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> ■»

■*^'

A N

ADDRESS

TO THE

C O C O A - T R E E,

From a WHIG.

.^ • . 'h.:\-^, a n d ' a
CONSULTATION

On the Subjea of a

STANDING-ARMY,

:'" / 3. %"'... --^ H ELD AT THe '' *'-^ '>' ''

KING'S-ARiMS TAVERN,

On the Twenty-eighth Day of February, 1 76^

I^HMu'

LONDON:

Prinud by DRYDEN LEACH,
Fcr C. KEARSLY, in Ludgate-Street.- MDCCLXIII.

'^ [ Price One Shilling and Six Pence. ]

pnpn^

**-^- **-,%u* •"-■*<*

^^#

y ^.:> .'.

1 ri V. U

PREFACE.

/"T^HE Author of the two following Pieces having
A had no other intercourfe with the Publiflier, than
that of fending them to him anonymoufly, could not
attend to the correftion of the prefs j and having ob-
fcrved feme Errata, he requefted the Publiflier by letter,
to offer to the public a cheaper and more correft edi-
tion of both pieces together, the objeft of both being
the fame, and the fubjedl of both not unconnefted.
This requell having been complied with, he begs leave
to trouble the Reader with a few words on the Occafion
of two pamphlets, which have been fo favourably rc-^
ceived.

*|-

'*'#

The Addrefs to the Cocoa-Tree was provoked by a
Piece intitlcd, J Letter from the Cocoa-Tree to the Country
Gentlemen^ whicli was written with an Air of Authority,
and with a mofl bitter Malevolence towards the Prin-
ciples of the WHIGS, towards the Charadlers of fome
Great Men, who profefs thofe principlej, and particu-
larly towards ONE, whofe Name will be revered, as
long as the lad Rebellion, and his Conduft in exr
tinguifliing it, arc remembered. . ,

A 2 ■•"■'

[

]

The Anthor of i\\e J(/i/rr/s thought It not unbecoming
any perfon, who is fenfible of the Benefits of the Re-
volution, and zealous for the Family on the Throne, to
cxpoftulate with the Gentlemen of the Cocoa-Tree, on
the fubjeft of a letter, which pretended to contain their
fentiments, and to direft thofe of their friends in the
Country. He hopes he has done this, without giving
perfonai v Tence to any of them, and wifhes he could
have done it, without difpieafing them, as a Party.

It appeared very ftrange, that, after a perfevering^
Oppofition to Minifters for upwards of forty years, they
Jhould treat the firft oppofition, in which they were not
concerned, as an Attack of the King's Prerogative ;
that thefe Champions of Liberty fhould at once con-
found the Mlnifter's caufe with the KING's, and take
fo large a Stride, in favour of a Miniller, with whom
they had not had time to become much better acquaint-
ed, than the reft of the nation were.

Whatever their motives or views might be, the world
will prefume, upon comparing their prefent with their
former condudl, that either their Prefent condud is, or
their Former condufl was, a deliberate political HY-
POCRISY. They know beft where to fix the Impu-
tation ; and it is moft refpedlful towards them, as well
as moft natural, to fuppofe, that they are fincere in
their prefent conduft, it being moft agreeable to the
principles, which diftinguilhed their Party before the
Revolution, and in the latter part of the Reign of
Queen Ann.

>-<^

[

]

'«

But however finccrcly they may r^t prefent fupport a
Miniller, who is not efleemed by the WHIGS, they
will be obliged, in their fupport of him, to contradid
themfelves fo frequently, that they ought not to wonder,
if now and then they Ihould be reminded of their pajl
conduft, efpecially, fince they have thought fit to fpealc
of Oppofition with Acrimony, and deny the Whigs
that liberty of cenfuiing public mcafures, which they
themfelves have exercifed, without referve, for fo man;-
years.

It is much to be lamented, that thcfe Gentlemen,
who feem to have mixed a little regard to their own
Tntereft with their zeal for their country, did not duly
confider, to WHOM they were precipitately devoting
themfelves ?

They muft have fallen into fome Inconfiftency, in
fupporting «;;v Adminiftration, after fo undeviating an
Oppofition as theirs. But as they had it in their power,
at the beginning of this winter, to choofe either Side,
it fcems ftrange, they did not choofe <:hat fide, which,
when predominanc, would expofe them to the leaft in-
confiftency.

The prefent Minifler will have occafion for all the
meafurcs, which have appeared odious to theniy and as
the Oppofition to him will be more formidable^ than
any they ever made to his Predeceflbrs, he may have
occafion to take fome meafures much harder to digeft.

L_U.U«*!J"_

[ vi ]

They have already experienced an inftancc of thi'j,
in the mode of" raifing u certain duty, which brought
them to tl)c unavoidable ncccflity of joining with, and
almoll heading the Onpofuiun, rather than be incon-
fiflcut to a degree of infamy. They merit the thanks
of their Counties for thir,, and it is pity, they do not
merit them for the whole of their condudl this winter.

However, it is to bo hoped, that the experience they
now have, how much more dilUcult, and how much
lefs reputable it is, to forward the Views of the prefent
Minifter, than to oppofe them, will have the good ef-
fe<fl of inclining them, to carry on the work of LI-
BERTY, uncer the fame RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEADER, whom they followed for fome years pall.
By fo doing, they may abolifli the old Party diftinftions
cfFcdually, and leave us without any other divifion,
than that, which, without their Aid, could hardly have
furvivcd the prefent v.intcr, between a FAVOURITE
and the NATION.

It is not yet too late for them to ad a part, fo much
more honourable to them, fo much more popular, and
fo much more favourable to their Interefls in the end,
confidering the Inftability of fuch a Power, as that of the
prefent Minirter. Perhaps they may, during the fum-
mer, fee things in their true light, and aft more con-
fiftently with the good Charafters they maintain in pri-
vate life, and with the reputation of Patriotifm, which
they have heretofore acquired by their public conduft.

[ vH ]

In the mean time it was thought of fome ufc, to
expofe ilie Difliculty and Ridicule of clianging fides
fo abruptly, as they have done, by laying before the
Public their Confultation on the Standing Army. It is
certain, that a Confultation was held, that in it the
Merits of the queltion were very little confidered, that
the greatell llrefs was laid upon their Obligations to the
Miniftry, and that they refolved, and kept their refo-
lution, to fuffer the Army to pafs unoppofed.

So much being true, the Author, who de'ivcrs no
opinion of his own upon the queftion, is not obliged
to prove every particular Speech, nor to mean any par-
ticular Gentlemen by the Speakers, if it be a Fable,
it has a property, which P'ables feldom have ; it is
founded in a known matter of fa<!l.

The merit of thefe two pieces appears chiefly from
their having been well received. Kut the author is not
fo vain, as to attribute their Succefs wholly to their
merit. He knows, and confeffes with the higheft
pleafure, that they owe their reception principally to
the Popularity of the Caufe, in which they arc written.

March 26. 1763.

A U

D D

R E s

TO T H

COCO

A-T R E

rom a W fy 7

THE F I

^TH EDITION.

from the natural tendencv «f r

"«"«, and y, n,i, L,.,„ ' '^" ■"« ">' «y of .11 o,h„

'"^"'"^'••"-"o»JV-.W„.

:4*

r r t r

i . 4 .

It.. . / i :

A N

A D D R E

T O

1' H E

COCOA-TREE.

GENTLEMEN,

IH A V E read with due attention the manifefto, which
you have been pleafed to publilh, and to addrefs to
the country gentlemen, for the dircftion of their future
conduft ".nd engagements. As you feem to think thern
under your influence, you aded prudently, and kindly^
in giving them a direftion, where to follow you.

I will not diminifh the amufing idea of your prefent
confequence, which you raife in their minds, and have
perhaps admitted into yours. But I (hall endeavour to
convince both you and them, that you have mifrepre-
fented, or at leaft millaken, the con.^ ft of the Whig?.
as v/ell as your own. In doing this, I (hall prcfume the

[ 2 ]

letter, which is dated from your head-quarters, to be
yours, it having hitherto not been difavowed by you.

Your capital complaint is, that an oppofition is form-
ing againlt the meafures of government, which you in-
terpret to be a perfonal diflike to minifters, and rather
think it a formed dcfign againfl his Majefty's indepen-
dency and prerogative.

Whoever looks into the hiftory of the two laft reigns,
will fmile to hear you complain of oppofition. But I
leave the ridicule to others, and admit, that the prefcnt
oppofition is partly grounded in a perfonal diflike to a
miniller. You have had fuch diflikes formerly, and were
much difpleafed with thofe, who cenfured them. Give
us leave to account for ours, before you quite fhut up
our mouths with the independency and ptevogati-ve of the
crown.

You attribute the whole of the oppofition to thr6e
very great names. I mull: differ from you in this, as a
matter of fad. The prefent oppofition is known to fpread
through the whole kingdom, I had almoft faid, through
the united kingdom, and exifted in the minds of the
people, before the lirft of the perfons you hint at retired
from bufinefs, before the fecond was baniflied from court,
and before it was fuggelled that the third would openly
patronife the caufe, which has been the fupport of his
illuftrious houfe on the throne.

You aflign motives to the condudt of thofe three great
perfons, which you have no right to aflign, and which

C 3 ]

h differs not many degrees from trcafon to impute to
One of them. It is neediefs to confute flanders, which
no one believes, or to exprefs the contempt, which every
man feels, at feeing the weapons of party fo miferably
handled.

If I apprehend you right, gentlemen, the dotftrine,
upon which your letter is founded, is this, *' That the
" King having a right to appoint his minifters, the
*' people have no right to oppofe them." If this be
not your dodlrine, then all you fay of prerogative, and
indeed the whole of your letter, is foreign to the purpofe.
I rather believe it to be your meaning, becaufe we hear
the fame language from the other advocates of the pre-
fent minillry.

