
 adopted the fame liberality of fentiment, which per- 
 vades the nation. Is this Parliament, Sir, doomed to 
 counteract the wilhes of a whole kingdom ? or is it 
 meant to attempt the fubjedting every branch of the 
 Royal Family to the fame fervility, which has charac- 
 terized the prefent majority in this Houfe ? 
 
 There is not, Sir, a private gentleman among us, 
 who has not painful ideas from the precarious fituation 
 of the two Royal Ducheffes, almoft unparalleled in any 
 family of diitinctiou. They have ftill to expect, from 
 the merited efteem of the nation, an eftablifhment ade- 
 quate to their high rank, and the additional luftre it 
 has received from their unexceptionable, I might fay 
 exemplary, conduct. I hope fuch a provision will be 
 
 S 3 made,
 
 C 
 
 made, and I am very happy that ths Worthy * Baronet 
 near me has given the Houfe affurances of his moving 
 it in Parliament, if it continues to be neglected by 
 adminiftration. The motion will come from him 
 with weight and dignity, nor can there be a doubt 
 of his generous endeavours being crowned with fuc- 
 cefs. 
 
 To facilitate, Sir, fo important a bufinefs, the pre- 
 vious fltp I have mentioned feems neceiij Every 
 communication ought to be made to parliament, which 
 can elucidate a matter at prefent obfcure, that we may 
 know the fure grounds on which we proceed. We 
 lhali then be in poflemon of thofe clear proofs alluded 
 to, without which I do not think we can with propriety 
 enter upon that claufe of the bill in your hand, Sir, 
 which refpefts the defcendants of the Duke of Glou- 
 cefter. I therefore hope, Sir, for the concurrence of 
 the Houfe in a motion for (: an humble and dutiful Ad- 
 " drefs to the King, that hi; Maj'-Jly would be graciovjly 
 <s pleafcd to order the proofs of the marriages of their 
 ff Royal Htghneffes the Dukes of Gkuccfter and Ctt Tiber- 
 (t land, to be laid before this Houfe ^ 
 
 The motion was feconded by Lord Irnham, member 
 for Stockbridge, but withdrawn on the requeft of Sir 
 James Lowther. Notwithftanding the importance and 
 dignity 'of the whole bnfmefs, it was hurried by ad- 
 miniftration through both houfes, with a precipitation 
 indecent with refpecl: to Parliament, and not very ho- 
 nourable to the feveral illuftrious perfons, who were 
 the objects of the bill. Lord North delivered the mef- 
 lage from the King on the 8th of April. A bill was 
 
 ordered to be prepared and brought in on the fame day. 
 
 i 
 
 * Sir James Lowther, Baronet, Member for Cumberland. 
 
 The
 
 The bill appeared in the Houfe on the loth, Friday; 
 was read a firft and fecond time, and committed. 
 April 13, Monday, the Houfe refolved itfelf into the 
 committee, went through the bill, received the report 
 of the committee, and ordered the bill to be ingrofled. 
 The bill was on April 14 read a third time, pafled, and 
 ient to the Lords. April 15, the Commons received a 
 meffage from the Lords, by the Lord Chief Baron 
 Skynner and Mr. Baron Hotham, that the Lords had 
 agreed to the bill. On the i6th of April, the eighth 
 day only after the meffage of the crown, the bill re- 
 ceived the royal affent. 
 
 VOTES of May 26, 1778. 
 
 A motion was made, and the Queflion being put, 
 " that this Houfe will now refolve itfelf into a com- 
 " mittee of the whole Houfe to conftdcr the ftate and 
 l( condition of the army which furrendered themfelves 
 " prifoners, on convention, at Saratoga in America-, 
 " and alfo by what means Lieutenant General ~Bur~ 
 " goyne, who commanded that army, and was included 
 " in that convention, was releafed, and is now returned 
 " to England ;" 
 
 It pa(Ted in the negative. 
 
 The motion was made by Robert Viner, Efq. mem- 
 ber for Lincoln. He ftated a variety of queftions, to 
 which he defired anfwers from General Burgoyne. Sir 
 Henry Hoghton, General Burgoyne's colleague at 
 
 S 4 Pre/lon,
 
 ( 164 ) 
 
 Pre/ton, proceeded to put feveral other queftions, when 
 he was interrupted by the Speaker, who obferved, that 
 the motion had not yet been feconded, A filence of a, 
 few minutes enfued. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes then rofe, and faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I rife to fecond the motion of the honourable gentle- 
 man ; but I confefs that I am not a little embarrafTed 
 as to the mode of our proceeding on this fingular bu-^ 
 (inefs. I entirely approve the motion as far as it goes, 
 and will give it a firm fupport. At the fame time I 
 declare, that I think it too narrow, and that it ought 
 to be amended and enlarged by fome general words, 
 which would comprehend all the tranfa&ions of the 
 northern army in America during the laft campaign, 
 prior to the- affair of Saratoga. I believe that I 
 am not at liberty both to fecond the motion, and 
 to propofe an Amendment. I fubmit to yon, Sir, 
 the point of order. I rejoice that the honourable 
 member is now among us, for I hope to obtain from 
 him tbat information which Minifters have denied 
 to this Houfe. I think that information ought to 
 include every tranfac~tion of moment from the Ge- 
 neral's leaving Europe to his embarking from America, 
 Truth will, I am perfuaded, at length reach the pub- 
 lic ear, I do not, however, Sir, in this fair and full 
 hiftorical detail mean to include a relation of the mi- 
 litary operations of the laft campaign. The Houfe 
 may not be competent to a deciiion on thofe fubjecbs, 
 Jkjt., Sir, I would go much farther than the honour-* 
 ab}o gentleman,, who made you the motion. I would 
 
 clofely
 
 clofely purfue the fteps of thofe, who with unhallowed 
 feet invaded America. A nice fenfe of national ho- 
 nour calls upon us to enquire into the caufes of the lofs 
 of an entire Britifh afmy by a difgraceful capitulation, 
 into the particulars of the treaty with the favages, 
 their conduct during the campaign, the imputed cru- 
 elties, and particularly the fetting fire to villages and 
 houfes of the country people, without any apparent 
 neceffity from military motives. Thefe important 
 confiderations, with many others, are not compre- 
 hended in the motion of the honourable gentleman. 
 
 Sir, I delire it may be underftood, that I do not 
 rife to bring a charge againft the commander in chief, 
 but, as a public man, to afk that information, which 
 can beft be had from an intelligent officer of high rank, 
 juft returned from -the great fcene of action. I am 
 fure he will moft willingly give it to the Houfe. Every 
 Gazette of Europe and America has published the dif- 
 grace of our arms at Saratoga, the ignominious terms 
 of the convention, the charges of frequent murders 
 and maflacres of the defencelefs inhabitants, and the 
 wanton devaftation and burning of the country by the 
 Britilh troops. I am entitled to the General's thanks 
 for affifting in giving him this long-wiflied opportu- 
 nity of clearing up many particulars confefledly per- 
 plexed and intricate, of juftifying himfelf, and others, 
 under the charges which have been exhibited, at the 
 bar of the public, by half the printed papers of almofl 
 the laft twelvemonth. His delicate feelings will al- 
 ways refped the opinion of his country, and he will 
 Jiften with attention to the voice of the people, pof- 
 fefling an undoubted right to fcrutinize his conduct 
 as weli as that of every man in their fervice, and the 
 
 military
 
 ( 266 ) 
 
 military fervants cf the Crown mentioned in the procla- 
 mation. I mould rejoice that the unhappy imprefiion 
 made on the minds of men by that proclamation iffued 
 by the General laft June from the camp at Putnam 
 Creek was done away. It bears his name, and is, I 
 believe, avowed. The candid part of the world will 
 be anxious to have the fame clear evidence of his wife 
 condudt and humanity in North America, which he 
 often gave there of an active fpirit, and great perfonal 
 bravery. It would ill become me, Sir, on this mo- 
 mentous occafion, to take up more of your time. The 
 impatience of the Houfe is highly raifed, and juftly 
 excited, by obje&s of infinite confequence, and cannot 
 fail of being compleatly gratified. 
 
 The Hon. Charles-James Fox, member for Malmef- 
 bury, propofed an amendment by inferting, after con- 
 fider , the words, " of the tranfacYions of the northern 
 " army under Lieutenant General Burgoyne, and of." 
 The motion for the amendment was feconded by Tho- 
 mas Powys, Efq. member for Northamptonmire. 
 
 Sir William Meredith, member for Liverpool, late 
 Comptroller of his Majefty's houfehold, faid, that the 
 honourable gentleman [Mr. Wilkes~\ had criminated in 
 a cruel manner an unfortunate general, and made ufe 
 of injurious and unbecoming expreffions againfl an of- 
 ficer of diftinguifhed merit, who had ventured his life 
 in the braved manner on many occafions. 
 
 Earl Nugent, member for St. Mawes, declared, that 
 there was not the leaft blame any where in his opi- 
 nion, but a feries of unexpected events, which were 
 the fortune of war ; that every thing refpedting the 
 charge of inhumanity, or cruelty, or unfoldierlike treat- 
 ment, was merely a vagus report j that he had read 
 
 every
 
 every thing published on the occafion, and would af- 
 fert, that not a (ingle paper, or letter, of authenticity, 
 had appeared tbjuftify anyharfh expreffion againft the 
 commander in chief of the army which capitulated at 
 Saratoga. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes replied, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I am on this occafion merely the echo of the public 
 voice. I have made no perfonal attack on the com- 
 mander in chief, nor undertaken to fupport any charge 
 againft him. Meafures, and not perfons, I defired 
 minutely to inveftigate and examine. The epithets, 
 which I employed, were to facts and events not con- 
 troverted. I fuppofe it will be admitted, that the 
 convention in 1777 at Saratoga was more difgraceful 
 than the capitulation at Clofter Seven in 1757, becaufe 
 the troops in Germany kept their arms. 
 
 I have not proceeded, Sir, at any time on vague re- 
 port. I referred to authentic letters publifhed by order 
 of the Congrefs, and to other (late papers of unquef- 
 tionable authority, which demand the moft ferious at- 
 tention, and niceft fcrutiny. The memory of the no- 
 ble Lord, who fpoke laft, mull either be very confufed, 
 or his reading, very confined. 
 
 General Enrgoyne then, in a long fpeech, went into 
 a full ftate of his conduct the laft year in North Ame- 
 rica. His voice was on that day weak, and not dif- 
 tinct. Many gentlemen near him loft fome entire fen- 
 tences, and the conclufion of moft periods. But he 
 has fmce given the public " The fubftance of General 
 " Burgoyne's fpeeches on Mr. Vyner's motion, on the 
 
 " 26th
 
 " 26th of May,, and upon Mr. Hartley's motion, on 
 "the 28th of May, 1778." 
 
 In this publication he has melted down, and reduced 
 into one, the two fpeeches on the 2 6th of May. The 
 reafon is given in a note to page 8. " This part of 
 " the fpeech, included between crotchets, was omitted 
 " at the time of the preceding and following parts, 
 " and delivered feparately upon a fecond call of Mr. 
 " Wilkes ; but is now inferted in its proper place, as 
 " better connecting the whole matter fpoke to by 
 *' General Burgoyne." 
 
 After General Burgoyne's firfl fpeech, 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The honourable gentleman has given us a good deal 
 of the ancient Roman hiftory, but overlooked two or 
 three important questions relating to very modern 
 tranfaclions, and our own hiilory I wifh, Sir, an an- 
 fvver to the charge I have repeatedly read of the burn- 
 ing villages and houfes, and the wanton deftruction 
 and dcvailation of property, during the progrefs of the 
 northern army under his command. 
 
 One word, Sir, before I fit down, on what is ftated 
 by the honourable gentleman, as an event in the Roman 
 hiftory fimilar to the affair of Saratoga. A coniider- 
 able Roman army was fhut up by the Samnites at the 
 furc<z Gaudinte, obliged to capitulate, and with their 
 general to pafs under the yoke. So far is retailed out tq 
 us, but the fequel of the tranfa&ion is not mentioned, 
 I {hall give it briefly to the Houfe, Early in the fol- 
 lowing year, the Dictator Cornelius Lentulus put him-> 
 felf at the head of i 'be fame Roman legions, and gave 
 the Samnites a total, overthrow* It was no article of 
 
 the
 
 the capitulation at Caudium, that the fame troops fliould 
 not ferve again againft the fame enemy. The Samnite 
 general, Pontius, was the very next year after the af- 
 fair of the Can dine Forks, with the whole Samnite ar- 
 my, forced by the Romans to pafs under the yoke, un- 
 armed, with only one garment each, that the former 
 ignominy might be retaliated by the fame troops on 
 the fame enemy. The high Roman fpirit fbon made 
 a conqueft of the whole country of the Samnites, af- 
 terwards of Italy, of the world. 
 
 The queftion was put on the amendment ; when the 
 numbers were, 95 for the amendment, againlt it 144. 
 No divifion took place on the motion of Mr. Vyner. 
 
 General Burgoyne, in his publication, has pafled 
 the higheft compliments on Major General Gates, and 
 on Major General Schuyler, commander in chief of 
 the northern department, whofe family treated him 
 with every pofftble demon/1 ration of btfpitality. 
 
 Speeches, p. 10, 
 
 In the " Trial of Colonel David Henley," pub- 
 lifned by Genera] Burgoyne, he tells the court-martial 
 of " the very honourable treatment Ihewn us by Ge- 
 *' neral Gates/' page 57. Let us now hear the charges 
 brought by thefe .two American Generals, Gates and 
 Scbuykr, againft General Burgoyne, and other Britilh 
 officers. In a letter to his Excellency John Hancock, 
 Efq. Prefident of Congrefs, dated " Head quarters, 
 " Aug. 28, 177/5" General Gates fays, u The horrid 
 " murders and fcalpings, paid for and encouraged by 
 " Lieutenant General Burgoyne, previous to his defeat 
 " at Bennington, will for ever ftain the honour of the 
 <c Britifh arms. In one houfe, the parents, with fix 
 " children, were moft cruelly butchered ; and this po 
 " lite macaroni paid ten dollars for each of their fcalps. 
 
 " Heaven
 
 ( 270 ) 
 
 " Heaven has, I hope, in flore, fome punishment for 
 " fuch unheard of crimes." 
 
 American Remembrancer, Vol. V. p. 444. 
 
 The American Remembrancer is an hiftorical collection 
 of the London Gazettes, the refolutions of Congrefs, 
 authentic letters, and all papers of authority relative to 
 the grand American difpute. 
 
 In Major General Gates's letter to General Bur 
 goyne, dated "Head quarters of the army of the 
 " United States, Sept. 2, 1777," it is faid, " I am 
 " aftonifhed you ihould mention inhumanity, or 
 " threaten retaliation. Nothing happened in the ac- 
 ff tion at Bennington, but what is common when works 
 (( are carried by affault. 
 
 " That the favages of America fhould, in their war- 
 ef fare, mangle and fcalp the unhappy prifoners who 
 " fall into their hands, is neither new nor extraordinary; 
 " but that the famous Lieutenant General Burgoyne, 
 " in whom the fine gentleman is united with the fol- 
 " dier and the fcholar, fliould hire the favages of Ame- 
 " rica to fcalp Europeans, and the defcendants of Eu- 
 (e ropeans ; nay more, that he mould pay a price for 
 " each fcalp fo barbaroufly taken, is more than will be 
 (< believed in Europe, until authenticated fafts (hall, 
 " in every Gazette, confirm the truth of the horrid 
 " tale. 
 
 " Mifs M'Rea, a young lady, lovely to the fight, of 
 
 " virtuous character, and amiable difpofition, engaged 
 
 ~ tc to an officer of your army, was, with other women 
 
 " and children, taken out of a houfe near Fort Ed- 
 
 " ward, carried into the woods, and there fcalped and 
 
 <l mangled in a mofl Ihocking manner. Two parents, 
 
 2 " with
 
 (s with their fix children, were all treated with the fame 
 " inhumanity, while quietly refiding in their once 
 " happy and peaceful dwelling. The miferable fate 
 " of Mifs M'Rea was aggravated by her being drefled 
 " to receive her promifed hufband, but met her mur- 
 " derer employed by you. Upwards of a hundred 
 " men, women, and children, have perilhed by the 
 " hands of the ruffians, to whom, it is afierted, you 
 " have paid the price of blood. The late Colonel 
 " Baum's fervant, who is at Bennington, would have 
 " come to your Excellency's camp ; but when I of- 
 " fered him a flag, he was afraid to run the rifque of 
 " being fcalped, and declined." 
 
 American Remembrancer, Vol. V. p. 455. 
 
 General Burgoyne acknowledged, that he obliged the 
 
 Indians to deliver the murderer into bis hands, upon the 
 
 firft intelligence of this event', but we are ignorant of the 
 
 terms on which the murderer obtained a pardon. The 
 
 General too clofely copies the example of his Royal 
 
 Mafter. The murderer did not fuffer an ignominious 
 
 death. Is not that murder yet unexpiated f The fate of 
 
 the unfortunate Mifs M'Rea is almoft the American, 
 
 facrifics of Iphigenia, according to the wonderful de- 
 
 fcription of the tender and pathetic Racine, which har- 
 
 . rows the foul with terror : 
 
 Un pretre, environne d'une foule cruelle, 
 Portera fur ma fille une main criminelle, 
 Dechirera fon fein, et, d'un oeil curieux, 
 Dans fon cceur palpitant confultera les Dieux *. 
 
 Iphigenie en Aulidc. 
 
 -Reclufis 
 
 Psftoribus inhians fpirantia confulit exta. Vir^. ^n. b. 4. 63. 
 
 In
 
 ( 
 
 In General Gates's " General orders, iifuect ori the 
 " 6th of September, 1777," it is faid, " If the mur- 
 ** der of aged parents, with their innocent children ; if 
 " mangling the blooming virgin and inoffenfive youth, 
 " are Inducements to revenge if the righteous caufe 
 " of freedom, and the happinefs of pofterity, are mo- 
 <f tives to ftimulate the army to conquer their merce- 
 " nary and mercilefs foes, the time is now come, &c. 
 " &c." 
 
 American Remembrancer, Vol. V. p. 459* 
 
 In a letter from Major General Gates to General 
 Burgoyne, dated at Saratoga, Oct. n, 1777, we read, 
 " the cruelties which mark the retreat of your army, in 
 " burning the gentlemens and farmers houfes as they 
 " went along, is almoft among civilized nations with- 
 " out a precedent; they iliould not endeavour to ruin 
 (t thofe they could not conquer ; this conduct betrays 
 " more the vindictive malice of a Monk, than the ge- 
 " nerolity of a foldier." Vol. V. p. 461. 
 
 The following inftance of public virtue 'in Major 
 General Scluyler ought to be given for the noble 
 example. It will exceedingly aftonifh General Bur* 
 goy?ie, and fome other Britilh officers. Lord Beau- 
 champ, one of the Lords of our treafury, will ab~ 
 folutely prof eft, tlxit it is not barely poffible. Bucking- 
 ham houfe will employ Sir John Dalrymple to 
 contradict it from " original papers in the Depot at 
 " Verfailles, the King's Box, and letters in Doctof 
 " North's collection, which the Doctor will again be fo 
 * c gtod as to fonu kirn" and every courtier -will afFedt to 
 
 7 believe
 
 A 2 73 ) 
 
 bplieve that Sckuyler was a penfioner of, and received 
 that money from France. 
 
 " In Congrefs, May 3, 1777. 
 
 " The committee upon the I'reafury report, 
 
 " That the commiffioners for fettling the accounts 
 
 " of the army in the northern department have pro- 
 
 te duced to the Treafttry Board, among other accounts 
 
 tf adj lifted by them, a general account of the receipt 
 
 " and difburfement of Major General Scbtiyler; and a 
 
 " feparate account of the difpofal of fpecie remitted 
 
 f( to him by Congrefs and otherwife, for carrying on 
 
 " the military operations in Canada. 'Phat the laft- 
 
 " mentioned account has, at General Sfbuylrfs imme- 
 
 " diate requeft, been examined by the Board of Trea- 
 
 it fury, with the feveral vouchers; that it appears to 
 
 sc this Board, that before General Schuyler was fup plied 
 
 " by Congrefs with any fpecie at all, he fent into Ca- 
 
 " nada, for the public fervice, more than 3250 dollars 
 
 " in fpecie, that he fent fuch farther fums in fpecie in- 
 
 " to Canada, raifed on his private credit, that when 
 
 . " the army retreated from thence, he was in advance 
 
 " upwards of the /alue of 10,000 dollars in fpecie 
 
 " above what he had been fupplied with by Congrefs 
 
 tf that to reimburfe his friends, who had lent him 
 
 " the faid fpecie, he, after his retreat from Canada^ 
 
 " drew out of the military cheft feveral fums in fpecie, 
 
 " with which it was fupplied after fuch retreat ; but 
 
 " that he remains, upon the final fettlement of the faid 
 
 " account, in advance for the public in fpecie, upwards 
 
 " of the value of 3250 dollars more than he ever re- 
 
 (t ceived in fpecie, having taken continental money in 
 
 " payment thereof. That it further appears from the 
 
 T "faid
 
 C 2 74 ) 
 
 " faid account and vouchers, that none of the fpecie, 
 " fupplied to him by Congrefs before the retreat from 
 " Canada, remained in bis hands more than two days y i&& 
 " fame being delivered over to the Deputy Paymafter 
 " General. 
 
 " Revived* 
 
 " That the faid Report be accepted, and that the 
 " fame be publilhed, 
 
 " Extract from the Minutes, 
 
 " CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary." 
 
 American Remembrancer, Vol. V. p. 281. 
 
 The RuiTells, Hampdens, and Sydneys, will look 
 down from heaven with rapture on fuch public Ame- 
 rican virtue, on the Wafhingtons, Scbuylers, and 
 Gatefes, while they turn indignant from degenerate 
 Britain. 
 
 " By Philip Schuyler, Efq; 
 " Major General in the army of the United 
 " States of America, and commander in chief 
 " of the Northern department. 
 
 * f To the inhabitants of Caftleton, of Hubberton, 
 et Rutland, Tinmouth, Powlet, Wells, Granville, 
 f( with the neighbouring diftridts ; alfo the dif- 
 " tricts bordering on White Creek, Cambden, 
 " Cambridge, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 ec Whereas Lieutenant General John Burgoyne, com- 
 tc manding an army of the Britifh troops, did, by a 
 " written paper, by him fubfcribed, bearing date at 
 " Skeenfborough Houfe, on the loth day cf July in- 
 i( flant, require you to fend from your feveral town- 
 
 " fhips,
 
 ** fhips, deputations confifting of ten perfons or more 
 " from each townfhip, to meet Colonel Skeens at Caf- 
 " tie-Town, on Wednefday, July i5th, at ten in the 
 " morning, for fundry purpofes in faid paper mention- 
 " ed, and that you were not to fail in paying obedience 
 r< thereto, under pain of military execution : What^ 
 " ever, my countrymen, may be the oflenfible reafons 
 " for fuch meeting, it is evident the enemy mean to 
 " prevail on you, by threats and promifes, to forfake 
 " the caufe of your injured country; to aflift them in 
 " forcing flavery on the United States of America, and, 
 " under the fpecious pretext of affording you protec- 
 <s tion, to bring on you that mifery, which their pro 
 " mifes of protection drew on fuch of the deluded in- 
 " habitants of New-Jerfey, who were weak enough to 
 *' confide in them; but who foon experienced their fal- 
 " lacy, by being treated, indifcriminately with thofe vir- 
 " tuous citizens who came forth in the defence of their 
 " country, with ths fnoft 'wanton barbarity, and fuch as- 
 " hitherto hath not even difgraced Barbarians, ^hey 
 <f cruelly butchered, without diftinffiion to age or fex ; ra~ 
 " vifoed children from ten to women of eighty years of 'age ; 
 " they burnt, pillaged, and Jeftroyed whatever came into 
 " their power ; nor did thofe edifices dedicated to the wor- 
 " Jhip of Almighty God efcape their facrilegious fury. Such 
 '* were the deeds; fuch they were inconteftibly proved 
 " to be, which have marked the Britilh arms with the 
 " moft indelible ftains, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 " Given under my hand at Head-quarters, 
 " Fort Edward, July i3th, 1777. 
 
 " PHILIP SCHUYLER. 
 
 " By the General's command, 
 
 " HENRY B. LEVINGTON, A. D. C." 
 
 American Remembrancer, Vol. V. p. 443. 
 
 T 2 I will
 
 I will not multiply proofs. The fifth and fixth vo- 
 Jumes of the American Remembrancer contain num- 
 berlefs. 
 
 Can we now be furprized at what General Burgoyne 
 declared on Colonel Henley's trial, page 133 ? " This 
 es is but -one of feveral inftances that might be felected 
 (i from thefe proceedings, to fhew the degree of ran- 
 " cour to which the minds of the American foldiers 
 " were excited ;" but what follows can only be a fine 
 ftroke of Indian eloquence, to prove the powers of the 
 pen of the General, " Children, that had fcarcely loft tJ:c 
 " tajh of their mother's milk, grew athirft for blood" Is 
 this the calm, temperate accufer of the impetuous Colo- 
 nel Henley? What a candid infinuation to a court- 
 martial, about a prifoner on his trial, is that remark in 
 page 63, " from the i9th of December, the hands of 
 " Colonel Henley were unimbruedin blood till the 8th of 
 " January !" 
 
 General Burgoyne fays in page 6th of the Speeches, 
 <( the proclamation, which the honourable gentleman 
 " [Mr. Wilkes~\ in my ab fence treated with fo harlh 
 " terms, I avow, was penned by myfelf. The deilgn 
 " was to excite obedience, firflby encouragement, and 
 " next by the dread, not the commiffion of feverity 
 " to fpeak daggers, but ufe none." Daggers zndjzvords 
 are fair and honourable weapons againft domeftic ty- 
 rants and foreign foes; but what canjuftify the cruel- 
 ties of \\\z fcalping- knife and tomohawk ? Were our Iti- 
 -dian allies provided with daggers and fwords, or 
 with fcalping-knives and tomahawks ? Is this juft and 
 Chriftian warfare ? General Burgoyne declares that he 
 meant " the dread, not the commiffion of feverity/' 
 His words excited the fa-vages to every horror. The In- 
 dians
 
 ( 277 ) 
 
 dians acted under that proclamation, alleged the orders 
 of a Britifh General in the King's name, and held them- 
 felves juftified in " the commiffion of feverity" and 
 cruelty. 
 
 Lancafter, Nov. 20, 1777. 
 
 " The furrender of General Burgoyne and his whole 
 " army will determine all the Indians, who, under the 
 " Britifh influence, were majfacring the frontier inhabi- 
 " tants, to fue for pardon and peace. The tribe of St. 
 " Francis, on the borders of Canada, have already de- 
 " fired protection." 
 
 American Remembrancer, Vol. V. p. 101. 
 
 It is juftice to General Burgoyne to obferve, that in 
 his letter to Major General Gates, of Sept. 6, 1777, he 
 fays, " Your intelligence, respecting the cruelties of the 
 " Indians, is falfe, except in the above inftance" [of 
 Mifs M'Rea]. American Remembrancer, Vol. V. p. 457. 
 The capitulation at Saratoga was Oct. 17, 1777. I do 
 not find however that General Gates has retracted any 
 of the charges, which he brought againfl General Bur- 
 goyne. 
 
 The proclamation, drawn by the humane pen of Ge- 
 neral Burgoyne, boafted " of the meffengers of wrath 
 " waiting his enemies in the field, devaftation, famine, 
 " and every concomitant horror" One Ihould fufpect 
 that what is related of Plato really happened to General 
 Burgoyne, that a fwarm of bees fixed on his lips in his 
 cradle, ?.s a prefage of the fweetnefs of his elocution. 
 He fpeaks of " giving Jlretch to the Indian forces un- 
 " der his direction, and they amount tc thousands, to 
 " overtake wherever they may lurk, &c. &c. &c.' In 
 
 T 3
 
 the " Speeches," p. 3, it is faid, " the employment 
 " of them [the Indians^ was onlyjujlifiable, when, by be- 
 tf ing united to a regular army, they could be kept under 
 " controul." The Congrefs in the " Addrefs. to the 
 " inhabitants of the United States of America, May 9, 
 (( 1778:" declare, " the rule of warfare [with the In- 
 <( (Hans'] is promifcuous carnage, who rejoice to mur- 
 * ( der the infant fmiling in its mother's arms, to in- 
 " flit on their prifoners the moil excruciating tor- 
 ft ments, and exhibit fcenes of horror from which na- 
 <( ture recoils." Mr. Wilkes was therefore juftified 
 when he declared, that the proclamation of General Bur- 
 goyne was " Ihocking to a civilized and generous na- 
 (< tion, and, as a ftate paper, difgraced our country." 
 Almon's Parliamentary Regifter, Vol. VIII. p. 10. And 
 in a fubfequent debate, that " $o man, who has read 
 (( that proclamation, and Major General Gates's letter, 
 f< will Hied the tear of pity over the misfortunes of Mr. 
 " Burgoyne," p. 135. General Burgoyne, in his 
 Speeches, page 7, fays, tc His proclamation ferved to 
 ff procure him refpeft and acknowledgment whenever 
 <( he afterwards travelled through the country." In 
 the " Addrefs of the Congrefs to the inhabitants of the 
 " United States of America," it is faid, " A General, 
 " who calls himfelf a Chrijlian, a follower of the mer- 
 f ' ciful Jefasy hath dared to proclaim to all the world 
 " his intention of letting loofe againft us whole hofts 
 <( of fayages, whofe rule of warfare is promifcuous car- 
 *' nage, &c. &c." In Congrefs May 9, 1778, Re- 
 folved, " That it be recommended to minilters of the 
 f e gofpel, of all denominations, to read, or caujfe to be 
 ** read, immediately after divine fervice, the above 
 
 " Addrefs
 
 ( 279 ) 
 
 " Addrefs to the inhabitants of the United States of 
 " Auierica, in their refpective churches and chapels, 
 " and other places of religious worlhip." Publilhed 
 by order of Congrefs. 
 
 CHARLES THOMSON, Sec. 
 
 Lord George Germaine has informed mankind from 
 whom the idea of making Indian favagesferve with the 
 Brit:Jh troofis as fellow fbldiers originated. General 
 Burgoyne's own nature is certainly mildnefs, huma- 
 nity, and courage ; but he has been in very bad com- 
 pany. His lentiments, in February 1775, were well 
 exprefled by himfelf in the firft volume of the Parlia- 
 mentary Debates, pages 250, 251 ; but fince I fufpet 
 that his peace of mind is departed, and his {lumbers 
 are often tiiiturbed 
 
 With fcreaming horror's funeral cry. GRAY. 
 
 He faid, " Let every action of the unhappy conflict 
 " be directed and marked by that temper which ever 
 " ought to difcriminate the corrre&ion of the ftate 
 " from the fudden and impetuous impulfe of paffion 
 ff and revenge." He had not then been per finally to 
 bis Mdjejly in bis clofet, nor humbly laid himfelf at his 
 Maj cfty' s feet for fuch adive employment as he might think 
 him worthy of, as he mentions in his letter of Jan. i, 
 1777, he had a few days ago. Is it poffible that the 
 fame man, who was infpired with fuch noble fenti- 
 ments in 1775, could in 1777, in the King's name, 
 iflue a proclamation, penned by him/elf, in which he 
 talks of giving a Jlrelcb to the Indian forces, of executing 
 /? VENGEANCE of the ftate \ of the me/fencers of wrath, 
 of devajiation, famine , and every concomitant borror ? 
 This Britiih General, however, declares himfelf a le- 
 
 1' 4
 
 rious, good believer, and makes a parade of his con 
 fcioufnefs of Chriftianity, and his Royal Major's cle- 
 mency. The ftory of the prophet Elijba and Hazael 
 mud furely have affected him. " And Hazael faid, 
 " Why vveepeth my Lord ? And he anfwered, Becaufc 
 (< I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children 
 <f of Ifrael : their ftrong holds wilt thou fet on fire, and 
 " their young men wilt thou flay with the /word, and will 
 *' dafh their children, and rip up their women with child." 
 And Hazael faid, " But what, is thy fervant a dog, 
 " that he Ihould do this great thing ?" 2 Kings, chap. 
 viii. v. 12, 13. 
 
 If Mr. Burgoyne is to be tried by his own declara- 
 tions in the fpeech of Feb. 27, 1775, let him furnifh 
 the evidence. He fays, " Let a perfuafion uniformly 
 " prevail, that upon a review of our conduct hereafter, 
 " by our difpaflionate and impartial countrymen, our 
 (( bravery will be judged by the teft of our companion." 
 The public have a juft claim on him in a cafe where 
 the national honour is fo deeply interefted. Why is 
 his juftification delayed ? He knew the fufpicions 
 which were gone abroad even in 1775. In that famous 
 fpeech, he fays, " in fome of the licentious prints of 
 ""the" times there have not been wanting fuggf/tioks to 
 <f the public, that a fanguinary minifter had chofen 
 ( - ( the generals beft fitted by their inclinations to carry 
 " havock and deflfuftion through the continent of 
 " America." The general was certainly well grounded 
 in the fact, and the fu^gcjlicm were thought to arife 
 from the cruel outrages at Prejlon, of which he was 
 judicially convicted'. His fituation in 1775 was eflen- 
 tially different from that in 1777. He declared to the 
 Houfe of Commons in February 17/5, " it might be
 
 "thought that I fought the fituation in which I am 
 (t going to be employed. I publickly declare I did 
 not feek it." But Jan. i, 1777, he writes, " I humbly 
 " laid myfelf at his Majefly's feet for fuch aSlive em- 
 " ploy merit as he might think me worthy of." The 
 fadt cannot be controverted, that Sir Guy Carleton's 
 military command was in 1777 confined to the boun- 
 daries of the Province of Quebec ; and even General 
 Burgoyne, in the fpeech of May 26, 1778, mentions 
 " the dif appointment of Sir Guy Carleton, in not being 
 " employed to conduct the campaign of 1777.'* Ge- 
 neral Burgoyne was commander in chief the lafl cam- 
 paign in North America. It becomes him to juftify 
 his conduct againft the declaration of Congrefs of 
 May 9, 1778. " The courfe of their armies is 
 " marked by rapine and de variation. Thoufands, with- 
 " out diftindtion of age or fex, have been driven from 
 " their peaceful abodes, to encounter the rigours of 
 " inclement feafons ; and the face of heaven hath been 
 * c infulted by the wanton conflagration f defencelefs 
 " towns. Their vidtories have been followed by the. 
 " cool murder of men no longer able to relift; and 
 " thofe who efcaped from the firit adt of carnage have 
 " been expofed by cold, hunger, and nakednefs, to 
 tf wear out a miferable exiftence in the tedious hours 
 " of confinement, or to become the deflroyers of their 
 " countrymen, of their friends, perhaps (dreadful 
 " idea) of their parents or children, &c. &c." The 
 papers which, General Burgoyne fays, are now In pof- 
 ftjjion of the Secretary of State, page 2 of the fpeech on 
 May 26, 1778, will undoubtedly be a full anfwer to 
 the Congrefs, for it is impoflible to conceive that the 
 .General fhould be the only Englifliman who did not 
 
 feel
 
 feel the force of his own beautiful words in the fpeech 
 of Feb. 27, 1775, "There is a charm in the very 
 " wanderings and dreams of Liberty, that difarms an 
 " Englifomari' s anger" 
 
 When General Burgoyne declares, " I cannot but 
 ** lament he [Lord George GermaineJ did not produce 
 " other letters of mine/' the General's lamentations 
 cannot be very fmcere, for he may produce his own 
 letters when he pleafes. He fays, " in regard to the 
 " report made by myfelf, I acquit the King's Mi- 
 " nifters of any blame in not yet having made it public, 
 tf becaufe it was fo voluminous that the papers could 
 " not be dhgtfted and copied, with the conftant labour 
 " of three clerks, before laft Saturday [May 23], 
 " when they were put into the hands of a noble Lord, 
 " fecretary of ftate for the American department. 
 " But, I truft, that noble Lord will now lofe no time to 
 *' make public matters offuch importance" Lord George 
 Germaine has not yet made public matters of this im- 
 portance, which we find were digefted, and delivered 
 to him fo long ago as the 23d of May. The fufpicion 
 is, that he never will ; but why does the General de- 
 lay his juftification ? He ought to account to the na- 
 tion for the lofs of an entire Britifh army, which he 
 commanded, in a country which he knew, where he 
 had ferved the preceding year. The command was 
 warmly folicited, and he fucceeded, to the dif appoint- 
 ment of that brave and experienced officer, the gallant 
 defender of Quebec, Sir Guy Garlefon, who nobly 
 gave him every kind of fiffi (lance. The plan of the 
 campaign he had fettled with the King in his clofet. 
 His requifitions had in many inftances been exceeded ; 
 the 8,000 regulars, rank and file, the imninfe artil- 
 4 lery,
 
 ( 283 ) 
 
 lery, the corps of watermen, the 2,000 Canadians, the 
 1,000 or more favages, &c. &c. &c. Let him then 
 give folid reafons for the national difappointment, and 
 he will more than ftand excufed. The fame tender 
 companion and pity, which James II. experienced 
 from the generous Englilh, when he was brought back 
 to Whitehall from Rochefter, and General Burgoyne 
 found from the Americans after the capitulation at 
 Saratoga to the hour of his embarkation for Europe, 
 will infallibly be the never-failing attendants on his 
 caufe in England. Let him plead to the jurifdidtion 
 of the public, and not lofe himfelf in lilly complaints of 
 being debarred, by an interdiction, from the prefence of his 
 Sovereign, page 27. He ought to dread the King's 
 ckfet. Is there any one of the prefent Minifters would 
 truft himfelf there, with only the Sovereign, on any 
 important bufinefs ? Poor Torke ! He was a man offpi- 
 rit, for he had a quick fenfe ofjhame, and death has re- 
 deemed his character. General Burgoyne ought to have 
 forefeen, that, if he was unfuccefsful, although he 
 had exactly fulfilled all the parts of his duty, he would 
 experience every kind of bad treatment and injury from 
 the moil treacherous court and adminiftration in Eu- 
 rope. He fays, that " he is an Injured individual," 
 gnd, " that he apprehends he is a marked viStim to bear 
 ^ the fins that do not belong to him," page 42. Let 
 him prove this, and the juftice of the people will be 
 his ihield. They will' never fuffer him to be a viftim 
 for obedience to orders from a man, who ought long ago 
 to have been a viflim to military juftice for difcbedience 
 of orders ; a man reprobated by all the good and brave 
 in Chriftendom, but whom his King delighteth to ho- 
 nour* The nation ought to judge. In the two fpeeches 
 
 of
 
 ( 284 ) 
 
 pf laft May to a venal majority in the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, he did not fucceed in any one circumftance. 
 Let him now appeal to the public, or return to Ame- 
 rica, to abide, as he fays, the common fate of his bre- 
 thren in the army ; and there let him endeavour to al- 
 leviate the miferies of the meritorious foldier. 
 
 It becomes daily more important for the General to 
 juftify himfelf under the ilrong accufations of the 
 Americans, which are renewed on every occation. In 
 a printed letter of Samuel Adams, Efq. as it is faid, 
 to the Britilh commiffioners, is the following paflfage, 
 " You have told the Congrefs, if after the time that 
 " may be necejfary to confider this communication and tranf- 
 fe mit your anfiver, the horrors and de-vocations of war 
 " foould continue, we eallGod and the world to witnefs. that 
 " the evils, which muft follow, are not to be imputed to Great 
 " Britain. I wifh you had fpared your proteftation. Mat- 
 " ters of this kind may appear to you in a trivial light, 
 " as mere ornamental flowers of rhetoric ; but they are 
 " ferious things regiflered in the high Chancery of 
 " Heaven. Remember the awful abufe of words like thofe 
 " by General Burgoyne, and remember his fate," page 
 " 305. In Congrefs, Jan. 8, 1778, it was " Re- 
 '* folved, that the charge made by Lieutenant Gc- 
 tc neral Burgoyne, in his letter to Major General Gates, 
 " of the 1 4th of of November, of a breach of public 
 "faith, on the part of thefe States, is not warranted 
 " by the juft conftruclion of any article of the conven- 
 *' tion of Saratoga ; that it is a ilrong indication of his 
 " intentions, and affords jufl ground of fear, that he 
 " will avail himfelf of the convention in order to dif engage 
 " himfelf, and the army under him, of the obligation 
 " they are under to thefe United States, and that the 
 
 " fecurity
 
 ** fecurity which thefe States have had in bis perfenal 
 " honour 9 is hereby dcftroyed" American Remem- 
 brancer, vol. VI. p. 64. The committee of the Con- 
 grefs ftate this charge in very remarkable terms ; " this 
 " charge of a breach of public faith is of a moft ferious 
 if nature, pregnant with alarming confequences, and 
 " deferves greater attention, as it is not dropped in a 
 " hafty expreffion, dictated by fudden paffion, but is 
 " delivered as a deliberate at of judgment, com- 
 " mitted to writing, and fent to the General with whom 
 " he made the convention; and if credit is to be given 
 " to General Burgoyne's account of himfelf, in his let- 
 " ter to General Heath of the 25th of November, he 
 " cannot be considered offo light a char after, as to bav8 
 " afted, in a firiou* matter tfjtate, upon a fudden impref- 
 ts jion." General Burgoyne, in his difpatch to the Pre- 
 fident of the Congrefs from Cambridge, Feb. 1 1 , 
 1778, fays, " I truft no words of fo harfh a natur* 
 " as to imply a diftruft of my tyr/cna! honour will be 
 " fulFered to remain in the Journals of Congrefs.*' 
 Will the General, for his own fake, inform the public, 
 whether words offo harfl} a nature do remain in the Jour-, 
 naL of the Congrefs ? and, for the fake of his country- 
 men, will he tell the nation, what has been done in con* 
 fequence of a refolution of Congrefs fo long ago as Jan* 
 8, 1778, " that the embarkation of Lieutenant 
 " neral Burgoyne, and the army under his c 
 " be fufpended till a diflindt and explicit ratification of 
 " t/:e convention at Saratoga foali be properly ratified by. 
 " the court of Great Britain to Congrefs ?" It is to be 
 .feared, that by the -proclamation General Burgoyne, to 
 life his own words, contrasts a Jlain that can never bg 
 wiped away. Trial of Colonel Henley, page 69. In 
 
 another
 
 ( 286 ) 
 
 another debate, Mr. Wilkes hinted at the only poffikle 
 apology for the General. " Burgoyne's barbarous prc- 
 (( clamation appears now to be only a confequence of 
 te his fanguinary inftruftions" Almon's Parliamentary 
 Regifter, vol. VIII page 429. It is impoffible that 
 a man of true bravery, like General Burgoyne, can be 
 in his nature cruel. To avoid an information ex ofjicio. 
 
 J *U 7 
 
 to be filed by a Scottifh Attorney General, and tried 
 by a Scottifh Chief Juftice, I ftiall give my opinion 
 in the cautious words of General Burgoyne in his laft 
 publication, " I lhall only remark, how little the ex- 
 t( cufe would benefit Colonel Henley, who would jiill 
 < remain a cruel agent of I will ufe no improper 
 " terms."). Trial of Colonel Henley, page 64. 
 
 General Burgoyne, in the " Speeches," pages 8, 9, 
 and 10, juftifies very fully from a military neceffity the 
 fetting fire at Saratoga to a dwelling-houfe, flore-houfes, 
 faw-mills, &c. of General Schuyler ; and concludes, 
 " In this General's houfe I remained during my whole 
 " flay at Albany, with a table of more than 20 covers 
 " for me and my friends, and every poffible demon* 
 ff ftration of hospitality : a lituation, painful it is true 
 ff in point of fenfibility at the time, but which I now 
 e< contemplate with fome fatisfadion, as carrying un- 
 <e deniable teftimpny how little I deferved the charges 
 * of the honourable gentleman [Mr. Wilkes] ; and I 
 " leave it to his feelings, whether, after this explana- 
 <c tion, fome farther apology is not due to me." It does 
 not appear that Mr. Wilkes has yet made any kind of 
 apology to Mr. Burgoyne. Surely it cannot be deemed 
 an apology what is faid in the " Speeches," page 3. 
 " I agree with the honourable gentleman, who fe- 
 " conded the motion, that all the condud refpeding 
 
 "the
 
 <e the Indian nations is a matter that ought to be 
 " thoroughly canvafled ; and I look upon his calling 
 " upon me openly, and in my place, as fome reparation 
 " for the very free, and not very generous comments 
 " he made upon my conduct in my abfence." Does 
 an Englifh Senator Hand in need of any apology for mak- 
 ing very free, comments on the conduct of a General r , or Ad- 
 miral, who may be abfent from neceflity, or defign, for 
 many years together ? It is certain that Mr. Wilkes has 
 not to this moment made the leaft apology to Mr. Bur- 
 goyne : but I hold it as as certain, that he will, when 
 he mail be fhewn to have made any falfe, or not very 
 generous, comments on the conduct of that General, when 
 the facts alluded to have been difproved. 
 
