[The London and Exeter addreffes [496.] Thould be read before the two pieces following.] From the BYSTANDER. TR Rades are learned by tedious apprenticeships; and the arts and mitteries of felling olives, or measuring riband, are not to be acquired, but by experience and laborious fervitude. Every member of a corporation knows this. But it appears, from equal experience, that the more learned profeffions are, the easier they are to be obtained; and the step we fee accordingly, from the mechanic, or the idiot, to counfellor, or doctor, is most easy. But there is yet another profeffion, which comes more eafily; the politician. Men are born to this, and it fhould feem all men are born to it. Every one can direct armies, and guide the weight of empires, even the greatest and moft diftant, upon hearing their names; and with refpect to that where in they live, though it is not to be difguifed that they know lefs of it than any, yet there is nothing relating to its interefts, which they are not able to conduct and manage. Even their fovereign cannot escape thefe friendly admonitions. Although they know him good beyond what has been found before in kings, attentive to the interefts of his kingdoms, and taught, by a long experience, what is for their latting felicity; though they allow all this, and more; yet every man thinks himfelf wifer, better, more attentive, and more experienced. They, there fore, in the integrity of their hearts, and perfect conviction of their own abilities and knowledge, temper their gratitude with advice. The children thank their parent for giving them life; but they advife him alfo to bestow upon them immortality. To fee thews, to eat turbot, to drink healths, and to wear fur and chains, are very great and glorious acquifitions; but they cannot thank him for them, unlefs he will alfo confirm the enjoyment of fuch bleffings: they beg thefe acquifitions may be annexed for ever to the ftate of mortality; and humbly pray, that he will give them an everlasting haunch of venifon, and an everlasting stomach. I thought my fituation had exempted me from all connection with the plagues, or business, if any fhall please to call it, of the world. But nothing is fecure while we are men: I have been called to join him who foles my fhoes, and thofe who mend my gown and fhave my beard, to give advice to ministers, and to direct my king. Far be it from me to make comparifons between the inhabitants of a fcattered hamlet, and the greater public bodies; I cannot be fo abfurd to draw a parallel between our proceedings, and thofe of the important London, or eloquent Exeter: the more property a body of men poffefs, the greater right they have to take counfel to preserve it, and the greater weight there is in their deliberations: but, even to fuch as these, an honeft and impartial man may, without offence, fay fomething. The fuccefs of our arms has been very great; and our king, the first and great mover of the whole, furely has a right to enjoy the glory and the profperity of his country in common with his fubjects. Why then muft he at once be thanked and tutored? Would it not have been better, that the gratitude had come pure and unmixed? Nothing can be more decent than the expreffions in which this doctrine is inculcated; but why fhould it be introduced at all? The firft care fhould be decency of thought; and that, I am afraid, is wanting. The whole world will agree with thefe, that it would be happy if Louif burg could be kept. But what country is that, in which a government can do every thing it wishes? France must be beaten firft; and though we have redu ced her very low, a great deal is wanting to bring her into fuch a condition that we could keep this fortre's. If France could never raife her head again, how are we fure the other powers of Lurope will be fatisfied? Nay, that ourselves fhould be fatisfied? The place could not be kept without a large garrifon; and it would not be ftrange, if patriot 3 X 2 Exeter Exeter fhould, in a few years afterwards, address the throne, to reduce the national expence, and specify the garrifon at Louifburg. Whether Louifburg can or cannot be kept, it is too early yet to determine. Many events, and, if human forefight might have leave to speak, many important ones, will occur before a peace; and they be paft before this article can be settled. But fuppofing this place we have won fo glorioufly could be kept, what reason is there to imagine, that it would not be annexed, (for ever is a long word), but that it would not be now annexed to the British dominions? They will have caufe to blufh, who fee the fource of the request in the light wherein this fair reafoning places it: I have more decency than to exprefs the meaning. Peace will follow thefe commotions; and what shall be detained, and what restored, must be then