of the battle of Plaffey, fome very enormous fortunes were made.

Again, in the first acquifition of the Duannee, when the entire government of a great kingdom devolved upon a few Englifh gentlemen, rapid and enormous fortunes were made by two or three of them, nor was it poffible it should be otherwise. Our Commanders in Chief, too, in thofe days, General Smith, and Sir Robert Barker, acquired very large fortunes from the power and influence they enjoyed by being conftantly at Allahabad with the King, or in the Vizier's country.

Again, by the treaty of 1775 with the prefent Vizier, the entire management of Oude fell (as Mr. Haftings foretold it would) into the hands of the refident at his court-This was naturally the fource of great influence, and great emolument to two English gentlemen, not yet returned to England.

It is a circumftance worthy of remark, that of all the civil fervants who have gone

out in the laft twelve years, that is, fince Mr. Haftings became Governor, only one has returned, and that gentleman never

profited fixpence by his appointment; for he quitted Bengal either before it arrived, or a very few months after, with an unblemished reputation-He returned with his relation, Mr. Francis.

It is equally worthy of remark, that not a fingle gentleman, who has been in the Governor General's family, civil or military, has returned to England, with any fortune, myself excepted; and I certainly did not acquire a fortune in Mr. Haftings's family: I brought with me, or left behind, about 7000l. being all that I acquired in fixteen years.

If fuch is the ftate of the fortunes ac

quired by gentlemen appointed to Bengal, for the laft two and twenty years, it will be found, upon investigation, that the fortunes acquired at Madras and Bombay, by gentlemen of the fame standing, are still more inconfiderable. They are fewer in number: and I do not fuppofe, that thirty gentlemen, who went out in or fince 1762,

men who have faid and unfaid, juft as it anfwered their political purposes; and who, when they were in the plenitude of power, never dared to do what they ought to have done, if they really thought Mr. Haftings a delinquent, that is, to have brought in a bill for his removal upon fome one specific charge. Inftead of this, what is it they did? Their leader accufed him of a crime, for which, if he had been guilty, his life would have been too poor a facrifice; he then declared, he meant nothing perfonal against him; and in the end, this Mr. Haftings, this notorious delinquent, was offer ed a full and free pardon for all his offences, provided his friends would tacitly submit to fee the Company, his benefactors and prefervers, deprived of their rights, and plundered of their property.

Vainly flow'd the myftic rhime! Mark the deeds from age to age, That fill her trophy-pictur'd page;

She speeds, at George's fage command;
Society from deep to deep,

And zone to zone she binds;
From fhore to fhore, o'er every land,
The golden chain of commerce winds.
Mean time, her patriot-cares explore,
Her own rich woof's exhaustless store;
Her native fleece new fervour feels,
And wakens all its whirling wheels,
And mocks the rainbow's radiant die:
More wide the labours of the loom fhe
fpreads,

In firmer bands domeftic commerce weds, And calls her Sifter-ifle to share the tie :

Nor heeds the violence that broke

From filial realms her own parental yoke! Her cities, throng'd with many an attic dome,

Afk not the banner'd baftion, maffy-proof; Afk not the banner'd baftion, maffy-proof;

Firm as the castle's feudal roof,

Stands the Briton's focial home.Hear, Gaul, of England's liberty the lot! Right, order, law, protect her fimplest plain; Nor fcorn to guard the fhepherd's nightly fold,

And watch around the forest-cot.

