in the difcuffion of this capital point. A tedious, bloody and expenfive war, with fo powerful an enemy as France, might well induce their attention and caution, how they involved their young fovereign and country in a new war with a powerful king, rich in his refources of treasure, and formidable by a numerous fleet of capital fhips; or threw this king into the arms and entire intereft of an enemy, whom they might thereby enable to rife with renewed vigour. Spain had not only fhewed no open enmity towards us, but had at times so perfevered in profeffions of friendship, that even our ambaffa. dor was led to think the defired to be upon the best terms with us. It was not the intereft of the crown of Spain to im barrass itself with the broken fortunes of France; and although the friendship of nature and confanguinity might be ftrong between these two crowns, it was not reasonable to think it would fo far mislead a new king, that he fhould involve his new fubjects, and his own interests, in thofe calamities, and ruins of war, which might be fuppofed to be unavoidable, in taking part against a victorious, powerful, and triumphant nation, flushed with fuccefs, and skilled in the arts of conqueft. Under thefe circumstances it appeared neither juft nor politic to be the aggreflors, in hurrying on hoftilities, and making an enemy; when by delay, and farther negotiation, we might preferve a friend, and obtain the bleflings of a good peace with the whole world. But at the fame time it was thought neceflary, not to relax in vigour, or be unprepared for the worst; which, if it thould happen in this way, would clear us from the afperfion thrown out upon us at the commencement of our war with France; and our moderation and equity obtain us the efteem and approbation of all Europe, when they beheld with how much reluctance we entered upon a new war."

Some readers may think that, our author has, in this sketch, fhewn a difguifed partiality in favour of the late my; but we must give it as our opinion, that whatever his fentiments may be of Mr P-, he entertains a real esteem and respect for the ability, integrity, and public pirit of the E- of B-.

"From this inveftigation," continues he, of the principles influencing the conduct of thole two great men, L-Band Mr P-, we may be able to develope the caule of the prefent difcord; efpe

cially if we add to thefe principles, that generous and noble emulation for glory, which has always animated in all ages the greatest and most accomplished men in free states, and which has been and al ways will be of the highest advantage and fervice, whilft confined within the terms and boundaries of the conftitution and government. And by comprehending ex actly the cafe of these two principal per fons, we may also be enabled to separate it from that of our infidious enemy, his hirelings, and those misguided partisan on both fides, who aid and assist him a widening the breach of union and na tional harmony. For from all that has been premifed it will clearly appear,

1. That L-B- and Mr P-agree in their aim, which is, to advance and esta blifh the glory, intereft, and felicity of their country.

2. That they likewife agree in this, that peace is the means of accomplishing that aim.

3. That they differ only in the man ner or method by which they may besto tain this peace. I-B-inclines to ne gotiation; Mr P-to the decision of the word: in which difference the perfonal, moral, and state character, of each is unimpeachable.

4. That it is equally uncertain, and entirely a matter of contigency, which of these methods, occafioning this difference, is the best. A reverfe of fortune might give the preference to L-B-'s meafure; a continuance of fuccefs, compelling the enemy to fue for and accept of our terms would fanctify Mr P-'s.

From all which we may conclude, that the original and primary cause of the pre fent difcord, was no other than a diffe ence of opinion arifing from the difference of genius and temper in those two pres men, about the measures to be follow ed for acquiring peace, as the mean of obtaining what was equally the princ pal object of both, the felicity and pre fperity of their country: and that fre the time of deciding the great and capita point refpecting our conduct with Spai when Mr P— refigned, and L- B-td up the lead in the adminiftration, the have had a generous contention for fans fuperadded to their mutual attachment to their country; Mr P-refting up the unequalled advantages and glory tained through the whole courfe of his fluence in the adminiftration, and t grateful affections of the nation for his

gorous

a. 1762.

gerous, fuccefsful, and upright condu&t; L-B-upon the integrity of his publicaffections, the consciousness of his oan abi. Ities, the esteem and approbation of hit -, and the attachment and love of thofe to whom his virtees and capac tv are known; by means of all which he altres and hepes to rear h` fame upon the bietfrye and lapine" to be e'stained and fecured to the nation, by an honourable and advantageous pea e.

