executive part fhall, by the immenfity of its wealth and power, be able to fecure at all times a majority in parliament; and, that no remedy can be found for this, by reafon of the venality of the individuals; then the conftitution of fuch a country must be entirely changed, as the balance will then be loft in the ftate, and all means to reftore it rendered fruitlefs.

In the reign of queen Anne, an attempt was made to operate in a most unusual way on the freedom of parliaments, by the fudden introduction of twelve peers into the upper house, to serve a particular jobb; this violent exertion of prerogative was difagreeable to the whole nation; but then it could not be alledged that it was illegal. Now fixteen peers are created, as it may well be faid, at the beginning of every parliament; and yet fo callous and fo ftupid are people in general, that they do not perceive it, though it is one of the most dangerous invafions that ever was made, and is now fettled by a long prescription. What puts me on this train of argument to-day, is a letter fent me by a correfpondent yesterday, which, for the amufement of your readers, you may infert as follows:

"SIR,

AS you have a great gufto for fresh intelligence of a political nature, I have taken the earliest opportunity of tranfmitting to you, an account of the proceedings of, what is commonly called, the election of fixteen of the Scottish peerage at Edinburgh, to reprefent that community; (in other words the Congé d'Elire, pour Ecoffe,) I happened to be in Scotland at the time, and as I write the fhort hand as well, I believe, as any of that poffé who came down to Edinburgh, on the occafion of the Douglas caufe, I am enabled to give you a description authentic enough of the business, and of the earl of Buchan's proteft, which, for the honour of Scotland, I beg leave juft to observe, was neither figned nor feconded by one of that illuftrious fraternity, nor did one peer adventure to vote for lord Buchan in preference to lord Je, although that lord was totally unknown, and that the earl had offered himfelf, above fix weeks before, on the bafis of a free election; but I add no more: "Let the ftricken deer go weep." When it came to the vote of the earl of Buchan, his lordfhip ftood up, and faid, " My lords, Without the leaft deference to the minifter or his agents, I vote for the following peers:

66

I. The

1. The Duke of Gordon.
2. The duke of Argyl.
3. The duke of Atholl.
4. The earl of Morton.
5. The earl of Buchan.
6. The earl of Eglington.
7. .The earl of Strathmore.
8. The earl of Abercorn.
9. The earl of Loudon.
10. The earl of March.
II. The earl of Marchmont.
12. The earl of Dunmore.
13. The earl of Roseberry.
14. The earl of Bute.

15. Lord viscount Stormont.
16. The lord Cathcart."

After the election his lordship entered the following pro

teft, which they had the m

minutes.

I

-fs to refufe to put in the

PROTEST.

David, earl of Buchan, being unwilling that my name, or the names of such peers of Scotland, as may think proper to adhere to this my proteft, fhould be handed down to pofterity, as joining or acquiefcing in a minifterial and unconfti tutional nomination of fixteen peers to reprefent the peerage of Scotland in parliament, do proteft, in my own name, and in the names of all those who fhall adhere to this my proteftation, That, whereas a lift of fixteen peers for Scotland has been framed, long before the time of this election, by perfons in high truft under the crown, and that fuch lifts have been in a most scandalous manner called by the most sacred name of the King's Lift, to the proftitution of that most venerable authority, which it is well known cannot be used conftitutionally in matters of election, declared to be free by the most important charters of British liberty. And, likewife, when we confider, that this lift has been daringly fhewn by the minifter to several peers now prefent in this affembly, and the contents of it fupported and conveyed, by ftill more daring agents, to other peers likewife now prefent, to the fubverfion of the freedom of election, by intimidating those who were to give their fuffrages for fixteen men, who are to be vefted with the depofit of the liberties of the order, and capable of operating, in a moft remarkable manner, upon the

liberties

liberties of the ———, and of the nation in general, when we confider these matters, we cannot but be filled with the highest indignation, at the attempts, which have been but too fuccessfully made, to reduce the election of the fixteen peers for Scotland to a mere minifterial nomination, at once difgraceful to the community, and fubverfive of the freedom of parliaments.

BUCHA N."

I fhall make no comment on what is gone before, and shall only add, that I am your constant reader

JOHN BULL.

To the EDITOR of the POLITICAL REGISTER.

SIR,

THE

HE following is an authentic paper, and very well worthy the attention of the public, who must be curious to fee the ftate of population in the countries of our natural enemies. In a work like the Political Regifter, calculated to. promote political enquiry of every kind, it certainly merits a place; and though in this country it is impoffible to come at an account of the fame kind, it may induce fome of your correfpondents to enquire in their respective counties, what the numbers are (and what the age of every individual) of thofe between fixteen and forty-five, who are returned as being able to ferve their country in the militia.

I am, SIR,

A Well-Wifher to your Work.

Denom

920652

934872

920652 934872 1855524

Nombre des vivans au deffus de 20 Ans & au deffous de 25 Ans

784550

893477

Entre 25 & 30 Ans

748476

858525

Entre 30 & 35 Ans

Entre 35 & 40 Ans

3918194

4401187 8310381

Entre 40 & 45 Ans

445383 506183

56567 94936

Totaux

Totaux réunis

20794359

To the EDITOR of the POLITICAL REGISTER.

SIR, Dublin, May 19, 1768. In your number for January laft you prefented the public with the copy of a curious plan for augmenting the army in Ireland. The affair was at that time a particular fecret; I fuppofe from a childish delicacy to the great perfon who is faid to have been the author of it. But a few months have disclosed a wonderful scene.

The matter was firft opened to the house of commons on the 19th of April, 1768, by a meffage from the lord lieutenant in the following words:

TOWN SHEND.

Gentlemen,

AM commanded by his majesty to inform you, that the public fervice of his majefty's kingdoms requiring that fome part of the troops, kept on the establishment of Ireland, fhould be employed towards the neceffary defence of his majesty's garrifons and plantations abroad; and that, as it may be expedient that a number of troops, not lefs than twelve thoufand men, commiffioned and non-commiffioned officers included, fhould be kept within this kingdom, for the better defence of the fame, exclufive of fuch regiments on this eftablishment as are or may be employed in his majesty's faid garrifons and plantations; his majefty thinks it neceflary that his army on this establishment fhould be augmented to fifteen thoufand two hundred and thirty-five men in the whole; of which number it is his majesty's intention, that, as far as is confiftent with fuch a defence as the fafety of both kingdoms, in cafe of any fudden or extraordinary emergency, may require, a number of troops, not less than twelve thousand men, commisfioned and non-commiffioned officers included, fhall be kept within this kingdom, for the better defence of the fame: And his majefty having the firmeft reliance on the known loyalty and affection of his faithful commons, cannot entertain the leaft doubt but they will chearfully concur in providing for a measure calculated to maintain the honour and dignity of his crown, to promote the public fervice, and to add ftrength to his army in this kingdom, which has hitherto been fo much weakened by frequent draughting.

I have ordered a plan and estimate of the charge which will be incurred by this augmentation, formed with as much pre