The National Register.
London, England, 1809-09-03 00:00:00

provided the electors know it first, elv, not deceived in
their choice. All we would prevent is, that a good rich
corporation should not choose to. intrust, with all their
liberties, a plain, honest, country neighbour, and find
him, within six months,. changed into a preferred cunning
courtier, who shall tie them to their choice, though he is
no more the same man than if he were turned Papist,
'which, by the law as it stands already, puts en incapacity
upon him. Another objection k, that this act may, by its
consequence, prolong this Parliament, which they allow
would be a Very great grievance; and yet, suppose the
king capable of putting it upon us, which I have too much
respect for hiM to admit of, though I am glad, however,
that it is objected by Privy Counsellors in favour,
who consequently, I hope, will never advise a thing
which they mow exclaim against as so great a griev-
ance. But pray, my Lords, what should tempt the
King to so ill a.policy I—to whose good will does he owe
all his power which these Lords suppose he may use to
their prejudice ?—ausl, therefore, give me leave to say, as
I must not suspect him of so ill a design as the perpetuat-
ing this Parliament; so he cannot, he ought not to sus-
pect a nation so entirely, I was going to say, so fondly de-
voted to him. My Lords, no man is readier than myself
to allow that we owe the Crown all submission as to the
time of calling Parliaments according to law, and appoint-
ing also where they shall sit ; but, with reverence be it
spoken, the King owes the Nation entire freedom in chus-
ing their representatives; and, it is no less his duty than it
his true interest, that such a fair and just proceeding
should be used towards us. Consider, my Lords, of what
mighty consequence it may be that so many votes should
be free, when, upon one single one, may depend the whole
security or loss of this nation ;—by pue single vote such
things may happen as I almost tremble to think of;—by
<me single vote, a general excise may be granted, and then
we are lost;—hy one single vote the Crown may be im-
powered to name all the Commissioners for raising the
taxes ; and then, surely, we should be in a fair way to-
wards it ; nay, whatever has happened may again be ap-
prehended; and, 1 hope, those reverend prelates will re-
flect, that if they grow once obnoxious to a prevalent
party, one single voice may be as dangerous to that Bench
as a general dissatisfaction among the people proved to be
in a late experience; which, I am far from saying by way
of theatening, but only. by way of caution. My Lords,
we may think because this concerns not the House of
Lords, that we need not be so over-careful of the matter ;
but there are Noblemen in France (at least such as were so
before they were enslaved), who, that they might domineer
Over others, and serve a present turn perhaps, let all things
alone so long, till the people were all mastered, and the
nobility themselves too, to bear them company ;—so that
I never met a 'Frenchman, even of the greatest tank (and
some had 10,000 pistolea a-year in employments) that did
not envy us here tOr our freedom from that slavey, which
they groan under : and this I have observed universally,
except Monsieur de Lovvoy, Monsieur Clohert, or such
people; because they were the Ministers themselves who
occasioned these complaints, and thrived by the oppression
of others. My Lords, this country of ours k very apt to
be provoked. We have had a late experience of it ; and
though every wise man would bear .a great deal rather
than make a bustle, yet, really the people are othewise,
and at any time change a present unewiiiiess for any other
condition, though a worse. We have known it so too
often, and sometimes repented it too late. Let.them net
have this new provocation, in being debarred from a secu-
rity in their representatives; for malicious people will not
fail to infuse into their minds that all those vast sums
which have been, and still must he raised towards th;s war,
are not disposed away in so fair a manner ae it ought to
be; and I am afraid they will say their money is not given
but taken. However, whatever illeCe44 this hill may have,
there must needs come SOITIO rood effect of it; for, if it
11544e4, it will give us security ; if it be obstructed, it will
give us warning."