‘
Sat T Ts
FROM A
PATRIOT in Rerigement,
To the Right Honourable
Mr. WILLIAM PITT,
Upon the Refigning of his Employment,
Hoc caverat mens provida Reguli,
Diffentientis conditionibus
Foedis, et exemplo trahenti
Peruiciem veniens in Avum,
Hor. Lib. III. Od. rs
« Fear, admitted into public Counjels,
*© Betrays like Treafon,”
Addifon’s Cato,
ASSES RI ca ant a en SEE RRO
LONDON:
Printed for G, Woopratt, the Corner of Craig’s
Court, Charing-Crofs. 1761,
(Price One Shilling and Six-Pence.)
Bookfeller to the Reader.
; 1” order’d to inform the Public, that
great part of this pamphlet was in the
prefs a month ago ; but the finifhing and
publication of it have been retarded, by
a very difagreable accident, that inter-
mediately happen’d in the author's family.
¥
5 IR,
OK HOUGH the news-writers, té
7 Ej x% the great reproach of the govern-
IR ment, pretend to tell us what
paffes in the cabinet, as confidently and
familiarly as if they were members of it ;
I defire to avail myfelf no farther of pub-
lic rumour, than is neceflary to make ap-
pofite, the Latin motto I have prefixed to
this trifling lucubration. And if, as we
are informed, the {chifm in his Tajefty’s
counfels, has been created bya continuance
of that f{pirit in your’s, to which we ftand
indebted for the many advantages we have °
gained over our enemies; the propriety
of the quotation, and your right to be fur-
B named
ee
named the Enxnghi/h Regulus ; become
equally unqueftionable.
The defcription I have taken the liberty
to give of myfelf as a patriot, in this ad-
drefs to you, 1S as little faGtitious, as any
thing elfe you will find there. I am a moft
unfeigned friend to my country ; and have
afferted my claim to that character, in the
prefent ‘nftance, as a collateral proof of
my being yours. For to love my country,
and not to love you, who have been the
ereateft benefactor to it ever yet known,
would be a kind of paradox. Your de-
Gre to be a manof bufinefs, and, when
occafion offer’d, of fignalizing yourfelf in
the fervice of the public, fhewed itfelf,
from your very youth, to be a ruling in-
clination in you. Accordingly, you ap-
plied
5 a ae
plied yourfelf to the bufinefs of parlia-
ment, as foon as ever you had got a_ feat
there: wifely forefecing, that a thorough
knowledge of thofe matters could not fail
to prove a corner-ftone to your noble am-
bition. Your progrefs in it was rapid,
and your diligence, which made it fo, in-
defatigable. Buta thorough difapproba-
tion, at that time, both of men and mea-
fures, and your bold avowal of it, was,
for many years, fuch a check to your pur-
fuit, that a lefs determined {pirit, would
have hardly kept fight of its iluftrious ob-
ject: by which is meant, fome future pof-
feffion of a power in this country, ob-
tained with honour, and fupported with
abilities. Yet, on the other hand, the
ftedfaft oppofition you gave to them,
fhewed, that you was not only endued
B 2 with
iF,
(4)
with the unfafhionable virtue of felf-
denial; but even capable of fuffering (to
ufe a feripture phrafe) tor righteoufnefs
fake. Your commiffion, when you had
little elfe to live upon, became a forfeit to
your inflexibility.
As every thing that bears your name,
at this time, will be fufficient to excite
the curiofity of the public; itis to be pre-
fumed, that I thall have fome readers be-
fide yourfelf. For which reafon, I thought
it proper, to give this {hort account of your
condu&, upon your firft outfet in life ;
in order to their better judging, whether
you have been guilty of any deviations
from your priftine doétrines, tenets, or
purpotes, in the fubfequent parts of it.
And what appearances foever there may
be
C33
be againft you, the prefumptions at leaft
in your favour will remain too {trong to
be eafily got over, by a difpaffionate and
candid examiner. It is my own opinion,
that truly great minds are pretty near as
immutable, as the great mind ofall. A
confiftency of character and behaviour, is
the natural refult of fuch immutability.
ride, puncto, and a fenfe of honour,
will produce it in certain men; but in
thofe of elevated fpirits, it is a native
principle. Yet, fuppofing’you to be as
frail as malice could wifh to find, or envy
reprefent you; | would be glad to afk any
of the hafty railers at the laft ftep you
have taken, whether there is the leaft fem-
blance of probability, that any perfon,
even of an inferior underftanding to your
own, after being raifed to fuch an exalted
pitch
( 6)
pitch in the eftimation of the people,
fhould become at once, 4 kind of political
fuicide ; and eclipfe, himfelf, of that glory
and luftre, which he was confcious that
nothing elfe could overfhadow. I can,
however, no longer dwell upon the
charge of a demerit in you, grounded on-
ly on furmife and inuendo ; perceiving
rather an additional impatience im me, to
enter upon the more pleafing fubject of
your merits, which will neither admit of
doubt or contradiction. I {hall not trouble
you, eood: Sir, with many words ; be-
caufe your modefty will make you better
pleafed with few. Befides, pauca, fed
argute, is a leflon I would recommend to
she obfervance of all fcribblers. The firft
part of the precept, we may with eafe
conform to; I fear the latter is above me.
Al-
Seay,
Although a merit that {peaks for itfelf,
feems to require no other advocate or
voucher; yet your friends at leait,
may not be difpleafed, with the fhort com-
parifon I am about to make, between the
prefent {tate of the war, and the inglo-
riovs circumftances attending the com-
mencement of it.
The French, as you know, Sir, having
committed a moft outrageous trefpafs up-
on the frontiers of Nova Scotia; a proper
reprefentation was made of it to our mi-
nifters : who, as I have been told, re-
fented it moft highly, and immediately
fent over very {pirited remonftrances to
the court of France, for fo open and un-
expected a violation of a treaty, but new-
ly made with them. Happily for us,
their
(3)
their difpatches proved fruitlefs and ineffec-
tual. I fay happily, becaufe it fhews,
that their counfels have been as weakly
direted as their arms. For, if they had
had the dexterity and forefight of the Spa-
niards, in the year thirty-nine; (who, by
the by, may be doing the fame thing
now) they would not only have difavowed
SS SP 3 ee
i cee a a =
Stadinaigmeliee oe ere ee oe
their governor in his proceedings, and
pleaded ignorance of them; but offered,
as an evidence of their fincerity, to have
recalled, and punifhed him.
By this diffimulation, they had gained
time fuflicient, not barely to put them-
felves into a pofture of defence, but to
have got together fuch a force in thofe
parts as our utmoft efforts would not have
—
a te
enabled us to refift. Befides, the affailant,
in
(9)
in fuch cafes, having ever an advan-
tage over his enemy, from the fécret
confcioufnefs of thofe defigns, whereof the
other can feldom be aware; the pro-
viding of the country with every thing ne-
ceflary to make it a place of arms, would
not have been the only ufe made of fuch
an interval. For during the fufpenfion of
their intended rupture, no arts had been
unpractifed, no means had been left un-
tried, towards extending their intereft and
influence amongft the Indians. Thefe had
been very’ important points gained: and
as we know by experience, that a French
council is not above fuch an infidious piece
of policy, it has really furprized me, that
the policy fhould be above the council.
C rs |
( 10)
I never read Pere Charlevoix myfelf; but
have been told by one who has, that in
fome treatife of his, upon the fubject in
queftion, that reverend author had let
flip from his pen an unwary truth: by
afferting, as I am informed, ‘* that the
‘<s interefts of France and England, in
“© North America, were utterly incom-
‘¢ patible.” Such a declaration was
alone fufficient to alarm this country ; as
it demonftrated, that, fooner or later, we
were neceflarily to expect, that arduous
cohteft between the two nations, for fole
dominion there, in which, I thank hea-
ven and you, we have made fo glorious a
ficure. Iam juft difcerning enough to
know, Sir, that things great in them-
felves, require no agerandizing : and this
reafoning, forbids me alike, either to
magnify
(11)
magnify the conqueft, or to flatter you:
but the entire reduction of that vaft em-
pire, (for fo it may be called) is a moft
ftupendous atchievement.
