THE ARGUMENT.

The noble Earl, as naturally in Pursuit of his Coal as a Sportsman of his Hare or Fox, happening in a Coal-chase to undermine a Parcel of Houses belonging to the Lord knows who, of Whitehaven, (no Votes perhaps for a Borough or a County,) but particularly of a Mr. Littledale; what does this insolent Littledale but complain!— nay, not contented with Complaint, he insists upon it that his Lordship has no Right to pull down his House about his Ears-nay, what is still worse, the Fellow brings an Action, absolutely brings an Action, against his Lordship-nay, what is still more horrible, the Knave gets a Verdict in his favour-and, what is more atrocious still, the Villains of the Town and Neighbourhood illuminate their Houses, as if for the Birth-nights of our beloved King and Queen, and exhibit equal Symptoms of Joy. Notwithstanding this saucy Opposition to their great Superior; notwithstanding the wicked Action; notwithstanding the vile and unnatural Verdict; notwithstanding the triumphant Illumination and brazen-faced Delight on the occasion; how sublimely his Lordship behaves! Though he most spiritedly suspends his Coalworks for a Time, to show the Power of his Vengeance; lo, he promiseth to open them again, on Condition he has full liberty to undermine any Houses that may impudently stand in the way of his Coal for the future. What an Act of Humanity! partly for the Benefit of himself, a poor Individual; but principally for the Advantage of the Town and Neighbourhood of Whitehaven! Who, besides his Lordship, would have done this? It is too humane-it is too great; for, as it has been observed by some celebrated Divines, that a Man man be over-righteous, so verily may a great Peer be over-forgiving. Such is the Ground of my Epistle to Lord Lonsdale; and, for the Advantage as well as Amusement of Posterity, I have subjoined the Letters that passed between some of the People of Whitehaven and his Lordship: they are Curiosities that ought to be preserved amidst the Archives of Submission, Generosity, and Literature.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL OF LONSDALE.

The humble Representation of the Merchants and Inhabitants of the Town of Whitehaven

SHEWETH,

THAT by the unfortunate accident which has lately happened in your Lordship's Coal-mines at or near this Town, by the shrinking of the earth, the Dwelling-house and Offices of Mr. Henry Littledale, together with divers other Houses, having been injured; and Mr. Littledale having commenced an Action at Law, and obtained a Verdict against your Lordship, to recover Damages in respect thereof; we are induced to offer, and we do hereby engage and promise, to answer and pay to your Lordship, on behalf of Ourselves and the Town at large, such Costs as your Lordship has been put to on account of the said Action, or may expend in getting the same Verdict annulled and set aside; as also, all such Damages and Costs as may be occasioned to your Lordship thereby, or any future Prosecution respecting any Houses which have been injured; or to have things put into such a state as if no such

accident had happened, nor any Prosecution had been commenced on account thereof. And we humbly hope your Lordship will be pleased to take into consideration the melancholy situation which we and the other Inhabitants of Whitehaven at present are in, from the apprehension of the dreadful consequences which will attend the putting a stop to, or any suspension of, your Lordship's Works; as the same must cause the entire ruin and destruction of the whole Town. We therefore most earnestly solicit and implore, your Lordship will, in your great goodness, accept this our offer and engagement, and avert the dreadful calamities and distresses that must otherwise most inevitably befal us.

[This was signed by 135 Persons.]

Lowther, Sept. 16, 1791.

SIR,

I HAVE received the Representation signed by you; and must say, that you merit the Thanks of every person interested in the welfare of the Town and Harbour of Whitehaven, and of the well-wishers of the Prosperity of the County at large. I am sorry to say, it appears to me, that some of those persons who have not signed the Paper, seem to be waiting an opportunity to take an unfair advantage, and, by the determination of some future Jury, to ruin you, myself, and the Town, and detriment the Country. In my present situation, it is most necessary for me to act, as the Verdict of the Jury of Carlisle has expressed it,