1776. Lords Proteft against lief to our innocent planters in the Weft-Indies, it seems as if an act of the British parliament came in aid of that authority, and provided that no fupply whatsoever fhall be carried to the West Indies, contrary to the refolution of the congrefs. 3dly, Because this bill greatly ex. ceeds in violence, the pattern of injustice which it feems to follow. In fome refpects the prohibitions of the congrefs materially differed from the prohibition of this bill. Their's was not immediate. Time was given to the Weft-Indies for fupply both from America and other places. No confifcations were made. We, on the other hand, have permitted the trade from America, as long as it was neceffary to fave ourselves from fanine, and to enable the colonies to pay their debts. This fupply they have made plentifully, and many of these debts they have difcharged most honour ably. In return for this, to us ufeful and honourable behaviour, ministry, abufing the bounty of Providence, on the firit reitoration of domeftic plenty, has fabricated a bill for feizing American vellels, now trading under the faith of an act of parliament, no ship of their's being fuffered to return to its own country, either from hence, or from the Welt Indies. 4thly, Becaufe the bill, not fatisfied with making predatory war upon the trade of the colonies, thinks it necef fary to stimulate particular avarice and rapacity to an activity in fuch fervice, by rendering captures of NorthAmerican veffels and goods, the property of the captors. This regulation is now, for the firft time (by any regular authority in this kingdom) to be adopted in a civil contention. We confider this method of holding out the fpoil of their fellow-citizens for the reward of alacrity in civil wars, as a fource of the most dangerous corruption that can be conceived, in the fit inttance to our navy, and in its confequence to our army. A number of bold, enterprifing men, trained to the profeffion of arms, with fortunes to make, and promotion to be obtained, are naturally lovers of war. When they have once tafted of emoluments from domeftic poil, they will no longer look on the commerce of England as an object of protection, but of plunder. They will fee the profperous ftate of peaceful domeftic industry, not with pleafure, but with envy. They will be taught to with for thofe lucrative civil commotions, which they will always have the means of provoking. Our foldiers in the land fervice will fee no reafon for their being distinguished from the marine; and they will call for the plunder of English trading towns, when they fee that the feamen have been indulged in the plunder of English trading fhips. It never can be lafe for a ftate to hold out an intereft in difturbing it, to those who have the fword in their hand. The greateft republic, of which history gives us any knowledge,, was fubverted by this licence of domeftic plunder. We are perfectly affured, that the navy of England wants no fuch unnatural and impious encouragement towards the performance of any duty which their known public fpirit, and yet uncorrupted honour, may make it fit for them to perform. And it is no lefs on their's, than on the public account, a matter of the most ferious affliction to us, that a fervice always looked upon (and hitherto most juftly) not only without tear or jealouly, but with the moft partial affection in every part of this empire, fhould be unneceffarily expofed to the latting odium which mult attend thofe who are enriched from the fpoils of citizens, amongit whom they may be obliged to spend their lives, and form their connections. Civil wars (when they must be made) fhould be made in fuch a manner, as not to render the return to peace and cordiality impracticable. If the fpoil ordered by this act had been left in the crown, the crown might use it as an encouragement for a return to obedience, as a means of future peace: it is now only a provocation, through defpair and refentment, to perpetual hoftility. We cannot poffibly difcern how any neceflary operation of war is ftrengthened by this difgrace of legislature. But if the arms now uted, fhould fucceed fo as to enforce a temporary and reluctant obedience, we fee but too well, that this bill will leave fuch a fling in the minds of the colonifts, as to render our government there hated and fufpected, and therefore for ever precarious. sthly, 30 Lords Proteft against the last American Bill. 5thly, Because this bill, by anticipating all legal judgment of the offences of thofe whole goods are forfeited, overturns one of the most excellent and profoundly confidered parts of that fundamental law, the declaration of rights, which declares that all grants of fines and forfeitures of particular perfons before conviction, are illegal and void."-This provifion is exprefsly made, left rapacious minifters, fcenting confifcation, or rapacious foldiers allured by the Juft of plunder, thould be induced to forge or provoke plots and rebellions, in order to enrich themfelves out of the public diforders. 