Permit me toextradl a different doftrine from Whig
principles. W e apprehend, that the pretenfion of a
minilkr to his power fhould be Natural^ Conjiitutionaly
Gently ajjerfed, and Generally admitted. If he fails in all
thcfc rcfpedils, we apprehend the prerogative of the crown
to be no Ihelter from the warmefl oppofition, which a
free people may conlHtutionally form againfl fuch a
minilter. This has been invariably the doftrine of
Whiggism, and an oppofition is forming to the pre-
fent minilter, upon no other motive, than that he is
fuppofed to be defeftive in each of thofe qualifications.

You are fenfible, that he has not till lately been
known to us. I affirm it, without laying much flrefs
upon the place of his birth.

B z

[ + ]

The national reflexions, which have been thrown out
on this account, feem to have borne no more ill will
towards the natives of North-Britain, than might be
cxpefted at a time, when one of them was fo fuddenly
and highly exalted, probably againft the fecret wifhes of
the wifeft among his own countrymen. They doubtlefs
knew, that their interefts would have been better ma-
naged, by leaving to the cool and infenfible operation
of time, the difficult work of eradicating national pre-
judices ; and if they had been confulted, they would
have thought it fuiFxient to fee the governnicnt of their
part of the ifland in their own hands, and to fee lucra-
tive and honourable polls among us diflributed, as they
have been by Whig minifters, almoft indifcriminately
to Britons in general. They could not advife him to
grafp at the whole, in fpite of popular prejudices, whilft
thofe prejudices did not moleft them in the enjoyment
of a confiderable part, nor him in being a principal
figure among the glittering ornaments of the drawing-
room.

Indeed it is highly probable, that if they had nomi-
nated a minifter, from among their own countrymen,
they would not have made eleftion of this noble perfon
for the purpofe ; partly, becaufe they might have been
difpofed to prefer others before him in their own efteem j
and partly, becaufe it happens to be a misfortune to his
prefent pretenfions, that we cannot trace a fmgle drop
of Englifli blood in his famous genealogy ; that he is fo
radically Scottifh, that none of the ancient families of
that kingdom can boaft of a more unmixed extradlion.
The prudent and thoughtful part of his countrymen

[ 5 ]

could not defirc to fee a perfon at the helm, whofc firft
appearance there would revive the old and almoft ex-
ploded jealoufies. It has in faft revived them. They
will be alive and artive throughout his adminiftration ;
and tho' they may fubfide, after that is expired, it will
require fome time, to bring back both parts of the united
kingdom to that degree of mutual aiFeftion, to which
they were advanced at the commencement of the pre-
fent reign.

But the Whigs do not reft their oppofition upon this,
for they have more folid objeftions to him, as a minifter.
He has no natural intereft in South Britain, that is, he
has no popularity of character ; he is not diftinguifhed
by his zeal for the prevailing and conftitutional party
principles, nor recommended by long and acknowledged
fervices.

The want of popularity, tho' not difgraceful in itfelf,
for it may in other men be confiftent with a good private
charafter, is a ftrong exception againft him. An unpo-
pular minifter has not the principal thing necefTary to-
wards his ftability in a free country, the corfidence of the
people. He has not the motives, which popular men
have, to guard the pilblic liberty, and adminifter conjli-
tutional advice to the crown.

The Whigs therefore naturally diflike him ; for
Whiggism is a popular principle. The great objeft
of it is the liberty of the people, for which monarchy
and legiflature are eftablifhed. A known Whig will
of courfe enjoy popularity j he will not flatter the King

[ 6 ]

with more independency and prerogntive, than he really
has ; he will fooncr chufe to retire from court. But fuch
a condu6l is not expedled from a miniller, who has no
obligation to the people, who has received from them
many marks of dillilcc, and may be fuppofed to value
himfelf upon the firmnefs with which he dcfpifes the
voice of the people.

I appeal to you, gentlemen of the Cocoa-Tree, whe-
ther you ha^x not made this an objeftion to One minifter
at leaft. You thought him improper for the office, be-
caufe he was unpopular. Was it fo heinous a guilt, to
have maintained this obvious truth heretofore, that you
cannot expiate it, without fupporting tnjuo unpopular
minifters now? I know, that fome of you are more con-
fiftent ; it is to the inconfiftent ones, that I addrefs
myfclf, I do them no injuftice in affirming, that they
oppofed a minifter, partly for being unpopular, and that
they are now inlifted under the banners of the fame mi-
nifter, in fupport of another, who is likewife unpopular.

But this is only one objeflion to the noble Lord,
How has he diftinguiflied himfelf by party principles ?
Tour zealous attachment to him, the prefent revival of
Tory-Maxhnsy and indeed the whole foundation of his
power, will anfvver the queftion.

You have been wandering about, gentlemen, for fome
years paft, in fearch of a minifter, under whom you might
recover your importance, without giving up the abfur-
dities of your anceftors. The general decay of your
party reduced you to this vagrant ftate. You found 4

■K

[ 1 ]

difpontlon In the Whigs, to receive you amicably. But
ilill they were WniGS, and gave y^u no hopes to become
the predominant party. You tried a new expedient, and
pictended that the dillinftion no longer exiiled.

The late great minifter received you upon that pre-
tence, knowing, that /pis connexion with you could ex-
cite no jealoufies. To him it was matter indifFerent,
what you profefled, as the credit of ferving your country
was all you could then gain. You have been now ad-
mitted into confidence by another minifter, whofc credit
was feeble among the Whigs, and to whofe power your
notions became fignificant. You gave them vent, when
you were thus far advanced.

Monarchy was now fiiid to be independent, which
is only another word for unlimited. The power of
the King over his people was compared to that of a
private gentleman over his family. Fihner did not main-
tain it more abfolutely, than it has been maintained of
late. But Fihner maintained it at a time, when great
part of the nation knew no better. We are now fo well
acquainted with our rights, that we cannot give them
up for big-founding words or flimfy arguments. We
honour the King ; we both love and honour the prefent
King ; but we dillike the minifter, whofe exiftence de-
pends upon Tories and Tory-Maxims.

T fay this, gentlemen, without meaning any pcrfonal
infult upon you, many of whom I know to be very re-
fpetlable. If you had not all your views gratified under
former minifters, it now appears, why they kept you

I « ]

at fome diltancc. They could not dig up and deftroy
the principles, upon which the revolution was built.
You continued, as you hoyAy Jlcady and uniform. If any
man was convinced of his error, and left you, you flig-
niatizcd him as one, who had betrayed his party. Were
I difpofed to offend you, I Ihould fay, that poflibly he
had nothing but treafon to betray. This rendered it
difficult for Whig miniftcrs to reconcile you fo effeilually,
as it was their inte'-eft and wi(h to do.

And can you blame the Whigs for fufpeding a new
minifter, on account of your attachment to him, at a
time, when you profefs the principles, which were the
only bar between them and you ? They might fay, and
are probably ftill ready to fay, with Pi/o.to his foldiers,
in Tacitus, •* Proinde a nobis donativum oh Jidem, quam
** ab aliis ^ro /acinore accipietis."

Do not therefore charge the Whigs with an immo-
derate paffion for places, at the time when they are
refigning them. Charge them, if you pleafe, with party
zeal, when they are facrificing their power and intereft
to party principles. But remember, that the principles,
for which they ftruggle, are the foundation of our pre-
fent government, which they apprehend to be under-
mined, whenever Tory-Maxims are openly avowed,
and to ufe your own words, " it is wifdom to forefee
** fuch danger ; it is courage to meet it in its approach;
•* it is our duty to die or to repel it."

But if you, gentlemen, and your hereditary doftrines,
had been out of the queftion, yet the Whigs could not

[ 9 T

fail 10 diflike the prefent miniller for the foundation,
upon which he builds his power. They cannot admit
a minirtcr to be a fervant of the King alone. He is the
fervant of the Nation too, for he is accountable to the
nation as well as to the King. Former minifters have
confeflfed this, by the attention they have paid to the
opinion and good will of the nation, not merely of our
reprefentatives in parliament, but of the people of Great-
Britain in general, who do not ceafe to be a confidtrable
body, even after they are reprefented.

The Whigs are far from difputing the legality of
the power, that raifed the prefent rainifter to an emi-
nence, which has, in his cafe, very much the appear-
ance of a precipice. They only mean to perfevere in
affirming and manifefling, that he is not a minifter
with their approbation. They might account for it,
by declaring very truly, in the moil fair and candid
way, that they do not know him. Let him pro-
duce his pretenfion, if he has any othfer, to be at the
head of the fubjedls of this kingdom, than the Favour
of the King. '

As there never was a better King, than the prefent«
his favour does honour to the man, who enjoys it.
But the Whigs will not diffemble their fentiments
under the best King. It is their birthright to fay;
that, however honourable fuch a pretenfion may be,
they diflike it, luhen ftanding by itfelf \ they are jea-
f.ous of it.

[

.0 J

Nor do they in this extend their liberty beyond con-
ftitutionul bounds. They know both the crime and the
folly of invading the real power of the crown, and
have given too many evidences of their loyalty, juftly
to incur the fufpicion of fuch a defign. It appears to
thorn fuflicicnt caufc of jealoufy, to fee the favour of
the crown the only fupport of him, who diredh the
executive part of government ; and whenever this hap-
pens to be the cafe, they apprehend, that, if we are in
any rcfped more free, than the fubjedls of other monar-
chies, wc have a right to declare a jealoufy fo founded.

