by expending their treasures, and often pouring forth their blood for the defence and glory of Great Britain. Surely, therefore, that people who have called forth their military skill for the honour of their countrymen, -who have often repelled the enemy, who have often added new lustre to our former glorious atchievements, merit at least some small degree of acknowledgement and gratitude from their fellow-subjects. Their cause of former misunderstanding is now no more; and as they have made themselves illustrious in the field, they claim the protection of the British administration in the cabi net. I need hardly mention, that the people I allude to are those hardy sons of Britain who inhabited the mountains in the highlands of Scotland; a race of men to whom an illustrious statesman, in a former war, has paid the highest tribute of applause for their military prowess. I am proud to have been the first who called forth those resources from the bleak wilds and mountainous parts of the north, as they have been the means of reStoring peace and tranquillity to our dominions when most other resources had been applied to in vain. I, like the illustrious statesman to whom I allude, am not too partial to this or that part of the country, but freely confess, that I am stimulated from motives of justice and humanity, to make a proposition, which has for its ul. timate object, the restoration of property to the real proprietors, and giving peace and happiness to some individuals, who merit well of society. The illustrious person to whom I allude, is the late earl of Chatham, a glorious in the annals of Great Britain, and who has spoken of the hardy sons of the north in terms of the most expressive panegyric. "I am not," said he, "attached to one part of the country more than another. I am above all local *prejudices. It is a matter of indifference to me, whether a man was rocked in his cradle, on this or on the other side of the Tweed.-I sought for merit where I could find it ;-and, I found it in the mountains of the north. Those hardy sons ans wered the emergency of the times, and I have the honour to boast of being the first who called their powers forth into action. They were, in a manner, proscribed and forgotten, till I emancipated them from their bondage, and helped to wipe away the odium which was illiberally

name

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 suc cess. 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 pro position 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!-do omed 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 lordship 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 universal 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 cannow 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.

on a

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, 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 illustrieus 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

M

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 citi. zens, 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 inconsi derable 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 Lusitasia and Celtiberia; you have hitherto met with no re ward worthy of the labours and dangers you have undergone. The time is now come to reap the full recom pence of your toilsome marches over so many mountains and rivers, and through so many nations, all of them in

arms.

will

This is the place which fortune has appointed to be the limits of your labours; it is here that you finish your glorious warfare, and receive an ample re compence of your completed service. For I would not bave 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 sol. diers, an undisciplined army, beaten, vanquished, besieged 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 cer tainly 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 my self 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 eye witness 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.

of

On what side soever I turn my eyes, I behold all full 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