The Cht of the Ex-r is a moderate man, and pretends to no higher merit than that of an humble affistant in office. If he escapes cenfure, he is too prudent to aim at e applaufe. The neceffity of his affairs had separated him from earlier friendships and connections, and if he were of any confequence, we might lament that an honeft man should find it neceffary to disgrace himself in a poft he is utterly unfit for. But we have other objects to attend to. It depends greatly upon the prefent management of the finances, whether this country fhall ftand or fall. A common clerk in office may conduct the ordinary supplies of the year, but to give a fenfible relief to public credit, or to provide funds against a rupture abroad, are objects above him. To remove those oppreffions, which lie heaviest upon trade, and, by the fame operation, to improve the revenue, demands a fuperior capaeity, fupported by the most extenfive knowledge. To vulgar minds it may appear unattainable, becaufe vulgar minds make no diftinétion between the highly difficult and the impoffible.

The Earl of Hh fet out with a determined attachment to the court party, let who would be minifter. He had one vice lefs than other courtiers, for he never even pretended to be a patriot. The Oxford election gave him an opportunity of fhewing fome skill in parliamentary management, while an uniform obfequious fubmiffion to his fuperiors introduced him into lucrative places, and crowned his ambition with a peerage. He is now what they call a K-'s/ man; ready, as the clofet directs, to be any or nothing, but always glad to be employed. A new department, created on purpose for him, attracted a greater expectation than he has yet been able to fupport. In his first act of power he has betrayed a moft miferable want of judgment. A provifion for Lord Bt was not an object of importance fufficient to justify a rifque of the first impreffion, which a new minif ter muft give of himfelf to the public. For my own part, I hold him in fome measure excufed; because I am perfuaded the defence he has delivered privately to his friends is true, "That the measure came from another and higher quarter." But ftill he is the tool, and ceafing to be criminal finks into contempt. In his new department I am forry to fay he has fhewn neither abilities nor good fenfe. His letters to the colonies, contain nothing but expreffions equally loofe and violent. The minds of the Americans are not to be conciliated by a language which only contradicts without attempting to perfuade. His correfpondence, upon the whole, is fo defective both in defign and compofition, that he would deVol. III.

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ferve

ferve our pity, if the confequences to be dreaded from it did not excite our indignation. This treatment of the colonies, added to his refufal to present a petition from one of them to the K-, (a direct breach of the declaration of rights) will naturally throw them all into a flame. I proteft, Sir, I am aftonished at the infatuation which feems to have directed his whole conduct. The other minifters were foreseeing in their ufual courfe, without proceeding or regarding confequences; but this nobleman seems to have marked out, by a determined choice, the means to precipitate our deftruction.

The Earl of Sh--e had initiated himself in bufinefs, by carrying meffages between the Earl of Bute and Mr. Fox, and was for fome time a favourite with both. Before he was an enfign he thought himself fit to be a general, and to be a leading minifter before he ever faw a public office. The life of this young man is a fatire on mankind. The treachery, which deferts a friend, might be a virtue, compared to the fawning bafenefs which attached itself to a declared enemy. Lord Chatham became his idel, introduced him into the most difficult department of the ftate, and left him there to fhift for himfelf. It was a mafter-piece of revenge. Unconnected, unfupported, he remains in office without intereft or dignity, as if the income were an equivalent for all lofs of reputation. Without fpirit or judgment to take an advantageous moment of retiring, he fubmits to be infulted, as long as he is paid for it. But even this abject conduct will avail him nothing. Like his great archetype, the vapour on which he rose deferts him, and now,

"Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb down he drops."

I cannot observe without reluctance, that the only man of real abilities in the prefent administration is not an object either of refpect or esteem. The character of the Lord Ch- -ris a ftrong proof that an able, confiftent, judicious conduct, depends upon other qualities than thofe of the head. Paffions and party, in his lordship's understanding, had united all the extremes. They gave him to the world in one moment the patron of natural liberty, independent of civil conftitutions; in the next the affertor of prerogative independent of law. How he will advise the Cr-n in the prefcnt crifis, is of more importance to the public than to himself. His patronage of Mr. Wilkes and of America have fucceeded to his wish. They have given him a peerage, a penfion, and the feals, and as for his future opinions, he can adopt none for which he may not find a precedent and juftification in his former conduct

The

The earl of C—m- I had much to fay, but it were inhuman to perfecute, when providence has marked out the example to mankind !