The adminillration of a mere favourite tends, in it*
own nature, to reduce the people to abfolute infigni-
ficancy. This is the bell of the bad efFeds, to whicU
it tends ; without effefting this, it cannot long fubfill.
And what may be apprehended from a ftate of abfolute
infignificancy in the people, I forbear to explain, in
the reign of a prince, who has, and we hope will con-
tinue to have, our intire confidence.

Poffibly the minifter, whom you are defending fo
unconjiitutionallyy may have no defigns, at prefent, againfi:
our liberties. It is common for well-meaning men to
be miflcd, by the too eager profecution of their views,
into meafures, which they did not originally approve;
and if ever wrong meafures may be apprehended,
without injury to the charader of a miniiler, it is,
when the People and He are at variance.

This appears to be a much more ferious objeftion to
Him, than thofe, which have been drawn from his

!di

I ti ]

native country, or from his fuppofcJ inexperience in
bufincfs ; for this afKedts us immedictdy and 'vilnlh.
We are no longer the great people we have been, iC
\vc mull acquiefce in the alnioll unlimited power of a
fellow fubjcLl o\er us, who has no natural interell
among us.

The miniller himfelf can hardly fail to fee the force
and full extent of this constitutional language.
It is much to he lamented, that he did not perceive the
Whig objections to him fomewliat earlier; for they
have rather gained ilrength by the progrefs and exercife
of his power ; unlefs you will convince the nation,
that he was applauded by the nobles, the fenate, and
the people of England, when he firll exhibited himfelf
ns the FAVOURITE miniller.

• v.'.y

It might have become you better, gentlemen, to have
recommended him to your country friends, by pleading
]\is ferviccs, than to triumph in the unconlUtutional
afpet^ of his power. But here you were not a little
embarralled. You and they were fenfible, that his fer-
vices are not of a long date, and by your own confeffion
ihey are not many. He aid not profefs to be the fole
miniller, before Mr. Pitt refigned. The conquefl of
Martinique had been planned by that gentleman; and
we are very ready to yield to his fuccelTor the merit of
permitting a fleet to fail, which had been deftined and
prepared for fo important a fervice, by another miniller.

' ' 1

The lofs and recovery of Newfoundland and the con-
ijucft of the Havannah have happened under the prefent

C 2

t '« ]

adminiftration. The merit of the recovery of Knvfound-
land is much weakened by the antecedent lofs of it.
If any merit be claimed from the recovery, the world
will i'ufped, that it was loll with a view to that merit,
it may be molt agreeable to truth, to acquit the mi-
niflcr of both.

Yon have told us, to whom tO afcribc the merit of
the red ud ion of the Ha'vannah \ and as you have no
partiality to the iVince of the Blood, whofe advice fe-
cured the fucccfs of that expedition, we are happy in
taking your word for the fad.

The prefent miniftry, you fay, dcfigred it. There
was no difficulty in difcovcring where the power of
Spain was moft vulnerable ; for every merchant in Lon-
don knew, that the Ha'vannah was the key to the Spa-
niili Wcll-Indieii. So far the merit of defigning the
expedition was inconfiderivble.

But there appears to have been extreme difficulty ia
flriking the blow and giving the wound. Uncommoa
fpirit and perfeverance were requifite, and you, who
doubtlcfs know the truth, afHrm, that the befl judge
of military merit in this king-dom recommended a com-
mander in chief and other officers, who were difUni>
guifhed by uncommon fpirit and pcrefeverance.

So that the whole of the prefent minifter's fervices is
hitherto comprifed in a fhort fpace of time, and in a
very narrow compafs ; for we know of no fervice he
could do us, nor of any experience he could gain,

,.v^

•^^nfia^Ka

.«»'»

[ <J J

when liis great taleiit.s were concealed in a place of u'J
bulincfj* at a fuburdiiiate court.

He has indeed produced a peace. That work is fald
to be wholly His. •* Nihil fibi ex ilia laudc ccnturio,
** nihil prxfet'lus, nihil cohors, nihil turma dccerpit ;"
and 1 apprehend, there is hardly one among his conlti-
tutional enemies, who envies him that work.

Thefe, gentlemen, are the rcafons for the prefent op-
pofition. The minillcr Hands unrecommcndcd to the
Whigs, by his natural interell, and by his aftual fer-
vices ; and he is obnoxious to them for being fuppofed
to have adopted the maxims of the Tories ; thofc
maxims, which Tories contradidl and counterafl,
when they are out of power, and which the Whig*
have invariably condemned, whether in power or out.

Upon this (late of the matter, I Atfy the utmoft fa-
gacity of his warmeft advocates, to difcover any thing,
except the Royal Favour, that gives this noble perfon a
pretenfion to rule over us, in preference to men, who
have an undoubted natural intereft, who have the only
conftitutional party intereft, who can boaft, with the
teftimony of the world in their favour, of long and
faithful fervices, and who therefore enjoy the Confi-
dence of the Nation.

You have afllgned other motives for the oppofition,
but they are only fuch, as anger will always fuggeft,
when men are ripe for invcdlivc. They arc not indeed
mere inventions ; for you, who are in the fecret of af-

r
L

■4 ]

IJll

fairs, know the private injuries, of which the Whigs
have caufe to complain, the* their complaints are all
of a public nature.

Your Favourite m'nifter, confcious of the infirmity
of his pretenfions, has not aflerted, nor conduced his
power with the gcntlenefs, which prudence would have
diftated to a new minifter, better circumllanced. He
was fo mucli in kalle to be the Sole minifter, that he
took not the time neceflary, to avail himfelf of the
cxp' "icnce of other men, or to ftrengthen himfelf by
their friendfiiip.

f . ,

Every man of confequence, who has fervices, or
abilities, or charadler, to recommend him to the King
and people, was naturally obnoxious to one, who de-
fired to be at the head of affairs, without the brmality
of raifing himfelf by fervices or abilities.

I need not remind you, gentlemen, of fafts, which
you know fo perfeftly well. You could anfwer the
queftions, without much recolleftion, were I to aiT^
you, in the order of time ;

What is become of One, whom you know to be
eminently qualified for the ftation he filled, but who
was fo intradlable, that he could not be prevailed with,
by ioiy menaces, to give up his own honour, by be-
traying a local intereft of the Whigs ?
...:'■ / .. ' .

Why another gentleman, whom youfo juftly revered,
was provoked to refign, by the oppofition he met with

r '5 1

to a meafure, which he thought neceffary, and which wa-i
adopted as unu'voidabki foon after his retirement ?

What could induce a third, who had ferved in both
the late reigns, with a moll difinterefted fidelity, to re-
fign, at a time, when his friends adhere to him in a.
manner, which fcems to aftonifli you, and when you
confefs his aftivity not to be impaired by age ? i

- J..i J.*

Why a fourth, whofe name has ever been dear to the
Whigs, whofe manners are too gentle to give offence.

was-

But I will not proceed. You are fo vigilant and
zealous, that 1 would not utter a word, which might
bear too free a conftrudlion. We know who it is that
can do no wrong ; and the nation has not been milled,
to impute any thing wrong to Him. It is all underftood
to proceed from another hand, againft which the whole
difcontent of tlie public is direiJled.

Can you be infeniible, that the voice of the people is
hudi and almoil united at this time ? And are your no-
tions of monarchy fo high, as to incline you to think
the whole nation made for a Minister? This would
be improving upon your anceftors, who only thought
the nation made for the King. Do not impute it to
our envy of the figure and power, to which you afpire,
if we continue to differ from your opinion, as well as
that of your anceftors. .... ....^

t '6 ]

Having thus far juftified the conduft of the Whig 5^
give me leave, gentlemen, to add a few obftrvations
upon YOUR conduft.

You talk much of Majejiy and Prerogati've. If this
had been always your language, how many bitter efforts
of oppoiition might have been fpared for fifty years
paft ! How much more peaceable might have been the
reign of our late Sovereign ! How much more peaceably
might his afhes reft at this time ! For even the Whigs
are fo well affcfted to monarchy, that they lament to hear
the reproaches thrown out upon hia memory. -. ..

Did you recolleft the independency of the crown,
when you oppofed his minillers ? Was not prerogative
checked and pared ? And were not the Whigs, at that
time, neceifery guardians of it, againft the intemperance
of your oppo£tion ? I will not afk you, how vigorous an
oppo£tion you made to the unnatural rebellion againfl
him.

Wherein did he provoke you, to lay afide the doflrine
of your fathers, which you have now brought forth, quite
rufty, for the ufe of the prefent minifter ? The late King
had been educated in a •' ountry, where his family was
djcfpotic ; but Here He was a friend to liberty ; and,
knowing, what principles had raifed his illuftrious houfe
to the throne, he confided in the Whigs, and treated
you with a moderation, which feemed to bid fair for a
coalition of parties. He made you afhamed of the
diftinftion. You difavowed it a manner, which per-

[ 17 ]

fuaded us you were in earneft, till you thought fit to
feparate from us again after his death.

If you bear any ill will to his memory, treat him ac
leall, as you think Kings ought to be treated ; and do
not, for his fake, infult and vilify his beloved furviving
fon. Do not, for your own fakes, defcribe that Prince,
as a fpirit nvhich d'lighteth in blood. Surely this is not
no'vj the language of the Cocou'Tree. If it be, then party
is rekindled to an alarming degree. It was the language
heretofore of thofe, who were difappointed at Cul-
LODEN ; and has been difufed, till it efcaped from the
pen of your writer, I hope inadvertently, and without
your approbation. The character of that great Prince
calinot be hurt by the infinuation ; but the reader will
)be led by it to form ftrange idt ^ of you, and will be at
& lofs to know, by what kind of profeflions you intend
^o make your court. ' ' ' "' \ ' '

And with refpe£l to minifters ; permit me to afk you,
had not the minifters of the late King at leaft as confti-
tutional pretenfions to their power, as any you can aflign
to the prefent minifter? Why then did you efteem it
neceflary to oppofe them, for many years, in every
meafure, with a profefled deiign to fnatch the power
from their hands, which had been intrufted to them by
their royal mafter ?