 Since adminiflration have not laid before Parliament 
 " fuch papers as are now in pofieffion of the Secretary 
 " of State," page 2, of the " Speeches," why does not 
 General Burgoyne publifh them ! He fays, " thofe pa- 
 " pers are of the utmoft importance to the State, to 
 " Parliament, and to the public " page 3. How can 
 he affertthat " a parliamentury invefligation is the only 
 " poffible means of j unification that remains," page 28, 
 when the freedom of the prefs ftill exifts ? He may ap- 
 peal to the moft impartial and awful of all tribunals, 
 to the public. His publications are unfair. A letter 
 of General Wafhington, which is perhaps the finefl 
 compofition of the age, we have firfl publilhed by Mr. 
 Burgoyne ; but his letter, to which the other is an an- 
 fwer, does not appear. Too much cannot be faid in 
 pr^ife of Mr. Washington, the bed patriot, and moft 
 meritorious hero of our times; but it is impoflible, from 
 fome expreffions of the American, general, not to fuf- 
 pet that the firft letter, which drew forth the polite 
 
 anfwer.
 
 ( 288 ) 
 
 anfwer, contained fulfome, furfeiting cgmpliments, fi- 
 miliar to thofe which, in General Burgoyne's letter to 
 Lord George Germaine, of Jan. i, 1777, are proftituted 
 on one of the greateft ftate criminals. It was treachery 
 in Lord George, on no ground of neceflity, or perfo- 
 nal juftification, to give the Houfe of Commons that 
 private, confidential letter. His excufe in Parliament, 
 that it jlipped in by accident amor.g the official paper S, no 
 man believes. Such an apology is an infult. The au- 
 thor of the letter, however, is unpardonable. 
 
 It may perhaps be amuling to confider the different 
 portraits drawn of General Burgoyne in Europe and 
 America. That of the great mafter Junius is highly 
 finilhed, but not a very beautiful picture. " No man 
 " is more tender of his reputation. He is not only 
 " nice, but perfectly fore in every thing that touches 
 " his honour. If any man, for example, were to accufe 
 " him of taking his {land at a gaming-table, and watch- 
 " ing with the fobereft attention, for a fair opportunity 
 <f of engaging a drunken young nobleman at piquet, 
 (( he would undoubtedly confider it as an infamous af-r 
 " perfion upon his character, and refent it like a man 
 " of Honour. Acquitting him therefore of drawing a 
 (i regular and fplendid fubfiilence from any unworthy 
 " practices, either in his own houfe or elfewhere, let 
 " me afk your grace (the Duke of Graf ton, the profligate 
 " Minifter 6/1769) for what military merits you have 
 " been pleafed to reward him with military govern- 
 " ment? He had a regiment of dragoons, which, one 
 ." would imagine, was at leaft an equivalent for any 
 Y fervices he ever performed. Befides, he is but a 
 " young officer confider ing his preferment, and, except 
 " in his activity at Prejlon, not very confpicuous in his 
 
 ; " profeffi'onv
 
 " profeffion. But it feems the fcale of a civil employ- 
 " ment was not fufficient, and military governments, 
 " which were intended for the fupport of worn-out 
 " veterans, mult be thrown into the fcale, to defray 
 " the extenfive bribery of a contefted election." Vol. II. 
 page 24. Mr. Burgoyne, in the Speeches, page 41, fays* 
 " that I think myfelf a perfecuted man, I avow." It 
 was not at leaft at that time, nor by the Duke of Graf- 
 ton, nor Lord Mansfield, that he was perfecuted. For 
 the military outrages at Prefton he was only fined by Lord 
 Mansfield loool. not imprifoned, as General Smith was 
 for inferior crimes at an election ; and the Duke of 
 Grafton gave him, as an indemnification, by order of 
 the King, the 3500!. for which he fold a patent place 
 to Mr. Hine, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 General Burgoyne's miniature of himfelf is a little 
 different from the picture of Junius. He boafts o 
 "zwarm and unfajpicious heart,'* in page 18 of 'the 
 Speeches. 
 
 Monfieur St. Luc le Ccrne, the Canadian, now in the 
 Britifh fervice as a leader of the Indians, who had 
 " been formerly inftrumental \nfcalping many hundred 
 " Britifti foldiers," Speeches, page 7, gives us a kind 
 of fkeleton, in political analomy, of General Burgoyne, 
 " il eft brave, mats II eft lourd comme un Attemand" " be 
 " is brave, but heavy as a German." <-I hope he did not 
 mean heavy as I hope Monfieur Sf, Luc L'EvangeliJle 
 was a better painter than Monfieur St. Luc le Come. 
 Confidered as a portrait, it is not a ftriking -refem- 
 blance, for of two leading features the German likenefs 
 is miftaken. 
 
 William Tudor, Efq; the Judge Advocate on the 
 trial of Colonel David Henley, ihall be our other Ame- 
 
 U rican
 
 rican Painter. He moulds beauties in wax, like his 
 countrywoman, the celebrated Mrs. Wright. 
 
 " The proceedings have acquired greater force from 
 " the abilities of the profecutor [General Burgoyne^ 
 " than from their real merits.'* Trial of Colonel Hen- 
 ley, page 139. " It is now my duty to ftate the facts 
 " as they rife from the evidence, flopped of all that 
 " meretricious colouring which uncommon ingenuity and 
 t( refined eloquence have thrown upon it. Infinuations 
 " of a general maflacre have been drefled out in all the 
 " pomp which Attic language could give, and wanted 
 " only truth to have made it felt." Page 140. " The 
 " General has argued with a knowledge and ingenuity 
 " that would do credit to the ablefl of my profeflion; 
 " but the doctrine does not apply, becaufe there is no 
 " proof, nor reafon to fuppofe, that the Colonel ;_Hen- 
 " ley] had given fuch orders, or ufed fuch influence, 
 " as to excite men to acts of violence. His written 
 " orders indeed prove the direct contrary." page 143. 
 " a caufe fupported byyij able an advocate as General 
 " Burgoyne" page 145. 
 
 Not only different -portraits, but different comparifons 
 have likewife been made of General Burgoyne. There 
 is however nothing fo unlike as a modern comparlfon. 
 Let us trace it only through three inftances fo fre- 
 quently mentioned, the King, Lord Mansfield, and 
 General Burgoyne. The Sovereign is too often com- 
 pared, to Charles I. on account of that love to defpotic 
 power, and fatal obftinacy, which colt the fecond 
 Stuart the lofs of all his dominions, and his life. He 
 confented however to the death of one man, Lord Staf- 
 ford, with extreme reluctance, .and regretted it pub- 
 licly in his lad moments. How does the refemblance 
 
 hold
 
 hold with our prefent Sovereign ? He has loft only 
 thirteen provinces, and, thank God ! is in perfect 
 health. He has fhewn himfelf not only the defender of 
 our faith , but likewife of our liberties, and given num- 
 berlefs proofs of the utmoft readinefs to comply with 
 the wiflies of his people, whom he tenderly loves. Did 
 he teftify the leaft weaknefs on the much-lamented 
 death of the Chancellor Torke ? The Duke of Grafton 
 has not yet forgotten the witty fmile^ or the memora- 
 ble words, My Lord, you may kill tke next Percy your/elf ; 
 but when Juniiis fays, " he had but that inftant 'wiped 
 " the tears away, which overcame Mr. Torke," does it 
 appear that he flied any at the faid cataftrophe of a man 
 of honour from one unguarded hour at the Queen's 
 Houfe alone with his Prince ? No farther purpofe re- 
 mained to be anfwered by 
 
 Uberrimis femper lachrynlis, femperque paratis 
 
 In flatione fua, atque expedtantibus ilium 
 
 Quo jubeat manare modo. JUVENAL. 
 
 But why are we to dwell on the circumstance of the 
 death of any one man, when it is avowed that the lives 
 of thoufands of our fellow-fubjedts are by a Stoic apathy 
 outweighed by dirty, yellow drofs ? What are the word* 
 of a fpeech from the Throne to the prefent Parliament, 
 Odt. 27, 1775? " Among- the unavoidable ill confe- 
 " quences of this rebellion, none affeRs me more fenfibly 
 " than the extraordinary burthen which it muft create 
 11 to my faithful July effs." How many faithful fubj eels 
 have loft their lives, as well as their fortunes, in this 
 deftrudive quarrel; yet the lofs of their fortunes is what 
 gff'efts more ferjibly ? Jafon fought the golden fleece, and 
 cared little for the {heep. 
 
 U z Lord
 
 Lord Mansfeld is likewife frequently compared to a 
 former Chief Juflice, Jeffreys. No two characters ap- 
 pear more diffimilar. Jeffreys was deeply concerned in 
 all the arbitrary proceedings of the reign of James II. 
 and diftinguiihed for a hatred to Juries, Lord Manf- 
 field has never been a political judge. He has with 
 the utmoft caution avoided appearing to take the leaft 
 part in any meafures of adminiilration, which were not 
 in the immediate line of his legal department, as Chief 
 Juftice of the firft court of criminal jurifdiction in the 
 kingdom. His affection to Juries has been marked on 
 every trial. He addreffes the twelve Jurymen in the 
 fame mild manner his Majefty fpeaks to his twelve 
 children. It. was a regard to the honour and dignity 
 of Juries made the noble Earl flufh in the face, and cry 
 out, Pafs him by, when Mr. Benfon's name was called. 
 His Lordfhip indeed .affigned no reafon, but it was well 
 known that Mr. Benfon had lately been refractory upon 
 a former Jury, and even doubted of Lord Mansfield's 
 law. This was certainly a reflection on the other eleven 
 jurymen, who" refigned their right of private judgment 
 to the court, and therefore his Lord (hip, as ufual, paid 
 his court to the Majority. 
 
 General Burgoyne has alfo been compared to Cezfar, 
 and others. A great writer fays, " in his opinion Ge- 
 " neral Burgoyne comes nearer to the. character of 
 " Alexander, for Alexander took the ft r eight road to fame, 
 " by braving misfortunes, difficulties, and dangers.'* 
 General Burgoyne has undoubtedly braved misfortunes, 
 difficulties, and dangers, when he took the fir eight road 
 not to fame but to Saratoga yet how can he be com- 
 pared either to Cafar, or Alexander ? Thofe conquerors 
 fubdued the old world. General Burgoyne of the new 
 
 world
 
 ( 293 ) 
 
 world pofleffed not an acre, only the ground on which 
 he flood, and in a more mod eft ftyle than that of an info- 
 lent victor, afked -permiffion to return from whence be came, 
 on the exprefs promife of coming hack to America upon 
 demand of the Congrefs, and of re-delivering up his perfon 
 into their power. He has like wife been compared to 
 General Othello, more fpeciouily than folidly. After 
 the pride and pomp of a glorious 'war, both Generals have 
 indeed appeared in all the pride and pomp of 'tragedy, and 
 fome paffages have indeed been fimilar,but on the whole 
 the refemblance is faint. General B urgoyne talks ofdcvaf- 
 tation, famine, and every concomitant horror. The ftyle 
 of General Othello is in the fame fpirit of meeknefs. 
 
 Abandon all remorfe, 
 On horror's head horrors accumulate. 
 Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz'd. 
 
 General Burgoyne fpeaks of the meffengers of wrath, 
 and of himfelf as denouncing and executing the -vengeance 
 ofthejlate. General Othello is only more poetical. 
 
 Arife, black 'vengeance, from thy hollow hell. 
 
 Thefe particulars may feem decifive, but it muft be to 
 a very fuperficial obferver. Two other circumftances 
 refpetting the tivo Generals deftroy all anolagy. Ge- 
 neral Burgoyne is a fair-faced Chriftian. General Othello 
 was a fwarthy Pagan. General Othello fays, 
 
 I've done the ftate fome fervice, and they know it, 
 
 But General Burgoyne will not affert that any man knows, 
 what fervice he has done the flat 'e. 
 
 The anfwers given by General Burgoyne to the va- 
 rious charges brought againft him, efpecially refpecting 
 
 U 3 the
 
 C 294 ) 
 
 the Indians, whofe alliance he ftrongly recommended, 
 and fettled with the King in the clofet, have not been 
 fufficiently explicit or convincing. In Lord George 
 Germaine's letter to General Carleton, dated White- 
 hall, March 26, 1777, it is faid, ft As this plan can- 
 " not be advantageoufly executed without the affiftance 
 " of Canadians and Indians, bis Majefty ftrongly recom- 
 tf mends it to your care, to furnifti both expeditions 
 <f with good and fufficient bodies of thofe men." Co- 
 lonel Butler declares that " he distributed the King's 
 t( bounty among the favages." The Congrefs only de- 
 fired the neutrality of the favages. I am firmly per- 
 fuaded, that General Burgoyne is, as he fays, an injured 
 individual, " Speeches," page 28, and that he has been 
 ill ufed by his employers, from not having given that 
 kind of fatisfactibn to them, which was expected of 
 him. His fituation is remarkable. Men, who juflified 
 and applauded the maflacre in St. George's Fields, who 
 fkreened and petitioned the murderers of the freehol- 
 'ders at Brentford, think he has done too little ; but the 
 friends of freedom and humanity are of opinion he has 
 done too much. The bludgeons of the mercenaries at 
 Brentford, the tomohawks and fcalping knives of our 
 Indian allies in North America, will difgrace the hif- 
 tory of this sera. The fate of Mr. Burgoyne has not 
 been fingular in this reign. He has been bargained 
 for, carelfed, employed, difgraced, betrayed, and at lalt 
 perfefuted. A fimilar fate may perhaps await every 
 man of high rank in the military line, who has en- 
 gaged in the fervice of a defpotic adminiflration to 
 carry on this unjuft and barbarous civil war. I really 
 believe that Mr. Burgoyne has beyond fcrgivenefs of- 
 fended both the King and Lord George Germaine, by 
 
 not
 
 C 2 95 ) 
 
 not being fufficiently fevere and vindictive on many 
 occafions, by orders not favage enough to the meffcngers 
 of wrath, the general's and King's mrjjengers. When 
 the late Lord Harcourt attended the levee after the 
 gallant exploit of his fon, Colonel Harcourt, in the 
 making General Lee prifoner, the furronnding courtiers 
 crowded on him with their compliments, and the fond 
 father expected from the Prince, as a perfect judge of 
 military merit, a few words of congratulation. The 
 King was hlent. It was circulated in whifpers, that 
 the Sovereign had hinted a diffatisfaction to fome of the 
 King's friends, ready to applaud even fuch a fentiment, 
 that Colonel Harcourt had not put General Lee to death. 
 The father retired broken-hearted, and did not long 
 furvive. 
 
 . As to the actual fituation of Mr. Burgoyne, it is beft 
 ftated in his own words, from a letter to the Prefident 
 of the Congrefs, dated Feb. 1 1, 1778. "I will return 
 " to America upon demand of the Congrefs; and, 
 " due notice given, re-deliver up my perjon into thajr 
 61 power, and abide the common fate of my brethren in 
 " this army." 
 
 American Remembrancer, Vol. VI. p. 159. 
 
 This ruinous war in every point of view muft flrike 
 us with horror. The fatal conteft with Our brethren 
 in America, the defcendants of Englifhmen, recalls to 
 my memory the beautiful words of Sabine, the wife of 
 one of the Horatii, and the filter of the Curiatii, in 
 the fublime Corneille, 
 
 Albe, ou j'ai commence de refpirer le jour, 
 Albe, mon cher pays, et mon premier amour, 
 
 U 4 Lorfqu'
 
 Lofqu* entre nous et toi je vois la guerre ouverte,. 
 Je crams notre vicloire autant qut notre perte. 
 
 HORACE 
 THE EDITOR. 
 
 VOTES of November 26, 1778. 
 
 A motion was made by the honurable Charles Francis 
 Greville, one of the commiifioners of trade and plan- 
 tations, member for Warwick, and feconded by Price 
 Campbell, Efq. member for Nairn and Cromartymires, 
 " that an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, 
 (l to return his Majefty the thanks of this Houfe, for 
 " his moft gracious fpeech from the throne ; to ac- 
 " knowledge his Majefty's paternal regard for the hap- 
 " pinefs of his people, in his earneft and uniform en- 
 " deayours to preferve the public tranquillity- -that 
 " we cannot but feel concern and regret, that the mea- 
 " fures taken by his Majefty, for difappointing thefe 
 ee hoflile and malignant defigns, have not been attended 
 " with all the fuccefs, which the juftice of the caufe, 
 (< and the vigour of the exertions, feemed to promife 
 " that it would have given his faithful Commons 
 " the trueft happinefs to have received the communi- 
 " cation from his Majefly, that the jufi and humane 
 " purpofes of his Majefty and the Parliament, for qui- 
 " eting the minds of his revolted fubjeclis, had taken 
 " the defired efFecl:, and had brought the troubles in 
 (f North America to a happy conclufion to aflure his 
 " Majefty, that his Majefty may rely on the hearty 
 
 " and
 
 " and zealous concur ence and affiftance of his faithful 
 tc Commons, in enabling his Majefty to make the moft 
 " adtive and vigorous exertions by fea and land, &c. 
 " &c. &c." 
 
 An amendment was moved by the right honourable 
 Thomas Townfend, member for Whitchurch, and fe- 
 conded by the honourable Charles James Fox, member 
 for Malmeib.u.ry, " to affure his Majefty, that with 
 " the trueft zeal for the honour of the Crown, and the 
 <f warmeft arFedtion for his Majefty's perfon and fa- 
 " mUy, we are ready to give the moft ample fupport 
 " to fuch meafures as may be thought necefiary for the 
 " defence of thefe kingdoms, or for fruftrating the 
 te defigns of that reftlefs power, which has fo often 
 " difturbed the peace of Europe ; but that we think it 
 " one of our moft important duties, in the prefent me- 
 " lancholy pofture of affairs, to enquire by what fatal 
 (t counfels or unhappy fyjiems of policy this country has been 
 <f reduced from that fplendid fit nation, which in the early 
 " part of his Majejty's reign made her the envy of all Eu- 
 (C rope, to fuch a dangerous jlate, as that, which has of 
 " late sailed forth our utmoft, exertions without any ade- 
 fl quote benefits" 
 
 Mr. Wtlkes did, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I have given all the attention of which I am capable 
 to the Speech delivered from the throne, and fince, ac- 
 cording to our forms, twice read by you, Sir, to this 
 Houfe. 1 am unhappy that I find myfelf obliged to 
 remark, that there are fcarcely more than two parti- 
 culars in the whole Speech 3 from which I am not forced 
 
 to
 
 to withhold my affent. They are, that we are called 
 together in a conjuncture, which demands our moft fe- 
 rious attention, and that a reftoration of the bleffmgs 
 of Peacs ought to be our firft wifh, and the great ob- 
 ject of our endeavours. The conjuncture, Sir, muft 
 indeed be allowed to be moft critical, and Peace is not 
 only defirable now, as at all times, but in the prefent 
 period appears of abfolute neceflity to fave this con- 
 vulfed ftate from impending ruin. Thus far, I believe, 
 a real unanimity prevails ; but let me proceed. It is 
 afked by feveral gentleman, how is Peace now to be 
 obtained ? Can any man point out to us a mode of re- 
 ftoring to us that blefling ? I will hazard, Sir, an opi- 
 nion, of which my own mind is fully convinced. The 
 meafure appears to me the only poflible way of falva- 
 tion to this country in the prefent dreadful dilemma ; 
 a dilemma into which we have been precipitated by 
 Minifters, whofe conduct calls for the ftricteft enquiry, 
 and the forfeit of whofe heads, if the guilt lies at their 
 door, can be but a poor amends to a ruined nation. 
 The proportion is indeed moft humiliating, but, if 
 founded in neceffity, the confequent national difgrace is 
 folely to be attributed to thofe who created that ne- 
 ceffity. I believe the acknowledgement of the inde- 
 pendence of the revolted colonies is the only meafure, 
 which can re-eftabliih a public tranquillity. I fin- 
 cerely think it would both with America and France, 
 and probably prevent a future Spanifh war. It would 
 at this moment, perhaps, fhut the temple of Janus. 
 From the tyranny and mad conduct of an incapable and 
 wicked adminiftration, it is become the meafure of a 
 fatal neceflity, if we are in earneft to preferve in any 
 degree of profperity what remains, if we would fave 
 
 our
 
 our country from the brink of ruin, if we feek to avoid 
 abfolute beggary and bankruptcy: An univerfal dif- 
 content now prevails. The people have no confidence 
 in adminiftration. They are detefted by the nation, 
 and therefore continued in power. We iigh over Ame- 
 rican affairs, and all parties agree in lamenting that 
 fo little has been done by our fleets againft France, 
 after fuch an amazing expenditure of the public mo- 
 ney on the navy. 
 
 The honourable gentleman, Sir, who moved the 
 addrefs, told us, that the Americans were determined to fe- 
 parate their rights from ours, to diffyfoe all connexions 
 between us. The fadt is truly ftated. They no longer 
 confider thernfelves as embarked with us on board the 
 finking veffel of this ftate. They avoid us as a tyran- 
 nical, unprincipled, rapacious, and ruined nation. 
 Their only fear is, that the luxury and profligacy of 
 this country fhould gain their people. It was a long 
 patience and forbearance they pra<fdfed before the idea 
 of being diffevered from the mother country gained 
 ground among the Americans. They were driven into 
 it by our injuftice and violence. Repeated violations 
 of their rights, accumulated injuries, wanton infults, 
 and cruelties fhocking to human nature, have brought 
 about this wonderful revolution. Now it appears to me 
 .an impoffibility to bring back the Americans to any 
 dependance on this kingdom. Their firit ftcps were 
 marked by temper and moderation. They made the 
 moft humble and dutiful fupplications to the throne, 
 but at 1 aft were told, that no anfwer would be given. 
 From that moment their minds were totally alienated. 
 At the beginning of their juftifiable refiftance they 
 :\vere not in the kail tenifiedfa'uiformidine Martis, when 
 3 , only
 
 only peaceful inhabitants of the country, or of open 
 towns and villages. Since the declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, firmnefs and vigour have governed all the 
 counfels of the Congrefs. That declaration was made 
 at a moment, which proved them flrangers to fear, 
 and in their idea fuperior to all the efforts of which 
 we were capable. It was in July 1776, immediately 
 after the fafe arrival of the whole fleet of tranj ports, vic- 
 tuallers, and ftore-Jhip:, without any lofs &r feparation^ 
 and after his Majejly's troops under the command, of Ge- 
 neral Howe had been landed upon Staten i/land, without 
 any oppofition or Interruption, as we were informed by 
 our own Gazette. From that fatal ra has the Con- 
 grefs, or any one of the Thirteen United States, dif- 
 covered the fainteft wiih of returning to the obedience 
 of our fovereign ? No man will be bold enough to af- 
 fert it. On the contrary, the Americans have increafed 
 in their hatred of us, and avertion from the yoke of 
 bondage, which we were preparing for them, fince 
 we have brought into the quarrel the mercenaries of 
 Germany, and the favages of America, fince plun- 
 der and cruelty have marked the progrefs of the royal 
 army and its allies. 
 
 I will ftate our prefent fituafion with refpecl: to 
 North America. Torrents of noble blood have al- 
 ready flowed in this quarrel ; yet the few conquefts we 
 made, we were obliged to abandon. Towards the 
 clofe of the laft year, we congratulated ourielves on 
 the taking of Philadelphia, which was then called the 
 mofl important city of North America, the feat of the 
 vagrant Congrefs, in the infulting language of admi- 
 niftration. Before the prefent year is half expired, 
 furfuant to his Majefty's injlruftions, Sir Henry Clinton 
 3 evacuated
 
 ( 3* ) 
 
 evxcttated Philadelphia at three o'clock in the morning and 
 efcaped through infinite difficulties to New York, very 
 judicioufly avoiding the direct road, where he knew 
 the enemy was in force. The Congrefs returned in tri- 
 umph to Philadelphia, and congratulated the inha- 
 bitants of North America on the important victory of 
 Monmouth over the Briti/h grand army, and the evacua- 
 tion of Philadelphia, as they had before done on the 
 evacuation of Boflon by General Howe. They have 
 bravely flood all the florms of adverfe fortune, and are 
 now almoft fure of outriding the temper!. Sir, the 
 Americans have fufFered greatly ; but their fufferings 
 were fupported with temper and courage, for they were 
 in the caufe of public virtue. They bore adverlity like 
 men of fixed principle and honour, engaged in a righ- 
 teous caufe, and determined never to crouch to oppref. 
 lion. The war on their fide was founded in the pri- 
 mary ideas of felf-defence and juftiee. It is truly faid 
 by the great Roman hiflorian, jttftum helium, quibus ne- 
 cejjariwn, el pia arma, quibus nulla, niji in armis, re- 
 tinquiturfpes. 
 
 What is their prefent fituation ? A powerful ally has 
 declared in their favour. The French declaration 
 goes much beyond what gentlemen feem to appre- 
 hend. It is mentioned here only as acknowledging their 
 independence, whereas the preliminaries announced at 
 Paris on the i6th day of December to the American- 
 commiilioners by Monlieur Gerard, in the name of his 
 moft Chriflian Majefty, afferted, that he would fupport 
 their independence by every means in his power. After 
 this are we inearneft when we affirm, that there is any 
 probability of their returning to our obedience, to un- 
 conditional fubmiffion, or to any fubmiflion ? It is an ob- 
 
 jeft
 
 jc& of belief too grofs for the fondefl credulity, for 
 ignorance made drunk. If, before the capitulation at 
 Saratoga, they rejected all our fpecious offers, are any 
 offers now likely to be accepted ? or can they be com- 
 pelled ? Will another Britifli army ever attempt to 
 march from Montreal to Albany ? Will the batteries 
 on Sullivan's tjland be again attacked? Will Sir Peter 
 Parker ever again judge it achifable to make an attempt 
 ttpon Charles Town, South Carolina ? Will he promife 
 that ;/ the troops can co-iterate in the attack, his Ala* 
 jfjly will again be in pojffeffion of Sullivan's i/land? Will 
 any Englifh general command in America an army 
 better difciplined, better appointed, than Sir "William 
 Howe's ? A feries of four years difgraces. and defeats 
 are furely fufficient to convince us of the abfolute im- 
 poffibility of conquering America by force, and I fear 
 the gentle means of perfuafion have equally failed. We 
 have, therefore, only the dernier refort of parting with 
 our old friends, who can no longer be compelled, or 
 perfuaded, to flay. Policy furely warns us not to do 
 it in a manner to force them into the fchemes of our 
 ancient enemies, to weaken, perhaps ruin, the mother 
 country. To me it appears equally unavailing and in-, 
 decent to bring a railing accufation againfl the old foe 
 of this kingdom, to talk of the malignant dejtgns. of 
 France. 
 
 No plan of negociation, Sir, has been left untried, 
 but nothing has fucceeded, for we find by the commif- 
 fioners manife/lo of October the third, that they re- 
 folved on the decifive ftep of returning to England in a 
 fezv weeks. 
 
 After the fword and bayonet of honourable warfare 
 had been lifted up ; after the fcalping knife and toma- 
 hawk
 
 hawk of our afiaffin allies had been ftiarpened againft 
 our fellow-fubje&s, peace at laft was preached by our 
 minifters, and a commiffion for reftoring the harmony 
 and union between the two countries was determined 
 upon. To add weight and dignity to the meafure, the 
 two houfes of Parliament were to give up to this im- 
 portant fervice three of their own members, as heralds 
 of peace, that the fan&ion of a part of the legiflative 
 body might create an additional awe and reverence. 
 To grace the commiffion, to captivate the rude mem- 
 bers of the Congrefs, and civilize the wild inhabitants 
 of an unpolifhed country, a noble peer was very pro- 
 perly appointed chief of the honourable embaffy to 
 the Congrefs*. His Lordihip, to the furprize and 
 admiration of that part of the New World, carried 
 with him a green ribband, the gentle manners, winning 
 behaviour, and foft insinuating addrefs of a modern 
 man of quality, and a profeffed courtier. The Mufes 
 and Graces, with a group of little, langhing Loves, 
 were in his train, and for the firft time crofled the At- 
 lantic. The next in the commiffion was only diflin- 
 guifhed by a fet of principles wonderfully adapted to 
 the fpirit of coercion and cruelty hitherto prevailing, 
 the principles of penal law -f-. I have only heard of one 
 ot,her principle belonging to this gentleman, the prin- 
 ciple, as well as practice, of paffive obedience in the 
 northern department. But, Sir, this gentleman carried 
 with him the real fecret of the negotiation, and per- 
 
 * Frederick Howard, Earl of Carlifle, Treafurer of his Majefty's Houfehold, 
 Knight of the Thiftle. 
 
 f The Princ'plet cf Penal Law, a large oftavo, publifhed by White, in Fleet- 
 ftreet, was written by William Eden, -Efq. Member for Woodftock, a Lord of 
 Trade, one of the Under Secretaries of State for the N.ribem Department, and 
 Auditor, and oue of the Directors of Grenwigb. Hofpkal. 
 
 haps
 
 ( 304 ) 
 
 haps more extenfive powers than were given to his col- 
 leagues. He knew of the order to evacuate Philadel- 
 phia, an order fo difgraceful to our arms, fo contrary 
 to found policy, long before it was fufpected by either 
 of the other commiffioners ; but he would not truft 
 them. The other commiffioner *, who went from 
 among us, poffeffed a fuperior understanding, an happy 
 temper, and a thorough knowledge of bufinefs. If 
 fuccefs had been attainable, I am perfuaded to his 
 wifdom, prudence, and temperate conduct, England 
 had been indebted for the reiteration of the blefling of 
 
 D 
 
 peace. But, alas ! Sir, all the fplendid and unautho- 
 rized offers of the commiffioners were, without hefita- 
 tion, rejected. The happy moment was pafled. The 
 honourable gentleman knows the real friendship I bear 
 him, and the efteem I have of his rare and amiable 
 qualities. In public life, I have always found him 
 manly, firm, and confident ; in private, engaging, fo- 
 cial, and friendly. Through the whole of this bufi- 
 nefs he has followed the ftrait path of duty, and held 
 one uniform language to us and to the Americans. I 
 have been fo ufed to fee him in the minority here, that 
 he will excufe me, if I figure to myfelf that in Ame- 
 rica likewife he continued in a minority with the com- 
 miffioners, and that many things were tranfacted which 
 he difapproved, but to which he was obliged to fub- 
 mit. He might think himfelf precluded, as we are 
 here by many flrange Acts of the prefent majority of 
 this Houfe. On that fuppofition I fhall not fcruple 
 to treat the commiffioners with freedom, and hold my- 
 felf fecure of his indulgence. 
 
 * Ooyeraor Johnftone* 
 
 I men-
 
 I mentioned, Sir, the unautbcrifed offers made to 
 Congrefs. The commiffioners went exceedingly be- 
 yond the powers given them by an act of Parliament, 
 the only fource of their power. Did they, Sir, dare 
 to accept fecret powers from the Crown more ample 
 than thofe granted by the Legiflature ? Their conduct 
 is very fufpicious. I well remember fix propofitions 
 were held out to Gongrefs by the corrimiffioners Letter 
 of the 9th of June. The three firft, to confent to a 
 ceffation of hoftilities by fea and land, to reftore free 
 intercourfe as well as to revive mutual affection, and 
 to extend every freedom to trade that our refpective 
 interefts can require, were founded in the authority of 
 the act of Parliament, which created the commiffion. 
 The three lail were a direct ufurpation on the rights of 
 the legiflative body. 
 
 An offer was made by the commiffioners to concur 
 in meafures calculated to difcharge the debts of Ame- 
 rica, and to raife the credit arid value of the paper cir- 
 culation. It was artfully worded, but perfectly under- 
 ilood, Sir, both in America and at home, that we were 
 to take on our Ihoulders, already bowed down to the 
 earth, the burthen of the American debts, of the 
 mighty fums raifed by Congrefs to fight their battles 
 againft us. The debts of the two countries were to be 
 confolidated into one enormous mafs, and provided for 
 by a complaifant Parliament in the fame manner. So 
 (extravagant an idea muft fill every man with furprize 
 and indignation. I give the country gentlemen joy on 
 this pccaiion. They never flinch from their rriafter, 
 however unrelenting he may prove to them, and to their 
 country. They will now furely acknowledge with gra- 
 titude the fairnefs, the fincerity, the great tendernefs, 
 
 X and
 
 and kindnefs of their favourite minifter. At the firi* 
 rumour of an American war, the noble Lord with the 
 blue ribband exptefily held out to them a folid and 
 fubftantial revenue by the taxation of America, in aid 
 of their land tax, and other heavy burthens. Now^ fo- 
 far from attempting to lighten their load^ he offers 
 America to throw on the Ihoulders of England the ad- 
 ditional weight of all her accumulated taxes. The? 
 moft fhort-lighted of all animals is undoubtedly our 
 country gentleman of the true tory breed. He has 
 fcarcely the fagacity of his pointer. Formerly he was 
 very flubborn, and reftiff, and could not be driven for- 
 ward. Now he is perfectly tame, fawns on his feeder, 
 an%l is eafily managed. Mr. Pitt firft feized him, and, 
 after fome little ftruggling, plunged him over head ami 
 ears in the German war. The noble Lord has gone 
 further, and tranfported him, weary and exhauftedy 
 beyond the A.tlantick, where he is likely to continue 
 much longer than he was in Germany. 
 
 1'he commiffioners likewife agreed that no military 
 force fhould be kept up in the different States of North 
 America, without the confent of the General Congrefs, 
 or particular affemblies. This was in effect making, 
 .them a fovereign, independent flate, if no military 
 force is to compel the refractory, or quell the rebelli- 
 ous. This conceffion is certainly not warranted by any 
 claufe in the act appointing commiffioners, and was a 
 manifeft, unneceflary ufurpation of the pow r er of this 
 pliant Parliament. 
 
 The lafl offer is a grofs affront to the very being <}f 
 Parliament, and to the people, who alone can conflitute 
 a Houfe of Commons. The commiffioners offer a re- 
 ciprocal deputation of an agent or agents, from the dif- 
 4 ferent
 
 ferent States, ivhojhall have the privilege of a feat and 
 voice in 'the Parliament of Great Britain ; or if fent frotri 
 Britain, in that cafe to have a feat and voice in the af- 
 femblies of the different Suites to which they may be 
 deputed refpectively, in order to attend the feveral in- 
 terefh of thofe by whom they are deputed. In the 
 three Conciliatory afls not a fyllable is to be found of 
 any fuch intention in the Legiflature. Were agents 
 from the different States of America to have a voice in this 
 Houfe to tax Great Britain, when by the fame Concilia- 
 tory afts they themfelves, and America could not be 
 taxed ? . 
 
 It is pomble, Sir, that the commimoners might be 
 as little in earneft to fecure effectually to the Ameri- 
 cans what was offered, as they were at the time to de- 
 monftrate their good faith. They ventured, Sir, to af- 
 fure the Congrefs, that the three Conciliatory afts paffed 
 withjingitlar unanimity. The contrary is known to be 
 fact. I now, Sir, fee many gentlemen in their places, 
 who oppofed all the three bills. When a bill of great 
 importance paffes with unanimity 9 I believe, Sir, that 
 you think it your duty to give it a further weight by 
 the addition of nemine contradicente in the Votes. In the 
 Votes, Sir, you have not given that fan&ion to any of the 
 three Conciliatory bills. By the wordsyfagw/rfr unanimity, an 
 Englilhman would conclude that this was thejtnqular 
 inftance of Unanimity that feflion, in refpedt to the three 
 aflts, which were confidered as one, and paffed on the 
 fame day. The learned Scot lift fecretary of the com- 
 miffioners muft think differently, for I find eight in- 
 ftances, and perhaps there are more, in the fame feflion, 
 of refolutions and orders paffed, and entered in the Votes 
 nemine contradicente. Of this number are thofe refpect- 
 
 X a ing
 
 ing the calling out the militia, the relieving the Ro- 
 man Catholics from certain penalties and difabilities, 
 and Lord Chatham's annuity act. With the fame re- 
 gard to truth, he makes the commiflioners declare in 
 their Proclamation t that the French Monarchy ever has 
 beeti) and in its conftituticn ever mvft be, an enemy to all 
 freedom of laws and religion. I own, Sir, I was furprized 
 at fuch an aflertion from a gentleman, who had acquired 
 great reputation beyond the Tweed, zs prof ejjor of moral 
 philofopby in the Univeifity cf Edinburgh. I thought that 
 the French nation were formerly called Franks, from the 
 freedom of their conftitution. I have read in the beft 
 * authors, that the people of France were wont to be 
 bound by fuch laws only, as they had publickly agreed 
 to in their parliaments, and that the people were con- 
 fulted about the heads of all new laws, and after they 
 had given their confent, they fet their hands and feals 
 to each article. Such was the power of the people, till 
 the tyranny of their kings in later times fwallowed up 
 all the rights of that nation. I beg pardon, Sir, for this 
 digreffion at fo late an hour, but is was on a favourite 
 topic, the rights of the people. I return to that impor- 
 tant State-paper, the letter of the commiflioners to the 
 Congrefs, on the 9th of June. The letter tells them, 
 that notivithjlanding the pretended date, or prefent form 
 of the French offers to North America, yet it is notorious, 
 that tbefe were made in conference of the plans of accom- 
 modation previeufly concerted in Great Britain, and with a 
 'view to prevent our reconciliation, and to prolong this de- 
 Jiruclive war. This fact too is mis-ftated. The Conci- 
 liatory proportions were not made by the noble Lord 
 
 * Lord Molefworth, who wrote the account of Denmark, tranflated an ex- 
 cellent treatifc on this fubject of the famous civilian, Francis Hotoman, called 
 Franto-Gt. liia. 4 
 
 with
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 wkh the blue ribband till the i c,th of February, and 
 the French treaty was actually iigned the 6th preced- 
 ing, and the preliminaries were agreed to December 16. 
 The Parliament had been prorogued from the xoth of 
 December to the 2oth of January, notwithftanding the 
 ftrong oppofition of the minority, for in that period 
 peace might have been obtained. The truth of the 
 cafe is, that France trifled with the Americans till af- 
 ter the news of the capitulation at Saratoga. There 
 was much ill humour on both fides ; but it was not im- 
 proved on our part, as it ought to have been. A Bri- 
 tifli general and an entire army becoming prifoners, 
 made her believe ferioufly in the independence of Ame- 
 rica. Before that period, ihe had treated it as vilionary, 
 as a mere phantom of a heated brain. The weak, infant 
 connection of France with America is at length 
 gr'own into ftrength and maturity. Spain was more in 
 earneft, and from the beginning had effectually afiifted 
 the Congrefs by vaft fupplies of every kind from the 
 Havannah. The capitulation was ligned at Saratoga 
 on the 1 6th of October. The news of that event came 
 to Verfailles the firft week in December, and on the 
 i6th preliminary articles were adjufted. France on 
 that occafion from a ftrange inadvertency fuffered a re- 
 markable expreffion to be made public, that it was ma- 
 nlfeftly the interejl of France, that the power of England 
 Jhould be dimlnijhed by the feparation of America from it. 
 This was the language of found policy on her part. 
 When the love of liberty in the French court was held 
 forth in great parade, it became ridiculous in the ex- 
 treme. We know that there is no more love of liberty 
 in the French court, than in our own ; but I rejoice 
 that liberty will have a refting place, a fure afylum in 
 
 X 3 America,
 
 f 
 
 America, from the perlecution of almoft all the prin- 
 ces of the earth. 
 
 The conduct of our minifters, Sir, has effected the 
 feparation of America. . She never will return, nor are 
 you equal to coercive meafures. By the attempt you 
 will bring on an immediate certain French, and proba- 
 bly a not diftant Spaniih war. I a^m alarmed for the 
 confequences to this country in its prefent exhaufted 
 ftate. Will the lirft minifter of Finance tell us, that 
 he fees his way through it, even for the next four, or 
 fix, years? I have fears even for our own honour andfs- 
 curity, mentioned in the ffeecb, as calling loudly upon J, 
 when I confider our diffracted and difunited kingdom, 
 and compare it with the condition of the French 
 monarchy, and the active fpirit of a nation contain- 
 ing twenty-two millions of perfons, united by affection 
 to one fovereign. England, in conjunction with Ame- 
 rica, had nothing to fear, When fome confiderable 
 merchants waited on the firft Lord of the Admiralty, 
 his Lordfhip faid, / have Jhips enough, lut want men. 
 Can you provide them for me ? 'I be American refources are 
 gone. Without her refources, all her weight even 
 thrown into the oppoiite fcale, that fcale rrmft prepon- 
 derate. Acknowledge the independence of America, 
 you have a chance of detaching her from France, of 
 forming perhaps with her a mofl advantageous commer- 
 cial treaty and federal union. I really think you might 
 then avoid a general war. Since the acceffion of the 
 prefent King, I know that the firft idea, the favourite 
 pbject of the French court, has fleadily been to bring 
 the finances of that kingdom into perfect order $ but 
 th,Q favourable moment of humbling her ancient rival, 
 by the American conteft, was not to be neglected. 
 
 France
 
 ( 3" ) 
 
 France has fatally fucceeded. The fact cannot be dif- 
 fembled, nor difguifed. America is in my opinion ir- 
 recoverably loft. It is indifferent to her, whether you 
 think proper to acknowledge her independency, or to call 
 her children yourfubjeffs, and her provinces your colo- 
 nies. The reft of the world will hear thofe appellations 
 with deriiion. You will not be able to enforce any 
 one act, except where your armies are quartered, and 
 your fleets ftationed. The very expence of thofe fleets 
 and armies muft exhauft this country. You experi- 
 enced this for four years with raw, undifciplined far- 
 mers and countrymen. You are now to combat hardy, 
 experienced foldiers. Let pride therefore yield to pru- 
 dence, withdraw your fleets and armies, give up this 
 unjuft, barbarous, and deftru&ive war, and enquire who 
 deluded you into this unhappy fy ft cm of -policy. 
 
 The honourable gentleman, Sir, who feconded the 
 amendment, in a divine ftrain of eloquence, fcarcely 
 paralleled, never furpafled within thefe walls, has 
 treated the fpeech with merited indignation. He pro- 
 nounced itfalfe, demonftrated it to be fo, and called it 
 the King's libel on Parliament. His was a moft abundant 
 harveft. He has left me a very fmall gleaning ; only 
 refpecYmg the clandejline fupply of arms faid to be given 
 by the court of France to the Americans. Sir, it was 
 not clandejline. Frequent and considerable fupplies 
 were given in the moft public manner, in the face of 
 day. I had the honour more than once of informing 
 this Houfe, of feveral American armed veflels, and 
 ibips of war, being fupplied with cannon, arms, pow- 
 der, ball, and all warlike ftores, from the royal arfenals 
 and ftore-houfes, both on tbe ocean., and in the Medi- 
 terr^nean. I gave the names of the fhips and the 
 
 X 4 other
 
 C 312- ) 
 
 ptlier particulars at the time. Was this a clandeftine 
 
 fupply? 
 
