fixed upon them.--No sooner had they taken the field in the service of their country, than they turned the tide of war, and our manly exertions were crowned with success. They fought our battles, they bled freely in the same cause, and gave the enemy to understand, that Bri tish valour was not to be conquered without a superior degree of personal courage and bravery.-Their fidelity could only be equalled by their intrepidity, which has signalized their own and the country's renown all over the world."——

These were the sentiments of that great minister, who had shaken the dominions of the French monarch to the centre. I confess I am as free from national prejudices as the much-esteemed earl, and adopt the present proposition from motives of sound policy. I am not attached to one part of the country more than to another, and would be happy to embrace an opportunity of shewing my impartiality. The unfortunate persons whose case I now submit to parliament, have been deprived of their estates for near forty years. I do not call to question the national expediency which has impelled the legislature to enact those laws that have operated so rigidly against them; but if, by an alteration of the times, and an alteration of opinion, motives of humanity could be adopted, it would, I am convinced, be worthy of a British parliament, to alleviate the distresses of their fellow-creatures, by restoring to them those possessions which they once had a right to enjoy.Their past atonement demands it as an act of justice: their future conduct, if we may judge from their past services to the state, will make it an act of national wis. dom. They have already suffered sufficiently for the part they have taken in the late rebellion in 1745.— They have been proscribed-they have been forced into exile, they have. frequently been reduced to the most deplorable dilemma;-in short, they have laboured under every species of misfortune and affliction.-Instead of comfortably enjoying their own lands and possessions, instead of passing their time in the sweet society of their wives and children,-instead of enjoying those blessings which God had, in a former period, bestowed upon them, they are-excruciating thought!-doomed to a variety of complicated disasters,--and forced to seek

that asylum and happiness in a foreign land, which are denied them at their native homes.

I am happy to think that my proposition has been frequently in contemplation of several administrations. I have often mentioned it to the noble lord in the blue ribbon, when he was minister of the country; and, I can assure the committee, that to the honour of his lord. ship be it said, he has often entered into the subject with the greatest warmth and tenderness;—and has, on all occasions, acted as a man of honour, integrity, and uni. versal philanthropy.-In justice to the late administra tion, it is proper to mention, that they intended to bring forward a proposition of a similar nature. But the dif. ferent administrations of this country have of late been so fluctuating, that it has been impossible for them to prosecute any such design with effect. However, I can now congratulate the people on the occasion, when the present ministry will have it in their power to alleviate the distresses of those unfortunate persons, by restoring to them their estates and property.

The immortal earl of Chatham was the first man, after the late unfortunate rebellion, that called those men forth from obscurity. He intended to have rewarded them in a similar manner, as appears from the encomiums which he bestowed upon them some years ago, on a question relative to the stamp act, when he had an opportunity of doing justice to the merit of the Highlanders. This design, however, was frustrated;-but, it gives me singular felicity to think that what was so happily begun, under the administration of that illustri ous personage, will be completed under that of his son; for I am fully persuaded, that none will object to a measure which is pregnant with the most happy con sequences.

LXIII. Speech of Scipio Africanus to his soldiers, at calling them together after a sedition.

I NEVER thought I should have been at a loss in what manner to address my army. Not that I have applied myself more to words than to things; but because I have been accustomed to the genius of soldiers, having

been trained up in the camp almost from my childhood. But I am in doubt what or how to speak to you, not knowing what name to give you. Shall I call you citizens, who have revolted from your country? Soldiers, who have disowned the authority of your general, and broke your military oath? Enemies? I perceive the mien, the aspect and habit of citizens; but discern the actions, words, designs and dispositions of enemies.