I thall take this occafion, as the moft
proper, to affure you, moft folemnly to
affure you, that whatever may fall from
my pen, of the encomiattic kind, will
be as ingenuous as your own upright
heart. As I have never been the flave of
any man, I have not condefcended either
to be the flatterer of any man; which
is a fpecies of creature de/ow a flave:
becaufe a flatterer is a felf-created rep-
tile.—— I fhall now purfue my
ftory.
C.2 The
(ta )
The court of France, as I had obferv-
ed, having excited at once our jealoufy
and indignation, by a moft audacious in=
fraction of their very laft treaty of peace
with us; their inattention to the expedi-
ency of setrieving fo unadvifed a ftep, by
all the moft fpecious blinds and fallacies
they could invent ; I will take upon me to
fay again, was a moft fortunate event:
the iffue of our quarrel has proved it fo:
for had the contention beea referved for a
work of future times, I {carce perceive a
poffibility, that the vanquithed could then
have failed of bein g the conquerors. Yet
ouf Own court, inftead of availing them-
felves of this overfight, by an immediate
declaration of war, allowed them ample
time both to fee and rectify their miftake.
We had, it is true, juft refolution enough
to
ae
to make fome reprifals on the enemy ; but
then ail the fhips we took, for want ef
a more formal annunciation of hoftilities,
were reprefented as fo many aéts of piracy:
and the honour of the nation was fo far
from being vindicated by this meafure,
that it became daily expofed to frefh im-
peachments. It is Tacitus, I think, who
fays, “ that certain war is preferable to
«* uncertain peace, as being a ftate of
‘¢ greater fecurity* :” but our minifters
were not of that opinion. A defcent
however, being actually made upon the
ifland of Minorca, this matter grew a lit-
tle more ferious; and war was at laft de-
clared, with all the pomp and parade ufu-
ally attending fuch ceremonies. Admiral
Byng was appointed to the command of
: the
% Securius Bellum, pace dubia.
= a oo —-
a Se . ~ on te<
——~
~—
MO Zee > 3S
Et SAE Ee eS Se
2, SO
is
( 14 )
the fquadron going to its relief ; and no-
body had the leaft doubt, (except him-
felf) but we fhould make our enemies re-
pent of their hazardous enterprize. The
fequel, alas! is too horrid for remem-
brance; and as the fhorteft will be the beft
account, for all true lovers of their country,
of his ignominious behaviour, it may
fuffice, to tell them, that the place was
loft in confequence of it. And yet, when
I feem to impute the lofs of Port Mahon,
entirely to this unfortunate gentleman, I
ought to explain myfelf: becaufe, in fact,
"he was but an acceflary to it. The difap-
pearance of the fleet, and Colonel ‘feffreys’s
being furprized and taken prifoner, had
a little alarmed-and difmayed the gar-
rifon; but the military people then faid,
and ftill fay, that thefe were no reafons
for
as 7
for fo hafty a furrender of it. Why fuch
honours.were heaped upon the governor
when he came home, is a fecret beyond
the reach of my fhallow penetration: and
yet I will do him the juftice to fay, that
a worthier gentleman never wore them.
The conjecture that ftrikes me moft, and
therefore fatisfies me beft, is, that our
rulers, in order to avoid the reproach of
leaving fo important a truft in the hands
of an infirm and aged perfon, obtained .
for him thefe extraordinary marks of his
majefty’s favour, as a proof, not only of
their entire approbation of hisconduct, but
of their conviction, that a younger and
more active commander could not have
done better. But the real truth is, if they
would confefs, and a virtual confeffion of
it
oh
wi,
( 16 )
it there was *, that this very confiderable
poffeflion of ours, had, unhappily, em-
ployed the thoughts and attention of none
but our enemies. For, admitting that
we had not the means of providing for its
outward defence, from a want of fhips
fufficient for that purpofe ; yet the {mall-
eft addition of internal ftrength given to it,
by reinforcing of the garrifon, would
have obliged the enemy to raile the fiege ;
and we had triumphed inftead of the
aflailants. If what I am faying, feems
to caft the leaft refle&ion upon any man,
the perfon fo affeéted, is to thank himfelf
He will find, that
the defe&t wasin the object ; for there is
Fart ut poffit
"que fentiat, is a right that every man of
{pirit,
for his mortification.
no foulnefs in his mirror.
_ * The refignation of feveral great employments.
(oa? y)
{pirit, will not only affert, but exercife. I
have a very unfeigned love and regard fo
certain gentlemen concerned in the admi-
niftration at that time : and if Paelneurus
fell afleep, there were thofe about him,
who ought to have waked him. It is my
firm opinion, that an abler,
. 7
more experienced man, has very rarely
~
filled his office.
I have already premifed, good Sir, that
. >. Bl eet aes aE case oak he - 7 ve RS “
my little anmmadverfions upon thele mat-
] + aaa’ —S ca se
ters, were not, could not be infenaed, for
the information of a perfon fo capable as
yourfelf, of making more ufeful and judi-
cious reflections upon them. What I had
to fay of yourfelf, I thought would not be
the worfe received, for being faid fo you.
For the reft, I am only taking the free-
D dom,
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ti
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std
hi
( 13 )
dom, to make you a kind of middle man
between me and the public ; for the in-
formation of whom, I have undertaken
this irkfome, and, it may be, thanklefs
tafk.
Not very long ago; being unwarily
drawn into a new difpute, in relation to
the difgrace we had fuffered in the Med-
terranean, and the dire confequences of it;
a difagreeable incident happened to me in
the debate, a bare recollection whereof,
urges me to enlarge a little uponit: and
although Mr. Byng’s fubject cannot but be
hideous from the nature, and tedious from
the tritenefs of it; you will pardon me,
I dare fay, for recurring to the detefted to-
pic. Amongft other things, I faid I had
been told, that a certain great. perfonage,
who
( 19)
who is now no more, had called him a
poltroon, without hearing, or defiring to
hear, any other proof of his mifbehavi-
our, than his own letter, His name be-
ing afterwards mentioned; not contemptu-
oufly, but irreverently enough to give me
offence; Ffhall bring together fuch a deal
of prefumptive evidence, in fupport of the
validity of his charge, as may prevent,
for the future, any body’s telling me,
that it was unwarrantable.
This gentleman, you are to know, Sir,
‘commanded a fleet in the Mediterranean
laft war. His commiffion being doubly
fuitable to his temper, it pleafed him
doubly. He found the Mediterranean ex-
tremely like the more fouthern ocean; for
it proved a rich, and a paciic fea. For
D's thefe
J,
( 20 )
thefe reafons, during the whole courfe of
the prefent war, he never once follicited
to be‘employed, unlcis he could have the
fame ftation. He.obtained a promife of it
accordingly,’ which, to our: forrow,. as
well as to his own, was fatally fulfilled.
But times and circumftances being altered,
théré- appeared: ‘a -correfpondent change
too, in the mind of the Admiral. He
had no fooner got on board, but he began
to make woeful complaints and lamentati-
ons, that he was going to be /acrijiced.
