ftrong difapprobation of the measure, or to that effect. The French ambaffador fent an account of these fentiments to his Court. Mean while Lord Rochford went on remonftrating. In a conversation between the French minifter and our ambaffador, on the fubject of Corfica, the French minifter told Lord Rochford, with fome warmth, that he had exceeded his inftructions, and produced the letter he had received from the French ambaffador at London. It was impoffible Lord Rochford could remain at the French court, after fuch a tranfaction as this; and it was as impoffible that Lord Shelburne should remain in office, after fuch an inftance of controul. Lord Shelburne refigned; Lord Rochford was recalled, and appointed fecretary of state. But, as if the French minifters had declared they would not correfpond with his lordship, or for other reasons, he was placed in the Northern department, in which he could not correspond with any of the courts at which he had lately refided, and of which he must have knowledge; and Lord Weymouth was removed to the Southern department. Corfica is now taken, and it is to be feared added to the dominions of France. Account of the election of Sheriffs, and other important Transactions at Guildball, on the 24th of June, 1769. ON Saturday, being Midfummer-day, came on at Guildhall the election for fheriffs and other officers for the year enfuing. Previous to the opening of the court, Samuel Vaughan, Efq; addreffed himself to the livery, and strongly recommended decency in their behaviour, as the most likely, and indeed the only means, by which they could accomplish the end for which fe numerous a body had affembled. At one o'clock the lord mayor and court of aldermen came upon the huftings, when the recorder came forward, and attempted to open the bufirefs of the day, but an almost general hifs and uproar enfued, many calling out for them to confider of a petition in the first place; on which the lord mayor addreffed himself to the livery, and in a very genteel speech acquainted them, that he had taken a great deal of pains to inform himself of the duty of his office on the prefent occafion, and that he could not find one fingle inftance of any bufinefs being done previous to the choice of officers; at the fame time affuring them, that no one had a greater regard to the liberty of the fubject than himself; but strongly recommended decency and good order, declaring that he would not break up the court till fuch time as they had taken the opinion of the livery relative to the matter they wanted to enforce, if the livery would first proceed to do the bufinefs for which the common hall was called. This declaration was received with fhouts of applaufe; but a gentleman expreffing bis diflike to the measure of delay, another clamour arofe, when Mr. Bellas defired to be heard, and begged the gentlemen to proceed to bufinefs in an orderly manner, as the only means to preferve their liberty, and to free themselves from the imputation of licentioufnefs; obferving, that as the lord mayor had promifed not to break up the court till they were fatisfied, it would be the height of rudeness to doubt the veracity of their chief magiftrate. This fpeech was attended with the defired effect, and they immediately proceeded to the choice of fheriffs, when the four aldermen below the chair, and nine commoners, were severally put up; they were all received with ftrong marks of difapprobation, and not more than fifty hands held up for any one of them, till they came to James Townsend, Efq; and John Sawbridge, Efq; who were almost unanimously chofen, and with prodigious fhouts of applaufe. Several other officers were then put up for the enfuing year who are now in office, who all were rechofen, except two of the auditors, in whofe room Mr. Deputy Richard Townfend and Mr. Boddington fucceeded. The lord mayor, agreeable to his promife, then came into court, and faid he was ready to hear the livery's propofal; on which Mr. Lovel got up, and spoke for near a quarter of an hour on the many grievances, the liverymen, in common with their fellow citizens, laboured under. After he had finished, there was a propofal made (which was carried una noce) whether the petition should be then read---it was read accordingly; but my lord Vol. V. mayor H mayor begged leave to make one alteration, which was this, "That inftead of the humble petition of the lord mayor, aldermen, and livery of the city of London," it fhould run thus ---"The humble petition of the livery of the city of London.". The petition was then read a fecond time with this alteration, and was univerfally ap proved of. A propofal was then made by Mr. Vaughan, that the lord mayor, the sheriffs, and the members for the city of London, fhould be requested to wait on his majefty with this petition, which, upon holding up of hands, was univerfally approved of, During