We have heard much alledged of their corruption. I
will not enter either into the faft, or into the known
caufes of it. But wherein did you principally place
their corruption ? To the beft of my memory, you made

•I

[ 18 ]

an outcry about places and penfions, till placemen and
penfioners were almoft afhamed of their daily bread.
Let me beg you to compare the prefent lift of places and
penfions, with that, which exifted in the time of the mi-
nifter, whom you moll vehemently oppofed, as the grand
corrupter. Without doubt the prefent minifter has rea-
fons for his conduft, which perfeftly fatisfy you. We
have heard of one penfion, beftowed upon an ingenious
writer, which probably has not given you offence.

f'JA

Gentlemen, let us treat each other with temper, and
confider our mutual conduft with a becoming candour.
We are willing to fuppofe, that you have no thoughts
of ambition ; that you mean only the honour of the
crown, and fully intend to fhew yourfelves more difin-
teretted, than they were, who enjoyed his late Majefty*s
favour. Give the Whigs leave to mean only the good
of the King and the people, and allow their leaders to
be at leaft as difinterefted as You. They are voluntarily
reiigning places of power and profit. You feem difpofed
to be as voluntary in accepting them.

■m

' Indeed if places could have been nurchafed by ex-
traordinary ferviccs, you would have had a fair claim
in the late reign ; for you were obfeyed to bid very
high, in the latter part of it, when you eagerly con-
curred in the German meafures. It is noble and ingenuous
in you, to retraft your conduct fo openly, as foon as thofe
meafures ceafe to be in vogue. %

It is your happinefs, that you can preferve your in-
tegrity unfpotted, whilft you take a fudden leap, from

JJ^a»•=?!^■'■'«'»«-'''"

[ 19 ]

one extremity of a meafure to another, and from one
miniller to another.

The great minifter, who found it necelTary to fupport
the German meafures, convinced you of their reditude.
He does not appear to have changed his opinion ; nor
can it be merely his removal from power, that changes
yours. It muft be feme fudden light, that is lately broke
in upon your minds.

I well remember, that you boafted of his diflnterefted-
nefs, and pleaded That, as the ground of your confidence
in him. He was indeed difinterefted, for he had all the
trouble of power, without the pleafure of gratifying his
friends. Did you find this inconvenient, gentlemen,
that you made fo quick a tranfition from Him to One,
who has, at prefent, an uncontrouled power to gratify
any friend ?

But vvhllfl I give you joy of your expeftations, I will
do you the juftice to intimate, that they may perad-
venture be too fanguine. You muft have obferved, how
much your favourite minifter is alarmed at the fufpicions
of the Whigs ; what pains he takes, upon every refig-
Jiation, to fill up the vacancy with a charadler, or, if
that be imprafticable, with a Namet which may give a
Whig complexion to his adminiftration. He feems to
find it difficult to do this ; but you have fomething to
apprehend from the mere attempt.

You complain of having been called the dupes of
many oppofitions. Perhaps the time may come, when

[ ^o ]

you may be exalted higher, and become the dupes of a
miniller. I fhall, in that cafe, think you very ill treated^
for your merit is great, in contradifting yourfelves, at
fo fmall a diftance of time ; and in defcrting the Right
Honourable gentleman, in whom you had implicit con-
fidence, fo lately as the laft winter, for whom and his
meafures you were fo zealous, that you were very near
forgetting the independency and prerogative of thei
crown.

Before I take my leave, let me beg of you, gentlemen,
for the fake of the King and the nation, and for your
own fakes, to publilh no more fuch letters, as your laft.
The violence of party language is very inflammatory,
and you need not be told, that the Whigs are the ma-
jority of the nation. They are ever peaceably difpofed ;
dutiful to the King, zealous for the conftitution, and
moderate towards the Tories.

Why fliould you in the fpirit of exultation, provoke
them to depart from a temper, which you have expe-
rienced to be gentle ? They will not depart from it,
without the moft extreme neceflity. They will continue
good neighbours and good fubjeds. But, whilft they
breathe the air of this country, they will endeavour to
preferve the liberties of it. They will entertain the
fame notions of prerogative and liberty, equally in all
reigns. When their ideas upon each of thofe points are
quite extindl, then you will have the liberty of tri-
umphing, without an opponent, in the extinftion of
parties, and that may be the only liberty, and the only
triumph, you will then have. - ^ ■>

[ 21 ]

In the mean time, to fliew, how remote and chimc-
i-ical that day appears to us, I will repeat, in the name
of the Whigs, the conclufion of a proteft formerly
made in a certain great aflembly j

*' Under this Royal Family alone, we are fully con-
•* vinccd we CAN live free; and under this Royal
** Family, we are fully determined, we will live

" FREE."

lam.

Gentlemen,

Dec. 6, 1 761.

Your moft humble Servant,

^ WHIG.

it' .] !-

i ■ . ♦ ' '

U.'i

CONSULTATION

On the Subject of a

STANDING ARMY,

HELD AT THE

KING'S -ARMS TAVERN,

On the Twenty-eighth Day of February, 1763.

THE SECOND EDITION.

"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate.
Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are,
Great things refolved, which from the loweft deep
Will once more lift us up.

Milton.

Hi'

O 1

1 I

'^ . V / 'J

'f \

■» r •

(j 1 r.i

) . 1

? It

; »

♦ •«

a i

I-: J.

♦ » , » »f

I J. li"

CONSULTATION, &c.

AS E T of worthy gentlemen, who, partly for their
amufement, and partly from motives of public
fpirit, have innocently made the nation their care, for
many years paft, and have by their connexion with
different parts of the kingdom, been able from time to
time, to inflame or to cool, as the cafe of the public
might require, had a meeting lately at the King^s-Arms^
to which their club was for that day removed from the
Coco A -Tree, in order to confider the grand queftion,
,of a Standing Army in time of Peace.

.) u if

It had never been a queilion among them before,
jvhether this meafure ought, or ought not to be oppofed ?
for they had fet their faces againft it invariably, from
the acceffion of the prcfent Royal Family; and there
feemed to be lefs room for a doubt now thari ever, as
they admit, that we have a King oft the throne, who
reigns in the hearts of his people j and loudly contend,
that the prefent minifter has had the honour of abolifhino

[ ^(> ]

part/ diftinfllons. Yet, it fo happened, that their cir-
cumftanccs were materially changed, and they began
now to think the point, at leall, problematical, which
had for many years appeared to them, as quite in-
difputable.

A meeting was called for a general confultation. The
queftion had fo changed its appearance, that many things
were faid upon it, which none of them had ever heard
from each other's mouths ; and being diilradled between
different motives, and oppofitc engagements^ they de-
parted fomewhat from their ufual unanimity, and fome-
times, as is natural to dil'tradled minds, they departed
Irom the queftion before them.

It being neceffary for the country gentlemen to know
what is done by their friends in town, that they may
regulate their conduft and converfation accordingly, we
here prefent them with the fubftance.of this important
debate, which was held at the Kirtg^s-Armsy in the month
of Februaryy 1 763, about the fame time, when fomc
prophet foretold, that the world would he at an end.

The chairman was a gentleman whofc folemnity of
Agure and manners would have paffed for wifdom in the
lall century, and did in fadl raife him to the rank of u
iirft rate counfellor in the prefent. He opened the meeting
with the following fpeech ;

'/;irih'l<^'!h Si,

[ i7 1

The CHAIRMAN'S Speech.

CENT LP. MEN,

WE arc aflembled to confider of a weighty matter,
in which the nation is not (o much intcrellcd, as
we and our friends. The point indeed is trite. It has
been fo well worn by us, that if we enter into a dull
repetition of what we have faid heretofore, we (hall fpend
much time to little purpofc.

Our firft objeft, in all queftions of this kind, Ihould
be the credit and ftrength of our body. I am forry to
mention what you muft all have obferved, that our po-
pularity has fufFered much of late j and I am afraid,
private interefts, which are quite new among us, may
interrupt our union. ,

To prevent this as fa- as lie.- in my power, I beg
leave to lay down one general rule for our debate, which
I hope you will judge to be fuitable to the gravity of
our charafters. The rule I mean is this, that we keep
entirely clear of the merits of the queftion about a
Standing Army, and that we reduce our whole debate
to this fmgle point, 'whether ixie fliall notu approve or con-
demn that meafure.

You cannot fail, gentlemen, to fee an effential dif-
ference between thefe two queftions. It follows, indeed,

E 2

' .i

I 28 I

if the meafure be a wrong one, that we ought to cort-
demn it. But a thing may be right, which appears to
lis to be wrong; and a thing may have been wrong here-
tofore, which may now be right ; which confiderations
lead into endlefs perplexities about right and wrong,
and may have the effedl of dividing us, which wc ought
to guard againil more cautioufly, than againft the evil
cfFefts of any meafure whatever. Whereas we fhall have
a fair chance of preferving our unanimity, and of doing
either right or wrong in a fummary way, if we reft the
whole matter upon the fingle queftion, abftiadl^dly
confidered, whether we fhall or {hall not approve this
meafure.

I am /ure, gentlemen, none of ycu fufpeft me of any
thing unfair, in recommending this method. I have ntf
private ends to anfwer. I have the honour, indeed, to
be a counfellor, but you all know, that it is not a pro-
fitable honour. It only gives me a title and a prece-
dency amongft you, which I am not fo ridiculoufly
formal as to value.

