perhaps a propitious one! it may prevent a more mischievous devil from rioting at will. Take notice, that, while any of these Incubi reign, I will not be their Flamen and give out their oracles. I will henceforth only tell you where they have left prints of their footsteps.

LETTER CCCXXVIII.

Strawberry Hill, April 17, 1780. FLUCTUATION is the present mot of the House of Commons. Lord North had a considerable majority, considering the moment, on Thursday. The question was to read a second time the bill to disfranchise the Officers of the Revenue. As the increase of them, by the addition of taxes, has magnificently increased the influence of the Crown, the refusal of cashiering them as voters is not very consequential logic after the vote of the former week, that that influence ought to be diminished! The Court took a bolder step on Friday, and rejected the Bill for dismembering contractors, which the Commons had sent to the Lords, who threw it out. This measure would have created a raging flame in the Commons this very day-but the Commons are laid up in the person of their Speaker. He declared himself so exhausted in the Chair on Friday, and so ill, that the tender House, to both sides which his alternate virtues must be dear, have adjourned to this day sevennight; however, it is said he designs to abdicate. A greater quantity of fuel, no doubt, will be prepared on the Contractors' Bill; but premeditated conflagrations do not always kindle like the combustibles of passion. The new tests of the Associations have been rejected by four or five counties. I am heartily glad. I like few or no tests, and not at all the changes of the Constitution at which they were aimed.

You say Prussia forbade Russia to assist us, to which she was inclined. Truly, she is a most passive or weathercock despot! Ladies

* Mr. Crew's bill for disabling Revenue Officers from voting at elections was, on the 13th thrown out by a majority of 224 to 195.-ED.

On the 14th, the bill, which had been sent up from the Commons for preventing persons concerned in Contracts with the Government from sitting in the House of Commons, was rejected by the Lords by 61 to 41.-Ed.

The adjournment of the House to the 24th was moved by Mr. Dunning. "Nothing," says the Annual Register, "ever happened more fortunately in favour of any Administration than the illness, at this peculiar juncture, of the Speaker. It seemed as if nothing else could at that time have saved them. The recess, indeed, was not long; but it produced extraordinary and unexpected effects. It afforded time and opportunity for using effectual means to bring the numerous deserters from the Court, who had been afraid to oppose the late popular torrent, back to their original standard. In effect, the meeting of the house, after this short recess, presented so new a face and appearance of things, and such a total change of temper and disposition, that it seemed no longer the same identical body."-ED.

too, that are forbidden to please themselves, are seldom so passive as to exceed the command of the prohibitor. And yet she has sent us a Memorial, or (in the modern phrase for a bitter potion) a rescript, that will mightily manacle the vivacity of our privateers. As all Europe is obdurate, I wish they would go farther, and one and all impose peace on us and our enemies. That would be mercy to mankind; but at what Ratisbon is there a precedent of such pacification registered? The D'Alemberts and Diderots, who are so lavish of incense to philosophic sovereigns, are forced to content themselves with mighty problematic sparkles of philosophy!

I begin this letter, because I am here idle: perhaps I shall not finish it this week. I am sorry my recommandét is so unwise for himself as not to cultivate you more. I am satisfied of his virtues, but am not so clear that he knows much of the world. I doubt his patriotism is a little of Spartan hue, that is, morose; at least I shall deem it so, if your humanity does not smooth it. Here, I believe, it will soon be difficult to be allowed any moderation; but surely one has no occasion to wear one's badge constantly at the distance of above a thousand miles. Well; you have temper, and will not take notice of it. I am satisfied of your complaisance for my protégés; and, if they do not meet it as they ought, I am not so unreasonable as to expect or desire you to press it upon them. I remember Sir William Maynard was very impertinent on opposite politics. You must smile as I do when I content neither side. Methinks it is a desirable certificate. One should have charity for all sorts of opinions on religion and government; for no person can be absolutely sure he is in the right on either. Were any mode in either self-evidently true, no body could dispute on them; but, as men have disputed, fought, nay died, for almost every mode and against every mode, their probabilities are but a peutêtre. I am a settled Whig; for, if one thinks, one must before my age have fixed one's creed by the lamp of one's own reason: but I have much Quakerism in my composition, and prefer peace to doctrines. I have so much weakness and worldliness too in my nature, that, having a poor opinion of my own infallibility, I can but suspect myself of as much prejudice and passion as I descry in others;one may be very sure of one's own faults, but one may judge rashly and unfairly on those of others.

22d.

I could not amass complement enough for my letter, and shall therefore reserve it to Tuesday next. The mountain has been delivered of a tooth; i. e. the Speaker has had one drawn, and will re

* This was the Manifesto of the 26th of February, issued by the Court of St. Petersburgh, which was the means of forming, under the name of an Armed Neutrality, that formidable naval and military alliance and confederacy between the Northern powers to which most of the neutral states in Europe afterwards acceded. -ED.

Mr. Windham.

Sir William Maynard was a Jacobite.

turn to the House on Monday,-they say, for the rest of this session; though, they say, against the advice of the physicians. You see, when virtue seizes people late, it makes them risk even life itself in the service of their country!

25th.

I am but just come to town, and find that the livery of the House of Commons is still turned up with changeable, or rather is returned to the Royal colours. Dunning moved yesterday to address the King that the Parliament might not be prorogued or dissolved till the demands of the petitions are satisfied. The motion was rejected by 254 to 203. On this repulse, the Opposition adjourned their committee to that day sevennight, to have time to meditate one decisive measure; which, if rejected, Charles Fox declared he should advise secession, as having no hopes of redress of grievances. That implies recourse to the people. As a new Parliament is so near, recourse to the people may imply that the people, if they will be relieved, must choose representatives accordingly. Such steps are constitutional; and, while we have those remedies, I hope we shall never have any other. The session will probably end much sooner than was expected; but when one guesses, from the sky, of the day, you must not depend upon such an almanac-maker.

