exult in the fuppofition, that he has been able to find one at least whose fentiments are at variance with the doctrines to which hè fubfcribes. I did not expect the proof he was called upon to produce, becaufe I did not think fo ill of the order he fo wanonly afperfed, as to fuppofe he had the fmalleft foundation for the bold and indecent affertion, that "the fentiments of a very large body of the ableft and wifeft among the clergy are at variance in the extreme with the established forms, and that the number is every day increafing." But I own to you, Mr. Urban, that I thought myself fecure from the leaft fufpicion of being one of the number, even if my vanity had led me to fuppofe Philalethes would wish to allow me a place in fuch refpectable company. From the contempt in which he holds me, I could add but little to the honour of his triumph, or the ftrength of his caufe, if I were difpofed to oblige him by confeffing myfelf one of the number he has to produce, whofe fentiments and profeffions are at variance in the extreme. But, not feeling myfelf quite inclined to facrifice my fincerity to my politeness, I hall rather beg leave to request the intereft of Philalethes with thefe great characters into whofe confidence he is admitted, "the ableft and wifeft among the clergy" (fome at least of whom are no doubt the rulers and patrons of the church), to procure me the opportunity of fubfcribing again to the articles 1 have frequently had occafion to affent to; and which I fhall think myself greatly indebted to the friendship of Philalethes if he can obtain me the oc cafion once more to fubfcribe. In that cafe you too, Mr. Urban, fhall come m for a fhare of the grateful acknowledgements of your obliged, J. E. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT, SESS. V. Debates in the Fifth Seffion of Parliament. Tuesday, November 27. ΤΗ HE Speaker having returned from the House of Peers, and taken his feat in the chair, ftated, that, agreeably to act of Parliament, he had ilued his writs, during the recefs, for the election of members to reprefent the boroughs of Calne, New Windfor, and Dartmouth, vacated by death. The following members then took the oaths at the table: Edward Baftard, efq Earl Gower, Jof. Jekyll, efq. Reg. Poole Carew, efq. Jof. Grant, efq. Ld. Fred. Campbell, William Wemyfs, efq. Sir Charles Gould, and Lord Mornington. The bill to prevent clandeftine outlawries having been read short; The Speaker produced a copy of the King's Speech (fee p. 1018 of the preceding volume); which being read, The Hon. Dudley Rider, member for Tiverton, rofe to move the addrefs. He was happy, he faid, that on the prefent occafion he had only to give a detail of facts, of which the best eulogium would be a plain reprefentation. He then described, in animated terms, the late fituation of the United Provinces, in which a desperate faction had nearly obliterated every trace of civil govern ment. This faction, it was fuperfluous, from the notoriety of the fact, to fay, was hoftile to Great Britain in the fame proportion that it was attached to France, our natural enemy; a circumftance of the most critical and alarming nature to this kingdom, as the Dutch, from their ftrength and local fituation, if thrown into the fcale of a potent rival nation, would give it a preponderancy dangerous to us in the extreme. Where then could be found terms to exprefs our gratitude to the Sovereign and Miniftry, whofe wifdom and firmnefs had averted this danger? The King of Pruffia, led by a conformity of interefts, had avowed his intention to afiift the Stadtholder, even at the time that France had declared herself determined to fupport his rebellious enemies. At this critis, the fpirit and alacrity of our meafures gave independance to our old and natural ally, whilft our moderation wifely preferved the peace of Europe. He pointed out the advantages of the treaty with Heffe Caffel. The proximity of that country to Holland would en able its troops to act with the most powerful effect: nor was this the only beneft attached to the mealure; by the fubftitution of thete fubfidiaries for English forces, a confiderable number of our moft useful fellow,fubjects would be kept to the labours of the loom and the field. The paflage in the fpeech, which recommends that our dittant poffeffions fhould be put into an adequate pofture of defence," delerved much praite. If, on examination, any vulnerable vulnerable parts were discovered in our poffeffions, it was the duty of Minifters to give notice of the circumftance, that the deficiency might, as foon as poffible, be fupplied. It was pleafing to reflect, that, for our neceffarily-increafed expences, our profperous and rifing commerce promised an ample fund. But were it otherwile, the price was not to be regarded, but the value of the purchafe. The glory of the empire has been retrieved, and it once more affumes its wonted elevation of rank amongst the nations of the earth. After a long and calamitous war, during a great part of which we fought only for existence, the world fees with wonder, that, at the calls of justice and honour, we inftantly refume our arms, and prepare to renew thofe exertions which Europe had often witneffed with a mixture of terror and admiration. The debt of gratitude to Holland is discharged; to her we owe the bleffings derived from the Revolu'tion'; and we, in return, have freed her from the horrors of ariftocratic tyranny. Thefe reciprocal fervices would, he hoped, cement a connection between both countries, which neither chance nor intrigue could diffolve. He concluded wich moving the addrefs. Mr. Brooke, member