did not fully authorize and require it. But why then is it charged upon this noble Lord? Does it appear, or can it be pretended with the leatt truth, that he was even afked his opinion about it, much more that he gave any fuch advice or direction to the Attor ney General. Does merely holding the great feal then, and affitting at the cabinet council, make a man refponfible for an Attorney General's execution of his office? If fo, why is not the noble Lord, who at prefent fills that station, arraigned throughout this libel, for every itep of the proceedings against Mr Wilkes, inttead of the two Secretaries of State, and the late and prefent Attorney General ? A В D The next thing which prefents itfelf is a modeft affertion, (introduced into a long & laboured paffage, which C is intended, I fuppofe, to pafs or a complete character of his Lordship) of his having once affected the title of Earl of Clarendon. A more abfurd piece of falfhood was never invented, nor one lefs probable, in the cafe of a man who had for fo many years ennobled his own name by the force of his own genius, nor lefs fuitable to the judgment, modefty, and whole behaviour of that noble perfon. The truth is, he more than once declined the honour of the advancement itself; during which time, a report being fpread, that his late majefty was gracioully pleafed to intend it for him, it was feveral times inferted in the newspapers, that he was to be created Earl of Clarendon. This is literally the whole foundation there ever was, or could be, for fuch an idle tale; unfels one would fuppole it was defigned to give uneafinels to the family and defcendants of that celebrated minilter. He then proceeds to give a most falle account of Lord H-'s fpeech/ in the House of Lord, upon the preliminaries. I don't mean to dwell upon fuch infiquations or expreffions as have already been animadverted upon; but it is impoffible to let fuch notorious falfhoods be repeated, and aggravated day after day, without expreffing a jutt indignation at fuch hame.efs profligacy. He was fo far from objecting to the boundaries between the British and French colonies in North America. lettled by that treaty, that he thought them the best imagable. This, the author has been already told in print; notwithstanding which, as if determined to bear down Truri atief by mere effrontery, E F G he has added a particularity to the fuppofed objection, as foolish and as falfe as all the rest. What opinion their Lordships entertained of his fpeech that day, I shall not prefume to determine. Sure I am, however, that he retained the powers of his mind too perfect, even to the laft, to give the leaft colour for the low comparison, under which the prejudiced and vulgar ideas of this malignant writer, have thought fit to reprefent him. He felt, perhaps, as few of the defects of age as most of his contemporaries; and yet he has been known to fay of himself, in that affembly, Non eadem eft ætas, non mens. But let thofe who remember the part he sustained for fo many years, at the bar, upon the bench, and in parliament, during the warmest political contefts, against the ableft fpeakers, recollect the light in which he always appeared, his grace, ftrength and dignity of manner, quickness and comprehenfion of thought; and let them fay, if they can, that he had neither imagination, wit, or eloquence; that he betrayed on any occation, a want of the ornamental and graceful accomplishments of literature, in which he had the felicity to be better grounded, and to have more accuracy and extent than almost any man, who had engaged fo early and fo long in public business; or that he gave any marks of that plainness of education, which this polite, ingenious and accomplished writer, with as little regard to truth as decency, is pleased to bestow upon him. The reflections caft upon his fpeech on the first draught of the militia bill fent up by the Houfe of Commons in 1756, have been fo fully answered in a former paper that I fhall fay but little to them. I must, however, obferve, that though he fuggefted many and weighty political objections to that bill, he made none of a religious nature,unless the author is abfurd enough to call difapproving the mode prepared in that bill of exercising the men on Sundays, a religious objection. So far from enervating the fcheme by propofing to reduce the number to one H half, he made it, by that means, a practicable measure; and whoever will attempt to increase the number, will have enough to contend with in anfwering the complaints of the country upon fuch an augmentation. So far from contriving to defeat the executi on of it, in his particular county, af ter it became a law the most punctual obedience was paid to the act in every particular, by the noble person who was then, and is now, his majesty's lieutenant in that county; the militia of which was actually