enough; for this is the only way to reduce our ftrength; he will have then the best opportunity to come and deftroy us. ...

IT is not the giving a great deal, but the well managing of the money given by parliament, that must preserve us from the power and ftratagems of our enemies. Shall we, through fear of being conquered by a foreigner, put ourselves into a condition almost as bad, or in fome refpects, a great deal worfe? what does this coine fhort of the laconic motto, ne moriare mori! When we are obliged to fubmit to a conqueror, our fate is determined, and the certainty of our miferies in fome fort makes them more tolerable. But to be confumed by piecemeals, and left in a state of uncertainty, whether there fhall ever come an end to our grievances; if there is no end of giving till all shall be taken away; the fickly patient fhall die by inches.

HAD that noble Lord, who expreffed his fear of the nation's finking under the weight of three millions, which the miniftry asked, in King Charles the Second's name, to defend the national trade; what amazement would it have thrown him into, had he lived to fee fix, feven, eight, nine, nay! ten millions, year after year, granted by the representatives of the people for the protection of German States; what reafon would he have had to tell the Lords, "If you can afford no relief, we muft fink under the weight of it. If you cannot deny or moderate

a bill for money, all your great estates are wholly at their disposal, and you have nothing in this free country, that you can properly call your own." A people, who are ready to contribute a greater part of their eftates to fupport the intereft and grandeur of their country, if they could be affured of its being applied to the chaftifement of the infolence of those nations, who encroach upon our property and trade, difturb our peace, and threaten our deftruction; under the fole prefumption, that a war is incompatible with our circumstances, and the intereft of those who confult their own more than their country's good; may be very unwilling to part with it for the support of a foreign intereft.

I cannot be at a lofs what to imagine would have been the idea of this noble Lord, had he lived to see a minifter in poffeffion of the whole legislative power! a numerous standing army! and having the disposal of all monies and places of trust and profit! what remedy could the languifhing nation expect from a parliament devoted to his fervice? what fecurity could a King promise himself against a fervant, able to bribe and corrupt, as well the guardians of the public liberty and property, as the standing army? Power naturally tends to corrupt the heart: for, like Pericles, men, instead of enlarging their beneficence, increase their ambition; and study, rather to be mightier, than wifer, or better. They don't confult what to give, but what to

take :

take and private intereft is the result of their confultations, which ought to be devoted to the public good.

SUPPOSE a nation fo unhappy as to be given up to a ministerial power, that places all his hopes of reigning in contradictory and ruinous treaties with foreign potentates: in the increase of public debts: in the weakness of fubjects, loaded with taxes, and denied the ufe of arms in their own defence: in promoting luxury, and mifapplying the public money: in neglecting the trade, and ftretching the credit of the nation in conniving at hoftile encroachments upon our dominions: in a standing army of cuftom-house, excife, and navy officers, mercenary foldiers; and what is worst of all, in a flexible Pt, ready to approve of all his measures, whether right or wrong, and to protect him against the representations of a diftreffed people; how could it be delivered from the hand of the oppreffor, who wants neither expedients to ftave off their juft refentment, nor minions to defend his mifconduct? for as no covenant is obligatory when it cannot be carried into execution; fo there can be little hopes of bringing fuch a one to punishment, or to remove him from the helm, when he has once secured that strength, by which only the com-. munity is able to enquire into and punish his abufe of power.

WHO then should be trufted with exorbitant power? fatal experience has convinced all people,

people, that when a Mr is established with an uncontroulable authority, from that moment liberty is depreffed, majefty is overruled; and, as I've remarked before, the whole constitution is left to his mercy.

Z.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

SATURDAY, February 28, 1756.

Fixit leges pretio, atque refixit.

VIRG.

To the FREEHOLDER.

SIR,

HA

AD not examples of modern date verified the truth of the motto, a free people would have been apt to look upon the affertion only as à poetical licence, that there could ever be found a nation, whofe fenators, entrusted with the legislative power, were fo divefted of all honesty and shame, as to fell their country for any private emolument, and to hold a place, or a penfion, or take a bribe, either to eftablish tyranny under the form of law, or to repeal those ordinances or ftatutes, on which depend the public fafety and tranquility.

ALL government is established by certain laws or ftatutes; which, fo far as the privileges of the fovereign power, and the rights of the subjects depend upon, and are afcer

tained by, thofe original contracts, are not to be repealed.

THESE laws, in a monarchical mixed government, have always been confulted and enacted for the fecurity of the crown, the meafure of the subjects obedience, and for their protection against all encroachments upon their birth-right.

THIS was the fentiment of thofe Freehol ders, who fubmitted to the first monarch of this nation :-Of those barons, who stood up in defence of the people, against the tyrannies brought in with the Norman yoke aided by foreign officers and foldiers; and through a sea of noble blood tranfmitted to pofterity the great charter of the ancient English liberties: - and of those advocates for liberty, who in the reign of King James, applied to the state malady of arbitrary power, that fevere cauftic, which firft produced a revolution with a bill of rights; a confirmation of our liberties in the most favourable fenfe! and an act of parliament, whereby the throne is fecured to the House of Hanover, on certain conditions, requifite and neceffary for the establishment and fupport of that new government.

WHAT was ftipulated in favour of the people, who renounced their king for difcouraging their religion; for admitting difqualified perfons into his councils; interfering in the elections of members of parliament; invading their ancient rights and privileges, and for perverting of juf