Others were furreptitiously procured from packed affemblies; to which those only were fecretly invited, whofe fubferviency to a job was fecured, and opposed by others accidentally prefent. They were, in general, devised and dictated by fome Favourite Tool of adminiftration. The feal of the borough of W-, in particular, was put to the address, without the knowledge of more than three of the corporation; the reft difavowing the felonious act, when discovered. The great county of York, however, refused to address, notwithstanding the fly and cunning efforts of a lawyer. The city of London alfo refufed to addrefs, notwithstanding the private affurances of fourteen thousand pounds to compleat their bridge. As did likewise the county of Surry, and other places.

The voice of the honeft independent public was clear and strong against the terms of peace. They condemned it with firmness, temper and judgment, which gave spirit to that part of the oppofition, which had little virtue of their own, and derived what they afterwards pretended

to

to from the example of the people. Finding their own infignificance, and ftill perceiving who were highest in efteem with the public, they folicited an union with thofe who had refigned on account of late measures. The eftablished reputation and unshaken popularity of these truly honourable perfons, convinced them, that it would be folly to attempt an opposition without the fanction of their names at the head of it; which was indeed the only step they could take to fave their own from contempt and obscurity. The principal perfons having confented to a coalition, they frequently dined together at each other's houses. The first dinner was given by the Duke of NEWCASTLE, about the middle of March, 1763; at which were present the Dukes of DEVONSHIRE, BOLTON, and PORTLAND; Marquis of RockINGHAM; Earls TEMPLE, CORNWALLIS, ALBEMARLE, ASHBURNHAM, HARDWICKE, BESBOROUGH; the Lords SPENCER, SONDES, GRANTHAM, and G 2 VIL

VILLIERS; Mr. PITT, Mr. J. GrenVILLE, and Sir George SAVILE.

This union is to be confidered as the beginning of the oppofition; for until it took place, there cannot be faid to have been any regular and proper oppofition formed. And this public meeting, and the reft which followed, of which there were several, confifting of the principals, were to affure their friends, and the public, that at length an unanimous and firm resolution was taken, to attempt the deliverance of the nation from Scottish oppreffion.

When the news of this union reached the Favourite, he began to entertain thoughts of retiring. His elbow counseller endeavoured to divide the oppofition. By the affiftance of other perfons, he tampered with one, cajoled with another; and, with one noble perfonage, he carried on a negotiation to nearly the time of his death. The Favourite judging of all the opponents, by fome of the most worthlefs, which he had the happiness to know, and thinking that their object was indubitably power, he made an attempt to

draw

draw off the popular few, by offering to make an opening for them to return to the adminiftration. But they fpurned, with a spirit of indignation, the infult offered to their integrity; and refused, with a firmness that was worthy of being an example to others, to desert their friends, and betray their country.

TH

CHA P. IX.

The Favourite's loan. The North Briton's account of it. Mr. Legge's opinion of it. HE Favourite's public adminiftration is distinguished by only two tranfactions more: one is, his most scandalous and unjustifiable profufion in negociating the loan of 3,500,000 1. fór 1763; and the other, the wanton and unnecessary extenfion of the Excise Laws, in laying a new tax upon cyder and perry.

The North Briton, whofe fpirited writings kept the Favourite in perpetual alarm, has ftated the firft in a manner too true, and the whole is too remarkable to be omitted here.

"The terms of the new fubfcription have been so injurious to the public, but

G 3

fo

fo beneficial to the fubfcribers, that is, to the creatures of the minifter, that there was immediately an advance of feven per cent, and in a very few days of above eleven per cent. cent. I shall, however, only ftate it at the even, round fum, of ten per cent. that I may not puzzle the chancellor of the exchequer. The whole loan amounted to 3,500,000l. confequently, in a period of a very few days, the minifter gave among his creatures, and the tools of his power, 350,0001, which was levied on the public; the moft enormous fum ever divided in fo fhort a time among any fet of men. A few of their names I will mention, to fhew in what estimation they are held by the public: Meffieurs Touchet, Glover, Cuft (brother to the able and impartial Speaker) Amyand, Maygens, Salvador, Colebrooke, Thornton and Muilman, had each 200,000l. of the new fubfcription, and, of course, alnoft immediately cleared 20,000 each, which they have, or have not, fhared among their friends. their friends. In this inftance,

however, I dare say, the public will experience