In all this coated, there appears notag to prevent our reisest får both these cat men; thing to länder their mutual esteem of one another; and whint their u’timate oljeft is o ie and the fame, and terminates in er leavouring to accom pith the public good, we in v derive the 1et benefits from both of them."

The author next flates the objections made to the conduct and behaviour of each of these two great men, and gives aniwers to them →→ For the great n inber of North Britons in the fervice of the government he thus accounts.

"The feat of povernment mu necef farily attract candidates for preferment from all parts of the Kindern. Move it from London to Enburgh, ani the bridge over the Tweed would be as ufe ful to transport the people from the South to the North, as it is now to transport them from the North to the South. Remove it to Radnor, and we fhould then find it expedient to make roads for preferment over the mountains of Wales. The trade and commerce of South Biten is incomparably greater than that of North Britain, and the gentlenen vaitly more affluent and rich. By this means they are enabled, not only to leave their e.ce teps in a date of ea'e and independency, but to lettle their younger in bufnet, and commerce, which tuhciently employ t'eir attention, and gains them feth offence and fortune. This flate of wealth and independency puts then above the necesty, as the consciousness of their own importance raites them a bore the defire, of traverfing all the ing ged thorny tracts of court-jolicitation, On the other hand, commerce was later introduced into North Britain, longer Feld in contempt, and is at prefent but in its infancy, in respect of the progreis and growth of it in the South. Gentlemen nt being fo rich in that part of the king dom as they are in this, and being fonder to of renown in arms than in business, as well as not having the means of establishVol. XXIV.

533

ing their fons in a high rank of commerce at home, are thence natural v led to 19licit employment at cout, or lay out their little fortunes in parchana comil Lang in the army, or becoming adschtiers in trade at London, or abroad in the colonies. Every fenfible man will clearly perceive, that it is the advantage and sappinefs of the South c ustav gent' men to be in tuch afluent croun'tinces, a noë to put them under the nece lity of appearing canfidites in fuch numbers for en ployments from the government, as the North-country gentle nen are obli eð to do; and that this ntu«t on, which te French faction, would reprefent as a grise vance, is in fact a very high an feiting a 24ing leang in favour of the South Bri

tone."

He afterwards obiernes,

In delineating the motion and progrels of the French fattion, in the r thameful, outrageous, and groundle veliure ges avanit both Lord B— and Mr. P→, and of the partial bigotted friends or des pendents of each, who may have been willed into the fame toul course; we have feen, and can fee, not ing but what directly, neceflarily, and immediately tends to the intereft and service of the enemy, the prejudice and ruin of their country. -

No matter under what leader they range themselves, or which fide or interest they pretend to embrace; their writing, theid fations; their calu nies, tend all tɔ oud peint: to inteire hope, and gee fuccef to our deipining enerles, to divide us into oppolite and virule it parties, and th webø bring grace and run on our con.étus ton ani country.''

Heartily do we fubiri' to the follow ing project; a due attention to which would approve the great pirfon cres who are the objects of it, worthy of the esteem of the fovereign and the prople, and of all the encomiun s leifhed toon their chan racters by our candid author, as well as by their own partial, corrupt adherents,

