Substance of a Speech Deliv- 
 l ered at a General Court of Pr>o 
 1 nrietors, in Lea denhall -Street
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 SUBSTANCE 
 
 OF A 
 
 SPEECH 
 
 PELIVERED AT 
 
 A General Court of Proprietors, 
 
 In LEADENHALL-STREET, 
 
 On WEDNESDAY, December 3, 1785. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. DEBRETT, (Succeffor to Mr. Almon,) 
 oppoiite Burlington Houfe, Piccadilly, 
 
 HDCCLXXX1IU
 
 T.A C
 
 V 
 CHARLES JAMES FOX, 
 
 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 One of hi* Majefty's Principal Secretaries 
 of State. 
 
 w A Right Hon. Sir, 
 
 UJ 
 
 tn 
 
 T A M encouraged to intrude myfelf 
 = JL iqto ypur ore fence by that liberal and 
 juft fentimerit you have been pleafed to 
 exprefs that you were anxious to be in- 
 formed of all that could be faid on the 
 fubjecl: of the Eaft India Company's af- 
 fairs, before you wifhed to carry the Bill, 
 now under the conlideration of Parlia- 
 ment, into a Law. 
 
 Sir, the public prints have as entirely 
 
 rnifreprefented the, debates carried on in 
 
 the Court of Proprietors, as they have 
 
 mutilated thofe of your Honourable 
 
 Houfe. I will not do otherwife than pity 
 
 ? their manosuvres, becaufe I arn perfuaded 
 
 | that YOU could have no defign in pre- 
 
 &^ venting our deliberations from going out 
 
 into the world. I therefore agree, that 
 
 A 2, this 
 
 354754
 
 ( iv ) 
 
 this laft contemptible meafure is only a 
 confequence of that corruption you are fo 
 eager to remedy-It muft be that Mr. Haf- 
 tings, from whom all modern iniquities 
 proceed, has ufed his undue and ihame- 
 fui intereft to prevent his Majefty's fub- 
 jedts from knowing the fentiments of each 
 other. 
 
 , Under thefe circumftances, I hold it 
 nay duty to inform you, that the follow- 
 ing Speech is what is reported by the pa- 
 pers in words to the following purpofe : 
 *' Mr; Tierney called Mr. Moore to br- 
 " der, and then made another humorous 
 < attack on Mr. Pox." As the patron 
 of wit, if wit I had made ufe of, I am 
 convinced you would thank me for com- 
 municating it; but not being confcious 
 of all that humour attributed to me in fo 
 flattering a manner by the daily publica- 
 tions, I muft take the liberty to lay be- 
 fore you what appear to me to be rather 
 Jerious confederations. -That the meafure 
 propofed DESTROYS PUBLIC CRE- 
 DIT VIOLATES THE KlNG's PRE. 
 
 ROGA-
 
 ROGATIVE,- and y to fay nothing more, 
 goes mar TO JUSTIFY AN INSUR- 
 RECTION OF THE PEOPLE UPON 
 THE PRINCIPLES YOU YOUR. 
 SELF HAVE DEFENDED. 
 
 But, Sir, that I may not be accufed of 
 mifreprefenting what I really did deliver, 
 permit me to ftate the only ludicrous part 
 of my addrefs to ttie Proprietors. Fear- 
 ful of having wearied tliera by rather too 
 long an intrufion on their patience, I 
 thought, in gratitude for their attention, 
 J was called upon to revive their fpirits 
 (if poffible, after the depreffion my dul- 
 neCs muft have caufed"* by mewing, that 
 though we were much abufed, yet that 
 the landed property of the kingdom was not 
 iefs duped. I therefore ventured, with 
 all due fubmiffion, to infinuate that your 
 mighty boafl of being enabled to avoid 
 any additional tax on the country gentle- 
 men by their fupport to the prefent Bill, 
 might be, in fome degree, illuflrated by 
 the following ftory. 
 
 A certain Wag, whofe wardrobe was 
 reduced to great fcantinefs, went down to 
 
 adif-
 
 t diftant village to exercife his talents in 
 ways and means. " Good God !" lays 
 he, " my friends ! how awkward that . 
 " CHURCH of yours ftands let us pufh 
 " it into yonder field, and then it will 
 * c be commodious for every body." The 
 clowns confented to the propofal, upon 
 condition that it fhould not be moved fur- 
 ther than "to the edge of the 'Squire's ef-^ 
 tate j and fo eager were they all upon; 
 this new fcheme of improving the Pa- 
 rim, that the only difficulty remaining 
 was, how they mould know when to flop. 
 <l Put your coats down at a proper dif- 
 4< tance," fays Scapin, " and I'll hollow 
 <c to you when you come to them." 
 Sir, the Simpletons moved with all their 
 might and main, till by fome accident or 
 other the Garments vanished ^the fly 
 dog then cried out, " Hold, neighbours ! 
 " Do you want to overturn the Church ? 
 " Why, you've pufhed it pafl the mark, 
 ** and buried your own Clothes /" 
 
 Take the India Houfe for the Church, 
 the parifhioners for the landed proper- 
 ty, and the clothes for county intereft, 
 
 and
 
 and then, perhaps, in the circle of your 
 acquaintance, you may be able to difcover 
 the wag. Let the country gentlemen 
 wheel about this Leadenhall Church wher- 
 ever they pleafe ; but I fhould caution 
 them not to (hove too hard, for fear of 
 overmooting the mark. Perhaps, in a 
 little time, they may hear the modern 
 Scapin, (when he has gained his Ends, 
 and wimes again to appear a Patriot,) 
 perhaps they may hear him bawl out, 
 (( Why, Gentlemen, what have you 
 " done ! You have pufhed the India 
 * c Houfe into the middle of Yorkfhire, 
 " and crufhed your own Independence i" 
 If they find any one in the county who 
 will have fo much intereft as their new 
 Vifitor, or who will difcover half fo ex- 
 cellent a choice in difcerning proper 
 Members of Parliament, I will congratu- 
 late them on their acquifidon. 
 
 Sir, I am aware that this may be call- 
 ed low humour; but, when I heard a 
 certain great Man, in dating the affairs of 
 the firft trading Company in the world, 
 on a fudden quit the fober path of calcu- 
 lation,
 
 < viil ) 
 
 and "introduce^ Falftaf's 
 B/// not being experienced in public ora- 
 tory, I was led to conceive, that proving 
 a fact, and raifing a laugh, were the fame 
 thing ; and that the importance of the 
 fubjecl was always fuppofed in an inverfe 
 proportion to the poornefs of the jeft. I 
 am, however, convinced of my miftake ; 
 and on that account, in giving this fpeech 
 to the public^ I have left out every thing 
 that might bear a ludicrous appearance. 
 
 I have therefore, Right Honourable 
 Sir, only to pray you, that the mirth I 
 was unlucky enough to infpire, may not 
 be attributed to the Proprietors as a new 
 Crime j and heartily wifhing your Bill all 
 the fuccefs it deferves, beg leave to fub- 
 fcribe myfelf, 
 
 Tour moft obedient, 
 
 bumble fervant, 
 GEORGE TIERNEY. 
 