debated. It is now too early; nor are those who are fo eager to advise, the perfons who will even then have opportunities to judge of it. It is enough that we have one in the direction of affairs, whom we have chofen, and in whom we can confide; whole difcernment is too just not to fhew him the true interefts of his country, and whole attachment to thofe interefts is inviolable; who is above corruption, and above praife. We have requefted him; we have him; and let us confide in him. Being profperous, let us not draw over the clear fun of our fuccefs the diftant and imaginary gloom of thefe fuggeftions. When a peace is made, the minifter whom we fo justly reverence, will be concerned in it; and we may know, therefore, it will be fuch as is most advantageous for us. Nor let any think he can be perfuaded other wife for having nothing in view but our advantage, rather than concur with measures that were against it, fuch a man will show his difapprobation by refigning his employments. puts us in poffeffion of the key to trade and navigation of that contin It recovers to the British empire an if which we were artfully deprived a the conferences at Utrecht, after French had engaged to deliver ups dia, or Nova Scotia, and all its ap dages, in which Cape Breton was i ded, to Britain: and experience forty years and upwards, may com us, that there can be no peace with French, no fecurity from their incr ments, nor profpect of maintaining own fettlements, property, and merce, in the new world, fo long ifland remains under the domini France. This is confirmed by the schemes ed by the French, and by their i tions immediately after they reg poffeffion of this fortrefs by thei of Aix-la-Chapelle. They no fool covered this important poft, thai pushed for a complete conqueft richest, most fertile, and advanti parts of that continent; and eve was made use of to disturb our tion, and to difcourage our traffic The nation readily contributed further attempt, upon the faith o ter conduct in the commanders, i a real intention in the miniftry delay the fervice, nor to part w acquifition, without which it is ne fible to cover our fettlements fro predations and ruin. It now r for the ministry, not to forfeit fteem of the public, by copying th fures taken at the conclufion of t war, when this important fortre bartered away in favour of a f ftate. [x. 531, 3.] As no territory or conceffion o part of France, can be an equival this key of our American trade, al ditions of peace ought to be rej wherein its reftitution fhall be de ed; otherwife our colonies wou reduced juft to the fame precariou ation as before the war. Hence it is, that the opulent a fpectable bodies in every part of To the MONITOR. Tdependencies in North America, amples of their forefathers on fimil Ca tions, address the throne with their ngratulations, and with confidence of s Majesty's wifdom, never to fubmit any terms for the giving up of Cape eton any more: A method of commucating their affections and fentiments which they are intitled by the laws d privileges of Englishmen; in which ey do not ufurp an authority to dicte to their fovereign; but, with a fial love, express their apprehenfions of he great lofs it would be to the nation, ad of the indignity to his crown, fhould e, by bad counfels, be perfuaded to art with fo valuable an acquifition. Nor is it without reafon that we fupect some advocates for a measure fo uiverially condemned by the nation in eneral, when they already venture to talk abroad in the dark, and to depieiate and ridicule the noble fentiments n thofe addreffes to the throne from London and Exeter. A patricide of his fort poisons the air of a court with his breath,and diffules contagion throughout the realm with his pen. He repreents the addreffes to be libels upon the overeign, and the promoters of them to be idiots, or men of low condition in ife and he advanceth this paradox, That there may be fecret fprings of government, which shall require a reftitution of a place, without whofe poffeffion we can have no fecurity for our peace and property. peated infults and ufurpations obliged his Majefty to enter into this juft and neceffary war," is reprefented as language unbecoming fubjects to their prince, and ridiculed with the lowest jargon; as if the city of London, in their corporate capacity, were requesting an impoffibility, or could not be content with any thing but immortality in all their actions. For ever, in the forms of law, fignifies no more than a perpetual polfeflion of the thing bequeathed or conveyed: neither can it be improper to exprefs a defire to maintain a perpetual, not an immortal poffeffion of Cape Breton. Before our rejoicings on this happy event ended! behold, there starts up a Byflander, who undertakes to ridicule every one that exercises his reafon towards promoting