THILE the councils of the nation are dinrached by contending factions; while turgy of government is fulpended, and rival and profligate fubjects avail themselves of s and diffentions to undermine our Ms detraud the revenue already unequal Imamous load of the public debt; while mal confequence is gradually finking the preiture of to many difficulties, and weal is full madly facrificed to the aw of this, now of that demagogue; who confider the effufion of human of the greaterk of human calamities, except and irretrievable lots of liberty, it fome confolation to reflect that we ury treatened with the lait of evils, the at a civil war. In little more than the a century, fuch have been the effects and regular internal government, fuch abase of philofophy and the diffufion of as the liberal arts in fottening our na, that as long as the effence of the thall remain, there is no reafon to tut the war of words will ever termiwar of arms. The elevation or downthis or that faction may indeed protruggle between privilege and prerogavatory may incline to the one or to th, but will never be decided by an appeal The people of this country, ftranthe image of war but by report, would wul horror from the thoughts of civil di, in almost any caule. Slaughter and mong fellow-citizens, which were heard tout emotion at the distance of four thou 2 , would till their minds with terror alece when confidered as calamities ich they themselves would be expofed. Posow merely a game for power and pret, refined from all private animofity, in de molt intimate connexions often take fides; and we fee men daily engaged in hement political contention, without ng the fmallest degree of perfonal magant each other. Even religion, whofe makes on the human mind are the moit end and uniform, instead of denouncing race and blood, now teaches univerfal and moderation. Thus, therefore, who, during the late conteft, mpared the afpect of the times to that te that twelve years of the unfortunate and id Charles I. and thofe who have fpeand hypothetically on the confequences of his ty's being driven to feek protection in the then of his people and the habitual attachof the army against the violence of the de of Commons, have not attended to the face of manners on the hiftory of nations, the great difference between the character and the prefent age. They have alarmthamfelves and their fellow-citizens with the tions of fear, or the gloomy conjec fafanguinary fancy. neglecting popular clamour, the Houfe of Com moas muit be regarded as the true and genuine teprefentative of the people, till a better can be constituted; but, while the power attached to the one, and the inherent fpirit of the other continue unfubdued, the conftitution will receive no material injury from the tranfitory encroachments of the one branch on the other. Which ever fide is pretted down will quickly recover by its natural elafticity. A retrospect of the Hitory of England fince the Revolution will justify thefe remarks. The oppofition of the prefent day have, therefore, acted on prudent and conftitutional principles, in removing all obftacles to an appeal to the great body of the people, by pafling the mutiny bill, and voting the fupplies. A new parliament will either refcind the refolutions of their predeceffors, and fupport the miniftry with vigour and effect, or compel them to refign. How far they have acted from virtue, or yielded to neceiirty, it is not for us to decide. The miniftry, who had refitted the refolutions of the Houfe of Commons with fuch undaunted firmnefs, were not likely to be intimidated by an addrefs, which called for their removal in the fame general terms of diftruit. The King's auwer was plain and obvious: "There was no charge fuggefted against his prefent minifters, nor was any one or more of thein fpecifically objected to; and numbers of his fubjects had expreffed, in the warmest manner, their fatisfaction in the changes which he had lately made in his councils." The opposition feem to have anticipated the purport of the anfwer. On Wednesday, before prelenting the addrefs, they adjourned the Houfe of Commons to Friday; and on Friday they moved a further adjournment to Monday the ift of March, as well to fhake the refolution of their opponents by fufpenfe and delay, and allow it time to cool if it thould happen to be counterfeit, as to gain time for concerting their own meafures. Lord North complained, that while the Houfe was carrying up the addrefs, he had feen a member hiffed and infulted within the very walls of the palace, fo easily did the lowest appendages of the court catch the manners of their fuperiors, when they found it fashionable to contemn the Houfe of Commons. The negociation for an union, which was opened on the 25th of February, through the commendable zeal of Mr. Powys and Mr. Marfham, proceeded fo far that a meilage was fent by Lord Sydney to the Duke of Portland, intimating his Majefty's delire that a perfonal conference might take place between his Grace and Mr. Pitt, for the purpofe of forming a new adminiftration on a wide bafis, and on fair and EQUAL terms. In adjufting the preliminaries of the conference, a doubt was started by the Duke of Portland relative to the acceptation of the word EQUAL. Mr. Pitt refufed any explanation, and the negociation broke off. This was, indeed, a mere cavil about a word, beneath the attention of men who were to confer In the balance of power, fometimes the crown, framan