 Lincoln's Inn, 
 Dec. 8th, 1783.
 
 Subftance of a Speech, &c. 
 
 MR. CHAIRMAN, 
 
 I RISE to fecond the motion of the Honour- 
 able Gentleman, and in doing this, I mail 
 take the liberty to confider the Bill in queftion 
 at largei 
 
 Sir, I hold it beneath us to ufe the 
 little mean and paltry quibbles, which 
 have been adopted in another houfe; and 
 therefore I lhall not make any complaints, as 
 to our want of notice, though, at the fame 
 time I cannot help obferving, that had the 
 Honourable Secretary followed precedent, we 
 fhould have had timely information of the 
 matter in agitation 1 . For in the year 1768, 
 when the Company had attracted the eye 
 of Government, the Firft Lord of the 
 & Treafury,-
 
 [ 2 ] 
 
 Treafury, acling as became a Minifter, Tent 
 a meffage to the Court of Directors, dated 
 September 24, informing them, " That as 
 " the affairs of the Eaft India Company had 
 " been mentioned in Parliament laft fcffion, 
 " it was very probable they might be taken 
 " into confideration again ; therefore, from 
 "the regard they had for the welfare of the 
 " Company, and that they might have time 
 " to prepare their papers for that occaiion, 
 " they informed them that the Parliament 
 " would meet fome time in November." Of 
 this precedent, I fay, I will take no advan- 
 tage, but proceed to meet the queftion openly 
 and fairly. 
 
 But there is one previous obfervation that 
 feems to be necefiary, and it is this : Many 
 gentlemen have conceived, that they could 
 not do any efiential harm in voting for the 
 queftion, becaufe the Right Honourable Se- 
 cretary fays, it is but an experiment to make 
 trial of the efficacy of the Bill , and to prove 
 this, he dates, that it mall only have effect 
 for fuch a number of years. Now this has 
 deceived 'many who have looked no further 
 than words j whereas in facl:, it ought to be con- 
 
 ftrucd
 
 [ 3 ] 
 
 flrued as a molt confummate piece of cunning, 
 which, if carried into effect, will enable the 
 Honourable Secretary, either to keep his place 
 or to raife a formidable oppofition to the Mi- 
 niftry that turns him out. For he argues thus : 
 If I flay in power till the expiration of the 
 term, it follows of courfe, I lhall have fuffi- 
 cient intereft to renew the Bill ; and, if be- 
 fore that time, I am thrown out, I lhall then 
 have an handle for oppofing the renewal, 
 and only need fay, that I am convinced my 
 experiment has not fucceeded, that circum- 
 ftances are changed, and ufe exactly the 
 fame language that Oppofition originally did 
 when I firft propofed the meafure. We 
 have a right to fuppofe that this will be the 
 cafe, becaufe it has been once before ; and 
 Mr. Fox now urges the very arguments in fa- 
 vour of Government, which four years ago 
 he prefled againft them. The truth, how- 
 ever, is, that if the Honourable Secretary has 
 only taken the trouble to preferve his notes, 
 there are few fides of any queftion, which he 
 is not, from univerfal practice, equally maf- 
 ter of 5 but on this, mould it fucceed, he will 
 certainly fhine with additional and unufual 
 brilliancy. 
 
 B 2 Sir,
 
 .[ 4 ] 
 
 Sir, I now proceed to meet the Bill, on a 
 footing, which it never yet has flood upon. 
 I will not quibble on words, or perplex with 
 figures: if the Bill can ftand on the broad ba- 
 fis it points to, it (hall have my moft cordial 
 fupport ; but I think I can overturn its very 
 foundation. 
 
 I pledge myfelf to prove, that the Bill is not 
 only unneceffary* but that even, fuppofing the 
 evil to exift, the remedy i$ inadequate : and 
 as it is on the reverfe of thefe two grounds 
 that Miniftry fnpport their arguments, they 
 cannot fay I have evaded a fair combat. 
 
 Fi'rft, then, I have engaged myfelf to 
 prove that the Bill is unnecejjary^ and there- 
 fore it will be required from me, that I fhould 
 feparately anfwer the two great arguments of 
 our opponent. Firft, that we are bankrupt j ; 
 &nd next, that the Direffars bave proved, 
 the wf elves infuffit, lent. ' 
 
 The Honourable Secretary, in making his 
 original motion to the Houfe, laid it down 
 as a leading pofition, that the Company uere 
 in a fhte of utter bankruptcy. The Direc- 
 tors
 
 C 5 ] 
 
 tors took the alarm at fuch an unexpected V 
 afiertion, and prepared " a ftate of their 
 " affairs" for the perulal of the public. 1 his 
 Mr. Fox declared to be fallacious, and, in 
 about three quarters of an hour, fo ably 
 twifted and turned the feparate figures in each 
 article, that he convinced 229 members the 
 whole was falfe and ridiculous. 
 
 Now, Sir, it may be expe&ed that, to 
 wipe off this difgractful defeat, we mould 
 anfwer as fpecifically as we are ait.- eked that 
 we mould defend and explain every ; ^incl: 
 head of debtor credit. 1 his I will here, 
 fhew we are by no means called i^ on \o do, 
 and, for the preient, only fay, that / have 
 not prefu.nption enough to conceive myfcif 
 equal to the taik. Had I indeed the abilities 
 of the Hon. Sccreta-y, I, like him, would at- 
 tempt any thing , for do but mark the force of 
 fuperior takr.ts. Mr. Fox, in three quarters 
 of an hour, can go through, explain, and 
 confute a commercial account, which, by his 
 own declaration, four and twenty merchants 
 are not even able to ftate: he can, fuch are his 
 aftonifhing powers, in one fpeech, make the 
 country gentlemen (who, whatever their r.rher 
 
 merits
 
 merits may be, certainly are not celebrated 
 for calculation) comprehend the whole affairs 
 of the greateft trading Company in the workl 
 for years paft and years to come. Why, Sir, 
 throw away your Wingates^ Cockers^ and 
 all the idle books we have been accuftomed 
 to look upon as arithmetical gofpel. Give 
 me the new work, " Every Minifter his own 
 " Merchant, or the (horter Way of Subtrac- 
 " tion." Give me the rule of Seven Co go 
 by no need of dividing and fob-dividing 
 take all from all and what remains ? Seven, 
 If I can't manage twenty-four Directors, how 
 many can I ? Seven. If / can manage Seven, 
 how many underftrappers can they deal with ? 
 Eight ! This, Sir, feems to be the modern 
 arithmetic; but as unfortunately I am not pof- 
 fefied of this new work, 1 muft content my- 
 ielf with confidering certain of Mr. Fox's 
 objections in a general manner. 
 
