Rights, which, by the medium of their chairman, or other members, may enter into a clofe correfpondence with our fociety in London, thereby forming one general plan for the fupport of liberty throughout this fpirited and free country, which cannot fail to receive the fanction of numbers, and end in a complete victory over all the oppofers of our excellent conftitution.

"I have nothing further in charge to recommend to you; but, as we know ourselves obnoxious to the men in power, and as they have already ventured to abuse the truft repofed in them, I muft beg of you to inclofe your favours to fome friend or agent in town, who may tranfmit them to

Sir,

Your moft obedient humble fervant.

ROBERT MORRIS."

us.

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Feb. 3. THE following particulars are well authenticated to On Monday after the levee the Duke of Grafton had a private conference, when he told the great perfonage, that " as he found the great ftrength of the increafing minority was in the lower houfe, he thought it most natural as well as advisable, to nominate a Premier there, in the scene of action; as he found, by daily experience, that that was the fitteft place for a Prime Minifter, and there was no doing without it, as in the cafes of Walpole, Pelham, and Pitt; and that he faw it was impracticable to stem the tide of oppofition from above. He affured the great perfonage at the fame time, that he would continue to support the measures of adminftration with all his intereft, though he fhould decline the lead any longer, for the reafon above mentioned."

Many conjectures have been formed, as to the real motives which induced a certain unpopular nobleman to refign: 'tis afferted as a fact, that the late exhibition of an affumed Welch knight, did not a little contribute to the former's degradation.

It is faid that a certain great perfon refigned on the following account, and that alone.-A new appointment was to be made, to a capital post in a neighbouring kingdom, to which he named his friend; but when this was carried to Bloomsbury-square, from whence the approbation of most of the late meafures has come, it was oppofed; and it was infifted on, that another person should be appointed, in a manner fo peremptory, that gave no reason to believe fuch a determination would be receded from; in confequence of which the Duke, who had pledged his honour to his friend that he would obtain it for him, declared, that, if he could not have the power of nominating to, or difpofal of fo important a place as that in agitation, the power of a M -I was but a jeft, and the name not worth retaining.

To

To fhew the great regard the late Premier had for the public well-fare, and his economical adminiftration of the almoft exhaufted finances of the nation, the people of England are defired to take notice of the laft tranfaction of that great minifter, which was completed with the utmost precipitation about an hour before he refigned, viz.

On Monday night laft, a reverfionary grant paffed the Great Seal, at Baron Smythe's, of the office of Receiver General, and Auditor of all the revenues of North America, with a falary annexed of 5col. per ann. to Mr. Bradshaw, the Duke of Gfecretary and his fon, after the death of Mr. Cholmondly, who is at prefent proprietor of the above named emolument.

-'s

At the fame time another grant paffed the Seal, of 1500l. a year, as a penfion to the faid Mr. Bradshaw, until he comes into poffeffion of the above.

Feb. 4. THIS day Lord North was appointed First Lord of the Treafury, in the room of the Duke of Grafton.

On Monday laft when Dr. M e was called before a certain affembly, he was, previous to his cross-examination, defired to give an account of what particulars he knew relative to the peace; which he accordingly complied with, and acquitted himself of a narration of near an hour and three quarters long, with great clearnefs, equality of temper, and fenfibility; and though on the whole there did not appear proof ftrong enough to proceed further in the developement of an affair of fuch moment, as the criminating fuch a number of great perfonages with bribery and corruption; yet there lay certain circumftances that ftrongly indicated the charge to be much more than poffible.

On the doctor's withdrawing, the affembly debated on the narative for fome time, when at laft it was generally agreed on to be of that nature as not to be capable of further enquiry, and therefore was difmiffed. Mr. T- -d was the only perfon who held out in the negative opinion: he observed, that though the facts were not pofitive, they were probable, and a further enquiry could be attended with no further inconveniences, than engrofling a little more of their time, which he did not know how could be better spent. The more momentous the affair was, he obferved, fhould be the principal reason why it ought not to be neglected, as the bare attempt to explicate fo unconftitutional a proceeding, mutt be in itfelf at least praife-worthy; and concluded by remarking, that the more refpectable the perfons concerned were, if guilty, the fitter objects they were to be held up for public fcorn and reprehenfion.

On the cross-examination, the doctor was afked by the chairman, What was his opinion of the letter which he produced in the course of his narrative, written by Mr. M- e, a gentleman then under the fy of ft-e? He quickly replied "I believe him to have a very bad heart." But being defired only to give his opinion of the veracity of its contents, he rejoined, "I believe it to be a very great lie." Another time he was asked

what

what converfation paffed between him and a noble lord, when he first acquainted him with thefe particulars?" His lordfhip's only answer to me when I laid my intelligence before him, Tho'

I believe F-x to be a very great r-g-e, yet I have too great an 'opinion of his cunning, to think he would ever fubject himself 'to fuch a detection.'

