lic. In times of war and public diftrefs, government, for greater fecurity, has been obliged to have recourfe to the other more confined mode, though fubject to partiality, job, and influence. In these days of peace and affluence, is there a man who doubts that an open fubfcription would have been filled as foon as made public, even with an overflowing of millions? But in this cafe the hungry harpies of the minister had not feafted on the vitals of their country."

To the opinion of the North Briton we will add that of Mr. LEGGE, declared immediately upon the firft appearance of this infamous tranfaction. He faid, "That, as to the bargain, he

thought it a bad one; for that the "Treasury themselves, in the difpofition

they had made of the navy bills and "ordnance debentures, fuppofed the re"deemable four per cent. to be at par ; "that the premium, therefore, upon "this bargain, would be whatever the rage for play for play (when the gamefters "would think they were come for the

66

"laft

<< last time to the table, and with a great "deal of money in their pockets) should

induce them to give for lottery tickets. "This might go, especially upon two lotteries, to two or three pounds, or "more, per ticket; and then they would give four, five, or fix per cent. premium, for raifing, at four per cent. which was enormous."

❝at par,

The next day he further remarked, "That it was very poffible, while fo "material an alteration between the

preliminaries and the definitive treaty, "as the East India article, was depend

ing, it might make figning the de"finitive treaty very doubtful, and con

fequently affect the ftocks. But to "what purpose (he afked) is the head "of the treasury of the cabinet council, " and admitted to the knowledge of fo

reign affairs, but to form his domestic "conduct upon that knowledge? and, "therefore, Why was fo improper a fea"fon pitched upon to make the loan?” This occafioned Mr. Fox to declare, "That the treasury knew the definitive treaty

treaty was figned at the time of making the loan; and, at the fame time, "to express his wonder at the folly of "mankind, to give four or five pounds "for leave to tofs up for ten." In anfwer to this, Mr. LEGGE faid, "That if the "treasury knew of the definitive treaty's

66

being figned, they were inexcufable in "not having brought their loan to an "open subscription, which was the only "fure way to take a teft of the temper "and folly of the market; and might, "at fuch a time, and for fo fmall a fum, "have been done with safety."

CHA P. X.

The Excife upon Cyder. Hiftory of Excife. Proceedings of the City of London: Of both Houses of Parliament. Tampering with the City. A remarkable falfity detected. Ineffectual oppofition.

HE experience of former times

THE

shews, that the Excife laws originally, and every extenfion of them afterwards, have always met with great op

pofition

pofition from the people of England; and have, fometimes, occafioned the ruin of thofe Statesmen who have either introduced, or attempted to introduce them therefore, it is not a little furprizing, that a minister fo exceedingly unpopular as the Favourite was, fhould have the temerity to hazard a measure so extremely oppofite to the genius of the whole English nation, and to the true fpirit of the old English conftitution: all which he could not but know, and, as a first minister, ought to have been well acquainted with: for a great minifter (fuch as the Favourite was pretended to be) will always confider the temper of the people, and set the example of former times before him, previous to his taking any step which can be faid to be in imitation of them. But whatever were his motives, certain it is, that finding the public odium increase on all fides against him, fome of his friends declared, while this bill was in agitation, that as soon as it fhould be paffed, he would relinquish his public character of minifter.

Per

haps

haps the best vindication of him in this measure, is, that he was determined to finish his administration as he had begun it; that is, like a true Stuart; for the Excife was the darling of the Stuarts: they imported, nursed, and adopted, this Favourite Son of Tyranny; and it is to them we are beholden for the ravages which this destructive monster has made of our Liberties.

A fhort history of the Excise may not be improper in this place, which, on many accounts is interesting, and from which even ministers may draw an useful leffon.

The Excife was a project sent from Italy. to King James, in the year 1618, as a compleat plan of revenue and power. He adopted it; but on propofing it to his Privy Council, was diffuaded from it. His fucceffor, Charles I. took it up in the year 1628, and iffued a commiffion of Excife, accompanied with a fecret levy of troops abroad, to fecure its fuccefs; but it was discovered by Parliament,oppofed, and after some struggle, in which the Parliament voted all those who were friends to

that