 Having produced our ftatement to do away 
 the charge of bankruptcy, the Hon. Secre- 
 tary aflerts it to be fallacious, " becaufe," fays 
 he, " fome of the debts which you have put 
 " down on the credit fide 1 don't believe will be 
 "paid." Why not? " Becaufe part of it is dpe 
 
 " from
 
 [ 7 1 
 
 * e from Government ; and " know all men by 
 thefe prefents, " that's not good for much." 
 Now, a man would think this was rather an odd 
 declaration for a Minifter to make, who even 
 profeffed to have any regard for the credit of 
 his country ; but in the next article the Hon. 
 Secretary gives fom confolation, by afluring 
 us " that France is as bad as ourfelves : " 
 " the debt for fubfiftence of priibners, &c. 
 " I am fure you never will touch, becaufe" 
 (now, as Mr. Fox faid by one of our notes, 
 what does any man think would follow ?) 
 " becaufe the Embaffadcr at Paris is doing all 
 " be can to get it" 
 
 Then he goes on : " Some of this debt is due 
 *' by Afoph ulDowlah, and be can't pay you." 
 Why not ? "Becaufe be fays fo." Well, but 
 can't we force him ? "Aye," fays the noble Lord 
 in the blue ribband, " but then you'll burn 
 " villages, and all the world knows that's my 
 " averfion." Sir, I muft own that it appears 
 a little extraordinary, to hear the noble Lord 
 come out with thisfentiment, unlefs it be, that, 
 among the other blefllngs of the Coalition, 
 JMr. F hath incorporated fome of his ten- 
 dcrnefs into the breaft of his now gentle col- 
 league ;
 
 C 8 1 
 
 league; for there are thofe who fay, that, for 
 eleven years together, this new-adopted fon 
 of mercy did not only caufe the burning and 
 facking of a few towns, but ftirred up and 
 conducted a. moft unnatural war. bet-ween pa- 
 rents and their own children. But now a. 
 kgal right is to be given up, rather than put 
 an Indian chief to the fmailcft inconvenience 
 fo " ftrike off that article, and let us proceed 
 ," to your warehpufes and dead ftock : thefe 
 Cl you (han'c give yourfelf credit for, nor ftate 
 '*' as a paTt of your effcdts." And yet the proof 
 that thefe are not to be confidered as our own, 
 is rather an unufual one. " If this Bill does 
 * 6 not pafs, an extent muft ifTuefrom theTrea-. 
 " fury." An ex-tent on what ? "Why, on the ve- 
 ry -property we wont allow ^GUL to call your .own. 
 
 Sir, in this ftyle did the Hon. Secretary 
 proceed, till it appeared to the Houfe, as 
 CLEAR AS COULD BE, tbat we were 
 bankrupts, and that it would be mercy * to 
 manage our affairs for us. 
 
 * Mr. Fox feems to conftrue Shakefpeare literally ; 
 where, fpeaking of the quality of mercy, he fays " it 
 " is twice bleffed j it bleflcs him that give?, and him 
 " that takes." 
 
 But
 
 [ 9 1 
 
 But, Sir, I faid that we were not obliged 
 to anfwer for every feparate article ; neither are 
 we, until it lhall be fhewn by what right our 
 affairs are enquired into by Government. The 
 only reply that can be made is, " You owe 
 " more than you can pay." "Well, but how 
 " much do we owe you ?" Exaclly 1,741,254!. 
 We anfwer, " Here is by cam, bonds, deben* 
 " tures, and cuftom notes, 609,954 ; here is 
 "400,000, being the remainder of the Pro- 
 cc prietors original fubfcription ; and here are 
 ' goods which have been allowed to be worth 
 " 2,500,000, Out of thefe we will fell to the 
 " amount of the fum required, (unlefs a feizure 
 " mould be more agreeable to you,) and now 
 *< you have no further claim upon us." Surely, 
 Sir, this is a fair mode of arguing with any 
 moderate men ; but, alas ! government are 
 bent on our ruin; and therefore, not con- 
 tent with being paid all that is due to tbem- 
 feheSy they infill upon our proving that we 
 are able to pay our other creditors at the 
 fame fhort notice. Sir, is this a Houfe of 
 Commons or an Inquifition ! Might we not 
 juftly fay, By what right do you put our 
 credit to the torture ? are there any clamorous 
 creditors at our doors ? is any man urgent 
 C for
 
 r. 10 ] 
 
 for payment ? have we denied ourfelves, or 
 attempted any fufpicious evafions ? I defy 
 the Honourable Secretary to fay it ; and more, 
 I maintain in his teeth, that the Law of Eng- 
 land is violated by a proceeding which autho- 
 rizes a creditor, after being Satisfied* to ftig- 
 matize and injure the reputation of his debtor; 
 and I do aflert, that the condud of Parlia- 
 ment is fuch, as in an individual would be 
 actionable, and that too for one of the mean- 
 eft offences known againft the peace of fo- 
 ciety. But what cares the Minifter ? Callous 
 to the public hooting, he perfifls in his bold 
 fcheme, and dares to fay, " Prove now that 
 " you, a commercial Company, having exten- 
 " five ventures at fea, can pay all your creditors 
 " at a moment's notice, and difcharge debts 
 *' which will not become due till the year 
 " 1786, or we will feize your every thing." 
 Why, the Honourable Secretary is worfe 
 than Shylock. Shylock waited till his bond 
 became due ; Shylock then afked no more 
 than his pound of flefh; but Govern- 
 ment would feize the whole body even be- 
 fore they have a right to mangle a limb 
 Gracious God ! only mark in the gradation 
 of human iniquity, how much more me 
 
 dera'
 
 derate re the favage hunger of an unnatural 
 Jew, than the avarice of a rapacious Mi- 
 nifter ! 
 
 But, Sir, let us not bear this ! We have 
 been infuked, and let us revenge ourfelves ! 
 let us publifh our memorial to the world, and 
 fay, " Judge if our refentment be notjufti- 
 " fiable. Our Country hath fpurned and 
 " trampled upon us ; what duty then owe 
 " we to our country ? We fupported 
 u her in the hour of danger, and voluntarily 
 " involved ourfelves in difficulties to fave her 
 * f from difgrace ; we gave her (hips to 
 " ftrengthen her forces ; and at the very mo- 
 " ment of her drooping, cheer'd her with the 
 " feafonable relief; and how hath me rewarded 
 " us ? By making the very debts we incur- 
 <c red in her fupport, one of the pretences 
 " for feizing our Franchifes and Charter 
 (C Away with moderation ! All ties of affec- 
 " tion, of rclationfhip, are at an end ; and 
 *' neceffity compels us to retort on the un- 
 " grateful cruelty of her behaviour. PAY 
 " US FOUR MILLIONS, FOR YOU 
 " OWE IT 1 Prove th^t you are able to 
 " difcharge your debt on the inftant, or by 
 C 2 t( your
 
 [ ] 
 
 C your own rafh declaration YOU 
 " RUPTS. .Let the whole world be witnefs, 
 " that we only do as we have been done by ; 
 " and if we involve our Country in ruin, we 
 " have not acted but on the moft daring 
 <l provocation." Sir, would not this, though 
 ftern, be juilifiable language ? And ought 
 not every honeft man to curfe the meafure 
 that could drive us to thefe extremities ? Buc 
 let not our affailants be difmayed , I truft 
 that we defpife them too much to retaliate. 
 No ! we will mew the world how Englifh- 
 men ought to act, and prove that the very 
 Company they aim to correct, is capable of 
 reading them the moft humiliating Icffon on 
 their conduct. We will not feek for a little 
 pecuniary gratification, by diftrefling fellow, 
 iubjt-cts, much lefs an important national 
 concern. We will not urge the payment of a 
 debt, which would affect the credit of our 
 Conftitution. No, Sir ! we will learn from 
 ^ our enemies the degrading impolicy and 
 wickedricfs of fuch ill-timed avarice, and 
 teach thefe (hallow reformers the duty of Ci- 
 tizens. And now, if* the Honourable Secre- 
 tary have a blufa "remaining, let him fhew 
 iifcjns of Grace. 
 
