servant, nor an honest man, who gets into debt, which he is neither able nor willing to pay, till compelled by the law. If my servant, by unforeseen accidents, has got into debt, and I still wish to retain him, I certainly would pay the demand. But upon no principle of liberal legislation whatever, can my servant have a title to set his creditors at defiance, while, for forty shillings only, the honest tradesman may be torn from his family, and locked up in a gaol. It is monstrous injustice! I flatter myself, however, the determination of this day, will entirely put an end to all these partial proceedings for the future, by passing into a law the bill now under your lordships' consideration.

11 I now come to speak upon what, indeed, I would have gladly avoided, had I not been particularly pointed at, for the part I have taken in this bill. It has been said, by a noble lord on my left hand, that I likewise am running the race of popularity. If the noble lord means by popularity, that applause bestowed by after-ages on good and virtuous actions, I have long been struggling in that race: to what purpose, all-trying time can alone determine.

12 But if the noble lord means that mushroom popularity, which is raised without merit, and lost without a crime, he is much mistaken in his opinion. I defy the noble lord to point out a single action of my life, in which the popularity of the times ever had the smallest influence on my determinations. I thank God, I have a more permanent and steady rule for my conduct,—the dictates of my own breast.

13 Those who have foregone that pleasing adviser,and given up their mind to be the slave of every popular impulse, I sincerely pity: I pity them still more, if their vanity leads them to mistake the shouts of a mob, for the trumpet of fame. Experience might inform them, that many, who have been saluted with the huzzas of a crowd one day, have received their execrations the next; and many, who, by the popularity of their times, have been held up as spotless patriots, have, nevertheless, appeared upon the historian's page, when truth has triumphed over delusion, the assassins of liberty.

14 Why then the noble lord can think I am ambitious of present popularity, that echo of folly, and shadow of renown, I am at loss to determine. Besides, I do not know that the bill now before your lordships, will be popular : it depends much upon the caprice of the day. It may not be

popular to compel people to pay their debts; and, in that case, the present must be a very unpopular bill.

15 It may not be popular either to take away any of the privileges of parliament; for I very well remember, and many of your lordships may remember, that, not long ago, the popular cry was for the extension of privilege; and so far did they carry it at that time, that it was said, the privilege protected members even in criminal actions; nay, such was the power of popular prejudices over weak minds, that the very decisions of some of the courts, were tinctured with that doctrine. It was undoubtedly an abominable doctrine. I thought so then, and I think so still: but, nevertheless, it was a popular doctrine, and came immediately from those who are called the friends of liberty; how deservedly, time will show.

16 True liberty, in my opinion, can only exist when justice is equally administered to all; to the king and to the beggar. Where is the justice then, or where is the law, that protects a member of parliament, more than any other man, from the punishment due to his crimes? The laws of this country allow of no place, nor any employment, to be a sanctuary for crimes; and where I have the honour to sit as judge, neither royal favour, nor popular applause, shall protect the guilty. 17 I have now only to beg pardon for having employed so much of your lordships' time; and I am sorry a bill, fraught with so many good consequences, has not met with an abler advocate: but I doubt not your lordships' determination will convince the world, that a bill, calculated to contribute so much to the equal distribution of justice as the present, requires with your lordships but very little support. SECTION V.

An address to young persons.

I intend, in this address, to show you the importance of beginning early to give serious attention to your conduct. As soon as you are capable of reflection, you must perceive that there is a right and a wrong in human actions. You see, that those who are born with the same advantages of fortune, are not all equally prosperous in the course of life. While some of them, by wise and steady conduct, attain distinction in the world, and pass their days with comfort and honour; others of the same rank, by mean and vicious

behaviour, forfeit the advantages of their birth; involve themselves in much misery; and end in being a disgrace to their friends, and a burden on society.

2 Early, then, may you learn, that it is not on the external condition in which you find yourselves placed, but on the part you are to act, that your welfare or unhappiness, your honour or infamy, depends. Now, when beginning to act that part, what can be of greater moment, than to regulate your plan of conduct with the most serious attention, before you have yet committed any fatal or irretrievable errors?

3 If, instead of exerting reflection for this valuable purpose, you deliver yourselves up, at so critical a time, to sloth and pleasures; if you refuse to listen to any counsellor but humour, or to attend to any pursuit except that of amusement; if you allow yourselves to float loose and careless on the tide of life, ready to receive any direction which the current of fashion may chance to give you; what can you expect to follow from such beginnings?

