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cumstances to fo many objects, that, had they all continued in their original force, commerce muf speedily have expired under them. Some of them, the miniftry which gave them birth was obliged to destroy with their own hand they figned the condemnation of their own regulations; confeffing in fo many words, in the preamble of their act of the 5th Geo. III. that fome of these regulations had laid an unnecessary restraint on the trade and corref pondence of his Majefty's American fubjects. This, in that ministry, was a candid confeffion of a miftake: but every alteration made in thofe regulations by their fucceffors is to be the effect of envy, and American mifreprefentation. So much for the author's fimplicity in regulation.

I have now gone through all which I think immediately effential in the author's idea of war, of peace, of the comparative ftates of England and France, of our actual fituation; in his projects of œconomy, of finance, of commerce, and of conftitutional improvement. There remains nothing now to be confidered, except his heavy cenfures upon the adminiftration which was formed in 1765; which is commonly known by the name of the Marquis of Rockingham's administration, as the administration which preceded it is by that of Mr. Grenville. Thefe cenfures relate chiefly to three heads: 1. To the repeal of the American

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ftamp act. 2. To the commercial regulations then made. 3. To the courfe of foreign negotiations during that fhort period.

A person who knew nothing of publick affairs but from the writings of this author would be led to conclude, that, at the time of the change in June 1765, fome well-digefted fyftem of adminiftration, founded in national strength, and in the affections of the people, proceeding in all points with the moft reverential and tender regard to the laws, and pursuing with equal wisdom and fuccefs every thing which could tend to the internal profperity, and to the external honour and dignity of this country, had been all at once fubverted, by an irruption of a fort of wild, licentious, unprincipled invaders, who wantonly, and with a barbarous rage, had defaced a thousand fair monuments of the conftitutional and political skill of their predeceffors. It is natural indeed that this author thould have fome diflike to the administration which was formed in 1765. Its views in moft things were different from those of his friends; in fome, altogether oppofite to them. It is impoffible that both of thefe administrations fhould be the objects of publick efteem. Their different principles compofe fome of the strongest political lines which difcriminate the parties even now fubfifting amongst us. The minifters of 1764 are not indeed followed by very many in their oppofition:

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yet a large part of the people now in office enter tain, or pretend to entertain, fentiments entirely conformable to theirs; whilft fome of the former colleagues of the miniftry which was formed in 1765, however they may have abandoned the connexion, and contradicted by their conduct the principles of their former friends, pretend, on their parts, ftill to adhere to the fame maxims. All the leffer divifions, which are indeed rather names of perfonal attachment than of party. dif tinction, fall in with the one or the other of these leading parties.

I intend to ftate, as thortly as I am able, the general condition of publick affairs, and the difpofition of the minds of men, at the time of the remarkable change of fyftem in 1765. The reader will have thereby a more diftinct view of the comparative merits of these feveral plans, and will receive more fatisfaction concerning the ground and reafon of the measures which were then purfued, than, I believe, can be derived from the perufal of those partial reprefentations contained in the State of the Nation, and the other writings of thofe who have continued, for now near three years, in the undisturbed poffeffion of the prefs. This will, I hope, be fome apology for my dwelling a little on this part of the subject.

On the refignation of the Earl of Bute, in 1763, our affairs had been delivered into the hands of

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three minifters of his recommendation; Mr. Grenville, the Earl of Egremont, and the Earl of Halifax. This arrangement, notwithstanding the retirement of Lord Bute, announced to the publick a continuance of the fame measures; nor was there more reafon to expect a change from the death of the Earl of Egremont. The Earl of Sandwich fupplied his place. The Duke of Bedford, and the gentlemen who act in that connexion, and whofe general character and politicks were fufficiently understood, added to the strength of the miniftry, without making any alteration in their plan of conduct. Such was the conftitution of the ministry which was changed in 1765.

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As to their politicks, the principles of the peace of Paris governed in foreign affairs. In domeftick, the fame fcheme prevailed, of contradicting the opinions, and difgracing most of the perfons, who had been countenanced and employed in the late reign. The inclinations of the people were little attended to; and a difpofition to the ufe of forcible methods ran through the whole tenour of adminiftration. The nation in general was uneafy and diffatisfied. Sober men faw caufes for it, in the conftitution of the miniftry and the conduct of the minifters. The minifters, who have ufually a fhort method on fuch occafions, attributed their unpopularity wholly to the efforts of faction, However this might be, the licentiousness and tu,

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mults of the common people, and the contempt of government, of which our author fo often and fo bitterly complains, as owing to the mifmanagement of the fubfequent administrations, had at no time rifen to a greater or more dangerous height. The measures taken to fupprefs that spirit were as violent and licentious as the fpirit itself; injudicipus, precipitate, and fome of them illegal. Instead of allaying, they tended infinitely to inflame the distemper; and whoever will be at the leaft pains to examine, will find thofe meafures, not only the caufes of the tumults which then prevailed, but the real, fources of almost all the diforders which have arisen fince that time. More intent on making a victim to party than an example of justice, they blundered in the method of pursuing their vengeance. By this means a difcovery was made of many practices, common indeed in the office of fecretary of ftate, but wholly repugnant to our laws, and the genius of the English conftitution. One of the worft of thefe was, the wanton and indifcriminate feizure of papers, even in cafes where the fafety of the ftate was not pretended in juftification of fo harsh a proceeding. The temper of the miniftry had excited a jealoufy, which made the people more than commonly vigilant concerning every power which was exercifed by government. The abuse, however fanctioned by cuftom, was evident; but the miniftry, instead of

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