When this apprehenfion was removed, or
rather, obviated, by affurances given him,
that he would be at leaft as firong as the
enemy ; he had recourfe to other objecti-
ons, by arraigning Lord Anjon, for fend-
ing him out with the worft men inthe
whole navy ; and this, before he could
pofiibly
(25-5)
potlibly haye examined them, The extrac
ordinar time he tr lz for b) Vidine tt
LUiiile y Liiiiv i YUN, } VV if sats ie
fhips with water, at Gibraitar, gave room
to fufpect, that part.of it might be {pent
in making his own *.-But*the more pro-
bable reafon, to {peak ferioufly, was, that
C fOpce 5 VY tnis Siw LY; LO rLVe LibG Lv enchk
a)
Admiral 10 nanny LNOTE wVlidiLccs tO nea OFT
: 7 ° Pe ea
his approach : ‘in con equence of which,
he was not without fome expectation, tha
he would try to avoid him by’a retreat,
We are come now to the defperate en-
gagement, an which our tongue~doughty
oO oO O
mander, as well as his- friends. de
commander, AS Wwe as His i1Ticnas, UC-
. 1 7 > “ . rh Sing 7 -] roa wt {J at
clared that he had beaten the adverfe Heet ;
though
oS
* The gentlemen of the navy tell me, that the
firft impreffions.of fear among the’ common failors,
fhew themfelves by profufe evacuations of this fort.
wi,
( 22 )
though he had notorioufly left them in
poffeffion of all they wanted; which was
covering the fiege of Philipfourgh. But
notwithftanding our unfortunate chief was
fo wary in fight, he was very unwary in
counfel : for he contradicted himfelf the
next day. By which we have reafon to
apprehend, that his head was not much
better than his heart. Having celled a
council of war upon this occafion, the firft
queftion, I believe, that he moved to the
board, was, whether, if he returned to
the charge, and attacked the enemy again,
they thought it would be of any great fer- |
vice ?. It was decided in the negative. But
it may not be improper to obferve in this
place, that a routed or fhattered ficet,
feldom remains in the way of being beaten
4 fecond time. Another query which Mr. aN
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( 23)
Prefident put to the council, was, whe-
ther a total defeat of the French {quadron,
could be any ways conducive to the faving
of Port Mahon ? And it was agreed that
it certainly would not. But the fallacy of
this argument, is too glaring to pafs un-
noticed: for the fame reafon would have
held good, for not attacking Mr. Galifii-
onere, if he had met him in the channel.
Our Admiral, I confefs, was univerfally
reputed a good mariner ; but fuch a tefti-
rnonial gives no idea at all, of his qualifi-
cations fora commander. Though fea-
manthip might be of ufe to him in direct-
ing his fhip, it no ways enables a man to
dire& himfelf. But if we fhould difcover,
that this very able feaman, had acted
moft notorioufly unlike a feaman ; it will
befpeak no want of candour, to conclude
he
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ud,
( 24)
he had his private reafon for it. Now,
the renowned Mr. Bofcawen, Sir, on be-
ing properly informed of the difpofition
made by Admiral Byng that day, and his
approaches to the enemy; and being afked
whether he approved of it; very modeftly
made anfwer, that he believed he fhould
have formed his attack in another manner.
I think I can pretty perfectly relate what
he faid, though I do not perfectly under-
ftand it. He fhould have chofen, he faid,
to have gone up in a line of battle a-head,
to fome appointed diftance, from which
he would have given his Captains orders
to depart, like a file of mufqueteers : by
which means, all his own fhips had been
equi-diftant trom thofe they were re{pec-
tively to oppofe, on the fide of the enemy.
But
( 25)
But this would not have ferved our he-
ro's purpofe. His bufinefs was to come
within the letter of fighting, and not
within the letter of cowardice. And
although I'am no feaman, I think, I may
venture to pronounce, that he never, in
all his life, trimmed, or fteered a velfel,
to fo critical a nicety.
Though I hall, probably, never be in
the way of hearing your fentiments of this
well meant addrefs to you ; yet I fhall
flatter myfelf with the fecret perfuafion,
of having given you a moft thorough con-
viction, that there were fome fymptoms
at leaft, of pulillanimity about this man.
But the firft perfon in the kingdom, (who
was, of courfe; the mott immediately
and fenfibly affected by his mifdemeanour)
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Ay,
( 26 )
having been blamed for giving 4 preju-
dicate opinion upon the cafe ; I fhall cer-
tainly be very cautious of faying, that Mr.
Byng aéted like a coward ; but I will for
ever fay, and infift upon it, that a coward
would have aéted like Mr. Byng. And
yet, the very beft evidence of all remains
ftill behind. For many of the feamen,
who were allowed to go afhore at Gibral-
tar, in order to refrefh themfelves ; as
foon as ever they underftood, that this fla-
gitious tranfaction had been taken cogni-
vance of at home, and the Admiral was
to be put under arref{t, made no {fcruple to
‘nfult him in the ftreet ; by afking him,
in derifion, “* why he did not go, and
« bury his dead.” Which humourous
piece of irony, feems {trongly to denote,
that he had taken all due care, not to be
in
(27°)
in the bills of mor May: upon 0 trivial
an occafion.
This relation, 1 fear, may have been
fomewhat tedious: but the perfon who
is the fubje&t of it, (though a moft exe-
crable actor) having shad fo confiderable a
part, in the tragical fcene I am exhibiting;
it feemed fuffliciently to coincide with my
general defign, not to be thought wholly
impertinent. Befides, I have reafon to
think, that I cannot ‘but “have told the
reader fome few things, which perfons,
lefs inquifitive and follicitous than myéfelf,
about all national concerns, could not
have told him. If the wrath I perceive in
myfelf againft the poor man, had been
kindled in me by any other caufe, than
his not being aman, I could with eafe
E 2 have
. r, . 3
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. f
:
/ =
( 28.)
have curbed it. But he that has publicly
fuffered death, for having betrayed the in-
terefts of his King and Country, may very
fairly be regarded, as a perfonal enemy;
cf all true lovers of them. ‘That character
T have affumed, and would invariably ad-
here to it, at any hazard.. A luke-warm
patriot, like a luke-warm friend, may
make parade and boaft of his affection: ;
but its efficiency, in point of fervices, |
doubt, would’ not be great. Though the
prefent times do not;appear the apteft for
fuch a confeffion, I will.own to you, Sr,
that I havea little tinture of enthufiafin
in my compofition: and, urged by the
irrefiftible influence of it, I have indulged
my refentment of Mr: Byzg’s offence, with
great fcope: yetnot from any hatredI bore
to him, but from an abhorrence of his
crime.
ee i.
t
h
;
|
’
( 29 )
crime. Nor had I, perhaps, difturbed
the afhes of the dead at all, but witha
view, and hope, of giving confolation
to the living: by which I mean, thot
few. of his judges, who, from mifcon-
ceived.fentiments of humanity, had felt a
little compuntion about the fentence paft
upon him. Had I the pleafure to be better
known to thofe gentlemen, they would
know too, that there is not a man on earth,
of alefsfierce or fanguinary difpofition than
mytelf : yet I take this occafion to aver,
that had I been one of them; I could have
condemned him, not only without fcruple,
but without regret. . Nay more; my en-
mity would have followed him, €ven to
the grave. Mr. .dddifon, 1 remember,
puts a moft heroic ejaculation into the’
mouth of his Cato, when he is furveying
the
t
a S|
ne
ti
7)
st
Hay
bt de)
“Se
)
yh
his
:
|<,
ig 4
s | £0
Al oe
oe
(ae
ee
tvs
oa, *
ok
edt
at
ne
f3|
7
BSE
ee
ett FIO rss ae
rt ae REE TR.
—* a eee
i,
(32).
the body of his flanghtered fon, by making
him fay, «« what pity ‘tis, that we can
<« die but once to ferve our country ?”