LETTER CCCXXIX.

Berkeley Square, May 13, 1780.

My letters keep touch with the pulse of the times: they are redoubled, or intermitted, or periodic, according as the political inflammation increases, abates, or gives place to the common course of things. Of late I have been silent, because the daily papers told you the ordinary events, and that nothing singular had happened. The Ministerial recovery is confirmed; the rejection of the Contractors' Bill by the House of Lords occasioned no ferment, and in the country the Associations seem at least to doze. The Opposition are not very unanimous, and their leaders have no grounds for reproaching the Ministers with want of conduct. The session, I conjecture, will end sooner than is expected, from general weariness. The public is tired of attending to their debates; and the chiefs will be sick of disappointments; especially when not consoled by the thorough-bass of attention and applause without doors. In short, it is my opinion that the vigour of this country is worn out, and is not likely to revive. I think it is pretty much the same case with Europe. I remember that, some years ago, I used to tell you that this is an age of abortions. May not this be founded on a still more general truth? May not our globe be arrived at senility? Its youth animated Asia, and displayed

there its parts and invention. Europe profited of the maturity of its judgment and good sense, and experience and observation. Africa never partook of the illumination of the two continents but in Egypt, and at Carthage for a moment. America has begun to announce itself for a successor to old Europe, but I already doubt whether it will replace its predecessors; genius does not seem to make great shoots there. Buffon says, that European animals degenerate across the Atlantic; perhaps its migrating inhabitants may be in the same predicament. If my reveries are true, what pity that the world will not retire into itself and enjoy a calm old age!

I could carry my speculations on the general decay still farther. Is not the universal inactivity of all religions a symptom of decrepitude? The aged are seldom converted; they die in the faith they are used to: still seldomer do the ancients invent new systems. The good ladies Mahometanism, Popery, and Protestanism adhere to their old rites, but hobble after no new teachers.

You perceive, by this rhapsody, that I have nothing new to tell you, and therefore I shall adjourn the conclusion of my letter to next week. May not one hope, from the lethargy of the war, that all sides may be sinking into a disposition towards peace? It is a consummation devoutly to be wished!

18th.

I might as well have sent away my letter last week, for it has not increased by allowing it time to grow. The eye of expectation is fixed on Charlestown, whence nothing is yet come. There are rumours of an attempt to be made by the French and Spaniards on your neighbour, Minorca; the latter having no hopes of taking Gib raltar. The languor of the war makes one expect both sides will be weary of it; at least, I flatter myself we shall pass a more tranquil summer at home than the last.

19th.

Sir Charles Hardy is dead, suddenly, at Portsmouth. I trust it is a good omen: it cannot be a bad one.*

P.S. I had sealed my letter, but open it again to tell you that I have this instant received your long despatch about Mr. Windham and Mr. Bagnal, and am very sorry so well laid a plan had no better success. I advise you, however, to watch any opportunity of reviving it.

I am grieved to hear you complain of your nerves, and know how to pity you. My own are so shattered, that the sudden clapping of a door makes me tremble for some minutes. I should think seabathing might be of use to you. I know, though I have neglected it myself, that the sea-air, even for four-and-twenty hours, is incredibly strengthening. I would not have you bathe without advice; but I

* On the death of Sir Charles Hardy, Admiral Geary was called upon to take

the chief command.

do beg you to go to Leghorn, if but for three days. I will communicate yours to your nephew. I think his conduct, as far as I know, is very proper. I am sure it is, if it pleases you; for it is you I wish him to study. I have not time to say more now. Only remember to be easy when you do not hear from me, as you may be sure I have nothing material to tell you.

LETTER CCCXXX.

Strawberry Hill, June 5, 1780.

Nor a syllable yet from General Clinton. There has been a battle at sea in the West Indies, which we might have gained; know we did not, but not why: and all this is forgotten already in a fresher event. I have said for some time that the field is so extensive, and the occurrences so numerous, and so much pains are taken to involve them in falsehoods and mystery, and opinions are so divided, that all evidences will be dead before a single part can be cleared up; but I have not time, nor you patience, for my reflections. I must hurry to the history of the day. The Jack of Leyden of the age, Lord George Gordon, gave notice to the House of Commons last week, that he would, on Friday, bring the petition of the Protestant Association; and he openly declared to his disciples, that he would not carry it unless a noble army of martyrs, not fewer than forty thousand, would accompany him. Forty thousand, led by such a lamb, were more likely to prove butchers than victims; and so, in good truth, they were very near being. Have you faith enough in me to believe that the sole precaution taken was, that the Cabinet Council on Thursday empowered the First Lord of the Treasury to give proper orders to the civil magistrates to keep the peace, and his lordship forgot it! Early on Friday morning the conservators of the Church of England assembled in St. George's Fields to encounter the dragon, the old serpent, and marched in lines of six and six-about thirteen thousand only, as they were computed-with a petition as long as the procession, which the apostle himself presented; but, though he had given out most Christian injunctions for peaceable behaviour, he did. every thing in his power to promote a massacre. He demanded immediate repeal of toleration, told Lord North he could have him torn to pieces, and, running every minute to the door or windows, bawled to the populace that Lord North would give them no redress, and that now this member, now that, was speaking against them.

In the mean time the Peers, going to their own Chamber, and as

In giving notice of his intention to present the petition of the Protestant Association, praying the repeal of the late Act in favour of Popery, Lord George informed the House, that the whole Association intended to accompany him to the House.ED.