 Sir,
 
 L' *3 1 
 
 Sir, on this head, I truft, I have fuffici- 
 cntly demonltrated, that we are not quite 
 in a ftate of bankruptcy, unlefs that mer- 
 chant is, who can pay all that is due to ths 
 only creditor who demands; but who can- 
 not, on a fudden notice, advance the cafh for 
 what is not yet due ; and to this I may acd, 
 that we are not Bankrupts according to the 
 ftate of Englilh funds, as long as an hundred 
 pounds Eaft India Stock will fell for an hun- 
 dred and twenty. Proceed we therefore to the 
 next reafon afiigned for this Bill ; and that is, 
 
 " THE NEGLECT OF THE DIRECTORS.'* 
 
 Sir, the crime imputed to the Gentlemen 
 in the Direction, both by the words of the Bill, 
 and of Mr. Fox's Speech, is, that they have 
 neglected to examine the charges tranfmitted 
 to them againft their fervants abroad, and 
 neither recalled or ordered profccutions againft 
 perfons fo charged, even where on examination 
 the cafe hath appeared to require fuch feveri- 
 ty ; and alfo that they have fuffered many grofs 
 inftances of wilful and contumacious difobe- 
 dience, to pafs either without examination, 
 or without a confequent recall or punifhment, 
 
 whereby,
 
 C '4 ] 
 
 whereby, fays the great mover of the Aft, frr- 
 vancs have become greater than their matters. 
 
 Sir, this is fo very vague and unfup- 
 ported an infmuation, that I am perfuad- 
 ed Government itfclf never could ferioufly 
 look for an anfwer to it ; neither, till the 
 accufation be more fubflantiated, is it poi- 
 fible to make any fort of reply : but yet the 
 terms are too choice to be pad over in filence, 
 and I truft I (hall be forgiven, if I wander 
 fomc little from the queftion, in order, if I 
 can, to illuftrate this very curious preamble. 
 
 As to fervants being greater than their 
 matters, I do allow it to be a moft dange- 
 rous offence, and hence it is that I cannot 
 place any confidence in thofe men who 
 ftrained it to the higheft degree ever known, 
 and fuffered the kingdom to remain fix weeks 
 without any government, rather than allow 
 their Royal Matter his eftablifhed prerogative 
 of chufing his own minifters. I do, there- 
 fore, moft heartily thank the Honourable Se- 
 cretary for the abhorrence he teftifies of this 
 lhameful behaviour, and as, to be fure, 
 neither he, cr any of his friends, can find 
 themfelves in the fmalleft degree galled by 
 a crime they are fo anxious to punifli, 1 take 
 
 this
 
 [ 'i 3 
 
 this opportunity, for once, to coincide with 
 them, and to declare this the mofl dangerous 
 and infolent mifdemeanour I know of. 
 
 Indeed, I am perfectly of opinion with 
 the Honourable Secretary in the whole of this 
 preamble, and therefore I Ihould humbly 
 move him, that the Houfe of Commons be in 
 future managed by feven Commiflioners. 
 The fame form of accufation will do ; only, 
 for variety, we will more fpecifically defcribe 
 the tranfgreffion : " Whereas it appears, that, 
 tf for about eight years, the Right Honourable 
 " Charles Fox did little elfe than accufe and 
 " lay charges againft the Right Honourable 
 " JLord North, nay ftated him to be fo utterly in- 
 ff capable of performing his duty as aMinifter, 
 " and fo very dangerous in his principles as a 
 " man, that the faid Charles Fox declared him 
 " unfit to hold the reins of government, anc. 
 "protefted he fhould not care to truft himfclf 
 t( an hour in the fame room with him ; there- 
 " fore, to the intent that good management be 
 " reftored, be it enacted, that feven commif- 
 "fioners be conftituted to examine into this 
 " grievance, and that the faicl Charles Fox be 
 " called upon to make good his accufations." 
 
 This
 
 r 16 i 
 
 This is one bill I would propofe to the Ho- 
 nourable Secretary ; but as it would be a 
 pity fo happy and juft a turn of thinking 
 as he hath here exprefled mould not be made 
 the moft of, and as 1 am fure his wonted 
 candour and liberality will thank me for any 
 hints cf reform I can point out, I will beg 
 leave to propofe another act on the fame 
 principle. " Whereas it appears that cer- 
 *' tain charges of unjuft and fraudulent prac- 
 " tices have been prefented againft two clerks 
 " in the. Paymafter's office, and it further 
 " appears that the Pay matter not only refufed 
 " to remove the faid clerks, but even de- 
 t( fended them in their wrong doing, and ne- 
 .'* ver examined into the matter coolly, but 
 * loft all temper whenever the fubject .was 
 .*' mentioned ; and whereas it ihould feem 
 <e that a charge coming from the Lords of 
 <c his Majefty's Treafury deferved more de- 
 " ference and refpec"r.,thtrefore be it enadted, 
 " thatfeven Commiffioners be appointed for 
 tf< managing the affairs of the Jray matter's 
 ef office, and that the Right Honourable 
 " Paymafter be immediately compelled to 
 " furrender all books, papers, &c. belonging 
 " to the faid office." 
 
 But,
 
 C 17 ] 
 
 But, Sir, all raillery apart, I faid I would 
 prove the Bill perfectly unneceffary ; and I 
 do not in the fmalleft degree wilh to wave 
 my promife. As to our bankruptcy, I truft 
 I have fufficiently fhewn the cruelty, danger, 
 and futility of that plan ; and therefore 
 what I now conceive myfelf called upon to 
 do, is to point out that regulation would 
 have been fufficient for every evil com- 
 plained of. 
 