Gentlemen, i iiever had more than one fintrle view,
before and fince I came into this fociety ; and, though
that view has been varioufly crofled by events, which
we could not forefee, yet, it will continue uppermoil
in my thoughts, ur.der ail changes of men and times.
1 mention this, becaufe we are at prefent much talked
of. Many malignant eyes are upon us. We are fuf-
pe«^ed in the country, and envied in town. Let us
not weaken our caufe ftill more, by mutual jealoufies.
You cannot all be counfellors, gentlemen ; and I am

t^*-^'

C 29 ]

afraid you cannot all have places. Every flick of wood
♦vill not make a ftatue of Alercury.

Our laudable confederacy has fubfifted by our inat-
tention, both to our private intereft, and to the real
merits of any public queftions. Let us not diflblve it
by entering into arguments, which may lead to alter-
cation. 1 declare that I would rather be in an error,
than be convinced againft my will.

The queftion then before you is, not the political
one, IVhether a Standing Army be a right or a lurong mea-
Jure P but thj prudential one, ^whether you *wiU approve
cr condemn it ? I beg every gentleman would deliver his
refolution freely, and I ihall fum up the debate, and
deliver mine, ris becomes me, at the laft.'*

When the Chairman had iinilhed his fpeech, there
was fome murmuring in the room. Several gentlemen
were difappointed by his fcheme or contrafting the
debate ; they having been at the pains of preparing
themfeives with fpeerhes, extrac'^ed from the Magazines
and Parliamentary Debates of forty years pail, all which
fpeeches were now to be unvented. Others, who were
predetermined to approve any meafure of government at
this time, came wi<:h a refolution to approve of this ;
but being at a lofs for arguments, they were in hopes
to colled fonc from this confutation. However, the
moirmuring ceafed, and they were all impreflfed with
awe, when a grave, elderly gentleman. Sir Robert
Filmer by name, ftood up, and, having adjullcd his

I il 1

[ 30 ]

Peruke, and put on his white gloves, addrefled the
chairman thus :

Sir ROBERT F I I M E R'S Speech,

" Mr. Chairman',

YOU dpferve the thanks of every gentleman here
prefent, for direding our debate to the only
point, which cometh conftitutionally before us. Whe-
ther we Ihall approve this meafure or not ? ^ '

It becometh not fubjefts to canvafs the merits of
public meafures. We are unacquainted with the^r-
cana Imperii. Kings and their minifters only are the
judges of what is fitting to be done. Our bufinefs is
to acquiefce, and the merit of our ppflive obedience
will be heightened by the inconfiftency of it with fuch
profeflions, as we have formerly found it expedient to
make. - ' .';

I congratulate you. Sir, and all the gentlemen here
prefent, that we have lived to fee the day, when it is our
intereft as well as inclination to a !l up to our old prin-
ciples. We have travelled through a wildernefs of forty
years oppofition, and, though fome of us have fainted
by the way, either through hunger or thirft, yet a very
reputable number have reached the promifed land.
Shall we now forfeit our pofieflion of it by ill-timed

[ 31 ]

fcruplcs about confiftency? Befides, wherein doth it
appear, that we are inconfiftent ? We oppofed our ene-
mies, and we ftill continue to oppofc them. We op-
pofed this mfeafure in particular, becaufe the iJtanding
Army was then meant to intimidate Us. And fhall we
not now promote that meafure, when we may perchance
turn this engine of theirs againft themfeives, and make
ufe of it to fubdue them ?

By our enemies I do not mean the French and Spa-
niards. Thanks to the wifdom of government, we are
pnce more at peace with thofe great potentates. I
meant thofe reftlefs fpirits, the Whigs, who are ene*
mics to fubordination, and will not acknowledge our
power, until we inforce it, in the only way, by which
they prevented infurredions from us."

Here the chairman interrupted Sir Robert, by re-
minding him, that he was entering into the merits of a
Standing Army, which it had been propofed to keep
quite out of fight in the queflion now before them,
*' Whether the Standing Army fhould or fhould not be
oppofed ?" Sir Robert, being a man of order, aiked
pardon, and then proceeded ;

** Sir, I apprehend, and, if the time would permit,
fhould be ready to prove, from the beft writers upon
government, that to oppofe the miniflry is oppofmg the
prerogative of the King, who hath an undoubted right
to appoint and fupport his own fervants. He is our
common father, and we are his children. Shall chil-
dren direft th^ir father, by wh^t inflruments he ihall

[ 32 3

govern them ? and would you take out of his hands the
power of chaftifmg his difobedient children ? There is
nothing more unnutural, than for the members to fight
againll the head. We were uncafy, when we did it ;
but you know our motives, and they would have re-
conciled us to greater hazards, than any to which we
have chofen to expofe ourfelves. When we were op-
pofing our enemies, it would have been abfurd to have
made ufe of our own doftrines. We have overthrown
the Whigs, by perfonating Whigs. We gained our
popularity by it, and, under the favour of that il-
luftrious peer, who hath lately adopted us, we arrived
&'. the ve:-'^ hopeful ftate, in which we and our prin-
ciples are a t .it.

Now is the time, to ad like ourfelves, and to keep
pofTeflicn of the advantage we have gained, by fhcwing,
that, as we have the beft of kings, fo we will be the
beft of fubjedls ; we will obey implicitly ; we will
make our monarch independent, and crulh the men,
ivho ihall dare to oppofe his minifter.

[hi'

iii' I

The malecontents indeed are numerous, and have
fome advantages of rank, power, and underftanding ;
but what are thefe, compared with the advantage of
our principles, to which the moil potent monarchs in
the world owe the non-refiftance of their fubjeds ? Our
enemies have at prefent the people on their fide. The
people are intoxicated with notions of liberty. Time
and difcipline will reduce them to order, and teach
them to place their happinefs, like the fubjefts of other
monarchs, in the grandeur of their fovereign.

C 33 ]

The kings, whom you oppofcJ before, were not na-
tives of this ifland. We have now an English king,

and an Englilh , I beg pardon, I mean a Br i-

TiSH minitter. Let us aft the part of dutiful fubjefts,
in fupporting both, againft Fadlion among the great,
and violence in the multitude. , ■ a

The minifters we oppofed before were not monarchi-
cal minillers. They fupported their credit at court,
by their credit among the Whigs. We have now a
minifte. of our own, who derives his figure and confe-
quence, neither from his birth, charafter, accomplifh-
plifhments, nor fervices, but from his Royal Mafter.
Such a minifter it becometh us to fupport; and what-
ever inconfiftency there may be in the mode of fupport-
ing him, it will be juftified by the confiftency of fup-
porting a minifter fo circumftanced, who is, ftriftly
Ipeaking, the fervant of the king, our mafter, for he
hath no oth^r intereft to depend on, fave his intereft at
court ; and will therefore, in common prudence, do
his beft to preferve and extend the antient rights of
monarchy, and to diminifh the ufurpations of liberty.

Far be it from me, Sir, to perfuade you and our
friends to approve of any thing againft your judg-
ments J but you may approve without examination,
without an officious enquiry into the merits of a mea-
fure, and with an implicit confidence in a wifdom
greater than yours, and in a power, v/hich ought not
to be refifted, nor even to be provoked by cenfures or
murmurs.

[ 34 ]

I declare, for one, that as the Standing Army is a
ineafure to be taken by his majefty's minifler, I fhall
think it my duty, as a good fubjedl, a friend to mo-
narchy, and an enemy to unfeigned oppofitioiif to fup-
port that meafure, by all the influence of my opinion
in town and country, to confider my protection as
meant in the meafure, and to be thankful to the power,
by which 1 am proteftcd." it;"?!- n •

Moft of the company applauded the wifdom, mag-
nanimity, and fpirit of Sir Robert Filmer's fpeech.
It had drawn tears from fome of them, by prefenting
before their minds an image of the noble fimplicity of
manners, and fentiments in former times. They were
not fparing in their encomiums, which flowp'' from
the heart, and confirmed him in an opinion, ach he
had entertained before, that all he had advanced was
convincing and unanfwerable. But there are in all fo-
cieties fome men, who are not eafily diverted from the
track, in which they have been accuftomed to move,
and there were a few in this fociety of a very intraft-
able difpofition. Mr. Shippen ftood up next, and de-
livered himfelf in the following words :

' J-. . t . , , . . .. , ,

'; -

■' ' ■

■ v^:- ■; ■:.■ •■'- •-,•, - 'i*; *>*

- V . •

|^'^^ii\':: ;; -a: -y. . . J^Hi'xi:

■j'r ;

»i^i*..*i>Mryfjri •**•,►»* '•■» *.^v'^' ■ ,• '

'♦■'^ ''^ ■'i.j''': i'. ':'. '.':. " - '"■':'

*-i~' t '•-

. r. I ;

'■{

[ 35 ]

, /;

Mr. S H I P P E N ' s Speech.

«* Mr. Chairman,

I Have attended with great refpeft to Sir Robert Fil^
mer, and hope he will not think me lefs his hum-
l)le fervant, if I declare myfelf not fatisfied.

I never before heard any of our friends apply his
doftrine to the family now on the throne. I agree to
the doftrine itfelf, and would maintain it at the hazard
of my life and fortune, were we fo circumftanced, that
I could apply it with a hearty good-will. But we have
been always taught, that this Royal Family could not
avail themfelves of principles, which had been con-
trived, for the fupport of another line, and that the laft
fervice we could do to our defperate caufe, was that
of a perfevering Oppofition, in the courfe of which
we have borrowed weapons from the Whigs, and fought
them upon the principles of liberty.

I have done my part in this way for many years, and
have particularly chofen, for my department, the
Standing Army, which I confidered, as partly intended
to keep me in awe. I have faid fo much againft it,
that I cannot appear for it, nor even fufFer a thing to
pafs off filently, which I have always condemned from
my heart, for very fubftantial reafons.

