he had never feen a queftion of fuch importance treated with indifference or filence, or what was full as bad, with fome feeble attempt which meant nothing, and feemed intended to mean nothing. This at length drew out fome vindication of the character of the noble minifter in the other Houfe; who was faid to be clean handed in the most eminent degree; and who would go out of office in a ftate of poverty, if it were to happen on the following day. They chiefly relied on the defect of proof to fupport the facts or charges; that the motion reverfed the order of things; it proceeded to punishment before it convicted, and was therefore prepofterous; that every part of the public expenditure was already fubject to check and controul at the exchequer. That fuch enquiries, and fo conducted, would be in fact to establish a new committee of fafety, and, under pretences of correcting the abufes of adminiftration, would tend to the fubverfion of the conftitution; that we were befides engaged in a great war and must not ftarve it; if a proper confidence was not placed in our commanders, it could not at all be carried on; and, that the principal precedent brought to Thew the former interference of parliament on fimilar occafions, was drawn from the fcandalous adminiftration of the year 1711, which should alone be a fufficient motive for reprobating the prefent motion. It was accordingly rejected, upon a divifion, by a majority of 81, including 21 proxies, to 41, including four proxies; being as VOL. XXIII. nearly two to one, as it was poffible without being quite fo. The noble earl, after the divifion, having informed the House of the purport of his fecond intended propofition, which went to the appointment of a committee for enquiring into the feveral parts of the public expenditure, and confidering what reductions or favings could with confiftency be made, then moved, that it fhould be taken into confideration on the 8th of the following February, which was agreed to. The rejection, however, of his firft motion, together with that of the Duke of Richmond's, on the 7th inftant, ferved much to increafe the public diffatisfaction, which, whether with or without reafon, did now, much more than at any former period, certainly prevail without doors, and to give ftrength and confirmation to that opinion which was alfo very generally prevalent, that no hope of obtaining redrefs now remained, until fuch meafures were purfued by the people at large, as would, by diffolving that unnatural combination which was charged to fubfift between minifters and the reprefentative body, reftore the antient dignity, and the former energy of parliament. Thanks from the city of London were voted to the noble duke and earl for their paft motions, accompanied with the falleft approbation of that announced for the 8th of February, and an affurance of every conftitutional fupport in their power, to thofe neceffary plans of reformation propofed by them. The bufinefs was likewife foon adopted in the counties; and from this time that fpirit of reformation be[F] gan gan to appear, which we have fince feen produce fo many meetings, affociations, and projects in almost all parts of the kingdom, though with different degrees of warmth, and different extent of objects, for correcting the fuppofed vices of government, and for reftoring the independency of parliament. The city of London likewife fent feparate letters of thanks and acknowledgement to all the lords who had voted in fupport of the two paft motions, including his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland, whofe name appeared at the head of the minority on the laft divifion; thefe letters, with their refpective anfwers, were published in moft of the papers at that time. It was on the very day of Lord Shelburne's motion, that Mr. Burke opened in the Houfe of Commons, fuch parts as it was yet thought fitting and neceflary to expofe, of that celebrated plan of public economy, and attempt towards a reform or leffening of corrupt influence, which afterwards afforded fo many fubjects of parliamentary difcuffion, and was, for a long time, an object of fo much general admiration. He likewife gave notice, that he would bring on the bufinefs as foon after the holidays as poffible; and amidst a variety of obfervations and arguments, to enforce the propriety, expediency, and neceflity of the propofed measure, particularly alluded to the bufinefs then carrying on in the other Houfe. He faid, that the defire of reformation operated every where, but where it ought to operate molt ftrongly, in that Houfe. That the propofitions which had been lately made, and were that day making, in the other Houfe, although highly laudable in themfelves, were no less than a reproach to that in which he fate. To them, who claimed the exclufive management of the public purfe, all interference of the lords, in their peculiar province, was, at leait, a reproach. It might be fomething worfe; for, if the lord: fhould affume or ufurp the performance of a duty of theirs, which they