Before I quit the papers, it may be neceffary to add, that I fee nothing fo alarming in the war with Spain, had it been entered into in time, and were well conducted. I have read the hiftories of both nations, and am happy to agree with our minifters, that-experience has fhewn, that when in contradiction to the obvious principles of our common intereft, that harmony has been unhappily interrupted, Spain has always been the greatest fufferer. [page 21.] Need I do more in fupport of this opinion, than mention the late war against the combined forces of France and Spain, united before the French marine was annihilated, as it now is, and at a period when the navy of England had not reached its present greatness, and irresistable superiority? The evidence to be drawn from thefe imperfect and mutilated papers, is now fully and fairly stated. I call them imperfect and mutilated, because they have their commencement only from the very point when the long negotiation between England and Spain being become hopeless, the infolent attempt was made by the two branches of the House of Bourbon, then united, to force on his Majefty and the English nation, the conceffion of those inadmiffible terms, which Spain alone despaired of being able to compel us to grant. An attempt of infiduous perfidy, which at once proved the particular peace betwixt England and France to be hopeless and impractical; for what ceffions to France could an English administration be juftified in making, while the declared herself eventually engaged to take part with Spain in a new war for Spanish objects, totally inadmiffible; from which protest it doth not appear that either court ever departed? The fpecious and falfe appearances of candour; which the publication of papers in such a state is meant to convey, are as easily seen through and detected, as they are unfair and ungenerous. A great deal of very important intelligence, relative relative to the point in queftion, is plainly withheld, The suspicions arising from the fuppreffion of evidence are, no doubt, in the opinion of government, more tolerable than the conviction founded upon full proof. Even the particulars of the negotiation with France are ftill fecreted from the public, as far as it is in the power of our government; lest, among other good reasons, as it ftands naturally connected with the Spanish, they might, if confidered together, throw too striking a light upon the whole. The infinite importance of what is fuppreffed I do not pretend to determine; but the papers are evidently thus partially laid before the public by administration, to justify, if poffible, their delay; with what fuccefs the public will determine. As to the wisdom of the written advice, it ftands already proved by the event: but before we can enter fully into that dispute (if there can still be a doubt) all the materials, all the evidence, both from papers and facts, on which that advice was founded, ought, in common juftice, to be laid before the public. From what we already know with certainty, even from thefe papers, as to what Spain had already done, not from what that court might further intend to do *, I cannot but own my furprize that there should be a difference of opinion with regard to measures to be taken against Spain, of the highest importance to the honour of the crown, and to the moft effential national interefts *. When I am told that one noble Lord, and the late Secretary of State, of the most confidential fervants of the crown, concurred in an opinion fo evident, fo clearly deduced from fuch a variety of proofs, I cannot but imagine that there must have been fome powerful combination, fome underhand intrigues, among minifters of more denomination than one, to force the refignation of the Right Hon. Gentleman. He muft long have been looked upon with an unfriendly and jealous eye by ninifters, to whom it is his honour that he was fo very unlike; and who, though real unanimity attended it in the nation, could ill brook his poffeffing in fo high a degree, (what they never had the leaft fhare of) the confidence of a difcerning and enlightened people. A point of the utmost consequence to every ministry in this kingdom. The glories of this gentleman's adminiftration (that is, while he was allowed to guide the measures of this nation) and the applauses of his grateful country, have given him at leaft a due portion of envy, which is a certain attendant on fplendid merit. * Sure fate of all, beneath whose rising ray, * If one minister on refigning the feals may not, in the true spirit of the conftitution, fay that he refigns, in order not to remain refponfible for measures which he was no longer allowed to guide in his own department, to the execution of which he muft fet his hand; what an idea of parliament and of the conftitution must another have entertained, who could, just before taking. the feals, write the following circular letter, not yet be-verfified or be-noted? "SIR, * "The King has declared his intention to make me Secretary of State, " and I (very unworthy as I fear I am of fuch an undertaking) must take"the conduct of the House of Commons. I cannot therefore well accept the "office till after the first day's debate, which may be a warm one. A great "attendance that day of my friends will be of the greatest confequence to my future fituation, and I fhould be extremely happy, if you would for "that reafon, fhew yourself amongst them, to the great honour of, &c.” +00000000 That only two refignations have accompanied that of the late Secretary, is no furprize to me. Je fuis Anglois, je dois faire le bien De mon pays, mais plus encore le mien*, fays Voltaire, who lived a good while in this country, and seems to know it pretty well. From these few and fcanty materials, fo fparingly dealt out to the public, I have endeavoured to give you all the fatisfaction in my power. I could poffibly have amused you more, but I have all along preferred the desire of informing to that of entertaining you. Perhaps you had been better pleased if I had deviated more, and had not confined myself so strictly to the evidence of the papers, and to facts which will not be denied. very To conclude. Let me add to hopes not very fanguine, fincere and very fervent wifhes: — -May the most perfect harmony, mutual confidence, and unanimity (which Lord Egremont, October 28, fays, [page 23.]) now reigns in his Majefty's councils, for the fake of the public, long continue! May the expedition now failed to the Weft-Indies prove, by fuccefs, to have been timely in preparation, adequate in force, to the object, whatever it may be! May our army in Germany + (fince it is ftill to continue there, though Mr. Pitt has retired) and the Kings of Pruffia and Portugal find that example has indeed been taken of the Spirit of the late measures †, [page 23.] and that the measures of go * Thus tranflated. "I am an Englishman, and am to promote the good of my country, but ftill more MY OWN." + It is confidently afferted in honour of the Secretary of state of the northern department, that he likewife did immediately on Mr. Pitt's refignation give the strongest affurances to the German allies, that the refignation of that minifter would not occafion the leaft change in measures, except only that they would be carried on with redoubled vigour. ·00000000+ vernment will Juffer no relaxation, [page 22. ] from feeble, procraftinating, and undecided counfels, founded in weaknefs and duplicity, and, to grace the whole, may the best difpofed Prince, that has at any time fwayed the fceptre of Alfred, never live to want a minifter as able, and fuccefsful as Mr. Pitt. I am, Dear SIR, Your's, &c. &c. March 9, 1762. JOHN WILKES. The following Letters, Cards, &c. that paffed between Lord TALBOT, Mr. WILKES, and Colonel BERKLEY, relate to a difference between the two first Gentlemen, on account of the publication of a paper, intitled, The NORTH BRITON, Number XII. dated August 21, 1762, which difference was afterwards decided by a duel. To JOHN WILKES, Efq. MR. R. SECKER prefents his compliments to Mr. Wilkes, he has been three times at his houfe to wait on him from Lord Talbot. Mr. Secker would be obliged to Mr. Wilkes to let him know by a note directed to him at Mr. Holford's, St. James's Palace, where and what time Mr. Secker could fpeak to him this afternoon. If he does not hear from Mr. Wilkes, will wait on him by nine o'clock to-morrow morning at his house. Sept. 10. Half paft two o'clock. Το |