F 2

[ 36 ]

i agree to all that i& faid in praife both of the King
and the minifter ; and am only forry, that we are not
Tm^, 'lar m our praifes of the King. Our enemies join
w. '. us in nothing but this. If we could provoke
thin to treafon, we might filence the reproaches, which
they have lately revived againft us, with great cruelty.
However, as they do not agree with us in opinion
about the minifter, we have a fair chance for keeping
him to ourfelves, in conjunction with our faithful allies
in the North. ' •• ' '.iM..^.->.'^-. '

But this of the army is an aukward difficulty. The
thing may be neceflary to government, and perhaps*
of great ufe to us. But let us take our credit into
confideration. Are we ftrong enough to ftand without
popularity ? Will government fupport us againft the
people ? It would be great, and, as Sir Robert Filmer
calls it, monarchical to do this. But, will it be done?
We fhould have fome aflurance of that, before we come
plum into all thofe things, which we have called ini*
quitous. We fhould, to fpeak plain, be able to filence
our country friends by providing for them. Our mi*
nifter can create places, and he can create vacancies.
Let the country fee the ufe and intent of our prefent
compliance. Then I may poffibly get the better of
my prejudices againft this meafure, which, I muft own,
ftick fo clofe to my mind, that I fhall be in danger of
fpeaking againft it, if ever hereafter I ftand up to fpeak
for it.

In the mean time, Mr. Chairman, I cannot follow
Sir B obert upon a mere dry fpeculation about govern-

«! ,:i

[ 37 ]

ment which none of the kings of the prefent family will
countenance, which may be advanced to condemn the
Revolution, but appears to me to have no weight in
fupport of any Royal Family claiming from the Revo-
lution. At leaft, if I fupport monarchy by arguments,
which 1 have contradifted in my prafticc for fo many
years part, I muft have fome reafon to (hew for my
couduft, which has not yet occurred to me ; elfe I am
determined to condemn, as I have hitherto done, a
Standing Army in time of Peace."

The known integrity of Mr. Shippcn's heart had its
ufual weight, anv» effaced the impreflion made by Sir
Robert Filmer's excellent fpeech. It was agreed by
many of the company, that Mr. Shippen fpoke more
to the purpofe, and that they and their country friends
ought to be well fatisfied, before they entered precipi-
tately into fuch a maze of inconfiftencies. But fome
gentlemen in the company having already been impreg-
nated with the reafons, which had not yet occurred to
Mr. Shippen, were alarmed at his refolution. They
were unwilling to defert him, and at the fame time they
were fliocked at the thoughts of returning to the tedious
work of oppofition. An explanation therefore was ne-
cefTary, and Mr. Courtly, a gentleman of the C o u n-
TRY party, very kindly undertook it.

[ 38 I

Mr. COURTLY'! Speech.

•• Mr. Ch AI R M A Nf

' . • i . • . " • , ■ .'

I Have the honour to call both the gentlemen, whey
have fpoken, my worthy friends. 1 am fnrry to fee
them differ in opinion, efpecially as no part of Sir
Robert Filmer's argument will admit of the leaft difpute.
To fupport the minifter, is fupporting the crown and
the prerogative. I and fome other gentlemen are fa
fenfible of this, that we have contributed our part to
the fupport of government, by accepting places of
emolument under the prefent minifter ; and we did it
with the entire approbation of this fociety.

The minifter wifely thought fit to try our fidelity,
before he extended his favours to our whole body. We
fhall carry every point, if we anfwer his expeftation.
Rome was not built in a day, nor Carthage overthrown
in a year. You know that Rome had as fmall a be-
ginning as his power, and it will be a work of time to
reduce our enemies to the prefent condition of Carthage.
Shall we defeat all our hopes at once, by treating our
noble patron, as if he were no better, than the minifters
who have gone before him ? Can it be expeftcd, after
what our enemies have fufFered by their perverfe conduft,
that we ftiall be indulged in following our private opi-
nions ? You may reft affured, from what I know of the

L 39 ]

dignity and firmnefs of the prefcnt minider, that every
man of" us will be profcribed, who ventures to concur
in any inllance with the prefent oppofition. Not a re-
lation, or friend of ours, not even a Cullom-houfe ofliccr
of our nomination will efcape his refentment.

And what can we propofc to ourfelvcs, if our obfti-
nacy (hould weaken his hands ? Our enemies are aimoll
as well qualified to ferve the ftate, as we, and if tlicy
fliould recover their ground, what will become of our
places, our hopes, and our credit ? not to mention, that
we (hall be expofed to fome ridicule. Thefe arc great
evils to run haltily into, for fo trifling a confideration,
as uniformity of condud. .

Befides, give mc leave, Sir, to obfcrve, that there
were reafons heretofore for difliking a Standing Army,
which do not now fubfift. You may remember, who
commanded it, and what ufe he made of it on a very
critical day. I am not willing to repeat grievances, nor
to provoke our enemies to infolent triumphs on the event
of that day. I only hint at it with a view of fuggefting
to you, that as the like occafion will probably not offer
again, the army has not now any apparent mifchievous
tendency towards us. So that here is not a fingle reafon
left for condemning this meafure, and you are furrounded
with fuch reafons for approving it, as I confefs to be
irrefiftible by me."

The company was divided in fentiments upon this
judicious fpeech. Thofe, who had accepted places looked
alert ; thofe who expefted places, thought it not much

■I !

r 40 ]

amifs, and the rcl, who had nothing in hand and nothing
to cxpeft, thought Mr. Courtly's roafons unfatisfaftory,
after the many things they had formerly heard him fay,
about the difgrace of dependence upon courts or mi-
nillers. This diverfity of opinions produced a ferment,
and might have ended in a political riot, had it been
their misfortune to have no more fpeakers among them.
But the powers of a new orator calmed the tumult. His
accent would have commanded attention, if his words
and manner had not. He was no lefs a perfon, than the
famous Sir Archibald Mac-Sarcasm, a gentleman
of an ancient family in the North, who a few yeara ago
entertained t^ . town, in an excellent dramatic piece,
which, on account of the popular prejudices in favour
of the Scotch nation, has not been exhibited for two or
three years pafb. Having be'.2n cruelly difappointed in
love, he repaired to this fociety for amufement, and was
received as a member, with great refpedl.

We are forry, we cannot do juftice to his accent, nor
wholly to the dialc^l, in which he fpoke, both which
mull be left to the reader's imagination, whilfl: we only
record the fubitance of his fpeech, as follows :

J.I ' ... -4 , . . .. , ,^ . , ■

',..•'". ■ ' ., - , * '■

... ,

iSi .'' j

'vj -jU

[ 4' ]

Sir ARCHIBALD MAC-SARCASM'* Speech.

'. J ' • 't

'>/ .

,. .!!..:.

^ •« Mr! Chairman,

• - 1

TH E principle and the form of your prcfent con-
fuhation are both very acceptable to me, and I
hope, it will terminate in bringing us all to aA as one
man, that we may invigorate the meafures of the ftate,
and purfuc, with undeviate fpirlt and firmnefs, the fum
total of all the political views of a good fubjcdl, I mean,
PHiVATH Good. For public good is nothing but an
aggregate qua itity of private good, t' ; public being a
continuous body compounded of private men.

Sir, a pernicious praftice has of late been predominate
among the Great, of reftgning their tenures under the
crown at pleafure. It is contrary to the fpirit of the
Feudal Law, and if the example fhould defcend to the
fervile part of life, our hirelings may A-ebcl in like
manner at a time, when we are not pecunious enough
to emancipate th^m. It Ihews you, Sir, that there was
no relevant reafon for abolifliing the Feudal Law, under
which there was a regular gradation from the perfeft
flavery of a vafial, through the contracted liberty of his
Laird, to the perfcv% ^bfolute liberty or power of his
prince, ■:. " ' < ^ > ' '.;«>. ,; .:■''■■ ^

.!.«•»,

^.,-

W/.

[ 42 1

Sir, I forecaft, that ye are all running into anarc'y,
if ye do not apply the punitive faculties of the (late to
chaftife your contraveeners. What is your doubt anent
the matter now before you ? If I roborate my hands
againfl a neighbouring clan, fliall it be a queilion among
my clan, whether this ought or ought not to be done ?
or whether they fliall or fliall not approve it ? Ye ought
every man be hailed away, and be incarcerate, if ye
prefume to criticife the meafures of fugh a government
as ye now have. . ,»..,......, .. . . .■ ..... ^

=-i,,~

I will not mention the king, bec^ufe the opinion of
our adverfaries is conform to ours anent his majefty. But
I fliall fpeak of the minifter, whofe praifes are above
the powers of my countryman, Mr. David Malloch's
pen, though he has gotten well by fupporting his lord-
fliip's adminiftration in this place. Sir, the grea': and
immortal hiihop Burnet y the befthiftorian, that ever thii
ifland produced. "

At thefe words there was a general uproar in the
room, and the chairman, with fome emotion, told Sir
Archibald, that his defcription of that hiftorian, if he
might be fo called, was quite new to the company, and
had never been given to him but by foreigners, and the
Whig faftion in England, for whofe fervice he v/rote
and a^led.

■m

Sir Archibald was fbrnewhat difconcerted at having
flipt inadverteriily into Whig language. He afked
pardon, and pleaded, that he fliould not have ufed fuch
extravagance in fpeaking of that reverend prelate, if he

C 43 J

had iiOt been his countryrtian ; which ?\pology gave
entire fatlsfaftion. But whilft this matter was adjufting.
Sir Archibald unluckily forgot the paffuge he was about
to quote from bifhop Burnet, and returned to the praifes
of the minilter. v i , , ■ -^r; :,;.;:.'