the falutary measure of fecuring to the crown of this realm the island of Cape Breton; and, with an affurance peculiar to a patricide, fets himfeif up for the only wife man in the three kingdoms. He ufhers in his invenomed doctrine of paffive obedience to deftructive mea fures, with fnarling criticifm and fan derous invectives. To pray," that the important fortress of Louifburg, and the ilands of Cape Breton and St John, may ever continue a part of the British empire, as an effectual check to the perfidy and ambition of a nation, whole re But what can we expect from a pen, which, in the next inftance, degrades all thofe who addrefs his Majefty, with the names of coblers, botchers, and bar. bers? Thefe, fays he, with an air of triumph, are the men who prefume to give advice to minifters, and to direct my king. I fhall not undertake to vouch for the wifdom and integrity of thofe, who, on all occafions, appear in that corporation [London] against every motion in favour of our country: but nobody who is not abandoned to Germanized councils, will deny this affertion, that the promoters and fubfcribers to the late addrefs, whatever may be their trades and callings, are intitled to the privi leges of Englishmen, contribute largely towards the expence of the war, and have therein recorded an honest and difinterested spirit. They by no means give way to a republican fyftem, so as to deny the King a right to enjoy the glory and profperity of his country in common with his fubjects; but think it no indignity to the crown, to lay their complaints, apprehenfions, and fears, before their king, when they have experienced bad effects in the like cafe. And where decency of expreffion is allowed, it is very partial and unjuft, to infinuate a want of decency of thought. In good troth, Mr MONITOR, this puts me in mind of the refugee, who beat his wife, because he fufpected that the thought him to be an old French dog. If If it be asked, why there fhould be any optative claufe in this addrefs, concerning the retention of our American conqueft it is allowed, that it would be moft for the interest of Britain to keep it; but if the negotiations of an enfuing peace tread in the fteps of the last treaty, we have great reason to doubt of its continuance in our poffeffion; not from any inability or weakness on the part of Britain, but from our connections with the powers at war on the continent of Europe; which no lover of his country will allow to be a juft and equitable reafon for our giving up fo vauable a conqueft. The argument drawn from the ftrength of France, and the diflike of other powers in Europe, is beneath the attention of a brave and wife people. Let us purfue the measures which have brought them to their prefent ebb, and there is no fear of reducing that perfidious and cowardly enemy, as late experience in ftructeth, to accept of fuch ternis as Britain fhall propofe for her own peace and fafety. And as for the other powers in Europe, this conqueft remaining in British hands can in no wife affect their trade and intereft: nor, in confequence, fall under their cognifance, in the fet tling of a general peace. The whole navigation and trade in North America is between G. Britain and France. As to the mean infinuation, that fo refpectable a body of merchants and others at Exeter could ever be diffatisfied with the expences which will be required to maintain Louifburg, it could only be conceived by fome mean-fpirited garretteer. Did they ever repine at the vaft expence annually granted for the fupport of Mahon and Gibraltar? and yet it could be demonftrated, that Lou. ifburg is of greater importance to our trade and navigation than both those fortreffes put together; and can be maintained at a much lefs expence than either of them. Therefore it is not too early to determine upon the keeping of Louisburg. No event, according to human probability, can happen in our own war with France, to compel us to give it up. And if the Byflander means any even may happen on the continent, wh have no property, Britons will b fable, fhould they never cease to by all lawful means, its exchange. ny place not fubject to the British It is certain, that the time is i come to difcufs the feveral clain fhall be fet up by a treaty of pea the time is already expired, wh convinced us, that Britain muf to no terms of peace without af ing her claim and right to Cape E or she may refolve, with that if give up all her intereft in Nort! rica. But though we are bleffed minifter that is capable of dife the true interefts of his country, attachment to thofe interefts is! ble, and who perhaps might feal approbation of any measures to back Cape Breton to the French figning his employments; I you, that this refignation woul very unequal recompenfe for fur tional lofs; which we that with our king and country, hope