6thly, Because very extenfive commercial property of British fubjects (implicated by the nature of commercial intercourfe with that of innocent Englishmen refiding here) is to be taken out of the equitable jurifdiction of the common law of England, and from that ineftimable birthright of the fubjects of this kingdom, a trial by jury, and carried to the court of admiralty to be tried by a single judge, on the rules of an arbitary foreign law. 7thly, Because the whole scheme of this predatory war for private lucre, is put under the arbitrary direction of certain commiffioners, to us unknown, even by name; who have power to give fuch continuance to the ravages authorifed by this bill, as their arbitrary will fhall fuggeft, to pardon or except from pardon, any number or defcription of perfons, and with fuch exceptions as they fhall fee fit, without any other rule than their own private opinion, fancy, caprice, favour, or refentment; and without any other rule to open or keep shut, any colony, province, county, town, diftrict, or place. We are of opinion that the power left to the faid commiffioners, is perfectly unjustifiable and unconftitutional. It has befides a tendency to create the moft fhameful and mifchievous monopolies. The power given to the Admiralty, and to the Weft-India governors, to licence hips, is of the fame nature. If fuch monopolies and jobs fhould not arife from fuch powers it is no fault of this bill, which, as if it had these purposes in view, has taken especial care to provide as strong a temptation, as human nature, fet Jan, above law and reftraint, and furnished with every facility to corruption, can poffibly be expofed to. 8thly, Because we know nothing of the bufinefs of these commiffioners, further than the above arbitrary difcretion with regard to pardons. Rumour gives out,that they are to have a power to treat with the Americans for a redress of their grievances. Of this however neither the fpeech from the throne, nor the bill have given the leaft intimation. Although if the commiffioners treat on this fubject at all, acts and powers of parliament being the matter of complaint, the commiffioners ought to derive fome previous authority from parliament, in order to give weight and efficacy to their negociations, and to preferve fome appearance of dignity in ourselves. It is hardly proper, that parliament fhould appear in no other light than as the inftrument of penal restrictions, attainder, penalties, and confifcations; as the maker of menacing addreffes, and the rejector of dutiful petitions. It is hardly decent to fhew ourselves fierce and inflexible here, but to be fatisfied with permitting unknown perfons whom minifters thall chufe in future to appoint, to difpofe in America of powers and acts of parliament at their pleasure; leaving us firft the odium of rejecting reasonable requests, and afterwards the difgrace of ratifying fhameful conceffions. 9thly, Because we reject with indignation, that claufe of this bill, which by a refinement in tyranny, and in a fentence worfe than death, obliges the unhappy men who fhall be made captives in this predatory war, to bear arms against their families, kindred, friends, and country; and after being plundered themfelves, to become accomplices in plundering their brethren. If there exists a doubt whether to juftify the infliction of capital punishment on defertion, it should be neceffary to prove that a feaman was a preffed man er a volunteer. The object of this claufe is to deprive the American feamen of the plea of his being a preffed man, as it declares that he is to be confidered to all intents and purpofes, as having entered voluntarily into the fervice. By this claufe, not only common feamen, but masters of veffels are, without regard to age or circumftances, or con dition, 1776. Memoirs of a Lay Preacher. dition, to be ignominiously turned before the maft, and subjected to the auftere difcipline of the boatfwain. Perfons in that fubordinate ftation, not being animated with the liberal and ingenious (pirit which distinguishes of ficers in the navy, and taught to confider thefe forced volunteers as rebels, will be but too apt to aggravate the miferies of captivity by infult and outrage. These prifoners, among the comrades they are obliged to live and ferve with, may very probably be of ten forced to behold the fpoils of their honeft industry, and the natural fupport of their fober families, fquandered in riot and profligate debauchery before their faces. This we look upon as the last degree of wretchednefs and indignity, to which human nature can be fubjected. This cruelty, unknown to the most favage nations, is to be practifed by Englishmen on English men. It has been faid in parliament, that the pay the prifoners are to receive is to be confidered as a full compenfation for the principles they are obliged to violate. We do not envy any one that fentiment. An attempt is alfo made to justify it by the fuppofed right of preffing. We cannot conceive that the burthens of fubjection ought ever to be impofed, where the protection belonging to it is denied; or that a man can ever be defpoiled of his goods as a foreign enemy, and at the lame time obliged to ferve the itate as a citizen. This compulsion we have never heard to be practised on any prifoners in war, or in rebellionnor do we know any example of it, 31 except among pirates-the outlaws and enemies of human fociety. 