neglected, they would be fupported in an ufurpation which was become neceffary to the public. Privileges were loft by neglect, as well as by abuse. That old parliamentary forms and privileges were no trifles, he would freely grant; but the nation called for fomething more fubftantial than the very best of them and if form and duty must be feparated, they would prefer the duty without the form, to the form without the duty. If both lords and commons fhould confpire in a neglect of duty, other means, ftill more irregular than the interference of the lords might be now confidered, would be undoubtedly reforted to; for, he conceived the nation would, fome way or other, have its bufinefs done; or otherwife, that it could not much longer continue to be a nation. Other arguments, on different grounds, but tending to the fame object, will appear in their proper place. A noble lord, of a family highly considered for its conftitutional principles, and who always draws great attention in the House of Commons, where he is looked on as a leader of the Whigs, de clared, faith, by his allegiance, and by the facred oath he had taken to his majefty. By that facred bond and indiffoluble obligation, he was compelled to do every thing in his power to fecure the itability of the throne. "This influence shakes it; it may fubvert it; and nothing can be undertaken more "worthy of a good fubje&t, than to remove, in time, this means "of mifchief and danger to the "king." 66 clared, that Mr. Burke had communicated his plan to him, fo far as it was yet perfected; and that it not only met with his warmest approbation, but that he was convinced (from reasonings and facts which he stated, tending to fhew the public diftreffes and expectations) that it was become abfolutely" neceffary that fomething of the kind fhould be done, in order to remove the prefent diffatisfactions, by meeting the wishes of the people. He had, however, told his honourable friend at the time, that although he highly approved of his plan, wifhed it all poffible fuccefs, and was fully fenfible that fome remedy of the fort was earnestly expected by the public from that houfe, and more particularly from his fide of it, yet he much doubted, whether parliament had virtue enough at that time to bring fo right a measure to perfection. A gentleman, from the northern part of the united kingdom, diflinguished for his candour, temper, and moderation in oppofition, declared on his confcience he was firmly perfuaded, that the undue influence of the crown was the true caufe of the mischievous origin, the deftructive progrefs, the abfurd conduct, and the obftinate profecution, without view or hope, of the accurfed American war; which was now univerfally felt, and generally acknowledged, as being in itfelf the caufe of all the other misfortunes of Great Britain, and particularly of the prefent naval greatnefs of the houfe of Bourbon. He faid, that from the cordial af fection he bore to his fovereign, he felt himself bound, fo far as he was able, to remove that evil. He thought himself bound to it by his Upon this difcourfe, Mr. Fox, who was just come in from the Houfe of Lords, faid, that the firit men in the kingdom, the firft in abilities, the firft in eftimation, were then libelling that house. Every inftance they gave, (and the inftances he faid were many and ftrong) of uncorrected abufe, with regard to public money, was a direct libel on that houfe. Every argument they used for the reduction of prodigal expence, and their arguments were various and unanfwerable, was a libel on that houfe. Every thing they ftated on the luxuriant growth of corrupt infuence, (and it was never, he faid, half to flourishing) was a moft fevere and direct libel on that house. But that houfe, he faid, would be brought, by proper means, to wipe off all thofe imputations. The people had for a long time been flow and torpid. They had, however, at length, been quickened by their feelings to a fenfe of their fituation and fufferings. He accorded with the opinion of a noble lord, that there was not virtue enough within them walls, to go through with the plan of reformation which his honourable friend had to propofe. But the virtue of neceffity would at laft ani[F] 2 mate mate the people; and, through them, it would likewife animate and correct that houfe. The virtue of necefity, fure in its principle, and irrefiftible in its operation, was an effectual reformer. It awakens late; but it calls up many other virtues to its aid; and their joint exertion will infallibly bear down the greatest force, and will infallibly diffipate the ftrongest combination, that corrupt men have ever formed, or can ever form against them. He applauded the fentiment of the gentleman who fpoke jult before him, that his duty and allegiance to the king were strong motives with him, for wifhing fuccefs to the prefent propofition. Thefe motives, he faid, muft undoubtedly operate in the fame manner with every good fubject. Could the king, he faid, poffibly enjoy the affection and confidence of his