 I take it there is a diftin&ion to be made 
 where the caufe of mifchief is afcertained, 
 and where not. In one cafe (where we only 
 find by experience that things go wrong), 
 fome hew mode muft be adopted ; but in 
 the other, where we difcover the reafon of 
 the mifchief, regulation and amendment is all 
 that is wanted. To inftance this, take the 
 late adfc for appointing CommiflionerS of 
 public Accounts it recites that great lofs 
 had arifen to the public from the prefent in- 
 convenience in accounting for the receipts, 
 iffues, and expenditure of certain monies ; 
 therefore it enadls, that Commimoners ihall 
 be appointed for confidering of and report- 
 ing by what means and methods the public' 
 D' accounts'
 
 [ i3 ] 
 
 accounts may in future be paffed in a 
 more expeditious and effectual manner. 
 To this Bill no objection of confequence was 
 made ; but had it ftated, that the cauje of the 
 delay and inconvenience arofe from the ac- 
 countants in the different offices neglecting 
 to examine the accounts prefented ,to them, 
 and that therefore feven Commiffioners 
 fhould be appointed to manage the affairs of 
 all the public offices in the kingdo.n, furely 
 the cafe would have been different. Every 
 man would have faid, Why give thefe feven 
 new men the power of naming clerks with 
 high falaries, and the influence' that power 
 muft naturally bring with it, when the re- 
 medy is fo very fimple and obvious, which 
 will keep matters in the old channel ? Only 
 make the accountants more refponfible, and 
 the puniihment for the breach more than a 
 counterbalance for any reward they can re- 
 ceive for overlooking the duties of their 
 ftation. Similar to this I take is our cafe: 
 the caufe is declared to be tbe negleft 
 cf tbe DireElors in not examining into 
 ike charges Iranfmitted againft their fer- 
 vants abroad, and, to my apprehenfion, 
 this carries on the very face of it the mode 
 
 of
 
 [ '9 1 
 
 of remedy required : it is but lodging a 
 greater degree of refponfibility in the Di- 
 rectors, and heightening the punifhment for 
 overlooking offences. Sir, I am the more 
 ftrengthened in this argument, becaufe I have 
 never yet heard imbecillity imputed to the ma- 
 nagers of the India Company ; nay, the refo- 
 lution of the Houfe of Commons holds fa 
 very contrary a language, that their orders 
 arc cited as being a mafterly fyllem of ethics. 
 The only reafon, therefore, that could poffi- 
 bly be urged againft me fails ; and 1 do con- 
 ceivemyfelf, even in this ftage of my argument, 
 warranted in laying it down, that the prefent 
 . Bill is unneceffary, becaufe there is no evil com- 
 plained of, which fimple regulation would not re* 
 move. However, I need not reft it here, as 
 the confideration of the Bill itfelf will, I 
 truft, give additional (Irength to what I have 
 ventured to premife. 
 
 THE BILL is INCOMPETENT. 
 
 Sir, I have before dated what the mif- 
 chief was the act in queftion profefled to 
 remedy : it remains now to proceed with the 
 latter half of the great claufe in page 7. tf Be 
 *' itenadled, that, whenever any charge of cor- 
 D a * 4 rtfption,
 
 " ruption, peculation, opprefllon, extortion, 
 receipt of prefents, ufury, breach of orders, 
 " or other grievous offence, (hall be exhibited 
 te before the Governor-general and Council of 
 tf Bengal, or the Prefident and Council of any 
 " of the Prcfidencies or fettlemehts abroad, 
 " and tranfmitted to the Court of Directors, 
 " hereby difcontinued, or to the faid Commif- 
 " fioners, againft any of the Governors, Fre- 
 " fidents, or Members of the Council, civil 
 " or military, in the Company's fervice ; or 
 " which fhall be exhibited by any of the native 
 *' Princes ; and the faid Commifiianers fhall 
 " within after the fame fhall be made, 
 
 " examine into fuch charge: and if, upon 
 " examination, they fliall not think proper 
 " either to recall or order a profecution, every 
 " Commiflioner, making fuch examination, 
 " Jhall enter in writing, in the Journals, his opi- 
 * { nion on the validity and importance of fuch 
 44 charge, with his fpeciftc reafons, on the par- 
 " ticular cafe, for not recalling the perfon, or 
 'ordering a profecution." 
 
 This, Sir, is the remedy this greatand all-pro- 
 vident Bill propofes; this is the important regu^- 
 Jatipn for which the Mmifter is to be rewarded 
 
 with,
 
 with unbounded patronage, and the chartered 
 rights of" a great Company are to be deftroyed. 
 A mighty regulation truly! Either you, the 
 new Commiffioners, fhall redrefs all grie.- 
 vances, or elfe you jhall give your reafons 
 for not doing fo. Is there any thing here 
 which the prefent Directors are not capable of 
 performing, as well as the moft fugacious of 
 Mr. Fox's friends ? Is there any thing here 
 which might not have been introduced with- 
 out a violation of the Company's very con- 
 iiitution? Nothing! Only let it be granted 
 that the Directors can write Englijh^ and this 
 Bill is perfeffly ufelefs. I do not conceive 
 tnyfelf called upon to enter into any one other 
 claule of the Bill: this is the whole of the 
 remedy ; nor can any man fhew me a fingle 
 fy liable which holds out an additional advan- 
 tage to the Company's affairs. The only fe- 
 curity which could render this Aft any thing 
 like an important regulation, would be Mat- 
 ing fome fevere punifhment, in cafe by the 
 Journals it ihould appear, that the Commif- 
 fioners, in not examining into charges, had 
 acted wrong. But what's the confequence of 
 mifbehaviour to be ? Why, that it fhall be 
 Jawful for his Majefty to remove any of the 
 
 faid
 
 faid Commifiioners, upon an addrefs of either 
 Jloufe of Parliament. Now, Sir, do but 
 fee what a fhallow fecurity we have for their 
 honefty. If they have a majority upon the 
 mere profpeft of the power that is to be given 
 them, is it reaibnable to fuppofe they will be 
 deferted, becaufe they have the aftual pof- 
 feffion of it ? 1 feel that gratitude is not 
 much the fafhion ; but I will not have fo 
 very bad an opinion of the Honourable Secre- 
 tary's party, as to fuppofe they will forfake 
 men, merely becaufe they are under obliga- 
 tions to them. 
 
 Sir, from all that I have faid, may I not 
 venture to aflert, that the Bill is unneceflary"? 
 
 FirsJ, Becaufe we are not in fucb a Slats of 
 Bankruptcy as to 'warrant this attack ^on our 
 Charter ; unlefs he is a Bankrupt, who can 
 pay the only creditor that makes a demand upon 
 him. 
 
 Secondly ', Becaufe ihere- is an obvious remedy 
 dedudble from a caufe admitted, which would 
 anfiver every purpofe that the Bill itfelf in its 
 own words requires. 
 
 'And
 
 And that tie BUI is incompetent^ I truft is 
 plain, becaufe it does not give any additional 
 fecurity for the future abolition of thofe evils 
 and mifcbiefs which it prof efts to remedy. 
 
 Sir, I will only make an obfervation on one 
 or two of the claufes, and then proceed to 
 canvafs the Bill fairly, and on broad grounds 
 as to its general tendency. 
 
