Rt. Hon. G-e G-nv-le, No. 16. Rt. Hon. H-y F-x, No. 10. One H, a young gentleman who fpeaks mighty well, the fon of a counsellor, and Earl of Eg-t between both, but rather with the court. Mr. C-k opened the debate, by a very fenfible ftate of the trade and the funds of the nation, and in a modeft pleasing manner, like a man of bufinefs, endeavoured to fhew the great difficulties there were in raifing money for Ra, He, &c. even this year, and the impoffibility of continuing it for any term of years. Many hours were spent in thewing the expediency, inexpediency, neceffity, wantonnefs, juftice, and even treafon of the measures; in which time you must imagine, there was much repetition, redundance, tautology, and digreffion, when about eleven o' clock, Mr. L-ge, who had been frequently complimented in the courfe of the bebate, for his conduct in his office, ftood up and gave new information to the understanding, and fresh fpirits to the mind of every auditor, as his place led him to have a particular knowledge of the embrio treaties with Ruffia and Heffe, his good fenfe gave that knowledge a very clear argument, and his addrefs, voice, and elocution, a fimple but most pleasing genteel conveyance; his matter and manner were weighty, and commanded a moft profound attention. He first proceeded to fhew the progrefs of these treaties, up to his having refused to fign them as Chancellor of the Exchequer, or to pay any money to Ruffia and Heffe in confequence of them he then fhewed the rafhnefs and inexpediency of those measures, and the ignorance of those who fancied the means would attain the defired ends: He then fhewed the danger that he himself would have been in, had he paid money in confequence of fuch anticonftitutional meafures, and to the reafon, tho' not to the prejudice of the whole house, he made it appear that the employing of national money for other ufes, than thofe for which it was raised or appropriated, without a fpecial act for that purpose, was not lefs criminal than the railing of money without the confent of the people. He then fhewed the wicked, and ambitious motives (as he called them) of those who advised or adopted fuch wicked measures, and the danger they might be in from the refentment of all thofe, who would not betray the conftitution, and from the laws that were in being againft those who should attempt it, and then (to borrow a fimile from the artificial theatre, and to apply it to the natural) like a graceful Actor that, overftept not the modefty of nature in a well impaffioned Scene, he fat down with an univerfal Buz of applaufe. Mr. My the Attorney-General anfwered him, and in his argument laid all the force on that fide the queftion, with great reafoning, and strong common fenfe, the best fort of eloquence. He firft fhewed the neceflity of fuch measures, to prevent a war, and proved that 16000 English fent into Flanders, would cost more than 70,900 70,000 Ruffians; he then endea- the expence of England, for the voured to fhew the legality of the measures, and that it was not anticonftitutional, as his honourable friend was pleased to call it, he then proceeded to fhew that justice, gratitude, and the honour and fafety of England demanded fuch meatures, for that if Hanover fhould be attacked in confequence of our conduct in America, and our captures at fea, we ought from every fenfe of honour, and juftice in fociety, to protect it; and with great cloquence, and pathos, fhewed what cruelty and ingratitude it would be to the beft of Kings, to ftrew thorns on his pillow, at the eve of life, and make his latter days a fcene of forrow, which would certainly be the cafe, if Hanover must be a facrifice for the conduct of England. You are now to fuppofe it one o'clock in the morning, every body tired of the fubject, the Speakers themselves, then Mr. Pt rofe up, when again the whole affembly at once revived, and fixing their eyes on him, became fo many ftatues of attention; fuch a torrent of eloquence I never heard before, nor had I capacity to imagine it, the various fhapes of it were amazing, the feverity of it was not to be borne, thofe it was pointed at, feemed to shrink from it, they could not fit eafy on their feats; all that had been faid faded away, like an artificial light before the fun, fuch fneer, raillery, &c. invective, even fentiment, reafon, fpirit and fire, in voice, looks, action, addrets; fuch tigures, metaphors, allufions, choice and turn of expreffion, and fuch a glow of incenfed integrity through it ali, as made his antagonists believe he fpoke from his heart. He began in complimenting the A-tt-y G n-1 on his great ability, praifed the flower and the force of his eloquence, that they were very fine, and coit much pains in making up, and that he had laboured hard to prove, that making treaties of war at fafety of the Farm or Electorate of H-r, as it was called, was not treafon, tho' it was exprefsly against the act of fettlement; but it was no new thing for that honourable gentleman to fpeak with great eloquence on either fide of an act of parliament: he then fhewed, with great Pathos indeed, that them who were advifing this proceeding, and not them who oppofed it, were the perfons who were ftrewing thorns on the royal pillow, and would make it impollible for the King to fleep at St. James's for the cries and clamours of a bankrupt people, if these meafures were purfued. Then turning his eyes on F-x, he wondered who the daring adventurer was that advifed this matter, but daring as he was, he knew he would not dare to own