1othly, Because a bill fo unprecedented in its nature, and fo important in its confequences, is brought in at a time of year, when by experience it is known, that most of the independent members of both Houfes are called away by their domeftic affairs, and when few but those in the immediate pay of the court, and attending on their employments, are in town. This we conceive to be done in order to imprefs the public with a delufive idea, that thofe measures are agreeable to greater numbers in both Houses, than in reality they are. The only part of this bill which we approve, is the repeal of the unjust and improvident acts which have produced all the evit effects we had forefeen, and none of the good which was pretended as the ground for making them: acts, as unfit for, as incapable of execution. But to our inexpreffible grief, and to the difgrace of the public councils of this kingdom, minifters, untaught by misfortunes, and uncheck'd by diappointments, at the very inftant they are obliged to demolish the old fabric of their oppreffion, as ufelefs and mifchievous, are building up another on nearly the fame model, and with the fame materials, adding only fomething more of that injuftice and violence, which have always proved mifchievous in proportion as they have been augmented. For the LONDON MAGAZINE. Memoirs of a Lay Preacher, fuppofed to be delivered by himself in one of his Sermons. Poffefs in no fmall degree of perfec tion, the talent of perfuafion.-I ain not one of those who unneceffarily and impertinently commend themfelves, but I'll give you two inftances of my fuccefs in preaching, which will prove me entitled to your favourable hearing. It may be about three weeks ago that Haw a crowd, and enquiring what was the matter, I found they had made a ring, in which, two men ftripped of their very thirts, were prepa red to encounter with fifts. I called out to 'em to fufpend their quarrel, till I had communicated fomething which it nearly concerned them to know; I prevailed, and like a bleffed · peacemaker, fo completely foftened them, that they put on their fhirts again, and parted friends. The other inftance is fo extraordinary, and indeed almost incredible, that if I was not able to produce witneffes of its truth, I fhould be unwilling to mention it. You know there is a diverfion that goes 3.2 Specimen of the Lay Preacher's Abilities. goes by the name of cocking, in which the company are extremely clamorous, profanely fwearing and "bullying, infomuch that a perfon with moderate lungs could not pofdibly be heard. At fuch an affembly I was prefent, not prompted by avarice to act the fame butcherly part with the rest; but, being earnest in foulfaving I called out to them, with a windpipe fo clear and strong, that they were amazed at it: I improved this -firft furprize to the happiest of purpofes, and told them, they were in the greatest danger if they continued in that place five minutes longer, that in all probability they would be dead men; they were already dead in tref paffes and fins. I begged, by all that was dear to them, that they would follow me, which they did, with the greatest expedition; I verily believe, that I drew them out of the pit in lefs than half the time above mentioned. This was a pious fraud, you must acknowledge and when I had got them out, I brought fach arguments from fcripture against their cruel paftime, that they thewed evident figns of remorfe. Have you no bowels of compaffion, faid I, or do you think thefe fubjects of your mirth have no feeling that you thus riot in their wounds, wantonly provoking and stirring them up to ftrite? Arighteous man regardeth the life of bis beaft, to Solomon faid: and of his bird too, I fay. Recollect, I pray you, that pathetic addrefs of your Saviour, O Jerufalem, Jerufalem, which killeft the prophets, and ftoneit them that are fent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not? And was it for this, that the hen gathered her chickens under her wings, that their blood fhould be fpilt for your recreation? That with artificial weapons (O diabolical in.ention!) they fhould tear and mangle each other, and die ten thousand deaths?Did not Peter weep bitterly when the cock crew ?For it reproached him with the deni al of his master: and you deny Chrift, you act in oppofition to his golpel, which requires that you should be tender-hearted. In fhort, my expoftu lations had the defired effect upon them, they went away with difpofi Jan. tions totally changed, fo that not one of them would have trod upon a spi. der if he had feen it. This was a glorious converfion; Ifhould be glad to hear that the regular divines did any thing like it; but the pulpit is their's, we preach in the field! It is true, we do, and fo did Chrift himself, and elsewhere, as opportunity served : have you not read his fermon in the mount? And how he entered into Peter's hip and preached. But we are charged with being itinerant. I must give you the derivation of this word, and explain it to