By ancient custom, the redrefs of grievances was always taken into confideration before any money-bill was paffed, agreeable to the defign of initituting parliaments, which was the redreffing fuch grievances as may happen in the adminiftration of the government. And this was formerly fo well understood, that. when writs were iffued for chufing a parliament, the King bass likewife directed writs to the fheriffs to fummon, and indeed to invite all parties to give in their complaints against the minifiers of state, and other great officers; and the Houfe of Commons have generally taken care to impeach thofe they have found guilty of giving ill advice to the King, or mifmanaging public affairs; nay, where the complaints for want of proof, would not bear an impeachment, they have complained to the King himself, who generally thought it his duty to remove the perfons accufed. Feb. 6. THE following were the arguments made ufe of lately in a very great affembly, in a difcuffion of the quellion on the ftate of nation, particularly in regard to the H of C—▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ in incapacitating Mr. W "That as the ftate confifled of three branches of legiflation, K-g, L-ds, and Cs, each had a right to infpect into the ftate of the other, particularly when it was fuppofed that one had infringed, on the bounds of their prerogative; it was afked, if it was not fo, why were the two other eftates conflituted? as they would be established to very little purpose if they had not at all times the power of checking, as well as co-operating. It was particularly obferved, that this was fo plain and common a procedure, that he wondered how any one, in the least acquainted with the hiftory of his own country, could poffibly gainfay it." Thofe on the fide of a n infifted, that the privilege of the H. of C. extended at any time to expulfion and incapacitation; that they were definitive in their judgment, fo far as refpected their members, and the orders of their affembly. They then quoted two precedents; the one in the cafe of Lionel E--) of M-dl-x, and the other in that of Lord Bacon, who were both expelled the Great Affembly they belonged to, and by a vote of that affembly rendered incapacitated from ever fitting there. They further difputed the legality of Mr. W.'s election; alledging, that it was procured by violence and intimidation, and not by the free, un influenced votes of the freeholders."

On dividing, there appeared in favour of the independent power of the H. of C. 96; against it 47.- The following refolution was then moved, That this H- had no right to interfere with the determinations of the H. of C. as it might tend to create jealoufies and animofities between the two H- -s.". The queltion being put, it paffed in the affirmative.

Yeas

Feb. 20. The report of a certain committee in the Lower Room of the Society, was to have been received yesterday. Previous thereto, Sir W- M- obferved, that where two queftions were blended into one, it was regular, and agreable to ufage, to split the propofition into two feparate queftions; and' for the propriety of this proceeding the chair was referred to. The prefident entered into a difcuffion of the point referred to him, and concluded in the negative. He added, that where a question was to be referred to him, in his judgment, candour required that it fhould be communicated beforehand, that he might fearch for precedents, and give his opinion with his beft abilities. On the other hand, Sir William knew of no obligation that required fuch previous intercourfe. The animadverfion of the prefident upon this declaration, was thought to imply a charge against a member of the club; and a motion was made, that the prefident had spoken in a manner injurious to the character of a member of the club, and in a ftyle that controuled the course of a free enquiry. The motion was feconded, and drew on warm and eager altercations. It was difficult to afcertain the precife words of the prefident or the member; different conftructions were put upon the words of both.-Each explained himfelf-others explained the words differently. A motion was made to adjourn the club, and feconded. The prefident faid he did not chufe to fhrink from any question, and defired to take the fenfe of the club. The motion to adjourn was withdrawn.The matter in difpute was often compromised, and as often broke out afresh one moment it died away, the next it was revived; but at the defire of the prefident, the queftion upon the original motion was finally put, and carried in the negative without a divifion.

It is obferved, that above twenty of the noble perfons who lately figned two fpirited and conftitutional papers, have each, in landed property only, above 15,000l. per annum ; which is a full answer to all the nonfenfe thrown out by the tools of miniftry, that the public caufe was fupported by only the bafe-born, and the fcum of the earth: and it may be added in general, that there never was a public caufe fo upheld by fo many refpectable characters of worth and public honour as the prefent. The minority in the houses of parliament are, without a doubt, the poffeffors of a very great majority of the property of the kingdom.

AN

AN IMPARTIAL REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

T

A letter to the Duke of Grafton. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Fell.

HIS masterly performance is attributed to Mr. Wilkes ; and we hope the notion is well founded, as it does honour to him in many points, on which we think he values himself: for the writer difcovers a great fund of political knowledge, and fhews us that he has ftudied the conflitution of this country, the prefervation of which from all innovations appears to be his darling object; and, in the courfe of this letter, he gives us a nar rative of the views and conduct of all the public characters of different parties, who have made any figure in our political world, fince the year 1761, with an accuracy and precifion diftinguishable in the writings of Mr. Wilkes; but with an inclined bias refpecting the affairs of that gentleman, which can leave little doubt, upon the minds of the difcerning, who is the author. It fhall be our bufinefs to follow him where he is moft generally interesting, sprightly and entertaining, and leaft partial to himself. His accoun. of Lord Bute's coming into office in 1761, and of the Duke of Grafton's conduct at that time deferves particular notice.

"In October, 1761, the weak and wicked Earl of Bute forced Mr. Pitt to quit the helm of government. Mere cunning hath been called purblind wisdom: yet your Grace had forefight fufficient, inftantly and loudly to profefs a rooted deteftation of the triumphant Favourite, and an inviolable attachment to the discarded Secretary. The Duke of Newcastle was difmiffed in the month of May following, and the Duke of Devonshire was driven from the Royal Councils. The nation now faw the battalion of Penfioners headed by that confummate Captain the Earl of Litchfield; a great office of truft committed to the known integrity of Mr. Fox, and the pot of ability to the strong brain of Sir Francis Dashwood.

The Thane in fhort became fole and fhallow monarch of a Tory administration: and the glorious fruits of Mr. Pitt's victories, won by an incredible expence of national blood, and national treafure, were facrificed to the confcious impotence, and corrupt avarice of his baneful fucceffors.

The deity of your political idolatry, Mr. Pitt, now fhone forth through the northern cloud, in the full meridian of popular glory and your Grace appeared the most active in the number of his friends; in which lift you were then particularly anxious to include Mr. Wilkes."

His account of Mr. Grenville's adminiftration is fevere, ill-natured and defective, but his juft encomiums on the public conduct of the Marquis of Rockingham and his friends, we imagine, will give great fatisfaction to all candid readers.

"The leaders of the late patriot minority, now became the ferVOL. VI.

Y