** Sir, it is common in other ftates, for men in the
inferior departments of government to afpire to the
higheft poll, and by pafling through many a long-tailed
compt in the feveral offices, they fometlmes arrive at
the ultimate point. But it is an uncommon thing, for
a perfon of high rank, whofe pedigree is illuftrate with
the name of kings, who himfelf bears a name, which
once was royal," (here SW Archibald dropt a tear) *' to
condefcend to incumber himfelf with the great fwack
of the bufmefs of the public Treafury, and to perpetuate
the happinefs of a whole nati-.n, againfl the good-will
of the whole nation.

;i t.i

This fir, is a phenomenon, which has not appeared
in our hemifphere till lately. Long may he continue to
illumine this ifland, till his enemies are blinded by his
fplendour, and conflrained to fuccumb, and till we his
friends have all been cheered with the many good things
he can difpone to us ! , , , .

Mr. Chairman, my anceftry is as celebrious, as that
of the noble lord. I mind not to depreciate myfelf, in
admiring his condefcendence ; but this is not the time
for ponderating every man's claim. J abdicate mine
for the general good, and am willing to co-operate with
tlic noble lord, and to eafe his hands of the throng of

G z

I 44 ]

public bufinefs. He will have need of my counfel Toon
or fyne. . We have a fore party to contend with. It
behoves, that we deliberate with Tvifdom, and aft with
firmnefs. It mainly imports, that we fufFer not thofe
peftilent heads, the Whigs, to diflocate our fyllem.

I gratulate myfelf, Sir, that I was caften in company
with you and the worthy gentlemen here prefent. We
have fitten together before, but never wi*'h fo fair a
profpeft of cementing our union. The alliance is na-
tural, and will turn to our emolument, for it cannot
jnifgive. We fliall have a full upmaking, when our
minifter can bring his great work to perfedlion, and put
tlie Cope-Stone upon it. We fhall then be diiferenced
from wicked men, who perturbate his adminiftration,
and will not imbibe the principle that makes us good
ftibjefts.g ^i^. :^ /

•■ * ■ * '

Let us make a folemn league and covenant, and join
our hands and hearts. I declare upon the honour of a
North Briton, that I will rather die ere I will proftitute
the name of Mac -Sarcasm, by giving my help or
advice to the Whigs. c?^ * c 5 :-;3.i ,iiy: /n ^

Anent the matter now before us, I agree with Sir
Robert Filmer. ' The army fhall be approven by me,
as it is the meafure of our noble minifter, my friend
and ally. It will be fafe in his hands, and harmlefs to
all my friends, for moft of the officers are my country-
men ; and this reafon I think as lucid and cogent as
any, which our other worthy friends have adduced.'*

[ 45 ]

Sir Archibald Mac-Sarcafm was heard with attention,
and univerfally applauded. He fat down with a fmile
upon his counte lance, which difcovered a noble con-
fcioufnefs of having done well. A gentleman rofe up
next, with whom few of the company were much ac-
quainted, and a doubt was raifed, whether he ought to
be heard, fome having violent fiifpicions about his fanity
of mind. Sir Archibald ilufhed with his recent fuccefs,
fpoke again, and undertook to prove his infanity, from
his havin'/ appeared in oppofition to the prefent miniftry.
Sir Robert Filmer thought it fufficiently proved, from his
labouring under the fufpicion of Whiggifm, which he
affirmed to be a principle no man in his fenfes could
entertain. Others atteftcd, that he had many lucid in-
tervals, and propofed that the chairman fliould examine
the prefent ftate of his mind, before he permitted him
to deliver his thoughts. But the chairman coukiTed him-
felf unprepared for fuch an examination, in the courfe
of which, as is ufual among lunatics, he might throv.
out fmart repartees, a fpecies of converfation, to which
the chairman had not been accuftomed. He therefore
thought it moft advifeable, to let the j^entleman fpeak,
and to interrupt him, if he deviate ito the merits of
the queftion, which would be the clcai^lt evidence of
infanity. The gentleman, whofe namewas Mr.WoR ku m,
fubmitted to this. .

\ ■ r).-'

C 46 ]

'I! .' ' :

Mr. W O R K U M ' s Speech.

" Mr. Chairman,

THERE is not a gentleman here, who honours
this fociety more than I do, for y.our paft condudl.
I have heard one worthy gentleman affirm, that you
have been perfonating Whigs, in your oppofition to
former minifters. If I did not know the gentleman
well, I ftiould doubt his attachment to you. It ill be-
comes men of honour to aft a diflembling part. What-
ever you have done, I am perfuaded, flowed from your
own fentiments j and if you did aft a Whig part, I fliould
think it a lefs reproach to you, to fay, that you were,
than that you pretended to be, Whigs. - , .

Sir, I was in hopes, that ^arty dillinftions were at an
end. I have heard many gentlemen here prefent, affirm
it very confidently, and am therefore forry to hear them
fpeak of themfelves as a diflinft body. I know of no-
thing that has diftinguifhed you formerly but your public
fpirit ; and I apprehended, that this confultation had no
other objeft, than former confultations, the good of
your king and country. I will flill believe this, not-
withflanding appearances to the contrary, and deliver
it as my opinion, that you ought to condemn a Standing
Army in time of peace, becaufe you have condemned it
for fo many years paft. You could not be miftaken in

[ 47 ]

a conduft fo invariably repeated. You have at Icafi:
forty times heard all the arguments for a Standing Army,
and they had no weight with you. You have not heard
one of them now, yet you fcem difpofed to favour the
meafure.

I believe none of the reafons, that have been alledged
for your former or your prefent conduft, becaufe they
are all reafons foreign to the point, and would come
better from the mouths of your enemies. I believe you
to be a moft confiftent body of men, unlefs you convince
me of the contrary to-day. Let me beg of you. Sir, to
coniider for a moment, what will be faid of you, how
little dependence will be placed in your proteftations,
if you openly or filently approve that which you thought
it honeft, for fo long a fucceflion of years, to condemn
with one loud united voice ? You cannot be difpleafed,
if I profefs a fincerc concern for your credit as a body.

'• Sir, no man ever changed his party without incurring
fome fort of difgrace. If you follow the worthy gen-
tlemen, who have hitherto fpoken, you may not change
your party perhaps, but you will manifeftly change your
condudl, by which alone your party integrity can be
difcerned. You have juftly aflumed the title of country
gentlemen, in oppofition to courtiers. What title will
you take next, if ever your engagements at court fhould
permit you to go into the country? • ' '

The matter before you has diftinguifhed you more
than any other point, as it has been oftener in debate,
end given you fo many opportunities of difplaying an

[ +8 ]

inflexible integrity. If you fliould now difavow, by
your condud, all that you have To admirably urged on
this head, what will your friends at a diftance fay, w?th
refpeft to other afts of public fpirit, which you have
taught them to cxpe£l from you, whenever the times
changed in your favour ? What will be your opinion
about triennial, or annual parliaments, about reducing
the number of placemen and penfioners, and other po-
pular promifes, in which you feemed rather too lavilh ?
What tolerable reafon can be given for a change of
hands in the ftate, if you fupport the meafures now for
which you made former minifters obnoxious ? Private
reafons, I know, may be given, but you would chufe
the mafk of public ones. If you will change, confefs
that your opinion is changed, retrafl all your pall con-
dud, and incorporate with the gentlemen whom you
have always oppofed* This would be aboliihing parties
in good earneft. - ■<>) m' > > , .

I never knew any reafon before, why you oppofed
every meafure in the two laft rtigna, till within the laft
five or fix years, but that honeft One of your real diflike
of the meafures. One gentleman has affigned another
reafon, which I hope was not the true one, that the two
laft kings were not natives of Great-Britain. Let me
remind you. Sir, that the prcfent minifter is not a native
of England. He drew his firft breath indeed >vithin a
day or two's journey nearer to us ; but then he is only a
fubjeft, if I may be permitted to fay it, and they were
kings. Sir, I have no national prejudices againft him on
this account, but the multitude have, and after what
you have faid of thofe kings, I do not fee, how you

t 49 ]

can avoid falling in with tliis prejudice of the mul-
titude. . .^

One gentleman, Sir, profelfcd his having taken a
place ; I vvilh he had made a fccret of it, for 1 have
heard him and fome others, who have likewife taken
places, exclaim againft dependance in a manner, which
charmed me. That which was true fomc years ago,
has not ceafed to be true now, and it is the charafter of
great minds, to be as uniform and unchangeable as
truth.

I am perfuaded, our friends did not confider all this,
elfe I fliould not have heard the things, which have
dropt from fome of them this day. I hope never to
hear the like again, and that they will forgive me, if I
aft on the prefent occafion, jull as they have adled on
the fame occafion, before I was born, and ever fxnce.

I beg, Sir, you would indulge me with a word or
two upon the real merits of the queftion. **

Here the chairman interrupted him, in the following
words :

** Sir, you have been heard with great patience, or
rather with great impatience, if I may judge of the
feelings of other gentlemen by mine own. I was wil-
ling to wait for the mark of your infanity, which I had
fixed upon, though you have betrayed many in the courfe
of yourfpeech. You have now given me juft caufe to
declare, that you cannot be fuffered to fpeak any longer;

[ 5° ]

and, I hope, as a friend to the peace and harmony of
this focicty, thrit you will ^ever be fuft'ereJ to fpcak
again."

Mr. M.iyor rofe next, and prevented the opprobrious
language which feemed to be breaking out againfl Mr.
Workum. He exprefTed himfelf thus ; •• -

Mr. MAYOR'S Speech.