 Much mifcellaneous matter has been produced, as. 
 ufual, on this firft day of the feffion. The honourable 
 gentleman, who moved the amendment, has taken an 
 opportunity of painting in their true colours the lail 
 race of our kings, whom he called the accurfed Stuart 
 race, the bane of England. I honour thofe genuine 
 whiggim principles, in which I believe him fincere and 
 determined. No man, Sir, execrates the memory of 
 thofe tyrants more than I do. Yet one remark in the 
 prefent moment I cannot forbear. The Stuarts loft 
 every thing for themfehes only, their crowns, or their 
 lives. The empire remained entire, unbroken in every 
 part. Nothing was loft, for us. Under the third prince 
 of the Brunfaic line, adminiflration has already loft us 
 half the Britim monarchy, and the reft feems moulder- 
 ing away. Nothing appears ftable, or fecure, except 
 the minifterial majority in this Houfe. In the late glo- 
 rious reign, the bounds of the empire were enlarged 
 in every quarter of the world, under the aufpices of a 
 brave, martial, humane, and heroic fovereign. We 
 are now ignominiouily driven out, not only from fome 
 of our late acquifitions, but from the greater part of 
 pur ancient poffeffions. The enquiry into this fad re- 
 yerfe is furely our duty as the grand inqueft of the na- 
 tion. 
 
 Some remarks, Sir, were made by the honourable 
 gentleman, who feconded the amendment, on the late 
 publications from the families of two noble earls. He 
 thought it clearly proved from the letter of the fon, 
 that the father, fo long fufpedted of guiding the mea- 
 fures of the State, no longer poffefTed any controuling 
 
 power,
 
 ( 3*3 ) 
 
 power, or even fecret influence. He avowed an un* 
 bounded refpeft, and a kind of Family Regard, to the 
 noble Lord. I have the misfortune of differing in 
 this inftance very widely indeed with the honourable 
 gentleman. I hold the public character of the noble 
 Lord in utter abhorrence ; not from any perfonal in- 
 jury, not from any national prejudice, butcfrom his 
 demerit as a Minifter. He made the inglorious peace 
 of Paris. 
 
 Ex illo fluere ac retro fublapfa referri 
 Spes Danaum ; fractal vires. 
 
 He boafted of that peace in a great aflembly. I heard 
 him declare, that he glorie4 in it, and wifhed it might 
 be infcribed on his tomb-Jlone, Here lies the man, zvbo 
 made the Peace of Paris. The expreflion was more 
 flriking than original *; but the fpecies of pride, which 
 is founded in deep criminality, muft be allowed to be 
 of the firft caft. He loft us Newfoundland, patted 
 the odious excife on cyder and perry, by which the 
 excifeman got accefs into private houfes, violated the 
 
 * The priginal expreflion belonged to another Scot, a Tbemat Scot, one of the 
 Tyrannicides, who was executed at Charing Crofs, Oct. 17, i66ot In the fecond 
 volume of the State Triait is an account of his trial and execxition. 
 Sir Theophilus Biddolph fworn. 
 
 Council. Pray tell my lords and the jury what you have heard the prifoner fay, 
 touching this bufmefs of putting tie Kh;g to death. 
 
 Sir Theophilus Biddolph. I did hear him confefi that he did fit as one of the 
 Judges of the late King, and that he was Jo far j 'rim repenting of the act, that he did 
 defire, v hen he died, that a itmb-ftone might he laid over him, with this inlcrip- 
 tion, Hf re ties rboaias Scot, tuba adjudged tt death the I.Me King. Page 331. 
 
 At his execution the Sheriff interrupted him. Mr. Scot faid, IJhallfay no more 
 'J! tbis, tbat It Jj a very mean and bad cauft that will not bear the words of a dying 
 man. Then he prayed, wherein he has this expreflion. I fay again, totbeftaife 
 cf the free grace -:f God, 1 bleft bis nam-, be batb engaged me in A CAUSE NOT T 
 
 E REPENTED OF. / fay, IN A CAUSE NOT TO BK BEPENTEl) Of. HlS prayCf 
 
 being nded, he was turned off. Page 409. 
 
 national
 
 ( 3-4 ) 
 
 national faith with the king of Pruflia, was guilty of 
 fcandalous profufion of the public money in negoci- 
 ating the loan of three millions and a half for 1763, 
 and advHed a cruel proclamation, by which he perfe- 
 cuted the brave free Corficans, as I believe he has fince 
 done the Americans. Thefe, Sir, are the grounds of 
 the hatred, which I have always avowed. J agree with 
 a late great ftatefman, that he has brought the King and 
 Kingdom to ruin. As to his influence being at an end, 
 would to God, Sir, it were ! Is the heir of that noble 
 family being lately created an Englifli peer, a proof of 
 the father's now retaining no influence ? Is the lieu- 
 tenancy of a confiderable county, given to the fame no- 
 bleman, to be admitted as* evidence that his power is 
 cxtinguifhed ? I give no private anecdotes. I ftate 
 public facts, from a paper, which in fuch things only 
 can be trufted, the London Gazette. I rejoiced, Sir, 
 that the heir of that noble family was treated an Eng- 
 lilh peer, for I thought that the young Lord's un- 
 fpptted reputation, intrinsic merit, and great as well as 
 amiable qualities, would reflect back more honour than 
 he could receive from a modern peerage of this coun- 
 try ; but I was perfuaded that he owed his Engliih peer- 
 age no lefs than his birth to his father. 
 
 A brave, but unfortunate General, Sir, urges us to an 
 enquiry into the caufes of the failure of the late expe- 
 dition under his command, and he afks z parliamentary 
 inqueft. I am likewife for that enquiry. At the clofc 
 of rhe laft feifion he made the fame requeft, which was 
 refilled by the fame majority to whom he now prefers 
 his petition. I have a high efteem for a parliamentary 
 ivquc$ y but there is a higher tribunal , (bat of the peo- 
 ple, our conilituents, ever, ready to <io>jaft ice to the 
 
 opprefibd
 
 ( J5 ) 
 
 oppefied and injured. As an Englifhman, let him ap- 
 peal to the people, and conftitute the Englifh nation 
 the judges of his conduct and honour, in every point 
 jn difpute between him and adminiftration, or even 
 royalty. He obferves, that the time will come for an 
 enquiry. It will certainly come in this mode, whenever 
 he chufes to publifh the papers, which he furniftied to, 
 and are now withheld by, Minifters, papers of the ut- 
 jnoft importance, according to his declaration in this 
 Houfe, to the State, to the Parliament, and to the 
 Public. 
 
 The amendment made to the addrefs goes ftill far- 
 ther, and takes larger ground, including, however, 
 that of the late American commander. It propofes to 
 enquire into all the late fatal counfels, which have 
 brought on a difmemberment of the empire. The 
 juftice of the nation calls loudly for it, and therefore 
 my feeble voice ihall be for that wife and necefiary 
 meafure. 
 
 VOTES of March 10, 1779- 
 
 Refolved, 
 
 That this Houfe will, immediately, refolve itfelf 
 into a committee of the whole Houfe, to confider of 
 
 granting further relief to Proteftant dffinting mznifiers 
 
 and fcbwl-inafters. 
 
 Mr.
 
 C 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I rife not at this time to enter into the merits of fo 
 important a queftion to religious liberty among us, but 
 to anfwer the objections of the honourable gentleman * 
 jiear me, againft going into a committee for this con- 
 fideration. This early oppoihion is more harm than 
 well-judged. He thinks the queftion mould not now 
 be agitated, becaufe a time of tumult, dijlrefs, and war, 
 is a very improper feafon to make the leaft change in 
 the ftate of religion in any country. Did the worthy 
 baronet forget that a juft relief was the very laft year 
 granted to many opprefled loyal fubjedts, to the Ro- 
 man Catholics, and an important change made in their 
 iuuation among us -j~ ? Yet, Sir, the laft year was 
 equally a year of tumult, dijlrefs, and war. Not the 
 leaft inconvenience of any kind has arifen from the 
 Act of laft Seffion in favour of the Roman Catholicks, 
 from fo great an alteration in our ecclehaftcal police. 
 On the contrary, the nation has more firmly attached 
 to it by the ties of gratitude a very confiderable num- 
 ber of ufeful fubjefts. Not the leaft tumult or diftur- 
 bance has been the confequence of that wife meafure. 
 It is impoffible, Sir, that toleration can create tumults 
 and religious wars* Perfecution is, indeed, a moft 
 active demon, delighting in human facrifices, has 
 
 * SirWrlliam Bagot, Baronet, Member for Staffbrdfhire. 
 
 f The Roman Catholicks are fuppofed to be much more numerous than they 
 really are in England. 
 
 " When the Earl of Radnor moved in the Hoitfe of Lords for an Enquiry into 
 " the number of Roman Catholicks in this kingdom, his Grace (Archbifliop 
 " Seeker) was very active in forwarding that meafure. The return for his own 
 u <}iocefe was no more than 271 ; that for all the diocefes in England and Wales did 
 " not exceed 68,000." Life of Seeker, prefixed to his Sermons, 8vo, 1780. 
 
 3 drenched
 
 ( 3*7 ) 
 
 drenched our fields, and dyed our fcaffolds, with tin* 
 Daughter of the victims of religious rage ; but the 
 fpirit of toleration is conciliating, heals diviiions, and 
 teaches. men mutual forbearance, meeknefs, gentlenefs, 
 and univerfal benevolence. The worthy baronet, in 
 the great compafs of his reading, will not give a fmgle 
 proof of the mifchief even of the moft unlimited tole- 
 ration ; but he will find innumerable marks of th 
 bloody footfteps of the revengeful and remorfelefs per- 
 fecutor, lefs intent to fave than than to deftroy. 
 
 Another objection, which the honourable gentleman 
 has urged, is, that there is no petition before the 
 Houfe from any body of the Proteftant difienters, no 
 complaint of perfecution, no inftance of fe verity againft 
 any of the fedts which differ from the eftablifliment. 
 When the Houfe proceeded the laft year to give relief 
 to the Roman Catholics, was any petition previoufly 
 prefented ? Was a committee appointed to ftate the 
 various fads of perfecution, or even harfh ufage ? 
 Were any cafes of that nature urged in proof? No, 
 Sir ; the Houfe proceeded on the liberal idea of re- 
 moving all unjuft and impolitick reftraints, on the juf- 
 tice of leaving the fubjedt free as to all opinions merely 
 religious, on the natural rights of every man to worlhip 
 his Creator in the manner which he thinks moft ac- 
 ceptable to the Deity. The Roman Catholicks ha'd 
 not been harrafled by any legal profecutions ; but 
 the laws were unrepealed which put them in the 
 power of every infamous informer. They were fubjecl' 
 at any time to the moft rigorous penalties, at all times 
 to the moft mortifying reftraints. The wifdom and 
 equity of Parliament at laft interpofed, and reftored 
 them to feveral of their natural rights. Surely, Sir* 
 
 the.
 
 the Proteftant diflenters have a much ftronger clairri 
 on government. They have fteadily fupported the 
 caufe of freedom. They have acted on almoft every 
 occafion with fpirit and vigour againft thofe, who have* 
 endeavoured to overthrow this free conftitution, and 
 bury liberty in its ruins. As the confequence and proof 
 of their attachment to the caufe of liberty, they have 
 been among the molt zealous for the fucceflion in the 
 prefent illuftrious family, a fucceflion often fecretly at- 
 tempted to be undermined, and openly invaded by 
 the tools of arbitrary power, both at home and abroad. 
 At this hour, however, the Diflenters remain fubjedt 
 to feveral barbarous and cruel laws, enacted on the 
 fpur of a prefent neceflity, as it was thought, and 
 therefore acquiefced in almoft without murmuring, 
 but laws, which difgrace a thinking people, and are a 
 contradiction to every principle of found policy. 
 
 The honourable gentleman near me has oppofed the 
 motion on another ground, the danger of it te the 
 cftablilhed church at this alarming period. He pa- 
 thetically laments the progrefs of Atheifm, and the 
 publication of many atheiftical books within the laft 
 twenty years. I think this accufation on our country 
 ill founded. I believe, Sir, I have read more books 
 of religious controverfy than the worthy baronet, and 
 I deny the publication of the numerous atheiftical 
 works, which have engaged the public attention, in 
 this country, even for the laft half century. I might 
 call for the proof of a fingle atheiftical book, of the 
 leaft note, publilhed in the eighteen years of this pi- 
 ous, if not glorious, reign. Deifm indeed, Sir, found, 
 pure Deifm, has made a rapid progrefs, not only in this 
 but in every part of the continent. It is al-
 
 C 
 
 become the religion of Europe *. Atheifm is 
 certainly not the prevailing, fafhionable error of this 
 enlightened age or country, but every year adds to the 
 number of the difciples of Deifrn. I have not heard of 
 any outrages or violent per-fecutions among the Deifts, 
 although certainly they are greatly multiplied of late ; 
 but we have to lament the uncharitable fpirit of moft 
 feds of Chriftians, and even of not a fmall number of 
 the eflablilhed church of our own countrv, of which 
 
 . 7 
 
 I am a member as well as my good neighbour. The 
 honourable gentleman is not well informed. It is a 
 miftake to impute all the late publications againft the 
 received fyflem of the Chriftian religion to the Proteft- 
 ant dhTenters of any denomination. The fad: is, that 
 the authors of the greater part are members of the 
 cftablifhed church of England. 
 
 As the laws now Hand, a PifTentmg preacher is ob- 
 liged, in order to avoid fevere penalties, and to enjoy the 
 benefit of the Act of Toleration, to fubfcribe the 39 
 articles of the church of England, that is of another 
 church, except the 34th, 35th, and 36th, and a part 
 of the 2oth article. I hope we mall go into a com- 
 mittee to confider of the repeal of fo unjuil and un- 
 charitable a lyftem of laws. I will not now, Sir, exa- 
 mine the orthodoxy, or abfurdity, of the doctrinal parts 
 of the 39 articles ; but I defire to proteft againft any 
 man's being compelled to fubfcribe them, becaufe they 
 militate againft the firft great principle of Chriilian 
 charity. In the 8th article we find, " that the three 
 ." creeds, Niwne creed, Atbanafius's creed, and that 
 
 * L "adoration pxire de 1'Etre fupreme commence a etre aujourd'hui la religtoa 
 de tous les honnete gens ; et b;entot elle defcendra dans vine partle feme du peu- 
 f>le mems. Le Diner du Compte de Boulainviliicrs, page 52. 
 
 " which
 
 ( 3 20 ) 
 
 ** which is commonly called the Apoftjes* creed, ought 
 ke thoroughly td be received and believed : for they 
 " may be prved by moft certain warrants of Holy 
 " Scripture.'* Now, Sir, one article of faith in the 
 Athanafidn creed is, that " except every one do keep 
 " whole and undefiled the Catholick faith, as fet forth 
 " in that creed, 'without doubt he Jhall perijh everlajl- 
 et ingly" I want words, Sir, to exprefs my horror at 
 the total want of Chriftian charity, the indecency, the 
 foolilh prejudice, and even infolence of fuch a decla- 
 tion. A much higher church authority than St. Atha- 
 tiafius, the Apoftle Peter, aflures us, that " in every 
 nation he that feareth God, and ivorketh right eoufncfs^ 
 is accepted with him ;" and the great Apoftle of the 
 Gentiles, St. Paul, feems to hold a very different doc- 
 trine ; for he tells us of three beautiful lifters, the 
 three Chriftian Graces, Faith, Hope, and Charity, which 
 abide, thefe three, but he adds, the greatejl of thefe is 
 Charity. I hope the committee will exempt the Pro- 
 teftant diflenting minifters and fchool-mafters from be- 
 ing called upon to fubfcribe this monftrous propofition, 
 of St. Athanafius. I think it our duty, for thefe con- 
 liderations belong directly to the jurifdi&ion of Par- 
 liament. By the very writs of election, we are called 
 together to confider of certain arduous and urgent af- 
 fairs concerning the State and the Church. The moment 
 likewife appears to be happily chofen, for the bandage 
 is at laft fallen from the eyes of fuperftition, and per- 
 fecution drops her iron rod. 
 
 I am not ftruck by the dread of the danger to the 
 Church, with which fome gentlemen feem alarmed. 
 On the contrary, I think it would do honour to our 
 Church to treat with tendernefs all thofe, who are nn- 
 
 . happy
 
 happy enough not to be in her bofom. I admire the 
 temper with which the late indulgences to the Roman 
 Catholicks were received, and moft certainly a Re- 
 formed Church mult be flill more kindly difpofed to 
 their Proteftant brethren. Our Mailer has told us, in 
 the Urged and moft general terms, that where tW9 
 or three are gathered together in his name, he was in the 
 inidft of them. 
 
 Sir, I honour the ingenuity of the worthy * Baronet, 
 who made the motion, in contriving to oblige us to 
 hear many pages of a fermon, by reading them as part 
 of his fpeech. It was happily imagined, for I understood 
 on a late occafion that not one member of this Houle 
 attended you, Sir, to St. Margaret's; and I believe the 
 Chancellor likewife on that day was left without a fin- 
 gle Lord. Surely, Sir, it is then high time to difcon- 
 tinue the obfervance of that annual faft for the death of a 
 tyrant. Many other fermons have this day been quoted by 
 gentlemen; but the proof arihng from them only goes to 
 the private fentiments of the preacher, or of the few 
 who hear, or read, and approve thofe fermons. I really 
 think the general opinion of the clergy at this day 
 is for a liberal toleration, and I truft that a majority even 
 of the epifcopai order will now aflent. They have acqui- 
 efced in the juftice done to the Roman Catholics, and 
 I hope the prefenc relief intended to the Proteftant 
 dhTenting minifters and fchoolmafters will not be given 
 with reluctance, nor in the leafl delayed, but cordially 
 adopted both by clergy and laity, and that the Houfe 
 will immediately refohe itfdf into a committee of the izkole 
 Houfe, to confider of granting further relief to Protejlant 
 diffenting minijhrs andfchooimsjicrs. 
 
 * Sir Henry Ho^hton, Baronet, Member for Pxefton. 
 
 Y VOTES
 
 VOTES of March 15, 1779. 
 
 The * Lord Advocate for Scotland having taken his 
 feat for the firft time this feffiori, 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I am glad to fee now in his place the fu'ft law officer of 
 the crown for Scotland. I have a real refpect for his 
 Very fuperior abilities, and am always charmed with his 
 manly eloquence. I waited with impatience for his ar- 
 rival to call upon him to make good his promife laft 
 year to the Houfe, to bring in a bill this feffion for the 
 relief of the Roman Catholics in the northern parts of 
 this ifland. I remember his obfervation the laft feffion, 
 that the penal laws of that part of the united kingdom 
 ap-ainft the Roman Catholics had been enacted orevi- 
 
 O A 
 
 ous to the Union, and were of fo complicated a nature, 
 that it would require a good deal of time fully to invef- 
 tigate them, in order to frame a bill for their total, or 
 partial, repeal. He therefore declared it advifeable to 
 defer the relief of the Scottilh Roman Catholics till the 
 next feffion of Parliament, when he pledged himfelf to 
 the Houfe that he would have a bill ready for that pur- 
 pofe. The idea was approved by both fides of the Houfe, 
 
 " * Henry Dundas, Efq; Member for Edinburghftiire. 
 
 and
 
 a'nd warmly recommended to the honourable gentle- 
 man's peculiar attention. So much of the prefent fef- 
 fion is already elapfed, that I think it my duty on his 
 flrft appearance to remind him of that parliamentary 
 engagement, which I doubt not he is ready immedi- 
 ately to fulfil. 
 
 The Lord Advocate then went into a detail of the 
 peculiar circumftances of his fituation, of the late tu- 
 mults at Edinburgh and Glafgow, and concluded that 
 he believed the Scottilh Roman Catholics rather wifhed 
 the bufinefs to be deferred. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes then added > 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I think it is now apparent that the honour and inde- 
 pendency of this Houfehave been meanly facrificed by the 
 friends of adminiftration to the feditious populace in Scot- 
 land. An example of a fatal nature has been given by the 
 mobs of Edinburgh and Glafgow to the mobs of London 
 and Weftminfter to rife, and endeavour by fimilar out* 
 rages to prevent any matter of moment difpleafmg to 
 them from ever being brought into Parliament. The 
 magiftrat.es of Edinburgh appear to have been apprized 
 of the intended riot fome days before. They at leaft 
 connived at the tumult. If the accounts publiihed there 
 are to be credited, they actually aided and abetted the 
 rioters. They faw with pleafure the various cruelties 
 exercifed by a lawlefs banditti. They exerted their 
 authority only againft thofe, who endeavoured to quell 
 the riot *. By a proclamation in their name, four days 
 
 after 
 
 * la the pamphlet publifhed by CogWan, it is laid, " The Duke of Bnccleugh 
 " and his officers were fhocked at what they faw going on, and exprefied their in- 
 
 Y a " dignatio*
 
 C 3*4 > 
 
 after the riot, they feem to plead guilty, for they de- 
 clare, " after this public affurance, the Lord Provoft and- 
 " magiftrates will take the mofl vigorous meafures for 
 tf repremng any tumultuous or riotous meetings of the- 
 i( populace, which may hereafter arife; being fatisfied 
 " that zny future diforders will proceed only from the 
 " wicked views of bad and defining men," a very hand- 
 fome, although indirect, compliment to the good views 
 of the former well-meaning rioters. A folernn promife- 
 had been made in the name of government to the mob 
 by the * Lord Jujlice Clerk, that no bill in favour of 
 
 the 
 
 " dignation in the ftrongeft terms ; and as the riot aft had Been read feme time be- 
 " fore, only waited Lord Provoft's (Walter Hamilton 1} orders to repel force by force,, 
 " arid fave the Houfe. 
 
 " When his Grace favv what the mob was intending, he defired the Lord Provo/l 
 " to give him leave to act with the neceffary vigour, and undertook, if he was al-- 
 "lo\vud, to prevent all future mifchief; but this leave being refufed, he rufheJ 
 " among the mob, and took five prifoners with his own hand, whom he delivered to 1 
 " his men, but the Lo-d Pro-v.,/1 immediately defired they might he releafed. Upon 
 " this his grace replied, that being there as a militaiy man, under the command of 
 " the civil magiftrate. he would not releafe them without exprefs orders* Thofe 
 " orders bis Lordfb p immediately gave, and the prifoners were releafed.. 
 
 " Hay, ftraw, tar barrels, and other combuftible matter, which the mob had al- 
 " ready prepared, were fet on fire in different parts of the Houfe; .which, when 
 " Major Sir James Johnfton perceived, he immediately ordered fome of his men tp. 
 force their way into the Houfe, and extinguiih the flames. This they chearfully 
 " did, and in a fhort tiir.e liad r-lmoH: got the fire under ; but the Prevofl, feeing this^ 
 " defired Sir James to recall his men. The Major expreffed his utmoft furprize at 
 " fuch orders, and refufed to recall them, unlefs his Lordjhip fhould give Iiim pofitive 
 ".orders to do fo. The orders were immediately given, the men were withdrawn, 
 " rhe flames foon prevailed, and in a fhort time ths whole houie was reduced to 
 " afhes, with the beft part of tlie furniture of five families who dwelt in it." Pages 
 az, 23, 24. 
 
 A Dey of Algiers offered r:i burn his capital for half the fum, which the Bom- 
 bardment of it by Louis XIV. would coft ; but a Lard Pro-vofl of Edinburgh u th. 
 tirft Chriftian magiftrate who gave directions, as an incendiary, for the progrefs 
 of devouring flames ia his capital. If a Lord Mayor of London had aclcd in this 
 manner, he would mor>aiiurjtiiy have held up his hand at the Old Baily, and been 
 <,!] 'itally convidted. 
 
 , the Right Hon. LrJ Jrfici Clerk. Edinburgh, Feb. 12, 1779. 
 
 This day a letter v.us received frcm L rd rifcount IJ'ymutb, his Majefly's Princi- 
 pal Secretary ef State for the Southern department, ibted Sc, James's, Feb. 8, 1770,
 
 ( 3** ) 
 
 the Scottiih Roman Catholics fhould be brought into 
 the Houfe of Commons this feflion. Is it poffible, Sir, 
 Xo imagine a more ignominious furrender of the dig- 
 nity of Parliament, or a more perfect annihilation of 
 our legiflative rights ? A Britilh Parliament is con- 
 trolled in their proceedings by an Edinburgh mob, and 
 we are forbid even beginning an a& of juftice and hu- 
 manity by an ignorant and infolent mob, by a mad and 
 Jawlefs rabble. The public faith, pledged in the moft 
 folemn manner by government to the Roman Catholics 
 of Scotland, is groflly violated. The Attorney General 
 ,was proceeding capitally againft fome rioters, who, in 
 the general joy for the triumph of virtue and bravery 
 over malice and perfecution, had broken windows in 
 this metropolis ; yet the mob of Edinburgh, who had 
 pulled down and fet fire to houfes, and totally ruined 
 fome innocent individuals, are unnoticed by the law of- 
 ficers of the Crown. Inftead of punifhment, they meet 
 applaufe ; they obtain the object for which they had 
 riotoufly aflembled, England, Sir, has relaxed her pe- 
 nal laws againft the Roman Catholics. Ireland has re- 
 laxed her penal laws ; but Scotland obflinately refufes, 
 although her penal laws are much more barbarous than 
 thofe of the other two kingdoms *. It becomes then 
 
 the 
 
 ruMrelTed to Lord J^ice Clerk, in \vhlch, after informing him of the imufpofition of 
 the Farl of Suffolk, to whom, as Secretary of State for the Northern department, 
 Lord Juftice Chrk't letters had been addreffed, and after expreffing great concern for 
 the alarms which had been raifed in the minds of the people of Scotland, upon the 
 iv.bjeet of an intended repeal of the laws againft Papifts, his Lordfhip givei the mjl 
 fifitivc aj/iirxnce, that no fucb billii intended to be brnuglit into Parliament by any mem- 
 ber of Government, or by any other perfon known to his Lordfliip, and defirts Lord 
 Jujlict Clerk immediately to take fuch courfe as he fhall judge moft expedient to 
 quiet the minds of all ranks of people on that fubjeft. Tho. Miller. 
 
 * The kirk of Scotland appears to be a cenforious, ill-bred, abufive, perfecuting 
 prude, who can give nobody a good word. She is always talking againft her lifter 
 ef England, a fober, decent matron, whom fhe reviles for wearing clean white 
 fcnen, and liftening to the frufant organ. But the greateft object of her rage is a 
 
 Y 3 flaunti g
 
 the wifdom and juftice of Parliament in this crifis. to 
 act with fpirit. The conduct of adminiftration appears 
 to me highly criminal, and the legiflature ought there- 
 fore to interfere. Every government owes protection 
 to its fubjects, or forfeits their allegiance. When I am 
 informed that the peaceable and loyal Roman Catho- 
 lics of Scotland find no fecurity even in their capital for 
 their lives and property, I do not hefitate to aflert that 
 there is a. diffqlutiqn of all Government. 
 
 VOTES of April 20, 1779. 
 
 The Houfe refolved itfelf into a committee of the 
 whole Houfe upon the Bill for the further relief of Pro- 
 left ant diffcnting minifars andfchoolmafters. 
 
 Frederick Montague, Efq; member for Higham. 
 Ferrers, took the chair of the committee. 
 
 Mr. Wilket faid, 
 Mr. Montague^ 
 
 I am a Heady friend to religious liberty and the righ$ 
 of private judgment, and therefore I hope to fee this 
 bill go through the committee, undogged by either of 
 the tefts propofed by the noble * Lord in the blue rib- 
 baqd, or the honourable -j~ gentleman near him. . Nei- 
 
 flaunting Italian lady, with whom fhe ;s in a real ftnte of warfare. She would not 
 pnly tear all the fine cloaths from her back, but fhe wouW tear the lady herfelf limt> 
 from limb. She delights in the fouleft and moft opprobrious expreffions, and on fo- 
 lemn qccafions, a? well as in common convert'atiun, calls her Wbvre, and the Wbtrt 
 ef Babylon. 
 
 * Lord North. 
 
 f Sir Henry Ho^hton, Baronet, Member for Preflon,
 
 ( 3 2 7 ) 
 
 ther of them has advanced a fyllable to prove the 'claim 
 of the civil magiftrate to interpofe in matters of pri- 
 vate opinion, to over-rule the rights of confcience, or 
 to dictate a creed for the reft of the community. I deny 
 that the civil magiftfate has the leaft concern with the 
 falvation of fouls, or that any power of that nature is 
 delegated to him. Men affemble in fociety only for 
 the fecurity of their civil rights, for the prefervation and 
 pofleffion of life, liberty, houfes, goods, effects, all 
 kinds of property. The magiftrate is therefore armed 
 with the whole force of the ftate to affift the weak 
 againft the violence of the ftrong. Here his power 
 ends. It need not, it cannot be carried further. My 
 faith, whether robuft or feeble, muft depend on the 
 perfuafion of my own mind, on the ftrength or weak- 
 riefs of my underftanding, on the conviction, which 
 reafoning may operate. A perfon cannot be privileged 
 to think and examine matters of faith to be believed 
 by another. So far only as I know, can I give a full 
 affent. Some gentlemen near me are miftaken, when 
 they talk in fo confidential a {train of the lincerity and 
 certainty of their faith, for no man could ever actually 
 believe every thing in the 39 articles, becaufe no man 
 ever could under-Hand the whole. In every unintelli- 
 gible proposition, it is impoflible to decide as to the 
 truth or falfehood. Vain felf-love makes a bigot think 
 any opinion different from his own to be herefy, but 
 every man is undoubtedly orthodox to himfelf. The 
 power of compulfion in points of faith would lead to 
 the enacting of error no lefs than of truth. Such a 
 claim is attended with this plain abiurdity, that the ci- 
 vil magiftrate muft every where have the fame jurifdic- 
 o> and that the fole right of judging muft be in him. 
 Y 4 I ihall
 
 ( 3*8 ) 
 
 I {hall therefore be commanded at London to fubfcribc 
 the Old and Ne-w 'Tejiament ; but if I were born in the 
 latitude of Conftantinople, the Mufty might equally 
 claim my belief of the Koran. If I were a native of 
 Indoftan, the Veidam, the Gentoo creed, and the Ordina- 
 tions of the Pundits, muft be acknowledged of di- 
 vine authority; but in the north, all the various na- 
 tions of the old Scandinavia, would have held out to me 
 the infpired Edda, or fyftem of Runic mythology *. The 
 civil magiftrate can clearly have no right to prefcribe 
 error ; and we fee how infinitely it varies, while truth is 
 fimple as well as uniform. It cannot then depend on 
 the magiftrate to enact truth, for we find how fallible 
 he is, that he often enacts error, and no man will aflert 
 that I ought to be compelled to embrace error. But, 
 Sir, no other man can think and determine for me in 
 matters of confcience. The fame argument, which 
 brings conviction to the mind of one man, often ope- 
 rates very feebly on another. If I am not convinced,, 
 can I fairly aflent or believe ? Or am I to be compelled 
 to the declaration of a falfhood ? The portion of reafon 
 which God has given every man, can alone decide for 
 him on the truth or falihood of any propoiition held 
 out to him by another. By his own reafon alone can 
 he judge, and will he be judged. 
 
 * An impudent Frenchman has called the eftablifhed religion of every country, 
 la retiiri'jn dn Ixntrreau. 
 
 Voltaire has placed this in a ftrong point of ridicule in nis Efiire au Roi de la 
 Chine. 
 
 Quand la troupe ecarlate a Rome a fait un choix> 
 L'elu> fiit-il un fot, eft des-lors infaillible. 
 Dans 1'lnde le Veidam, ct dans Londres la Bible, 
 A 1'hopital des {bus ont logj plus d'efprits, 
 Que Gri?,el u'a trouve de dupes a Paris, 
 
 I am
 
 ( 5*9 ) 
 
 I am at a lofs to guefs on what pretence, except tliq 
 luft of power, in fome countries the civil magiftrat^ 
 has ufurped the claim of decreeing articles of faith for 
 the reft of the community. If I am a good fubjecl. of 
 the State, loyal to the Prince and zealous for the wel- 
 fare of my country, is not the great end of my aflfoci- 
 ating in civil fociety fully anfwered? I have ftipu- 
 lated for protection to my perfon and property from the 
 laws, and the return is obedience to them. I am to defend 
 the State, which defends me; but has this the leaft 
 connecTrion with my believing the religion of another 
 man, with any mode of faith? In all cafes where the 
 public weal is not interefted, I preferve my natural li- 
 berty. Four or five French wits fome years ago facri- 
 ficed a goat to Bacchus. They had a right to make a 
 burm>ofTering of their own goat to whom they pleafed ; 
 to eat any part of it themfelves, and confume the reft, 
 according to their private caprice. But if a man 
 ihould attempt to facrifice his fon to Molock, the ci- 
 vil magiftrate ought to interpofe, and punifh not the 
 facrifice, but the foul murder. The diftinftion is clear 
 and founded in reafon. The one is a foolilh, but harm- 
 Jefs a6t, not attended by injury to any perfon. The 
 other is a horrid breach of the neceflary police of every 
 flate, a violation of a moft important law. The great 
 Locke puts a fimilar cafe : " If any people congre- 
 " gated upon account of religion, ftiould be defirous to 
 " facrifice a calf, I deny that they ought to be prohibited 
 " by a law. Melibceus, whofe calf it is, may lawfully 
 " kill his calf at home, and burn any part of it he 
 ** thinks fit. For no injury is done to any one, no 
 * c prejudice to another man's goods. And for the fame 
 if reafon he may kill his calf alfo in a religious man- 
 2 '< ner.
 
 C 33 ) 
 
 (< ner. But if the intereft of the commonwealth re. 
 (( quired all ilaughter of beafts fhould be forborn for 
 * e fome time, in order to the encreafing of the flock of 
 * ( cattle, that had been deftroyed by fome extraordi- 
 " nary murrain ; who fees not that the magiflrate, in 
 " fuch a cafe, may forbid all his fubjetts to kill any 
 * f calves for any ufe whatfoever ?" 
 
 Such, Sir, are the found principles of toleration; and 
 yet Locke was fo alarmed by the bigotry and ran- 
 corous oppofition of the Oxford Tories, then too in high 
 credit, that he did net venture to fpeak out, and to ar- 
 gue with all the powers of his enlarged underftanding. 
 He fays, that he would tolerate the idolater, not the 
 Atheift. I cannot affign any caufe of difference, fup,- 
 poiing each to be equally a peaceable fubjecl:. Was 
 David Hume, the profeffed Atheift, one of the moft 
 humane of our fpecies, an irreproachable denizen, not 
 to be allowed to reikle quietly in his pwn Houfe ? 
 Could fuch a prcfcription come from a Locke ? Can a 
 man forfeit all his franchifc-s for a miftaken point of 
 fpeculation? As to the Atheift being admitted into 
 places of truft or profit, that is a further cpnfideration. 
 Locke argues, " that promifes, covenants, and oaths, 
 (( which $re the bonds of human fociety, can have no 
 " hold upon an Atheifl." I admit the obfervation 2,5 
 to oafhs, rnoft fhockingly multiplied among us on every 
 occaiion. Perhaps penalties of a heavy nature might 
 be as effectual with mankind in general. The reafon- 
 ing does not hold good as to promifes and covenants. 
 This is the dodtrine of mere violence. I would not, 
 Sir, perfecute even the Atheift *. J think he has a 
 
 * There is a beautiful jiafiage in the fscond book of Efdras, ch. I. ver. 22, i^. 
 Thus faith the Almighty Lord, Wbt* yt were in thi ivildti-nefi, in tLe *iy<. 
 jtrxcrhes, being atbir/'i, andbtaffbeming my mm, I gave ytiit not fire fir your 
 iKiti t tut (aft a trie in tin iy*iir t and madt ike liwrjweti.
 
 right to toleration, and, for my own part, I pity him* 
 for he wants the confolation, which I enjoy *. 
 
 I would fupport the fublime dome of St. Paul's, but; 
 J would not deftroy a beautiful Pantheon. I wifli to 
 fee rifmg in the neighbourhood of a Chriflian cathe- 
 dral, near its gothic towers, the minaret of a Turkilb 
 mofque, a Chinefe pagoda, and Jewilh fynagogue; 
 with a temple of the fun, if any Perfians could be found 
 to inhabit this ifland, and worfhip in this gloomy cli- 
 mate, the God of their idolatry. The fole bulmefs of the 
 magiftrate is to take care that they did not perfecute one 
 another, for priefts of all religions are the fame. I fpeak 
 not individually, but generally, as too fond of power, 
 ambitious, grafping at wealth, honours, and preferment, 
 luxurious, indolent, intolerant. Even the toleration aft 
 appears to me incomplete, and in a degree to breathe 
 the fpirit of perfecution. I agree with the honourable 
 f- gentleman who fpoke laft, that it has great need of 
 amendment. There is an abfurd intolerance remaining 
 even in that aft, as if nothing human could be perfect, 
 as aftronomers remark fpots in the fun. One of the 
 claufes enads, that // flail not extend to give any eafe, 
 benefit, or advantage, to any perfon that foall deny, in his 
 preaching or writing, the doftr'me of the bleffed Trinity, as 
 it is declared in the aforefaid articles, that is, the thirty- 
 
 * Voltaire fayt, in a letter to a friend, Nov. 10, 1770, Je vous fais bien boa 
 grede reprouver I'^ibeifmt, et d'aimer ce vers, 
 
 Si Diai n'exiftait pas, il faudrait 1'inventer. 
 
 Je fuis rarement content de mes vers, muis j'avoue que j'ai une tendreffe de pere 
 pour celui-la. 
 
 ' Les ennemis des caufes finales m'ont toujours pmi plus hardis que ralfonnables, 
 S'ils rencoiitrent des chevilles et d^slroui, ils avouent fans hefiter que les unes ont 
 etc faites pour les autres, et ils ne veulent pas que Ic foleil foil fait pour les pla- 
 , &c. &c. 
 
 < Thomas Powys, Efq. Member for Northamptonfhire>
 
 C 33* ) 
 
 nine articles. Now, Sir, many learned and pious 
 have been of opinion, that the Atbanaftan doctrine of 
 the Trinity, enjoined to be believed by the thirty-nine 
 articles, is direct polytheifm. It is certainly a fpecula- 
 tive opinion, uninterefting to the welfare of the com- 
 munity, and therefore I ought to be left at liberty to 
 reject or adopt it, according to thte ftrength or weak- 
 nefs of my private judgment. Notwithstanding the 
 ptefent forbearance of the church, which we are now 
 reminded of, we know from fuch examples as Wbifton, 
 Clarke, and Hoadly, that even in this century good 
 and exemplary men have fuffered perfecution on ac- 
 count of this very doctrine, and various fpccies of pre- 
 tended herefy, who were preferred merely by the in- 
 terpotition of the humane rulers of the ftate. 
 
 According to the prefent fyftem of laws, there is 
 not only a real perfecution of the Proteftant dirtenting 
 minifters, but a direct invafion of the natural rights of 
 the laity, of every man who has the happinefs of a 
 father's name in this country. I fuppofe, Sir, it will 
 be readily admitted, that the good education of chil- 
 dren is the mod important duty of every parent. I 
 will then fuppofe, as I am told is actually the cafe of 
 a noble Lord * diftinguifhed for his great political 
 knowledge, and refined tafle in the polite arts, that a 
 father is of opinion a certain Diffenting Clergyman 
 \vill educate his fon better than any other perfon. It 
 becomes then the duty of a father, under fuch a per- 
 fuafion, to commit the education of his fbn to that 
 tutor. Is he then to fubject the Diffenting Clergyman 
 to the moft ridiculous reftraints, not to come wit brn five 
 miles cf a city, town corporate, or borough, unlefs only in 
 
 * It is thought that tliis alludes to Lord Shelburne and Dr. Prieftlcy.
 
 C 333 ) 
 
 faffing upon tie road, or unlefi required by legal p 
 to imprifonment without bail or mainprize, or to heavy 
 pecuniary penalties ? or is- he to violate the ftrongeft ii%+ j 
 junctions of nature ? I will venture, Sir, to affirm, 
 that there are not in Europe men of more liberal ideas, 
 more general knowledge, more cultivated underltand-* 
 ing, and in all refpedts men better calculated to form 
 the riling generation, to give the ftate wife and virtu- 
 ous citizens, than the doctors Price, Prkitley, and 
 Kippis. Yet the rod of perfecution hangs over then* 
 by a (ingle thread, if they do not fubfcribe thirty-five 
 articles and a half of our church. A mercenary in- 
 former y or a blind zealot, may bring, under the laih of 
 the law, men,, who do honour to the age in which we 
 live, and the moft abandoned of our fpecies have it; 
 now in their power to perfecute virtue and genius, 
 when exerted for the benefit of mankind. 
 
 The noble Lord in the blue ribband, and the 
 honourable gentleman near him, with a curious in- 
 coniiftency, are for abolifhing one religious teft, and 
 fubftituting between them two others, for each pro- 
 pofes a different teft to be added to this bill. I am 
 againft the old teft ; and when we have got rid of that, 
 my voice will never be for freih faackles on tender con- 
 fciences* I maintain the doctrine of the magiftrate not 
 having a right to interfere, except to preferve the 
 peace and order of fociety, and to protect our civil 
 rights. Are the thirty-nine articles connected as to 
 doctrinal points with the civil duties or rights of the 
 fubject ? Certainly not. Whence then can arife the 
 right of compulfion to the fubfcription of them ? They, 
 are even hoftile to civil liberty, and therefore unfit to 
 be impofed on the fubjccts of a free ilate. The article 
 
 whicli
 
 ( 334 } 
 
 h enjoins the Homilies to be received as a godly and 
 wholefome doElnne will be confidered as a libel on thh 
 free conflitution by every man who has read the Homfy 
 againji rebellion. That Homily declares, that, for con- 
 fcience fake, we muft fubmit to a " Caligula, a Glau- 
 *' dius, or a Nero, foolijh rulers, or moft cruel tyrants" 
 Then was the Revolution unjuft. Is a free-born Erig- 
 lifhman to be called upon to fubfcribe a doctrine, which 
 no man in Turkey believes or acts upon ? Abfurdities 
 will in vain be preached and enjoined. In every ex- 
 treme! cafe we find Nature re fumes her rights, and Juf- 
 tice triumphs, in one country by the bow-Jiring, in 
 another by the axe. All points of fpeculative doctrine 
 ought to be equal to the civil magiftrate Will it be 
 aflerted that a perfon, who believes only in the Divine 
 Unity, and whofe religious worfhip is reftricted to the 
 one fole felf-exiftent Creator, may not be as faithful a 
 fubjedt, as another who believes the Athdnafian doc- 
 trine of the Trinity, and pays divine honours to in- 
 ferior, to derived beings. They both may contribute 
 equally to the enormous taxes, which the noble Lord 
 is year after year enforcing for this iniquitous and ac- 
 curfed American war. So far both ought to be held 
 
 O 
 
 in the fame eftimation by our political rulers. Is a per- 
 fon to be deemed factious for not believing the fubjec- 
 tion of every individual of the human race to everlafl- 
 ing damnation for a crime to which he was not con- 
 fenting, committed before his exigence ? May I not 
 hold the univerfality and impartiality of the divine 
 goodnefs, if I live peaceably, and obey the laws of my 
 country ? Surely, Sir, a good fubject may doubt that 
 every man is of bis own nature inclined to evil, and that 
 even perfon born into this world defervetb God's wrath 
 
 and
 
 C 335 ) 
 
 &nd damnation. I may be zealous for the Proteftant (uc- 
 ceffion in the Houfe of Hanover, and yet not believe 
 that the laft fweet prince of that illuftrious line, the very 
 young Oftaviits, had in fo few days abode among 
 us deferred God's wrath and damnation. Upon my 
 word, Sir, the doctrine of fome, who call themfelves 
 orthodox, and deal out damnation fo liberally, makes 
 an humane man tremble. Let us no longer think of 
 impofmg thefe, or any other, articles of faith. Expe- 
 rience tells us, that terrors and rewards may create 
 temporary profelytes and hypocrites, but reafon only 
 can make a fincere convert. It is high time to pro- 
 claim religious liberty in 'its full extent to a people, 
 who have long abjured the fpiritual tyranny of Rome. 
 The honourable gentleman near the noble Lord fays, 
 that he " is for the declaration againft Popery r , becaufe 
 " it is a civil teft, x and as fuch it forms a claufe of the 
 " bill on our table." There is not, Sir, in that decla- 
 ration a iingle fyllable refpeding the civil rights of 
 mankind. Tenets of religion only are laid down in. 
 that declaration. The words of it are, " I do believe 
 " that in the facrament of the Lord's Supper there is 
 " not any tranfubftantiation of the elements of bread 
 <v and wine into the body and blood of Chrift, at or 
 " after the confederation thereof by any perfon what- 
 " foever ; and that the invocation or adoration of the 
 " Virgin Mary, or any other faint, and the facrifice 
 " of the mafs, as they are now ufed in the church of 
 " Rome, are fuperftitious and idolatrous." Thefe, Sir, 
 are merely controverted points of fpeculation, with which 
 the magiflrate is not concerned, except as an individual, 
 as a private Chriftian. They cannot affect the public 
 peace, or fafety of the flate. A Roman Catholic may be- 
 lieve
 
 ( 336 ) 
 
 lieve thefe, or purgatory, auricular confeffion, extreme 
 unction, and other doctrinal points ; yet if he will take 
 what is really a civil tejt, the oath prefcribed by the Act 
 of laft year, that " he denies the pope, or any other 
 " foreign prince having any temporal or civil jurif- 
 te diction, power, fuperiority, or pre-eminence, di- 
 " rectly or indirectly, within the realm, and that he 
 <e will be faithful, and bear true allegiance," which 
 the moft refpectable Roman Catholics have done^ 
 he then has a claim to the fame civil immunities 
 with all other fuhjects. I wilh not to offend, but 
 I declare that I am forry* the Roman Catholic has 
 not the enjoyment of every franchife which is claimed 
 by his fellow-fubjedts, on the fame terms of alle- 
 giance, and giving the fame fecurity to the ftate. Gen- 
 tlemen feem furprifed, but it appears to me, by that 
 oath the Roman Catholic directly abjures the mperium 
 in imperio, gives fecurity for the public peace, and al- 
 lows the magiftrate all the power, which the great pur- 
 pofes of fociety confer upon him. I plead his caufe, 
 becaufe I think it that of religious liberty, and the 
 rights of private confcience, no lefs than the caufe of 
 all Proteftant diflenters. 1 believe I may do it with- 
 out fufpicion ; for no man, who ever continued fo 
 long at Rome and in Italy, was ever lefs fufpected of 
 being tainted with the errors of Popery. Religion 
 fhould teach us the molt refined humanity, and all her 
 ways ihould be peace. The bigot is feldom the vir- 
 tuous, the meek, the amiable, or the learned cha- 
 racter *. 
 