it, with as much fafety might he leap into the fea, with a millftone about his neck, but he fuppofed the brat would be adopted by fome giddy ambitious perfon, who was to fpring up a minifter for the greatnefs of the rifque, and the o dium of the deed, but he had lived he faid already to fee a mushroom minifter (Earl of G-nv-le he meant) fpringing up in the morn, rot in the afternoon, and be caft on the dunghill at night, and he did not doubt but he would fee this Ix-' lon in the fame ftate, that for his part he should look on him as an enemy to his country, and hunt him as fuch through all his doublings and windings, in whatever fhape he should appear. i fal buz of applause of ten minutes. Mr. F-x then got up, and with great fincerity complimented his abilities as an grator, for which he faid, it did not always require juftice or true reafoning to be its concomitant; he was fure the hon. gentleman would alter his judgment when the treaties were laid before the house; and with great farcafm and fhrewdnefs endea voured and fucceeded to make the houfe laugh at fome part of Mr. P-ts patriotifm, and wiped away a great deal of his matter, which feems among many others to be a ftrong talent of his. They then clofed the debate and the night with a divifion of 311 for the addrefs and 105 againft it. ANECDOTES of General BLAKENEY, the brave defender of St Philip's Cattle, in the land of Minorca. leutenant general William Blake very early entered into the fervice of his country, in which he behaved with diftinguished conduct and courage, and role, thro' the several military degrees, to the rank of colonel. In March 1743, he was conftituted a brigadiergeneral of his majesty's forces, and in March 1744, was appointed quartermafter general of the troops in Scotland. In April 1745, he was conftituted a major general, and in February 1746, was made lieutenant governor of Plymouth. In the fame year he was appointed commander in chief of the forces in Scotland, and in Sept. 1747, lieutenant-governor of the ifland of Minorca. In October 1747, he was conftituted a lieutenant-general of his majesty's forces, and about the year 1753, governor of Fort St Philip, and is alfo colonel of the 37th regiment of foot, which is on the Irish ettablishment. On Aug. 21, 1745, foon after the breaking out of the rebellion, he fet out to join his regiment in Scotland, where on October 27, The attacked the rear of a detachment of the rebels, who were convoying ftores, &c. at Alloway, and took from them a great booty of cows, horses, baggage, arms, and fome money. Being, foon after, made governor of that important fortrefs, Stirling-caftle, he was beleaguered by the rebel army, but made fo continual a fire upon them, that he foon demolished the works they had begun to erect. To the Pretender's fon's fummons to the caftle to furre nder, general Blakeney's answer was, "That he had al ways been looked upon as a man of honour, and the rebels fhould find he would die fo." He put arms into the townfmen's hands, and expected they would have acted with vigour in the defence of the place, but the provoft and fome of the council being intimidated, foon made a capitulation with the rebels, in which they promised to harm no one in the town, not even those who bore arms, and that they would pay for what they had. Upon advile of thefe fhameful proceedings, the general came down to town and went round all the guards, exhorting them in these words, "Gentlemen, Be true to your religion, king and country, and defend your pofts to the latt extremity; and if you are overpowered by the rebels, make a handfome retreat, and I will keep an open" door for you." This Speech highly infpirited the townfmen, who in geneneral refolved to defend themselves; but the provost and baillies being till bent upon delivering up the town, a letter was fent from the council to the general, with the terms of a fecond agreement, to which, justly incenfed at their meanness and perfidy, he only returned this laconic answer. Jan. 8, 1748, • Gentlemen, I received yours. Deliver me up my arms and ammunition. Your humble fervant.' Upon this the conveener, with the captains of the volunteers, fent again to the general, telling him, That if he would aid them with the militia, as formerly, and head them, they would ftand stand out the fiege till the army came up, &c. &c." To which he return'd anfwer; Gentlemen, as your provost and baillies think the town not worth their notice, to take care of it, neither can I. I will take care of the castle. The next evening the town was furrendered, and the minute they en tered they broke the capitulation, by pillaging, &c. The general had reafon to be greatly chagrined at this conduct of the magiftrates; for, by his care, the walls of the town had been all repaired, additions made where neceffary, feveral deep trenches, cut, and he had provided them with every requifite to fuitain an obftinate fiege. On the day after the battle of Falkirk, the rebels attempted to fcale the caftle; but General Blakeney have ing ordered all his men out of fight, at their first attack, and planted nine pieces of cannon, nine pounders, loaded with grape-fhot for their reception; and his musketeers exerting themfelves at the fame time, the rebels loft above 1000 men in their fruitlefs attempt. Upon this they demanded a ceffation of arms to bury their dead; but the general refufed it them, with this antwer, That they need not be in any great hurry, fince, as the weather was very cold, their bodies were not like to be off enfive.' From this