 The Eight Afiiftant Directors feem to me 
 to poflfefs the mofl extraordinary place that 
 I believe was ever yet invented-, they are 
 ftated to be chofen and appointed for the 
 fole purpofe of managing the Commerce of the * 
 Company, and therefore they are required to 
 purfue fuch orders as they Jhall receive from 
 the CommiJJionerS) who are not appointed to ma- 
 nage the Commerce. If the Honourable Se- /^ 
 crecary could ftoop to explanation, I mould 
 be glad to know what is meant by men hav- 
 ing the management of a thing which others 
 are to direct ? 
 
 The other claufc on which I mall obferve, 
 is that which watches with fuch jealous 
 
 care
 
 t *4 J 
 
 care over the property and perfon of all Indian 
 Princes. I cannot, Sir, but remark, that it is- 
 forcing us to make rather a degrading com- 
 parifon to confider the lenity and juftice (hewn 
 to the natives of India, and the difference 
 of treatment which we experience. When I 
 began to read the Bill, I pitied the Honoura- 
 ble Secretary, as a man who did not feem to 
 have the molt diftant idea of what equity 
 was ; but on coming to this part, I found 
 that the infult he has been pleafed to offer to 
 the cullom of his Country is abfolutely wan- 
 ton. It appears now, that he does know, 
 that, to come at the truth, it is neceffary not 
 only to bear every material article, or head of 
 charge ; but alfo to examine into it fpevfically,. 
 and not generally and in grofs. Mr. Harding 
 quoted the Pfalms, and faid, " Oh ! that mine 
 " enemy had done me this wrong !" but I 
 cannot help exclaiming, " Oh ! that I were 
 " an Indian Prince ! for then I mould noc 
 " have had my property taken from me,- 
 " without having a regular charge produced, 
 " and having that charge regularly examined 
 tf into 5" but being, as I am, a mere Englifh 
 fabjeft, the Honourable Secretary chufes to 
 
 condemn-
 
 r s 3 
 
 condemn me unheard, and as he himfelf em- 
 phatically ftyles it, " in Grofs" 
 
 Sir, I merely obferve on this claufe to prove 
 how very unnecefiary it would be to go thro* 
 the others. We are clearly fhewn by the mode 
 of proceeding adopted againft us, that it is 
 not meant to give us juftice : I otherwife, per- 
 haps, might have gone on to prove, that the 
 balance of advantage to the Company Hands 
 with the prefent eftablifhment, becaufe the 
 Directors are amenable to the King's Bench; 
 a much more fummary method than waiting 
 for an addreis to the King-, for which, not 
 being a member of Parliament, I, though a 
 Proprietor, never can move. 1 might, per- 
 haps, have gone on to ftate that I did not 
 find in the Bill any one profpect of ever re- 
 ceiving another dividend, or any opportunity 
 I fhould in future have of transferring, with- 
 out the fpecial voluntary permiflion of thefe 
 feven demi-gods. But all this is now ufelefs. 
 The fentence is paft before the culprit is 
 heard ; and I muft kifs the rod in filence, 
 unlefs I can Ihew, that this Act is enough to 
 rouze the whole kingdom by it's 
 
 GENERA*.
 
 [ *6 J 
 
 GENERAL TENDENCY. 
 Sir, This is a meafure which not only affects 
 the Eaft India Company, but ftrikes at the 
 very fundamental bafis of the conftitution. 
 The precedent once eftablifhed, I know of 
 no man whofe property is fecure ; I know of 
 no Corporation whofe exiftence I would war- 
 rant for a fingle hour; nor do I. know of any 
 Act of Parliament in which 1 can confide. As 
 long as the plunder of the Eaft will ftay the 
 appetites- of ambitious hunger, the Bank 
 of England may be fecure no longer. While 
 the fpoils of our Company will fate thefe fons 
 of rapine, the great chartered Bodies of the 
 kingdom, may breathe awhile but the axe 
 mud fall fometime. As long as the prefent 
 booty lafts, an Act of Parliament may be 
 almpft as good as a Minifter's opinion but 
 there's the boundary. Sir, I would fain 
 fhew the world, in gentle language, that this 
 is a molt dangerous precedent j and, if pof- 
 fible, prevail on- Goyejnment to give it up : 
 but the cafe is too ddperate to be trifled with ; 
 and therefore, how dreadful foever the prof- 
 pect, it is the duty of every honeft man to 
 view it. THE KING IS A CORPO- 
 RATION, AND HIS FAMILY ARE 
 ONLY SETTLED BY AN ACT OF 
 
 PAR-
 
 PARLIAMENT. Let every loyal fub- 
 
 jecl look to it, for I fay again, the prece- 
 dent is dangerous and alarming. 
 
 This is a meafure which DESTROYS 
 THE PUBLIC CREDIT. 
 
 Sir, if ever there was a cruel flab wantonly 
 given to the credit of a country, it was, 
 when the Honourable Secretary was pleafed, 
 in his capacity of Miniller, openly to declare, 
 that the creditors of the nation were always 
 for the future, in ftating their affairs, to 
 reckon the debt, due by Great Britain, as 
 only worth four fifths of the original loan. 
 
 I did, Sir, flatter myfelf, and fo muft many 
 others have done, that at lead the appear- 
 ance of honefty would have been preferved, 
 and that no man would be found daring 
 enough to deftroy even \hefiftion offecurity. 
 It is in vain, however, to reflect, for the 
 blow is flruck ; and all we now can do is, to 
 fubmit, in mortifying filence, to what every 
 foreigner may taunt us with. They will begin 
 to draw comparifons between their government 
 and ours, which, till now, would have been 
 honourable to England, but after this Bill 
 has pafied, they will fay, that ic favours ex- 
 E 2 adly
 
 a&ly of the meafures purfued in their own 
 country inwbat is bad, and does not imitate 
 them in what is good^ even though the ex- 
 ample be recent. Aye, and they may illuf- 
 trate their fatire. 
 
 Sir, it is a melancholy reflection, that the 
 inftance mod fimilar to this a<ft of our Legif- 
 lature, is to be found in an abfolute and un- 
 controuled government. I mean the fup- 
 preflion of the Jefuits in France ; where a 
 whole ibciety, without any one criminal charge 
 openly alledged againil them, were, in one 
 night, deprived of all their employments; 
 had all their property confifcated, and found 
 themfelves turned out into the world under 
 the fevered odium of guilt : but the , mercy 
 of heaven is infinite, and the day of retri- 
 bution feems at hand, when the Jefuit (hall 
 tyrannize in his turn ! 
 
 Sir, if this fimllarity in opprefilon pre- 
 fent a chilling profpe<5r, what fhall we fay 
 to the contraft which France can hold up to 
 us, a contraft that muft raife a blufti ia 
 the moft abandoned of our Rulers. I al- 
 lude to the failure of the Caiffe d'Efcompte, 
 
 or
 
 or Paris Bank, which will ihew us that Eng- 
 lifh fpirit is lowered indeed, and read a de- 
 grading leffon to the profeffors of modern 
 patriodfm. 
 
