Enifter and fervile dexterity, for the purpose of evading our duty, and defrauding our employers, who are our natural lords, of the object of their just expectations. I think the whole not only practicable, but practicable in a very short time. If we are in earneft about it, and if we exert that industry, and thofe talents in forwarding the work, which I am afraid may be exerted in impeding it-I engage, that the whole may be put in complete execution within a year. For my own part, I have very little to recommend me for this or for any tafk, but a kind of earnest and anxious perfeverance of mind, which, with all its good and all its evil effects, is moulded into my conftitution. I faithfully engage to the houfe, if they choose to appoint me to any part in the execution of this work, which (when they have made it theirs by the improvements of their wisdom, will be worthy of the able affiftance they may give me) that by night and by day, in town, or in country, at the desk, or in the foreft, I will, without regard to convenience, eafe, or pleasure, devote myself to their fervice, not expecting or admitting any reward whatfoever. I owe to this country my labour, which is my all; and I owe to it ten times more industry, if ten times more I could exert. After all I fhall be an unprofitable fervant.

At the fame time, if I am able, and if I shall be permitted, I will lend an humble helping hand to any other good work which is going on. I have not, Sir, the frantic prefumption to fup pofe, that this plan contains in it the whole of what the public has a right to expect, in the great work of reformation they call for. Indeed, it falls infinitely fhort of it. It falls fhort, even of my own ideas. I have fome thoughts not yet

fully

fully ripened, relative to a reform in the customs and excife, as well as in fome other branches of financial adminiftration. There are other things too, which form effential parts in a great plan for the purpose of reftoring the independence of parliament. The contractors bill of last year it is fit to revive; and I rejoice that it is in better hands than mine. The bill for fufpending the votes of cuftomhouse officers, brought into parliament feveral years ago, by one of our worthieft and wifeft members,* (would to God we could along with the plan revive the person who defigned it.) But a man of very real integrity, honour, and ability will be found to take his place, and to carry his idea into full execution. You all fee how neceffary it is to review our military expences for fome years paft, and, if poffible, to bind up and clofe that bleeding artery of profufion: but that business alfo,

have reafon to hope, will be undertaken by abilities that are fully adequate to it. Something muft be devised (if poffible) to check the ruinous. expence of elections.

Sir, all or most of these things must be done. Every one must take his part.

If we should be able by dexterity or power, or intrigue, to difappoint the expectations of our conftituents, what, will it avail us? we shall never be ftrong or artful enough to parry, or to put by the irrefiftible demands of our fituation. That fituation calls upon us, and upon our conftituents too, with a voice which will be heard. I am fure no man is more zealously attached than I am to the privileges of this houfe, particularly in regard to the exclufive management of money. The lords have no right to the difpofition, in any fenfe, of the public purse; but they have

*W. Dowdeswell, Efq; chancellor of the exchequer, 1765.

gone

gone further in felf-denial than our utmost jealoufy could have required. A power of examining accounts, to cenfure, correct, and punish, we never, that I know of, have thought of denying to the Houfe of Lords. It is fomething more than a century fince we voted that body ufelefs they have now voted themselves fo. The whole hope of reformation is at length cast upon us; and let us not deceive the nation, which does us the honour to hope every thing from our virtue. If all the nation are not equally forward to prefs this duty upon us, yet be affured, that they all equally expect we should perform it. The refpectful filence of those who wait upon your pleasure, ought to be as powerful with you, as the call of thofe who require your service as their right. Some, without doors, affect to feel hurt for your dignity, because they fuppofe, that menaces are held out to you. Juftify their good opinion, by fhewing that no menaces are neceffary to ftimulate you to your duty.

But, Sir, whilst we may fympathize with them, in one point, who fympathize with us in another, we ought to attend no lefs to those who approach us like men, and who, in the guife of petitioners, fpeak to us in the tone of a concealed authority. It is not wife to force them to speak out more plainly, what they plainly mean. But, the petitioners are violent. Be it fo. Those who are leaft anxious about your conduct, are not thofe that love you moft. Moderate affection and fatiated enjoyment, are cold and refpectful; but an ardent and injured paffion, is tempered up with wrath, and grief, and fhame, and confcious worth, and the maddening

+ Rejection of Lord Shelburne's motion in the House of Lords.

fense

fense of violated right. A jealous lové lights his torch from the firebrands of the furies.-They who call upon you to belong wholly to the people, are those who wish you to return to your proper home; to the sphere of your duty, to the poft of your honour, to the manfion-houfe of all genuine, ferene, and folid fatisfaction. We have furnished to the people of England (indeed we have) fome real caufe of jealoufy. Let us leave that fort of company which, if it does not destroy our innocence, pollutes our honour : let us free ourselves at once from every thing that can increase their fufpicions, and inflame their just refentment: let us caft away from us, with a gene rous fcorn, all the love-tokens and symbols that we have been vain and light enough to accept;all the bracelets and fnuff-boxes, and miniature pictures, and hair-devices, and all the other adulterous trinkets that are the pledges of our alienation, and the monuments of our fhame. Let us return to our legitimate home, and all jars and all quarrels will be loft in embraces. Let the commons in parliament affembled, be one and the fame thing with the commons at large. The diftinctions that are made to feparate us, are unnatural and wicked contrivances. Let us identify, let us incorporate ourfelves with the people. Let us cut all the cables and fnap the chains which tie us to an unfaithful fhore, and enter the friendly harbour, that fhoots far out into the main its moles and jettees to receive us. - War with the world, and peace with our conftituents." Be this our motto and our principle. Then indeed, we fhall be truly great. Refpecting ourselves, we shall be refpected by the world. At prefent all is troubled and cloudy, and diftracted, and full of anger and turbulence, both abroad and at home:

66

but the air may be cleared by this ftorm, and: light and fertility may follow it. Let us give a faithful pledge to the people, that we honour, indeed, the crown; but that we belong to them; that we are their auxiliaries, and not their tafkmafters; the fellow-labourers in the fame vine-' yard, not lording over their rights, but helpers' of their joy that to tax them is a grievance to ourselves, but to cut off from our enjoyments to forward theirs, is the highest gratification we are' capable of receiving. I feel with comfort, that' we are all warmed with thefe fentiments, and' while we are thus warm, I wish we may go di-' rectly and with a chearful heart to this falutary work.

Sir, I move for leave to bring in a Bill," For the better regulation of his Majesty's civil eftablishments, and of certain public offices; for the limitation of penfions, and the fuppreffion of fundry ufeless, expensive, "and inconvenient places; and for applying the monies faved thereby to the public fervice."

Lord North stated, that there was a difference between this bill for regulating the establishments, and fome of the others, as they affected the antient patrimony of the crown; and therefore wifhed them to be poftponed, till the King's confent could be obtained. This diftinction was ftrongly controverted; but when it was infifted on as a point of decorum only, it was agreed to poftpone them to another day. Accordingly, on the Monday following, viz. Feb. 14, leave was given, on the

The motion was feconded by Mr. Fox,

motion