Whether fuch a fentiment is not alittletoo
refined, to be the fuggeftion of nature, a
fhall not take upon ‘me to decide : but it
as really a pity, in my opinion, that a
man can die but once, for differving ‘his
After having clofed my evidence, and
apologized for protracting it into fo great
a length ; ‘the afking leave to fubjoin one
other circumftance, may fomewhat fur-
prize you. ‘It is not at all relative tothe
Admiral’s crime, but to ‘his character,
wery much fo: -becaufe it will difcover
in him, a thorough depravity of heart.
As youfat many years in parliament with
| this
Sear
ie
er
1a ew
( 31 )
this gentleman, where you have feen him
daily paffing and repafling through the
houfe; Iam perfuaded, he did not efcape
your notice. And if your infight into men,
be only half as quick as your penetration
into other matters; you could not but ob-
ferve, that nature herfelf feemed to have
marked him, for all unnatural things.
The circumftance at which I have al-
ready hinted, and am about to tell you, is,
that when Admiral Matthews was tried for
fome irregularities in his conduct, whilft
he commanded in the Mediterranean, Mr.
Byng was prefident of the court-martial ;
and this blood-thirfty warriour, whom we
have proved to be cautious at leaft of {hed+
ding his own, when he came to fum up
the evidence, and make report of it, de-
parted
( 32 )
parted from the accuftomed form and me-
thod of fuch tribunals, of afking firft,
feriatim, the fentiments of the other judges
upon it, by prematurely declaring it to be
his opinion, “ that Mr. Matthewss of-
‘s fences were capital, and he ought to fuf-
<< fer death.” I think that the warmeft of
Mr. Byng’s friends will not offer to exte-
nuate fo enormous a proceeding.
The do@rine of Providence, Sir, I mean
a fpecial Providence, in the direction of
human affairs, is attended with fo much
doubt and perplexity; I am not become
fufficiently mafter of this point of religi-
ous faith, to be able to fay, that I have
attributed a great deal to it. But were I
a more firm believer of the hypothefis, I
could with very little difficulty be per-
fuaded,
( 33 )
fuaded, that the fate to which this in-
fatuated wretch had at laft expofed hims
felf, was an operation of the divine will,
in the way of retribution, for the cruel
wrong he had attempted to do that gallant
him fo, I foeak
Officer. When [I call I
with authority; for Sir Charles Wager,
in charaéterifing him, exprefied himfelf
figuratively upon the occafion : by faying,
«¢ that he was ftout, but when he came into
*« action, he wasnotfure, that he had quite
ballaft enough inhim:” meaning, by this
metaphor, to intimate, that his courage
was unqueftionable, though he had not
altogether the fame affiance in his conduct.
Too confcious, Sir, of my tedious de-
tention of you in the Mediterranean, a fea
{fo unpropitious to our arms; I fhall carry
R you
( 349
you a long voyage,'in a very fhort time, by
tran{porting you atonce to North America 3
where our mifcarriages were not lefs
alarming of di graceful, though, ulti-
mately, not fo fatal. Of the gentlemen
employed upon that fervice, we were moft
beholden to thofe who were moft inactive:
they that did the leaft, did the beft : yet
the vis mertia, is certainly not a force,
calculated for making conquefts.. IT wifh
hat Mr. Braddock had been a better Ge~
neral, though I had been fo much worfe
a prophet : - for I foretold, that if he met
with any diffic ulty, he would indubitably
he foiled and brought to fhame:. ”*Twas
thought, that he had never confidered his
calling as a matter of art and fcience, in
all his life. He was extremely fuperficial,
and yet proud, opinionative, and overbear-
ing :
°7 , ~ co ve
ing; had never liked his profefiion, nor
d any of his pro fefion like him. This
a article of his difqualification, for the
very important trut fr Site in him, de-
ferved, alone, a little more attention, thai
feemed to have been pa it: for I pre-
4 NF ay di o ce a ar J -
fume, a thorough confidence in its leader,
» ar a es , "ie , pete 5!
is the very life and foul of an army Sup-
A
pofing a General to be a thorough able
man, I confefs,’ indeed, that the fenfible
part of the officers who aré to ferve under
him, may, without efteeming him, have
that. implic ‘t reliance on his condudt, fo
apparently requifite, to promote the fer-
> ‘
ie CcOomMm-=-
vice. But this isnot the cafe of th
mon foldier, who is to be soverned by his
affeGtions, and not his reafon.
of fach a wretch, will ever be beit recon-
ciled to his defperate work, .when the
| Sr ES com-
an ke me te ey ok
ssf a
Spe ee et. 5
ee lm
~ -* tower swe -<
= Pt 8S SS SF
- - ———
ee)
( 36 )
commander is in poffeffion of it. Talking
of Mr. Braddock one day to a gentleman,
who, during his fhort command in the
Eaft Indies, did himfelf fo much honour
there; he could not help faying, that I
feemed to have known him very tho-
roughly. The expofing his army to be fur-
prized and baffled by a fmall detachment
of the enemy’s, coniifting chiefly of Indi-
ans, was owing, ‘tis faid, to his ob{ftinate
refufal to take with him any irregulars of
that fort; though it was generally thought,
that they would have been of the utmoft
ufe to him, by fkirting his troops during
their march, and keeping off an enemy,
that, as he had managed matters, gave
them great annoyance, and, almoft, with-.
out making themfelves vifible*. But his
conduct
# This happened in paffing the river Obia,
dy
:
-
:
( 37)
conduct fubfequent to the conf{ternation,
which he faw the whole army thrown
into, examined by the .teft of common
fenfe, feemed very prepofterous. What
could be expected of poor creatures, agi-
tated by a terror, fo naturally {cattered
among them, from beholding, at one
time, an officer falling before them, and,
at another, their right or left hand man?
and to quicken their refentment. of this
horrid flaughter, it was: made by an ene=
my, on whom there was not a poflibility
of their making any reprifals, For thefe
reafons; As foon as ever the Genera] had
tried all means of forming, or getting
them forwards, and faw the Impractica-+
bility of either, the advifable part next,
was, furely, to get them back again: and,
as he could not remove the panic, to re-
move
-
=
oor
x
——
" wa er ene ee
ee oe a
PRE Se ESE
een
a ete
——~
wer
See ee ee
wwe — . _—
on reeves
>
at
5
A
vt
;
¢ ed
a
i
.
ry
Ut
4
Py
Fi
+
PEAT
e
ra
Vite @
Jat
th f
es
¢
i
y Pe
a
=
S Se a a el rer
in See ee
_ = = ~~ —+ © 2
i j
ee Ve
eee
A>
aad
thes Sind
i
en
J
’
vs
{
( 38)
move the men. I have been told, not
withftanding, that fome hours had paft,
before he was fenfible of the expediency of
Being an exceed-
making his retreat.
ing gallant man, I with moft fincerely,
that he had furvived this unfortunate en-
counter ; for he had fpent the greateft
part of his life, in very diftrefsful cir-
cumftances ; and pretty foon after they
were become more eafy, he loft it; <%
know not how true it is, but I have been
told, that when he was made Captain Ge-
neral of all his Majefty’s forces in Nor th-
America, he never before had had the
command of five hundred men, upon any
occafion W, atever. A Colonel’s com-:
miffion, is not to be admitted as a difproof
of thisaffertion ; becaufe a man’s being at
the
(39)
the head of a regiment at home, is no
executive command, mott undoubtedly.
War, and the calamitous confequences
of it, making a part of thofe unavoidable
evils, to which the human paffions have
{fubjected focieties; and the iffue and deci-
fions of it, being of the utmoft importance
to us : how peculiarly cautious ought our
minifters to be, in the choice of thofe
perfons, with whom they intruft the care
and conduc of our military operations. And
Lam of opinion, that the knowledge of
men’s characters and abilities, with a pro-
per direction of our enquiries, is not {o
difficult to come at, as is generally thought.