the reading of this petition, one article which complains of the two frequent call of the military, drew tears from the eyes of old Mr. Allen, who was present. Sir Robert Ladbroke then came forward, and told the gentlemen of the livery," that h● not only affented to this proposal, but thought it his duty." Alderman Beckford being next, addreffed them, " by affuring them he was ever at the service of the livery of London, that in regard to giving in the petition, it was a request that made him happy, as it agreed entirely with his own opinion, and that in regard to the particulars of the petition now read (as far as he could judge from twice hearing it) he knew moft, if not all of the particulars to be facts, and concluded by referring to his confcience for the uprightness of his intentions." Mr. Alderman Trecothick next spoke to the fame effect; and said he should be happy in attending his brother members on this occafion.---The other member, Mr. Harley, was not prefent. A motion was then made, and univerfally approved of, to return thanks to the lord mayor for his great candour and impartiality on this occafion, and it was confirmed by the loudeft fhouts of approbation; upon which his lordship expreffed his fenfe of the honour done him in very polite terms, affuring them that he would, to the best of his power, finish as he had began his office, with juftice and impartiality. Another motion was then made for the thanks of the livery to be returned to their three worthy members, which was unanimously voted. After which the bufinefs of the day was adjourned, which during a courfe of four hours, and the prefence of an unexampled number of liverymen, was conducted with the greatest spirit, order, and unanimity. Lift of Aldermen prefent. Samuel Turner, Efq; Lord Mayor. Sir Robert Ladbroke, father of the city. Sir Thomas Rawlinfon. Sir Richard Glyn. William Beckford, Efq; Sir William Stephenson. Sir Robert Kite. Barlow Trecothick, Efq; Brafs Crofby, Efq; Richard Peers, Efq; William Nafh, Efq; Thomas Hallifax, Efq; John Shakespear, Efq; Samuel Plumbe, Efq: Brackley Kennet, Efq; John Kirkman, Efq; Account of the Proceedings of the Freeholders of the County of Surry. THE gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders of the county of Surry, met at Epfom on Monday the 26th of June, in confequence of feveral public advertisements, to confider of the best conftitutional measures to be taken in fupport of the right of election: Atter one o'clock the gentlemen, who were as numerous and respectable as were perhaps ever affembled on any occafion, at that place, entered the bowling-green, where, in the absence of John Thornton, Efq; the fheriff, the hon. Peter King, was chofen to prefide. Mr. King then addreffed the freeholders, and acquainted them, how neceffary he, and many other refpectable gentlemen, had thought it to call a county meeting, to confider of the best measures to be taken in fupport of the right of election, which he, and they, had deemed one of the most valuable privileges we were poffeffed of, and in confequence told them, they were now affembled to confider of fuch measures. Sir George Colebrooke next fpoke in vindication of one of the most important rights we enjoy as freemes; fhewed in clear, and approved terms, how that right had been infringed in the case of the Middlefex election, and made the following motion, which was feconded by Sir Robers Clayton, Bart. and unanimously agreed to, viz. "That it is the opinion of this meeting, That by the law of the land, the freeholders and electors of Great Britain have an undoubted right to be reprefented in parliament, by any perfon, qualified according to law, who has a majority of legal votes; and that they have reafon to apprehend these rights have been abridged in the cafe of the Middlesex election." After this, Sir George Colebrooke further expatiated on the object of the present meeting, and acquainted the freeholders, that there appeared in the judgment of the gentlemon he had talked with on this occafion, but two measures to be propofed for their adop tion, that feemed likely to procure redress in a cafe affecting the most important right of every elector of the kingdom; the one, a petition to the King; the other, inftructions to b given to the county representatives. He gave his reafons why he thought the latter more parliamentary and conftitutional, and concluded his fpeech with a motion for inftructions; which being feconded, Dr. Allen, mafter of Dulwich college, immediately addreffed the company, and fhewed how ineffectual inftructions were likely to prove in the prefent cafe: one of the members had already done every thing in his power to prevent a violation of our franchifes, and therefore needed them not: the other, all he could to deprive us of them, who was not likely, in his prefent fituation, to change his opinion, and