My lord Gry is certainly a brave man and a generous man, and both without defign'or reflection. How far the army is improved under his direction, is another question. His German friends will all have regiments; and it is enough to say of his lordship, that he has too much good humour to contradict the reigning minifter,

The length of this letter will not permit me to do particular juftice to the duke of B--d's friends; neither is it neceffary. With one united view they have but one character. My lord G -r and lord W- h were diftreffed, and R-y was infatiable. The fchool they were bred in taught them how to abandon their friends without deferting their principles. There is a littlenefs even in their ambition; for money is their first object. Their profeffed opinions upon fome great points are fo different from those of the party with which they are now united, that the council chamber is become a scene of open hoftilities. While the fate of Great-Britain is at stake, thefe worthy counsellors difpute without decency, advife without fincerity, refolve without decifion, and leave the measure to be executed by the man who voted against it. This, I conceive, is the laft diforder of the ftate. The confultation meets but to difagree. Oppofite medicines are prescribed, and the laft fixed on is changed by the hand that gives it. Such is the council, by which the best of f ns is advised, and the greatest nation upon earth governed. Separately the figures are only offenfive; in a group they are formidable. Commerce languifhes, manufactures are oppreffed, and public credit already feels her approaching diffolution: yet, under the direction of this council, we are to prepare for a dreadful conteft with the colonies, and a war with the whole houfe of Bourbon. I am not furprised that the generality of men fhould endeavour to fhut their eyes to this melancholy profpect. Yet I am filled with grief and indignation, when I behold a wife and gallant people loft in a stupidity, which does not feel, because it will not look forward. The voice of one man will hardly be heard when the voice of truth and reafon are neglected; but as far as mine extends, the authors of our ruin fhall be marked out to the public. I will not tamely fubmit to facrificed, nor fhall this country perish without warning.

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ATTICUS,

To Sir W. BEAUCHAMP PROCTOR, Bart. and

SIR,

You

Knight of the Bath.

LETTER I.

OUR public folicitation of my vote demands and juftifies a public anfwer. And as your advertisement exposes your reafons for expecting, it feems but fair that I hould give you my reafons for refufing it.

My objections to you are those of a plain honeft freeholder, neither influencing others, nor influenced by them.

I object to the intereft that fupports you--to your abilities-and to your public conduct.

I could have wifhed indeed that fome more able pen had treated this matter; however I fhall undertake it cheerfully, because I am perfuaded that he requires no art, and finds no difficulty, who writes the truth and acts on principle,

It is notorious, and you will not deny it, that you are fupported by the court, by the miniftry, and by the violent and inhuman Bloomsbury gang, that infernal gang that patched up the late infamous peace; that endeavoured to extend the oppreffive and unconftitutional excife; that iffued and fupported General Warrants; that endeavoured, and are ftill endeavouring, to enflave the Americans; that were guilty of the late maffacre in St. Georges fields; that careffed and admired a man for many years, whilft he was only loose, licentious, and immoral; but perfecuted him with unrelenting malice, by every illegal and cruel measure, as foon as they perceived he had the virtue of public Spirit.

Sir William, declare upon your honour, as a gentleman, do you think that Mr. Glynn could poffibly oppose your election if the freeholders of Middlefex confifted entirely of the creatures of lord Bute, lord Mansfield, and the Duke of Bedford? if they were all placemen and penfioners? or if they were all tradefmen to the court?

Is there one of the juftices of the peace that were present at the maffacre in St. George's fields, who does not make intereft for you warmly?

Is there a Jacobite, or a Scotchman, who does not wish you fuccefs?

Do you believe that the third regiment of guards would not chufe you for their reprefentative rather than Mr. ferjeant Glynn?

Are you not well perfuaded that two-thirds of the freehold

ers

ers who fhall, vote for you, will do fo against their inclinations, influenced thereto by motives of fear or intereft? Do you think you have the hearts of the freeholders? Have you not over and over again declared to numbers of your friends, that you would notspend money for the county? Is not money now spending every where profufely, in flat contradiction to your repeated declarations? Who fur nishes that money?

Is it agreeable to our laws and conftitution that the court and the miniftry fhould interfere in the eiection of a reprefentative of the people? Would they interfere in this manner if they had not a purpose to serve by it? And can that purpose be favourable to the people?

Suppofe an ifland was to be equally divided between three different nations, and that commiffioners were to the appointed by each to fettle the boundaries, would it not be fufpicious and alarming to the third, if the other two fhould interfere in the choice of their commiffioner, and endeavour by bribes and force and power to get fome particular perfons appointed? Could fuch a one be expected to ferve his conftituents faithfully? Is not fuch the nature of our constitution? Are not the three eftates of the kingdom ietended to be checks and counterpoifes to each other? Is it not their chief business to fettle and maintain the boundaries of prerogative, of privilege, and of the rights of the people? Are not you fupported by the fervants of the crown, and the no bility? Is there not a noble duke, connected with lord Bute, who has written many letters in your favour? Has he not o pened his house for you? Has he not canvaffed for you in per fon? I will be bold enough to fay that I have seen his letters; that I know thofe whom he hath canvaffed; that I can name the time, and prove the motive, of that general entertainment, at which lord Bute's fon in law, yourself, and ford Barrington the Letter writer attended. Has not the the steward of the fame duke (that steward who was examined as a witness for Sir John Gibbons in the Stanwell business) attended you in your canvafs? Has he not used every threat, and every promife, to induce the Freeholders to vote for you? I will be bold to fay he has; nay, more, I will fay, that though perhaps the fulfilling of his promifes may admit of fome delay, his threats have already been put in execu ti on.

Is this the honour, Sir William, you fo much covet? Can you, will any one elfe reckon it an honour to you to carry an election by perjury? And will it not be perjury in every freeholder who gives you his vote againft his inclination, for ad

yantage