 * Our fathers muft have been amazed to find that the greateft {ticklers for the 
 church in their times were Dr. Such": : ell and We.'! G-ziynn, vvhofe funeral fer- 
 mun, or rather p^ncgyrick, *.vas preached by Teruibn, afterwards archbilhop 
 f Canterbury. 
 
 The
 
 ( 337 ) 
 
 *Tne noble Lord in the blue ribband propofes another 
 teft, an oath of being a Chriftian, a Proteftant, and 
 believing the Holy Scriptures, as fe-verally received 
 Among Protsftants, to be the word of God. The fame 
 objection lies to the compulfion of this, as of any other 
 creed, becaufe it is acknowledging the ufurped power 
 of the magiftrate. Is human authority to give the 
 fandion of a revelation from God to books of divine 
 infpiration ? Are all Proteflant churches agreed as to 
 the canon of Holy Scripture, as to the purity of the 
 facred text ? In the Old Teftament are the Songs of &>- 
 Ionian univerfally adopted as infpired writings by all 
 Proteftants ? The exqu-ifite poetry of them will always 
 be admired ; but fome fober Chriftians have doubted 
 whether the fpirit of godlir^efs and true devotion was 
 to be found in many of the, luxurious wanton defcrip- 
 tions in the Eaftern flyle. It has been objected, that 
 they rather fuggefted too fenfual ideas, and that the 
 colouring was too warm. In the New Teftament, the 
 epiftle of St. Jude has been doubted of as part of the 
 infpired writings, from the account of Michael the 
 archangel contending with the Devil about the body of 
 Mofes* Are our own divines univerfally agreed about 
 the authenticity of all the books received as Holy 
 Writ ? Have no doubts been entertained by them even 
 of the Gofpel of St. Matthew, as we have it in the 
 Greek ? We find then, that this propofition of the 
 noble Lord is by no means, like his propofitions for 
 taxes, clear and precife, to fubfcribe the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, as received by Proteflants, for it is not yet fet- 
 tled which are the canonical books. If all Proteftants 
 were agreed as to the authenticity of the volumes, 
 yet another difficulty would occur. Is the text in fo 
 
 Z pure
 
 ( 338 ) 
 
 pure a ftate that I am certain it was dictated by the" 
 wifeft and beft of beings, that it is truly the word of 
 God? We all know of the thirty thoufand various read- 
 ings in the New Teftament, fome of them confefledly 
 important ; and moft of the Bifhops have encouraged a 
 learned Divine of our Church, Dr. Kennicott, to ex- 
 amine the various manufcripts of the Old Teftament, 
 to reftore the genuine reading of the Hebrew text. 
 It is not therefore perfect, and confequently ought 
 not to be impofcd as the faultlefs work of the Author 
 of every good and perfect gift. The indefatigable 
 Doctor has already difcovered many thoufand various 
 readings in the Hebrew, and it will be lucky if he 
 does not double the number of the Greek. Our claf- 
 fical Diocefan candidly confeffes the various imper- 
 fections, the corruptions, the perhaps wilful, miftakes" of 
 copyifts, the additions and interpolations of the Hebrew 
 text, in his excellent lectures, De facra Poefi Ilebrte- 
 vrum, and in the judicious Differtation on Ifalah ; nor 
 does he confine himfelf to that fublime prophet. The 
 fame remarks are made on a great variety of paflages 
 in almoft all the books of the Old Teftament. We 
 ought not then to be called upon to fubfcribe every 
 error of a copyifl, every interpolation of an ignorant 
 writer, as the immediate infpiration of the Holy Ghoft. 
 The idea of impofing this teft, Sir, the noble Lord, 
 probably as a complaifant chancellor, has adopted from 
 the petition of the Univerlity of Oxford. Their con- 
 duct has been uniform, to abridge, on every occafion, 
 as far as they could, both religious and civil liberty- 
 The noble Lord is defervedly -at their head. Their 
 lifter Univerfity has more liberal and enlarged fenti- 
 ments. Cambridge refufed to petition againft a clear 
 
 right
 
 ( 339 ) 
 
 right of their brethren ; but Oxford perfeveres in 
 the fatal maxims of arbitrary power in church and 
 ftate. The Oxford decree of 1683 Hill remains un- 
 repealed *. It is entered in perpetuam ret memoriam in 
 the regiftry of the convocation, and publickly affixed 
 in the halls, libraries, and refectories. It not only 
 condemns every principle which can juftify the glo- 
 rious Revolution , but even felf-prefervation, as a funda- 
 mental law of nature, is declared to be a Propofttion 
 falfe, feditious, and impious. In 1685, the Univeriity 
 of Oxford acknowledged, in a folemrt recognition, 
 James II. to be fovereign, 'without any reftriflions or li- 
 mitations. No wonder, Sir, that from this poifoned 
 fource have flowed the molt polluted ftreams. Uncon- 
 ditional fubmijfion from our American brethren, is na- 
 turally exacted by men who have been taught that a 
 king of England is not a limited monarch, but a fo- 
 
 * The Oxford Decree of 1683 ftill, indeed, remains unrcfsaled) but not unlumt 
 by the common hangman. 
 
 Extract from the " Journals of the Honfe of Lords, vol. XlX. page 122. 
 Diejovis, 23 Martii, 1769. 
 
 The Hoiife taking into confideration a judgement and decree of the Univerfity of 
 Oxford, paffed in their Convocation, the one and twentieth of July one thoufand 
 fix hundred and eighty-three, given in evidence by Doctor Henry Sacheverell at his 
 trial, upon the impeachment of the HoUfe of Commons, and thereupon lately re- 
 printed : It is refolved, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament af- 
 fembled, That the faid judgement and decree contains in it feveral />/?/ /'c, contrary 
 to the conftitutian of tbii kingdom, and dejiruflive to the Proteftant juccejflion, as by law 
 eftabliftied. 
 
 It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament 
 affembled, that the faid judgement and decree, lately printed and publifhed in a book 
 or pamphlet, intitnled, " An entire confutation of Mr. Haad/y's Book of the 0>igia*/if 
 *' Government, taken from the London Gaxette, fuhlijhed by authority, L'>r.d>jn, * 
 "printed in the ytar i?io," fliall be burnt by the hands of the common hangman, 
 in the prefence of the Sheriffs of London and Middlefex, at the fame time and 
 place, when and where the fermons of Doclor Henry Sacheverell are ordered to ba 
 burnt. 
 
 Totjic Sheriff* ot London and Middlefex. 
 
 Z a vereign
 
 < 340 ) 
 
 vereign -without any reftriftions or limitations. It is 
 lucky for England that all our generals and admirals: 
 were unable to enforce it in the new World. The Ox- 
 ford petition on our table exprefsly complains, that 
 the Bill does not provide that Minijlers and Schoolmajlers 
 Jhall make any profejpon whatever of their belief in the 
 fundamental doSrines of Chrijlianity, or even the authority 
 of the Holy Scriptures, and prays, that the Bill may not 
 be permitted to pafs into a law in the unlimited form it was 
 at Jirft propofed. What the fundamental doftrines of 
 Chriftianity are, and what is the canon of the Holy- 
 Scriptures, the Univeriity left to their Chancellor *,. 
 and bis majority in this Houfe to determine. The Aft 
 of lad year in favour of the Roman Catholics extended 
 to " Papifts, or perfons profeffing the Popifh reli- 
 <f gion, and keeping; fchool, or taking upon them- 
 41 felves the education, or government, or boarding. 
 ff of youth ;" and yet Oxford did not petition, al- 
 though there was no religious teft, no fubfcription to> 
 the Holy Scriptures impofed by that Act. The pre- 
 fent Act is " for further relief of Proteftant diflenting, 
 " minifters and fchoolmafters," and a teft is infifted 
 upon for our Proteftant brethren. Whence this marked 
 partiality and tendernefs to the Roman Catholics ? 
 this ungenerous treatment of Proteftants ? Are the Ro- 
 
 i_> 
 
 man Catholics thought fo generally tories, and the 
 Difienters whigs, that a political friendfhip at Oxford 
 is formed with the firll, and an ill-diffembled rancour 
 feems to prevail againft our Proteftant brethren ? 
 
 A Bill fimilar to this pafTed the Irilh Parliament in 
 1719, a 'critical period, in which religious toleration 
 was not fo well underftood as at prefent. The peace 
 
 * L>rd North is Chancellor of the Umverfit-. of Oxford.
 
 < 341 ) 
 
 of our neighbouring kingdom was not endangered by 
 that relief given to a worthy body of men, nor in a 
 courfe of lixty years has the leaft inconvenience been 
 fuggefted for an attempt at its repeal. Here then is 
 a forcible argument from fact, that all the imaginary 
 mifchiefs fuggefted by gentlemen againft the Church 
 of England, as being again in danger from the Bill, 
 deferve no attention. This Bill can affect neither the 
 .exiftence nor the profperity of the Church. It leaves 
 ^11 archbiihopricks, bifhopricks, fat deanries, and gol- 
 .den prebends, to their lucky pofleflbrs. It only fe- 
 cures the DilTenters from perfecution. They do not 
 afk for the fabrick of a fingle filver ihrine of Diana. 
 They acquiefce under the State patent granted to 
 others. 
 
 Sir, I contend for the moft general and unlimited tole- 
 ration, and I wiih the Bill ftill more extended, to take 
 jn all fedts and all religions. An univerfal toleration 
 might, in a good degree, anfwer the important pur- 
 pofes of a general naturalization bill. It might recruit 
 this unpeopled and impoyerilhed empire. After the' 
 infinite drains of this American war, the prodigious 
 wade of blood and treafure, and we are ftill bleeding 
 at every vein, it might call under the mikt protection 
 of our laws numberlefs inhabitants from every part of 
 the world. It might pour frefh vigour into a weak 
 and feeble nation, nearly exhaufted, and altnoft fink- 
 ing under a variety of oppreflions. The vvifeft prince 
 in Europe has found this theory confirmed by a long 
 happy experience. The king of Pruffia has faid, le 
 faux zelc eft un tyran qui depeuple les Provinces. La to- 
 lerance eft une tcndre mere qui les rend for ffantes. Hol- 
 land owes its rank among the firft ftates of Europe to 
 
 Z 3 one
 
 ( 342 ) 
 
 one finglc circumftance, civil and religious liberty 
 flourifhing fo greatly in the United Provinces. By 
 this fhe has rifen to an amazing height of power in 
 the worfl climate, and under every natural difadvan- 
 tage. In a commercial light let us be inftrufted by 
 the wary Hollander, that the direct road to popula- 
 tion and wealth, is entire fecurity, and freedom of 
 private judgement, to every peaceable inhabitant. I 
 have obferved in fome parts of Europe, that divine fer- 
 vice to the fame Deity is performed in the fame church 
 by the Roman Catholics in the morning, and the Pro- 
 teftants in the evening, and that they live together in 
 perfect harmony. Surely then, Sir, Proteflants of all 
 denominations might be on equal terms of good-will 
 and charity to each other. Peace on earth and good-will 
 towards men } are the bed political maxims for fociety ; 
 and if we go further, we are told that the tares fuould 
 be fujfered to grow with the wheat till (he harveft. 
 
 The progrefs of knowledge in almoft every nation 
 has foftened the rigour of their Jaws refpefting reli- 
 gious worfhip, or at leaft has, in a degree, fufpended 
 their execution, Scotland alone excepted. Some have 
 adopted a general principle of toleration. France has 
 a Proteftant at the head of her finances *. The lad 
 
 * There is a remarkable circumftance with refpeft to the prefent ftate of the 
 Jews in France, related in the feeond volume of " Vo} ages en differens pays tie 
 ' 1'Europeen 1774, 1775, &; 1776. A La Have 1777,'' page 387. 
 
 " La leigneurie c'.e Picquigny, qui appartenoit auparavant au Due de Channes, 
 et qni eft ime des plus conndeVables tcrres de la France par les prerogatives qui 
 lui font attachees, par le nombre d'habitans qu'elle contient, par la quantite de 
 paroilfes et de fjefs qui en relevent, appartient aftuellement a im Juif Allenand 
 venn de Hollande, et le Sieur Gainer, qui ert cet heureux Hebreux, y exerce 
 tons les draits qu'avoit exerce avant lui le Due de Chaunes : il con fere, a qui bon 
 lui femble, les Cures qui en dependent, et il crce des Chanoines dans 1'Eglife Epif- 
 1 popale d'Aniiens, dout il eft Vicomte" 
 
 1 diet
 
 ( 343 ) 
 
 diet of Sweden, by the unanimous confent of all the 
 orders, granted a full toleration. Even the clergy 
 preached it as found dodtrine no lefs of the Church 
 than of the State. I hope a fpirit of wifdom will go- 
 vern this Houfe, and make us embrace the prefent 
 aufpicious moment of convincing all foreign nations, 
 that this ifland will be the afylum of perfecuted re- 
 ligion and virtue. Among our greateft glories let 
 it be recorded, that every foreigner as well as native 
 here, in full fecurity, enjoys all the natural rights of 
 mankind, and the ineitimable privileges of civil and 
 religious liberty, unclogged by penal tefts. This Bill, 
 fuppofing it to pafs without the tefts, is laying a folid 
 foundation, on which a fair fuperftrudture may be 
 raifed, and therefore I give it my hearty fupport *, 
 
 * In confequence of this Speech Mr. Wilkes was honoured with the following 
 thanks from the general body of Pi-oteftant Diffentiug Miuifters. 
 
 " By order of the general Body of^Proteftant Dilfenting Minifters,' affembled at 
 " the Library, Red Crofs Street, the'.fecond inftant, Dr. Kippis, Dr. Stennet, Dr. 
 " Harris, and Mr. Toller, wait on Mr. Wilkes, with the unanimous th nks of that 
 " Body, for his kind attention to their Bill, and his generous and a&ive zeal in fup- 
 " port of the caufe of religious liberty." 
 
 The following card was left at at Mr. Wilkes's houfe in Prince's Court, Weft- 
 minfter, oil the. 234 of June 1780, after the fuppreffion of the riots in the Me- 
 tropolis. 
 
 " Lord Petre, Sir Edward Swinburne, Mr. Stapleton, Mr. William Sheldon, 
 (* and Mr. Homyhold, have been to wait xipon Mr. Wi|lt s, to thank him. for his 
 *< fupport and protection," 
 
 Z 4 VOTES
 
 ( 344 ) 
 
 The Houfe being informed that jT. Matthews, prin- 
 ter of the news-paper intituled " The Englifh Chro- 
 *' nicle," (of which complaints were made to this 
 Houfe upon the ift and 3d days of this inftant Decem- 
 ber, for " groffly mifreprefenting afpeech, and reflecting 
 " on the character, of a member of this Houfe, in 
 *' breach of the privilege of this Houfe) had attended 
 fe the committee of privileges, to whom the faid com- 
 " plaints were referred, and had made fubmiffion to, 
 " and afked pardon of, the faid member for the faid of- 
 " fence.'* 
 
 Lord George Gordon declared to the Houfe, that 
 he was fatisfied, and forgave the printer. 
 
 Mr. Wilku faid, 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I am exceedingly happy to find the pleafing effects 
 of that humanity, which is fo linking and beautiful a 
 feature in the noble Lord's charadter, extended to the 
 poor printer. To his many other chriflian virtues his 
 Lordfliip has added that capital one of forgivenefs. I 
 heartily approve and applaud fnch generous conduct. 
 At the fame titTie will my noble friend permit me to 
 fuggeft a hint, which, if attended to, may poffibly in 
 fave this Houfe aad the committee of privileges 
 
 much
 
 ( 345 ) 
 
 much time and trouble ? The complaint has been of 
 the mifreprefentation of a fpeech, and the remarks in 
 confequence of that mifreprefentation. His Lordfhip 
 brings this complaint before us, who are the party faid 
 to be injured, that we may decide on the merits of our 
 own caufe, and at our own option punifh the accufed, 
 I think his Lordfhip fhould have fought a legal re- 
 medy, and been fuperior to this partial, and evidently 
 fufpicious, appeal. The courts of law are open, where 
 redrefs may be reforted to for every injury of moment, 
 which would be afcertained by a Jury of our country- 
 men. His Lordfhip has with much patience and can- 
 dour heard thefe fentiments from me in private. I de- 
 precated from him this attack, as I deem it, on the li- 
 berty of the prefs in a very tyrannical, unfair, and un- 
 conflitutional manner. It has given much pleafure to 
 the enemies of freedom, to a majority among us, whom 
 his Lordfhip is not, I believe, anxious to pleafe. When 
 the liberty of the prefs is invaded, it will be foon fol- 
 lowed by an ufurpation on all our other rights. The prefs 
 being once filenced, the firfl great barrier againft def- 
 potifm is taken, and all oppofition to a wicked minif- 
 ter, or arbitrary monarch, would be faint and languid, 
 perhaps ineffectual. Upon all occalions, in every fta- 
 tion of life, and at the rifk of what I hold mofl impor- 
 tant, perfonal freedom, I will continue the ftrenuous 
 defender of the liberty of the prefs, the bulwark of all 
 our liberties. I beg pardon, Mr. Speaker, for this di- 
 greflion. I was going to remark, that his Lordfhip's 
 justification to the public would have come more full 
 and fatisfactory by the publication of the genuine 
 fpeech than by a complaint to this Houfe of mifrepre- 
 fentation, or a profecution in a court of law. We have 
 
 often
 
 ( 346 ) 
 
 often been charmed within thefe walls with the manly 
 fentiments, the honeft effulions of the heart, which 
 characterife my noble friend's fpeeches. I therefore 
 venture to fupplicate his Lordfhip to gratify the impa- 
 tience of the public at large, as well as of his own con- 
 ilituents, and the numerous and zealous fynods and 
 prefbyteries of Scotland, with the permiffion of read- 
 ing what you, Sir, and the Houfe heard with fb much 
 pleafure. This will not only confute the wicked libel- 
 lers of his Lordfhip (for Matthews is not the only one, 
 they are legion), but remain a weighty obligation on the 
 prefent age and pofterity. It will furnifh a clear de- 
 monftration that in thefe times, and in this Houfe, we 
 poilefs one noble fenator from the north, who has told 
 minifters the boldeft and moft unwelcome truths, with- 
 out the final left amendment hitherto in a fingle member 
 of adminiilration. 
 
 Page 84 of the VOTES. 
 
 " A petition of the freeholders of the county of Mid- 
 " dlefex was prefented to the Houfe, and read; fetting 
 " forth, that your petitioners, in juftice to them and the 
 " electors of Great Britain, &c. &c. &c." The petition 
 is given at length in the Votes. After the petition had 
 been read, Thomas Wood, Efq; one of the knights 
 of the fhire for the county of Middlefex, moved, 
 " that leave be given to bring in a bill to enable 
 " members of the Houfe of Commons to be eligible 
 " to ferve in Parliament for any other county, city, 
 " borough, town, or place." 
 
 Mr.
 
 ( 347 ) 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 The Houfe is at prefent fo thin, that I mall now 
 content myfelf with little more than feconding the mo- 
 tion. I referve to a future day the full difcuffion of 
 the neceflity of this meafure, to which the late fhame- 
 ful tranfaftions in this county, the wanton and arbi- 
 trary abufe of power in the minifter, have given birth. 
 I underftand that the bringing in the bill will not be 
 oppofed. The proper feafon of debate will be the firft, 
 or fecond, reading of the bill itfclf ; but I truflthat it 
 will be generally approved. I hope gentlemen will 
 freely give their fentiments on this great -conftitutional 
 queftion, on the prefervation of our moil valuable fran- 
 chife, and find a mode effectually to prevent fimilar 
 flagrant abufes of the power of the crown. A perma- 
 nent law mould be provided, in my opinion, for the fta 
 ble fecurity of our rights and privileges, and a certain 
 equal rule be eftablimed for vacating the feats of mem- 
 bers chofen to reprefent the people in Parliament. We 
 cannot be too much on our guard againft fuch an 
 arbitrary interference of minifters. It introduces a 
 control and fpirit of party fubverfive of the free- 
 dom of ^election. It creates a power greatly liable to 
 abufe, and unknown to the conftitution. 
 
 There is, Sir, another part of the Petition which 
 claims the moft ferious attention of the Houfe in the 
 prefent critical moment. I mean an enquiry into the 
 true caufe of thofe misfortunes which have reduced this 
 pnce powerful and flourifhing empire to a ftate which 
 
 words
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 words cannot defcribe, and of which hiltory affords no 
 example. This calamitous fituation we all feel, and it 
 calls for a fpeedy and thorough enquiry. To give the 
 greater weight to the enquiry, as foon as the prefent 
 motion is difpofed of, I fhall move for the call of the 
 Houfe foon after the holidays. 
 
 The motion of Mr. Wood parTed without oppofi- 
 tion ; and Mr. Wood, Mr. Wilkes, Mr. Thomas Townf- 
 hend, and Mr. Byng, were ordered to prepare and bring 
 in the bill. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes then moved, 
 
 " That the further confideration of the faid petition 
 " be adjourned till Thurfday the 3d day of February 
 " next. 
 
 " That this Houfe be called over upon Tuefday the 
 t( firft day of February next. 
 
 " That fuch members, as lhall not then attend, be 
 " fent for in cuftody of the ferjeant at arms attending 
 " this Houfe. 
 
 " That Mr. Speaker do write circular letters to the 
 " Sheriffs and ftewards of the feveral counties of Great 
 " Britain, requiring the attendance of the members of 
 " this Houfe upon Tuefday the firft day of February 
 next." 
 
 Page 86 of the VOTES. 
 
 * f The Houfe was moved, that the refolution of this 
 " Houfe, of the 26th day of November laft, 'That it 
 tf is a high infringement of the liberties and privileges of 
 ' the Commons of Great Britain, for any Lord of Par I: a- 
 * ment, or any Lord Lieutenant of any county, to concern 
 
 " themf elves
 
 ( 349 ) 
 
 " tbemfehes in tie elections of members to fewe for tfa: 
 ff Commons in Parliament," might be read. 
 
 (C And the fame being read accordingly ; 
 " The honourable Temple Luttrell moved, 
 " That it is highly criminal in any minifter or mi* 
 " nifters, or other fervants under the Crown of Great 
 " Britain, diredtly or indiredtly, to ufe the powers of 
 " office in the election of reprefentatives to ferve in 
 " Parliament; and an attempt at fuch influence will at 
 " all times be refented by this Houfe, .as aimed at it's 
 " own honour, dignity, and independence, as an in- 
 tc fringement of the deareft rights of every fubject 
 " throughout the empire, and tending to fap the bafia 
 * f this free and happy conftitution." 
 
 Mr. mikes faid, 
 
 Mr." Speaker, 
 
 I rife to fecond the motion of my honourable frr-end, 
 l>ecaub I think it is grounded in true conftituuonal 
 principles, and expreffed with his ufual^learnefs and 
 energy. It is not the refult of a fine-fpun theory, or 
 curious fpeculation, on the nice balance of the dif- 
 ferent powers of the conftitution, but grows out of fa&s^ 
 rong fafts of a very recent date. 1 think it, Sir, my 
 particular duty to fecond this motion, for I am in pof- 
 feffion of proof that the prefent eleftion for Hampfhirc 
 has produced feveral daring violations of the ftanding 
 order of this Houfe refpe&ing the free eledions of the 
 Commons. Very unconftitutional attacks were made in 
 the late reign on the freedom of elediion in that county, 
 although not then direftly from the Crown. At the prefent 
 period the power of the crown is directly employed to 
 z control
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 control the freedom of ele&ion in Hampfhire, and the 
 rights of the Commons are invaded by the Lord Lieu- 
 tenant of the county, the Duke of Cbandos. I will, Sir, 
 with, your permiflion, read to the Houfe a letter from 
 his grace, figned Cbandos, franked Chandos, fealed with 
 die Ducal arms of Chandos, and dated from Cbandos- 
 houfe. It is addreiled to a gentleman of fortune in 
 Hampihire. 
 
 "SIR, Chandos-Hoa/f, Nov. 23, 1779. 
 
 Sir Richard Worfley having offered himfelf as a can- 
 didate for the county of Southampton, in the room of 
 the late Sir Simeon Stuart, I take the liberty to requeft 
 ibe favour of your fuppcrt jor him ; and you will greatly 
 add to the obligation, if yourfelf and friends can attend 
 the county meeting whenever it is fixed by the fheriff, 
 as a numerous appearance on that occafion will be 
 the molt likely means of preferving the peace of the 
 county. I am, Sir, 
 
 Your faithful, and 
 
 obedient fervant, 
 
 CHANDOS." 
 
 T beg the favour of you, Mr. Speaker, to direct the 
 mode in which I may regularly bring before the Houfe 
 this complaint againft the Duke of Chandos, a Lord of 
 Parliament, and Lord Lieutenant of Hampfhire, whom 
 1 accufe of concerning bimfelf in the eleflion of a member 
 tofervefor the Commons in Parliament, and confequently 
 of a high infringement of the liberties and privileges of the 
 Commons of Great Britain. 
 
 The motion of the honourable Temple Luttrell palled 
 without a diviilon. 
 
 The Speaker then obferved, that the regular mode of 
 proceeding was to refer the matter of the complaint 
 
 I againft
 
 againft the Duke QfCbandos to the committee of privi- 
 leges, to examine, and report, with their opinion there-* 
 upon, to the Houfe. 
 
 " Complaint being made to the Houfe [by Mn 
 " Wipes'], that the Duke of Chandos, a peer of Parlia- 
 " ment, and Lord Lieutenant of the county of South* 
 " ampton, had figned a letter with his own hand, re- 
 ff fpecting the enfuing election for the faid county, 
 *' thereby concerning himfelf in the faid election, in 
 " breach of the privilege of this Houfe, and in in- 
 fc fringement of the liberties and privileges of the Com- 
 " mons of Great Britain ; 
 
 " Refolved, Nemine Contradicente, 
 
 " That it be referred to the confideration of the 
 committee of privileges, to examine the matter of 
 the faid complaint, anld to report the fame, with their 
 opinion thereupon, to the Houfe." 
 
 ({ 
 
 VOTES of December 17, 1779. 
 
 Complaint being made to the Houfe [by Mr. 
 that the Duke of Chandos, a peer of Parlia- 
 " ment, and Lord Lieutenant of the county of South- 
 " ampton, had figned feveral letters with his own hand, 
 " refpefting the enfuing election for the faid county ; 
 " which letters were directed to the reverend Mr. Tay- 
 
 " lor,
 
 ( 35* ) 
 
 * c lor, reftor of Crawley, Hants, dated December 64 
 " 1779 ; to the honourable and reverend Mr. St. An- 
 " drew St. John, Somerdy, Fordingbridge, Hants, 
 " dated December 6, 1779 ; to the reverend Mr. Toll, 
 (e vicar of Kingfclere, Hants, dated December 6, 1 779 ; 
 <c to John Poor Efquire, Morton- Andover, Hants, 
 " dated November 23, 1 779 ; to Wadham Wyndham, 
 * e Efquire, Hinton, Chrifl>Church, Hants, dated No- 
 < vember 23, 1779 ; and to Mr. William Woodward, 
 " Winchefter, dated November 23, 1779; thereby 
 " concerning himfelf in the faid election, in breach of 
 " the privilege of this Houfe, and in infringement of 
 sc the liberties and privileges of the Commons of Great 
 " Britain ; 
 
 " Ordered, 
 
 66 That it be referred to tne confideration of the 
 " committee of privileges, to examine the matter of 
 tc the faid complaint, and to report the fame, with theif 
 " opinion thereupon, to the Houfe. 
 
 " Ordered, 
 
 " That it be an inftrucYion to the faid committee, 
 " that they do fit upon Wednefday the 26th day of 
 " January next, at twelve of the clock, and proceed 
 " upon the feveral matters referred to their conlidera- 
 " ticn." 
 
 VOTE!
 
 ( 353 ) 
 
 VOTES of January 28, 1780; 
 
 Ordered, 
 
 That the report from the committee of privileges^ 
 touching the feveral complaints made to the Houfe- 
 upon the loth and iyth days of December laft (that 
 the Duke of Cbandos, a peer of Parliament, and Lord 
 .Lieutenant of the county of Southampton, had figned 
 feveral letters with his own hand, refpecting the then 
 enfuing. election for the faid, county, thereby concern- 
 ing himfelf in the faid election, in breach of the privi- 
 lege of this Houfe, and in infringement of the liberties 
 and privileges of the Commons of Great Britain) be re- 
 ceived upon Wednefday morning next. 
 
 From the Journals of I-eb. 2, 1780^ vol* 
 XXXVII, page 557. 
 
 Mr. Bacon, according to order, reported 'frorfi the 
 committee of privileges, the matter, as it appeared to 
 them, touching the feveral complaints made to the 
 Houfe, upon the tenth and feventeenth days of De- 
 cember, laft (that the Duke of Chandos, a peer of Par- 
 liament, and Lord Lieutenant of the county of South- 
 ampton, had figned feveral letters with his own hand fe- 
 fpectmg the then enfuing election for the faid county.; 
 thereby concerning himfelf in the faid election, id 
 breach of the privilege of this Houfe, and in infringe- 
 ment of the liberties and privileges of the Commons of 
 
 A * Great
 
 ( 354 ) 
 
 Great Britain) together with the refolutions of the 
 committee thereupon ; and he read the report in his 
 place ; and afterwards delivered it in at the clerk's table: 
 where the fame was read, and is as followeth ; viz. 
 
 To prove what is alledged in the faid complaints, 
 the feven letters mentioned therein, were delivered in 
 to your committee ; and five of them being {hewn to 
 the perfons to whom they were addrefled (the other 
 two not attending the committee) four of the faid per- 
 fons faid they had received them by the poft, and the 
 other perfon faid, he had received a letter to that pur- 
 pefe ; but could not fay that was it, as it had been out 
 of his cuftody, but he believed it was. 
 
 The faid five letters were traced by your committee 
 from the hands of the perfons to whom they were ad- 
 drefled, into the hands of the member who delivered 
 diem into your committee. Then 
 
 Mr. William Lawlefs, being called before your com- 
 mittee, and the feveral letters mentioned in the com- 
 plaints being fhewn him, faid, that he wrote them all 
 himfelf, and faw the Duke of Ckandos fign them; and 
 that he had written 3 or 400 fuch letters, moil of which 
 were ilgrsed in his prefence. 
 
 Mr. Coklftm, infpector of the bye-days at the General 
 Poft Office, being examined, faid, he had never feen 
 the Duke write. Being fhewn the fupcrfcriptions of 
 the letters, faid, he believed from the number he had 
 feen, they were the Duke's hand-writing ; that he had 
 pafied them as franked; and that when he taw any 
 which he fufpcfted, he charged them. 
 
 Then five of the faid letters were read, and. appeared 
 to relate to the faid election. And the refolution of 
 the Houfe, upon the 25th day of November laft, 
 
 " That
 
 ( 355 ) 
 
 ** That it is a high infringement of the liberties and 
 " privileges of the Commons of Great Britain, for any 
 " Lord of Parliament, or any Lord Lieutenant of any 
 " county, to concern themfelves in the elections of 
 " members to ferve for the Commons in Parliament,'* 
 was alfo read. 
 
 Upon the whole, your committee came to the fol- 
 lowing refolutions : 
 
 Refolved, 
 
 That it appears to this committee, M\\at James Bridges, 
 Duke of Chandos, a peer of Parliament, and Lord Lieu- 
 tenant of the county of Southampton, has concerned him- 
 ielf in the late election of a knight of the Ihire for the 
 fa id county. 
 
 Refolved> 
 
 That it is the opinion of this committee, that James 
 Bridges, Duke of Cbandos, a peer of Parliament, and 
 Lord Lieutenant of the county of Southampton) has been 
 guilty of a breach of the privilege of this Houfe, and an 
 infringement of the liberties and privileges of the Com- 
 mons of Great Britain. 
 
 And a motion being made, and the queftion being 
 propofed, that the faid report be taken into further 
 consideration upon this day four months. 
 
 The Houfe was moved, that the refolution of this 
 Houfe, of the 26th day of November lafl, " That it is 
 " a high infringement of the liberties and privileges of 
 " the Commons of Great Britain, for any Lord of Par- 
 <f liament, or any Lord Lieutenant of any county, to 
 " concern themfelves in the elections of members to 
 
 A a 2 " ferve
 
 " ferv.e for the Commons in Parliament," might be 
 read. 
 
 And the fame was read accordingly. 
 
 The Houfe was alfo moved, that the entry in the 
 Journal of the Houfe, of the 1 8th day of November 
 1702, of the proceedings of die Houfe, upon taking 
 into confideration the complaint of Sir John Packington, 
 againft the Lord Biihop of Worcejler and Mr. Lloyd his 
 fon, relating to the rights and privileges of the Houfe 
 of Commons, might be read. 
 
 And the fame was read accordingly. 
 
 Then the queftion being put, that the faid report be 
 taken into further confideration upon this day four 
 moths ; 
 
 The Houfe divided. 
 The Yeas went forth. 
 
 T TT c *i v fMr. Penton. ") 
 
 Tellers for the Yeas < > 07 
 
 I Mr. Love/ Stanhope, j 
 
 Tellers for the Noes -, 
 
 I Sir Jofepb Mawbey. J 
 
 So it was refolved in the affirmative- 
 
 A motion was made by Daniel Parker Coke, 
 
 member for Nottingham, feconded by Lord Lewifh- 
 
 3 ham,
 
 ( 357 ) 
 
 ham, member for the county of Stafford, ind after va- 
 rious amendments put by the Speaker in the following 
 words, " That the thanks of this Houfe be given to 
 " Sir Henry Clinton, knight of the mod honourable or- 
 " der of the Bath, and commander in chief of his Ma- 
 " jetty's forces in North America ; and t6 Vice- Admiral 
 (< Arbuthnot, commander in chief of his Majeft's fleet 
 " in North America; and to the right honourable Lieu- 
 " tenant General Charles Earl Cornwallis - 9 for the emi- 
 ",nent and very important fervices performed by them 
 (( to his Majefty and this country, particularly by the 
 " reduction of Charles -Town by the army and navy un- 
 " der the command of Sir Henry Clinton and Vice-Ad- 
 " miral Arbuthnot, and by the late moft glorious vic- 
 " tory obtained by Lord Cornzva/lis at Camden." 
 
 Very early in the debate Mr. Wllkes 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I rife to exprefs my hope, that the honourable gen- 
 tleman, who made this motion, will confent to its 
 being withdrawn, becaufe I think it is impoffible that the 
 united efforts of the noble * Lord in the blue ribband, 
 and the feveral gentlemen, who have attempted it, 
 ihould fucceed to render it palatable to both fides of the 
 Houfe, and he has declared, that he had rather it JJjould 
 bs withdrawn, than meet a Jingle negative. I think it, 
 Sir, my duty to op.pofe this motion, as originally in- 
 tended, of which the notice was given, refpefting only 
 Lord Cornwallis as well as all the fubfequent amendments, 
 becaufe in my idea every part of it conveys an appro- 
 
 * Lord North, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Member for Banbnry. 
 
 A a 3 bation
 
 batiqn of the American war ; a war unfounded in prin- 
 ciple, and fat in it's confequences to this country. I 
 condemned it at the beginning, and have regularly op-* 
 pofed it's progress in every ftage, both in and out of 
 parliament. The eryinent and very important fervices lo 
 his Maj_ejly and. this country, mentioned in the motion, I 
 entirely difapprove, and confequently fhall withhold 
 the poor pittance of my thanks and gratitude, where I 
 do not think them merited, in a war of glaring injuf- 
 tice and wretched policy. I do not mean, Sir, to dero- 
 gate from the high heroic courage, and fuperior mili- 
 tary virtues, of Lord Cornwallis. I admire the fplendor 
 9nd brilliancy of thofe qualities., which dazzle in my 
 countryman as they did in Julius Csefar ; and I equally 
 lament that they are called forth to aftion in the fame 
 bad and mifchievous caufe, the attempt to overturn the 
 liberties, of his country. The Roman too poffeffed, as 
 the honourable gentleman fays of Lord Cornwallis, nice 
 and delicate fentiments of Honour and valour. He was cer- 
 tainly an accompliihed gentleman, perhaps the mod ac- 
 eompliflied of any in the hiftory of mankind-, but he car- 
 ried on a wicked war againft the conftitution of the free 
 country in which he was born, and therefore lay under 
 the ftrongeft obligation to fupport. In the fame light I 
 confider the war now carrying on againft our brethren 
 in North America; and if an arbitrary, but incapable, 
 adminiftration had fucceeded in the plan of dragooning 
 the colonifts into unconditional jubmijfion, I believe that 
 the liberties of England would not long have furvived 
 thofe of America ; and the vital principle of freedom, 
 which now prevades and animates this ifland, except 
 perhaps a few clans very far North, muft have been ex- 
 
 Every friend of the Conftltution faw early 
 
 . . * , . . .... 
 
 i
 
 ( 359 ) 
 
 in the fupport of the American cauie a vindication of 
 the rights of Englifhmen againft an old exploded ufur- 
 pation of the Stuarts, revived under the third prince of 
 the Houfe of Brunfwick. 
 
 Sir, I hope to be forgiven, if I repeat at the begin- 
 ning of this new parliament the fentiments, which I 
 more than once fubmitted to the laft, and even in the 
 firft feffion of 1774. I am ftill convinced that the war 
 with America originated in tyranny and ufurpation, in 
 the unjuft attempt of taking money from the fub- 
 jedl: in the colonies without his concurrence, in levying 
 taxes on the people there againft their confent. This 
 has ever been a favourite maxim of defpotifm. In 
 oppofidon to this illegal claim the immortal Hampden 
 ihed his blood. Such an attempt againft the funda- 
 mental rights of the people fully warranted our virtu- 
 ous and free ancestors to begin the civil war, which 
 brought the tyrant Charles to the fcaffold* The Ame- 
 rican caufe therefore, I mean the primary caufe of this 
 deftn.ic~r.ive civil war, is the caufe of every Englifhman, 
 who values our excellent conftitution; a conftitution for 
 feveral years in a decline, but which has of late received 
 many ftabs in its vital parts. This right of the peo- 
 ple to withhold, or grant, their own money, this power 
 pf the purfe, which includes that of the fword, alone 
 fecures the exiftence of Parliament, our annual meeting 
 within thefe walls. This marks the difference between 
 the limited monarch of our ifland, in a mixed govern- 
 ment, and the eaftern defpot, or the arbitrary fove- 
 reigns of France and Spain. We then in a particular 
 manner, with a fingular propriety, ought to ftand forth 
 the guardians of this right to all the fubjecbs of this 
 
 A a 4 The
 
 The Sentiments, Sir, on the "rights of our brethren 
 |n the Colonies, which I have now the honour of de- 
 Jivering here, I imbibed from Lord CcrnwaUis, who 
 enforced them with great energy a few years ago in 
 another Houfe of Parliament. His Lordfhip, in a fo- 
 Jemn argument in the Houfe of Peers, in conjunction 
 with four '* other refpedtable characters, flrenuoufly 
 denied any right we had to tax the Americans, white 
 they continued unreprefented in the Britiih Senate. It 
 was in the debate on the motion for the commitment 
 of the Declaratory Aft. His Lordfnip's opinion like- 
 wife of the wifdam of the meafure, after condemning 
 the theory, may be gathered from his words in the 
 examination before this Houfe in May 1779, I never 
 fazv a jlrongtr country, or one better calculated for the 
 .defenfwe. Mr. Pitt in this Houfe, with a boldnefs of 
 imagery and glow of colouring which his eloquence 
 always gave, did juflice to the diftinguiiiied patriotifm 
 of the band of the five illuftrlous heroes, as he named 
 the fmall number of peers, who, on occafion of the 
 pppofidon to the Declaratory Aft, approved themfelves 
 the friends of freedom. He did not foreiee the ilaugh- 
 ter of our fellow-fubjects in the fame caufe by one of 
 that band of "illuflrious heroes at tbegloriomv'.ftory at Cam- 
 den. If there is any change of fentiment on this impor- 
 tant queftion in his Lordihip's mind, we have no parlia- 
 mentary evidence on which it can be founded.' It can only 
 be furmifedfrom his Lordfhip's eagerly foliciting a com- 
 mand againfi the Americans at the rirft breaking out of a 
 war, which originated from the unworthy purpofes of 
 paffion and party, and fince, endeavouring by fire and 
 
 * The Ea)-ls Poulet, O*7fc'/> and Shelburne, Vifcount Torrington, and 
 terd Camden. 
 
 fword^
 
 fword, to enforce a taxation of the Colonies, although 
 as a member of the legiflative body, he formerly did 
 not heiitate to pronounce it equally impolitic and ini- 
 quitous. If arguments of great and irrefiftible weight 
 have been urged for fo total and wonderful a change, 
 they are carefully concealed. The motives of convic- 
 tion, or rather of this miraculous converhon, are eafier 
 gueffed than with delicacy explained. As a Peer, his 
 Lordihip fupports American freedom, and votes againft 
 an ignominious badge of bondage on the Colonifls ; as 
 an officer, the fame Earl folicits a command in Ame- 
 rica, to enforce that injuilice of which he complains, 
 and is active to rivet the chains of ilavery on the free- 
 born inhabitants of the new world, and the defcend- 
 ants of Englishmen. In fuch a caufe I will not give 
 thanks to Genius and Courage united, but ill-directed, 
 productive of no good, but infinite mifchief. I will 
 never fail, Sir, to exprefs my concern and anguifti, 
 when I fee great military talents thus triumph over, 
 the fuperior civil virtues of the citizen, when I ob- 
 ferve mere lawlefs force and violence receive the aid 
 of valour and diflinguiihed ability to overturn a fa- 
 irick of freedom and juftice, cemented by the beft 
 lood of our anceftors. Such military glory is pur- 
 lafed too dear. It is a kind of wretched anti-civic 
 own, which muft difgrace the fanguinary brow of 
 rvery unfeeling, unprincipled conqueror. A good 
 tan will indignant turn his eyes from laurels and palms 
 if victory ftained with the blood of deferving fellow- 
 fubjects who have been facrificed to the fordid views, to 
 :he luft of power, to the rage of a tyrannical adminiftra- 
 :ion. The palm of confiftency at leaft, the honourable 
 gentleman who made the motion will, at all events,
 
 ( 36* ) 
 
 fcarcely think of offering to Lord Cornwallts. That 
 will be worn, and I hope long with the applaufe of 
 his grateful country, by another noble Earl *, who rofe 
 fuperior to the falfe glory to be acquired from his pro- 
 feffion, when called upon in an unjuftifiable caufe, 
 who honourably preferred the line of duty to his coun- 
 try and jts constitution, to the fame and renown of 
 military atchievements, which his natural ardour 
 panted after. Lord Cornwallis, Sir Henry Clinton, ami 
 Admiral Arbutbnot, I will not confent to thank^ for \ 
 confider them as having drawn their fwords again ft 
 their innocent American fellow-fubjeds, and without 
 provocation bathed them in their blood. 
 