railed and difciplined for two years together during the war, and is now on foot again, and was called out to their annual exercise in May last. to please the selfish, the interefted, andthe violent; too free and independent in his fituation and fortune to lay himfelf (in the language of this writer) at the feet of any man, or to caft his opiniA ons into any minifterial or popular mould, because it may happen to fuit with the times, or with his own intereft. He is therefore peculiarly marked out for vengeance; his conduct in parliament misrepresented and traduced, where, in truth, it gained him much credit in all the inftances alluded to; and his good name to be branded with every ill natured epithet and falfe reflection, which the infolence, the injuftice, and the private views of others can fuggeft. There is but one thing more which truth compels me to take notice of; and that is what this well informed B writer thinks proper to fay with regard to the judges who were called to that important ftation, whilft the great feal was in his hands. Can any one who looks round Weftminfier Hall at this hour, forget who recommended many of the ableft who now fit there? as able and as upright men as ever administered justice in any age or any country. Can he forget, or affect to treat with contempt, the names or profeffional merit of fome who are dead, or retired, Reeves, Lee, Ryder, Strange, Wright, Burnet, Fofler, Clarke, and o thers who might be mentioned? Or will he venture to affert that these men obtained their feats upon the bench by minifterial, not profeffional merit? Though I perceive that the fubject has carried me farther than I at first defigned, yet before I have quite done with it, I think fome notice thould be taken of the many fcattered paffages in this curious medley of factious politics, extravagant law doctrines, and perfonal abufe, inferted with the generous purpose of depreciating by this virulent libel the honour and reputation of the family and defcendants of the noble perion above-mentioned. But as there happens to be one among them whofe talents, eloquence, learn. ing, and integrity, have raised him to a height in the profeffion of the law, which in the general efteem of the bar, and in the public voice, give him just and regular pretensions to the first honours in it, who filled for many years two great stations with as much capacity and reputation as any man whatever, and who lately refigned one of them fo as to affert his own honour and fentiments with the most weight and freedom at the hazard of every thing which can be called profit or ambition, who is too knowing to be dictated to on points which concern the law and conftitution, too fagacious and honest to be made a tool, too wife and temperate in his public conduct After all, let me appeal to the zeaJous admirers of this libeller, whether he who wantonly_facrifices the truth of facts and characters above fufpicicon, to the dark purposes of calumny and envy, has the leaft claim to the applaufe or confidence of any party? D E F G G Law difperfed by fuch writers, is like a fword in the hands of a madman, it will ftab indeed, but it will ftab in the dark, the friends rather than the enemies of the conftitution; and thus it may become a terror to innocent and worthy citizens, inftead of an inftrument of juftice against profligate minifters and lawless fubjects. I am, Sir, &c. Original Letter from Prince Charles to Sir Thomas Fairfax. From the MS. WEE have foe deepe a fence of the prefent miferies and calamities of this kingdome, that there is nothing that wee more earnestly pray for to Almighty God, then that hee would be pleafed to reftore unto it a happy peace; and we should think it a great bleffing of God upon us if wee might bee foe hapie as to be an instrument in the advanceing of it; and therefore wee have refolved to fend two of our councel unto the king our father, with fome fuch overtures as wee are hopeful may conduce thereunto; and doe hereby defire you to fend or procure from the Lords and Commons affembled in parliament at Wefiminfler, a fafe conduct for the Lord Hopton and Lord Culpeper, with twelve fervants to go to our royal fa ther, and to return to us; and we shall then manifeft to the world our mo earnest endeavours to stoppe this iffue of blood, which muft otherwise, in a fhort time, render this unhappye land most miferable. Given at our court at Excefler this 15th day of September 1645. CHARLES, P. But fee, he enters with his fcutling gait, To please the noble dame, the courtly 'fquire His eyes thro' wrinkled corners caft their rays, Will the fun never let us fee his face? And ar'n't you vaftly glad we make them here? To this the general: Madam, who would not! Its head fhoots out a tail, its tail a head; • C-s St-pe. Or Or cut off any part that you defire, That part extends, and makes itself entire ; Oh I must fee it, or I am undone, My lord, you never fee her but at night, (The dutchefs cry'd) pray can't you get me one Repentance, love, and difappointment speak. I never heard of fuch a thing before, And on each fide the goddess they ador'd, But hark! a louder knock than all before! Lord, fays her Grace, they'll thunder down my door; Into the room fee fweating Lovel break, Ten years ago, and never will be done; Late Lord L -1. The general found the lucky minute now To fpeak; Ay! Ma'am you did not know Mifs I'll tell you all her hiftory he cry'd; At this Charles Stanhope gap'd extremely wide The dutchefs rings to drefs, and fee her maid ODE for the NEW-YEAR, performed before their SACRED to thee Of industry in peace. On woven wings To where, in orient climes, the grey dawn springs, Led by the lord of day. When Spain's proud pendants wav'd in western When Gama's fleet on Indian billows hung, Yes, yes, proceed, and conquer ton: To crush your high blown pride, Nor Tagus with his golden gleam, The dear bought treasures of these worlds unknown. A chofen race, to freedom dear, By me conducted, shall exert their claims, Shall glut my great revenge, and roll them all to Thames. Extracts from the RACE, a Poem; just T published. THE Subject of this poem is a Race of authors, and it is an imitation of the Race of book fellers exhibited in the DUNCIAD. The fubject is introduced by the following veries. To all the rhyming brethren of the quill Fame (ent her heralds to proclaim her will. "Since late her vot'ries in abufive lays "Had madly wrangled for the wreath of bays; "To quell at once this foul tumultuous heat, "The day was fix'd whereon each bard should "meet. "Already had the mark'd the deftin'd ground, "Where from the goal her eager fons fhould "bound, "There, by the hopes of future glory fed. "Prove by their heels the prowess of the head; "And he, who fleeteft ran, and fi ft to fame, "The chaplet and the victory fhould claim. A ditch is reprefented as croffing the courfe called the gulph of oblivion which,of all that ran, Churchill only paffed. Those who offered to enter are, the Laureat ; Robert Dodley; Dr Armfrong; Dr Hill; Dr Smollet; John Wilkes; Samuel Johnson; Murphy; Jones, who altered the Earl of Effix; the tranflator of Fingal; David Mallet; Vaughan; Churchill; Fawkes, and Wotty; Bickerstaff; Elpbinfton; Dr Arne; Derrick, Mafon; Colman; Ogilvy; Hays; Langborne, and the author of the Traveller. The characters of these writers are drawn with great fpirit and humour; but Jobnfon, Mafon, Colman, Ogilvy, Hays, Langborn, and Goldsmith, did not run; Jobafon being perfuaded by Virtue to wait for his reward of Fame, which would certainly be beftowed hereafter, and the reft coming into the field too late. The competitors are at last reduced to two, Murphy, and Churcbill; the account of the Race itself, with its iffue, is contained in the following verfes. The flag difplay'd, promifcuous forth they bound, [ground. And fhake with clatt'ring feet the powder'd Equal in flight, thefe two difpute the race With envious ftrife, and meature pace for pace, Straight all is uproar natumultuous din; This tumbles down another breaks his thin; That wears his puffing negabour tinks of gin. Each joftles each, a wrangling, madding train, Borne on the wings of hope now M--p--y flies, Vain hope! for fate the wifh'd-for boon denies; Arriv'd, where fcavengers, the night before, Had left their gleanings from the common shore, With head retorted, as he fearful spied The giant Churchill thund'ring at his fide, Sudden he tript--and, piteous to tell! Prene in the filth the hapless poet fell. "Diftanc'd, by G--" roars out a ruffic 'fquire, [mire." "He must give out, thus fons'd in dung and Lord M I'll hold you fix to ten, "Spite of the t-d, he'll rife and run again," A burft of laughter echoes all around, While putt'ring dirt, and miting from the ground, "Ceafe, fools, your mirth, nor fneer at my dif replies, 66 grace; "This curied bog, not Churchill, won the race; "And fure, who fuch difafters can foresee, "Must be a greater conjuror than me." While Churchill, careless, triumphs in bis fall, Up to the gulph his jaded rivals crawl; Here, fome the watchful harpies on the fhore Plunge in-ah! defin'd to return no moreWhile others wond'ring, view them as they fink, And fear'd, ftand quiv'ring on the dreadful brink. Now rous'd the hero, by the trumpet's found, Turns from his rueful foe, and fraces around; No bard he views behind-but all have past Him, heedless of their flight, and now the laft. Stung at the thought, with double force he fprings, Rage gives him ftrength, and emulation wings: ound regain'd" Stand clear the fieraly faid) The "Who bars my paffage, horror on his head."Unhappy Dapper! doom'd to meet thy fare, Why heard it chou not the menace, e'er too late? Fir'd with difdain, he spurn'd the witling's breech, ་ |