therefore there could be no ufe in inftructing him he therefore infifted, there was no meafure fo proper to be taken, as to petition the King on the grievance complained of. In this opinion he was ftrongly supported by William Ellis, Efq; who thewed the legality of the meafure in clear terms; fupported it by the example of the pe itions of the county of Middlefex, and livery of London; and declared, that as the constitution had given us the right, he thought it the only proper method now to be adopted. Sir Jofeph Mawbey next spoke against the motion for inftructions, and infifted on their being unneceffary, and would prove ineffectual in the prefent cafe. Sir Francis Vincent, he obferved, with an integrity and independency which had done him honour, had already difcharged his duty in fuch a manner, as, he hoped, would procure him the unanimous thanks of this meeting; and Mr. Ouflow, there was reafon to think, would pay no kind of attention to them in the prefent cafe: he therefore hoped a petition would be prepared to his majefty, in temperate and becoming terms, and full of that duty, love and attachment, this county has always borne to his majefty; but, at the fame time, confined to one fingle point, and afcertaining in manly terms that right, which we confider as the foundation of all others we enjoy. Redress might be obtained, if, in confequence his majefty fhould either think it right to remove fuch of his prefent minifters, as have cou.felled and fupported a measure, which has violated the first principles of the conftitution; or fhould determine on a diffolution of the prefent parliament, which, he hoped, would take place, fooner than the right of election fhould be taken away. After this the Rev. Mr. Horne, Claud Crefpigny, Efq; Marchant Tubb, Efq; and others, fpoke with great ability, in favour of a petition, and its being immediately prepared; and that measure appearing to be the almoft general fenfe of the company, Sir George Colebroke declared he would no longer object, provided a petition was prepared in decent terms, and confined to the fingle object of the Middlesex election. The question was, however, foon after put for instructions; when there appeared only four or five hands in favour of that measure; and then a motion was made for a petition, which was agreed to, nemine contradicente, and a committee appointed of the ¡rincipal gentlemen of the county to prepare the fame. Sir Robert Clayton then proposed to give the thanks of the county to Sir Francis Vincent, Bart. in which he was feconded by Sir Jofeph Mawbey, and they were given with the greatest unanimity and chearfulness, in the following words: Refolved, "That the thanks of this county be given to Sir Francis Vincent, Bart. our worthy reprefentative, for his fteady, firm, and independent conduct in parliament, and particularly for his endeavours to maintain the rights and franchises of the freeholders and other electors of England." Immediately after this, Sir Francis Vincent returned thanks to the freeholders, in a fpeech, that met with the general approbation of the company; profeffing the integrity of his intentions, and the grateful fenfe he entertained of their kind acceptance of his fervices, and of the great honour done him. Sir Jofeph Mawbey then took notice of the furreptitious methods by which the late addrefs was obtained, in the name of the county, without previous notice being given; and of its being figned by great numbers of unqualified perfons, to the prejudice of the rights of the freeholders; and moved the two following refolutions; which were feconded by Sir Robert Clayton, and unanimously approved of. Refolved, "That the producing an addrefs, in the name of the freeholders of this county, without giving public notice of the measure intended, is a condu& full of contempt and difregard to the freeholders." Refolved, "That the late addrefs, in the name of the county of Surry, was furreptitioufly, and unfairly obtained; and, having been figned by many unqualified perfons, was, and is, an infult on the freeholders, and an infringement of their rights." The company then adjourned till after dinner, and the committee withdrew to the adjoining coffee-house, to prepare the petition. Before fix o'clock in the evening, the petition, which had been prepared by twenty-three gentlemen of the first rank and fortune in the county, was engroffed, and read twice, by the Hon, H 2 Hon. Mr. King, to the freeholders: it met with their unanimous approbation; and they chofe the following gentlemen a committee to prefent the fame to his majesty, viz. Sir George Colebrooke, Bart. of Gatton. The Hon. Thomas Howard, of Ashftead. The Hon. Peter King, of Dorking. Sir Fran. Vincent, Bart. of Stoke Dabernon. Sir Anthony Abdy, Bart. of Cobham. Sir Robert Clayton, Bart. of Marden. All the above gentlemen, excepting Mr. Howard who was kept