the people may preponderate, and, upon objects of fuch magnitude, and ferved only only to cover the effential caufes of differ ence. As preliminaries to an union, it was demanded on the part of Mr. Pitt, that Lord North thould not make one of the new cabinet; that the India bill thould be given up; and that the Duke of Portland thould confent to an interview upon fair and equal terms. Lord North was ready to refign his pretenfions, and Mr. Fox to give up the molt exceptionable part of the bill, that which related to the pationage of India, and to leave the rest open to difcuffion. On the other hand, the Duke of Portland and his friends required that the ministry thould virtually refign, or that the meffage relative to an interview for forming a new adminiftration, fhould be conftrued to mean a virtual rengnation; that the Duke thould receive the metlage from the King in perfon, that he might have the authority of his Majesty's name to propofe a plan of arrangement to his friends; and that the word EQUAL fhould be explained, or the words 4 that all polfible attention thall be paid to fairnels and equality," fubftituted in its ftead. The miniitry would concede none of thefe points. That which both laboured to carry, if indeed there was any fincerity on either part, was an afcendant in the new cabinet. Perhaps there was another obftacie, a repugnance in the royal breaft to reinftate in his fervice certain individuals of the late miniftry. Little was to be expected from an union, if the negociation had ucceeded, where fuch want of confidence appeared on both fides. March 1. On Monday the King's anfwer was canvalled with much freedom: Sir Robert Walpole and Lord Grenville were cited as in tances of minitters having retired in deference to the opinion of the House of Commons, though they poifelfed the confidence of their fovereign in an eminent degree. A fecond addrefs was voted by a majority of twelve, conceived in Atronger and more direct terms. Ititated, "That the Houfe with all humility claimed it as their right, and on every proper occafion felt it to be their duty, to advite his Majesty touching the exercife of any branch of his prerogative; that they could have no intereft diftinct from that of their constituents; that they felt themfelves obliged to remain firm in the with exprefled to His Majesty in their late humble addrefs, and did, therefore, again befeech his Majefty to lay the foundation of a strong and ftable government, by the previous removal of his prefent minifters." March 4 On Thursday the addrefs was prefented. His Majefty's anfwer was firm and decifive. He repeated that no charge or complaint had been made against any of his prefent minifters. If there were any fuch ground for their removal, it ought to be equally a reafon for not admitting them as a part of that extended and united adminiftration which was ftated to be requifite. He did not confider the failure of his late endeavour as a final bar to the accomplishment of a strong and ftable adminiftration, but he knew of no further steps which he could take to remove the difficulties which obftructed that defireable end. March 5. On Friday the order of the day for committing the Mutiny bill was adjourned to Monday, on pretence that it would. confiftent with the ufage of parliament to p to bufinefs of importance, previous to the fideration of the King's anfwer. Under circumftances the Houfe might have want point of order. The reafons for delay wen ferious and fubftantial. There was now ni left for compromife, and this was the mon victory or defeat. Some time was requi oppofition to concert their measures, and their strength, that they might not be exp the difgrace of attempting any thing abo ability to carry into effect. The only f remained, fhort of the defperate expedi ftopping the mutiny bill and withholdi fupplies, was to vote him an enemy to his who should advife to continue the prefe miniftration. Many were unwilling to fo near to the brink of a precipice, that e farther might be ruin, and fome late def from their fide had rendered a majority d on any question March 8. On Monday they were, the obliged to content themselves with an reprefentation to his Majesty, to whi anfwer is cuftomary, to be prefented by m of the privy-council, and this was came fingle voice. It was the confummation of unavailing oppofition to what they judg unwarrantable exercife of the royal pre and may be confidered as a manifefto world, as well as a reprefentation to the As it is given at length, under the head Papers of this number, we shall not ente the detail of it. It fet forth that the did not prefume to offer any advice to his jetty with regard to the propriety of adm either the prefent minifters or any other p as part of a new adminiftration, well kn it to be the undoubted prerogative of his M to appoint his minifters without any p advice from either Houfe of Parliament; their duty humbly to offer their advice, fuch appointments fhall appear to them judicial to the public fervice. That it ha ciently been the practice of the Houfe to 1 hold the fupplies until grievances were redre and that they thould be warranted as well by moft approved precedents, as by the fpirital conftitution, in following this courfe in prefent conjuncture; but that if, in confidera of the peculiar exigencies of the times, fhould be induced to wave for the prefent exercife of their legal and conftitutional mod obtaining redrefs, they implored his