 The noble Lord -j- who fpoke laft fays, that our 
 thank* would come with great propriety to Lord Corn- 
 wallis, and the other two officers, becaufe the thanks 
 of this Houfe were voted on the taking of Quebec, and 
 the late fuccefs of the gallant Rodney. Does not the 
 noble Lord obferve a ftriking difference in the three 
 cafes ? The furrender of Quebec was, perhaps, the 
 moft important and brilliant triumph over France of 
 all the fplendid victories of the laft glorious war. It 
 was the conqueft of the capital of the perfidious Gaul 
 in the new world. Sir George Rodney's late defeat 
 and capture of the Spanim men of war at that critical 
 moment, merited the warmefl thanks, and moft ef- 
 teemed rewards of his country. In both cafes we were 
 deflroying the overgrown power of the houfe of Bour- 
 bon, the inveterate, avowed enemy of this nation. I 
 think with Hannibal, hoftem qui feyiet mibi er'it Car- 
 . I hold that man to be the beft JLnglilh- 
 
 * The Earl of Effinghatn. 
 
 j- LoriTBea-uciiasi-jp, Member for Oxford, Cofferer of his Majefty's 
 
 man 
 
 *
 
 man, whofe efforts fliall be the boldeft, the moft fpirited 
 and fuccefsf ul, againft France and Spain,efpecially againft: 
 their naval power, which by the criminal negligence of 
 our Minifters has rifen to fuch an alarming greatnefs. I 
 will from my heart thank that man. I will vote to decree 
 him every honour of the fenate and people. On the houfe 
 of Bourbon fhould we call down all the thunder of the 
 war. We ought, Sir, to blulh at the cruel ravaging and 
 defolation of the country, and the mercilefs flaughter of 
 the inhabitants of our Colonies, in a foolilh, angry 
 quarrel, carefully fomented at laft to a bloody war, 
 raifed on a bafelefs fabrick, which, perhaps, in the end, 
 may fcarcely leave a wreck behind. Our Generals and 
 Admirals have already totally ruined fome of the moft 
 flourifhing parts of this convulfed empire, and deftroyed 
 numberlefs induftrious, brave fellow-fubje&s, equally 
 jntitled with themfelves to the protection of the laws, 
 and executive power. Are thefe, Sir, the eminent and 
 very important Jcrvices to his Majejly and this country, 
 for which the honourable gentleman flattered himfelf 
 with obtaining for our commanders the unanimous 
 thanks of this Houfe, of the reprefentatives of the peo- 
 ple of England ? 
 
 It ha$ been faid, Sir, by the honourable gentleman 
 who made this motion, that the Americans are now 
 actually leagued with France and Spain againft this 
 country. I do not doubt the exiftence of a triple league 
 between America, Spain, and France ; but I know 
 the provocation, and I have good reafon to believe 
 the alliance is only defenfive and temporary. I do not 
 allude to commercial treaties. France and Spain now 
 appear to the wprld as auxiliaries to the United Stafej 
 of Xortb America. The firft alliance with France was 
 
 made
 
 made with great reluctance by America on the fptir bf 
 the prefent neceffity. It was not thought of until in 
 our domeftic quarrel we called in foreign forces to cut 
 their throats, until the mercenary German, or rather 
 Cappadocian, Princes fold their fubjects, like cattle, 
 to an adminiftration expert in every fpecies of bribery 
 and ruinous contract, until long after our negotiation 
 for Ruffian troops to be fent to North America had 
 been rejected in terms of contempt and horror. The 
 late union between America and France is fo unna- 
 tural, that I am fatisfied, whenever you offer, with 
 fincerity and cordiality, honourable terms, accompa- 
 nied with the fecurity America will expect, it will be 
 diiTolved. Your conduct hitherto has drawn clofer 
 every tie between them. If you improve the late inoft 
 glorious victory at Camdcn> to bring about this necef- 
 fary peace with America, then will be the moment to 
 rejoice, to join in tbdnkf^iving for the falvation of 
 Great Britain, as well as America. 
 
 Sir, I will not thank for victories, which only tend 
 to protract a deftrudtive war. I fhould rather have 
 faid for fome tranfitory, clelulive gleams of fuccefs in 
 this unjuft, and providentially unfortunate American 
 ccnteft, this bcllumjine hojle, as fuch a flate of arms 
 was defined by the ancients. Not a fmgle Frenchman 
 or Spaniard in arms againft us fell at this mo ji glorious 
 uittory at Camdcn y but Romans mifcent acies. Is it pro- 
 bable, that this mo ft glorious rift ory \\i\\ lead to an ho- 
 nourable peace ? If it does not, but is the caufe of 
 continuing the war, I lhall deem it a public calamity. 
 Peace, peace with America only can fave this finking 
 Hate, and give us permanent profperity. We are al- 
 ready nearly exhaufted, yet continue bleeding at every 
 
 vein-
 
 ( 365 ) 
 
 vein. Peace ought to be had on almoft any terms, for 
 from the eftimates on our table, the expence of this 
 war continued a few years longer, will bankrupt this 
 nation, the population, commerce, and navigation of 
 which are vifibly decreafmg. I coniider peace as of ab* 
 folute neceffity for ourfelves, for the internal flate and 
 independence of our own iftand, in the prefent criiis of 
 horror and almoft defpair. I would fubfcribe to almoft 
 any conditions to obtain it, becaufe I believe the 
 North Americans would then readily quit an unnatural 
 alliance, into which they have been driven by our more 
 unnatural conduct. Neceffity brought forward ther- 
 new idea, formed, iigned, and has hitherto obferved 
 that ftrange treaty. America, detached from her pre- 
 fent connections, and in a real union of interefts and 
 ftrength with Great Britain, is more than a match for 
 the confederate houfe of Bourbon. In fuch a fituation 
 the Family Compaft would not dare to be avowed. The 
 laft war gives us the proof in point. We had then an 
 able and enterpriling Minifter, in full pofleflion of the 
 moll active genius and vigour of mind, feconded by 
 the whole ftrength of the Britifh nation and America. 
 What is our prefent profpecl: ? America is at this 
 moment thrown into the fcale of the houfe of Bourbon* 
 Muft it not then weigh us down ? It furely, Sir, be- 
 comes Minifters to lay afide all paffions and prejudices, 
 and endeavour to heal this unhappy breach between 
 two powerful friends, when every conceffion to Ame- 
 rica, either as a fubject, or an ally, may win her to 
 us, reftore the balance of power in our favour, and 
 compenfate the lofs of all our other allies. 
 
 The independence, Sir, of the Colonies has been fre- 
 quently mentioned in this debate, but with a poiitive 
 
 decla-
 
 ( 366 ) 
 
 declaration, that it is a point never to be conceded. Whe- 
 ther it is granted, or not, by a Britilh Parliament, de 
 jure, feems to me of little moment and avail. It is mere- 
 ly an amufmg, curious theme of fpeculation among a fet 
 of idle, liftlefs, loitering, lounging, ill-informed gen- 
 tlemen at Weflminfter, who remark the diforders of 
 the flate, to combat which they poffefs not vigour of 
 mind or virtue. A country, much larger than ouf 
 European empire, which we flill love to call our co- 
 lonies, does, and will, poflefs it de fafto, notwith- 
 ftanding all the prefent delufive aflurances of Minifters 
 within thefe walls, notwithftanding the late exploits 
 of a Cornwallis and Clinton, notwithftanding all the 
 former repeated victories of Gage and the Howes. It 
 is in this ifland only that perfons are found, who 
 doubt that the prefent war will end in the acknow- 
 ledging of American independence. 
 
 The hiftory of this war warrants me, Sir, in the 
 fufpicion that all thefe boafted fucceffes do not tend to 
 any real emolument to our country, to bring nearer 
 the wifhed-for moment of a re-union, and fmcere re- 
 conciliation with our alienated brethren in the Colo- 
 nies. After the evacuation of Bofton, Rhode Ifland, 
 and Philadelphia, for the acquifition of which no 
 thanks, I believe, were given by this Houfe, a fmall 
 degree of fagacity might lead any man to fufpedt that 
 the reduction of Charles-Town, by the army and navy 
 under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, and Vice Ad- 
 miral Arbuthnol, and the late moft glorious t v'ilory ob- 
 tained by Lord Cornwallis at Camden, will, in due time, 
 be followed by the evacuation of Charles-Town, and the 
 two Carolinas. A future Gazette will probably an-> 
 nounce it, to fcreen the Generals, in the fame terms 
 4 as
 
 ( 3*7 ) 
 
 as with refpet to Philadelphia, and with as much 
 cold indifference as any play or farce at either of our 
 theatres, by bis Majefty's command. 
 
 Sir, I can never feparate in my mind the rotten 
 foundation on which the whole fyftem of the Ame- 
 rican war is built, from fome fpecious parts of it, by 
 which the unthinking are at the firft view allured and 
 dazzled. As I reprobate the want of principle in its 
 origin, I the more lament' all the fpirited exertions of 
 valour, and the wifdom of conduct, which in a good 
 caufe I Ihould warmly applaud. Thinking as I do, I 
 fee more matter of grief than of triumph, of bewailing 
 than thankfgi-ving, in this civil conteft, and the deluge 
 of blood, which has overflowed America. Would to 
 God, Sir, we could leave perfecuting, even to death, 
 thofe of our own blood, who only defired to be re- 
 ceived as friends and fellow-fubjects, to ihare our 
 fortunes, to fight our battles, as before, by our fide, 
 and to enjoy at home peace, liberty, and fafety I Public 
 thanks from this Houfe on the prefent occafion will 
 only widen the breach, and demonftrate how far we 
 are behind other nations in the knowledge of true po- 
 licy. The wifeft and moft poliihcd nations of anti- 
 quity drew a thick, dark veil over the horror of civil 
 commotion and bloodihed. I will admit .for a mo- 
 ment, merely for the argument, that all, which has 
 been urged by the Noble Lord in the blue ribband, 
 and the gentlemen on the other fide of the Houfe, is 
 well founded, that the American war originated in juf- 
 tice and policy, and that the Colonies have rebelled : 
 ftill I object to every motion like the prefent, becaufe 
 I wifti to hide the nation's fear, and to forget all deeds 
 of valour, not againft the common enemy, but our feU 
 
 IOVY- 
 

 
 
 
 Iow-fubje6rs, whom I defire to fave and conciliate* 
 The Romans, undoubtedly the firft people in the 
 univerfe, granted no triumphs for the victories of their 
 Generals in civil wars. They wished not to record 
 and perpetuate, but to conceal and deliver to oblivion, 
 the memory of Romans falling by the fwords of Ro- 
 mans. They thought it the direfl effect of the ven- 
 geance of the incenfed Gods. That example of en- 
 lightened policy will, I truft, be adopted by the ho- 
 nourable gentleman who made the motion, I am 
 fure, that no man feels more than he does for the 
 prefent calamities of both countries in this cruel, 
 civil conteft. I know the humanity and tendernefs of 
 his nature, and thought it rather furpriling that he 
 fhould chufe to bring himfelf into the unpleafing, 
 awkward iituation of Burrus in Tacitus, et mcerens 
 Eurrus ac laud am. Such a conflict of different pamons 
 is highly diftreffing. I will endeavour to extricate 
 him by the moft earner! fuppligation, that he would 
 ivithdraw a motion, from every part of which I find it 
 my duty to diffent, while I deeply lament that the, 
 luftre of fuch fplendid victories is obfcured and dark- 
 ened by the want of a good caufe, without which no 
 war, in the eye of truth and reafon, before God or man, 
 can be juflified. 
 
 Extract from the London Courant, Morning Chro- 
 nicle, and other Newspapers. 
 
 At a Meeting of the Weftminfter Committee of Affbciation* 
 King's Arms Tavern, Palace Yard, Nov. 30,1780. 
 
 Refolved, 
 
 That the Thanks of this Committee be given to Mr. 
 Wilkes, and fuch other friends to public liberty as joined 
 
 itt
 
 ( 369 ) 
 
 iii oppofmg the Vote of Thanks to General Clinton and 
 Lord Cornwallis, upon Monday laft, on the ground 
 that fuccefs in the American war would be the ruin 
 of the liberties both of America and England. 
 
 C. J. Foxy Chairman* 
 
 VOTES of April 5, 1781. 
 
 A motion was made, and the queftlon put, That 
 the refolution of this Houfe, of the iyth of February, 
 1769, " That Jobn Wilkes, Efquire, having been, in 
 " this Seffion of Parliament, expelled this Houfe, was 
 " and is incapable of being elefted a Member to ferve 
 " in this prefent Parliament," be expunged from the 
 Journals of this Houfe, as being fubverlive of the 
 rights of the whole body of electors of this kingdom : 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I do not rife to put the patience of the Houfe to 
 the fevere trial of hearing from me a long and tedious 
 recapitulation of all the arguments which I have fub- 
 mitted to the candour of gentlemen for feveral years, in 
 the great caufe of the rights of the electors of Middle- 
 fex in 1769. I am truly grateful for the indulgence, 
 which I have fo often experienced. It would be a 
 very ill return indeed in me to weary the patient ear of 
 the Houfe with the more than thrice-told tale of the 
 
 B b injufticc
 
 injultice done a private gentleman, the infult offered 
 to a moft refpectable body of freeholders, and the out- 
 rages committed againft all the electors in the king- 
 dom. I find no difficulty in freely confeffing, that 
 even on a fubject in itfelf fo animating, to me fo pe- 
 culiarly interefting, I have not a new idea to prefent to 
 your conhderation. I might even doubt whether there 
 is a fingle cafe relative to the whole buimefs, which 
 has not been brought to public view, and fcrupuloufly 
 examined. No frefh matter has arifen from the trial 
 of the various petitions, which many different com- 
 mittees of election have gone through and reported 
 upon to the Houfe in the prefent Seffion. Almoft every 
 man in the kingdom has been informed and convinced 
 of the goodnefs of a caufe, which deeply interefts the 
 deareft rights of the people, and every friend of the con- 
 ftitution has been alarmed at the fatal precedent, which 
 to our difgrace flill remains on the Journals of this 
 Houfe. If, however, any objection, which has not been 
 already made and fully anfwered, can be now ftarted in 
 this much-agitated queftion, I claim the indulgence 
 always given to the firft mover of referving myfelf for 
 the reply. 
 
 It is true, Sir, that we are now in a new Parlia- 
 ment, with feveral new members among us ; yet, I am 
 inclined to think, there is not a fingle .gentleman 
 in the Houfe, to whom any thing new on this quef- 
 tion can be offered. Perhaps there is not any im- 
 portant conftitutional point, on which more has been 
 laid, written, and pubiifhed. 
 
 The noble Lord * with the blue ribband, has made 
 us all perfect in arithmetic, and accuftomed us to the 
 
 * Loi J North, Chancellor of the Exchequer. 
 
 cal-
 
 C 37 1 ) 
 
 Calculation of many millions, which he has raifed ori 
 a diffrefled and impoverished people. We are be- 
 lides fo lately come from cafting up our profits, or what 
 is called without doors the wages of corruption, from 
 the late fcandalous loan, that I fuppofe it muft now be a 
 clear proportion in the Houfe, that 1143 is more than 
 296. I might then venture to draw the corollary, 
 that fuch a majority of legal votes had given a feat 
 in Parliament to the reprefentative of the freeholders 
 of Middlefex, although their rights, with thofe of the 
 people at large, were facrificed by a bought majority 
 of Borough Members in a former Houfe of Commons. 
 It is, Mr. Speaker, a very pleafmg confideration ta 
 me, and I truft, a good omen, that a queflion of this 
 magnitude will be decided under your happy aufpices. 
 The noble Lord * who moved to call you to the chair, 
 Sir, was warm in his commendation of you, from 
 your perfect knowledge of the conftitution, your zeal 
 for the fupport of it, your regard for the laws of the 
 land and the law of Parliament, and above all your 
 attachment to the rights of the people. No particular 
 mention, indeed, was made of the fpirited fupport 
 which you, Sir, as a private Member of the Houfe of 
 Commons, through a courfe of many years, gave to 
 the very motion in my hand, but it was perfectly un- 
 derftood, and the noble Secretary himfelf had always 
 voted with us in that queflion for the people. The 
 prefent majority mud certainly have intended your ele- 
 vation to the chair as the reward of your confident pa- 
 triotic conduct in the conftitutional caufe of the free- 
 holders of Middlefex, a conduct ft ill remembered by 
 them with affection and gratitude. I Ihould, there- 
 
 * Lord George Germaine, Secretary of State for the American Department, 
 
 B b 2 fore,
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 fore, believing in the fleadinefs of the minority, hope 
 for unanimity on this momentous occafion, and that I 
 lhall very foon congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on the pe- 
 culiar pleafure you will feel in declaring from the Chair, 
 that this favourite motion of yours has met with the 
 univerfal concurrence of every gentleman on both fides 
 of the Houfe. With extreme fatisfadion I remark, 
 that every day fince you have prelided among us has 
 afforded a frefh proof of your meriting the noble Lord's 
 encomium, by an upright and impartial line of con- 
 duct, in defiance of influence of every kind, by fup- 
 porting the rights of our conftituents, and the rnoft 
 tender regard to every petition of the people. But 
 while I am feebly endeavouring, Sir, to do juflice to 
 that merit, which is too confpicuous to want, and too 
 fuperior to any praife I can give, I am delaying your 
 enjoyment of the heart-felt pleafure you cannot fail of 
 receiving this day, and therefore I {hall, in compli- 
 ance with our forms, only defire the clerk to read the 
 refolution of the iyth of February 1769, and then 
 move, " That the refolution of this Houfe of the 
 " 1 7th of February 1769, That John Wilkes, Efquire, 
 " having been in this Sejficn of 'Parliament expelled this 
 " Houfe, was and is incapable of being eletted a Member 
 " toferve in this prefent Parliament, be expunged from 
 " the Journals of this Houfe, as being fubverfive of 
 " the rights of the whole body of electors of this 
 " kingdom*" 
 
 VOTES
 
 ( 373 ) 
 
 VOTES of May 3, 1782. 
 
 The Houfc was moved, that the entry in the Journal 
 of the Houfe, of the lyth day of February, 1769, of the 
 refolution, " that John Wilkes, Efquire, having been 
 " in this Seflion of Parliament expelled this Houfe, 
 " was and is incapable of being elected a member to 
 " ferve in this preient Parliament," might be read. 
 
 And the fame being read accordingly ; 
 
 Refolved, 
 
 That the faid refolution be expunged from the Jour- 
 nals of this Houfe, as being fubverfive of the rights of 
 the whole body of electors of this kingdom. 
 
 And the fame was expunged, by the clerk, at the ta- 
 ble, accordingly. 
 
 Ordered, 
 
 That all the declarations, orders, and refolutions, of 
 this Houfe, refpecting the election of John W~dkes> 
 Efquire, for the county of Mtdalefex, as a void election, 
 the due and legal election of Henry Lawes Luttrell, 
 Efquire, into Parliament for the faid county, and the 
 incapacity of John Wilkes 3 Efquire, to be elected a mem- 
 ber to ferve in the faid Parliament, be expunged from, 
 the Journals of this Houfe, as being fubverfive of the 
 rights of the. whole body of electors of this kingdom. 
 
 B b 3 And
 
 ( 374 ) . 
 
 And the fame were expunged, by the clerk at the 
 table, accordingly. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I think myfelf peculiarly happy at the prefent mo- 
 ment, that I have the honour of fubmitting to the 
 Houfe an important national queilion refpecting the 
 rights of election, when the friends and favourites of 
 the people enjoy, with the fmiles of our Sovereign, the 
 offices of truft and power in the Hate, accompanied 
 with that fair influence, which is neceflarily created by 
 great ability, perfect integrity, the pureft political vir- 
 tue, and the remembrance of their former upright con- 
 duct in the caufe of the people. If the people of Eng- 
 land, Sir, have at any period explicitly and fully de- 
 clared an opinion reflecting a momentous conititu- 
 tional queilion, it has been in regard to the Middlefex, 
 election in 1768, and the fubfequent molt profligate 
 proceedings of an adminiftration, ho (tile by fyfiem to 
 the rights of. this country, and every part of the Britifh 
 empire. An inftance cannot be found in our hiftory of 
 a more general concurrence of fentiment among the 
 Freeholders of England, and they were joined by almost 
 every borough and corporation in the fouthern part of 
 the ifland. I am fatisfied therefore that I now fhall 
 find the real friends of the people determined and zea.- 
 lous in the fupport of their juft claims and undoubted 
 privileges. 
 
 Hitherto, Sir, every attempt for the recovery of this 
 
 invaluable franchife has been rendered fruidefs by the 
 
 I arts
 
 ( 375 ) 
 
 arts and machinations of power in the hands of wicked 
 men; and I may with truth aflert, that the body of the 
 people long addreffed, petitioned, and remonftrated 
 with manly firmnefs and perfeverance, but without the 
 lead effect, or even impreffion. The full redrefs de- 
 manded by this injured nation feems referved to diftin- 
 guiih the prefent propitious sera of public liberty 
 among the early and blooming honours of an adminif- 
 tration, which poffeffes the confidence, and daily con- 
 ciliates the affections, of a brave and fenfible people. 
 Their voice was never heard in a more clear and dif- 
 tinct manner than on this point of the firft magnitude 
 for all the "electors of the kingdom, and I truft will 
 now be heard favourably. The general refentment and 
 indignation ran fo high againft the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, which committed the outrage, that their imme-r 
 diate diffolution became the prayer of -numberlefs peti- 
 tions to the throne. No man fcrupled to declare them 
 unworthy to exift in their political capacity. The 
 public pronounced them guilty of facrificing and be- 
 traying the rights, which they were called upon by 
 every tie pf juftice and duty to defend. The noble 
 fpirit of the freeholders of Middlefex, prefevering in the 
 beft of caufes, undaunted by all the menaces of power, 
 was the fubject of the rnoft general applaufe and admi- 
 ration. The voice of the people was then in the 
 harm and lharp tone of paffion and anger againft mi- 
 nilters. It will, I am perfuaded, foon be in the foft 
 and pleafmg accents of joy and thankfulnefs to our der 
 Jiverers. 
 
 It is fcarcely poffible. Sir, to ftate a queftion in which 
 the people of this free country are more materially in- 
 terefted than in the right of election, for it is the fhare, 
 
 B b 4 which
 
 V 
 
 ( 3/6 ) 
 
 which they have referved to thcmfelves in the legifla- 
 ture. When it was wrefted from them by violence, the 
 conftitution was torn up by the roots. I have now the 
 happinefs of feeing the Treafury Bench filled with the 
 friends of the Conftitution, the guardians and lovers of 
 liberty, who have been unwearied and uniform in the 
 defence of all our rights, and in particular of this in- 
 valuable franchife. I hail the prefent aufpicious mo- 
 ment, and with impatience expect the completion of 
 what I have long and fervently deilred for my friends 
 and country, for the prefent age, and a free pofterity. 
 The former conduct of thofe now in power affords me 
 the moft fanguine hopes of this day feeing juftice done 
 to a people, to whom they have fo frequently appealed, 
 who now look up to them with ardent expectation, 
 with pleafure and efteem. Confiilency, Sir, has drawn 
 the right line of their political conduct to this period. 
 It will now point out the fame path of public virtue 
 and honour. May I be indulged in a hint, which I 
 mean to extend much beyond the bufmefs of the day, 
 when I fay that confiftency will be attended with that 
 {lability and perfect fecurity which are the objects of 
 every good man's wiihes for them ? They have given 
 us a fair earned of their reverence for the Conftitution 
 by their fupport of two bills, elfentially neceilary to 
 reftore the purity and independency of Parliament ; I 
 mean, the Bill fir preventing ccntrafton fitting in tbe Houfe 
 of Commons, and the Bill for disabling officers of the Revenue 
 
 from voting at eleffions 
 
 Mr. Wilkes was here interrupted by a meffage by 
 Sir Francis Molynettx^ gentleman ulher of the Black Rod, 
 defiring the immediate attendance of the Houfe of Com- 
 mons in the Houfe of Lords.
 
 ( 377 ) 
 
 The Speaker then went up to the Houfe of Peers : 
 and after his return and report ef what had parTed ; 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I return my thanks to the Black Rod for fo luckily in- 
 terpofing in favour of this Houfe, when I might poffi- 
 bly have again tired them with the important, however 
 ftale, cafe of the Middlefex eleftion, which their patient 
 ear has for feveral years with much good-nature fuf- 
 fered. 1 will now make fome return to their indul- 
 gence, in profiting by the circumftance of this happy 
 interruption, and not faying a iingle word about Walpole 
 or Wollajlon, Coke or Blackjlone. I will not detain the 
 Houfe longer than by obferving the parliamentary form 
 of defiring the clerk to read the refolution of the i yth 
 of February, 1769, which I fhall then move to be ex- 
 punged from the Journals of this Houfe, as being fubver- 
 Jive of the rights of the whole body of elettors of this king- 
 dom, and afterwards propofe the necefiary Orders. 
 
 VOTES of December 8, 1783. 
 
 w A motion was made by the right honourable 
 Charles James Fox, member for Weftminfler, Secre- 
 tary of State for foreign affairs, and feconded by the 
 right honourable Lord North, member for Banbury, 
 
 ** Secretary
 
 * ( Secretary of State for the home department, that the 
 << order of the day for the third reading of the Biti 
 " (now engroffed) for vejling the affairs of the Eaft-ln- 
 " dia Company in the hands of certain Commijfioners for 
 f( the benefit of the proprietors (ind the public, be now 
 " read," 
 
 Mr. Wtlkes faid, 
 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 I rife with the deepeft anxiety to endeavour to pre-? 
 vent the further progrefs of this 5/77, becaufe in my 
 opinion it deftroys the ancient, eftablimed forms of all 
 parliamentary proceedings in this Houfe, violates the 
 national faith, fubverts every principle of juflice and 
 equity, and gives a mortal flab to this free conftitu- 
 tion. Sir, the forms of proceeding in this Houfe were 
 wifely eftablifhed by our anceftors, after the moft ma- 
 ture . deliberation, as a guard againft furprize by any 
 minifters, and to give our conftituents timely informa- 
 tion of what was doing in Parliament, that the collected 
 wifdom of the nation might be appealed to and known 
 on every occalion of moment. This accounts for the 
 flownefs of our proceedings compared with the mode of 
 paffing bills in the other Houfe of Parliament. Their 
 Lord (hips have no conftituents, whom it is a duty to 
 confult. In the progrefs of this Bill, the invariable 
 rules and orders of the Houfe have been fet alide with- 
 out the leaft fhadow of neceflity, almoft without the 
 flighted pretence; and the Bill continues to be hurried 
 on with indecent hafte. When the right honourable 
 Secretary moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the- bet- 
 tec
 
 ( 379 ) 
 
 ter regulation of the Eaft-India Company, he flated- the 
 defperate condition of the Company's finances as the fole 
 ground on which he flood. He reprefented it as a cafe 
 of abfolute and immediate neceffity for the interpo- 
 fition of the Legislature. He expreffiy difclaimed 
 every other motive, although he invidioufly went at 
 large into every fuppofed delinquency of Mr. Haft- 
 ings *, and almoft every other fervant of the Com- 
 pany, for many years. He did not indeed in terms af- 
 fert that the Company were in a flate of bankruptcy ; but 
 he declared that they owed five millions more than they 
 were able to pay, and went into a variety of accounts 
 
 * Warren Haftlxgs, Efq. the moft confummate politician of this age, who made 
 the various, complicated, and difcordant interefts of the many Princes and States of 
 India tend to one common centre, the advantage and profperity of his country. 
 While the Britifh empire was mouldering away in America and Europe, while 
 our Generals and Armies were laying down their arms, and becoming prifoners of 
 war, he not only preferved our Afiatic territories, but conquered every French 
 and Dutch fettlement upon the continent of Uindnflan, except Cuddahre, which was 
 befieged, with Buffy's army, at the time of the laft peace. Lord North, in the 
 Houfe of Commons, frequently dwelt on Mr. Haftiogs 9 vigour and abilities ; but, 
 to gratify the rancour of fome members of the Coalition, his Lordfhip never once 
 mentioned that fpotlefs integrity and tender humanity, which are ftriking and beau- 
 tiful features in that gentleman's character. On his return to Europe, after having 
 been more than thirty-three years in confiderable offices, and more than twelve 
 Go-vert.orrGtntrai of Bengal, he received the unanimout thanks of his conftituents, the 
 Eaft India Company, for his important, faithful, and fuccefsful fervices; and indeed to 
 him the Cii[>,ti>y owed its exiftence. By the nation at large lie was honoured with 
 general and high applaufe ; but the fame envious faclion which recalled the brave Rod- 
 ney in the moment of victory, dared not only to calumniate, but to treat the fortunate 
 Hafiingi, as a delinquent of the firft clafs, and to purfue him with unexampled vi- 
 rulence. He muft certainly have been wearied with wading through the v.:ft, 
 heterogeneous mafs of crude and indigefted materials, which, under the name of 
 charges, were exhibited againft him in the Houfe of Cortlmoas,JJand the many folio 
 pages of the trifling, inconclufive, and inconfiftent evidence taken before the Com- 
 mittee. The calm and ferene philofophy of his mind however, an happy temper, 
 and confcious virtue, kept him from being ruffled a fingle moment. He pitied the 
 extravagance' and madnefs of party and faction, and looked forwards to the day of 
 juftice, if not of gratitude, from usj and of full approbation from an impartial pof- 
 Cerify. 
 
 without
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 without any attempt at the fmalleft proof of what he 
 advanced, or calling for a fingle paper, in ib great a 
 variety of matter. He pledged himfelf for the moil 
 fcrupulous accuracy, yet in the very moment forgot to 
 give the Company credit for an immenfe floating pro- 
 perty, for all their {lores, goods and merchandizes in 
 the warehoufes at Calcutta, Bencoolen, Bombay, Fort 
 St. George, and other factories in the Eaft. An omif- 
 fion of this importance could not proceed from igno- 
 rance, where infinite pains were taken to examine into 
 the rnofl minute particulars, nor from carelefsnefs, 
 where no trace of a heedlefs inattention, or forgetful- 
 nefs, was ever obferved. It argued a total want of 
 good fait b, a deliberate refolution of taking the Houfc 
 by furprize ; and it fucceeded with a weary, puzzled, 
 and embarrafled audience. Leave was given to bring in 
 the Bill. 
 
 Sir, I not only complain of an omiffion of this mag- 
 nitude on the credit fide of this pretended account of 
 the Eaft-India Company's affairs, but likewife of the 
 fuppreffion of fome interefting fadls, which ought to 
 have been brought forward, and placed in a ftrong and 
 full light. It appears by the printed accounts of the 
 " general flate of the affairs of the Eail-India Com- 
 " pany," publilhed by order of the general court, that 
 the arrivals have been put fo much out of their ordinary 
 courfe^ tliat only thirteen Jhips arrived in the feafon 1782, 
 and e truer* in the feafon 1783, while forty -five are left to 
 arrive in 1784, be/ides ten more, which are now abroad, 
 and will be kept in India, fo as to arri-ve in 1785, at the 
 fame time with moft ofthofe now under dif patch from hence* 
 Was it, Sir, confident with candour, cr even juftice, 
 to fupprefs fads of this moment, in a long and la- 
 boured
 
 ( 38' ) 
 
 boured inveftigation of every circumftance refpecYmg 
 the firft commercial company in the world ? The rea- 
 fon however is glaring. The property, which thefe 
 ihips will bring home, cannot fail of placing the finan- 
 ces of the Company on as folid a foundation as the 
 moft interefted proprietor could vviili, or the moft avari- 
 cious and grafping mmifter defire ; but alas ! it is a 
 diftant day, and the moment is preffing, big with rhe 
 fate of minifters. Needy dependents grow importu- 
 nate and clamorous, as being ufed not to give but to 
 fake credit. Prefent plunder is preferred to future golden 
 dreams of all the treafures of the Eaft, and with confum- 
 mate prudence, amid all the chances and changes of this 
 political minifterial life. It was artful to keep back, and 
 out of light, the refources of the Company, and enlarge 
 only on their prefent difficulties, which were brought 
 on by the late war, and the reftraints laid by Parlia- 
 ment itfelf on their power of extricating themfelves by 
 extending their credit in the circulation of bonds to a 
 moderate amount. The unfairnefs of the whole pro- 
 ceeding muft ftrike every man. A noble Lord * near 
 me, with an honeft zeal, has called the Bill an infamous 
 Bill. No epithet can in my opinion reach the enormity 
 of its guilt ; and therefore I fhall content myfelf with 
 calling it a fwindling Bill; drawn and prefented by the 
 right honourable Secretary to obtain money on falfe 
 pretences. 
 
 A lawyer -f- on the floor, who fpoke laft, has told us, 
 that the Company are actually bankrupts, becaufe they 
 have not paid their debts, nor can they at prefent. Is 
 then every man, who does not, or cannot, at a parti- 
 
 * Lord Mahon, Member for Chipping Wycombe. 
 f John Nichols, Ef(j$ Member for Bletchuiglejr. 
 
 cular
 
 ( 38* ) 
 
 time, pay every legal demand, a bankrupt ? Has 
 the worthy member no more tendernefs and delicacy 
 .for the characters of fo many illuftrious perfons all 
 around him ? I refpedt the honour of the majority here 
 too highly to (after them to be called bankrupts. Such an 
 affertion mall not go forth to the world uncontrad idled. 
 Is the learned gentleman yet to be taught the dif- 
 ference between bankruptcy and infohency ? The right 
 honourable Secretary was more cautious. He did not 
 pronounce the Company bankrupt. He only endeavoured 
 to make them out infohent at prefent to the amount 
 of five millions, with little chance of a future day of 
 payment without his generous affiftance. 
 
 The fame lawyer allures us, that the prefent Bill is 
 neither a Bill of confiscation, nor disfranchifement. He 
 will excufe me for flating to the Houfe my reafons for 
 believing it b otb* What is the idea of conff cation ? Is 
 it not the feizing by violence the property of one in- 
 dividual, and transferring it to another ? It is impof- 
 fible for this to take effedt in a fuller and clearer man- 
 ner than is directed by the Eajl India Bill. I defy any 
 lawyer to ihew me an ad of confifcation more forcibly and 
 explicitly drawn. The words of the fourth claufe of this 
 Bill are, The directors, of the faid united company, and 
 all other officers and ?ninijlers, and fervants thereof, are 
 hereby enjoined ', immediately upon the requijition of the faid 
 commijfioners, fignified under their hands and feals, to de- 
 liver up to them [the new commifiioners], or to fuch 
 perfon or perfons as they fliall for that purpofe appoint, 
 all fuch lands, tenements, houfes, ivarehoufes, buildings , 
 books, records, documents, charters, aRs, inftrumcnts, 
 papers, faips, vcffels, .goods, wares, and merchandizes? 
 money, fecurities for money, and all other efecJs what- 
 
 foever t
 
 pever. Imagination is at a lofs even to guefs at the mofl 
 infignificant trifle, which has here efcaped the harpy claws 
 of the hungry and ravenous Coalition. One idea, indeed, 
 generally precedes the word confifcation, and that is a 
 prefumption of guilt. In the preient inftance no crime 
 whatever has been alledged. The argument of the right 
 honourable Secretary for the Bill was only the actual po- 
 verty and defperate condition of the Company ; but the 
 real motive we all know is the certainty of the prefent 
 fpoils, with future accruing wealth, and imtnenfe pa- 
 tronage, to enrich an Indian heptarchy of his creation, 
 and, through his tame viceroys, the Trinculo viceroy 
 of Afia. 
 
 In the Bill, Sir, as drawn and prefented to the 
 Houfe by the right honourable Secretary, there is no 
 claufe inferted of any truft created for the benefit of 
 the proprietors. In the Committee, indeed, the words 
 have been added, in truft for, and for the benefit of the 
 proprietors ; but, in cafe of the grofleft abufe of truft, 
 to whom is the appeal ? To the proprietors ? No, Sir, 
 they are to have no further concern with their own 
 property. Is it not then confifcated ? The appeal is to 
 a majority in either Houfe of Parliament, which the 
 moft drivelling Minifter could not fail to fecure with 
 a patronage of above two millions fterling given him 
 by this very Bill. 
 
 Sir, the Bill is likewife faid not to be a Bill of dlsfran- 
 chifement, becaufe it does not take from the proprietors 
 their right to an exclufive trade, or monopoly. Was 
 this monopoly the only franchife of the proprietors ? 
 There is property in this kingdom to which ^franchife 
 is annexed. The franc bife may be taken away, yet the 
 property remain. To a freehold, for inftance, is an- 
 nexed
 
 ( 3*4 ) 
 
 nexed a right of voting for members of Parliament. 
 We have feen that franchife taken away, and yet the 
 freehold remained untouched ; but the fpirited free- 
 holder of Middlefex, and the nation at large, loudly 
 and juftly complained of the disfrancbifement. The 
 cafe is parallel as to Eajl- India Jhck. Perfons poflerTed 
 ofjtock to a certain amount are entitled to vote for the 
 appointment of their own fervants both at-home and 
 abroad, to manage their own property, in which they are 
 clear-fighted enough, and to direct and fuperintend all 
 their commercial concerns, with a general power of 
 controul. This furely is a moft valuable franchife. It 
 was underftood to be purchafed with the flock. The 
 purchafe-money was more confiderable from this in- 
 triniic value, which it was fuppofed to poffefs. This 
 franchife is to be taken away by the Bill, and yet one 
 gentleman among us can affcrt that the Eajl-lndia pro- 
 prietors will not be disfranchifed. God forbid the peo- 
 ple of England Ihould have many fuch defenders of 
 their francbifes and liberties in a Houfe of Commons 1 
 If the Houfe, Sir, will attend to what has palled 
 lince the introduction of this Bill among us, they will 
 fee that if we mean to preferve our ancient parliamen- 
 tary forms of proceeding, we cannot fuffer the farther 
 progrefs of fuch a Bill. When leave was moved for 
 its introduction, the right honourable Secretary, as the 
 fole motive of his conduct, gave an alarming account 
 of the defperate flate of the finances of the Company. 
 He painted in the darkeft colours the flate of their 
 debts and incumbrances, which he made amount to 
 feveral millions. A worthy member of this Houfe *, 
 a Director of the Eaft India Company, flatly contra- 
 
 * Samuel Smith, Ef<j. Member for Ilchefler. 
 
 difted
 
 ( 385 ) 
 
 dieted the afiertions of the Secretary, and pledged 
 himfelf to prove the unfairnefs of all his calculations. 
 The Co?npany have fince given to the public a very dif- 
 ferent flate of their affairs. It comes authenticated by 
 every proper authority, Nathaniel Smith, Efq. Chairman 
 of the E aft- India Company, John Annis, Auditor of Indian 
 Accompts, and Samuel Nicholl, Accountant. Thefe ac- 
 compts we may examine at our leifure, and fcrutinize 
 with the moft minute exactnefs. We have a clear 
 <( Statement of the debts, credits, and effects of the 
 c< Eaft-India Company," carried up to December i, 
 1783. But where is the account of the right honour- 
 able Secretary to be found ? That does not admit of 
 fuch a fcrutiny : that is authenticated by no fignature, 
 nor proved by any paper on our table. No two per- 
 fons in this Houfe agree to-day in the particulars of 
 the long, laboured harangue of yeiterday, but there is 
 a preciiion in what is thrown on paper. It is, how- 
 ever, liable to detection, and even feems to invite an 
 acute examination, which may ill fuit the purpofe of 
 a Minifter. Here then, Sir, the honour and juftice 
 of this Houfe are deeply concerned. One member 
 brings forward a bold arTertion of various facts, on the 
 truth of which he afks leave to bring in a very harlh 
 and fevere Bill, to ufe no more violent expreflions. 
 Another member, more immediately concerned, hav- 
 ing the proofs daily under his eye, denies the truth of 
 every proportion advanced by the member who moved 
 for the Bill, and dares him to the proof at your bar. 
 The cafe does not admit any fraud, fallacy, or decep- 
 tion. The challenge is perfectly fair, for no demon- 
 ilration can be fuperior to that drawn from figures ; 
 yet the challenge is declined. No proof of any kind 
 
 Cc is
 
 is hitherto offered in fupport of the Bill. The cafe 
 then is at iflue, and every principle of juftice forbids 
 us to proceed, till the facts are afcertained, till we 
 know whether a real necemty exifts, or whether it is 
 only made the pretence to colour a deep-laid plan of 
 ambition, wealth, and power. The forms of Parlia- 
 ment are firft to be facrilked, and then its inde- 
 pendency. 
 
 . This Bill, Sir, appears to me to violate the national 
 faith in a high degree, for it annihilates the Charter of 
 the Eaft- India Company, a charter purchafed of the 
 public, and fecured by the fandtion of Parliament. 
 .The violation of the American Charters, which has 
 been followed by the lofs of our empire in the Weft, 
 would have deterred any Minifters lefs raih, lefs 
 impetuous, from this dangerous experiment of tam- 
 pering with Charters. Not a Corporation in the king- 
 dom, not a Charter, not the Great Charter of our Li- 
 berties, not a Deed, not a Contract, not a Document, 
 not a fecurity, no fpecies of property, can be fafe 
 againft bold, violent, unprincipled men acting thus 
 in the plenitude and wantonnefs of power. This Char- 
 ter did not owe its birth to the foolifh paffions and 
 .prepoifedions, or the mad prodigality, of any of the 
 Plantagcnets, Tudors, or Stuarts, in favour of a 
 crouching, iervile courtier, or knavifh, interefted de- 
 pendent. It was a fair purchafe made of the public, 
 an equal compact for reciprocal advantages between 
 the nation at large and the body of the proprietors. 
 . The purchafe money has been actually received by the 
 public, and confequently the proprietors have a juft 
 claim to what was ftipulated in their favour. I agree, 
 Sir, that there is no Charter w-hich may not be for- 
 7 felted
 
 ( 3*7 ) 
 
 felted by delinquency, but the Chaffers of the City 
 of London, for they are excepted by an exprefs Aft of 
 our glorious Deliverer, from the neceffity of preferr- 
 ing the peace of the capital ; but no delinquency of 
 any kind is now made a charge againil the EaH-tndta 
 Directors, proprietors, or any of their fervants. The 
 diftrefs of their circumftances alone was alledged as 
 warranting fuch a Bill. I am very ready to admit, that 
 fome particular fervants of the Company have been 
 guilty of enormous crimes in the Eaft. Is that a rea- 
 fon for punilhing the Directors and Proprietors in 
 Leadenhall-ftreet ? Has the leaft degree of guilt been 
 imputed to them ? I wifh rather to add to their powers 
 over their own fervants ; and then I am fatisfied, that 
 guilt of the deepeft dye would fpeedily be followed 
 with the moll exemplary punifhment. I fee no ob- 
 jection to giving the Directors mofl of the powers of 
 this Bill, but think that it would be highly politic. 
 Let me flate to the recollection of the Hcufe, a recent 
 tranfaction, in which the intereils of the Company, and 
 the national honour, were deeply wounded. When, 
 after every poflible delay, the authors of the late re- 
 volution at Madrafs) and the fubfequent murder of 
 Lord Pigot ; were brought into an Englifh court of 
 juftice, and a jury pronounced them guilty, what was ' 
 the ientence ? A trifling mulct, and not an hour's im- 
 prifonment. The fine, which they paid irvcourt, was 
 fcarcely a fiftieth part of the fpoils of a wicked ufur- 
 pation of the fupreme government, both civil and mi- 
 litary, followed by the murder of the Governor. The 
 public were infulted, even in the hour of trial, by a 
 vain oftentation of what the criminals were prepared 
 to have difgorged, before the fears of their troubled 
 
 C c 2 con-
 
 conferences t^ere quieted by a folemn mockery of juftice\> 
 Such a conduct marked the partial and feeble hand of 
 the law at koine ; for furely, Sir, fuch crimes called 
 for tevertty againft the daring perpetrators, as well as 
 to deter future delinquents. They may from this le- 
 nity learn with perfect fafety, and immenfe profit, to 
 perpetrate the trifling crimes of mutiny, rebellion, and 
 murder, dHgorging only a fmall portion of their ill- 
 gotten wealth. 
 
