colonies is invented, and a queftion revived, which ought to have been buried in oblivion. In thefe circumstances a new office is established for the bufinefs of the plantations, and the Earl of Hilfborough called forth, at a moft critical feafon, to govern America. The choice'at leaft announced to us a man of fuperior capacity and knowledge. Whe ther he be fo or not, let his dispatches as far as they have appeared, let his measures as far as they have operated, determine for him. In the former we have seen strong affertions without proof, declamation without argument, and violent cenfures without dignity or moderation; but neither correctness in the compofition, nor judgment in the defign. As for his measures, let it be remembred that he was called upon to conciliate and unite; and that, when he entered into office, the moft refractory of the colonies were ftill difpofed to proceed by the constitutional methods of petition and remonftrance. Since that period they have been driven into exceffes little fhort of rebellion. Petitions have been hindered from reaching the throne and the continuance of one of the principal affem. blies put upon an arbitrary condition, which, confidering the temper they were in, it was impoffible they should comply with, and which would have availed nothing as to the general queftion if it had been complied with. So violent, and I believe I may may call it fo unconstitutional an exertion of the prerogative, to fay 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 temper and moderation. While we are at peace with other nations, our military force may perhaps be fpared to fupport the Earl of Hilfborough's meafures in America. Whenever that force fhall be neceffarily withdrawn or diminished, the difmiffion of fuch a minifter will neither confole, us for his imprudence, nor remove the fettled refentment of a people, who, complaining of an act of the legislature, are outraged by an unwarrantable stretch of prerogative, and, fupporting their claims by argument, are infulted with declamation. Drawing lots would be a prudent and reasonable method of appointing the officers of state, compared to a late difpofition of the secretary's office. Lord Rochford was acquainted with the affairs and tem per of the fouthern 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 de partments, and the former by preference placed in an office, where his experience can be of no ufe to him? Lord Weymouth had diftinguished himself in his firft employment by a spirited, if not judicious 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 diftraction of play, and the bewitching fmiles of Burgundy, behold him exerting the whole ftrength of his clear, unclouded faculties in the fervice of the crown. It was not the heat of midnight exceffes, nor igno rance of the laws, nor the furious spirit of the house of Bedford; No, Sir, when this refpectable minifter interpofod his authority between the magiftrate and the people, and figned the mandate, on which, for ought he knew, the lives of thousands depend, he did it from the deliberate motion of his heart, fupported by the best of his judgment. It has lately been a fashion to pay a compliment to the bravery and generofity of the commander in chief at the expence of his understanding. They who love him make no queftion of his courage, while his friends dwell chiefly on the facility of his difpofition. Admitting him to be as brave as a total abfence of all feeling and reflection can make him, let us fee what fort of merit he derives from the remainder of his character. If it be generofity to accumulate in his own perfon and family a number of lucrative employments; to provide, at the public expence, for every creature that bears the name of of Manners; and, neglecting the merit and fervices of the rest of the army, to heap promotions upon his favourites and dependants, the present commander in chief is the most generous man alive. Nature has been fparing of her gifts to this noble lord; but where birth and fortune are united, we expect the noble pride and independence of a man of fpirit, not the fervile, humiliating complaifance of a courtier. As to the goodnefs of his heart, if a proof of it be taken from the facility of never refufing, what conclufion fhall we draw from the indecency of never performing? And if the difcipline of the army be in any degree preferved, what thanks are due to a man, whofe cares, notoriously confined to filling up vacancies, have degraded the office of commander in chief into a broker of commiffions. With refpect to the navy, I fhall only say, that this country is fo highly indebted to Sir Edward Hawke, that no expence should be spared to secure him an honourable and affluent retreat. The pure and impartial administration of justice is perhaps the firmeft bond to fecure a chearful fubmiffion of the people, and to engage their affections to government. It is not fufficient that questions of private right or wrong are juftly decided, nor that judges are fuperior to the vileness of pecuniary corruption. Jefferies himself, when the court had no no intereft, was an upright judge. A court of justice may be subject to another fort of bias, more important and pernicious, as it reaches beyond the interest of individuals, and affects the whole community. A judge, under the influence of government, may be honest enough in the decifion of private causes, yet a traitor to the public. When a victim is marked out by the miniftry, this judge will offer himself to perform the facrifice. He will not fcruple to prostitute his dignity, and betray the fanctity of his office, whenever an arbitrary point is to be carried for government, or the refentment of a court to be gratified. These principles and proceedings, odious and contemptible as they are, in effect are no lefs injudicious. A wife and generous people are roused by every appearance of oppreffive, unconftitutional measures, whether those measures are fupported openly by the power of government, or masked under the forms of a court of justice. Prudence and felf-prefervation will oblige the most moderate difpofitions to make common caufe, even with a man whofe conduct they cenfure, if they fee him perfecuted in a way which the real spirit of the laws will not justify. The facts, on which thefe remarks are founded, are too notorious to require an ap plication, |