at home by an unfortumate event in his family; and Sir Anthony Abdy, who was ill of the gout; expreffed their readiness to prefent the petition; and it was figned that night by Sir Francis Vincent, and as many gentlemen as could ftay at Epfom long enough for that purpose. At eight o'clock it was taken away, and will be fent to all the market-towns in the county. Through the whole of this business, there appeared a zeal, unanimity, and spirit, which reflects great honour on the county of Surry, diftinguished at all times by its attachment to the king and his royal house, and the cause of freedom. A Defence of the Middlefex Petition. WERE it not that the depravity of the age is at its utmoft pitch of malignity, and that the generality love darkness rather than light, venal and virulent pens would not dare to cenfure a petition made to majefty with so much decency and loyalty, loaded with complaints founded on facts notorious and incontestable, and which fill the British mind with apprehenfions the most tremendous and horrible. No man, I fay, would prefume to have his letters meet with any other than the indignant eye; none other could run over his foul reproaches caft on the Middlefex petitioners: for what provokes his pen is no other than because their truly patriotic minds have been attentive to the weal of the public, and are justly arouzed and alarmed at the impending ruin of our civil conftitution: And what fenfible Briton, but may be well affured the numerous grievances openly laid before majesty, must have as full and conclufive evidence of their reality, as can be needful to fupport an addrefs made with fuch folemnity? If these representations thus made had been only fiction or romance, the petitioners would have been charged with an unheard of infolence, and muft have forfeited all the civil rights of fociety. It is not therefore credible, that such refpectable characters would have dared to approach the presence of majesty with a lie in their right hand. But admit the truth of the feveral articles of complaint, every truly British heart muft meditate terror, and tremble at the measures taken to enflave a free people. Can it be denied, "that the m-----r has employed the force, treasure, and offices of the fociety, to corrupt the reprefentatives, and gain them to bis own purpose ?” And if he has, are the people any longer free? Is not the will of the m----r become the fupreme Iaw? Much has been said to justify the ---- of in the affair of Wilkes and Lutterel; yet I do not remember that it ever has been fhewn, the determination for Lutterel was by a majority of free and legal reprefentatives of the people; the voice for him was that of the minifter, and not of the m--b--s, they were his paffive inftruments under his influence, and had no freedom. Placemen and penfioners, &c. all under the controul of a first lord of the t----y, faid, yes. The free and independent m--b--s all faid, no. When therefore we weigh the evidence by the balance of the fanctuary, i. e. by reafon, equity, and truth, Wilkes had the legal right, and Lutterel had no right. In all courts of judicature, whenever it appears that the evidence had been bribed, fuch teftimony has no force. This therefore being the complexion of the ------- is the bottom of the evil, the root of all our dreaded dangers, and the fole power that can enflave us. It matters not what is, or what is not the power of parliament, either to receive, or to reject the perfons, chofen by the people, fo long as the m----r has it in his power to make a majority fpeak whatever he fhall propofe to be spoken by the of The people have been told this a thousand times; they fee, they feel the shocking confequences of being bribed themselves; and yet they even make choice of the briber; nay, they will rechufe the placeman! So powerful is gold, men dread not chains, when made of gold. Anon the links, nevertheless, will chafe and gall the vaffals of defpotifm. We may go on awhile without any thought, we may banish all concern about the confequences of the prefent a-------n, but not any thing is a more certain truth, than that it uniformly speaks, and will fpeak, more loudly; all which one fingle word can contain in its full fenfe --- SUBVERSION. An infamous pen plays with the word difcretion, as ufed by the Middlesex petitioners, who fays," he is not difcreet enough to difcern how difcretion can put an end to law, liberty and fafety."