Ma not to impute their forbearance to any wal fincerity in their complaints or diftruit in juftice of their cause. The Privy Seal, which had continued un pofed of fince the appointment of the D Rutland to the Lord-Lieutenancy of Irel was delivered into the hands of commiffic Various reports were circulated, during the period, of ftrengthening the cabinet by the troduction of Lords Shelburne and Temple. March 9. To have loft a queftion by a fi vote was indeed a victory, but a victory of wh minifters had no caufe to boaft. Oppofition bore all further obstruction to them, in brin forward the public bufinefs, but formed ind camp of obfervation, to watch and take age of their motions. A mutiny bill for time this day paffed a committee of Hole. Lord North and Mr. Fox had wed themselves in the most explicit terms the expediency of a fhort mutiny bill, but now thought proper to abandon that idea. this time minifters are to be confidered as the refult of their own deliberations, And fruggling under the difficulties of an , the event of which, fix months ago, have been counted an idle dream. Mar 12. Mr. Sawbridge brought forward bus of parliamentary reform, as the tett M. Fat's confiftency on a queftion which he act fupported fo ftrenuously. Mr. Pitt bil, a we luppole every minifter will act, in amaritances. He poke and voted for a belf, and fuffered his adherents to do ay pleafed, of courfe it was negatived. A rian of the Houfe of Commons, like all of great popular attention, has had its and we believe Mr. Sawbridge will gain as parity by his late motion, as the minibfe. epic bufinefs was ftill brought forward hardinefs, as indicated no difpofition to go through the ufual bufinefs of a with the prefent parliament. The muwhl being paffed, and the fupplies voted, his ely put an end to the feffion on the 24th. to induced to do this, because he felt it a ch he owed to the country and the con fuch a fituation, to recur as speedily e to the fenfe of his people, by calling a ment. On Friday the 26th, a proclafor diffolving the old, and calling a new ent, was itfued. The rumitances attending the diffolution galar. The Houfe of Commons have pes to the amount of ten millions, for which there is provided about two millions of ways and means, and no bill for appropriating the fupplies has paffed, notwithstanding the vote of the 12th of January. To pay the army without a bill of appropriation will be a direct infringement of the charter of rights which was prefented to William and Mary, as the exprefs condition on which they accepted and were to hold the crown. Thefe are points which we will not attempt to clear up. There is one thing with which our readers cannot be too foon acquainted, as on it all minifters are agreed, the neceflity of impofing fresh burdens on the people. To make good deficiencies, and provide for the intereft of the unfunded debt, not lefs than two millione annually will be wanted, as will appear by the following ftate of the unfunded debt, taken from accounts laid before the Houfe of Commons, and from their refolutions: Navy and victualling bills Exchequer bills due to the Bank, and in circulation Army expence for this year Exchequer bills to be paid Ordnance expence for this year Total The only funds to answer the above, are the land and malt tax and finking fund, at moit £. 15,500,000 7,000,000 2,500,000 1,016,170 3,154,000 2,000,000 934,000 436,600 500,000 £.34,040,770 4,000,000 £. 30,000,000 ant of the Proceedings of the Gentlemen, Members of the House of Commons, whe mbled at the St. Alban's-Tavern, with a view to conciliate differences, and pward an union of parties. (Continued from page 158.) THE country gentlemen, who had exerted helves fo laudably to bring about an f parties, renewed their endeavours on y the 25th of February. We are not lay before our readers a complete detail their proceedings, but the following are not material: March 1. The Hon. Charles Marham and M. Pay Ated to the meeting the circumstances agulation which they had conducted for days pat, and which had unhappily condad it as little fuccefs as the former endeathat body. They faid, that when the Desi Portland delivered his final anfwer, be cold not most Mr. Pitt, until he had for a dajoltion to comply with the wishes of Hade of Commons, either by an actual or regation; and that Mr. Pitt had pearily declared, that he would do neither e or the other as a preliminary to negothought that an expedient might be found to clear the ground, and bring them to an interview, without any conceffion of principle, but only by a conceflion of mode. With this view it was, that a meffage was fent from his Majelty to the Duke of Portland, intimating "his Majefty's carnet defire, that his Grace fhould have a perional conference with Mr. Pitt, for the purpofe of forming a new adminitration on a wide bafis, and on fair and EQUAL terms." This meilage was confidered by the Duke of Portland as a removal of the previous obftacle, fince, though it was not a declaration on the part of Mr. Pitt, it was tantamount to a virtual relignation. The preliminaries of the conference were next to be confidered, and here an objection prefented itself which called for the explanation of a term in the meffage. His Grace could have no objection to the word fair-it was a general term, and he and Mr. Pitt might in framing the arrangements mutually difcufs what they confidered to be fair, but the other term in the meffage, the word