for Newton in Lancashire, feconded the motion. Hav. ing, he faid, very extended connections in that large manufacturing county, he was happy to find that their general gratitude to Miniftry, for their recent conduct, was not lefs than he felt individually. He then expatiated, in genewal terms, on the merits of his Majefty's prefent fervants, but in a voice to low as to be foarcely audible. He obferved, from Shak fpeare, that There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. This tide the Minifters had happily taken at the flood; and, partly by their own prudence, and partly by a concurrence of fortunate circumstances, had obtained advantages, which might previously have been thought to be fcarcely within the limits of petibility.. Lord Fielding faid, every praife was due to thofe exertions which had contributed to rescue the United Provinces from anarchy, and the wiles of our natural enemy. But, in his opinion, fomething more fhould have been done; the port of Cherbourg, which the French were fortifying at fuch immense expence, would probably prove a thorn in the fide of England. The destruc tion of their works in this harbour should have been a fine quâ non in the late negotiation. Cherbourg was built upon a peninfula that stretched into the middle of our channel; and, when the bafon was rendered capable of receiving large veffels, England had every thing to fear. He was, however, by no means hoftile to the addrefs in general; but defired to have it understood, that he did not confider himfelf pledged to fupport the fubject in all its parts, but, on the contrary, to retain a right of difcuffing it on a future occafion with the greatcft freedom. Lord Hood joined in the general approbation of his Majefty's conduct; and mentioned, with a patriotic fatisfaction, the ardour he had witneffed in both officers and feamen for fupporting the ho-. nour and interefts of their country. It was fuch as he had never before obferved among them; and he was convinced that, if it had been neceffary to draw the fword, they would have equat led the most gallant. atchievements which the proudeft æra of English naval glory could boaft. The French, he faid, were reftiefs and ambitious, and must be clofely watched if we wished for the continuance of peace; yet, in his opinion, no precautions on our part could give it permanency. It was, therefore, his earnest with, that all the remote poffeffions of the kingdom might be put, with all pollible speed, in the beft ftate of defence. Some of them, he faid, were in a moft wretched condition, particularly the yards for careening, &c. in Jamaica. Were he to defcribe the fituation in which he found them after Lord Rodney's victory, the Houfe would fuppofe that his relation was highly exaggerated. Mr. Fox faid, the leading principle of the prefent addrefs was fo much in unifon with his own opinion, that he could not refufe it his moft cordial concurrence. He had always afferted the propriety of our interference, not only in the affairs of Holland, but in thote of every state on the continent, for the purpofe of preferving the balance of power. Nor did he feel the leaft inclination to relinquish that opinion, even when it had been treated in that House as the refult of antiquated and exploded politics, and ftigmatized as the effect of idle and illiberal prepoffeffion. But now we are folemnly called upon by Majelly to approve and adopt this antiquated and exploded, this idle and liberal fyftem; and to the experience of a few months only do we owe this ftriking change of opinion.-Here Mr. Fox triumphed on the verification of his predictions the laft feffion; but it was the triumph of a man of fenfe and magnanimity; it was modeft and moderate; a manly vindication of his own opinion, alike free from unbecoming exultation, pointed retort, or perfonal allufion. He then faid, he could by no means agree in the apprehenfions of his noble colleague (Lord Hood) refpe&ting the approach of a war; yet it was not from French profeffions of amity, but from French inability, that he derived his fecurity. Attention to our foreign dependencies was undoubtedly proper, but he was yet to learn that they were in fuch a state of insecurity as to render the recommendation refpecting them neceffary. He had been one of that administration which formed the late peace establishment; and that it was not deemed cenfurable by their fucceffors in office, was obvious from their not having attempted to alter it. But, however this may be, each article thould meet a feparate difcuffion, and the Houfe, therefore, could not confider itself as fo far pledged by the pretent vote, as not to refule their affent to any particular which, on a future enquiry, may ap pear to be unneceffary. Of the late tranfactions, generally fpeaking, he readily admitted the merits; but he muft look upon the work as incomplete until a ftrong connection is formed with the United Provinces. He would not, bowever, enquire now whether proper fteps had been taken for this purpote. He knew that in every matter of foreign policy, and more particularly while any negotiation was pending, too much fecrecy could not be obferved. He would therefore repeat it, merely as his opinion, that, though on enquiry Minifters may be found hitherto to have done their duty, yet, fhould this object be overlooked, their conduct in a collective view would merit reprehenfion. He next directed his attention to the weaty with the Landgrave of Helle. On this business he was yet uninformed whether it was intended inerely to ferve a temporary purpote, or had its origin in a policy more extended and permanent. He