terested in his behaviour; every one, therefore, has a right to scrutinize his conduct; every one has the privilege of expostulating with him on the merits of his actions.

"I am moved by no personal animosity, heated by no party, instigated by no faction. Though I mourn principally for the public, I nevertheless feel for you in particular. I do not mean to add insult to misfortune. I do not endeavour to raise a fatal prejudice against you, and anticipate public judgment before you are legally convicted of public offence. I am sensible of the danger of influencing the multitude under a free government. When a popular tumult has been industriously raised, I know that justice has been too often sacrificed to appease it.

"No one can be ignorant of the cruel means which were used to inflame the public against a late unhappy delinquent, and chief commander at sea [Admiral Byng]. Before he had set his foot on shore, papers and pamphlets pronounced his condemnation: he was borne along the streets by the mob as a spectacle of infamy, and hung in effigy.

"During his trial, every article of examination underwent the severest comment- The charges against him fell under the heads of cowardice, negligence, or disaffection. His judges unanimously acquitted him of the first and last. He died-for his negligence.

If justice obliged them to condemn him, yet his negligence was not thought so capital as to exclude him from mercy. His judges unanimously and warmly recommended him as a fit object of royal clemency. The clamour which this recommendation occasioned, is recent in every one's ears. The demands of justice were loud from every quarter; the walls in every street were defaced with scrolls, which called for vengeance; majesty itself was threatened, and popular rage dared to interfere with the exercise of the most noble prerogative of the crown. I do not mean however, to insinuate that public clamour influenced the royal determination. Our Sovereign has not only the disposition, but the fortitude, to be just. Had it been a time for clemency, the delinquent had not fallen a victim to the rigour of his sentence.

"The occasion called for severity. The of fence was proved: the law declared the punishment: the nation demanded execution: and the Sovereign approved of it. Justice had its free course, and established an example, to the terror. of future offenders.

You, my Lord, are supposed to have been zealous in promoting this example. Prompted, no doubt, by the principle which actuates every generous mind, you paid no regard to the wealth of the delinquent, to his noble alliances, or high

rank in the navy. You considered an individual, however great, to be of little importance, when placed in competition with the public. These considerations, it is presumed, influenced you to urge his doom. You had the nation on your side. You had more; you had justice to support your conduct.

"No one can condemn the zeal which inspires us with resentment against delinquents who betray their honour, and abandon the interests of their country. The principle is noble; but we certainly ought to be careful in what manner we direct it. Our indignation should not transport us so far as to take facts for granted before they are proved in a course of legal examination.

"This caution I mean to observe in examining the circumstances of your supposed criminality. I would not hire a mob to bear you aloft as an object of hatred or derision: I would not bribe them to hang you in effigy, neither shall my pen proclaim you either cowardly, negligent, or disaffected, before you have been heard in your own vindication.

"Whether it be adviseable or not to send the forces of Great Britain to fight in Germany, is a subject which has been much controverted, and is quite foreign from my discussion. It is sufficient for the present purpose that it was thought expedient by those whose influence

caused them to be transported: and whatever might be the sentiments of particulars, it is certain, that the approbation of the kingdom in general gave a sanction to the measure.

"No troops were ever animated with more distinguished ardour. Commanders Commanders among the

first rank in nobility,

volunteers of fashion and fortune, all nursed in the downy lap of ease, forsook at once the pomp of a court, the joys of a new-wedded love, with all the pleasures of a luxurious town, and crowded to the German shore, to experience hardships, brave dangers, and stand in the front of death.

"The common men were worthy of their leaders. They were picked and culled from the flower of the British army. Strength, spirit, and comeliness, were their characteristics. The command of those brave bands devolved upon your Lordship.

"Had the public choice directed the appointment, perhaps no one could have been found more likely to discharge the important duty with honour, skill, and fidelity. Descended from one of the noblest stocks in the kingdom, one eminently distinguished for loyalty, and yourself honoured with the confidence of your Sovereign, who would suspect you of disaffection? Having been tried in action, and your firmness extolled, who could doubt your courage? of which you

I

are said to bear honourable marks, where it is a soldier's pride to shew them-in your breast. From the proofs you had given of your abilities here, and in a neighbouring kingdom more especially, who could question your capacity?

"With these impressions in your favour, you entered upon a command of such high consequence to your country, and such distinguished honour to yourself. Noble from your birth, great in your endowments, every thing great and noble was expected from your conduct.

"To your country's detriment, and your own dishonour, the expectations of the public are disappointed. We looked for a commander, and we find a commentator. We depended upon an ac tive warrior, and we meet with an idle disputant; one who, in the field of battle, debates upon orders with all the phlegm of an academic, when he ought to execute them with all the vigor and intrepidity of an hero.

"It has too long been a reproach to Great Britain, that her generals were unworthy to lead the men they commanded. The strength and bravery of our soldiers has been highly extolled, but the skill and prowess of our officers has been held in slight estimation.

Our enemies, on the contrary, have been remarked for the conduct and intrepidity of their commanders, but their men have always been