 I have no objection, I confefs, to retraining the 
 Eaft-India Company to the primary object of thdr Char- 
 ter, to their original vietos of commerce, with a pro- 
 per power over their own fervants. I little relifh the 
 idea of a few merchants governing, as fovereigns, the 
 three powerful Hates of Bengal. Bahar, and Orifla. 
 It is inconliftent with political order, and the fubordi- 
 nation of Britiih fubjects. The Jefuits were juftly ex- 
 pelled from almoft every government in the old and 
 new world, not from a fyftem of filly tenets, which 
 not one in an hundred of them believed or cared about^ 
 but from their attempting to eftablifh the imperium in 
 imperio, which no ftate ever fuftered with impunity. 
 I venerate the wife maxim of a commercial policy, 
 that, while it is adding to the national wealth, forms 
 an invincible bulwark by the flrength of a powerful 
 navy ; but I deteft a fcandalous, heterogeneous traffic 
 of war and trade, plunder and commerce, peculation and 
 murder, extortion, rapine, and corruption. The na- 
 tional character has been loft in Hindoftan. Provinces 
 and kingdoms have been bought and fold by the 
 Afiatic Generals and Governors of the Company, againfl 
 the ftrongefl orders of the Directors and Proprietors, 
 
 and
 
 ( 3*9 ) 
 
 and the lives of fome of the moil harmlefs princes, who 
 have ever reigned, fet to fale. The mifchief foon gains 
 Europe ; and we experience at home all the calamities, 
 which Rome fuffered in the declenfion of her empire, 
 and from the fame quarter, from the Eafl. We are 
 ruined by the luxury and venality of our own wretched, 
 defpicable offspring, and all the vices of the Eaft, 
 which they propagate here too fuccefsfully, when they 
 return to purchaie protection and indemnity for their 
 crimes, or a feat in this Houfe for fale to a corrupt 
 Minifter. I therefore, Sir, highly approve a Bill for 
 the government of the territorial poilcliions and reve- 
 nues of India, which ought to depend on the flate, but 
 the regulation of all commercial concerns I fhall ever 
 think ought to reft with the Proprietors and Direc- 
 tors. This is their province ; and to this they are as com- 
 petent as they are inadequate to dominion and the rule 
 of empires. 
 
 Sir, I look upon this Bill as the bitter fruits of the 
 Coalition. After the fatal confequences of the noble 
 Lord's attack on the American Charters, I cannot think 
 he would have ventured on this diredt violation of the 
 franchifes and property of a great Company, if he had not 
 been in impious league with fo daring a colleague. Not 
 a man, who hears me, can believe that fueh a Bill had 
 ever appeared, if the wordy war had gone on between 
 the two Secretaries. The noble lord indeed had made 
 fome former faint attempts, and for a good while caft 
 a longing eye on the fair prey, but he dreaded his op- 
 ponent. When he had 4-ecured a fit accomplice, the 
 plan and lhare of the plunder was adjufi^dj and then 
 the robbing of the EaJl-Jndia Company refolved. The 
 Duumviri, auro, argento, aie, not fla n do, or fcriundo, 
 
 C c 3 but
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 but ratiiundo, meant to proceed by this- Bill to the lei- 
 zure and conftfcation of all monies, fecurities fur money , 
 goods, wares, merchandizes, &c. &c. &c. with as lictle 
 icruple as in elder times any triumvirate, or decemvirate, 
 ever ufed. 
 
 I proteft, Sir, I do not feel the lead perfonality 
 againft either of the chief members of the Coalition ; but 
 I dread the monftrous, unnatural union of fuch incon- 
 gruous, difcordant particles, becaufe they could only be 
 brought to coale/ce for the divifion of the public ipoils, 
 and the iharing of all power among themielves, to the 
 deftruction of the public liberty, and the independency 
 of this Houfe. I believe that the noble Lord poireiles 
 perfect perfonal integrity. His own probity is unble- 
 mifhed ; but a luft of power, and an unhappy indolence 
 of temper, combined to make him through the courfe 
 of the lait war connive at almoft every man in every de- 
 partment fleecing the public beyond the example of all 
 former times. His own hands were clean: not fo 
 thofe of the whole tribe of his contractors and depen- 
 dents. The noble Lord has a rich vein of pure, elegant, 
 claffical wit, the moft eafy manners, and unaffected 
 good -nature, with every amiable and companionable 
 quality. He is formed to be admired and beloved as 
 a private nobleman. Would to heaven I could com- 
 mend his reverence for the conftitution, his love of li- 
 berty, and his zeal for the'prefervation of thofe noble 
 privileges and franchifes, which are the birthright of 
 Englilhmen ! With his colleague I have acted againft 
 his lordihip for many years, I fought by his fide 
 through the whole American war, and in all the fpirit- 
 ed ftruggles againft the too great power of the crown, 
 I have frequently beei> in raptures from the ftrains of 
 
 his
 
 ( 39 1 ) 
 
 his manly eloquence, the force of his reafoning, and 
 the torrent of his oratory. So perfect a parliamentary 
 debater this Houfe has never known. I grieve when I 
 recolleft how unavailing all our tedious ftruggles have 
 been, and that fo large a part of the empire has been 
 torn from us ; but I am indignant when I fee the no- 
 ble Lord in one of the higheft offices of the ftate, 
 brought back to power, and carefled by the very man, 
 who undertook to impeach him> as the great criminal of 
 thejlate, the corrupter of Parliaments the author and con- 
 triver of our ruin. He protefted that he could not truft 
 bimfelf in the fame room with him. At another time he 
 faid, he confented to pafs for the moft infamous man in this, 
 or any country ', if ever he made part of an adminijlration 
 with the noble Lord in the blue ribband. I do not forget, 
 Sir, attending my Sovereign the laft year, by the com- 
 mand of the Freeholders of Middlefex, to thank his Ma- 
 jejly for having removed from his counfels, men., under 
 whofe adminijlration calamities, fo many and fo great, have 
 befallen this kingdom, and for appointing mlnijlers, in whom 
 this country had, and are willing to have, the fulleft con- 
 fidence. That confidence could never have been loft, but 
 by the dereli&ion of every principle, and every pro- 
 mife. The right honourable Secretary affured us in 
 the firft week after his acceffion to power, that he 
 found every thing much worfe than he could have fuf- 
 pedted. Has he inftituted the leaft enquiry into the 
 caufes of the difmemberment of the empire, and of the 
 difgraces of the Britifli fleet during fo great a part of 
 the laft war, for which he has fo often folemnly pledged 
 himfelf ? In breach of repeated public engagements, 
 and almoft daily pompous professions, he has joined the 
 
 C c 4 enemy
 
 ( 39* ) 
 
 enemy of America, by which he has loft the confidence 
 of every man on the other fide of the Atlantick, which 
 he had acquired in fome degree, and might have made 
 ufeful to this country. 
 
 Sir, another flrong objection to this Bill arifes from 
 the enormous power, in the end neceflarily to accrue 
 to the crown, and perhaps directly by collufion with a 
 minifter. It is, Sir, a patronage of above two mil- 
 lions flerling a year, of which the Company will be 
 deprived. Wherever fuch a patronage falls, it cannot 
 fail to overturn the balance of power in this well-poized 
 conftitution. All the Governor Generals, Lieutenant- 
 Governors, Counfellors, Prefidents, Council of Com- 
 ,merce, Factors, Writers, every thing civil and mili- 
 tary, from the General to the Subaltern, in the various 
 eftablifhments throughout Afia, and at home every 
 thing of profit in Leadenhall- Street, to the very ware- 
 houfemen, clerks and porters of the Houfe, are in- 
 cluded. Such an influence in this age of corruption 
 could never be withftood. I confoled myfelf, Sir, un- 
 der the lofs of America, becaufe as the firft object of 
 my wifhes was the immortality of the liberties of my 
 country, and I had always thought that the Influence cf 
 the crown had increafed, was increafing^ and ought to be 
 diminifaed, three propositions regularly fupported by one 
 half of the Coalition, and regularly oppofed by the other 
 half, I imagined that the coniiderable diminution of re- 
 gal power by the lofs of the appointment of thirteen 
 Governors, thirteen Lieutenant Governors, Chief Juf- 
 tices, Judges, Attorney and Solicitor-Generals, Re- 
 ceivers, Collectors, Comptrollers, Cuftom-houfe Offi- 
 cers, &c. &c. &C. with the military government of 
 
 Minorca,
 
 ( 393 > 
 
 Minorca, and the two Floridas, no longer rendered the 
 Crown an object of terror. If, however, the immenfe 
 patronage of Ada is to be given to the Crown, its over- 
 grown power muft foon fwallow up the two other 
 branches of the legiflature, aud the fovereign of En- 
 gland will become as perfect a defpot as the monarch of 
 France, Spain, or Pruffia. If it is to be feized by a 
 Minifter at the head of a proud and hateful ariftocracy, 
 both the Sovereign and the people will be the llaves of 
 a faction. One only refource will remain in the great 
 revolution of human events, which the womb of time 
 may bring forth, a circumftance not to be regretted, 
 perhaps to be wilhed, by the real friends of humanity. 
 It is an event pofllbly not very diftant, that the French, 
 Dutch, and Portuguese, as well as the Englifh, may 
 be entirely fwept away from the countries in the Eaft, 
 which they have cruelly laid wafte, and made the the- 
 atre of the moft flagitious enormities. The peaceful 
 natives will then be at reft, happy under the mild go- 
 vernment of their own princes. Commerce will then 
 no longer be fettered by a monopoly, but fpread its 
 fwelling fails as freely over the Gulph of Bengal and 
 the Indian feas, as on the coaft of China and Japan, on 
 the Atlantic, or the Mediterranean. 
 
 May I beg the indulgence of the Houfe for a very 
 few more words ? We have an AEl to prevent officers 
 of the Cuftoms and Excife from voting at elections of 
 members to ferve in Parliament, a truly wife and ex- 
 cellent regulation, dictated by the fpirit of liberty. 
 Should this Bill pafs into a law, I will move the fame 
 kind of reftraint with refpect to every man employed 
 under the intended Eaft-India commffion, to diminifh 
 in fome degree the incredible weight of influence, 
 
 which
 
 ( 394 .) 
 which it will create. I will brino- to the teft the con- 
 
 O 
 
 iifiency'of the great Whig families, of whofe fupport 
 we have heard ib much from the right honourable 
 Secretary ; and I doubt not of the effectual affiftance 
 of every independent character in the Honfe. I do 
 not, however, defpair of the total rejection of the pre- 
 ient Bill. I will only add, that if we do not ftrangle 
 the monfter in its birth, it will deftroy the freedom 
 both of the Parliament and people. 
 
 APPENDIX*
 
 ( 395 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 N I. 
 
 THEPROTESToF 
 THE EARL OF A B 1 N G D N, 
 
 Entjered February 24, 1777, 
 On the JOURNALS of the Houfe of Lords. 
 
 Dffintient, 
 
 F. 
 I R S T, Becaufe I look upon this Bill, not only 
 
 as a part of that fyftem of Colony-Government, fo ini- 
 mical to Civil Liberty, fo repugnant to the firft and 
 fundamental principles of the Conftitution, fo ruinous 
 in its meafurcs, fo fhocking to humanity, and fo 
 averfe from that now exploded virtue of univerfal 
 benevolence, but becaufe t fee herein that fyflem com- 
 ing home to OURSELVES, and with hafty fleps point- 
 ing its dangers, even towards the heart of the king- 
 dom,, 
 
 Secondly,
 
 Secondly, Becaufe the Bill itfelf is attended with 
 powers fubverfi ve of and unknown to the laws of the 
 land, by apprehending perfons, it may be, on ground- 
 lefs SUSPICION, by imprifoning perhaps the innocent, 
 without the ufual and neceflary form of a (ingle oath ; 
 and not too in the common gaol of the county, but in 
 whatever part of the realm, be it ever fo diflant, that 
 perfecution fhall think fit to adopt. 
 
 Thirdly, Becaufe, although the ryder, which has 
 been added by the other Houfe, does in forne degree 
 abate the rigour of this harfh and alarming Bill, yet it 
 does not fufficiently provide for the fecurity of his Ma- 
 jefty's loyal fubjects, the inhabitants of the Weft India 
 Iflands under its baneful operation ; nay, even any in- 
 dividual of this country, who fhall venture on the High 
 Seas, if only to make the tour of the Hebrides, may 
 become the object of fufpicion, and the victim of ven- 
 geance. 
 
 Laftly, Becaufe the hour is come, if from mo- 
 tives of policy only, that coercion to lenity ihould give 
 way. (Signed) ABINGDON*. 
 
 *' This noble Earl has been one of the mod fteady and intrepid affertors of liberty 
 n this age. England has ellential obligations to the family of the Earl of Abingdon. 
 's lie 11 the prince of Orange was at Exeter in great difficulties foon after his landing, 
 tv hen, " both the clergy and magiftrates of Exeter were very fearful, and very back- 
 " ward, when the Bifhop and the Dean ran away, and the Clergy ftood off,'' as 
 Bifhop Burnet fays, Lord Almgdon came in and joined our glorious deliverer. The 
 fame ardour for freedom glows in the breaft of his noble descendant, with an almoft 
 unexampled ipirit and activity. The citizens of Geneva, as well as the people of Eng- 
 land, dwell with pteafure on the praife of a peer, who has made the moft generous 
 efforts for both in the caufe of public liberty, and often facrificed the pleafures and 
 eajoyments of focial life to their interefts. No gentleman was evermore formed to 
 pleafe and captivate in private life than the prelent Lord Ab'tngdon, or has been more 
 deservedly, more generally efteemed and beloved. He poffefies true honour in the 
 higheft degree, with generous fentiments of friendfhip. To fuperior manly fenfe 
 he joins eafy wit, with an amiable gaiety of temper, which diffufes univerfal chear- 
 fuinefs. It is impollible not to be charmed with the happy prodigality of nature in 
 bis favour, font every confideration yields with him to a warm attachment to tlis 
 Laws and conftitutiou of England. 
 
 N*
 
 ( 397 ) 
 
 N II. 
 
 The PROTEST of the LORDS, 
 
 On the 1 6th of April, 1777. 
 
 Dijfentient, 
 
 For the reafons contained in the amendment pro- 
 pofed and rejected, viz. in lieu of the Addrefs, to 
 fubftitute the following : 
 
 To affure his Majefty of the inviolable affection and 
 loyalty of this Houfe ; and that it is with the fincereft 
 affliction we find our duty to his Majefty, and out 
 country, entirely incompatible with our compliance 
 with the requeft made to us in his Majefty's name. 
 
 That at a time when the increafe of Public Debt, 
 attended with a decreafe of the Britifh empire, mani- 
 feftly required the utmoft oeconomy in the manage- 
 ment of the Revenues of the Crown, we cannot be- 
 hold, without aftonilhment and indignation, a profu- 
 fion in your Majefty's minifters, which the greateft 
 profperity of our affairs could fcarcely excufe. 
 
 That this Houfe, with the moft zealous devotion 
 to your Majefty's true interefts, beg leave to reprefent 
 to your Majefty, that we humbly apprehend the clear 
 revenue of 800,000 1. a year, which fupported the go- 
 vernment
 
 C 398 ) 
 
 vernment and court of your Majefty's grandfather of 
 happy memory, in great authority and magnificence, 
 is fully fufficient (if managed by your Majefty's fer- 
 vants with the fame integrity and oeconomy) to main- 
 tain alfo the honour and dignity of your Majefty's 
 Crown, in that reverence in which we wifh, as much 
 at leaft as thofe who have fquandered away your re- 
 venues, to fee it always fupported. 
 
 Parliament has already, in confideration (we fuppofe) 
 of fome expences at the beginning of your Majefty's 
 reign, difcharged the debts and incumbrances on the 
 Civil Lift to a very great amount. Again to exceed 
 the revenue granted by Parliament, without its au- 
 thority, and to abufe its indulgence in paving one 
 debt, by contracting, in fo iliort a time, another, and 
 a greater, is, on the firft view, a criminal aft. Your 
 Majefty's minifters ought to have laid fome matter be- 
 fore this Houfe, tending to ftiew that your Majefty's 
 government could not be reputably fupported on the 
 provifion made by Parliament ; whereas they have only 
 laid before us the heads on which they have exceeded, 
 without any thing which can tend either to juftify or 
 excufe the excefs ; and the only reafon given to us for 
 paying that debt is, that your Majefty's minifters have 
 incurred it. 
 
 With regard to the further increafe of your Majefty's 
 Civil Lift revenues, we muft decline any concurrence 
 therein, not folely from motives of oeconomy (though at 
 no time more ftrictly required), but from a dread alfo of 
 the effect of fuch an augmentation on the honour and in- 
 
 O 
 
 tegrity of Parliament, by vefting fuch large Aims with- 
 out account in the hands of minifters. When an opi- 
 nion
 
 399 ) 
 
 nlon is known to prevail, and which we have no means 
 of contradicting, that your Majefty's Civil Lift reve- 
 nues are employed in creating an undue influence in 
 Parliament, it would be extremely unbecoming of us to 
 vote, without manifeft reafon, great fums out of the 
 property of your Majefty's fubje&s, which are fup- 
 pofed to be applied to our private emolument. It is 
 our duty to attend to the reputation of Parliament ; 
 and we beg leave to reprefent to your Majefty, that a 
 further increafe of the prefent overgrown influence of 
 the Crown would be a treacherous gift from Parlia- 
 ment even to the Crown itfelf, as it -will enable the 
 minifters to carry on thofe delufive fyftems which have 
 been fatally adopted, and which, if purfued, mud 
 lead to the ruin, as they have already produced the 
 diftraclion of this once great empire. 
 
 ABINGDON, 
 
 ABERGAVENNY, 
 
 ARCHER, 
 
 KING, 
 
 THANET, 
 
 TORRINGTON, 
 
 STAMFORD, 
 
 EFFI^GHAM, 
 PORTLAND, 
 RICHMOND, 
 BUCKINGHAM, 
 
 FlTZWlLLIAM a 
 
 DEVONSHIRE, 
 MANCIIESTSS. 
 
 N' III.
 
 N III. 
 
 The PROTEST of the Earl of RADNOR, 
 On the firit of May, 1777. 
 
 Becaufe, though I admit, and zealoufly contend, that 
 the fplendorand dignity of the Crown of Great Britain, 
 and the credit of the royal houfehold, ought, for his 
 Majefty's perfonal fatisfaction, no lefs than for the ho- 
 nour of the nation, to be maintained by liberal grants 
 of Parliament (liberal beyond the charge of parfimony, 
 or a minute calculation of the demands on govern- 
 ment) ; yet, when no confideration is had, and no ac- 
 count whatever given in of various productive funds, 
 of which his Majefly's iervants are in the receipt, and 
 which are never accounted for in Parliament, I muft 
 infift that all calculations of a deficiency in the arTumed 
 fum of 800,000 1. only, are fallacious and abfurd. 
 
 Becaufe thefe funds produce either the exact fum of 
 78,000!. or more, or lefs. If they produce that fum, 
 the produce more than liquidates the prefent ftated 
 debt. If they produce lefs, but yet producing fome- 
 thing, the accounts upon the table cannot be true ; 
 for fuch produce would then either have been accounted 
 for in diminution of this debt, or fuch produce is Hill 
 
 in
 
 in hand, and the means of difcharging fuch , debt re- 
 main; or there has been fome fecret expenditure to 
 which it has been applied, and which adminiftration 
 have not thought fit to mention. If they produce, as 
 I cannot but think they do produce, confiderably more, 
 it furely reds upon miniilers to ihew the application, 
 rather than becomes the credulity of Parliament to ac- 
 cept thefe accounts a complete, or its generofity to 
 fupply with fuch readinefs, and confequently encou- 
 rage the wantonnefs of t % heir profuiion, as to the 
 amount, and perhaps their criminality in the deilina- 
 tion of the fums. 
 
 And becaufe, when (exclufive of the enormous fums 
 flated to be lodged with certain perfons who are mem- 
 bers of the Houfe of Commons, for fecret and fpecial 
 fervices, words calculated to perplex and not inform) 
 the extravagant amount of falaries and acknowledged 
 
 D O 
 
 penfions (to which parliamentary jealoufy claims a 
 right of making a large addition on account of the 
 general belief, amounting with many perfons to an in- 
 ternal convidtion of considerable dilburfements for fe- 
 cret and unacknowledged purpofes) is confidered ; I 
 hold it my duty, as a member of the legislature, to 
 withhold the additional means, afforded by this bill, 
 of corrupting the integrity of Parliament. 
 
 RADNOR. 
 
 D d N IV.
 
 N 4. 
 
 Extract from {i A report from the Committee ap~ 
 " pointed (upon the 2/th day of March 1771) to 
 " examine into the feveral facts a-nd circumftances 
 " relative to the late obstructions to the execution 
 " of the orders of this Houfe; and to conhder what 
 " further proceedings may be requifite to enforce a 
 "due obedience thereto; and to report their pro- 
 " ccedings, together with their opinion, from time 
 " to time, to the Houfe." 
 
 The Committee appoited to examine into the feveral 
 facts and circumftances relative to the late obftruc- 
 tions to the execution of the orders of this Houfe, 
 and to confider what further proceedings may be re- 
 quilite to enforce a due obedience thereto, and to re- 
 port their proceedings, together with their opinion, 
 from time to time, to the Houfe, have, in obedience 
 to the order of the Houfe, begun by examining in- 
 to the facts and circumftances relating to the late 
 obftru&ions to the orders of the Ho-ufe ; and, in or~ 
 der thereto, called before them, 
 
 Whilbam, one of the meifengers attending, 
 this Houfe ; who faid, " That he had had no other 
 44 warrant but that for taking J. Miller into cuftody, 
 " on the 1 5th of March, 1771 : it was directed to Mr. 
 <* Bonfoy, Mr. Clement f on, and himfelf, with orders to 
 
 "go
 
 C 403 ) 
 
 (C go and take Miller into cuftody ; and he proceeded, 
 " and came to Miller's houfe about 2 o'clock ; and he 
 " aiked if Miller was at home, and was informed he 
 " was above ftairs, and would be down in a little time; 
 " that he waited about a quarter cf an hour, when 
 " Miller came down, and went into his compting- 
 " houfe ; that he (Whitham) followed him, and told 
 " him, he hoped he would not be furprized, that he 
 " had the Speaker's warrant for taking him into cuf- 
 " tody, and offered to fhew the warrant to him ; and 
 " that he (Miller) juft. caft his eye upon it, and faid, 
 " that the meffenger had no authority to take him-, 
 f( and he fhould take no notice of it ; whereupon he 
 " (the meffenger) laid his hand upon Miller's arm, and 
 " told him he was his prifoner, and that he mud go 
 " with him. Miller faid, that he had affaulted him in 
 " his own houfe ; and thereupon told one of the per- 
 " fons prefent to go and fetch fuch a one, but does 
 " not remember the name of the conitable, who came 
 " in a few minutes, and Miller charged the conilable 
 " with him for the affault, and required the conftable 
 " to carry him before the fitting alderman; that as he 
 " (IVhitham) was going into the court where Miller 
 <l lives, he faw a man, whom he takes to be the con- 
 " ftable, come out of Miller's houfe, and go into a 
 " houfe near the opening into the court; and, by the 
 " fhortnefs of the time, which was about three or four 
 " minutes, he judged the conftable might come from 
 " that houfe; that the conftable came into the compt- 
 " ing-houfe, and Miller charged him to take the mef- 
 " fenger (Whit ham) into cuilody ; the conftable charged 
 " all prefent to affift him, and the meffenger gave the 
 " like charge to all prefent on his behalf; that he is 
 D d 2 " not
 
 ( 4^4 ) 
 
 " not fare the conftable laid his hands on him ; but, 
 " finding they were determined to arreft him, he made 
 ** no refiflance ; that he apprehends a coach was ready 
 " by order, as there was not time to call one from the 
 " (land : and one Clarke, and Miller, and he (the mef- 
 " fenger), went into the coach, which was ordered to 
 " drive to Guild/jail, and did fo. 
 
 " That, when they arrived at Guildhall, they went 
 " up flairs, and were informed that the fitting AI- 
 <( derman was gone ; that as foon as they arrived at 
 " Guildhall, Clarke went for Mr. Clcmentfon ; that he 
 " did not hear any one in particular directed to go to 
 " the Man/ion Hvufe; but that feveral perfons followed 
 <f Miller to Guildhall; and in about a quarter of an 
 " hour, word was brought that the fitting Alderman 
 " was at the Manfion Houfe; whereupon they went thi- 
 " ther, and were taken into the room where bufmefs is 
 " ufually done : they Itaid there about a quarter of an 
 " hour, when word was brought that he (Miller') could 
 " not be examined till fix o'clock: that he (Whitham) 
 " defired he might not be examined before Mr. Cle~ 
 " mentfon came; that they ftaid a ihort time, when a 
 " gentleman came and defired Miller and him to follow 
 " him, who fhewed them into a room where people 
 " were dining; they dined, and then went into another 
 " room, where he and Millar {laid till they were called 
 " to the Lord Mayor, who was in his bed-chamber 
 " with Aldermen Oliver and Wilkes, and feveral other 
 fc perfons ; that he met Mr. Clementfon as he was going 
 " into the room to the Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor 
 " began by afking Miller concerning his being taken 
 " into cuftody by the meflenger, and Miller gave an 
 " account of it; then the Lord Mayor afked him (the 
 2 " meiienger)
 
 ( 405 ) 
 
 " meffengcr) by what authority he took Milkr? He 
 " anfwered by the authority of the Speaker's warrant, 
 " which the Lord Mayor ordered him to produce ; he 
 <fc did fo, and was ordered by Mr. Clement/on to read it, 
 " but not to deliver it out of his hands ; that as he was 
 " going to read it, the Lord Mayor faid, he muft have 
 " the infpe&ion of it, or no notice could be taken of 
 "it; that he then delivered it to the Lord Mayor upon 
 " his promife it fhould be reftored to him ; that the 
 " Lord Mayor took and read it ; and he or Mr. Mor- 
 " ris 9 but rather thinks the latter, ordered a copy to 
 " be taken of it, and a copy was taken accordingly; 
 " that the Lord Mayor afked him, if he had applied to 
 ** any Civil Magiftrate to back the warrant, or whether 
 " he was a peace-officer ? To both which he anfwered 
 " in the negative : the Lord Mayor then a/ked, by 
 et what authority he could take a citizen into cuftody ? 
 " That he (the meflenger) anfwered, by the Speaker's 
 " warrant, which he thought fufficient ; and the Lord 
 " Mayor then faid, he had no authority to take up any 
 " one in the City, without his or the authority of fbrne 
 " city magiftrate. 
 
 " Then three witnefles were (worn to the fa<ts which 
 " palled at Miller's, and that thereupon Mr. Clement/on 
 " informed the Lord Mayor, that he was come by the 
 ** Speaker's order to demand the rneflenger and his pri- 
 " foner : he does not recollect the anfwer which was 
 " given to this demand ; but fbme arguments pafied, 
 " and Mr. Morris fpoke a good deal : then the Lord 
 " Mayor faid, that he (the meflenger) mufl be com- 
 " mitted to the Compter, and Miller muft be difchargcd; 
 " and ordered a Mittimus to be drawn, and that he faw 
 " the Lord Mayor, fign it: that Mr. Morris then faid, 
 
 D d 3 "it
 
 " 
 
 C 
 
 it would be proper that the other two Aldermen 
 ihould iijjrn it, who did fo in the prefence of him 
 " the meiienger : the Lord Mayor then faid, he did 
 " not deiire them to be concerned, but would take it 
 " upon himfelf : that, before the warrant was quite 
 (( completed, the Lord Mayor or Mr Morris faid, there 
 " was bail in the room, if it was liked of ; and one 
 " Mr. Hurford, Mr. Withy, and Mr. Reynolds an attor- 
 (t ney, offered to be bail, before the Lord Mayor faid, 
 "I muft give bail; that he thanked them, but did 
 " not know whether he ihould have occaiion for k ; 
 " and faid that he never had applied to them for it. 
 
 " That he declined giving bail, Mr. Ckmentfon fay- 
 " ing it was not proper ; and the warrant was iigned 
 " and fealed : Mr. Clemcntfon then faid, that he was 
 " ready to give bail; whereupon the Lord Mayor grew 
 " warm, and faid he was trilled with; and that he then 
 61 faid, that lie, or we, would not then take bail, or 
 " words to that purpofe ; upon which there was fome 
 " noife arM clapping of hands in the room ; and there 
 " followed fome difcourfe between the Lord Mayor, 
 tl Mr. Clementfon, and Mr. Mo-ri* ; and he thinks, in 
 " confequence, it was agreed to take bail ; a-nd Hur- 
 61 f:i)-d and Withy gave bail, and Mr. Clemenifon agreed 
 " to it. 
 
 " That Mr. Clement fun and he (the meirenger) were 
 " afterwards fent back from the Speaker's to the Man- 
 tl fion i-ou/e^ for a copy of the warrant of commitment; 
 " and were refufed it, being tuld, it was not to be 
 " found, but, if it mould, they might have it in the 
 tc morning. That he (the meffenger) went a fecond 
 " and third time; and was told the lafl time, he might 
 " have a copy of the Recognizance a little before the 
 
 " Quarter
 
 ( 407 ) 
 
 " Quarter Seffion, if he defined it; but that the copy 
 " of the warrant was of no ufe after bail was given." 
 
 The Committee then proceeded to examine Mr. 
 Clement/on the Deputy Serjeant at arms, who faid, 
 " That he went to the Speaker's houfe on Friday the 
 " 1 5th of March to fee if the warrant was iigned for 
 " taking Miller into cuftody; that the Speaker's fecre- 
 " tary had prepared it, and the Speaker figned it, and 
 " delivered it to him (Ckmentjon) who gave it to the 
 " meflenger, and told him, that if he found any dif- 
 " ficulty, to fend for him, who ihould be at home. 
 " That he heard nothing more, till half an hour paft 
 " three o'clock ; then a perfon came to him, and told 
 " him, he muft come, for that the meflenger was 
 (f taken up by a conftable, and charged with an aflault. 
 " That he went to the Speaker's, and told him of it, 
 " who gave him directions to go and demand the mef- 
 " fenger, and his priibner ; and that if bail was necef- 
 " fary, he muft give it; but that he muft fee him 
 " committed firft. ~That he went firft to Guildhall, 
 *' about five o'clock, but found nobody there, and was 
 f( told, he Ihould hear of them at the Manjion Houfe. 
 " That he went there, and was introduced to the 
 * f Lord Mayor, in his bed-chamber. That he told the 
 " Lord Mayor, he underftood, that the meflenger, to 
 " whom the warrant was directed for apprehending 
 *' Miller i was taken up by a conftable, and charged 
 " with an aflault; that he therefore defired to know, 
 <f if the meflenger had been brought before him. - 
 ** That the Lord Mayor faid, he had been told, that a 
 (f perfon, who was called a meflenger of the Houfe of 
 *< Commons, had been brought there, and charged 
 *< with an, aflTa.ult, /That he (Ckmentfon) waited in an 
 
 P 4 4 " ami*
 
 e( anti-room till fix o'clock. That the meffenger then 
 " came, and Miller and a Conftable (John Downe), 
 " and a large concourfe of people. Then they went 
 " in, to the Lord Mayor ; Alderman Wilkes and Al- 
 " derman Oliver were there with him. The Lord 
 t( Mayor afked, what was the purpofe of their coming 
 (( thither ? Miller faid, he charged Whitham, the mef- 
 " fenger, with an affault. On this Mr. Robert Morns 
 *' appeared, and faid he was counfel for Miller the 
 " profecutor. He faid, that Miller had been violently 
 " affaulted, and falfely imprifoned, by an illegal war- 
 <e rant, Downe, the Conftable (who was afked for by 
 " the Lord Mayor) faid, Miller had applied to him, 
 " about one or two o'clock, and had complained of an 
 " affault on him, in his own houfe, by the meffenger, 
 " and charged him to take the meffenger into cuftody; 
 " he therefore took him into cuftody, in order to carry 
 f( him before a proper magiftrate. 
 
 " Miller was then called upon ; who faid, That a 
 <c perfon who called himfelf a meffenger of the Houfe 
 (( of Commons came to him, and took him into cuf- 
 tody, by virtue of a pretended warrant. That 
 Miller was then fworn by the Lord Mayor, and faid 
 upon his oath, that what he had before faid was 
 true. He went on, and faid, he had refufed to 
 ' f go with the perfon. That the perfon had ufed vi- 
 11 olence, and had feized hold of him, and was pulling 
 " him along. That the Lord Mayor alked the mef- 
 " fenger, what offence Miller had committed, or what 
 < f authority he had for afiaulting Miller in this man- 
 f ncr ? The meffenger faid, he had the Speaker's 
 f* warrant, directed to him, to take Miller into cuf- 
 f tody. The Lord Mayor afked where the warrant 
 
 " was ? 
 
 <f 
 
 "
 
 ( 409 ) 
 
 " was ? That he (Clementfon) told Whit ham to open It, 
 " and read it himfelf. That the Lord Mayor or Mr, 
 " Morris (he can't fay which) faid it muft be pro- 
 " duced. -That he ( r lementfon) objected to it for fome 
 * 6 time ; but the Lord Mayor faying it could not be 
 " taken notice of, if not produced, he delivered it to 
 " the Lord Mayor, on his promifmg to deliver it back 
 " to him ; that he waited till this time, to* fee the na- 
 " ture of the aflault charged on Whltham ; and finding 
 " that it was for executing the warrant for taking 
 " Miller into cuflody, he then told the Lord Mayor, 
 " that he appeared before him as Deputy Serjeant at~ 
 " Arms of the Houfe of Commons ; that he came 
 " there by the Speaker's directions, and had his com- 
 " mands to demand not only Whitbam the meffenger, 
 " but likevvife Miller his prifoner ; and he made that 
 " demand in the moft folemn manner he was able. 
 (( That Mr. Morris, on this, defired he (Clementfon) 
 " might be fworn as an evidence : But he (Clementfon) 
 (f declared he would not be fworn, and faid, he did not 
 " come as an evidence, but: as an officer of the Houfe 
 " of Commons, to execute the commands given him 
 * by the Speaker. The Lord Mayor faid, he could 
 " not take notice of any thing in his magifterial ca- 
 " pacity, that was not given upon oath. That he 
 11 was then alked by Morris, if he refufed to be ex- 
 *' amined to any of the facts or circumfiances within his 
 *' knowledge. That he doubted at firft what anfwer 
 " to give to that ; but, on recollection, he faid, if 
 " there was the leaft doubt either of the warrant being 
 f ( figned by the Speaker, or of his (Clementfori's) hav- 
 " ing the Speaker's commands to demand Whit ham the 
 " meifenger, and Miller his prifoner, he was ready to 
 
 " be
 
 C 410 ) 
 
 " be fworn to the truth of thofe matters ; but would 
 " not be fvvorn generally. Finding that to be his re- 
 " folution, Mr. Morris declined fwearing him as to 
 " thofe matters ; but he (Clement/on) again repeated, 
 " that if there was any doubt as to thole matters, he 
 " was ready to fwear to them. 
 
 " That the Lord Mayor aiked Wbitham if he was a 
 (t Peace-Officer or a Conftable ? he faid, he was not ? 
 " if he had applied to any City Magiftrate to back 
 " his warrant; he faicl, he had not : Upon this, the 
 t( Lord Mayor declared. That it was very extraordi- 
 " nary for any Citizen to be taken up in the City of 
 " London, without the knowledge or authority of the 
 " Lord Mayor, or fome other magiftrate of the City ; 
 " and if this was permitted to be the cafe, it would 
 "be trampling on the laws, and there would bean 
 " end of the conltitution of this country. 
 
 ./ 
 
 "- Then Miller was examined, as to his being a Li- 
 " veryman of the City of London. The Lord Mayor 
 " faid, it was his opinion, that no warrant, but from 
 " him or fome other magiftrate of the city, was good 
 " and valid to take up any citizen ; that he thought 
 " himfelf bound, fo long as he held the great Office 
 " of Chief Magiftrate of the City of Lundon, to take 
 <( notice of a proceeding of this fort ; and that it was 
 " his duty to defend the Citizens, and their Rights 
 " and Liberties, to the laft extremity. He faid, he 
 " was of opinion, the meffenger had no right to take 
 " up Miller, who was a Citizen, not being charged 
 " with any Felony, Trefpafs, or Breach of the Peace. 
 
 " That Mr. Morns then took four objections to the 
 " warrant.
 
 " Firft, that the \vords [" Houfe of Commons"] 
 " was not a CufnVicnt ddcription of the power which 
 " had palled the Vote. That it fhould have been 
 [" the Route of Commons in Parliament alfemb.ed."] 
 
 " Secondly, That [" J. Miller"] was no fufficient 
 " defcription of the perfon. 
 
 " Thirdly, That toe offence was ntft inferted ; and 
 " therefore that it was illegal, and without colour of 
 " law. 
 
 " Fourthly, That it did not appear, that [" Fletcher 
 " Norton, Speaker,"] who figued the warrant, was 
 " the Sir Fletcher Norton, who is Speaker of the Huufe 
 " of Commons. 
 
 f< That the Lord Mayor afked Wbltham, whether 
 <f he intended to carry Miller away as his prifoner ? 
 " Whltham faid, he did. -The Lord Mayor then faid, 
 " he thought the warrant was illegal ; and therefore 
 <f he difcharged Miller out of the cuftody of the mef- 
 " fenger; and faid at the fame time, This Citizen 
 " comes here to claim a citizen's protection of me, 
 " and I think he is entitled to it. 
 
 " That then the Lord Mayor proceeded on the af- 
 *' fault. Miller proved that Whit ham had laid hold of 
 "his arm and pulled him; and that about five mi- 
 " nutes afterwards the conftable came. After this, 
 f{ Three perfons were produced to prove the aflault. 
 
 " Henry Page, of Newgate-Street, Printer. 
 
 " John Topping, of the Old Bailey ', Printer. 
 
 " Robert Page, of Ne-wgate- Street, Printer. 
 
 " They proved, That Whiibam laid hold of Miller's 
 " iirm, and faid, he was his prifoner, and that Miller 
 " faid, he Ihould not go, or did not chufe to go. 
 < f Th&Wbitbam faid, You muft go; and Miller faid, 
 
 "he
 
 ( 412 ) 
 
 w he Should not ; and then Wbith&m charged every 
 "body prefent to aflift him. After this, the Confta- 
 *' ble was brought ; and the Conftable charged all 
 " prefent to affift him. 
 
 16 That the Lord Mayor, on this, gave it as his 
 " opinion, that the aflault was fully proved ; and that 
 " Whitham muft give fecurity to appear at the next 
 " Seflion for the City of London, to anfwer fuch in- 
 " didtments as Ihould be then found againft him for 
 te the affault and falfe imprifonment, himfelf in Forty 
 " Pounds, and Two Securities in Twenty Pounds, 
 li each; and that Miller was to be bound to appear 
 * c and make out the charge. Mr. Morris and many 
 " others prefent were ready to be bail for Wbitbam : 
 " That Wbitbam was very much frightened, and was 
 fc ready to offer bail ; but he ( Clement/on) infifled he 
 " fhould not give bail. The Lord Mayor deiired it 
 * ff might be noticed that bail was offered j but not ac- 
 * e cepted by Wbitbam. 
 
 " Then the Lord Mayor directed a warrant to be 
 ** made out ; and the perfon who had thefe directions 
 " he faw fill up what he fuppofed was the warrant ; 
 *' and the Lord Mayor declared, it was a warrant for 
 ** committing Whitham to the Compier." That he faw 
 " the Lord Mayor fign that paper. On this, Mr. 
 " Mirris deiired the other two Aldermen might iign 
 " the warrant, as well as his Lordihip ; elfe it might 
 * c be fuppofed, that they did not concur in opinion 
 " with his Lordfnip. The Lord Mayor faid, he did 
 ** not defire any body elfe to fign it, though the two 
 " Aldermen declared th.emfelves ready to do it ; and 
 *' he particularly faid to Alderman Wilket, I think you 
 (: Lavs enough upon your bands already. The warrant 
 
 " however
 
 ( 413 ) 
 
 t( however was directed to be altered by the Clerk into 
 i( the plural number ; and he faw that paper figned by 
 " the other two Aldermen, Wilkes and Oliver. That 
 " he afked the Lord Mayor if it was figned by them 
 " all ; and he faid, it was ; and directions were given 
 " by the Lord Mayor, and Mr. Wilkes, to the Con- 
 " (table, that be (Wbitham) might be ufcd kindly in pri- 
 (( fon. That juft before they were going to take him 
 " away, he thought that, this being a Commitment, 
 " he had gone far enough ; and then he offered bail. 
 " That the Lord Mayor grew warm at this, and faid, 
 " that he found that this proceeding meant to exag- 
 " gerate the Offence or Bufmefs, or the Proceeding; he 
 " could not recollect exactly the word he made ufe of. 
 46 That, after this was. done, he came back immedi* 
 " ately to the Speaker ; and upon his relating what had 
 se happened, he defired him to go back and try to get a 
 " copy of the warrant of Commitment. The Lord 
 " Mayor faid, he could not tell where to find it then, 
 " every body being gone away ; but that if it was not 
 " deftroyed, being now of no ufe, he fhould have a 
 " copy ; but that I knew he had figned it alone firft, 
 " and that afterwards Alderman Wilkes and Alderman, 
 (f Oliver deiired to fign it too ; and that he and Alder- 
 <f man Oliver ihould, in their places in the Houfe of 
 " Commons, admit their having figned fuch a war- 
 rant ; but that he Ihould have a copy of it in the 
 morning if it couU be found. That he applied 
 again on Saturday morning to the Lord Mayor for 
 a copy of the warrant ; he faid he could not yet find 
 it ; that fome of them had taken it away, and he 
 " knew not where it was ; but that if it could be 
 " found, Whitbam fliould have a copy 'of it j that it 
 
 "did 
 
 ff 
 
 "
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 " did not figuify, for that he did not mean to deny 
 " what had been done, or make ufe of any fubterfuge; 
 " and that this was all that he (Clemen tfon) had done. 
 " That he did not go to execute the warrant himfelf ; 
 " and that it was not fealed. 
 
 " And he further added this circumftance, that he 
 " recollects, when the Lord Mayor had (igned the 
 " Mittimus, and he the Deputy Serjeant had offered 
 " Bail, the Lord Mayor grew warm, and made ufe of 
 t( fome expreffion, that he ihould not take Bail then, 
 " or words to that purpofe ; faying, that this pro- 
 " ceeding meant to exaggerate the ciTence, or words 
 Ci to that effect ; but he fbon afterwards faid, he muft 
 '* take bail. 
 
 " That he endeavoured to ferve the order of the 
 " Houfe on J. Wheble ; and went on ^burfday the 28th 
 " of February, to his (Wheble' 'j) {hop, and enquired for 
 <( him, and the fervant faid, he was not at home, but 
 t( would be in an hour's time ; that he called again, 
 " and received the fame anfvver ; that he called again, 
 " and was anfwered by a lad in the {hop, who laid he 
 " was an apprentice, that he was not at home, being 
 " gone to the other end of the town ; and that his 
 " matter had waited all the day before, expecting him. 
 " That he (Clementfon) then faid, that he would call 
 
 " again in an hour, and bid him tell his mafter. 
 