you, before I go any further. It is derived from the Latin word iter, which by interpretation is, a journey: itinerants, therefore, are travellers, of which number I profefs myself to be one. Look at the foles of thefe fhoes, there is a large hole in each, betokening diligence in my profeffion: and did not our Saviour go about, doing good? But the caflock-wearing tribe fay, that we creep into houses and lead captive filly avemen: they might with more truth fay, that we fet many free who were tied and bound with the chain of their fins-Let fuch as are beneficed, confine their doctrine within the walls of their churches (though many of them do no duty at all, but live upon the fat of the land, and pay their curates poorly enough) Til preach in feafon and out of feajon; I cannot in confcience be idle; wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel. And that I am qualified to do it, I fhall now prove to you, in answer to the charge-that we are unlearned. I'll not yield, in point of qualification, to any of the full-fed, unprofitable fervants, who don't come even at the eleventh bour into the vineyard. I have already given you a fpice of my learning in the Latin tongue, and I could give you Greek: I thank my God, I can speak with tongues more than you all-but I had rather interpret. And how do you think I came by my skill in languages? I'll inform you, brethren, and leave you to judge what pretenfions I had to fet up for a teacher. I was born of reputable parents : my father was a fubftantial farmer, and being told by our village-mailer that I was a promifing lad, he thought fit to fend me to a more creditable school, where 1776. Singular Adventures of the Itinerant Preacher. where having male great proficiency, father and my mother forjake me, the Lord taketh me up. Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, but without faying a word to the people of the houfe where I lodged I removed to fome diftance, and began to preach: and at the beginning, my labours were as ill requited as thofe of St. Paul, or worfe. I was in perils oft, and frequently fuffered, from my own countrymen; they perfecuted me from city to city, hurt my feet in the ftocks, thrice loaded me with irons; and, I will not (indeed I cannot) fay how many times I received ftripes, but this I'll venture to affirm, that the Apoffle was not whipped half fo often nor fo feverely +. But I glory in tribulation; and while thofe, who boast that they are licenced to preach, make light of our labour of love, I am nevertheless inftant, attending continually upon this very thing: for I am determined that no injurious treatment fall difcourage me, no dangers or difficulties affright me. I preached when I was in prifon, when certain fons of Belial had rilen up, and falfely accufed me. I have told you that I was three times ironed, and here again let me relate what happy effects were produced by the fpeaking with my tongue. Jau. 1776. 33 Gaolers, from the nature of their employment, are far from being the note tender-hearted fet of men: they, whofe hands I had the misfortune to fall into, were remarkably cruel; but I contrived to extricate my felf. The first time that I was confined, my keeper was fo won upon, and brought to fuch a religious temper of mind, by my difcourfe, that reading one night in bed he fet the gaol on fire, and in the confufion I and my fellow prifon. ers escaped fo that I might be laid to fave-to deliver others as well as myfelf, to save them by fire. When I was confined the fecond time, I infifted fo much upon the christian duty, in whatever fiate we are-therewith to be content, that he who was appointed to be a watchman over the prifoners, was very much off his guard; of which, knowing I could do more gofpel-good out of prifon than in it, I took advantage, and let myself out. The third and laft time of my durance, that is to fay, imprifonment, was longer than either of the two former times; for the man who had the keys was flow to bear, his heart was hardened (like Pharaoh's, who would not let the children of Ifrael go) fo that I could not prefently make an impreffion upon it; but after a while I difcovered fomething like grace in him, a difpofition towards goodness, which, with a great deal of patience, I endeavoured to improve. In particular, I reminded him that there was an earthquake when St. Paul was imprifoned, which had fuch an effect upon him, that he asked me the fame queftion which the jailer asked St. Paul, "What shall I do to be faved ?" In anfwer to it, I led him by degrees to a more perfect knowledge of that way; I told him, that he fhould imitate his Maker, and be merciful; especially, that he ought to fhew pity upon prifoners and captives; moreover I got my kinsmen and acquaintance to affore him that I had done nothing worthy of bonds; fo that partly through their good offices, but more by my own perfuading, he let me go free on a Sunday night, and opened the door for me himself. And here I am, fpending my breath, and will gladly spend and be Spent for you, if I can but bring you F He went off without paying for his lodging. + St. Paul's number was five times forty, fave one. into |