---whereas the petitioners exprefsly mentioned, a certain unlimited and indefinite difcretionary power. But every one acquainted with the ufe of the term, difcretion, well knows, that it is commonly used to denote, "a liberty of acting at pleasure, uncon"trouled, unconditional power:" as well as that it is alfo used for prudence; but the filly man diverts himself with ringing changes upon the words difcretion and indifcretion, playing with the figments of his own crude and idle imagination; when all the while any man of common fenfe could have told him, that a certain unlimited, indefinite, difcretionary power, is the reverfe of law, liberty, and safety. NEVILLE. P. S. Should the Middlefex petition be deemed treasonable, we may then be affured, that pilthe friends of the revolution must also be deemed traytors. My LORD, To bis Grace the D--- of G----- 53 SHALL make no apology for troubling your grace with this my farewell letter, intending foon to quit the field of politics for the fweeter and more happy retirement into the, country, there to cultivate my vine at my fabine farm. Your grace fuppofe will allo relax your mind from that weight of inceffant complaint from a difturbed, uneafy people; great have been their fufferings, little has been their redress. The law of the land has been fet afide to make way for the imperial fway of the will of a defpotic administration, prone to the invention of every mischief that can befall the nation. Our conftitution is no more, our rights are gone; the times of Charles the First seem now to blend themfelves with the abfurdities and cruelties of Charles the Second; nor can I think it true that the arbitrary principles of the former could ever have been centered in the defcendants of the latter. Your grace's private character shall ever remain unattacked by me. My friend Junius, whofe deep piercing pen is so far superior to mine, and to every other writer of this age, has lately endeavoured to trace out the fountain head, fo that it would be needlefs for any one to attempt it, was he inclined to deduce natural caufes, and to find the spring from whence thofe fulphureous qualities in the current proceed. I mean to point only at those who have been the advisers in the late unconftitutional proceedings; I fay unconftitutional, because I can never bring myself to think that Mr. Luttrell is the chofen reprefentative of the county of Middlefex, or ever intended fo to be by the electors; and therefore I call it a breach of the laws of this conftitution. Times are only quiet now because the people fink under the weight of misfortunes; and what can the tame voice of reason do, when borne down by the high hand of power? I have frequently wished your grace had no concern with the B-----y tribe, and have often thought that a connection in the political system with lord T------e and lord C----m might have once more fhifted you from pillar to poft to enjoy the sweets of a fresh attachment: However forfaken or forfaking, you have at laft riveted your political nail with a connubial ftroke, and drove it home to the head. Such a piece of policy will, you apprehend, effectually fecure you against a northern nipping blaft, and the poffeffion of a virgin in the houfe of B-----d will amply compenfate all the fatiguing trips that your grace has made through every fign in the political hemifphere. I am in hopes now that fome adminiftration may be from hence formed that will be a little more permanent than the weather. But, alas! are we to expect that from the hafty haughty B----y tribe? I could wish Readiness to honeft measures was to be found there; but imagine that their strength is alone depended upon by them, both for the command of the clofet to obtain measures suitable to their defpotic wills, and for the obedience of a complying P----t. If by fuch ftrength a permanency is to be attained, the and kingdom will foon wish a change; nor fhall we then think much of these times, though now ever fo loudly complained of. Hardships and misfortunes, that we judge fo in this age, will then be thought even mercies and pleasures. --- Now, my lord, when fometimes laws are relaxed for vitiated purposes, at other times cruelly ftretched beyond their strength; when the whole fyftem of government is not confiftent with the genius of the people, is it not to be fuppofed that law and liberty has forfook the land? and though drove out from among the wicked, will for ever haunt the place of its nativity in fome ghoft-like form or other, which cannot bear to quit the land without recompence made to the injured fhade, and when children talk of apparitions, nothing is so common as for the sprights to appear. Look you, my lord, I think I fee already the injured Ghost of Liberty at the bar of the H----e of C-----s to come to tell the tale of 1769. The INJURED GHOST of LIBERTY in 1769 at the Bar of the H--- of C---. WHEN all was clofed in dreadful night, And moft things with'd repofe, Forth from its tomb the ghaftly spright Her features all benumb'd with woe, Her skin was pale with care, Her languid limbs were parch'd with grief, With mournful step to find her spouse, From whence her forrows are. She touch'd the bar, and gave a groan, Mr Sp--k--r, I came here to wish, The house would lend an ear. Hear, hear--then fee that breathlefs form, |