debts and expenses, are committed to a young nobleman already ruined by play. Introduced to act under the auspices of Lord Chatham, and left at the head of affairs by that noblenan's retreat, he became minister by accident; but deserting the principles and professions which gave him a moments popularity, we see him, from every honourable engagement to the public, an apostate by design. As for business, the world, yet knows nothing of his talents or resolution; unless a wayward, wavering inconsistency be a mark of genius, and caprice a demonstration of spirit. It may be said, perhaps, that it is his Grace's province, as surely as it is his passion, rather to distribute than to save the public money; and that while 3.ord North is Chancellor of the Exchequer, the first Lord of the Treasury may be as thoughtless and extravagant as he pleases. I hope, however, he will not rely too much on the fertility of Lord North's genius for finance; his lordship is yet to give us the first proof of his abilities. It may be candid to suppose, that he has hitherto voluntarily concealed his taients; intending, perhaps, to astonish the world, when we least expect it, with a knowJedge of trade, a choice of expedients, and a depth of resources, equal to the necessities, and far beyond the hopes of his country He must now exert the whole power of his capacity, if he would wish us to forget, that, since he has been in office, no plan has been formed, no system adhered to, nor any one important measure adopted for the relief of public cre

to see Mr. Wilkes abandoned: but that under Lord Chatham he would act in any office. This was the When sigual of Lord Rockingham's dismission. Lord Chatham came in, the Duke got possession of the treasury. Reader, mark the consequence!

dit. If his plan for the service of the current year be not irrevocably fixed on, let me warn him to think seriously of consequences before he ventures to increase the public debt. Outraged and oppressed as we are, this nation will not bear, after a six years' peace, to see new millions borrowed, without an eventual diminution of debt, or reduction of interest. The attempt might rouse a spirit of resentment which might reach beyond the sacrifice of a minister. As to the debt upon the civil list, the people of England expect, that it will not be paid without a strict inquiry how it was incurred. If it must be paid by Parliament, let me advise the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to think of some better expedient than a lottery. To support an expensive war, or in circumstances of absolute necessity, a lottery, may, perhaps, be allowable; but, besides, that it is at all times the very worst way of raising money upon the people, I think it ill becomes the royal dignity, to have the debts of a King provided for like the repairs of a country bridge or a decayed hospital. The management of the king's affairs in the House of Commons cannot be more disgraced than it has been. A leading minister* repeatedly called down for absolute ignorance, ridiculous motions ridicu lously withdrawn, deliberate plaus disconcerted, and a week's preparation of graceful oratory lost in a moment, give us some, though not adequate ideas of Lord North's parliamen tary abilities and influence. Yet before he had the misfortune of being Chancellor of the Exchequer, he was neither an object of derision to his enemies, nor of melancholy pity to his friends.

A series of inconsistent measures has alien

*This happened frequently to poor. Lord North,

ated the colonies from their duty as subjects, and from their natural affections to their common country. When Mr. Grenville was placed at the head of the treasury, he felt the impossibility of Great Britain's supporting such an establishment, as her former successes had made indispensable, and at the same time of giving any sensible relief to foreign trade, and to the weight of the public debt. He thought it equitable, that those parts of the empire which had benefitted most by the expenses of the war, should contribute something to the expenses of the peace, and he had no doubt of the constitutional right vested in parliament to raise the contribution. But, unfortunately for this country, Mr. Grenville was at any rate to be distressed, because he was minister; and Mr. Pitt and Lord Camden were to be the patrons of America, because they were in opposition. The declaration gave spirit and argument to the colonies; and while, perhaps, they meant no more than the ruin of a minister, they, in effect, divided one half of the empire from the other.

Under one administration the stamp-act is made; under the second it is repealed; under the third, in spite of all experience, a new mode of taxing the colonies is invented, and a question revived which ought to have been buried in oblivion. In these circumstances, a new office is established for the business of the plantations, and the Earl of Hillsborough called forth, at a most critical season, to govern America. The choice, at least, announced to us a man of superior, capacity and knowledge.-Whether he be so or not, let his dispatches, as far as they have appeared, let his measures, as

*Yet Junius has been called the partisan of Lord Chatham!

far as they have operated, determine for him. In the former we have seen strong assertions without proof, declamation without argument, and violent censures without dignity or moderation; but neither correctness in the composition, nor judgment in the design. As for his measures, let it be remembered, that he was called upon to conciliate and unite; and that, when he entered into office, the most refractory of the colonies were still disposed to proceed by the constitutional methods of petition and remonstrance Since that period they have been driven into excesses little short of rebellion. Petitions have been hindered from reaching the throne; and the continuance of one of the principal assemblies rested upon an arbitrary condition, which considering the temper they were in, it was impossible they should comply with: and which would have availed nothing, as to the general question, if it had been complied with. So violent, and, I believe I may call it, so unconstitutional, an exertion of the prerogative, to say nothing of the weak, injudicious terms in which it was conveyed, gives us as humble an opinion of his Lordship's capacity, as it does of his tem per and moderation. While we are at peace with other nations, our military force may, perhaps, be spared to support the Earl of Hillsborough's measures in America. Whenever that force shall be necessarily withdrawn or diminished, the dismission of such a minister will neither console us for his imprudence, nor remove the settled resentment of a people, who, complaining of an act of the legislature, are outraged by an unwarrantable stretch of prerogative, and, supporting their claims by ar gument, are insulted with declamation.

*That they should retract one of their resolu. tions, and erase the entry of it.

Drawing lots would be a prudent and reasonable method of appointing the officers of state, compared to a late disposition of the Secretary's office. Lord Rochford was acquainted with the affairs and temper of the southern courts; Lord Weymouth was equally qualified for either department ;* by what unaccountable caprice has it happened, that the latter, who pretends to no experience whatsoever, is removed to the most important of the two departments, and the former, by preference, placed in an office where his experience can be of no use to him? Lord Weymouth had distinguished himself, in his first employment, by a spirited, if not judicious, conduct. He had animated the civil magistrate beyond the tone of civil authority, and had directed the operations of the army to more than military execution. Recovered from the errors of his youth, from the distraction of play, and the bewitching smiles of Burgundy, behold him exerting the whole strength of his clear, unclouded faculties, in the service of the crown. It was not the heat of midnight excesses, nor ignorance of the laws, nor the furious spirit of the house of Bedford; no, sir, when this repectable minister interposed his authority bestween the magistrate and the people, and sign. ed the mandate, on which, for ought he knew, the lives of thousands depended, he did it from the deliberate motion of his heart, supported by the best of his judgment.

It has lately been a fashion to pay a compliment to the bravery and generosity of the

It was pretended that the Earl of Rochford, while ambassador in France had quarrelled with the Duke of Choiseul; and that, therefore, he was appointed to the Northern Department, out of compliment to the French minister.