time the fire of the garrifon was fo fharp and conftant upon the batteries they were erecting, that all the rebels declined approaching them, fo that the Irish brigade, and Drummond's regiment were forced to that duty. At length they finished two batteries, one at Gowan-Hill, within 40 yards of the caftle, and one at Lady's Hill on which they mounted fome cannon, and fired for a fmall space inceffantly, but were anfwered with fuch effect by the brave Blakeney, that they were foon filenced. Upon the approach of his royal highnets to his relief, they precipitately railed the fiege on Feb. 1. and that gallant prince, in his letter to the lord juftice clerk, dated Feb. 1, does the general the honour to obferve, They were very much disappointed at the defence general Blakeney had made in Stirling-caftle, and faid, it was impoffible for men to take it.' His royal highnefs received the general with great marks of affection, commended extremely his behaviour, conduct and courage, which had faved the caftle of Stirling, a place of the greateft importance, from falling into the hands of the rebels, tho' his provifions and firing were almost expended. After fo many proofs of the conduct and courage of this brave old general, we can ceafe our wonder at his having acted fo confiftently with himfelf, in the defence of Fort St Philip, the lofs of which will not be of more difgrace to the English politicks, than the ftand the governor made will do honour to his name and nation. This gentleman is of a remarkable affable temper, and tho' ftri& in his difcipline, to indulgently humane to his foldiery, that no man who ever ferved under him but fincerely loved him. He has the highest and justest notions of patriotiim, never took bribe, or ftooped to mean fervility or adulation of the great in power, and rather than be a witnefs to the dishonour of his country, would be buried in its ruins. Such is the hero, who a bandoned by thofe that fhould have fupported him, has notwithstanding, railed himself a monument by his noble behaviour, which will remain with Englishmen till, alas! honour patriotifm, and liberty, fhall be no more. TWO STANZAS. In the Manner of Stern hold and Hopkins. Great GALLISONIERE, great BYNG did Beat, BYNG will his Jacket trim. They both did fight, they both did beat, JOURNAL JOURNAL of the PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES in the POLITICAL CLUB, continued from VOL. XII. p. 536. The laft Speech I fball give you in the Mr. Prefident, SIR, WHATEVER the gentleman may Hon. think of the queftion now before us, I must think it a queftion of the utmost importance, even fuppofing that our fovereign has, by his prerogative, a power, in time of war, to eftablish what articles of war he pleafes for the good government of his army; for even in that cafe the fovereign ought not, and I am fure, his prefent majefty would not establish any articles of war, without the advice and confent of those who had under him the chief command of the army; and they would not furely advife or confent to fuch articles of war as would render it impoffible for them to augment or recruit their army, or fuch as might probably difcourage and difpirit the foldiers then under their command. Let us therefore confider, whether the gentlemen of our regular army here at home, or the gentlemen who were born, or have lived many years in America, are the best judges what fort of military laws may have this effect in that part of the world: and at the fame time we ought to confider, that the troops which have been raised, or may hereafter be raifed in America do, and always muft confift, fo far as relates to the common foldiers at least, of men of a very different character from thofe of our regular army here at home. In the latter we feldom, if ever, have any gentlemen, especially gen tlemen of fortune, ferving as common foldiers; but, on the contrary, there are generally men who had no character, or perhaps a bad one, before they lifted in the army: Whereas, in the former there will, I hope, be many gentlemen of fome fortune, and almost all of them men of fome fubftance and character before they lifted in the army. Is it not from been long accustomed to that rigour hence evident, that officers who have of difcipline and feverity of punithment, which is neceffary for compelling the common foldiers of our army here at home to behave well and do their duty, can never be proper judges of what fort of millitary laws ought to be established for enforcing good order and exact difcipline among the troops raised in America? The Hon. gentleman was pleased racter can give themselves no concern to fay, that men of honour and chaabout the articles of war, or military laws, let them be never fo rigorous and fevere, because, for the fake of their own character, they will always do their duty, and confequently can the feverity of the punishment. Sir, never have any thing to fear from he may as well fay, that men of honour and character must always be infallible. The weakness of human nature is fuch, and our paffions are fo ftrong, that a man of the best character and strictest honour may by by the latter hurried into one of the the former be led into an error, or greateft of military crimes, a crime. which is punishable even with death itself, if fo the court martial shall think fit: When I fay this every gentleman muft fuppofe, I mean that fort of mutiny which is committed by offering any violence against a fuperior officer. And indeed there is scarcely a fection in the articles of war, but what |