equal, was a more fpecific and limited term; it might be conftrued variously, and his Grace thought it neceffary, as a preliminary to negociation, that Mr. Pitt fhould explain precifely what he meant by the word equal. In anfwer to this Mr. Pitt faid, in a meilage, that there was no occafion, in his mind, for entering into any explanation of the term, as it could be beft explained in a perfonal conference. The Duke of Portlana replied to the negociators, that it was impoflible for him to agree to any perfonal conference on a preliminary metf.ge, the terms of which the author refuted to explain. Mr. Pitt perfevered in his refolution not to explain the word, and here the negociation broke off. On this statement of the cafe Mr. Martham and Mr. Powys delivered their fentiments, and a refolution was prepared and adopted by the meeting to the following effect: "That it was the fenfe of that body, that parties in the prefent circumstances of the country, when an union on a broad and comprehentive balis was declared on all hands to be neceffary, fhould not fuffer verbal objections, and matters of ceremony and explanation, to prevent them from meeting; that it would not be either dishonourable or improper in them to concede fuch points; and that that meeting thould declare its approbation of thofe who manifested the greateft readiness. making fuch conceffion. This refolution was communicated the fame day to both parties, before the meeting of the Houfe of Commons. March 5. There was another meeting for the avowed purpofe of endeavouring, if it was yet ponible, to bring about fuch explanations between the Duke of Portland and Mr Pitt, as might clear away the impediment to a negociation for the defired union. It was compoted of almost all the gentlemen, who come under the defcription of country members, that have attended the prefent feflion of parliament. A letter from the Duke of Portland, in anfwer to the lat refolution of the meeting, itating his Grace's reafons for defiring the explanation of the preliminary term "equal," was read. It was dated March the 20, 1784, and was addreffed to Sir DEAN TUCKER's Opinion on the ALTHOUGH the following little tract has appeared in most of the daily prints, we think the fanction of fo refpectable a name as Dean Tucker's will entitle it to a place in that department of our mifcellany with which it is to intimately connected: THE cardinal point, on which the queftion Between the King and the Houte of Lords on the one fide, and the prefent Houle of Commons on the other, really hinges, appears to be this: The King has, by the conftitution of this country, the fole right of nominating or appointing the great refponfible officers of the crown. This is confeited and allowed by all; and, indeed, the appointment of fuch minifters is a truft which could not be lodged in any hands with fo much fafety as with the crown. The House of Lords ought not to be in poffeffion of it, becaufe the conftitution has already made them the judges in the dernier refort of all George Cornwall, William Hufey, and Dempfter, Efqrs. It contained a clear cumftantial statement of his Grace's real defiring an explanation of the word equ figning, among others, that if it were ma terally, and implied naming to the equally, it placed them more in the light parties fetting out with hopes of overs each other, than with a fincere defire about a folid union founded in honour principle; and that the inevitable conft of an union fo formed mutt be distracti divifion in the cabinet, weak meatures, i embarrafled government. It was refolved that the committee carry this letter to Mr. Pitt, and use th deavours to procure from him the fatis which the Duke thought neceffery beg interview for the purpofe of forming an ment could take place. They waited Pitt accordingly, but without effecting any March 8. Another meeting was held purpofe of trying one more effort to bri Duke of Portland and Mr. Pitt together. ground of this Lait endeavour was, that a Pitt, in his aufwer to the request of the D Portland, to explain the meaning of the minary term " equal," before they thou to negociate an union, faid that the ter be beit explained in a perfonal conference, thought it their duty, as the laft effort, to prevail on his Grace to agree to meet Mr.P the exprefs purpofe of hearing his explanat this term in his preliminary meffage. The of Portland, by his letter, confented to the ing, and feveral meflages patled. Mr. Mar Mr. Powys, Mr. Honeywood, Mr. De and the other gentlemen who had int with their weight and influence, fo far as to effect an interview, but it did not terr in the conciliation defired. The refult c conference was fuch as determined the cc gentlemen to agree to Mr. Fox's motion reprefentation to the King, and thus couc profpect of an union. prefent moft interefting Difputes. pre minifters, whenever any complaint or se ment fhall be brought against them. W therefore, to fit in judgement on fuch peaks mal-adminiftration whom they theme chofen and appointed, this, in fact, wel fitting in judgement on their own actions. The Houte of Commons ought not to enjo privilege of nominating miniiters, or even cominending them, becaufe they are the tutional watchmen of the state, whofe pe province it is, to keep the public pure, when they make grants out of it, to inf examine the application of tuch grants w utmoft care. Confequently, they are to to profecute, and impeach every reporte iter, whenever they