"Time feems now to prefent the op portunity, which no rezoning could live brought about before, of according the fvitems of both in one and the late tenor of conduct. Mr P-, at the time of his refignation, conceive a war with Sản to be unavoidable; but the fare despice of conviction had not then appeared to L- B-. No fooner however had “p.11 received the expected trea'ure from the Weft Indies, than the court of Madrid 4 A discovere}

discovered to our ambaffader her open contempt and enmity towards G. Britain. LB and the adminiftration became foon after, in confequence of Lord Briftol's dispatches, convinced of the impracticability of avoiding a Spanish war; and immediately began, with vigour, to prepare for the event. Had this been conceived a fhort time before, there had been no caufe for Mr P-'s refignation; and being apprehended now, there remained no longer between them any real difference of fentiment upor this matter. The point of honour, concerning the advances to be made on the one fide or the other, seems at this time, and ever fince, to be the only obftruction to a perfect reconciliation. Now, as the continuance of this breach for fo long a time, has given, and still gives, an opportunity to the enemy, of abufing the minds and fentiments of the people, and carrying on, with too much fuccefs, the most pernicious system of defection, animofity, and illiberal rage, that ever was practifed; it feems high time to get the better of all kind of punctilios, and accomplish a fpeedy and perfect coalition between them. For this purpose, all that feems requifite, is only the reinftating Mr P in the fame department and management of the war he occupied before his refignation. His ability and integrity may be faid completely to fit him for fo important a place. The attachment the nation bears him, and the profperity and fuccels enjoyed under the influence of his administration, may perhaps make it appear not worthy of his M's wifdom, to invite him anew. Such teftimony of honour and regard, from a beloved f, could not but meet with the highest respect, and most faithful acceptance, from a man, whofe paft principles and conduct has given the strongest affurances of his being devoted to the fervice of his king and his coun try."

"Let us indulge ourselves a little" (fays the patriot writer)" in contemplating the agreeable profpect arifing from this happy coalition. With what dignity must the paternal care and attention of his Majefty exert itself, whilst he employs in the fervice of himself and his people, that genius and ability which has been already fo well tried, fo fignally fuccefsful, and fo univerfally admired?

What an impreflion muft it give, both at home and abroad, of the virtue

and integrity of our leaders and patriots, when fuch as L- B— and Mr P— are as ready to be reconciled when the intereft of their country calls for it, as to affert their different opinions when each imagines his own the best; and renewing, with the renewal of fentiments, that friendship and efteem which they formerly entertained for each other, cement this fresh union, by the most vigorous exertion of their joint powers, for humbling the pride and punishing the duplicity of the common enemy, until a juft and advantageous peace can be obtained?

Hence might we fee war, fhould it ftill be neceffary to continue it, crowned with victory and conqueft, extending, enriching, and fecuring the greatness of a free and happy people, under the bold and enterprising genius of P-: and the national finances applied, with the higheft integrity, oeconomy, and judgment, to their true and national uses; virtue, genius, and the polite arts, encouraged and diffufed among the people; and a British parliament, in all its genuine and conftitutional height of glory, unfolicited, unpenfioned, and unbiafled in its opera tions, under the candid, honeft, and difcerning fpirit of B-. Above all, how pleafing would it be to obferve, as the happy effect of this fair and natural coalition, the furious factions, artfully raifed amongst us by the enemy, entirely bro ken and diffolved; and a generous, fentimental, noble-hearted, and united people, blufhing at their having been decoyed, return to their duty with redoubled ardour, full of esteem and love for one another; and, actuated by one mind and one principle, whilft they freely fupport the exigencies of the state by their fupplies, vanquish and overthrow every enemy by their united irresistible bravery ?- -And thus might we behold our King, the greatest and happiest monarch upon earth, reigning in the hearts of that free, mighty, and united people, whofe love and affections are the impreg nable pillars of his throne; behold him as the head and chief of this glorious coa. lition, animating and invigorating every part; diffufing his benign influence on all his fervants, with the judgment of a wife mafter, and the kindly affection of a princely father of his people; capable of what perhaps no other monarch feels, the ineffable delights of private friendship; yet fo fuperlatively great, as never to permit this lefler and fecondary affection,

to

Oct.1762.

to interrupt his royal functions, and tarnifh or obstruct the intereft, glory, and happiness, of himself and his kingdom..