With conscious certainty, the fwain Gives to the ground his trufted grain, With eager hope the reddening harveft eyes; And claims the ripe autumnal gold,

The meed of toil, of industry the prize. For our's the King, who boafts a parent's

Whofe hand the people's scepter sways;
praise,
Whofe active plans pervade the civil frame;
Our's is the Senate, not a fpecious name,
Where bold debate its nobleft war difplays,
And, in the kindling ftrife, unlocks the tide
Of manifeft eloquence, and rolls the torrent
wide.

fidencies. This, however, is capable of proof; but as Bengal has been called the garden of Eden, I confine myself to that pot. Enormous as were the fortunes ac

time,

Still glows her valour's veteran rage.. O'er Calpe's cliffs, and fteepy towers, When ftream'd the red fulphureous showers,

Each captious doubt, and cautious fear! Nor blaft the new-born year, . That anxious waits the fpring's flowshooting ray:

by which an Empire was conquered for Great Britain, and at our acquifition of the Duannee, they did not amount to fo much as was acquired by individuals here, by one of the noble Lord's loans, during

the late calamitous and unfortunate war. I fhall be truly happy, if it should be my good fortune, by preferving that facred regard to truth, from which I have never yet deviated, to remove from the minds of the Public thofe prejudices which have been inftilled into them by the bold affertions of

It's

threw;

While far along the midnight main glaring arch the flaming volley drew; How triumph'd Elliot's patient train, And met th' unwonted fight's terrific form; Baffling their vain confederate foes!

And hurling back the burning war, arose Superíor to the fiery storm! there an ocean, that forgets to roll

Is

Beneath the torpid pole,

Nor to the brooding tempeft heaves! Her hardy keel the ftubborn billow cleaves.

bloom.

With candid glance, th' impartial Muse

Invok'd on this aufpicious morn, The present scans, the diftant fcene purfues, Interpreter of ages yet unborn, And breaks opinion's fpeculative gloom :

Full right fhe fpells the characters of fate, That Albion ftill fhall keep her wonted state; Still in eternal story shine,

Of Victory the sea-beat shrine; The fource of every fplendid art, Of old, of future worlds the universal mart.

flit fufficient to admit fhillings and guineas, | one by one. The coin cannot be taken out without breaking to pieces the repofitory in which it is placed. But wants arife, paffion prevails, and the frail pitcher falls into fhivers at the touch of the poker. The clear revenue of Great Britain, after the payment of annual interest for the public loans, is between four and five millions; a fum barely fufficient to defray the expences of a peace establishment. Credit cannot be stretched beyond its prefent extent; nor new taxes impofed, and borne. The first war in which we are involved, will, therefore, if a longer peace do not intervene than we have ever enjoyed, occafion fome change or convulfion that will produce a new face of affairs in this country. A reduction of the public intereft, and a confequent diminution of the value of ftock, would be the least evil that could befall us. The nation is no longer amufed with the expectation of clearing off the public debt by means of America: that delufion doubled the debt it hoped to alleviate. We have now recourse to abstracted calculations of the accumulating intereft of money: but, before the fequeftered fum has time to increase to fuch an accumulation as would have any material effect on the national debt, the ever-varying state of the world will too probably involve us in frefh difficulties. Thus, on the whole, it appears, that though our commercial profperity, and national refources, at the prefent moment, be great even beyond example, yet our fituation is alfo even beyond example precarious.

Add to all thefe confiderations, the difadvantages of loft reputation; the weaknefs of our Government, betrayed by the lofs of America and Ireland; our infolence towards the former, our abject fubmiffion to the latter; the impolicy of our conduct towards both. This lofs of reputation must invite new attacks, and precipitate a war even before the natural or ufual period of its revolution.

The general alacrity with which the nobility and gentry of Great Britain prepared to repel, during the late war, a threatened invafion from France; the numbers of men of rank that ferved in the army in America; and the intrepidity of both officers and foldiers at land and fea, fully fuftained the character of the nation, and proved that the military fpirit is yet ftrong and ardent among Britons. On the whole, the invention, and induftry, and enterprife of mechanics and merchants are yet vigorous and ardent, and the fpirits of individuals, in war, yet unbroken. But there is at the prefent moment a weakness of government; the fubjects are oppreffed with taxes; and the first return of war threatens to deftroy that artificial capital which ftimulates our trade, and fo break thofe ideal bands which connect us in a fplendid com

merce with one another, and with the whole world.