And yet, you want not to be told, my
good Sir, that in another. inftance, be-
fide the prelent, «we fuffered a moft 1zno0-
minieus
ee S
<< a ax
onl
OS ee
- = 5 apounas ~
yt ee re eins
Sto tee eee
men as
Soe eee een
+ tar Shreeeieree
A aoe
a
(40 }
minious defeat, where we ought to have
obtained a conspleat victory.
By the foregoing account, Sir, I feem
to havggbut fhifted the fcene, without
changing."my reprefentation. The fatality
that had attended our mifdoings in the
other hemifphere, appeared to have made
alliance with us, and accompanied our
forces to America. We had been before
difpofiefied of our ftrength at Oftvego, and
now-failed of the reprifal we hoped to
make, by an attempt upon. Fort du Quefne.
What I am relating, is from my memory
only, and'thata bad one; but I think the
_ other divifions of our army, though con-
ducted by gentlemen’ of fufficient {kill
and prowefs, through the infinite diffi-
culties and obftacles, neceflarily attending
all
(41)
all military operations in fuch a country,
had done little or nothing. Under the
noble Lord who was next appointed to
the command of the forces, and allowed
to be very capable ; our army, to the beft
of my remembrance,. made no movement
at all. That, and every thing elfe, for
J know not how long, remained in a ftate
of utter inaction,
His Lordfhip, however, having atlaft re-
ecived his Majefty’s orders, to make a de-
fcent at Cape Breton, and to take withhim
fuch a part of the troops, ashe fhould think
fufficient for the enterprize ; as foon as
the tranfports could be got ready, he fet
gut upon this important expedition. ~ But
the General thinking it advifable to have
the opinions of a council of war, (which
G {carce
—.
a
ry
ie |
4
Ry
it
(i
Ah
f
’
{
H
( 42 )
fearce ever fail to end in counfels of peace}
an aflembly of this fort was accordingly
convened, in order to deliberate upon his
Majefty’s inftru€tions. And the refult of
the confult:tion, in effet, was; that
the fenfe of his council at home, was not
the fenfe of his council abroad ; for they
were unanimoufly of opinion, that the lay-
ing fiege to Louifburg, was too hazardous
an undertaking, to be attempted with any
good effect to the fervice. His Lordfhip,
in confequence of this refolution, aban-
ey
Bit
lta
'
ae
iH
{
Ws
Agta
ae
m
doned the enterprize, and returned to the
oe ee
t~ ie o
place from whence he came. This cruel
Co
—5
difappointment, however, of the good
er
a eee
$ -
King’s, as well as the nation’s hopes,
helped to verify the paradoxical pofition
1 fet out with; which was, that we never
did fo well for ourfelves, as when we were
| doing
-—s
*
.
y
(43)
or, during this fruitlefs,
=
:
doing nothing. I
but not expencelefs expedition, the enemy
availed themfelves of our Genera]’s abfence,
and took fort William flenry, upon the
lake George; which could not otherwife
have been loft. General Webb, nor having
received the fuccours he expected from the
colonies, could not aford to fend any to
the neighbouring garrifon ; apprehending,
that the force he had with him, was
barely fufficient for the fecurity of fort Ed-
ward: which was the only barrier, or
place of defence remaining, to prevent the
enemy's immediate entrance into Albany.
ne | f you have thought it worth your
while, Sir, to attend to this mortifying
relation, from beginning to end; a re-
mark I have made upon it to myfelf, may,
poffibly, have occurred to you: which is,
) G 2 | that
—EE
een | se ret
= ren nee —
——EE
Hs
i
Peas
F
BEA
i
"
i
t
ee
a
ee
- Pe = oe
sor
———
i ee ee ees 7
( 44 )
that we made war, before we declared it, .
and, as foon as we had declared it, ceafed
to make it.
Into this helplefs, hopelefs, and groveling
ftate were we funk, when the good genius
of the nation called you forth, to attend
and affift its councils: and feemed to tell
us, that the revocare gradum, was 2 tafk
and honour referved for Mr. Pitt. You
took upon you the Herculean labour, and
have performed it in a manner, that has
aftonifhed all the world. I am aware,
shat 1 have exprefled myfelf upon this
occafion, in gn uncommon way : yet not
from any affeétation of ficurative and pom-
pous phrafe ; but from thinking you a
yery uncommon man. I might, from my
ewn preaft derive one proof, that you
cannot
(45)
eannot but have fome great peculiarities
belonging to you; becaufe I both love and
envy you extremely : which are affections,
that few have ever reconciled.
Having taken notice, in general terms,
of the wondrous fuccefs of our arms, un-
der your aufpicious guidance of them ‘ to
enumerate the particular conquefts, and
acquifitions, would, doubtlefs, be thought
a work of fupererogation. The children
in the ftreets, can recount our giorrous
fpoils ; and their children’s children’ will
revere you forthem. I fhail, therefore, turn
my thoughts, at prefent, to the horrideft
fubjeét that ever employed them ; i mean
the very unnatural and ungrateful requital
you have met with. I do not {cruple to
! aver, abftraGtedly from the partiality Tmay
have
oe ee ee ee eee aes
(46>)
have: towards you, that any attempt te
traduce a character and fame like yours,
appears to me acrime, not greatly inferi-
our to blafphemy: efpecially, as the
offender would be guilty only of a
foolith piece of impiety, in one in-
ftance ; and might do an irreparable in-
jury inthe other. But cenfure, fays the
famous Do¢tor Swift, is a tax which all
merit pays to the publick: and if this,
like moft other aflefiments, is proporti-
oned to what we poffefs, you are not to
wonder, Sir, that you have been fo high-
Ay rated. I acknowledge myfelf, notwith-
{tanding, to be lefs difagreeebly affected,
by the perfonal injury done to you, than
_ by the dreadful apprehenfion I have con-
ceived, of the mifchievous tendency, to
the whole, of that {pirit of envy, ‘fo very
t!
|
i"
|
\
2
|
sinh
ME
i
:
f
(
nig
i
ow
CNIS Stee
od pre FAT TSS Sy Ce ae
rife
ree
» wet. -
( 47 )
rife amongft us, that it is almoft become
an univerfal paffion.. Poor virtue, is al-
ready in fuch a languid and declining ftate,
that fhe wants every cordial.and provoca~
tive that can pofiibly be adminiftered, if
we with her to recover: fhe has not the
leaft chanee to live, if we fuffer her. to
be brought lower. Now, fame, my good Sir,
being the prime incentive togreat and virtu-
ous deeds ; whateveris faid,ordone, towards
Jeflening the obje&, in the mind of its
purfuer, has a tendency to deprive the
publick, of the advantages arifing to our=
felves, from fo laudable an ambition. For
they that, animated by your example,
might hereafter have become candidates
for this noble prize ; upon finding it of fo
precarious a tenure, would be apt to think
the lubricious. poffeffion, .no longer wor-
thy,
( 48 j
thy, either of their care, or emutatiors
when. this fhall come to be the cafe, the
authors of fo lamentable a cataftrophe, may
fairly be called traytors to the community.
The treatment you yourfelf have lately
mét with, has led me to imagine, that
our proverbial maxim, which holds virtue
to be its own reward; was originally
prounded upon the obfervation, that it
feldom meets with any other. And as
your experience is verifying my comment
upon this adage ; I hope, and truft,
that your own thoughts are miniftering to
you, the comfort promifed in the text. ©
In fearching after the fource of this
fatal evil, it appeared to me to be wholly
‘owing to the prenicious error we are in,
of making dull andlow-minded menlearn-
ed.
~
eee 3.