will vented, by the fpeedy and unt voice of the people, in their ct and parliamentary capacity. F ever defpicable the addreffes art fented by the advocates for t practicability of Britain's maintai important conquefts, I cannot c without obferving, that they conftituents of the reprefentative people in every rank and degre may be endowed with as much tion and regard for the true in! their country as thofe who im Lord High Chancellor Claren advifing and effecting the fale o kirk to the French King. The humble remonftrance of the M G. Britain against the import T is with infinite concern tha I hold an inundation of Frenc pouring in upon us, and this a too when there is fome fort o in detelting every thing that is In regard to ourfelves, we are fulted, by fome of the fineft lip rld, with the opprobrious term of raille. We cannot relent the infult -m them, as they are too facred for runhallowed hands. Befides, they e fufficiently punished, by the mirth ey afford to their Mademoifelles, when ey attempt to pronounce the uncouth ord; for canaille, from English lips, unds canal. But as moft things are rdonable to the pride of the creation, e fhould readily excufe THEM, if the fection had not fpread among the offis of our army: and as we chiefly comfe the numerous fquadrons that are to ard the liberties of Britain, we can st conceive that we ought to have any ore to do with their language, than have with their religion. All our finefs is to beat them, and that we n do in plain English. If our officers der us to form a line, we can do it; at if they call that line a cordon, we uft be obliged to apply to the chaain for a denouement of the mysterious ord.—Coup de main, and manoeuvre, ight be excufable in Marshal Saxe, as e was in the fervice of France, and pertly acquainted with both; but we innot fee what apology can be made or our officers lugging them in by head nd fhoulders, without the leaft neceffi; as a fudden froke might have done ›r one, and a proper motion for the oher. Reconnoitre is another favourite word in the military way; and as we annot find out that it is much more figificant than take a view, we beg leave may be sent home again. We fhould ot have troubled the public with this ddrefs, if we had not received a fresh nfult by the papers of Saturday laft, in fuppofed letter from Germany, where he ingenious author tells us, fpeaking of he intended operations of war, that the Jeneral's intention remains perdu; which we are informed, fignifies loft. In what enfe. we are to understand this gentlenan, we cannot fay. His meaning inleed feems perdu. He may perhaps give is to understand, by printing the word n Italics, that the army and treasure ent to Germany is all perdu. The word then wants a little epaulement to fupport t; or rather a little eclaircissement; tor, in the prefent application of it, it is dark and myfterious. We must beg the gentlemen of the army pardon, if, next to them, wę fhould take the liberty of mentioning the barbers; a fet of gentlemen very useful in their station, but under no abfolute neceffity of hanging out falfe French upon their figns. It may indeed become a French frifeur to acquaint the public, that he makes a tête de mouton, or fimply a téte: but we are a little offended, when an English tonfor, under the figu of a thing which in fome countries might be called a perriwig, fhall write, Ladies taits, or tates, or taets, or taites, or taites's, made here: it looks as if they meant a reflection upon the ladies of G. Britain, by acquainting the public, that their heads were made in barbers fhops, and to be had either in Middle-row or Rag-fair. Now, their intended purpose of ferving the community would cer tainly be better answered, if they would fuffer their figns to speak plain English, and inform the world, that SHEEPS HEADS (which we are told is the meaning of the three French words above) were fold there; as, by that means, they would bid fair to serve gentlemen, as well as ladies, who were not already provided. Fe-ne-feai-quoy, though of French extraction, we fhall not prefume to find fault with; because it has been natura→ lized, and productive of infinite good in England. It has helped many an unfortunate girl to a husband: it has in deed fometimes parted man and wife, but has foon brought them together a gain; feldom fails of healing up the breaches it had made between friends; has fitted out fleets and armies, and brought them home again; has been a theme for orators in velvet and in crape, and has furnished matter for many vo lumes. Chicane, we dare not meddle with, as we are told the lawyers have taken it under their immediate protection: but as quirks and tricks are as foreign to their profeffion, as ambition and avarice to that of a more venerable order, we fuppofe the charge is without foundation. Bagatelle, |