The infinite difadvantage in our prefent fituation is the abject incapacity of the rulers who have ufurped the adminiftration of affairs. They are too frivolous to perceive either the ftrength or weakness of the nation. And the laft example they have exhibited of their imbecility muft difgrace them over Europe. In the courfe of the laft month, the British Envoy at the Hague was ordered to prefent from the court of London a memorial to the States General. In that memorial the Minifter of this country, as if under an infatuation, appears anxious to announce his own incapacity, and even to sport with the common fenfe of mankind. A treaty inimical to this country in the highest degree, is concluded between the United Provinces and France. The British Miniftry are The British Miniftry are informed of this by the foreign gazettes; and after the blow is ftruck, by way of preventive, they conjure the States "not to be drawn in to accept of any engagements, which might at any time betray them into a fyftem contrary to that rectitude which hath ever guided his Britannic Majefty, or by making them fwerve from the folid bafis of an independent neutrality, and raife infuperable objections to the renewal of an alliance between the two powers, when time and circumftances may prefent it to their High Mightinefles as a matter of neceffity and mutual conveniency." Whenever the renewal of an alliance with Great Britain fhall appear to the States a matter of neceffity and convenience, there will be no occafion for the counsel of Mr. Pitt to difpofe them, in fact, to renew it. There is in this memorial fuch proof of want of vigilance and forefight, fuch manifeft abfurdity and puerility, that it is inconceivable that it fhould have been fabricated or thought of by men in their fober fenfes. It is addreffed too late to the States of Holland. It cannot properly be confidered as a memorial to them; for the matter to which it refers was determined and fettled before it was prefented: but it may juftly be confidered as a MEMORIAL to the people of Great Britain, praying and conjuring them, by all that is dear to men and nations, to chace from the helm of Government individuals who act fo prepofterously, and hold up this kingdom to the whole world as an object of contempt and ridicule.

It is generally understood that the object of the treaty between France and the States General is to maintain the fuperiority at fea over England; and to aflift the Irith in the event of a rupture with this country. The invariable object of France is to pave the way by intrigues for the humiliation of England; and when fhe is ready to act offenfively, a war muft enfue, of which it is easy to foresee the confe

quences.

Mr. Pitt, fecure of forty years peace, and utterly unacquainted with the views and intentions of foreign courts, prepares to open the Parliament with fplendid proposals for the extinction of the national debt. But though his fchemes for this purpose were even framed with wifdom, a circumstance which is wildly improbable, their operation must be flow; and England from his folly. may firft become a province of France. In the midft of his calculations, our defenceless country may be invaded; and a deluded nation compelled to fubmit to the wretchednefs of dependence and fervitude.

IRELAND.

THE Irish nation are more zealous in afferting their claims to unreftrained commerce, than induftrious to make use of them. The pride and the turbulency of that people are gratified by a quarrel with England, in which the English, inftead of refifting, court and indulge them. The wifeft policy that the English could obferve, would be, to let them alone. The pragmatical reftleffnefs of Mr. Pitt only ferves to irritate their paffions, and to foment and perpetuate difcord. We are very much alarmed at the poffibility of the Irish running away with our manufactures and trade.. But that event is at least yet at a great distance: nor is that the evil with which Great Britain is immediately threatened. If no reverfe of fortune fhould fubvert the prefent importance and power of this country, Ireland, after all her buftle, might yet, as heretofore, depend upon England. If the rifing commerce, if the wife and fteady policy of any other nation, fhould fink this into infignificance and contempt, the lofs of Ireland would only be one among the other misfortunes that would overwhelm her. And in fuch a cafe Ireland too, as well as England, would probably be fubordinate to the prevailing power on the great continent of Europe.

But if the balance of power fhould be maintained among the nations for centuries to come, it is poffible that Ireland might be able to maintain her independence, as an imperial kingdom. It feems however impoffible, in all events, that the new and unprecedented relation, or connection, in which Ireland ftands to Great Britain, fhould be lasting.