( 49 ) 3
ed. Blinded by a vain prepofieffion in fa.
vour of our own offspring, every mechanic
thinks, that a Mercury may be made of
his block, as well as another’s, The poor
boy, invita Naturd, is accordingly fent
to fome great fchool: and the Peda-~
gogue, under whom he has paft his ini-
tiation, having rough-hewn the image,
the deluded parent perfifts in his folly,
and fends his idol to be finifhed at the
univerfity. When he returns from thence,
what is to become of this mifguided
creature! Why, inftead of the chiffel,
his natural inheritance from the induftri-
ous father, he betakes himfelf to his pen;
but not havine the talents requifite to
make it either ufeful or entertaining, how
to employ this unwieldly weapon, is the
point that puzzles him. Urged, at laft,
H by
7. a ~
—
—
=
“yen
SS
ee ee
ep ee
pe aN Segoe coe
( 5°)
by the little knowledge he has of human
nature, and the depravity of his own, his
thoughts and labors are turned entirely to
abufe. Writing, Sir, in this country, 1s
become altogether as much a trade, as
any handicraft occupation whatever.
And every dealer in this dirty traffic, too
foon apprifed of the tafte of the times,
and the certainty of finding in his cuf-
tomers, a competent portion of the fame
curfed paffion, which prompted himfelf |
to his iniquitous work ; ; utters his poi-
bacits and infectious folly to his credu-
lous readers, with fuch unbounded licence,
that nothing good, refpectable, or facred
amongft men, is futfered to live, becaufe
they muft.
One
4
4
( 51)
One of thefe mercenary railers at you,
Was gotten jo very low in the expreftions
of his malice, that, upon my veracity,
I did not underftand the terms he ufed ;
he faid you deferved a /he/. After repeat-
ed enquiries about the fignification of the
word, I was informed at laft, that it was
a piece of cant at the gallows, when the
friends of the perfon to be executed, had
provided a coffin for him. Judge, my good
Sir, whether I have not reprefented thefé
pefts of fociety very properly: when we
can no longer read their {currilous jargon,
without the help of a gloffary from St.
Giles’s.
cerning thefe inferiour drudges of the
After what Ihave faid, con-
Printers ; I am forry to tell you, that I
have been «acquainted with one or two
Ho2 very |
St ane eae
sda Aaland tied Ou _ -
6. & bi nl why - | -
leer OF A ey
Sr et EL o> nae Tae, ,
wy = =
-- -
eS SS S|
Few
=e
——
Rig Bes} » Me
= Saget ame aes
Re a are ES
aan — a
: so phe aaa
( 52 ) &
very upright, truly knowing, and able
perfonages, who, from the like contracted
circumftances, have been under the fame
predicament. And as I have always been
a moft unfeigned friend and admirer, of
_ learned and ingenious men; had a ftate of
affluence ever been my lot, the profefii-
ons I am now, making of my good will
towards them, were entirely needle{s :
for, iff know myfelf at all, they would
haye found in me, a pretty confiderable
patron.
Tam not enough acquainted with your
formation and temperament, to be able
to judge -at all, what impreffion. thefe
brural violences may have made upon you.
But left you fhould be affected by them,
beyond what they deferve ; I beg leave
to
( 53 )
to. prefcribe for. you, an antidote to alf
heart-burnings fo created. . This famous
Fecipe, Sir, dire&ts you,’ to. mix with
your indignation, a double.portion of con-
tempt : which will qualify and mode-
Fate your refentment of moft things, as to
make them very fupportable. I am too
{crupulous, to recommend to you a media
cine I had not tried; but J haye very
lately had occafion to makeufe of thisy and
can affure you, that ie moft effectually an-
f{wered my purpofe.
If my. experience. had. not long agop
taught me, to. wonder at nothing. ; how
the viciffitudes.in your fortune would have.
farprized me. The wentofa plebs are
moft happily . defcribed, . by the: cele-
brated poet .who makes . ufe of -that ex~
preflion,
SILT hetracc -
~ PTE NN eS aragites-seeis meee ae
ere
Se eee ee ee ae
a “<Oty
Eee
ee
= = — SS a eee
y - : z aauiceiatencnenice a z - —————s
eel . ia E cad
————
Sg ae
oe I Pane = i me yw)
eg
Ses eee.
> a Re naan
REE
ee ee ee eS
is ea a
€ 54)
pteffion, in one fingle epirhet : becaufe
they literally veer to’ and fro, like the
wiids thenifelves. They that; but 2
monthly ago, thought your character the
mo emaculate in the world; now fancy
on 2 fudden, that they have’ difcovered as
many’ flaws: and fpots in it, asare to be
found intan(emblem of bad‘ fame : where
4s}. if there were really any blemifhes in
ib, they ought’ to have been regarded’ but
like the’ {pots in the’ fun‘; which are
barely left vifible, by the’ great .afcendant
‘the brighter parts of it’s body have over |
#hiem: Phave'been told; that fonie of the
venal, virulent! crew I have been‘menti~
oning; have made it matter’ of wonder,
tHat you fhould ever'afpire at being’ a mi-
nifter in’a‘country’ like this ; where pro-
perty*has fach* an‘ abfolute influence over
| all
eer
( 55}
all things: alledging very emphatically,
that you are not eyena landed man! J
moft heartily lament the truth they tell
me, yet cannot but hope their inference
is falfe. For if ‘thefe terreftrial qualifica~
tions, are to haye a preference to the moft
diftinguifhed {piritual powers, in the
choice of minifters ; what is to become of
us ! Are you not apprehenfive, Sir, when
we come to be governed by gentlemen of.
this defcriptian only, that we fhall find
moft of our acre-wife rulers, to be no
better than wife-acres? The danger to me
appears very imminent, But the ad-
vancing of this abfurd propofition, while
the dominion Sir Robert Walpole had ac-_
quired in this country, is fo frefh in our
memories, makes the folxcifm more
glaring: for I belieye it is pretty noto-
rious,
/
ent ree 1 El com = ye = eee aes Ep A ake OOT as
‘ ser ay = i wore . — : -
ati Se-- = a 6ST oa ee a =~ eo > ae ~ fw
———* Fame mwwmrers £ 24 St —_ a eS. —
PLD PCE LTE poe EES EEO
pg SE oe
FPF
(56 )
rious, that his eftate, originally, did not
greatly exceed, the qualification requifite
for a Knight of a hire. Store
You have probably obferved, Sir, tho’
Ihave oceafionally rebuked, the impo-
tent malice of the /cabies of your flan-
derers, that I have not yet touched upon
the fubje@ of your more confiderable ac-
cufers. My reafon for it is, that when
the allegations of fuch cenfors fhall come
in queftion, I intend, as well as I am
able, to give an{wers to them all. In the
mean time, J hope that neither the {pite
of one, or the falfe reafonings and fufpi-
cions of the other, will give you a mo-
ment’s difquiet. Your charater is above
the reach, your fpirit fhould {et you above
the regard of hoth, Your fame is fo
eftas
PEE
J
* ig
(7 9
eftablithed, that you may defy the mof
malicious of its aflailants. hough, they
come armed with the panoply of falfehood
and envy, thofe inveterate enemies of all
diftinguifhed merit, they will find their
arrows recoil, and that the object is invul-
nerable. I am. perfuaded at -leaft, that
your refentment of the outrageous indig-
nitics that have been put upon you, will
neither abate of your zealand follicitude
for the public fervice, or, produce the leaft
change in any part of your future conduct.
Men of ewlarged and liberal minds, can
re{t fatishied with the. confcicufnefs of
having done praife-worthy actions ; the
praife itfelf is but a fecondary confidera-
tion, and’therefore of lefs account.with
them. The noble fentiment Lord Sommers
; ] bore
=
7 ee
ve eer
_——————
LR ee a ee = eee
= ——————————
corres ttn
———
Ee en
SS ere
ant < dain _—— rs
oe Te a
( 58)
bore about his efcutcheon *, you bear
about your heart : and though your fer-
vices have necefiarily made you {0 con{pi+
cuous, your firft ambition, I dare fay,
was to render yourfelf ufeful to fociety.