would confefs that he had no abjection to fubfid:ary treaties, they were often useful, particularly when, in confequence of them, the military enablishment at home was reduced. But on this, as on the other particulars of the fpeech, it was not his intention to dwell until the neceffary explanations were given on a future day. Of this nature, he observed, was the condition alluded to in the speech, that our forces should be reduced to a level with thofe of France: was it intended that they fhould still be kept down to that ftandard; and were the naval forces only to be reduced? He hoped that fuch notions were not entertained. The alliance of Spain with France had been long as clofe as if the former were a part of the latter kingdom; could it then be fuppofed that we should remain inert fpectators of that country's efforts? It was obviously the policy of this kingdom to obferve the compara tive Itrength of both, and thence to regulate our future exertion's. The arpointment of Admiral Pigot to the command of the fuperior fquadron was an act equally honourable to Adminif tration and to that brave officer; it was alfo an eulogium on that Ministry who had formerly appointed him to the command of the fleet in the Weft-Indies. It was an unequivocal approbation of their choice; though they had incurred much abufe on that accounty of which he had borne a fhare. Having thus curiorly mentioned thofe circumftances which, he faid, deferved parti cular notice, he concluded with giving his affent to the addrefs. Mr Put faid, that the Right Hon. Gent, who had spoken last had defined-with great precision and propriety the extent to which the Houle would be pledged by allenting to the words of the addrefs. They were merely to agree, that the fyftem which had been adopted was proper, and that the hazards incurred were juftified by the occation, which did not preclude the privilege of objecting to any particular part on a future investigation of the whole. When the different papers al luded to in the fpeech fhould hereafter be laid before the Houfe for difcullion, gentlemen would be at liberty to condemn thofe particulars which feemed objectionable to them, notwithstanding the approbation of the general conduct of Ministry respecting Holland expreffed in the vote of this day. When he reprefented our diftant poffeffions as infecure, he did not mean to throw blame on any individual, or body of men: til very lately he was of opinion that they were lufficiently Arong; but his attention attention, having for a fhort time been much engaged on that fubject, he had found himself mistaken, and thought it would tend to the intereft of his country to make an ingenuous confeffion of his error. He did not conceive that war was now near; yet it would quiet our minds when we knew that our remote dependencies were not exposed to the danger of being taken by furprize. He fhould referve what he had to fay in defence of the treaty until it was under the confideration of the Houfe, when he had no doubt of being able to convince gentlemen, that it was ufeful and expedient in its principle, and advantageous in its terms. The question was then put, and the addrefs carried unanimously. Thus ended a converfation which had lafted fcarcely an hour and a half. The Houfe was up at five o'clock in the evening. Wednesday, November 28. Ordered, that no petitions for private bills be received after the 8th of Febreary. Mr. Ryder brought up the report of the committee appointed to draw up an addreis of thanks to his Majefty for his Speech; which having been read a first and fecond time at the table, was agreed to; and fuch members as were privy coonfellors were ordered to wait on his Majesty, to know when he would be pleated to receive the fame New-writs were ordered for Sarum and Brecon. Adjourned at half past three o'clock. Thursday, November 29. The Speaker having taken the chair, the Comptroller of his Majefty's houfehold acquainted the House, that his Majefty had been graciously pleated to appoint that day at three o'clock to be attended with the humble addrefs of that House. A bill for repairing Tunbridge roads, was, upon motion, ordered to be brought in. The Chancellor of the Exchequer prefented to the Houfe copies of the late treaties and declarations; and the titles being read, the papers were ordered to lie on the table. The Houfe at three o'clock went up with their addrefs. Friday, November 30. Mr. Put officially prefented various papers, amongst which were accounts of the expences of the late armaments, in the different departments of the army, navy, and ordnance. The titles of thefe papers were read; and it was agreed, on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that they should be taken into confideration on this day fe'nnight. Mr. Fox obferved, that Mr. Pitt had omitted to lay before the House two papers of a very important nature, and without which gentlemen could not form a proper judgement of the propriety of the refolution taken by his Majetty's Minifters to arm. The papers to which he alluded were, the notification from the French court of the 16th of September laft, and the difpatch which declared the intentions of the Court of Berlin towards France. The former of thefe, he faid, was the more neceffary, as, though the British Miniftry had made it the ground for their arming, yet the King of France ftates, in his counter-declaration, that he never intended to interfere by force in the difputes of the United Provinces. It was therefore evident that, unlefs the notification was produced, it would be impoffible to fay whether Minifters had armed from neceffity or