 " That he did fo ; and was told, he (Wheble} had 
 " been in, and was gone out again ; but if he would 
 " let him know where he (Clementfon) might be found, 
 " he would wait on him. That he went to a Coffee- 
 " houfe, and waited ; then called again, and was told, 
 " Wheble was expected to dinner at three o'clock. 
 " That he called at half an hour paft three, and was told 
 7 " that
 
 " that Whebte was not at home, but would be foon. 
 <c That he called again at four and five o'clock, and re- 
 " ceived the fame anfwcrs. That he left word he was 
 " the Deputy Serjeant at Arms, and would be there 
 " again at half an hour paft nine in the morning-, which 
 " he accordingly was, and was told by the fame per- 
 " fon, that W belle was not at home, but faid, he had 
 " delivered the meiFage he had left with him, and that 
 " his mafter faid, he was very forry he was obliged to go 
 t out, and he left no word when he would be at home. 
 " That he called again at eleven o'clock, and he was 
 " not at home ; but was anfwered, he might be in, in 
 " half an hour. That he went again on Saturday at 
 " ten o'clock, and the apprentice faid, he was not at 
 " home, but would be in the afternoon ; and faid it 
 " with a fmile, as if laughing at my frequent calling; 
 " and faid, if he would leave word where he might be 
 * c found, we will fend you word when he is at leifure. 
 " That he (Clementfon) faid, he would be there at 
 " feven o'clock, which he accordingly was, but was 
 " told, he (IVbeble) was not at home, and had fent 
 " for his linen, and therefore was not expected till 
 " Monday. 
 
 " That he did not go to Thompfon till Friday the 
 " Firft of March, becaufe there were two R. Tbompfons, 
 " one Richard, the other Robert. That he found, at 
 " the Stamp-Office, that Tbompfon had been fummoned 
 *' before the Commiffioners to give fecurity, and faid 
 " his name was Robert : That he fent a mefTenger to 
 " enquire Li the neighbourhood, and found there was 
 " but one : That he went to Tbomg/offs houfe, and was 
 " told by a man he was not at home, nor could tell 
 *' when he would be, or whether he was in town; that 
 
 "he
 
 " he had feen him two or three days before ; that nt) 
 " body knew more about Thompfon than himfelf, and if 
 " he (Clementfon) would leave a meffage, he would de- 
 liver it: That Williams the meffenger then faid, 
 " you know our bufinefs ; to which he made no an- 
 " fwer: That he went again at eleven o'clock; and 
 fl the fervant faid, fflompfon was not at home ; for he 
 " had not feen him, and nobody knew better than he; 
 " and faid, that if he (Clementfon) had bufinefs with 
 " Tbompfon, it was ufually left with him firft, and that 
 " no time was more likely to meet with him than that 
 " day or to-morrow. 
 
 " That he (Ckmentfon) went again on Saturday, and 
 " the fame perfon told him Thompfon was not at home, 
 " but would be in half an hour, but had no reafon for 
 " thinking fo : 'That he went twice afterwards, and 
 " he was not at home, nor had been, and that he did 
 " not know when he would be : That he (Clementfon) 
 "faid, Then he will not fee me; and received for 
 " anfwer, he could not tell." 
 
 And he farther faid, " That there had been one 
 ff more attempt fince, to execute the warrants on IVbe- 
 " ble and Tbompfon ; that Mr. Speaker had made an al- 
 " teration in the direction of the warrants, by infert- 
 "" ing the name of Wood the meffenger; that Wood 
 " took the warrant, and he (Clement jon) followed after, 
 " to endeavour to find Wbeble and Thomp/on ; that he 
 " (Clementfon) waited at a coffee-houfe in IVbeblis 
 " neighbourhood ; that Wood went and endeavoured to 
 " find them, but without effect." y 
 
 Your Committee then proceeded to examine Charles 
 Williams the meffenger; who faid, " he attended the 
 " Serjeant, in endeavouring to ferve the warrants on 
 
 " Whcble
 
 ( 4'7 ) 
 
 " Wheble and Tbompfon, on Tburfday the twenty-eighth 
 " day of February : That he went fix or feven times 
 " to Wheble' s houfe ; that he did not find him at home, 
 " but was told he would be at home foon. 
 
 " That he went to Thompfon's feveral times, and re- 
 " ceived the fame fort of anfwer ; that the bufinefs 
 tl they came upon was known at both places; and that 
 " he had read Mr. Clementfon's minutes at the time, 
 " which he found were right." 
 
 The Committee then proceeded to examine Guy 
 Wood the meflenger; who faid, u He had the Speaker's 
 " warrant, about the tenth or eleventh of March, to 
 "arreft Tbcmffon and Wbeble-, that he received it from 
 "the Deputy Serjeant; that his (Wood's} name was 
 " inferted in the warrant ; that he went with one Mr. 
 " Lee to Thomp fin's houfe ; that Lee went in and en- 
 " quired for Thompfon ; that they had agreed, that, if 
 " Lee (laid above a minute, he (Wood) was to come in 
 te after him ; but Lee not rinding him at home, came 
 " out immediately. 
 
 " That they went from thence to Wbeble's, and pro- 
 <( ceeded in the fame manner. Lee went in, and was 
 " told Wheble was gone into the country : they then 
 " went to the Green Dragon in Fleet-Street, where Whe- 
 <e ble's evening papers are delivered, and ftaid fome 
 " time, to try if they could fee him come after his pa- 
 " pers, or about his bufinefs, but could fee nothing of 
 " him : that they have made feveral enquiries fince, 
 " and can hear nothing of him." 
 
 Your Committee having thus ftated the evidence of 
 the facts and circumftances relative to the late obftruc- 
 tions to the execution of the orders of this Houfe, as 
 it appeared before them, &c. 
 
 E e N*
 
 N 5 . 
 
 VOTES of May 7, 1777.. 
 
 Ordered, Nemine contradicente, 
 
 i 
 
 That Mr. Speaker be deiired to print the Speeds 
 made by him to His Majefty, in the Houfe of Peers,, 
 this day, upon his prefenting, to His Majefty the Bilk 
 for the better fupport of His Majefty 's household, and 
 of the honour and dignity of the crown of Great Bri- 
 tain, which then received the Royal Aflent. 
 
 The SPEECH of the Speaker of the Houfe of Com- 
 mons,. Sir Fletcher Norton. 
 
 <( Moft Gracious Sovereign^ 
 
 " The Bill which It Is noxv-my duty to prefent tCK 
 " your Majefty, is intituled, An Aft for the better fup- 
 C( port of his Majefty' s houfebohl r and of the honour and 
 <l dignity of the crown of Great Britain : to which your 
 " Commons humbly beg your Royal AffenL 
 
 11 By this iiill,. Sir, and the refpeclful circumftances> 
 <c which preceded and accompanied it, your Commons 
 u have given the fulleft and cleareft proof of their 
 " zeal and affection for your Majefty. For in a time 
 " of public diftrefs, full of difficulty and danger, thdr 
 " conftituents labouring under burthens almofi too heavy to 
 
 " he
 
 ( 419 ) 
 
 i be borne, your faithful Commons poftponed all other 
 " buiinefs ; and, with as much difpatch as the nature 
 *' of their proceedings would admit, have not only 
 " granted to your Majefty a large prefent fupply, but 
 " alfo very great additional revenue; great beyond 
 " example ; great, beyond your Majejly's bigheft expence. 
 
 " But all this, Sir, they have done, in a well- 
 * f grounded confidence, that you will apply wifely 
 " what they have granted liberally ; and feeling what 
 " every good fubject mult feel with the greateft fatif- 
 " faction, that, under the direction of your Majefty's 
 " wifdom, the affluence and grandeur of the Sovereign 
 " will reflect dignity and honour upon his people." 
 
 VOTES of May 9, 
 
 Refolved, 
 
 That the Speaker of this Houfe, in his Speech to His 
 Majefty, at the bar of the Houfe of Peers on Wednef- 
 day laft, and which was defired, Nemine contradicente, 
 by this Houfe, to be printed, did exprefs, with juft 
 and proper energy, the zeal of this Houfe, for the fup- 
 port of the honour and dignity of the Crown, in cir- 
 cumftances of great public charge. 
 
 Ordered, 
 
 That the thanks of this Houfe be returned to Mr. 
 Speaker for his faid Speech to His Majefty. 
 
 E e 2 N
 
 ( 4*0 ) 
 
 N 6. 
 
 R 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 S 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MARRIAGES 
 
 Of their ROYAL HIGHNESSES 
 
 TUB DUKES OF 
 GLOUCESTER AND CUMBERLAN 
 
 (COP Y.) 
 
 At the Court at St. James's the 21 ft day of May, 
 
 1773- 
 
 PRESENT, 
 The KING'S moft Excellent MAJESTY 
 Archbifhop of Canterbury Earl of Dartmouth 
 
 Lord Chancellor 
 Duke of Newcaftle 
 Lord Chamberlain 
 Earl of Denbigh 
 Earl of Sandwich 
 Earl of Rochford 
 
 Earl of Briftol 
 Vifcount Townfhend 
 Vifcount Falmouth 
 Vifcount Howe 
 Vifcount Hinchinbrool 
 Biihop of London. 
 
 WHEREAS
 
 ( 4*1 ) 
 
 MARRIAGE. TT 7 H E R E A S application has 
 Order for the Arch- \\ b een made to his Maiefty, by 
 
 biOiep of Canterbu- . . _ .. -rxi/- 
 
 ry, Lord chancellor, his Royal Highnels the Duke of Glou- 
 rt cefter, requefting that his Majefty would 
 
 ^ pleafed to give fuch directions as to 
 Royal Hizhneflesthe his Maieftv ftiall feem meet, that the 
 
 Dukes of Gloucefter c / 
 
 aud Cximberiand. marriage or his Royal Highnefs k the 
 Duke of Gloucefter may be duly and properly authen- 
 ticated, as the time of the delivery of the Duchefs of 
 Gloucefter draws near. His Majefty having taken the 
 fame into his royal confideration, and being difpofed to 
 comply with his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Glou- 
 cefter's requeft, to caufe his Royal Highnefs's faid mar- 
 riage to be authenticated as foon as poffible, is pleafed, 
 with the advice of the Privy Council, to order (and it 
 is hereby accordingly ordered) that the moft Reverend 
 Father in God Frederick Lord Archbimop of Canter- 
 bury, the Right Honourable Henry Lord Apfley, Lord 
 High Chancellor of Great Britain, and the Right Re- 
 verend Father in God Richard Lord Biihop of Lon- 
 don, do forthwith make enquiry into the legality of 
 the faid marriage of his Royal Highnefs the Duke of 
 Gloucefter ; and do certify to his Majefty at this board 
 their opinion thereupon, together with the feveral proofs 
 of the faid marriage, in order that the fame may be re- 
 corded in the Council-books, 
 
 AND his Majefty is alfo further pleafed to order (as 
 it is hereby accordingly ordered) that the moft Reverend 
 Father in God Frederick Lord Archbifhop of Canter- 
 bury, the Right Honourable Henry Lord Apfley, 
 Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, and the Right 
 Reverend Father in God Richard Lord Bifhop of 
 London, do alfo make the like enquiry into the legality 
 
 E e 3 of
 
 of the marriage of his Royal Highnefs the Duke of 
 Cumberland, and do certify at the fame time to his 
 Majefty at this board their opinion thereupon, together 
 with the feveral proofs of the faid marriage, in or- 
 der that the fame may be recorded in the Council- 
 books. 
 
 The KINGf's moft Excellent MAJESTY in 
 Council. 
 
 JN obedience to your Majefty's command fignifiecl 
 by your order in Council, bearing date the twenty-firft 
 of this inftant, directing us forthwith to make enquiry 
 into the legality of the marriage of his Royal Highnefs 
 the Duke of Gloucefter, and to certify to your Ma- 
 jefty in Council our opinion thereupon, together with 
 the feveral proofs of the faid marriage, in order that 
 the fame may be recorded in the Council-books , we 
 did on the twenty-fecond of this inftant attend his 
 Royal HighneTs the Duke of Gloucefter, at Gloucefter- 
 Houfe, at feven o'clock in the afternoon ; and do there- 
 upon humbly report to your Majefty, that it does ap- 
 pear to us by the feveral proofs which have been laid 
 before us (which proofs, in purfuance of your Majefty's 
 faid order in Council, we have hereunto annexed) that 
 a marriage was folemnized on the fixth day of Septem- 
 ber, one thoufand feven hundred and fixty-fix, be- 
 tween his faid Royal Highnefs William Henry Duke 
 of Gloucefter, and Maria Countefs Dowager of Wai- 
 degrave. 
 
 AND in further obedience to your Majefty's faid or- 
 der in Council of the twenty-firft of this inftant, direft- 
 ing us to make the like enquiry into the legality of the 
 marriage of his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Cumber- 
 land,
 
 ( 4*3 ) 
 
 land, and to certify at the fame time to your Majefty 
 in Council our opinion thereupon, together with the 
 feveral proofs of the faid marriage, in order that the 
 fame may be recorded in the Council-books ; we did 
 attend his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland at 
 Cumberland-Houfe, on the twenty-third of this inftant, 
 at two o'clock in the afternoon ; and do further hum- 
 bly report to your Majefty, that it does appear to us, 
 from the feveral proofs which have been laid before us 
 (which proofs are alfo hereunto annexed) that a mar- 
 riage was folemnized between his faid Royal Highnefs 
 Henry Frederick Duke of Cumberland, and the Ho- 
 nourable Anne Horton, widow, on the fecond day of 
 October, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-one. 
 
 {Signed) FRED. Cant. 
 
 May 26, APSLEY, C. 
 
 J773- Ric. London. 
 
 At Gloucefter Houfe. 
 
 Saturday the 22d of May, 1773. 
 Seven in the Evening. 
 
 His Majefty having been pleafed, by his order in 
 Council of yefterday's date, fpecially to appoint the 
 moft Reverend Father in God Frederick Lord Arch- 
 bilhop of Canterbury, the Right Honourable Henry 
 Lord Apfley, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, 
 and the Right Reverend Father in God Richard Lord 
 . Bifhop of London, forthwith to make enquiry into the 
 legality of the marriage of his Royal Highnefs the 
 Duke qf Gloucefter, and to certify to his Majefty in 
 
 E e 4 Council
 
 ( 4*4 ) 
 
 Council their opinion thereupon, together with the fe- 
 veral proofs of the faid marriage ; their Lordfhips did 
 this afternoon attend his Royal Highnefs at Gloucefter 
 Houfe, at feven o'clock ; and his Royal Highnefs be- 
 ing afked feveral queftions by their Lordfhips,, he gave 
 anfwer and figned a declaration thereof in writing, and 
 depofed the fame upon oath as followeth : 
 
 IWILLIAMHENRY, Duke of Gloucef- 
 ter, do declare moft folemnly, that I was married to 
 Maria Countefs Dowager of Waldegrave, on the lixth 
 of September, one thoufand feven hundred and fixty- 
 fix, between the hours of feven and nine in the even- 
 ing, at her houfe in Pall-mall, by Robert Morton (fmce 
 deceafed), one of her domeftic chaplains, according to 
 the form of the church of England ; and that no other 
 perfon was prefent. 
 
 (Signed) WILLIAM HENRY. 
 
 SEVERAL queftions being likewife put to her Royal 
 Highnefs the Dutchefs of Gloucefter by their Lord- 
 fhips ; fhe gave anfwer, and figned a declaration 
 thereof in writing, and depofed the fame upon oath as 
 followeth. 
 
 I MARIA, Dutchefs of Gloucefter, do folemnly 
 declare, that I was married to his Royal Highnefs Wil- 
 liam Henry Duke of Gloucefter, on the fixth of Sep- 
 tember, one thoufand feven hundred and fixty-fix, at 
 my houfe in Pall-mall, between the hours of feven and 
 nine in the evening, by Robert Morton (fince deceafed), 
 one of my domeftic chaplains, according to the forms 
 and ceremonies of the church of England : no other 
 perfons being prefenr. (Signed) MARIA. 
 
 CHARLES
 
 CHARLES RAINSFORB, Lieutenant Colonel in the 
 Coldftrearn regiment of foot guards, doth depofe upon 
 his oath, and faith, that his Royal Highnefs the Duke 
 of Gloucefter did, on Saturday the nineteenth of Odfco- 
 ber, one thoufand feven kundred and feventy-one, at 
 Leghorn, declare, fuppofmg himfelf to be upon his 
 death-bed, that he was married to Maria Countefs 
 Dowager of Waldegrave, with orders in cafe of his 
 death to go immediately to England, and communicate 
 the faid marriage to his Majefty. 
 
 (Signed) CHARLES RAINSFORD. 
 
 FREDERICK Lord Bilhop of Exeter doth depofe 
 upon his oath and declare, that on Sunday, March the 
 firft, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-two, he 
 was induced to alk Lady Waldegrave, whether Ihe was 
 married to his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Glou- 
 cefter ? She acknowledged to the faid Lord Bifhop t>f 
 Exeter, that Ihe was married to his Royal Highnefs 
 the Duke of Gloucefter, at her houfe in Pall-mall, on 
 the fixth of September, one thoufand feven hundred 
 and lixty-fix, between the hours of feven and nine in 
 the evening. But immediately upon her acknowledg- 
 ing her marriage me expreffing great anxiety of mind, 
 declaring me had promifed his Royal Highnefs the 
 Duke, never to reveal her marriage till me had his ap- 
 probation for fo doing ; and on the twenty-fourth of 
 the fame month of March, me told the faid Lord 
 Biihop of Exeter that me was married by Mr. Morton 
 (fmce deceafed), whom the Bifhop knew to be one of 
 her domeftic chaplains ; and that there were no wit- 
 nefles prefent. (Signed) F. EXETER. 
 
 IT
 
 ( 4*6 ) 
 
 IT appearing by the aforegoing declaration of their 
 Royal HighnefTes the Duke and Duchefs of Gloucefter, 
 that the clergyman who performed the marriage cere- 
 mony was deceafed, and that no other perfon was pre- 
 fent at the marriage ; the Archbiihop of Canterbury, 
 the Lord Chancellor, and the Bifliop of London, thought 
 it advifeable to take the two aforegoing depositions of 
 Lieutenant Colonel Charles Rainsford, and of Frede- 
 rick Lord Bifhop of Exeter, as a confirmation of the 
 above declarations of their Royal Highnefies the Duk<$ 
 and Puchefs of Gloucefter, 
 
 At Cumberland Houfe. 
 
 Sunday the 23d of May, 1773. 
 Two in the Afternoon. 
 
 His Majefty having been pleafed, by his order ix| 
 Council of the twenty-firfl of this inftant, fpecially tq 
 appoint the moft Reverend Father in God Frederick 
 Lord Archbiihop of Canterbury, the Right Honour- 
 able Henry Lord Apfley, Lord High Chancellor of 
 Great Britain, and the Right Reverend Father in God 
 Richard Lord Bifliop of London, forthwith to make 
 enquiry into the legality of the marriage of his Royal 
 Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland, and to certify to 
 his Majefty in Council their opinion thereupon, toge- 
 ther with the feveral proofs of the faid marriage; their 
 Lordihips did this afternoon attend his Royal Highnefs 
 at Cumberland houfe, at two o'clock; and his Royal 
 Highnefs being aiked feveral queftions by their Lord- 
 ihips, he gave anfwer, and figned a declaration thereof, 
 
 in
 
 ( 4*7 ) 
 
 fti writing, and depofed the feme upon oath as fol- 
 Joweth : 
 
 I HENRY FREDERICK, Duke of Cumber- 
 land, do folemnly declare, that I was married to theHo* 
 nourable Anne Horton, widow, on the fecond day of 
 October, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-one, 
 in the afternoon, between the hours of fix and eight, 
 at her houfe in Hertford-ftreet, by William Stevens, 
 clerk, fellow of St. John's college in Cambridge, ac- 
 cording to the rites and ceremonies of the church of 
 England, in the prefence of the Honourable Mifs Eliza- 
 J^eth Luttrell : no other perfon being prefent. 
 
 (Signed) HENRY. 
 
 SEVERAL queftions being likewife put to her Royal 
 Highnefs the Dutchefs of Cumberland by their Lord- 
 Ihips; fhe gave anfwer and ligned a declaration thereof 
 \n writing, and depofed the fame upon oath as fol- 
 
 loweth : 
 
 I ANNE, Dutchefs of Cumberland, do folemnly 
 declare, that I was married to his Royal Highne(s 
 Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, on the fecond 
 day of O&ober, one thoufand feven hundred and feven- 
 ty-one, in the afternoon, between the hours of fix and 
 flight, at my ho.ufe in Hertford-iireet, by William Ste 
 yens, clerk, fellow of St. John's college in Cambridge, 
 according to the rites and ceremonies of the church 
 of England in the prefence of the Honourable Mifs 
 
 If lizabeth Luttrell : no other perfon being prefent. 
 (Signed) ANNE. 
 
 WILLIAM
 
 C 4*8 ) 
 
 WILLIAM STEVENS, clerk, fellow of St. John's col- 
 lege in Cambridge, doth depofe upon his oath, that he 
 did on the fecond day of October, one thoufand feven 
 hundred and feventy-one, marry his Royal Highnefs 
 Henry Frederick Duke of Cumberland, to the Honour- 
 able Anne Horton, between the hours of fix and eight 
 in the afternoon, at her houfe in Hertford-ftreet, ac- 
 cording to the rites and ceremonies of the church of 
 England, in the prefence of the Honourable Mifs Eli- 
 zabeth Luttrell : no other perfon being prefent. And 
 did immediately after the ceremony performed make a 
 memorandum thereof, which was figned by all the par- 
 ties, and has ever fmce been in his cuflody, and now 
 produces the fame, (Signed) WILLIAM STEVENS. 
 
 THE Honourable Elizabeth Luttrell doth upon her 
 oath depofe, that ihe was prefent on the fecond day of 
 October, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-one, 
 between the hours of fix and eight in the evening, when 
 the marriage ceremony was performed between his 
 Royal Highnefs Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumber- 
 land, and the Honourable Anne Horton, at her houfe 
 in Hertford-ftreet, by Mr. Stevens, according to the 
 rites and ceremonies of the church of England : no 
 other perfon being prefent. 
 
 (Signed) ELIZABETH LUTTRELL. 
 
 A marriage was folem- ^ TT r 
 
 . . 9 r \ HENRY FREDERICK, 
 
 4771. mzed this fecond day of V ANN HoRTON> 
 
 October, between us, 
 
 By me WILLIAM STEVENS, fellow of St, 
 
 John's college, Cambridge, 
 In the prefence of ELIZABETH LUTTRELL. 
 
 I the
 
 ( 4*9 ) 
 
 I the underwritten Stephen Cottrell, one of the clerks 
 of his Majefty's Moft Honourable Privy Council, do 
 hereby certify that the above memorandum of the mar- 
 riage of their Royal Highnefies the Duke and Duchefs 
 of Cumberland, is the memorandum produced by Wil- 
 liam Stevens, clerk (the minifter who performed the 
 office of marriage between their faid Royal Highnefles) 
 and was delivered by the faid William Stevens, this 
 23d Day of May, 1773, as refered to in his depofition. 
 (Signed) STEPHEN COTTRELL. (L. S.) 
 
 At the Court of St. James's, the 26th day of 
 May, 1773. 
 
 PRESENT. 
 
 The KIN G's moft Excellent MAJESTY 
 
 Archbifhop of Canterbury Vifcount Clare 
 
 Lord Chancellor Vifcount Hmchinbroke 
 
 Duke of Ancafler Lord North 
 
 Lord Chamberlain Bilhop of London 
 
 Earl of Denbigh Lord Edgcurnbe 
 
 Earl of Sandwich Lord Hyde 
 
 Earl of Rochford JamesStuartMackenzie,Efq; 
 
 Earl of Marchmont Wellbore Ellis, Efq; 
 
 Earl of Dartmouth Sir Gilbert Elliot 
 
 Earl of Briftol Richard Rigby, Efq; 
 
 Vifcount Townfhend Sir Lawrence Dundas. 
 
 Vifcount Falmouth 
 
 WHEREAS
 
 ( 43 ) 
 *-" TT T H E R E A S there was this day 
 
 Order directing the \ \f > 
 
 whole of the pro- read at the board, a report from 
 
 the enquiry^nto thl the moft Reverend Father in God Fre- 
 KEsTci^eier derick Lord Archbilhop of Canterbury, 
 and Cumberland, to tne Right Honourable Henry Lord Apf- 
 
 be entered in the J 
 
 council books, ley. Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, and 
 the Right Reverend Father in God Richard Lord Bifhop 
 of London, upon enquiry by them made (in purfuance 
 of his Majefty 's order in Council, bearing date the 
 twenty-firft of this inftant) into the legality of the mar- 
 riage of his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland, 
 which report is in the Words following : 
 
 "To the KING'S moft excellent MAJESTY in 
 Council. 
 
 (t In obedience to your Majefty's command, fignified" 
 " by your order in Council, bearing date the twenty- 
 " firftof this inftant, directing us forthwith to make en- 
 " quiry into the legality of the marriage of his Royal 
 " Highnefs the Duke of Gloucester, and to certify to 
 " your Majefty in Council our opinion thereupon, to- 
 " gether with the feveral proofs of the faid marriage, 
 " in order that the fame may be recorded in the coun- 
 " cil books; we did on the twenty-fecond of this in-. 
 <l ftant attend his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Glou- 
 " cefter, at Gloucefter-Houfe, at feven o'clock in the 
 " afternoon ; and do thereupon humbly report to your 
 " Majefty, that it does appear to us by the feveral 
 f( proofs which have been laid before us (which proofs, 
 " in purfuance of your Majefty's faid order in Council, 
 tf we have hereunto annexed) that a marriage was fo- 
 " lemnized on the fixth day of September, one thou- 
 4 " fand
 
 ( 43' ) 
 
 " fand feven hundred and fixty-fix, between his fafd 
 ft Royal Highnefs William Henry Duke of Glou- 
 " cefter, and Maria Countefs Dowager of Walde- 
 *' grave. 
 
 " And, in further obedience to your Majefty's faid 
 " order in Council of the twenty- firft of this inftant, 
 * directing us to make the like enquiry into the le- 
 " gality of the marriage of his Royal Highnefs the 
 " Duke of Cumberland, and to certify at the fame 
 " time to your Majefty in Council our opinion there- 
 " upon, together with the feveral proofs of the faid 
 " marriage, in order that the fame may be recorded in 
 " the Council Books ; we did attend his Royal 
 (< Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland at Cumberland 
 " Houfe, on the twenty-third of this inftant, at two 
 " o'clock in the afternoon ; and do further humbly 
 tf report to your Majefty, that it does appear to us, 
 " from the feveral proofs which have been laid before 
 " us (which proofs are alfo hereunto annexed), that % 
 " marriage was folemnized between his faid Royal 
 " Highnefs Henry Frederick Duke of Cumberland, 
 " and the Honourable Anne Horton Widow, on 
 * f the fecond day of October, one thoufand feven 
 *' hundred and.feventy-one. 
 
 " (Signed) 
 
 " FRED. Cant. 
 
 May 26, " APSLEY, C. 
 
 1773. " Ric. London.** 
 
 His Majefty having taken- the faid Report into con- 
 iideration, and the feveral declarations, depofitions, 
 and proofs of the faid marriages of their Royal High- 
 neffes having been read kf Council, was pleafed, with 
 
 the
 
 ( 43* ) , 
 
 the advice of his Privy Council, to order that the faid 
 report of the Moft Reverend Father in God Frederick 
 Lord Archbilhop of Canterbury, the Right Honoura- 
 ble Lord Apfley, Lord High Chancellor of Great- 
 Britain, and the Right Reverend Father in God Ri- 
 chard Lord Biihop of London, together with the 
 whole of their proceedings in making the aforefaid en- 
 quiry into the legality of the faid marriages, and the 
 feveral declarations, depofitions, and proofs of the 
 lame, be entered and recorded in the books of the 
 Council Office. 
 
 Whitehall Council Office. 27 May. 1777, 
 
 Book, folio w * J > I I &> 
 
 107 > half paft 1 2. o'clock. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 MARRIAGE. I am ordered by the Lords of the 
 Letter, tranfmitting Council to tranfmit the inclofed packet 
 
 Copy of the whole "' /- -r-v 
 
 of the above Pro- to his Royal Highnels the Duke of 
 
 eeedingstothe Dnk r ,-,, , , ,- 
 
 of Gioucefter. Gloucefter ; and am to defire that you 
 will be pleafed to prefent the fame to his Royal High- 
 acfs accordingly. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 (Signed) STEPH. COTTRELL, 
 
 To 
 
 Lieut. Colonel Charles Rainsford, 
 at Gloucefter Houfe. 
 
 (foiio2o8.) MEMORANDUM. The papers contained in the 
 above-mentioned packet to his Royal Highnefs the 
 Duke of Gloucefter, were a duplicate of his Majefty's 
 order in Council, of the 2ift of this Inftant, direct- 
 ing the Archbilhop of Canterbury, the Lord Chan- 
 i cellor,
 
 ( 433 ) 
 
 celtdr, and the Bifhop of London, to make enquiry 
 into the legality of the Marriages of their Royal High- 
 neffes the Duke of Gloucefter and the Duke of Cum- 
 berland ; A copy of their Lordihips' report in purfu- 
 ance of their faid order ; A copy of the proceedings at 
 Gloucefter Houfe and Cumberland Houfe ; and Tike- 
 wife a Duplicate of the aforegoing order of his Ma- 
 jefty in Council, of the z6th of this inftant, direfting 
 the whole of the faid proceedings to be entered and 
 recorded in the books of the Council Office. 
 
 MARRIAGE. Like letter with the foregoing was 
 Letter, tranfmitting fent to Lieut. Col. Deaken at Cumber- 
 
 a copy of the whole i i r T / , , r i r> i 
 
 of the above pro- land Home, with a packet for his Royal 
 
 Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland, con- 
 taining the fame papers with thofe in the 
 
 aforementioned packet to his Royal Highnefs the Duke 
 
 of Gloucefter. 
 
 A true copy from the original papers and minutes, 
 preferved in the Council Book, Whitehall (beginning 
 ift Jan. 1773, and ending 29th April, 17/4, indorfed 
 Geo. III. N lo.), examined in the prefence of his 
 Royal Highnefs the Duke of Gloucefter, who acknow- 
 ledged the iignature to his own declaration. And 
 the Rev. Mr. Philip Duval attending at this Exami- 
 nation, and viewing;; the federal fi^natures, did declare, 
 
 * O O ' * 
 
 that he was prefent and did fee their Royal Highneffss 
 the Dukes and Dutcheffes of Gloucefter and Cumber- 
 land, the Bifhop of Exeter, Charles Rainsford, Efq. 
 the Rev. Mr. William Stevens, and the Honourable 
 Mifs Elizabeth Luttrell, fign the faid original papers, 
 to which their names are refpedively fubfcribed. The 
 
 F f whole
 
 < 434 ) 
 
 whole examined by me, and figned at the bottom of 
 each page, with the initials of my name and office, 
 this loth Day of April, 1 7 75. 
 (Signed) 
 
 ISAAC HEARD, Norroy. 
 
 The preceding, from page i to page 25, inclu- 
 fively, is faithfully copied from the Regifter, 5 D. 14, 
 in the College of Arms, this 22dof October, 1778, by 
 
 FRA S . TOWNSHEND, 
 Rouge-Croix, in waiting* 
 
 His
 
 ( 435 ) 
 
 His Royal Highnefs WILLIAM HENRY, Duke of 
 GLOUCESTER. 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY, third: 
 Son of Frederick j late prince of 
 Wales, and brother to his Ma- 
 jefty, born 14 Nov. 1743, in 
 L. Houfe, in the parilh of St. 
 Anne, Weftminfter, and bap- 
 tized the 2j|th of the faid month. 
 Elected knight of the moft no- 
 ble order of the Garter, 27 May, 
 1762. Inftalled 22 September 
 following; Created by patent, 
 dated 19 Nov. 1764, Duke of 
 Gloucefter and Edinburgh in 
 Great Britain; and E. of Con- 
 naught in Ireland, to him and 
 the heirs male of his body. 
 
 = MARIA WALPOLE, Coun- 
 tefs Dowager Waldegrave, re- 
 lit of James W. Earl Wald. 
 knight of the moft noble order 
 of the Garter. 
 
 Married to his Royal High- 
 nefs the 6th day of Sept. 1766, 
 at her houfe in Pall-maji, by 
 the reverend Mr. Robert Mor- 
 ton, her domeftic chaplain. 
 
 i SOPHIA MATILDA, eldeft 
 daughter, born in Gloucefter 
 Houfe, in the parilh of St. 
 George, Hanover-fquare, 29 
 May, 1773, baptized 26 June 
 following. 
 
 2. CAROLINA AUGUSTA 
 MARIA, 2d daughter, born i'\ 
 Gloucefter Houfe aforefaid, 
 24th June, 1774, baptized 22 I 
 July following ; died 14^1 
 March, 1775, buried 22d of 
 the faid month, in the choir of 
 the chapel of St. George, at 
 Windfor, in the county of 
 Berks. 
 
 This pedigree proved before the committee of privileges in. the 
 Houfe of Lords, nth of April, 1775. 
 
 ISAAC HEARD, Norroy. 
 
 At the fame time delrvered into the Houfe the proofs of th? 
 marriages of their Royal Highnefles the Dukes of Gloucefter and 
 Cumberland, which I examined in the prefence of his Rpyal 
 Highnefs the Duke of Gloucefter, witii the originals in th? 
 books of the Privy Council, Whitehall. 
 
 ISAAC HEARD, Norroy.
 
 JM VII. 
 
 To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the 
 County of Middlefex. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 I moft heartily congratulate you on the fuccefs of 
 your fteady, fpirited, and generous efforts, in n: caufe 
 of the firft confequence to every elector in this king- 
 dom, the caufe of the right of election, fo long de- 
 pending between you and a former Houfe of Com- 
 mons. After many years unavailing ilruggles againft 
 a defpotic adminiftration, and a corrupt majority in 
 parliament, your public virtue has, by perfeverance 
 and unremitting energy, at laft brought a queftion of 
 infinite moment to a final decifion in favour of liberty, 
 We have now obtained a direct and unequivocal vin- 
 dication of our moft effential rights, rights coeval with 
 the Engliflj conftitution, that perfection of human wif- 
 dom, that nobleft work of man. You have the high 
 fatisfaction of observing an upright fenate alfert the 
 privileges of an injured people againft the encroach- 
 ments of power, and decide in favour of their fair and 
 jufl claim to a fhare inthe legiflature. The proceed 
 ings of this Houfe of Commons I ihall with rapture 
 tranfcribc from their Voles *. You will, I am fure, ac- 
 cept of them as the only atonement which could ba 
 
 * The J'ct-s are printed in the former part uf this volume. 
 
 made
 
 ( 437 ) 
 
 made under a good government for the violation of 
 your franchifes, and the injuries of former flagitious 
 administrations. This branch of our con ft i tut ion is 
 now reftored to its original form, and eftablifhed on a 
 foundation not to be fhaken. No precedent can now 
 be drawn from the injuftice and violence of arbitrary 
 minifters. An incapacity, for the exprefs purpofe of 
 defeating your declared intentions, will not be again 
 created by a vindictive and venal majority in one part 
 only of the legiflature. A minifter will not again no- 
 minate the reprefentative for this refpectable county 
 to the great council of the nation. The man of your 
 free choice will have the diftinguifhecl honour of re- 
 prefenting you, and the glory is yours of having fe- 
 cured the fame invaluable franchife to every elector in 
 the iiland. Not the leaft trace will now remain of the 
 various deep laid plans of fraud and violence, of fub- 
 tle insinuation, alarming menace, and direct infult, to 
 which your calm and undaunted fpirit always rofe fu- 
 perior. The hiftorian's page will, however, record 
 the wickednefs and infamy of your enemies, the public 
 robbers of the rights of freemen, and will hold up 
 the fleady virtue of the freeholders of Middlefex as an 
 objedt of imitation to all future ages, 
 
 My excellent colleague Mr. Byng *, feconded and 
 
 fup- 
 
 * This gentleman afterwards forgot his duty to his conftituents. He refufed, 
 in 1784, to prefent to the King, in conjunction with his colltague, the /Udrefi of 
 the County of Middlefex, notwithstanding the orders of a -v<ry largt and teffefiatle 
 number of the Freeholders. He was in confequence fet afide by the County at the 
 enfuing general election. 
 
 (C Q P Y) 
 SIRS, 
 
 In purfuance of the direftlons of a very large a<;d rtfyeftablt meeting of the Free- 
 hwlJarii held laft Saturday at fctadmey, we have the honour to eatlufs to you ihr 
 
 Repre-
 
 fupported my motion with the zeal, which always ani- 
 mates him in your fervice, and the caufe of his country. 
 Give me leave, Gentlemen, to ftate a circumflance 
 with refpect to a bufmefs of this weight and moment, 
 which I am fure will add to the pleafure you receive 
 in this triumph of liberty. The victory was gained 
 by the moft honourable means, means worthy, the good- 
 nefs of the caufe. No unfair method was taken to fe- 
 cure a majority, nor minifterial manoeuvre pradtifed. 
 No letter from the Treafury, no mandate from any fe- 
 cretary, iffued to enforce attendance. The flightefl 
 folicitation was not urged by any man in power, nor 
 a fmgle emiffary fent on the wing to collect fcattered 
 mercenaries, troops long kept up for the worft of pur- 
 pofes, but now happily difbanded. Every man was 
 left to follow the dictates of his confcience, which in- 
 - fured our fuccefs. The minifters gave you only the 
 fame fupport as individuals this year, which they have 
 regularly fince 1768, with an alacrity manifefting a 
 fettled determination to uphold and fupport the rights 
 of election, which they have reftored. 
 
 I am happy, Gentlemen, to acquaint you, that the 
 appointment of a committee, to examine into the pre- 
 fent ftate of the reprefentation of the Commons of 
 Great Britain, is on the eve of being moved in the 
 Houfe of Commons by a gentleman of as great abilities, 
 matured even in youth, as this country has at any time 
 
 Heprefentatives in Parliament an ^dJrefs to his Majefly, which they direft you, 
 Gentlemen, to prefent forthwith. 
 
 We are, Sirs, with great refpeft, 
 
 Your moft obedient humble fervants, 
 
 Barnard Turner, 1 , . .- 
 Thomas bkiimcr, } ShenfS< 
 John Wilfces, Efq. 
 George Byng, fcfqi. 
 
 produced.
 
 produced. You long ago fuggefted the idea of the 
 propriety of fuch a meafure, and in purfuance of your 
 inftru&ions I had the honour, in March 1 776, of mov- 
 ing the Houfe of Commons for leave to bring in a Bill 
 for ajujl and equal reprefentation of the people of England 
 in parliament, but without fuecefs* The folemn en- 
 gagement between us in 1774, at a numerous county 
 meeting, in relation to this and other eflential obje<5b, 
 I have never loft fight of, and (hall ever hold facred. 
 Some of the more important particulars of that engage- 
 ment, refpe&ing the fair and equal reprefentation of 
 the people in the Houfe of Commons, and the {hortea- 
 ing the duration of parliaments, are among the grand 
 objects, the ftriking features, of the intended enquiry. 
 You will always find me, Gentlemen, uniformly pur- 
 fuing the noble plan of liberty, which you early marked 
 out for my conduct, and above ail endeavouring to in- 
 force the clear right of the people to the free and fre- 
 quent choice of their reprefentativea. 
 
 I am, Gentlemen, 
 
 With much refpectand gratitude, 
 
 Your faithful, and obedient humble fervant, 
 JOHN W I L K E S, 
 
 Prince's -Court, Wejlminjlcr. 
 Monday, May 6, 1782. 
 
 VIII.
 
 ( 440 ) 
 
 N VIII, 
 
 February 28, 1784. 
 
 Mr. Chamberlain Wilkes adminiflered at Grocers* 
 Hall to Mr. Pitt the oath ufually taken by all perfons 
 admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, after 
 ivhich he added : 
 
 S I R, 
 
 1 give you joy *, and I congratulate the City of London 
 on the important acquifition it has this day made. I 
 reckon it, Sir, among the mod fortunate events of my 
 life, that I have the honour of being directed by the 
 unanimous refolution of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, 
 and Common-Council, to enroll your name in the 
 Archives of this Metropolis among thofe Princes and 
 Heroes who have been the benefa&ors of our Country, 
 and the friends of Mankind, with the glorious De- 
 liverer of this Nation, with the Hero of Culloden, 
 with the illuflrious Statefman from whom you derive 
 your defcent. The City of London, Sir, with pride 
 and exultation, now behold revived in the Son 
 thofe folid Virtues, thofe Ihining Talents, and power- 
 ful Eloquence, which they long admired in the Fa- 
 
 * After the oath is adminiftered, by the cuftom of London, the Chamberlain 
 gives the new Citizen the right band of fillmvjhip, that is, takes his right hand, and 
 fays, Sir, I give you jy. 
 
 7 ther ;
 
 ( 441 ) 
 
 ther ; but aVJove all that generous Love of our Coun- 
 try, and its divine Conftitution, fuperior to the grovel- 
 ing, fordid views of private felf-intereft, or perf >nal 
 ambition. You have, Sir, thus early in your Minif- 
 terial Career commanded the efteem and admiration 
 of this City and Nation, by a noble Adt of Dilintereft- 
 ednefs iri favour of the public, for which I believe 
 you iearcely could find a precedent, nor I fear will 
 you be imitated by any future Minifter. 
 
 We look up, Sir, to that fuperior ability, and pu- 
 rity of Public Virtue, which diftinguim you, for the 
 reformation of many abufes, as well as the fteady pro- 
 tection of our Chartered Rights, Property and Free- 
 dom. The Admihiftration of your Noble Father gave* 
 las fecurity at Home, carried the Glory of this Nation 
 to the utmoft Height Abroad, and extended the bounds 
 of the Empire to Countries where the Romari Eagle 
 never flew. A late Adminiftration undertook an un- 
 juft and wicked War, which difmembered the Empire 
 by depriving us of our mod valuable Colonies, and 
 has almoft brought us to the brink of Bankruptcy. 
 To reftore this kingdom to any degree of profperity 
 and greatnefs, demands the utmoft exertions of Virtue 
 and Ability, with every fupport both of the Crown 
 arid People at large. I hope you will meet with both, 
 and I know how high you Hand in the Confidence of 
 the Public. Much is to be done ; but you have 
 Youth *, Capacity, and Firmriefs. It is the charac- 
 teriftic of a true Patriot, never to defpair; and we have 
 a well-grounded hope of your making us again a great, 
 powerful, happy, and united People, by a fleady, 
 
 * Adolefcens gravjs fenili judicio. Cic. pro P. Sextio. 
 
 G 2 uniform
 
 ( 442 ) 
 
 uniform, wife, and difinjerefted conduct. Your Noble 
 Father, Sir, annihilated Party ; and I hope you will 
 in the end beat down and conquer the Hydra of Fac- 
 tion, which now rears its hundred heads againft you. 
 I. remember his faying, that for the good of the People 
 lye dared to look the prcudejl connections of this Country 
 in the Face. I truft that the fame fpirit animates hi$ 
 Son, and as he has the fame Support of the Crown 
 and the People, I am firmly perfuaded that the fame 
 Succefs will follow. 
 
 Mr. P I T T's ANSWER 
 
 T O 
 
 Mr. CHAMBERLAIN W I L K E S. 
 
 I beg to return you my befl Thanks for your very 
 obliging Expreflions. Nothing can be more encour- 
 a S' n g to me > m tne difcharge of my Public Duty, 
 than the countenance of thofe, whom, from this Day, 
 I may have the honour of calling my Fellow-Citizens. 
 
 E END,
 
 MR. W I L K E S's S P E E C H 
 
 ON THE 
 
 IMPEACHMENT 
 
 O F 
 
 WARREN HASTINGS ESQ. 
 
 [Price One Shilling.]
 
 THE 
 
 SPEECH 
 
 O F 
 
 MR. W I L K E S 
 
 I N T H E 
 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS, 
 
 On the NINTH of MAY 1787, 
 
 RESPECTING THE 
 
 IMPEACHMENT 
 
 O F 
 
 LONDON? 
 