Perceiving myfelf, notwithftanding the
fecret pleafure that has accompanied my la-
bour, to grow a litde weary of this friendly
office ; I begin to fear, that your perufal
of it will not be unattended, with fome
fimilar fenfations. For this reafon, I fhall
detain you no longer now, then will be
neceffary to fulfil my promife, and finally
rcleafe you.
The firft article of the wl] fupported
‘charge brought againft you, is, that your
meafures,
« Prodefle quam confpici.
( 59)
meafures, fince you was in power, have
not been conformable to your dodtrines
and opinions, when you was out of power.
‘Phis allegation feems to imply, that al-
though a fecond confideration ‘of things is
thought fo advifable, as to be proverbially
recommended to our practice ; you are
never to change your opinion, under the
moit thorough convition, that you have
been in an error. The inference I draw
from this, to thew myfelf as good a logi-
cian as my adverfary, is, that what daily
experience makes venial in one man, was
not allowable in another. Within thefe
few years, an act * paffed in one feffion of
parliament, was repealed in the enfuing
one : and yet I never heard, that the wor-
thy gentleman, who thought fit to make
this fudden alteration in his meafures, in-
I 2 curred
* The naturalization of the Yeas. ,
eqageua
—~
_——
1
— 3 Re os greene:
, -a
( 60 )
curred. the leaft cenfure or reproach, in
confequence of his inconfiftency. Second
thoughts, however, in that inftance, did
but remedy, what a previous ule of them
might have prevented. Neverthelefs, I
do-not..mean to reft your caufe upon the
authority of an example or two; I can
ee ee
produce irrefragable reafons, in behalf of .
your converfion. . Practical, truths depend
io. much, upon circumitances, that we are
to vary our conduét, according to the vari~
ations. of them, .To be able to day what
| > ae
ween daa
ought to be, we fhould firft Know what
-is;.and without intuitive powers, how
could you be this entire mafter of his Ma~
jefty’s fituation, before you was admitted
to a fhate in‘his counfels? Befides, if
every thing defirable were immediately
attainable, whence arifes the tedious fuf-
penfion
( 61)
penfion of our much longed for peace |
But I fhall endeayour to recolle& the fub~
{tance of part of a fpeech you made about
three years ago, when the continuation of
the war in Germany came in queftion, Not
being in the houfe myfelf, you will be
pleafed, Sir, to make allowance, for. the
deceptions to which I am liable; both
from the failure of my memory, and the
mifleadings of my. informer. One of your
arguments, if [ remember right, contained
the moft obvious and undeniable piece of
good fenfeconceivéable : which was, thatif
we kept any troops there at all, it was ad+
vifable to fend more; in order to effeus
ate the intended fervice of your meafure :
which, uneffe&ted, would be attended
with a differvice of the moft inhuman
kind. You reafoned nobly, my good Sir
and
?
( 62 )
and nothing could be wanting, but a little
fellow-feecling, to make every man in the
kingdom think like yourfelf. For to fufter
fuch brave creatures, to oppofe them{eclves
toanenemy, outnumbering them in the
proportion of three to one, would have
been a cruelty little inferior to a maffacre.
If I miftake not, you pleaded farther in
vindication of yourfelf, that it was not
then a time to tell your private thoughts of
what Jad been done; but to condué your-
felf fuitably to the circumftances in which
you found yourfelf, and make the beft of
them: that there was a concatenation of
things, in refpect of ftate matters, that
did not always admit of being {feparately
confidered; for as much as the leaft breach
jn fuch a chain, might entirely difconcert
the whole plan. If you will allow me,
Sir,
( 63 )
Sir, to make.a fhort fupplement, to this
very well followed argumentation; I fhould
add, that, as your own fovereign had
brought himfelf into very diftrefsful cir-
cumitances, by afferting the rights and li-
berties of his Engli/b fubje@s; and his
great kinfman, in confequence of his
alliance with him, into. much. worfe;
the fituation of both feemed very com-
miferable; and not only to deferve, but
claim, the confideration of this country.
But left I fhould be mifconceived, upon.
the fubje&t of this unpopular doétrine;
it may be neceflary fo far to explain my-
felf, as to tell the reader, it is pro hac vice
only, that I am an advocate for it. I
_moft ardently with, and not without fome
degree of hope, to fee my good country-
men. come unanimouily to a refolution,
never
POTS SPE gc oe eet
i ek ed = e Ba +
ee eee ee ee
oo.
2S a Ft set Space
( 64)
Fever nore to be the:champions of Hano-
wer, Of precipitately hurried into conti-
‘#iehtdl wars, ‘upon that antiquated, vifio-
haty “yotiony of preferving a ballance of
‘power in Birope. The ballance of power
‘in Europé, 18 not to be maintained, by
any political equation table : it 18 as fure
“6 find its level, in time, as any branch ‘of
“trade.- Put Hot to leavé this queftion alto-
: gethier in a problematic ftate; you will
> permit me to femind you of the Dutch war;
“in which the weak countels, of the weak-
eft Prince that ever filled a throne, had
“involved his. poor infatuated fubjeets.
-, This extraordinary mealure, feems to bring
home the point in debate: becaufe it’ to-
tally fubyerted the | ridiculous fyftem we
are talking of. ‘And yet, what was the
-iffue of that wart ‘why our good old friends,
emerged
(65°)
emerged from d ftate, almott; 6f annihi-
lation; and obtained pretty near as good’a
peace for themfelves, as if they had been
eonquerors. We’ might, neverthelefs, pur-
fue this #gnis fatuus to a certain® length,
provided we did not make {uch vaft facri-
fices to the phantom, But fhould this er-
ronéows ‘prifitiple again revive, and, upon
being rendered’a little: more expedient and
practicable, become again a ftate maxim;
evén inthatcafe, our mannerof proceeding;
fuppofing England to be the grand equili-.
librift,: would prove us fundamentally de-
ficient in our praxis. Becaufe every ba-
lance is‘ brought to it’s equability, by the
laft influence given to it: whereas, it has
always been our cuftom to get’ into the
{cale firft. Add to this, Sir, that;'in form-
ingany political fyfteni; in fupport whereof,
K are
6 SSP OS
= ’
PEE I SA et yi a . “he ——_——--—
: t : : ow Rete eaten
SESH SAS St sae ea atte =
Be eR
oa ae
a + a,
_¢(.96.)
we rely upon the affiftance of other pow-
ers, deemed. reciprocally benefitted by it;
we fhall often be deceived, -Iteannot but
happen, that the parties to’ fach-an affoci-
ation, allured, at. different... times, by
views of a more. immediate, ‘intereft,
will renounce: their confederacy ; - the
fcheme. of the. projector,’ end like that
of an alchemift ; and the devifer of it
find. himfelf, the bubble of hisown chime-
rae. I think, ere now, that you have an-
ticipated rthe driftof this little. epifode :
which has béen;) aaltimately; to, remind
you, of the main¢ondition.of our laft trea=
ty of peace with France. ‘By. the reftor-
ing of Gape Bresin ; which -was all’ we
had got in the laft war, we procured peace
and réftitution for both our allies: . whofe
manner of, requiting. us, for their. fignal
x and
( 67 )
and unexpected redemption, is never to be
forgotton : Holland, in the beginning of
the prefent war, having been fomethine
worfe than neutral; and the Queen of
Hungary, immediately meditating and
contriving the deftruction of our great con-
federate. The objet you perceive, Sir,
under our prefent confideration, was, in
this inftance, totally loft fight of; and
feemedtohaveno more real exiftence init,
than the feales in the Zodiac: for the two
‘forementioned ftates, were formerly the
moft confiderable of our balance-mattets.