LXIV. Hanibal to his soldiers.

I KNOW not, soldiers, whether you or your prisoners be encompassed by fortune with the stricter bonds and necessities. Two seas enclose you on the right and left:-not a ship to flee to for escaping. Before you is the Po, a river broader and more rapid than the Rhone; behind you are the Alps, over which, even when your numbers were undiminished, you were hardly able to force a passage. Here, then, soldiers, you must either conquer or die, the very first hour you meet the enemy. But the same fortune which has thus laid you under the necessity of fighting, has set before your eyes those rewards of victory, than which no men are ever wont to wish for greater from the immortal gods. Should we by our valour recover only Sicily and Sardinia, which were ravished from our fathers, those would be no inconsiderable prizes. Yet what are these? The wealth of Rome, whatever riches she has heaped together in the spoils of nations, all these, with the masters of them, will be yours. You have been long enough employed in driving the cattle upon the vast mountains of Lusitania and Celtiberia; you have hitherto met with no reward worthy of the labours and dangers you have undergone. The time is now come to reap the full recompence of your toilsome marches over so many mountains and rivers, and through so many nations, all of them in arms. This is the place which fortune has appointed to be the limits of your labours; it is here that you will finish your glorious warfare, and receive an ample recompence of your completed service. For I would not have you imagine, that victory will be as difficult as the

name of a Roman war is great and sounding. It has often happened that a despised enemy has given a bloody battle, and the most renowned kings and nations have by a small force been overthrown. And if you but take away the glitter of the Roman name, what is there, wherein they may stand in competition with you? For (to say nothing of your service in war for twenty years together with so much valour and success) from the very pillars of Hercules, from the ocean, from the utmost bounds of the earth, through so many warlike nations of Spain and Gaul, are you not come hither victorious? And with whom are you now to fight? With raw søldiers, an undisciplined army, beaten, vanquished, be sieged by the Gauls the very last summer, an army un. known to their leader, and they unacquainted with him.

Or shall I, who was born I might almost say, but certainly brought up, in the tent of my father, that most excellent general, shall I, the conqueror of Spain and Gaul, and not only of the Alpine nations, but, which is greater yet, of the Alps themselves, shall I compare myself with this half-year captain? A captain before whom should one place the two armies with their ensigns, I am persuaded he would not know to which of them he is con.. sul. I esteem it no small advantage, soldiers, that there is not one among you, who has not often been an eyewitness of my exploits in war; not one of whose valour I myself have not been a spectator, so as to be able to name the times and places of his noble atchievements; that with soldiers, whom I have a thousand times praised and rewarded, and whose pupil I was, before I became their general, I shall march against an army of men, strangers to one another.

On what side soever I turn my eyes, I behold all full of courage and strength; a veteran infantry; a most gallant cavalry; you, my allies, most faithful and valiant: you, Carthaginians, whom not only your coun. try's cause, but the justest anger impels to battle. The hope, the courage of assailants, is always greater than of those who act upon the defensive. With hostile banners displayed, you are come down upon Italy: you bring the war. Grief, injuries, indignities fire your minds, and spur you forward to revenge! First they demanded

me; that I, your general, should be delivered up to them; next, all of you, who had fought at the siege of Saguntum; and we were to be put to death by the ex tremest tortures. Proud and cruel nation! Every thing must be yours, and at your disposal! You are to prescribe to us with whom we shall make war, with whom we shall make peace! You are to set us bounds: to shut us up within hills and rivers; but you-you are not to observe the limits which yourselves have fixed! Pass not the Iberus. What next? Touch not the Saguntines: Saguntum is upon the Iberus; move not a step towards that city. Is it a small matter then, that you have deprived us of our ancient possessions, Sicily and Sardinia; you would have Spain too? Well, we shall yield Spain; and then-you will pass into Africa. Will pass, did I say!This very year they ordered one of their consuls into Africa, the other into Spain. No, soldiers; there is nothing left for us but what we can vindicate with our swords. Come on then. Be men. The Romans may with more safety be cowards; they have their own country behind them, have places of re fuge to flee to, and are secure from danger in the roads thither; but for you there is no middle fortune between death and victory. Let this be but well fixed in your minds, and once again, I say, you are conquerors.

LXV. Catiline to his soldiers, previous to the battle which proved decisive both of his cause and fate.

I HAVE found by experience, fellow-soldiers, that words increase not bravery; that a spiritless army is neither rendered hardy, nor a dastardly army valiant, by a speech from the commander. Whatever portion of courage any man possesses, from nature or habit, just so much will he display in battle. Vain it is to exhort that man whom neither glory nor danger can animate: the force of fear deprives him of his hearing. My mo tive for calling you together, fellow-soldiers, was to furnish you with a few points of instruction; as also to communicate to you my last result, and the ground of it.