people, when his intereft was wholly diffociated from theirs, and put upon a bottom perfectly feparate? It is but one and the fame principle, which cements friendhip between man and man in fociety, and which promotes affection between king and fubject: namely, that they share but one fortune; that they flourish by the fame profperity, and are equal fufferers by the fame diflrefs; that the calamity of the people is the depreffion of the prince. On any other terms, there can be no fympathy between men in any relation of life. He concluded by hoping, that his honourable friend would add perfeverance, to the diligence and ability which he had already employed, in his plan for leffening the public expences, and for re ducing the ruinous influence of the crown; and that all men who had an intereft in their country, who profeffed a zeal for her welfare, a regard for the honour of parliament, and an affection for the conftitution, would now have but one mind, and heartily unite, in promoting a meafure fo highly ufeful, and at this time fɔ abfolutely neceffary. While the fcheme of reformation was thus warmly patronized and commended by the oppofition, and drew out no fmall fhare of praise and applaufe to its author from all fides of the house, the minifter was totally filent; an appearance of indifference, which did not pafs without fome fevere comments from his adverfaries. The estimates of the army, and the augnientation of the land force, had (as ufual of late) drawn out much debate, cenfure, and fome attempts at particular enquiry, in the Houfe of Commons. The efimates of the ordnance likewife, which amounted to the fum of 1,049,000l. and exceeded the expence of the preceding year by 132,000l. afforded room for animadverfion and conteft. On thefe occafions, much extraneous matter, relative to the conduct of the commander in chief of the army, the, alledged, neglected and dangerous ftate of Plymouth, and the general means of national defence adopted through the fummer, was repeatedly brought up. In other refpects, the matter of argument, of charge and defence, as well as the ifiue in all cafes, were fuch as we have had already more occafions than one of ftating. Such were the grounds of debate, and fuch the fate of the war fare fare between the contending parties, previous to the Christmas recefs. Every thing feemed directly to lead to the extraordinary events which diftinguished the remainder of the feffion. CHA P. V. Great County meetings, petitions, and affociations. York leads the way. meeting at that city. Committee appointed. Some account of the petition from that county, which becomes a model to others. Sir George Saville prefents the petition from the county of York. Debates on that fubjeet. Jamaica petition prefented. Mr. Burke's plan of economical referm. Bills brought in upon that fyftem. Earl of Shelburne's motion (pursuant to the notice given before the recefs) for a committee of both boufes, to enquire into the public expenditure. Mction feconded by the Earl of Coventry. Oppojed. Debates. Strictures with respect to the county meetings and petitions. Marquis of Carmarthen explains the caufes of his refignation. Strictures on the conduct of a noble lord at the head of a great department. Motion rejected upon a divifion. Unusual firength jhewn by the oppofition on this divifion. T HE bufinefs of public meetings, of petitions to parliament, and of affociations for the redress of grievances, was commenced during the recefs; and the adoption of thefe means for procuring a reform in the executive departments of the ftate, not only became foon very general, but the minds of the public being agitated and warmed by thefe meetings, the views of many, and thofe perfons of no mean weight and confequence, were extended fill farther; and they gradually began to confider, that nothing lefs than a reform in the conftitution of parliament itself, by fhortening its duration, and obtaining a more equal reprefentation of the people, could reach to a perfect cure of the prefent, and afford an effectual prefervative against the return of fimilar evils. The great, populous, and opulent county of York, led the way, and fet the example to the rest of the kingdom. A very numerous and refpectable meeting of the gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders, including perfons of the firft confideration and property in the county, and in the kingdom, fuch as perhaps never was affembled in the fame manner in this nation, was held at York on the last day but one of the year. There a petition to the Houfe of Commons was unanimously agreed upon, and accompanied with a refolution, that a committee of fixty-one gentlemen be appointed, to carry on the neceffary correfpondence for effectually promoting the object of the petition; and likewife to prepare a plan of an affociation, on legal and conftitutional grounds, to fupport the laudable reform, and fuch other meafures as might conduce to restore the freedom of parliament; to be prefented by the chairman of the committee at their [F] 3 Hext |