A query, whether any thing fo vague
and fluctuating, as the point in queftion,
be worthy of our further attention, is the
natural conclufion of my theorem.——
K 2 I
( 68 )
I am at laft returned, to a fubject much
more. interefting, though, in itfelf, lefs
pleafing: being about to ‘tell you, that your
mortal fin, with the pudiic, is your having
takena penfion. To which I anfwer, that the
principle of felf-denial 1s a virtue that we
may with eafe lay claim to, while we af-
fert it only at the expence of others: but
it is indubitably the cafe, wherein f{pecula-
tion and practice, will always differ moft.
And I am as much convinced, as I am of
my being, that of all the carping; cavil-
ling multitude, who have condemn’ d you
for taking this penfion, not a fingle man.
would have himfelf refufed it. It is far-
ther to be obfervéd, that, on the one
hand, not a foul was interefted, in your de-
clining his Majefty’s bounteous offer; and,
on the other, that nature, honour, and com-~
mon
» wate eat
({ 69 )
mon prudence, jointly called upon you toaes
cept it. “Tis the bufinefs, I fhall not
exprefs myfelf improperly, if I fay it
is the duty of every man, to make the
beft of his being, in his natural capacity ; ;
and the moft of his abilities, in his focial
one. The exertion of your abilities, Sir,
we have fo fenfibly felt, that the whole
nation have exprefled their fenfe of them : :
but your virtuous labours being {emingly
at an end; weare, at prefent, very mo-
deftly and gratefully requiring of you, fo
leave yourfelf, the only perfon,, unbene-
fitted by them,. The. urgency of your
provocation to withdraw. yourfelf from
council, is fufficiently evinced, by the fas
crifice you made, to your refentment of
what. was doing there, For if, upon
mercenary motives, you refigned.an em,
ployment
(72) |
ployment of five or fix tboufand pounds
a-year, fora penfion of three; you may |
bea great Statefman, Sir, but you are a
moft forry Arithmetician.
The impytation next attempted to be
fixed upon you, is, that you have been
too abfolute and headftrong : ‘which ar-
ticle of your impeachment, is partly ad-
mitted, and in part denied. That you
have not been abfolute, we have reafon to
lament ;_ but that you-are headftrong, we
allow. Our enemies” have felt’ that
ftrength, the nation has applatided, your
king requited, and only your competitors
for power, decried it.
This relation having been interf{perfed |
with many marks of my partiality for é
you ;
Seas ¢
( 71 )
you ; you will eafily believe,> that the
giving you. up in any point, cannot failto
be attended with great moftification to
me. And yeét, there is a part of: your in-
diétment till remaining, to which I could
fay very little for you : I mean, the infup-
portable expences.of this war,» For if you
had’ fubdued (as, to be fure, you might
have done): the moft formidable power in
Europe, without. the ufe of arms; of
employed thofe arms, without. ‘the ufe of
money ; your merit towards us, had been,
doubtlefs, much greater, than it is at
prefent, ; :
4" | iONiDd DAT cE AD ‘shed
«i was not:aware of my, overfight ’till this
moment ; but I have greatly mifmanaged
the condué& of my apology for you, in
teferving, for the laft, an allegation, to
which,
( 72 )
which,’ as. yout dttorney, I was obliged te
pleadi guilty.» The arrogant intimation you
have:given' the:public, of your having had
the diredtion of his’ Majefty’s counfels;
for forhe' tithe paft,, is witolly inexcufable:
becaufe, knowing it to -be-a moft pro-
found fectet 3: as a cabinet counfellor, you
certainly: ought not to have difclofed it.
Railery apart, the extravagant futilities I
have been peftered with, in the guife of
argiiments,) upon.a moft plain’ and fimple
queftions: are:fo far from entitling the ad-
vancers' of them,’ to” be filed’ reafoners ;
that they are fo many violences done to
reafon : which is the effence of all truté.
Ana! thened!o I> prefumnes i isp that’ the
‘Deity himfelfy, accordin e to’ the wine
nigue 1A. ag
Ps
V 73.)
To bring this motly narrative to a con-
clufion; I fhall endeavour to requite my
own labors, with the fecret fatisfaction
of telling myfelf, you cannot but have
obferved, in the courfe of it, that my eyes
have been upon you, for almoit thirty
years paft; and; in confequence of this
obfervation, that you have done me the
juftice likewife to notice, the manifeft
impoffibility of one man’s ingroffine the.
‘attention of another fo long, without a
confiderable fhare of his. regard. And
to tell you true, I have not only loved you
a great while, but in a peculiar manner.
The capricious likings of perfons of dif-
ferent fexes, are fo very natural, and, be-
fides, fo common ; that where they ex-
cite any wonder, the admirer himfelf is
L te
( 74 }
to be wondered at. But friendthips,
formed by a fympathetic attraction, and,
as it were, an intuitive impulfe, are not
fo frequent. And yet, it was by fome
fecret influence of this fort, that you be-
came at firft pofiefled of my efteem.
That this attachment was not wholly void
of vanity and felf love, I am ready to
confefs: my firft propenfity towards its
having arifen from feeing, or thinking I
faw, great refemblance of myfelf in you,
Ihave, in the opening of this letter,
. made known, that I had formerly fat in
parliament with you; and am at prefent
lamenting, but chiefly upon your account,
that I did not, in defpite of my mifufage,
keep my feat there. In fuch a {cence
ef action, you might have had more ample
proofs
:
(75)
proois of my friendfhip for you: becautfe,
“* my deeds would have borne witnefs of
**me:” And though the repeated checks
. and traverfes of an untoward fortune, had,
very long ago, exhaufted my broken and
dejected {pirit ; 1 fhould have found fome
means, even in the capacity of one of
your mutes, to have occafionally doné
you fome little credit. Animated like»
wife by your example, that {pirit of emu~
lation, which, in my younger days, I pers
ceived fo active in my bofom, as almoft to
difquiet it ; might have again taken place
there; and, withakind of elaftic force,
created by its former preffures, {prung
with redoubled vigour. Ambition, that
inconfiftent fource of good and evil, had,
even at the Univerfity, taken root in me:
And if I was not grofsly flattered there,
L 2 . few,
( 76 )
few, if any requifites were thought watit=
ing in me, for the gratification of it.
Yet, unfortunately, not being my own
mafter; by an arbitrary and perverfe di-
rection of my little talents afterwards, to
a ftudy moft invincibly diftafteful to me;
thofe gifts of nature degenerated into
curfes: and, like Narciffus’s beauty, be-
came the ruin of their pofleffor. — But it
is neither fafe, nor feemly, for an afilicted
perfon, to expatiate over much, upon the
fubjeét of himfelf: I fhall, therefore, no
farther trefpafs on my reader.
Let me conjure you, finally, my good
fir, moft firmly to fuftain your pride : be-
caufe Iam experimentally convinced, that
your pride will help to fuftain you. I mean
that virtuous pride, which dwells in every
well
. : i"
ee eee Cee, es
ee en. eee
D-cantenl —
(77)
well fornyd heart, and is the only friendly
paffion belonging to our nature. It is, in
truth, a manly principle, and not a paf-
fion : foothing and fupporting us; under
the wrongs we fuffer; and ftaying us,
when the more frail parts of our conftitu-
tions are ftriving for the afcendant, and
might, otherwife, tempt us to the doing
of them. Reft contented, Sir, with the
character you bear amongft us; and the
Nobility+ imparted to you by your virtue :
which no worldly honours can equal, nor
any worldly power abate.
I moft fervently with your well being,
and the continuance of that beine. Your
only
+ Anexpreffion of Juvenal’s,
ON ey ame
TT DA te OS nn a pe ppg epee a SEP Seng mee renner ae
( 78 )
only misfortune, hitherto, is having made.
yourfelf too enviable: and your only fault;
like that of Miltiades, being too popular. .
«© Your crown did fear their eyeballs,”
;
Ma
»