On this high and natural coalition taking place, and the return of this univerfal fpirit of concord and national unanimity, we may justly hope and expect, that the war will terminate in a good, an honourable, and lafting peace; that the do minions, commerce, and naval power of G. Britain, will be fufficiently increafed and fecured; the expences of the war fully and amply indemnified and paid, out of the conquefts we have made; the commerce and maritime importance of France bounded and circumfcribed, within fuch impervious limits, as may prevent her from extending any more her illimitable ftrides of power and injuftice over the ocean, as the has done over the land; the commercial connections and interefts of G. Britain with Spain, reftored, and fixed upon as high, advantageous, and friendly a footing, as thofe of France, or any other the most favoured nation; the bonds and ties of the family compact, that threaten, or are deftructive of the peace or liberty of Europe, broken or diffolved; our pretenfions and rights in the bays of Campeachy and Honduras, maintained, cleared, and fettled on indifputable foundations; and our trade to the Spanish West Indies opened and extended upon the footing it was heretofore. What conquests are to be made, or what part of thofe conquefts we have made are to be given up, in order to facilitate this peace, are fubjects to be difcuffed in a higher circle, and make up no part of our prefent inquiry: we may be permitted however to hope, that whatever be returned to the enemy, the island of Minorca, our central port in the Mediterranean, will again return to us.

With reluctance I leave this delightful prospect, to furvey the reverse of all this Felicity, fhould any unlucky accident prerent this coalition. In fuch a cafe, we nay justly dread the advantages the eneny will derive from it, by using every artifice and feducement to fafcinate the imaginations and deceive the understandngs of individuals, into a difpofition and temper of mind fitted to irritate, infult, and injure one another; to widen the preaches already made, and urge on the rage and antipathy of the parties, that are now but too eagerly forming amongst us, into the most extravagant fury and national distraction. Whether the war

535

be continued, or peace restored, it is much to be feared, that the one, or the other, will but ill ferve the interest of G. Britain. In the profecution of the war, and after fuch a feries of uninterrupted fuccess, whatever disasters may arise, and however unavoidably they may fall out, they will probably be imputed as a crime to the adminiftration; and be thought to have fallen out, only from not employing the abilities of that great man, whose influence and conduct was always fuccefsful. A people rendered diffident and diftruftful, and whofe minds are foured by loffes and disappointments, will foon regret the expences of the war, refuse farther fupplies, and believe at length, what has been with fo much pains inculcated upon them, that the nation, in a state of unprecedented affluence and power, is already brought to the brink of ruin, and left deftitute both of treasure and of ftrength. Should the kind influences of Providence continue to be still favourable to our arms, effects of as mischievous and dangerous a tendency may be produced, from that mutual fpirit of rage, jealoufy, and antipathy, one against another, which hath fo unhappily been raised amongst us of late. Peace, in this case, will as little accomplish our happiness, or remain fixed upon any certain or fure foundations. What peace can be made, that will give fatisfaction, in our prefent fituation of parties, who fo fiercely oppofe and contend with one another? Should we retain all our conquefts in North America, it will nevertheless be alledged, that we have not obtained a proper boundary and fecurity to our dominions, whilst the French remain poffeffed of Louisiana, and can attach the Indians to themselves, and foment and excite their hoftilities against us; whilft they can collect troops there, and from thence, at a proper feafon, recommence the war, and pour them in upon our best, but unprepared and defencelefs colonies. Should the fish-trade of Newfoundland, under any restrictions, be allowed them, it will be faid, that this is giving them the fureft and best nursery for feamen, and enabling them to rear again, with facility, a rival naval power, which it has been one of the greatest advanta ges reaped by this war to have ruined and deftroyed; that they will not only acquire by it this invaluable benefit, but thereby carry on and enjoy the profits of a fuperior trade to us in this article, as they have done formerly.- Give them up 4 A 2

our