 PRINTED FQR G. G. J. AKD J. ROBINSON, 
 
 PATER-NOSTER Row,
 
 I
 
 ( s ) 
 
 VOTES of the Houfe of Commons. Page 615. 
 
 Mer curtly 9 die Matt, 1787. 
 
 The order of the day being read for taking into further 
 coniideration the [firft~\ Report which was made from 
 the Committee, to whom it was referred, to prepare 
 Articles of Impeachment againft Warren Haftings 
 Efquire, late Governor General of Bengal, 
 
 Refolved) 
 
 That the faid Articles of Impeachment be now read 
 a fecond time, article by article. 
 
 Lord Hood oppofed the fecond reading of the Report. 
 After which, 
 
 I 
 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, 
 Mr. Speaker, 
 
 Am very happy to hear the firm negative of the 
 noble Lord to the fecond reading of what is called the 
 frjl Report of the Committee. I rife to give every fup- 
 port in my power to his Lordlhip's propofition, for upon 
 
 A 3 the
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 the moft careful inveftigation of this Report, I do not 
 hefitate to aflert that it is built on a falfe and rotten 
 foundation. The Articles ftated in the Report are in 
 manifeft and direct contradiction to the documents, 
 and all the evidence, on the table of the Houfe. Mr. 
 Hafiings is charged by the Report in exprefs terms, 
 with not regarding the f acred obligation of his oath t nor 
 the important duties of the high offices to which he was ap- 
 pointed, but entertaining baje_ and corrupt mews of procur- 
 ing for himfelf and his dependants exorbitant wealth > &c. 
 by many unjuflifiable afts ' by htm done and committed, 
 whiljl he was Preftdent and Governor General of Bengal, 
 by various unwarrantable and criminal praclices^faithleff^ 
 ly, illegally, and tyrannically violate the duties of his Ra- 
 tion, by each and all of which -practices the welfare of the 
 Eaft India Company has materially fuff ere d> the happinefc 
 ef the native inhabitants of India been deeply ajfecJed, their 
 confidence in Engliflj faith and lenity Jhaken and impair ed 9 
 and the honour of the crown, and character of this nation^ 
 as far as in him lay, wantonly and wickedly degraded. 
 
 Thefe are indeed, Sir, heavy and atrocious charges, 
 and therefore ought not to have been brought forward 
 without the fulleft, and moil incontrovertible evidence- 
 I jhall proceed to prove, that the whole is unfounded, 
 mere rant and declamation, of which the papers, which 
 have been read by the clerk, give a clear and irrefra- 
 gable proof. I will not fatigue the Houfe with volu- 
 minous extracts from the many folio volumes now on 
 our table, but content myfelf with the unexceptionable 
 evidence of the late Governor General of Bengal, Sir 
 John Macpherfon, fo late as the loth of Auguft 1786, 
 and the records of the Eaft India Company. 
 
 Sir
 
 ( 1 ) 
 
 Sir John Macpherfon in a letter to the Court of Di- 
 rectors, dated from Calcutta the loth of Auguft 1786, 
 fays, The condition in which Earl Cornwallis will receive 
 the government of India, is creditable to the Company, and 
 cannot but be fatisfaflory to the Nation. The nativt in- 
 habitants of this kingdom are 9 I believe, the happieji and 
 beft protected fubjeRs in India-, our native Allies and Tri- 
 butaries are fatisfied, and confide in our protection ; the 
 Country Powers are enmloujly afpiring to the friendjhip of 
 the Englijh; and from the KingofTidore, towards New 
 Guinea, to limur Shaw y on the banks of the Indus, there 
 is not a State that has not LATELY given us proofs of con- 
 fidence and refyeff. With what pride and exultation 
 will an Eriglifliman contemplate, and dwell upon, this 
 pleating picture of the happinefs of the inhabitants of 
 India, a picture drawn on the fpot the laft autumn ? 
 With what a mixture of horror and indignation will he 
 turn away from a falfe, coarfe, and wretched daubing 
 made at home by a Weftminfter Committee, and 
 heightened with all the gloomy and frightful colours of 
 mifery and defpair, inftead of the fcenes of chearfulnefs, 
 which nature in reality prefents ? 
 
 Two or three more quotations of no confiderable 
 length I beg leave to fubmit to the Houfe. The Re- 
 fort ftates, That the welfare of the Eaft India Company 
 has materially fujfered by the various unwarrantable 
 and criminal praftices of Mr. Haftings. Now, Sir, the 
 moft natural judge to decide this queflion muft be 
 the Eaft India Company. Let us examine their fenti- 
 ments, whether they think that they have materially fuf- 
 fered, or been highly benefited under the government of 
 
 A 4 Mr*
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 Mr. Haftings. I defirc, Sir, to read the unanimous Rc- 
 folution of the 28th of June 1785. 
 
 Refolded unanimcujly^ 
 
 fhat the Chairman be dire ft ed in the name of the Court 
 io congratulate Governor Haftings on his fafe arrival, and 
 to return him the thanks of this Court for the long, faith- 
 ful, and able fer vices he has rendered to the Company. 
 There was but one opinion at that time among his con- 
 ftituents of the merits of the late Governor General ; and 
 the above honourable teftimony was given to Mr. Haft- 
 ings after he had clofed the long glories of his go- 
 vernment, for he failed from Bengal in the Barrington 
 on the 7th of February 1785. 
 
 The two preceding years had borne the like grate- 
 ful evidence to the fervices of Mr. Haftings. 
 
 The General Court of Proprietors on the 7th of 
 November 1783, came to the following Refolution. 
 
 Refolved> 
 
 That it is the opinion of this Court, that Warren licft- 
 ings Efquire, Governor General of Bengal, and the other 
 Members of the Supreme Council^ have dif played uncommon 
 zeal, ability, and exertion in the management of the affairs 
 cf the Eajl India Company, during the late hoftilities in In- 
 dia, particularly in finding refourcesforfupporting the war 
 in the Carnatic under fo many pr effing difficulties, when that 
 country was in danger of being lojl, through the fuccefsful 
 irruption of Hyder Ally Cawn, AIDED BY THE POWER- 
 FUL ASSISTANCE OF THE FRENCH ; and alfo in con- 
 cluding the late Treaty of Peace with the Marattas at a 
 
 perkd
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 period fo critical, and on terms fo honourable and advanta- 
 geous to the. permanent interefts of the Company. 
 
 Refolved, 
 
 Therefore that the thanks of this Court be given to 
 Warren Hajiings, Governor General, and the other Mem- 
 bers of the Supreme Council, for the above fpecified great 
 and diflinguifhed ferviceS) and further, that this Court doth 
 requeft the faid Warren Hajiings Efq\ Governor General not 
 to refign the Jlation he now holds until the tranquillity of 
 our pojjejjions in India Jh all be rejlored, and the arrange- 
 ments neceffary upon the re-ejlablijhment of Peace Jhall have 
 taken place. 
 
 The laft quotation I beg the Houfe to indulge me 
 with reading, is that of the 28th of October, 1784. 
 
 i 
 Refolved unanimou/ly ^ 
 
 That as peace and tranquillity are now perfectly efta- 
 blijhed throughout India, and this court being fsnftbk that 
 this happy event has been principally owing to the very 
 able and fpirited exertions of our Governor General and of 
 our Supreme Council, that the thanks of this Court be con- 
 veyed to Warren Hajiings Efquire, for his firm, unwearied, 
 and fuccefsful endeavours in procuring the late Peace witk 
 the feveral powers in India. 
 
 I now, Sir, leave the Committee to the management 
 of this new Indian war, which they have declared againft 
 a powerful confederacy, in perfect harmony and unani- 
 mity among themfelves. The manifefto of our Com- 
 mittee ftates, that the welfare of the Eajl India Company 
 
 has
 
 bas materially fuffered by the practices of Mr. tiajlings* 
 The Eaft India Company publifh to the world, and 
 confign it on their records to pofterity, that Mr. 
 Haftings has rendered them long, able, great, dijlinguijhed, 
 and faithful fervices, and concluded a Treaty of Peace 
 on terms honourable and advantageous to their permanent 
 interefts. Mankind in general, Sir, I believe, will have 
 little difficulty in determining that a great body of mer- 
 chants muft understand, and confult, their own perma~ 
 nent interefts, rather better than any Committee of this 
 Houfe not quite fo deeply interefled in the event. 
 
 From the papers which I have taken the liberty of 
 reading to the Houfe, I now claim the right of afferting, 
 that the charges againft Mr. Haftings in this_/r/? Report* 
 have received a fatisfadtory and compleat anfvver. Inftead 
 therefore of their obtaining the fanction of our approba- 
 tion, truth and juftice call upon us to reject them as cruel 
 calumnies againft a gentleman, who has deferred high- 
 ly of his country, as a rude and bafe attempt to tear 
 the well- earned laurels from his brow. Sir Eyre Coote 
 and Sir Edward Hughes were honoured with the 
 thanks of this Houfe for particular fervices in the Eaft 
 during the late war. They both attributed their fuc- 
 cefs in a great meafure to the wifdom and vigour of the 
 councils of the Governor General of Bengal. It is, Sir, 
 a reproach to this Houfe, that for thofe, and many othef 
 greater fervices, Mr. Haftings ftill remains untbankcd 
 here, although the applaufe of his conftituents, and the 
 people at large, have in a liberal manner given that 
 fame which a faction among us deny. 
 
 Sir, as an Englifhrrmn, I avow my gratitude to Mr. 
 Haftings, for I think him a diftinguilhed benefactor of 
 
 this
 
 ( it ) 
 
 this nation. During the late inglorious war, we fully 
 triumphed no where but in the Eaft, under his happy 
 aufpices. There the perfidy of the French, and the 
 treachery of the Dutch, were mod exemplarily chaflifed* 
 He preferved entire all our Afiatic provinces, and left 
 unimpaired the extenfive empire, which he governed. 
 His conquefts over our enemies comprehended every 
 French and Dutch fettlement, except Cuddalore, which 
 was faved only by the Peace, It is without a precedent 
 that fo important conquefts were made at no expence 
 to the mother Country. Lord Clive had frequent and 
 large remittances from England, to the amount of fome 
 hundred thoufand pounds. Without thefe he could 
 not have carried on the wars, in which he was engaged. 
 No complaint has been made of the danger of our be- 
 ing impoverilhed, or exhaufted, by Mr. Haftings's In- 
 dian wars. The wonderful refources of his mind made 
 the war fupport itfelf. The expences of it were borne 
 by our enemies, by the traitors and rebels in our own 
 provinces, or by ambitious neighbours, who had 
 leagued together for our deftruction, I might fay ex- 
 tirpation* 
 
 Sir, the various overt acts of fedition and rebellion 
 in Cheyt Sing, and the Begums, are recorded at large in 
 the volumes on our table. Their rooted hatred to the 
 Englifh is fully eftablifhed. I believe that I fhall not 
 be contradicted, when I maintain that all property of 
 every kind, jaghires, grants, revenues, and life itfelf, 
 are forfeited to the ftate by delinquencies of this atroci- 
 ous nature. The largenefs therefore, or fmallnefs, of 
 a fine in fuch a cafe muft be out of the queftion, nor 
 can there be any pretence to complain of grievous 
 
 penalties,
 
 ( I* ) 
 
 penalties, or exorbitant exaftions, when the whole is 
 confiscated. Whatever is left to the culpable party 
 mud proceed from mercy and compaffion, all poflef- 
 fions and treafures of every fort being forfeited. Every 
 wife government, with equal policy and juftice, will ap- 
 ply to the prefervation of the ftate what was deftined 
 for its ruin and annihilation. On thefe great princi- 
 ples of found legiflation Mr. Haftings appears to have 
 acted. He well knew the treachery and deep diffimu- 
 lation of the Begums. I have heard indeed, Sir, of 
 one Britifh Officer's life being faved by them, a captain 
 Gordon. No mention is made of the many officers and 
 foldiers facrificed in the tumults and rebellion, which 
 they excited. I do not exactly know on what account 
 the captain was fpared. Much flrefs is laid on the cir- 
 cumftance, but the inftance only proves that the Begums 
 had ufurped the government of a country, in which 
 they were only fubjedts, A folitary a<5t of mercy is 
 pleaded with an ill grace, and deferves little weight, 
 againft very many inflances of cruelty. The rebels it 
 is plain paid obedience to the Begums, whofe ufurped 
 power at that time was fupreme. 
 
 Much ridicule has been thrown on the number of 
 affidavits taken in India on occafion of the late infur- 
 redtions, revolts, and rebellions. The cafe is not clearly 
 underflood, nor the intention explained. The critical 
 and dangerous lituation of our government called for 
 immediate and vigorous exertions. Our provinces and 
 dominions were fecured by inftant fpirit and courage, 
 without which all had been loft. Every perfon on the 
 fpot was convinced of the rebellious practices of many 
 natives of high rank and power, and of the ur- 
 gency of our fituation. Prudence afterwards dictated 
 
 the
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 the meafure of giving all the minutise of legal proof to 
 thofe concerned in the affairs of the Eaft Company at 
 home, at the diftance of 4000 leagues from the fcene 
 of action, to whom many particulars of moment and 
 magnitude were unknown. It became almoft neceflary 
 for the fatisfaction of fome men of ftrict form, and mi- 
 nute detail, who canvafs enlarged plans of government, 
 and the comprehensive fyftem of empires, in the rigid 
 mode they do caufes of petty larceny. They arraign 
 the Saviour of an empire on the narrow principles and 
 with the little chicanery of the Old Bailey. Happily for 
 this country, the decifive moment of action was not loft 
 by an idle attention to trifling forms. Sir, when the 
 Englifti under our immortal Henry V. landed in France, 
 the year of the battle of Agincourt, there was a Pre- 
 fident of the Parliament of Paris, who has been con- 
 figned to eternal ridicule, a Monfieur Louvet, grand per- 
 fonage, au msmtien grave ^ et quon cut pris pour fcge. 
 He remonftrated in all the forms againft the French 
 troops marching, till there was an Arret de Parliament 
 againft the Englifh Monarch and his army, figned by 
 the Greffier en cbef'm the name of all the Chambres. Mr. 
 Haftings appears to underftand bufinefs rather better 
 than Monfieur Loyvet, and to have defpifed mere forms 
 and cold caution, when the moment of important action 
 arrived, which he carefully watched. The {uccefs, which 
 followed, was adequate to the wifdom and courage of 
 all the meafures of a great ftatefman. The family of 
 Monfieur Louvet I fufpect emigrated to England, and 
 made a profs breed with thofe, who, ftrictly obferving all 
 forms of Votes , Refolutions, and ARs of Parliament, loft 
 thirteen provinces in America, with Minorca, yet dare 
 o perfecute the Saviour of India, 
 
 7 Sir,
 
 Sir, I am likewife ready to admit, that Mr. Haflings, 
 has fometimes gone beyond the flrid letter of the powers, 
 with which he was intrufled ; but I add a provifo, 
 that he has always been warranted by the emergenc y of 
 the occafion, and the general inductions under which 
 he acted, and that in no inilance has he been actuated 
 t>y corrupt or felfiih motives. He never loft fight of 
 the General Injlruftions from his condiments of the 2pth 
 of March, 1774, that in all your de liberations and refolu- 
 lions y<m make the fofety and profpcrity of Bexgcl your prin- 
 cipal objeft and fix your attention on the fccurity of the 
 pojjefftons and revenues of the Company. To thefe import- 
 ant objects his flrong and manly genius has fometimes 
 facrificed the dead letter, with all the tedious and em- 
 barraifing forms of the lower courts of law, perhaps even, 
 exceeded the ufual powers of ,a Governor Genera;!. 
 
 Let us advert,, Sir^ to what pafled in our own coun- 
 try in 1766,. The capital was threatened with famine, 
 for the flock of corn in hand was inconfiderable, and the 
 harveft had failed with us, as well as in moft parts of 
 Europe. The exportation began to increafe beyond 
 the example of all former years, and cornmiffions for 
 the purchafe of wheat from abroad had been received; 
 to an unufual amount. The necefficies of the poor 
 were become urgent and alarming. In this emergency 
 Government acted wifely, and according to the fpirit of 
 the conftitution, although directly againft law. An 
 embargo was laid on all Ihips in the ports of Great Bri- 
 tain laden with wheat or wheat flower. The people 
 were fed, and the country refcued from the dreadful 
 calamity of famine, which in many parts had been fe- 
 verely experienced. The minifters flood forth in a 
 
 manly
 
 ( 1$ ) 
 
 manly way at their own rifk, and trufted to their coun- 
 try for indemnity. They obtained it to the fulleft 
 extent from a grateful fenate, as foou as Parlia- 
 ment met. The law was plain and pofitive, but the 
 breach of it became meritorious from the neceffity of 
 the cafe, for the falvation of the ftate. In fuch ar- 
 duous circumftances has the late Governor General 
 been, and to fimilar exertions do we owe the preferva^ 
 tion of our Indian empire. 
 
 This Houfe, Sir, have made a compleat apology 
 for Mr. Haftings's having in time of war and rebellion; 
 gone perhaps beyond the letter of his powers and inftruc- 
 tions. In this yery Sefiion, although in a piping time of 
 peace, we have wifely armed Lord Cornwallis, the new' 
 Governor, with more enlarged powers, better calculated 
 for all emergencies of moment, and for fo extenfive, 
 fo diftant an empire. I do not hold, Sir, Jilent leges 
 inter arma ; but extraordinary powers may be neceffary 
 for the fafety of an endangered and convulfed itate, 
 like extraordinary remedies in dangerous and defperate 
 difeafes. A man, who could hefitate about any adt 
 necefTary for the fafety of his country, would be un- 
 worthy of a high truft. An empire might be loft by 
 his incapacity and poltroonery. Salus populi fuprema lex 
 ought to be the firlt maxim of every flatefman. Many 
 cafes of difficulty cannot be forefeen. In the field were 
 numerous ho 's of enemies. In the councils at home 
 Mr. Haflings was harrafTed by interefted rivals, of great 
 art,fubtlety, and chicane, although of a trifling, narrow, 
 mean, and flimly genius. It was his fate to have his wifeft 
 and moft generous plans of prosperity for a great empire 
 thwarted by paltry, puny politicians. The (ingle queflion 
 is, and that truly momentous, was not the evident tendency 
 of all the actions of the l^te Governor General, the fe- 
 5 curity,
 
 ( 16 ) 
 
 curity, the honour, the glory of the Britifh Indian em- 
 pire ? We may cavil here, and ftruggle hard againft 
 truth, but our neighbours have long ago decided in fa- 
 vour of Mr. Haftings, in a manner becoming intelligent, 
 juft, and generous enemies *. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 * It may be amufing to obferve in what manner the heroes of this fcene, Mr. 
 Haftings, Mr. Buike, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Francis, pafs in review before our polite 
 neighbours on ths other fide the channel. The following extracts are from the 
 Afereure de. France. 
 
 5 Fevrier, 1785. 
 
 Courage perfonnel, elevation d'ame, fermete, dexterite, genie, difcernement 
 folide, efprit de detail joint a celui des grandes combinaifons politiques ; toutes Ics 
 qualites difperfees dans vingt Adminiftrateurs differens, fe reunuTent pour former 
 la capacite particuliere et le talent de M. Ha/iitgs. 
 
 ii Mars, 1716. 
 
 Les apoftrophes de M. Burke centre un hmme, fans lequel il ne refteroit pro- 
 toablement pas un pouce de terre a 1'Angleterre dans 1'Indoftan. 
 % Mai 27, 1786. 
 
 M. Burke, femblable a 1'Hydre de Lerne, reproduit fans cefie de nonvelles charges 
 centre M. Haftings, enforte qu'il eft difficile de favoir quand il s'arretera. Pour- 
 fuivant doac ce cours de fes lamentations Indiennes, il a mis en fcene dans la 
 feaiice des Communes, le 5 de ce mois, le Chef actuel des Rohillas, qui cette fois 
 ci n'eft ni trab-, ni expafetn uentc, ni (gorge, mais feulement motefte, par M. Haftings. 
 .Cet illuftre Accufe n'a eu q\ie vingt quatre heures pour repondre a cette nouvelle 
 diatribe juridique, et il 1'a fait en remettant a la Chambre une Copie de fa defenfe 
 que la fatigue du travail de la nuit ne lui permit pas de lire. Nous n'avons pas cru 
 dvoir traiter fcrieufcment cette chains de perfecutions, commeijeees par la haine 
 du parti, pourfuivies par 1'amour propre, et par la vanite de bel efprit. II feroit 
 rneme a fouhaiter que les Feuilles publiqxies ne fe bornaffent pas a tranfcrire les 
 invedlives de 1'oppofition, a citcr des accufatioiis comme des delits averes, et des 
 felts inventes ou defigures comme 1'hiftoire rtelle de ce qui s'eft pafie das 1'Inde, 
 foils le miniftere de M. Haftings, 
 
 July i, 1786. 
 
 M. Burke ayant laifle a M. Fox le foin d' introduire et d'etablir la motion, ce 
 dernier Membre le fit, felon fa coutume, avec beaucoup d'eloquenco et d'animofitc, 
 beaucoup d'exagtrations et d'argumens planfibjes. 
 14 Fevrier, 1787. 
 
 Qvsoiqu'il en foit, ce n'eft pas n evenemnt ordinaire, qne celui d'un parell 
 pi-octs fait contre le feul Anglois, qui, dans la dernicre gutrre, ait fauve les pof- 
 feffions tommifes a fcs foinr, et attaqnees de toutes parts. Une dette accrue de 
 |oo millions fterling n'avoit conferv^ a l'Angleterr, ni i'Amerique, ni quelqu' 
 
 wnes
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 SiV, on every great queftion of hi (lory, policy, or 
 legiilation, we are doomed to hear companions drawn 
 from the republicks of Greece and Italy, and applied 
 to the Englifh monarchy. The late Governor General 
 of Bengal has been frequently, by a right honourable 
 gentleman, compared to the Roman Prator of Sicily, 
 Verres. The fairnefs of the comparifon has not, I be- 
 lieve, been fo much thought of, as an indirect and fly v 
 compliment to the original accufer among us. He 
 imagined that an aflbciation of ideas would naturally 
 lead the mind to the Prince of Roman Orators, to 
 Cicero, our prototype^ the accufer of Verres* I do not 
 
 quite 
 
 unes de fes Ifls, ni le Senega!, ni Minorqw. Dans 1'Inde, eUe avoir a combattra 
 les Franjois, les Hollandois, les Mai attes, II/der-Aly, et d'autres ; et la re"com- 
 penfe de celui dont le zele, I'activite et le courage rendirent iautilc cttte eorabi- 
 naifons de dangers,' eft un impeachment. 
 
 Z4 Mars, 1787, 
 
 I'l s'agifibit de determiner ft M. Haftings avoit eutort ou mifon de laiffer opprimer 
 le Nabab de Farruckabacl par le Nabab d'Oude, et de tirer de celui-ci 100,000 liv. 
 fterling, pour cct a6te d'iridnlgence. Le cas fat rapporte', explique", grofii, attornae", 
 comment^ d'uue manie - e abfolument contradk5lore ; et il ft ais6 de comprendfe 
 [ qu'uii evenement dont les motife et le cara<5lere feroient ^ peine faififfables Air les 
 lieux par d'excellens obfervateurs, doit devenir pour le moins trds obfair lorfqu'ii 
 s'agit de juger fur les bords de la Tamife ce qui s'eft pafle a Farruckabad. 
 xi April, 1787. 
 
 Ces formules conftituent ce que Ton appelle un ComitS fecret, (a Commitrte of 
 Secrecy.) Celui ci eft compofe de vingt Membres, tous de 1'oppofition. M. M. Pit, 
 Dundas, Grenville, out refufe d'y prendre place. On dclibera fur la convenance d'f 
 admettre M. Francit, tnnemi perftnnel et furieux tie M. Haflingi^ et fa nomination fuC 
 confirmee a la pluralite de quelques voix. 
 
 $ Mai, 1787- 
 
 Le iS April, M. French produifit une nouvelle charge centre M. Haftings, rela 
 tive a 1'ufurpation de 2eminJerats dans le Bengal. La moitie du difcoui-s de 1'ora- 
 teur roula fur fes affaires perfonelles et fur 1'hiftoirc de fes inimities avec M. Haft- 
 ings. 11 apprit a la Chambre que, lorfque lui, M. Francit, avojt etc" envoyc ctomme 
 Membre dxi Confeil a Calcutta, il avoit b plus haute eftine pour 1'Accufe ; mais 
 ^ue cet Accuse ayant differc d'opinion avec lui, il s'enfvn^oit 1'impoffibilite qu'il no 
 fut pas ua depredateur, un bruuillon, un fcclerat, puifque lui fcait un parfait hon- 
 
 B nit.
 
 quite comprehend the juftnefs of the comparifon. In 
 the impeachment of Verres^ every city, town, and village 
 of Sicily t except Syracitfs and Meffana, as well as nu- 
 merous public bodies, concurred. The impeachment 
 of the late Governor General of Bengal has been an- 
 nounced to the public above four years. Where, Sir, 
 are the Petitions to this Houfe againft him from a fingle 
 town, or village, or the moft inconfiderable body of men, 
 or even an individual in all Alia > If he has been loaded for 
 years with the execrations of the natives > as was afferted in 
 the fpirit of rancour, not of truth, why has not a fingle 
 perfon, in the fpace of more than two years and a quar- 
 ter, lince the total extinction of his power, complained 
 to this Houfe ? With what pomp, with what an 
 air of infolent triumph would fuch Petitions have been 
 offered to you, Sir? What tedious, elaborate com- 
 ments fhould we have fuffered on every word in them ? 
 You would have been left almoft ro zfolo in that chair. 
 If Mr. Ha/lings be tie mojl notorious delinquent India ever 
 Jaw, how has it happened that no one fufferipg inhabitant 
 
 n'Atc hommc. 11 ajouta qu'en effet il s'etoit battu en duel avec I'hommo qu'il 
 pourfirivoif ; mais qn'on etoit le meilleur ami decelui avec qui 1'on fe battoit lorfijue 
 le combat n'avoit pour objet ni une maitreffe, ni une rivalite decidee ; quc par 
 consequent, puifque la feule guerre des Marattes avoit arme fon bras centre M. 
 Haftings, un fi noble fujet de querelle etouftbit toute idee de refentiment, poftcrieur 
 i 1'inftant ou elle avoit etc \iiidefi ; qn' enfin, ayant etc blefsc et rendue a la vie 
 |ar fun antagonize, il n'avoit pas cm pouvoir mieux lui temoigner fo reconnoifiancc, 
 t, fur-tout, le feu de fon patriotifme, qu'en le harcelant d'altercations, d'accufa- 
 tions, de libelles, et d'intrigues pendant fix ans. Toute extraordinaire que cette 
 conduite pouvoit paroitre, la Chambre n'y verroit que mieux la puretc de fes inten- 
 tions, la verite fon aele, et la vertu d'un homme public. II eft vrai qu'on 1'avoit 
 accuse de n'avoir tracafsc et cnlomnic M. Haftings au Bengal et en Angleterre, 
 que par destfpoir de n'avoir pu lui arracher fa place, d'avoir manque le projet de 
 lui fuccedir, de s'etre fait expnlfer de la direction de la Compagnie deslndes; 
 mais fon caraftere etoit au-deffus de pareils foup^onj ; et 1'on f^voit bieu qu'il 
 n'ctoit ras homme a fc laifler enfrainer pai' de femblables motifs. 
 
 Of
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 of India has preferred a Tingle complaint againft fo long 
 protracted a tyrannical adminiflration ? What ialif/aant 
 has Mr. Haflings employed ? Has he fafcinated all the 
 ancient and venerable prieftbood, all the nobility of great 
 antiquity and renown, all the multitude of cities, not ex- 
 ceeded in population and trade by thofe of the firjl clafs in 
 Europe, all the merchants and bankers, all the millions of 
 manufafturers, and mechanics, all the millions of the tillers 
 of the earth ? Mr. Haflings muft certainly be the greateft 
 forcerer, who has ever appeared, beyond all the fabled 
 magicians and necromancers of antiquity. He mufl be 
 our Englifh Merlin revived with fuperior powers. He; 
 muft have practifed with the nioft wondrous charms 
 and philtres. What fpells, what magic arts, what en- 
 chantments, have been fo potent, founiverfal? I cannot 
 trace out in all the folios before us a {ingle line of com- 
 plaint to the right honourable accufer from the poor Be- 
 gums, although fuch a correfpondence would have been 
 more valued than with any Princefs in Europe. He would 
 tenderly have echoed all their fighs and groans, pitied 
 their hideous outcries, added his own jeremiades, and 
 deplored their wretched fate, fallen, fallen, fallen, in- 
 llead of rejoicing, as all India did, at the punilhment 
 of their feditious and rebellious pra&ices. 
 
 The fact. Sir, is, that no man was ever more be- 
 loved throughout Indoftan than Mr. Haflings. His 
 departure was lamented by all the natives and Eu- 
 ropeans as a general calamity. They gave him every 
 public and private teflimony of affection and efteem as 
 their common father and friend. The voluntary tribute 
 of tears was paid him by a whole people. It was re- 
 
 B 2 fetvcd 

 
 ferved for a fa&ion and party * in this Houfe, and in 
 this annus mirabilis, to hold us out to the ridicule of 
 mankind, by this parliamentary inquifition, this per- 
 fecutton of exalted merit by an impeachment. 
 
 But, Sir, if we muft of neceffity find a comparifon of 
 thefe proceedings among the Romans , 1 fhall bring for- 
 ward that of Scipio. He too was impeached by a defpi- 
 cable faction, envious of his glory, not emulous of the 
 great actions by which it had been acquired. On tho 
 day of the accufation, he with fovereign contempt left 
 his accufers and revilers in the Forum, and marched, 
 followed by all the people, to the capitol, to the temple 
 of Jupiter, to return thanks to the immortal Gods for 
 his fuccefles over the enemies of Rome, and to pray far 
 more friends to his country, equally faithful and fortu- 
 nate as himfelf. With the fame honeft zeal for my native 
 country, I will pray heaven, Sir, to continue to ble& 
 England with fuch men as Rodney and Hajlingj> 
 
 Much has been faid, Sir, about the accepting of pre- 
 fents by Mr. Haflings, in direct violation of the Act of 
 Parliament. The fact is admitted, but let us examine 
 the law. By the (t Act for eftablifhing certain Regula- 
 " tions for the better management of the Affairs of the 
 " Eajl India Company, as well in India as in Europe, &c." 
 the 1 3th of the King, ch. 63, f. 23. which pafled in 
 1773, it is enabled, that *' No Governor General, or 
 " &c. lhall directly or indirectly by themfelves, or by 
 " any other perfon or perfons for his or their ufe, or an 
 " his or their behalf, accept, receive, or take, of or from 
 
 * Notwithstanding this, and fome other ftrong fymptoms, I hope that the reign of 
 party is nearly at an end. Mr. Francit aKwed us in his Speech of July 2, 1784, 
 paje 1 6. 7 am not a party ir.an in ti>?s, tr any other quefticn, and his conduft ever 
 fince has fhewn how well founded wae that aiTertion. Mr. Francis then not being 
 frty~man t there can be nof try-matt left ii; the Houfe of Commons. 
 
 " any
 
 ** any perfon or perfons, in any manner, Or on any ac- 
 " count whatfoever, any prefent, gift, donation, gra- 
 *' tuity, or reward, pecuniary or otherwife ; or any 
 " promife or engagement for any prefent, gift, dona* 
 " tion, gratuity, or reward, &c." This, Sir, is the 
 A& by which Mr. Haftings was firft appointed Gover- 
 nor General of Bengal. Now, Sir, I alk, where is the 
 proof that Mr. Haftings has violated this law in a fingle 
 inftance ? Has he taken for his ufe, or on his behalf, any 
 prefent, gift, donation, gratuity, or reward ? Let the evi* 
 d.ence be produced. It is true that various prefents were at 
 different times received by "him, and in particular 
 100,000 from the Nabob of Oude ; but it is equally- 
 true that they were always carried to the account of the 
 Eaft India Company, and actually formed a regular head 
 of revenue after the Aft took place. A fecond Act the 24th 
 of the King, ch. 25. f. 45. which declared l( ikat the 
 " re ceiv'tng prffents for the ufe of the Eaft India Company 
 " Jball be deemed and taken to be extortion" did not take 
 place till Jan. i, 1785, the month before Mr. Haftings 
 embarked for Europe. The laft mentioned fum of 
 100,000 was fpecifically entered as a prefent. Thefe 
 gifts and prefents were afterwards iffued for the pay of 
 the army. Without thefe, and other extraordinary aids, 
 the army had difbanded, perhaps maffacred their em- 
 ployers, but the Indian empire would certainly have 
 mouldered away. The offering of prefents is thought in 
 the Eaft a neceflary preliminary in all negociations be- 
 tween a higher power and an inferior, or dependant. If the 
 prefent is not accepted, the fuit is underftood to be rejected. 
 It has been afferted, Sir, that during the late contefts 
 in India, many, Various, and fhocking cruelties were 
 committed by the Britifh troops, during the government 
 
 of
 
 ef Mr. Haftings, if not by his orders, at leaft not with- 
 out his knowledge. Thefe vague affertions have not been 
 corroborated by the flighteft evidence. No fuch ftam 
 has at any time been fixed on our Officers and foldiers. 
 Their humanity, and generous feelings for an enemy, have 
 ever been celebrated in grateful drains. It is a fine fea- 
 ture in our national character. I do not mean to extend 
 this praife to every fepoy in our pay. Thefepoys of Afia 
 may poflibly be at times as ungovernable, as brutal, as 
 inercilefs, as the Croats and Pandours of Europe ; but 
 no fingle iuftance of cruelty has been brought home 
 againft any European in our fervice, nor any evidence 
 offered to the Houfe, which can warrant the imputation 
 en any of the troops in our employ *. 
 
 * In a late Publication, intituled, " An hiftorical relation of the Origin, Progrefr, 
 " and final Difiblution of the Government of the Robilla Afgam in the Northern 
 " Provinces of Hindoftarij" by Charles Hamilton Efq; an Officer in the fervice of 
 the Honourable Eaft India Company on the Bengal eftabliftiment, is the following 
 excellent paflage. 
 
 " Of all the events which have been made ufe of for the purpofes of crimination. 
 " againft the fervants of the Eaft India Company, none have made a greater figure 
 " either in the national proceedings, or in the perifh;ible publications of the day, 
 " than the Robilla war, and various efforts have been made to paint both the con- 
 *' duft and the confequpnces of it in the moft horrible colours. 
 
 44 When, in the perufal of hjftory, we read of vibole nations being extirpated by the 
 44 Goths, or reoted out by the Vandals, we pidhire to ourfelves a country invnded by 
 44 a band of fierce and favage conquerors, who purfue the haplefs inhabitants with 
 " indifcriminate maflacre, carry off the few they fpare from the fword into per- 
 " petual captivity, and proceed in their deftruclive career, until the whole ter- 
 " ritory exhibits nothing but a dreary, filent wafte ! 
 
 44 Similar to this is the opinion which (from the force and extent of the expref- 
 ' (ions that have b;en applied to it) has been, by many, conceived of the conqueft 
 44 f f R'ibilciimi. 
 
 u God forbid that Brlttfb traopt ihould ever be employed in als of fuch deteftable 
 11 atrocity With refpecl to thofe in particular who effected that refolution, it may 
 ' with confidence be affirmed, that, however high their fenfe of fubordination, how- 
 ever ready at all times to obey the moft perilous orders of their fuperiors, had fuch 
 * a fervice been allatcd to them, they v/ouJd have torne J from it with abhorrence." 
 
 Preface, p. iz. 
 
 Sir,
 
 Sir, I was very happy laft monday to be in my place, 
 when a right honourable gentleman, one of the Commif- 
 faners for the affairs of India, opened his Indian budget. 
 I heard with great fatisfactionh is juft, perfpicuous, and 
 accurate account of the profperous ftate of the Eajt 
 India Company, both at home and abroad. His fadts 
 were founded; his reafoning ftrong and mafterly. It 
 was a compleat anfwer to all we heard two years ago 
 from a gentleman* near me, againft the temporary fup- 
 fort of a trading Company, wbofe affairs be was PER- 
 FECTLY SURE, would be found on examination, fo compleatly 
 and irretrievably ruined, as to be beyond the reach of any 
 effectual relief, and that ive could not, by any efforts this 
 nation could make, prevent the ruin of tbe Company. 
 
 I rejoice, Sir, at the prefent flourifhing flate of our 
 affairs in the Eaft, fo truly given by the right honour- 
 able gentleman ; but I defire to remind him, that to the 
 uncommon abilities of Mr. Haflings he owes the fcene, 
 where he may triumph, and that in fpite of all the rivals 
 of Mr. Haflings's power, he will acknowledge with me 
 that the late Governor General of Bengal could alcne 
 have preferved India. I cannot entirely join in his ex- 
 preffion that India is the brigbte/l jewel in our crown. It 
 is undoubtedly a very fine jewel, of great fplendour and 
 
 * In the introductory part of a Speech in the Houfe of Commons on July z, 1784, 
 publifhed by Philip Francis Efq; it is fakl, page i r. " Mr. Burke earneftly conjured 
 
 th Houle (June 16, 1784) to be very cautious how they confented to give away 
 
 the property of their conftituents, for the temporary fupport i -fa trading Com- 
 ' pany, whofe affairs, bt -was ftrft&ly furr, would be found on examination, jo com- 
 f pleatly and irretrievably ruined, as la it btynnd tbi reach of ary tftSual re!i:f\ that 
 1 by giving it to the India Company, they could only protract the period, but could 
 ' not, by any efforts this nation could make, prevent the ruin of the compaoy." 
 
 The Coalition in January 1784, lunk Indian Stock tu- T 18. Mr. Pitt raifed it t 
 171 in May 1787. The Proprieten cannot be at a lofs to decide who are their beft 
 friends. 
 
 bril-
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 brilliancy, butfurely not the brigbteft jewel in the triple 
 crown, which our monarch wears. It may indeed equal 
 In value all the jewels in the diadem of one of his three 
 kingdoms, for it is certainly of high intrinfick worth. 
 What acknowledgements therefore are due to the man, 
 who preferved fuch a jewel in the crown, muft be left 
 to the gratitude of his country, and of the Sovereign, 
 who wears the Crown. 
 
 The Houfe, Sir, will naturally conclude from all the 
 reafoning I have ufed, and the facts ftated, that I lhall ne- 
 ver plead the pitiful and falfe doctrine of zfet-of, of 
 which fo much has been faid. The doctrine of great 
 merits balancing great crimes can never be admitted in a 
 judicial procefs. In the prefent cafe it is entirely inap- 
 plicable. I ft and aloof, and for my part reject it with dif- 
 dain. I think that fer vices of fo important a nature deferve 
 rewards and honours. I maintain that there is no proof 
 before us of Mr. Haftings's guilt, but ample evidence of 
 hisinceflant labours for his country, of his fignal fervices, 
 and merited fuccefs. Juftice, policy, honour, gratitude, 
 plead then ftrongly with us, furely not to impeach, but 
 to diftinguifh and reward national merit in our country- 
 man. 
 
 I regret, Sir, that the conftitutional word, impeach- 
 ment, fliould now be proftituted to the purpofes of party 
 and faction. The word coalition is fcarcely become 
 mere hackneyed, more odious. We have been amufed 
 with flowery harangues on no lefs than three threatened 
 impeachments. The frjl occupied our attention for 
 feveral years. It was the watch-word of the prefent ac- 
 cufer of Mr. Haftings. He made the walls of this 
 Houfe reverberate the found till a little before he joined 
 
 the
 
 the noble Lord in the blue ribband. He declared that 
 the Articles of Impeachment againft that noble Lord were 
 ready drawn, and in his pocket They have flept there 
 ever fince. The grounds of thofe Articles were not trifling. 
 The noble Lord was accufed of the lofs of half our em- 
 pire, and of the fouleft corruption. Thofe crimes, he faid, 
 were only to be expiated on the public f caff old > to which it 
 was certain, that the tribunal of Juftice would doom the 
 noble Lord. The noble Lord, and the right honour- 
 able gentleman, now join hands in high good humour 
 in the coalition dance. 
 
 The fecond impeachment was declared againft the brave 
 and fortunate Rodney, on the perfuafive eloquence of 
 fome Dutch Jews, whofe evidence met with implicit 
 faith on a variety of accounts. The Admiral had been 
 recalled in the very firft month of the new adminiUra- 
 tion, almoft in the hour of victory. We have heard no 
 more of that impeachment, but our grateful countrymen 
 are loud in the applaufe of the courage and conduct 
 of the Englifh hero, who captured three foreign admirals, 
 and took fixteen iail of the line from the enemy. 
 
 The prefent impeachment is in my idea almoft as ridi- 
 culous, but I remember an obfervation of the prefent 
 accufer of Mr. Haftings, which appears to me perfectly 
 juft, that obloquy is a necej/ary ingredient in the composition 
 of all true glory. 
 
 Sir, I truft that the day of delufion is paft. I have 
 been dazzled with the brilliant eloquence, and capti- 
 vated with the beauty and variety of an honourable 
 gentleman's wit on the fourth charge, lamenting at the 
 fame time the indecent rancour, and coarfe abufe, of fe- 
 
 C veral
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 veral expreffions *. But, Sir, he trufted entirely to the 
 rich ttores of a luxuriant imagination, and chofe to in- 
 dulge in all its happy Tallies. The warmth of his glow- 
 ing colours was more to be admired than the truth of 
 his outline. He never condefcended to reafon clofely, 
 nor concerned himfelf about any grave argument, or 
 dull matter of fade. Every auditor was highly amufed : 
 no man was convinced. I waited with no fmall impa- 
 tience, but in vain, for a detail of clear well-eltablifhed 
 fadts, for the evidence of hiftorical truth, fupported by 
 unexceptionable witneffes. No fuch appeal was made; 
 the fole reliance was on the feducing arts of a powerful 
 meretricious eloquence, which was, as it generally is, 
 too fuccefsful. 
 
 Sir, from the evidence on our table it has been de- 
 tnonftrated, that this/r/2 Report is totally unfounded. 
 I therefore give my hearty negative to its being now 
 read a fecond time. I wiih, Sir, we were fairly rid of 
 this difgraceful bufinefs, which, if purfued, will cover 
 
 * Mr. Sheridan often loft fight of the refpeift, which every Member owes to the 
 Englifh fenate, as well as to his own character. He brought a raiting acevfatiot 
 againft Mr. Haftings, called him a traitor and a trickfttr, afcrftnt, A fnake, and a /I/a* 
 kite. He compared the Governor General of Bengal's progrefs to Benares and Oudc t 
 to a bigbtujyman 'i Tallying out to Bagjbet and Hounjlow, talked of his wielding & 
 blaedy fee] ttf in one hand, and with the other picking a pocket, and afTerteJ, that, inftead 
 of the fword of Government, he ufed the affaffin'i Jogger, with much other ribaldry. The 
 urbanum, the e/egans, the liberate, which Cicero ftrongly recommends, and Mr. Sheri- 
 dan perfectly vmderftands, were facrificed by him on this occafion to party rancour, at 
 the very beginning of a profecution. He copied too faithfully the modern Cicero. In the 
 printed fpeech of Feb. z8, 1785, page 87. Mr. Burke fays, Benfitld toes a criminal, 
 v>bo Itng finct ought to ba-vt fattened the region kites lu'ttb hit offal. The expreffion is 
 Shakefpearean, adapted to the ftage, to tragedy, to the character of Hamlet againft 
 the inceftuous murderer of his father, but furely highly indecent in the fenate againft 
 an abfent roan, lately a member, not under any accufation. It placet raillery in railing t 
 & Swift fays, and is a favage Indian Warfare, like throwing the tomahawk. 
 
 4 US
 
 fc with confufion. In order to extricate the Hotlfe e& 
 fectually from the labyrinth of error, in which we are 
 wandering, I (hall, as fodn as the negative, has been 
 given to the prefent motion, according to Parliamentary 
 form, move that this Report be read afecond time on this 
 day fix months* 
 
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