not. Mr. Pitt faid, no man was more de firous than he to give the most ample information upon every fubject, when he could do it confiftently with his dury to the publick; but he should ill difcharge that duty were he to produce thofe papers. All that, to him, ap peared neceffary for the information of Parliament, refpecting the form of those papers, had been mentioned in his Majefty's speech to go further, might involve particular points, which it would be neither decent nor politic to divulge. But though he could not confent to the production of the papers, he would pe rufe them attentively, and from memory, if he should be called upon, give their real import, as far as was confiftent with the principle upon which he refufed to produce the whole. Here the business rested, and the House adjourned to Saturday, December 1. Brought up, read, and agreed to, the report of the committee of fupply. Mr. Steele prefented feveral papers relative to expences and disbursements, which were ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. Fiber, from the Exchequer, alfo prefented fome papers, which were or dered to be laid on the table. Adjourned. (To be continued.) 1. IGNOÀ "STR, April 12, 1784. "I have fent you inclofed a very curious propofal from Mr. Hawkins, the son of Sir John Hawkins, who, I believe, will take [care that whatever his fon promifes fhall be performed. If you are inclined to publish this compilation, the Editor will agree for an edition on the following terms, which I think liberal enough. "That you shall print the book at your ⚫wn charge. "That the fale fhall be wholly for your benefit till your expences are repaid; except that at the time of publication you fhall put into the hands of the Editor, without price, .... copies, for his friends. "That, when you have been repaid, the profits arifing from the fale of the remaining copies thall be divided equally between you and the Editor. "That the edition fhall not comprife fewer than five hundred. "I am, Sir, your most humble fervant, "SAM. JOHNSON." The following is the Propofal which was inclofed in the Doctor's letter; and it is but justice to declare that every part of the engagement has been punctually fulfilled. "Plan of a new Edition of the Latin Comedy of IC NORAMUS. "It is propofed to give the text corrected by all the printed editions, and the feveral manufcripts now exifting; and alfo by a copy formerly belonging to Archbishop Sancroft, collated, by him, with three manufcripts, and corrected in numberless inftances. By the help of these materials, and his own refearches, the Editor is enabled to give to the publick a whole fcene of the Comedy, and feveral other additions which have never yet appeared in print. As at this day the Comedy of Ignoramus is confeffedly obfcure, it abounding with allufions to facts and circumstances now but little-known, and containing in it characters to which the viciffitude of our national man ners has rendered us almoft ftrangers; it is GENT. MAS. January, 1788. meant to add Notes, hiftorical, critical, and explanatory, containing such extracts from authors of established reputation, and fuch other remarks and obfervations as will great ly tend to illuftrate the obfcure parts of the text. In particular, in order to explain the feveral facts refpecting Schioppius, mentioned and referred to in the fecond Prologue, the feveral paffages relating to him will, from the very authors from whom Mr. Ruggle derived his information, be given. In the course of these Notes, which will alfo tend to illustrate several popular and other customs referred to in the text, an exceedingly curious cu respecting Garnet the Jefuit, mentioned in it, a copious extract to explain the fame, and alfo the original mufic to the only fong in the Comedy, will be inferted, "It is further intended to prefix, from materials that have never been given to the world, a copious Life of the Author; which will alfo contain the probable occafion of writing this Comedy; an account of its firft reprefentation at Cambridge; a lift of the original actors both in the Comedy and firit Prologue, the latter of which has never buch printed; feveral poems written on occafion of its firft appearance, and of King James's vifit after-mentioned, many of which exift only in manufcript: and, as very few particulars refpecting that event are to be found in any of our hiftorians, a circumftantial account of King James's vifit to the University of Cambridge, in 1614-15, will, from like materials, be given. "Laftly, it is proposed to give a Gloffary of fuch law-terms and phrases as áre either inferted or alluded to in this excellent Comedy." All this, and even more than this, we will venture to fay, has been done by Mr. Hawkins, who has fhewn much judgement and uncommon affiduity, both in the comment and the gloffary; and, in the memoirs of his author, has brought forward many new and entertaining particulars -The Comedy of Ignoramus, it is well known, was acted at Cambridge before King James I. and his fon, the Prince of Wales (afterwards Charles L.); and the particulars of his entry and reception, as alfo a copious relation of the tranfactions during his ftay at the University, are given at large in an admirable letter, written by one who was an actual fpectator of all that patfed, and lately published from the original in the Paper-office, in a collec tion intituled, Miscellaneous State Papers, from 1501 to 1726, 4to, London, 1778, vol. I p. 394. To this letter, as curious as it is authentic, Mr. Hawkins has added, by way of notes, a number of facts which tend greatly to explain and illuftrate it. Ia |