apprehend him to be of abuses or mifmanagement in the diff his office. Hence, therefore, it must that it is repugnant to common fenie the House of Commons should be allowed to net mmend thofe perfons whom afterwards it their duty to profecute. The ideas are to each other; at least, they appear to 4 moral and judicial view; for, were always to have the liberty of choofing profecutors, what impartial justice pected from fuch foam profecutions? teward, mentioned in a book to en politicians pay no regard, had to fear the lofs of his ftewardship, wafted his master's goods, could he the appointment of his own friends enders to be his only examiners and therefore, to the point from which -The crown alone is entrusted by the with the appointment of all its reiters. The reafon is obvious. After ment they are to anfwer for their dinterefted, impartial profecutors, and partial difinterested judges, in case they trans. The crown, therefore, ought Terk the previous confent of either Houfe re of its minifters: for, provided the fuch, that no natural incapacity, no tal difqualification can be objected, the constitution requires no more; le minifter, therefore, whoever he gally and conftitutionally appointed, fands upon his good behaviour before Commons as his profecutors, and Houfe of Peers as his judges, he ought jaged by them either way; that is, te neither applauded nor condemnconduct, and his perfonal merit in his office, fhall have rendered him er of their praife or cenfure, boubtedly, being the true ftate of the wow fee how the Houfe of Commons and ftill continue to act, in thefe matad of keeping within the bounds of as the watchmen of the ftate, and liams of the public treafure, they have themfelves a new office, totally unthe conftitution, and utterly fubverfive parfued to all its fatal confequences, they do not object to the choice which has made, as a choice intrinfically though they applaud it, as being in ry good one, fuch as they themfelves we made; yet they bring a most fore abjection against his Majelty for making ce without their previous confent. For a man who has not the confidence of their however well qualified himself, ought not chain; and, if chofen, he ought to be comrega, in order to obtain their approbefore his election. In fact, according to ption, no man is eligible till the Houfe of have given their fiat. This new docart broached by a defperate faction in ef George the Third; but a strange one more ftrange, if poffible, than that t of Afbby and White in the year 1704. only are to be deemed- eligible who are dded favourites of the Houfe of Commons, kind of guards and fentinels will our reatres become, in watching over the conLoss. MAG, March 1784. duct of their own fav urites, their own crea tures? Et quis cuftodes cuftodiet ipfos ? Befides, there is another moft alarming con fideration, which feems to be too much overlooked. According to these new regulations, no man ought to be made prime minister who has not acquired the confidence of the Houfe of Commons. Be it fo; but then, how is this confidence to be obtained? What meafures is the candidate to purfue, for obtaining an influence fo preponderating as to fecure his election? The true answer to which queftion is this, He muft make intereft with, he must ftudy to oblige (foft words in the prefent cafe for flattering, bribing, and corrupting as many leading members as hé can, to efpoufe his caufe: he muft, and he will, make large promifes, that as foon as he fhall come into power, he will gratify thefe with honours, titles, ftars, and ribbands; those with places, penfions, or lucrative jobs and contracts. In thort, he must know every man's price, and act according to this plan of iniquity. Thus, by the great innovation now attempted to be introduced into the conftitution, the British empire will be as furely overturned, and as truly fet to fale to the highest bidder within the walls of the Houfe of Commons, as the Roman em pire was by the Pretorian Guards, during the declenfion of that unwieldy falling state. If rumour is to be credited, the price of feveral capital leaders is already fixed. Whether this be true or falfe, the fyftem tends to corruption, and cannot be fupported on any other principle; a circumftance fufficient to render it deteftable in the eyes of every fincere lover of his Having thus far ftated one fide of the question, it becomes us, as impartial recorders of facts and opinions, to extend the fame indulgence ta the other. We fhall, therefore, fubjoin the following remarks, with which a correfpondent has . favoured us, Remarks on Dean Tucker's Opinions. THE general principles on which the Dean argues are found and conftitutional, and his inferences are just and rational; but his statement of the question between the crown and the Houfs of Commons is neither fair nor accurate; his application of thefe principles and deductions to the late difpute is, therefore, unlogical and inconclufive. The Houfe of Commons, in the prefent inftance, have never controverted his Majesty's undoubted prerogative of appointing to the executive offices of the ftate, without the advice or recommendation of either Hicufe of parliament, They have not applauded his Majefty's late choice as in itfelf a very good one, and fuch as they themselves would have made; nor have they objected to it as made without their previous confent, K k * See their representation to the King, and the debates and refolutions palim, But |