4 While so many around you are undergoing the sad consequences of a like indiscretion, for what reason shall not those consequences extend to you? Shall you attain success without that preparation, and escape dangers without that precaution, which are required of others? Shall happiness grow up to you, of its own accord, and solicit your acceptance, when, to the rest of mankind, it is the fruit of long cultivation, and the acquisition of labour and care?

5 Deceive not yourselves with those arrogant hopes.Whatever be your rank, Providence willnot, for your sake, reverse its established order. The Author of your being hath enjoined you to "take heed to your ways; to ponder the paths of your feet; to remember your Creator in the days of your youth."

6 He hath decreed, that they only "who seek after wisdom, shall find it; that fools shall be afflicted, because of their transgressions; and that whoever refuseth instruction, shall destroy his own soul." By listening to these admonitions, and tempering the vivacity of youth with a proper mixture of serious thought, you may ensure cheerfulness for the rest oflife; but by delivering yourselves up at present to giddiness and levity, you lay the foundation of lasting heaviness of heart.

7 When you look forward to those plans of life, which either your circumstances have suggested, or your friends have proposed, you will not hesitate to acknowledge, that in order to pursue them with advantage, some previous discipline is requisite. Be assured, that whatever is to be your profession, no education is more necessary to your success, than the acquirement of virtuous dispositions and habits. This is the universal preparation for every character, and every station in life.

& Bad as the world is, respect is always paid to virtue. In the usual course of human affairs, it will be found, that a plain understa. ding, joined with acknowledged worth, contributes more to prosperity, than the brightest parts without probity or honour. Whether science or business, or public life, be your aim, virtue still enters, for a princ pal share, into all those great departments of society. is connected with eminence, in every liberal art; with: utation, in every branch of fair and useful business; w. distinction, in every public station.

9 The vigour which it gives the mind, and the weight which it adds to character; the generous sentiments which it breathes; the undaunted spirit which it inspires; the ardour of diligence which it quickens; the freedom which it procures from pernicious and dishonourable avocations; are the foundations of all that is highly honourable, or greatly successful among men.

10 Whatever ornamental or engaging endowments you now possess, virtue is a necessary requisite, in order to their shining with proper lustre. Feeble are the attractions of the fairest form, if it be suspected that nothing within, corresponds to the pleasing appearance without. Short are the triumphs of wit, when it is supposed to be the vehicle of malice. 11 By whatever means you may at first attract the attention. you can hold the esteem, and secure the hearts of others, or is byamiable dispositions and the accomplishmentsof the miders These are the qualities whose influence will last, whd, by lustre of all that once sparkled and dazzled has pass

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12 Let not then the season of youth be barrer (two friars of ments, so essential to your future felicity and,) we launched is the seed-time of life; and according to and arrived, the you shall reap." Your character is nows. Our destination where we had

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sistance, of your own forming; your fate is, in some measure, put into your own hands.

13 Your nature is as yet pliant and soft. Habits have not established their dominion. Prejudices have not pre-occu pied your understanding. The world has not had time to contract and debase your affections. All your powers are more vigorous, disembarrassed, and free, than they will be at any future period.

14 Whatever impulse you now give to your desires and passions, the direction is likely to continue. It will form the channel in which your life is to run; nay, it may determine its everlasting issue. Consider, then, the employment of this important period, as the highest trust which shall ever be committed to you; as in a great measure, decisive of your happiness in time, and in eternity.

15 As in the succession of the seasons, each, by the invariable laws of nature, affects the productions of what is next in course; so, in human life, every period of our age, according as it is well or ill spent, influences the happiness of that which is to follow. Virtuous youth, gradually brings forward accomplished and flourishing manhood: and such manhood, passes of itself, without uneasiness, into respectable and tranquil old age.

16 But when nature is turned out of its regular course disorder takes place in the moral, just as in the vegetable world. If he spring put forth no blossoms, in summer there will be no beauty, and in autumn, no fruit: so, youth be trifled away without improvement, manhood wil probably be contemptible, and old age miserable. If th beginnings of life have been " vanity," its latter end ca scarcely be any other than "vexation of spirit."

17 I shall finish this address, with calling your attention t that dependence on the blessing of Heaven, which, amids dom your endeavours after improvement, you ought cout their ally to preserve. It is too common with the young, eve shall desti they resolve to tread the path of virtue and honou tions, and te.. nt with presumptuous confidence in themselves. mixture of serig to their own abilities for carrying them su for the rest oflife; assistance from what they are apt to reel gh life, they are careless of applying to Ge sent to giddiness and scipline of religion. Alas! how little d ing heaviness of heart. gers which await them? Neither hum