<* Mr. Chairman,

I A M not entirely of opinion with the gentleman,
who fpoke laft, in every point ; but I think the main
of his argument right, and not at all an evidence of his
infanity. It is common to charge men with madnefs,
who think for themfelves. I have been called a madman
more than once, but I value not what other men fay,
whilft I know both my heart and judgment to be found.
I have nothing to biafs me, for I want no property more
than I have, and I know no honour greater, than that
of ferving my country.

Sir, I do not fee, how you can approve this meafure,
without contradifting yourfelves. The oppofition to a
Standing Army has diftinguiflied you for many years
paft. You will diffolve your body at once, if you make
inconfiftency your diftinguifliing mark. How comes it,
you have been filent about the Militia, which was fo

[ 5' ]

lately your fivourlte fchcmc. Many of you have tak.uii
commillions. I myfclf have undergone fomc fatiguiu'r
campaigns, or camps at Icall, to give countenance to
this conllitutional defence of our country."

The chairman here interrupted Mr. Mayor, beggirg
him to keep to the point, from which he was deviating
by the mention of the Militia; and at the fame time
begging him not to fpealc fo loud, left their confultation
Ihould be over-heard. Mr. Mayor proceeded.

•* Sir, I value not who hears me, and as to departing
from the point, I don't underftand this new rule of
debating. I will fubmit to no rule, Mr. Chairmanvwhich
interferes with my liberty of fpccch. I -i

The Militia, I fay, was thought by you a more frugal
and conftitutional meafure, than a Standing Army ; and
that it has been as efleftual for tlie fecurity of the king-
dom, you all know, and boalled of it ; and have heard
it acknowledged from the throne. Have you forgot,
that the Militia was defigned more for peace, than for
war ? It was not to go out ^f the kingdom, and for what
purpofe was it eftablifhed in the kingdom, but for your
defence ? What fignifies your peace, if you are afraid of
an enemy's invafion, who did not invade you in time of
war? ,: .,..-,. .,,. ., , „ „, ,.:.,,.,

I approved of any number of forces whilft we had an
enemy. I am not aftiamed to fay, I approved of the
German war. I am fure, you would not have had even
this peace without it. Sir, it was prince Ferdinand,

H 2

[ 52 1

that made your peace, by his laft campaign. I think he
enabled you to make a better ; but I will not enter into
that. I fay, Mr. Chairman, that you have no occafion
for any army within the kingdom, except the king's
guards and the garrifons. You have a militia within
call, and you may keep them difciplined at a fmall
expence. ' ' ■ '< t^ .

.1 u:

If it be ungenerous to difchargc your officers, who
have ferved you bravely, give them an honourable main-
tenance ; I mean the ofliccrs both by fca and land. The
private men may ha\'c employment enough in your ma-
nufadures, and the mariners in yourextcnfive commerce,
particularly in the valuable trade with theSugarColonies.
Sir, the life of the kingdom depends upon the profperity
of its trade, and the fccurity of the kingdom ought to
depend upon the ocean ar.d the militia. Therefore I
declare as you have all done in former davs, againft a
Standing Army." -• . — ■

.- -i.

Mr. Mayor fpokc fo emphatically, that he would
have made an impreflion upon any audience, who were
not prepoflefTcd ; but he was heard with fome coldnefs,
and gave great oflencc, by departing from the rule of
the day. Mr. Grave, a gentleman much refpcdled for
his coolnefs and dignity of appearance, flood up to
difllpate Mr. Mayor's fpeech, and the company were
delighted to fee him.

.'?'. ./•»

k*i!-

■.■~3»i><i!y* ).j i |m.j< ?s-

t S3 1

'/, ,' ;;

. '■ ^.•■. ,,-. .. ,

Mr. GRAVE'S Speech.

•« Mr. Chairman, ••'' * v

ALthough the gentleman, who fpoke lall, has
thought fit, by entering into the merits* of the
tjucftion, to fhew a very unbecoming difrefpeft to the
chair, I think myfelf not at liberty to follow his ex-
ample, and fliall leave all the irregular parts of his
fpecch about the army and the Militia unanfwered, whilft
I confider the only point, which comes properly before
you, whether you will approve this meafure or not ?

-. ^.»VJ

' Sir, you are to confider it as a meafure of govern-
ment, and in determining your conduft, you ought
principally to take into confideration, what claims go-
vernment has upon you ? You have not, within my
memory, been fo much obliged to any miniftry, as to
the prcfcnt. You have been treated upon an equal
footing with perfons, who have long been diftinguiihed
by their zeal for the family on the throne. I fhojld
not fay an equal footing, for you have been treated
upon a better footing ; fome of thf m being turned out
of places, which fome of you havv. been invited to fil!.
You ."lid your principles have been defended by V/riters
employed on the fide of the miniftry, and the Whigs
have been treated by thofe writers in a manner, which
muft have given you entire fatisfaftion. You have,
even in this very meafure, been confidered as if you
were all counfellors. You have been called to a con-
ftitutional meeting of the firft men, to hear their fenti-
ments, and deliver your own. •

[ 5< ]

This was fucli a mark of'confulcncc, as lay-, us nmlcr
an inviolable obligation. I cannot relifl. the hand, that
lifts me up, and fupports me. Something was cx-
pertcd from us, when we were treated with fo mu(;h
condefeenfion. And flia'.I we continue to aft a.i \vc did,
when we were not ut all regarded ? I am fure this
would rtot be for the credit of our body, about which
fome gentlemen arc fo folliciloub. ,. , .'

The charge of inconfillcncy all'eds us only in ap-
pearance, not in faft. Our principles arc the fame as
ever. No obligation we can receive will oblige us to
depart from them. The objedl of our principles was
not merely a certain family, but a certain form of go-
vernment. To this wc dill adhere, though we cannot
adhere to that ; and I defy our bittereft enemies to fay,
that fupporting the meafures of government implicitly,
is departing from our opinions about government.

I wiih, gentlemen would give their thoughts a right
diredion, and not be diverted by a retrofped at their
pail condudl, when they ought to be fingly intent upon
what is now to be done, by a body of men circum-
Aanced as we are, obliged as we are, and invited as we
are, to become the moft confiderable members of the
community. Political queftions are fo complex, that
an honeft mind may turn to either fide ; and why
fhould we forbear to embrace ilic arguments, which
are moft favourable to our prefent and future condition ?

I am tempted to /liy fomithing of the merits of the
noble lord, to whom we art fo much indebted ; but Sir
Archibald has anticipated my thoughts. If an sfFcc-

I 55 ]

tion for his own family, and common honcfty in mat-
ters of meum and iuum, abundantly qualify any one for
the firll offices of the ftaie ; if the niiniUcr's partiality
to us be highly meritorious, and an evidence of his
being the beft miniftcr fincc the Revolution, except
one or two ; if his fcverely punilhing thofc, who prc-
fume to think and fpeak with a decent freedom of his
meafures, be a fure pledge of h's jeing a friend to li-
berty in general, and to the freedom of public debates
in parti'tular ; if he happily enjoys the favour of the
king, though unhappily he has not the good-will of
the people ; 1 fee nothing that can be alledged againfl:
him, as an able upright conllitutional rninifter ; and I
fliould think it a departure from the charafter I have
always maintained, of a friend to my country, to dif-
approve any of his meafures, and particularly this now
before us of a Standing Army in time of peace."

Sir Archibald reached his hand acrofs the table, to
thank Mr. Grave for his excellent fpeech, telling him,
that he had the right rhetorical and dialcftical fpirit.
The majority of the company likewife paid their com-
pliments, and as Mr. Grave appeared to have tho-
roughly difcufled the matter, no one elfe attempted to
fpeak after him. The chairman therefore fummed up
the debate, and delivered his own opinion thus ;

** Gentlemen, I have attended with the utmoft im-
partiality to what has been faid. The queflion before
you is, whether you will approve or condemn the mea-
fure of a Standing army ?

\ 5.^ J,.

. Sir Rob e r t Fi l m e r declares,? thUt , he wilt apJ>rovft
^^jpHon)princi{>le, becaufe it is a mf?afure of gpvemftient. ;
*'Mr.;SHi.piPEN condeirins it, bectljufe he :has ho jfuf-
ficjent yeaibn to fliew for changing, his condu£l*«. . » <
' Mr. Courtly approves, bccaufe he has aredfort'to
Ihew,, having accepted an office of emolument undef
the prefent minifter. - * <4. V* ^

, Sir Archibald Ma c -Sarcasm, approves ..becaufe
the minifter and^moft of the officers. in Jthe prefsnt ajmy
are his countrymen. ; . ' t » ? * I --■ ' ^ ■

Mr. WoRKUM condemned the meafure in a very in-,
decent fpeech, which annuls his opinion, though he
merits our compaffion as it proceeded from a difordered
ilate of mind. « -,' «■

, Mr. Mayor departed from the queftion, therefojrc?
his,opinion like\vife is null. fy^ \ ^ '-

Arid.Mn Qraye, in his nervous, manly, ^ipi^ay, ari
gueu moll unanfwerably for taking the right fidi^ pf
approving the meafure. ~ ^ ' ' *\

^. The opinions then in point of riumbet Hand Uius ;
for approving, four } for condemning, one. ■ \ ?
, It will now be expe^edi that I declare my opinios^.
.Gentlemen, I have been- fq^-nfi^ni^years in a Minorityi\
t^'ui I confefs, it grows irkfom.e -to^tne. lihalltKere- '
/ore not trouble you with any other reafoii foj^my cori-
duftj.and I hereby declare, that. I fhair^fcllovV;: :thc
opinion of the Majority."

..',--' ■■ ' '. . _,:' " ■ "f'm ■'"

^ The confultation being thus happily ended, 'therfo^
j^iety was adjourned to the Cocoa-Treiu. ,* ' :

-■ - . r u. " .. :■%

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