 This failure of the Caiffe d'Efcompte 
 was an abfolute one : the Company were not 
 merely ftated to be Bankrupts in a crafty 
 fpeech, but actually conftfled themfelves una- 
 ble to diicharge a fingle milling. Under thefe 
 circumltances what does an abfolute Mo- 
 narch ? And what does the prime Minifter 
 of a Sovereign without controul advife ? Tt 
 fupport the Company who were eftablijhed 
 under tbe protection of the King ; to allow them 
 time to fettle and arrange their affairs, and Jt rain 
 the point of authority, rather to defend than de- 
 ftroy the reputation of a chartered body. This 
 comes from Slaves! This is the way in which 
 Bondfmen proceed, while we that boaft of 
 our Liberty, and hold ourfelves up as models 
 of Freedom, fuffer a Minifter to propofe a 
 meafure which even defpotifm difavows ! 
 Why, Sir, the French have fhewn wifdom and 
 liberal policy in their conduct. "We will not," 
 fay they, ** paint our great commercial Com- 
 " panics in the colours of Bankruptcy; but rar 
 
 " ther
 
 ' ther feek to glofs over, and conceal their mif- 
 " forcunrs. Sooner let an hundred individuals 
 " fuffer, than the credit of an important national 
 " depofitof wealth be blown upon."Soreafons 
 what we idly term Defpotifm: but in this land 
 of mockLiberty,howdo we argue? "Why, let 
 ' Trade, Commerce, and national Faith, fink 
 " and fade to nothing, fome great man may, 
 "perhaps, be found bold and bad enough to fay 
 *' Let them rot and die, fo that I and my 
 *' friends get places. Yield me yourCharter, 
 " tho* it blalt the reputation of your Country, 
 c< for I h^ave feven trufty ones to provide for !" 
 
 So much for the commercial principle of 
 this Bill. Let us next look to 
 
 THE LEGALITY OF THE ATTEMPT. 
 
 Sir, the ground on which the Honoura- 
 ble Secretary attempted to argue the pro- 
 priety of this aft, was fuch an one as mud 
 make every honeft man fhudder. There is, 
 fays he, a neceffity fuperior to law which makes 
 this Bill legal He defer ves ill of his Coun- 
 try, who propofes meafures which force us to 
 deliver our opinions on fubjecls which loyal- 
 ty
 
 [ 31 J 
 
 ty would wifh to turn from ; but I fliould 
 deferve worfe, could I, having undertaken to 
 canvafs the fubjeft, fuffer fuch a daring plea 
 to pafs without an anfwer. I do agree, that 
 there is a KeceJJity fuperior to law, and I will, 
 fince I am driven to it, declare when it takes 
 place. 
 
 Sir, I infift that hiftory and pofitive law 
 both agree, that this necefiiry can only pre- 
 vail where fome violence is offered, for which 
 the Legislature of the country hath provided 
 no remedy ; and I readily join with the Ho- 
 nourable Secretary, that the Revolution is 
 an argument in point. May God and his 
 King forgive him, for what he hath done ! 
 but only mark the principle of our Conflitu- 
 tion, to which his wicked rafhnefs hath 
 forced us to turn our eyes ! I affert, that, in 
 the prefent cafe, no evil fubfifts which au- / 
 thorifes the fmalleft deviation from the efta- * 
 blifhed ufages of the Englifti Government. 
 Stand forward, Right Honourable Secretary, 
 for you did fay that fuch a mifchief did 
 fubfift. Now, Sir, either you or I mufl 
 fall_ the queftipn is certainly brought to 
 a fair iffue, Was the Revolution fucb an in- 
 
 Stance
 
 Stance of necejfity as to authorize and give 
 a precedent Jor the Bill in question ? 1 an- 
 fwer, No ! and call as my evidence the late 
 Judge Blackftone. " The true principle 
 " upon which that memorable event pro- 
 " ceeded," fays my refpt&ed witnefs, " was 
 " an entirely new caje in Politics. The ab- 
 a dication of the reigning Monarch, and the 
 " vacancy of the Throne thereupon. It was 
 " the act of the nation alone upon a convic- 
 *' tion that there was no King in being j and 
 " the Lords and Commons in full conven- 
 " tion determined, that King James the Se- 
 " cond, having endeavoured to fubvert the 
 " Conftitution of the Kingdom, by breaking 
 *' the original contrad: between King and peo- 
 tf pie, and by the advice of Jefuits, and other 
 " wicked perfons, having violated the funda- 
 " mental law, and having withdrawn himfelf 
 " out of the Kingdom, has abdicated the 
 " Government, and that the Throne is there- 
 u by vacant. The Facts themfelves thus ap- 
 c * pealed to, it belonged ro our anceftors to 
 <c determine ; for, whenever a queftion arifes 
 e between the Society at large and any ma- 
 " giftrate vefted with power originally dele- 
 
 " gated
 
 C 33 3 
 
 " gated by that fociety, it muft be decided bjf 
 " the voice of the fociety itfelf j there is not 
 <f upon earth any other tribunal to lefort to" 
 
 Does the Right Honourable Secretary find 
 any fimilitude in this to warrant his preferit 
 attempt ? Can all his boafted eloquence point 
 Out a fingle feature of comparifon to juftify 
 him ? Is a company of Merchants, neglect-* 
 ing to enquire into the mifmanagement of 
 their fervants, a fimilar inftancq with the" 
 vacancy of the Throne ? Or will the Minifter 
 be bare-faced enough to fay, that abufe of 
 pov/er is a new cafe in Politics ? And yet he 
 muft prove all this, and ten times more, td 
 vindicate himfelf in his aflertion. 
 
 Sir, wfs the attack now made merely againft 
 myfelf, I might, perhaps, ftop here, without 
 puming my advantage ; but, as 1 confide? 
 myfelf pleading a public caufe, my duty calls 
 upon me to proceed. It is" not fufficient to 
 have proved, that the inftance of the Revolu- 
 tion does not touch us ; but fmce the Ho- 
 nourable Secretary hath unadvifedly thought 
 proper to turn our thoughts to the dange- 
 rous chapter in ours, and every Government, 
 he muft be told the refult of what we read 
 F ItC
 
 C 34 ] 
 
 let the confluences fall upon himfelf, be- 
 caufe, when he fhall have obtained the King's 
 aden t to this Bill, it might perhaps be as 
 well, if he had not put the refolution of the 
 Convention in 1688 into our hands. 
 
 When men are reading the dreadful ef- 
 fects of " violating the fundamental Laws," 
 may it not be rather dangerous to tell them, 
 that the facred rights of a Charter are de- 
 ftroyed ? When we are intent on examining 
 into the mode of redrefs, in the cafe of an 
 endeavour to fubvert the Conftitution, is it 
 quite politic to let us fee that forfeiture is 
 incurred without accufation or trial? I mould 
 think not The fool may chance to mifun- 
 derftand the letter of legal diftinction the 
 factious and violent, to ftrain it to a rafli 
 purpofe ; and the fteady Patriot, to read and 
 apply the inftruction. The calm fobriety of 
 clofet deliberation hath gone as far as to fay*, 
 that, to preferve our rights and liberties, when 
 actually violated or attacked, every Eng- 
 lifhman is intitled, in the firft place, " to 
 " the regular adminiftration and free courfc 
 
 " of 
 
 * Blackftone, ift vol. page 144.
 