Wherever we turn our eyes, difficulties and dangers prefent themfelves. And to oppofe thefe, there is a miniftry whose prepofterous councils would lead to ruin even in the midft of profperity. In fuch critical junctures their efforts must be death. The country, on the brink of deftruction, looks up to its fovereign for the falutary exertion of his prerogative. By difmifling his prefent fervants, he can alone fecure his own grandeur, and the happiness of his fubjects. If his minifters are zealous to degrade the majefty of the people, their

TREE:

Yet as JOHNSON, lefs frolic, was taller, was older, He reach'd the first boughs by the help of his fhoulder; Where, fhelter'd from famine, from bailiffs, and weather,

Baids, critics, and players fat crowded together; Who devour'd in their reach, all the fruit they could meet,

The good, bad, indifferent, the bitter and fweet :
But Garrick climb'd high to a plentiful crop,
Then, heavens! what vagaries he play'd on the top!
How, now on the loofe twigs, and now on the tight,
He flood on his head, and then bolted upright!
All features, all fhapes, and all paffions he tried;
Hedanc'd, and he ftrutted, he laugh'd, and he cried,
He prefented his face, and he fhow'd his backfide!,
The noble, the vulgar, flock'd round him to fee
What feats he perform'd in the MULBERRY-TREE:
He repeated the paftime, then open'd to speak,
But JOHNSON below mutter'd ftrophes of Greek,
While GARRICK proclaim'd-fuch a plant never
grew,

So fofter'd by fun-fhine, by foil, and by dew.
The palm-trees of Delos, Phoenicia's fweet grove,
The oaks of Dodona, though hallow'd by Jove,
With all that antiquity fhows to furpafs us,

Compar'd to this tree, were mere fhrubs of Parnaffus.
Not the beeches of Mantua, where Tityrus was laid,
Not all Vallombrofa produc'd fuch a fhade;
That the myrtles of France, like the birch of the
fchools,

Were fit only for rods to whip Genius to rules;
That to Stratford's old MULBERRY, faireft and beft,
The Cedars of Eden muft bow their proud creft:

Then the fruit-like the loaf in the Tub's pleafant

Tale,

That was fish, flesh, and custard, good claret and

ale

Dearly obtains the refuge it affords.
Its elevated fcite forbids the wretch
To drink fweet waters of the chryftal well;
He dips his bowl into the weedy ditch,
And heavy-laden brings his bev'rage home,
Far-fetch'd and little worth ;-nor feldom

wants,

Dependent on the baker's punctual call,
Angry and fad, and his laft cruft confum'd,
To hear his creaking panniers at his door,
So farewell envy at the PEASANT'S NEST.
If folitude make feant the means of life,
Society for me! Thou feeming sweet,
Be ftill a pleafing object in my view,
My vifit ftill, but never mine abode.

reasonably expected; and as you, Gentlemen, are the moft numerous, as well as the most interested body of people in the fuccefs of this undertaking, it is reasonable to hope that you will not be deficient in af

fording it your proper fupport and affil

tance. Perhaps it may not be immediately obvious to all of you, how nearly you are interested in a scheme of this kind; but if you reflect that the greateft part of the money contributed, will, even at firft, be divided amongst the moft meritorious of your labourers and fervants, and that thereby a general spirit of emulation will be excited amongst them, to your inestimable advantage; and that foon premiums will and most useful experiments in husbandry; alfo be proposed to encourage the newest

and that it will not therefore be carried out of the country to be fpent elsewhere, but muft of neceffity be again circulated amongst you: when you confider this properly, you will, I hope, have ftill the lefs hefitation in giving it your fupport. It is too commonly imagined that the benefit of improvements accrues only to the owners of the lands, and not to the tenants, as the rents are usually raised in proportion; an opinion nearly as erroneous, as it is inimical to improvements. That fome advantage does, and ought to accrue to the landlord from the improvement of his eftate, is perfectly true; but the principal benefit muft be to the tenant, who alone is capable of eftimating its advantage, and in many inftances, of pursuing it. This I fpeak only to rack rented eftates, as those which are held on leafehold for any long term, are