The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-12-22

1 o.. tho, court influence exends TO the Houie OF
ords as far as it is elective as well as TO tneSom-
mons, "Thc Duke of Bedford IN the year
,-1s. precnted petition TO the LORDS rom
rho Dukes of Hamilton, Ouecnlberry and Mon
| trole. and the Earls of Dundonald' Marehmon.
and Stair, complaining, at the siectioH o.
the 6xteen SEQ CHI Peers, feveral undue metnoas
and ILLEGAL practices we're uied,' OF whicn 'hey
could Lring proofs, and praying that the f1ouie
! or ord. would allow them TO be lad before
them. The petitioners were psrions OF the high-
] e1 rank and mofs respectable perional charac-
re-. The matter of their petition was OF iu-
nreme conlroueuce, affecting the very cxlitence
OF the houie'ef Lords. The petiuonlng ~ ~ -
aIIedoing, that they laid the maze. uieii
ordib;n.. upon information thas Inc "a vi iixeen
peers FIR Scotland had been framed ~ perions in
high trua under the crown, long pFeNAoss ~ '.s
election itfelf; and that this lit was ihe"h 70
Peers, as a lift approved OF oy the e'own' anu
was called theKing's lift, from which tneTe was
to be nc er,a,iGt;On, unlels It was 70 make way
for one or two particular Peers, on cono, III,
that they fhoud 20 aIo.g with the 1eGtHre. NAT
Peers were folicited to vote for the lt saiieo inc
crown liG. without the liberty of making any al
,erations. That endeavours were uied to engage
Peers to vote for this ia, by prorslie OF Penions
and Offices civil and military, to themfeives ana
near relations, and yaetual proHiie and offers OF
fums of msnsy. That iu:::, OF money were aetu-
allyoiyea TO or for the ule of lome Peers, to en-
page them to concur in the voting tor this lit.
THAT annual penaons were Promlied 10 DC Pald
10 Peers, if they concurred in the voting tor this
liz: ione of them to be on regular eitablilh-
menr. and Others to be paid without any eta
bliihment at all. That about the time OF TINS
election, numbers of penGons, offices tome OF
which were n0minaD and rsLeate5 ct de6J, owing
10 the crown, were granted 10 Peers who con-
Cured in voting for this lift, and 70 their near
relations. That on the day OF election Data
lion of his Majefy's forces was drawn up In
the abbey court, at EaIngbmgb, and three COM
panics Off we're marched from Leifb, Ia place at
enc miles ditance) to join the ret of the battali
on. and kept under arms from nine in the morn
ing till nine at night, when the Sle0n was erded,
contrary TO cutom at elections, and without any
cauie oroccaon. that your petitioners could forse,
other than the ovcr-awing of the election. lheiel
inAances Of undue PRACTICES we now humoiy men
ton, which We hops will iatisfy your LordhiPs,
that we have juR reaion to>Pray your iordihiPs
to take this matter into ySuf ferrous CONFEDERATE
on, and to provide fach Ssaedy as may be ct
feetual for preierving the ris4s and freedom OF
electiens, this being the only right tina. now re-
mains with the Peers ofScotland IN lieu OF 2 con
Rant and hereditary feat in Parliament. ALI
this, however, went for nothing with many of
eheir good Lordihips, and the petition was diff
mifed. 80.
1t might be added, that the twenty tourBiihopsI
are in the nomination nf the crown, and confe-
oncntIv are forbear,
left fhould be thought to he wantingin reiPeet
to that Reverend Bench.
With regard TO the temporal Peers, the crown
has iuch multitude Of places in its gift, IN the
Church, the army and the navy, many Of which
places are filed our of noble families, that the in
auence arifnc from hence mutt be very great
In word, as matters are now managed, The mi
niaer may always be fure of majority in both
houics.
Such is the boaRed, fuch the numerically adj
mired and universally envied Britih contribution
Such the Legislature which afumes the right of
dlpoiinp of the lives, Liberties and properties of
three or TOUR millions of Americans, at its plea
fare Ill fated Americans, if this doctrine be
once eRabliihed From what you have already
felt, you may form fure preface of what you
are TO expect. Thefc are but the beginnings of
arrows. You have been chaftifed with whips,
but you will be chaiiied with lcorpions."
Onfbs InYoErAEcE and UrILITY sffbs BRI-