 [ 35 ] 
 
 " of juftice in the Courts of Law next to the 
 *' right of petitioning the King and Parlia- 
 " ment for redrefs of grievances and laftly 
 " to the right of having and ufing arms for 
 * e felf-prefervation and defence." Perhaps 
 the moderation of Theory may be quickened 
 by a provocation to the vigour of Pr-ctcc, 
 and the Honourable Secretary may find too 
 late, that the comment on the text is defpe- 
 rate Refiftancs. I beg pardon, Sir, for 
 ufing fuch language \ but I truft no man 
 
 will mifconflrue my motives. What I 
 
 lay down is only to fhew, how dangeroufly 
 wicked it is to propofe m?afures which muft 
 tend to turn the minds of the people to ob- 
 jeifls which every honeft man would wifh 
 fliould remain buried in oblivion. 
 
 Sir, if there be ftill an argument wanting 
 to prove the very dangerous tendency of this 
 Bill, it will be found in confidering that 
 
 IT ATTACKS THE KING'S PREROGATIVE. 
 
 If I rightly comprehend the nature of 
 the conftitution I live in, I take certain pri- 
 vileges thrown into the fcale of the execu- 
 F 2 tive,
 
 [ 36 ] 
 
 five, to be intended as a balance or equipoifc 
 to the weight and influence of the legijlatiw 
 power* and amongft thefe privileges or pre- 
 rogatives, I imagine none to be more im- 
 portant than that which declares the King 
 the Fountain of Honours, and to have the 
 right of eretting and difpofing of offices. 
 Now, what does this Bill ? It deftroys them 
 both ; for can any man be fo blind as not to 
 fee the confluences that will arife from the 
 meafure in agitation ? Is it not plain that our 
 gracious Monarch will no longer be able to 
 preferve the counterbalance which Ambition 
 oppofes to Intereft ? Our fage forefathers, 
 wifely ftudying the bias of humanity, found 
 pride to be the only check againft avarice. 
 They faw that there was a fomething in the 
 word Title which dazzled the weak, flimu- 
 lated the brave, and which Wifdom herfelf 
 felt gave folemnity to her meafures. The 
 King was therefore made the fountain of 
 Honour and Titles, that the Sovereign, when 
 jnfulted, might, by the flattering diftinflions 
 of preeminence, allure thofe to loyalty who 
 were otherwife open to the bribery of the 
 wealthy traitor. If this prerogative was when 
 pur anceflors founded the conftitutional fabric 
 
 only
 
 [ 37 ] 
 
 only deemed a fufficient barrier ngainft the 
 influence of this little ifland, what fliall be- 
 come of it now ? Corruption will meet no 
 opponent ; the treafures of the Eafl are 
 thrown open to her difpofal ; and Power 
 (dreflfd in the high-founding titles of Afia- 
 tic pomp) is proclaimed by the heralds of 
 Venality to the mercenary troops of Faction. 
 In vain may the forfakcn Monarch hdd out 
 the plain infignia and modeft ermine of dg- 
 meftic honours the trappings of royalty it- 
 felf glitter to the grafp from afar; and what 
 our great enemy judged a temptation to the 
 humility of a Saviour, muft furely be a cer- 
 tain bait to the ambition of a man. 
 
 Oh my poor country, to what art thou 
 devoted ! Hadft thou fallen into defpotifm, 
 like many other nations, Hiftory mould have 
 pitied thee ! Hadft thou bowed before the 
 iron rod of an ufurping Tyrant, Memory, 
 while me execrated the monger, would have 
 dropped a tear to the victim ! But alas ! the 
 hour is come when I fear thou art finking 
 pad redemption : it hath been foretold that 
 thou fhouldft perifh, when thy legiflative be- 
 came more corrupt than thy executive power 
 
 I did 
 
 354754
 
 t 38 1 
 
 I did not think the curft prefage would have 
 been fo cruelly verified, but 1 dread thou 
 wilt become the very fcorn of pofterity 
 the nation that fell to ruin by having violated 
 the facred rights of the moft amiable Sove- 
 reign that ever graced a throne. 
 
 Sir, this may be called mere declamation; 
 but I truft no honeft man will think fo. I 
 do flatter myfelf, that in its particular ten- 
 dency, I have proved this Bill to want that 
 juftifiable nectflity which alone could warrant 
 it , and that, even admitting that to fubfift, 
 that the Bill is ftill incompetent and inade- 
 quate to the evil it profcfles to remedy. The 
 pedantry of intricate calculation is held out 
 to carry the appearance of regularity and in- 
 formation ; but, in fact, it only ferves to de- 
 ter unthinking men from entering on the fub- 
 jedt Strip the queftion of all fuperfluous 
 matter, and we (hail find it to be a weak foe 
 that cannot long withftand a fteady attack. 
 I do not by any means feek to decry the Ho- 
 nourable Secretary's algebraical or mathema- 
 tical talents ; on the contrary, I would make 
 men cautious by extolfing them. I, there* 
 fore, allow him all 'the abilities of Arcli- 
 
 tnedes ;
 
 C 39 ] 
 
 medesi and more, I fay he hath advanta- 
 ges peculiar to himfelf. That great man, as 
 hiftory informs us,invented a machine by which 
 he could move this world at his pleafurej 
 but the globe was preferved becaufc he could 
 find no place to fix his engine on. The Ho- 
 nourable Secretary hath obviated that obfta- 
 cle to the purpofe he fcems to have in view, 
 overturning this country, and having 
 found a fpot capacious enough to contain 
 his apparatus, let Britain guard in time againft 
 this dreadful machine of patronage, undue 
 influence, and corruption. 
 
 THE END.
 
 This day is publifhed, price is. 
 Being the Firft Number of the prefent Seffion, - 
 
 [Containing the Debates on his Majefty's Speech, and the 
 Addrefles upon the Eaft India Reform Bills, and the 
 Stare ot the Eaft India Company's Affairs ; upon the Al- 
 tera'ions of the Receipt Tax; upon Smuggling; the 
 Number of Seamen ; the Cafe of Mr. Atkinfon, &c. &c. 
 Particularly, fully, and accurately related] of 
 
 THE PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER, Number 
 LXXXf. from the lait General Eleftion ; and Num- 
 ber I. of the prefent Seffion. In this Work every intereft- 
 Ing Paper, laid before either Houfe of Parliament, has 
 been conftantly inferted. Thefe Papers, befides contain- 
 ing much important and authentic information, are extreme- 
 ly neceflary to the underftandingof the Debates, and they are 
 no where elfe to be met with. The Debates are given with 
 the urmoft attention to fidelity and accuracy. They are 
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