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And furely the urgency and importance of the cafe did not demand movements of this extraordinary and dangerous nature. No proof has been given, that the prefent parliament is less free and independent than any former one. The people have the fame power as heretoArt, of chufing their own reprefentatires, and difcarding those whom they dare not truft. The falaries and perquisites of office are fuch as were enjoyed by the men who now complain of their exorbitance, and by those who carried us fo glorioully through the laft war. The civil lift is no higher than parliament laft year judged it reasonable and liberal to make it: A juft and honourable act, when we confider the happy increase of the Royal household, and his Majefty's generofity in furrendering the hereditary revenues of the crown, (which amounted to 800,000l. per annum, in the reign of George II. fometimes to a million), in order that they might be made part of the finking fund for the difcharge of the national debt. No inftances have been produced of an improper expenditure; and we have the greatest reason to expect the contrary, from a prince, who gave illuftrious a proof of his attachment to liberty, and impartial juftice, by making the judges independent [23.159.]. There feems therefore to be no fufficient caufe for fuch violent and extraordinaty measures, especially as the fubject was before parliament, the proper affembly for the difcuffion of fuch quetions.

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But there is much ground to fuppofe, that public good was not the aim of the men who projected this plan; but, their uniform with, to embarrass government, and acquire power. Why elfe were thefe fchemes of frugality neglected when they held the helm? Why did they not then begin the work of reformation? Why have they chofen a time for this bufinefs when all the wisdom and unanimity of the ftate are requifite for our defence against foreign foes? - when delay, diffraction of councils, and civil difcord, may be our utter ruin?

Jam far from denying, that many men of the ftricteft integrity, and with the nobleft intentions, have concurred in the meafnre. They will foon be called upon to proceed a ftep farther, either to fall apon a plan to enforce their petition, or, fhould it be granted, to co-operate in fome new reformation. Let them, then,

VOL. XLII.

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Account of a wild man in the Pyrenees. Monfieur Le Roy, the French King's

engineer, employed in drawing mafts from the Pyrenees, fays, that in the year 1774, a favage, or wild man, was difcovered by the fhepherds who fed their flocks in the neighbourhood of the foreft of Yuary. This man, who inhabited the rocks that lay near the forefts, was very tall, covered with hair, like a bear; nimble as the Hifars; of a gay humour, and, in all appearance, of a mild character, as he neither did, nor feemed to intend harm to any body. He often vifited the cottages, without ever attempting to carry off any thing. He had no knowledge of bread, milk, or cheese. His greateft amufement was to fee the fheep running, and to scatter them; and he testified his pleasure at this fight by loud fits of laughter; but never attempted to hurt them. When the fhepherds let loofe their dogs after him, he fled with the swiftnefs of a racer, and never allowed the dogs to come near him. One morning he came to the cottage of fome workmen; and one of them endeavouring to get near him, and catch him by the leg, he laughed heartily, and then made his efcape. feemed to be about thirty years of age. As the foreft in queftion is very extenfive, and has a communication with the vaft woods that belong to the Spanish territories, it is natural to fuppofe, that this folitary, but chearful being, had been loft in his infancy, and had fubfifted on fruits and herbs. [11.404.]

He

[How wild men are produced in the immenfe forefts on the continent, has hitherto efcaped the vigilance of natura lifts; but that there are fuch, the prefent inftance, added to that of the wild man brought over from the forefts of Germany as a prefent to K. George 1. confirm. Gent. Mag.]

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country from the most vigorous exertions against this. The cafe ftood materially different with England. funded debt of the kingdom, including the wants of the enfuing year, would amount to the enormous fum of 198,000,000l. Suppofing the war was to ceafe with the prefent year, there would notwithstanding be a kind of after-expence, which always follows the winding up of a war, to the amount of not less than 13,000,000l. So that on the idea of an immediate termination of hoftilities, there will be a funded national debt to the amount of 211,000,000l. The intereft of this was to be paid:and how paid? By fresh exactions on the people,—by new taxes, and new oppreffions, till their laft penny would be exhaufted in fostering the wild fchemes of a perfevering ill-judging adminiftration. If fuch confequences were to be inevitable, even on the fuppofition of an immediate peace, what was to be dreaded from a farther profecution of the war? The increase on the three articles of army, navy, and ordnance, beyond the average eftimate of their peace-establishment, was at leaft 7,000,000l. In the year 1775, the expences of these three departments were 3,700,000l.; in the year 1776, 6,000,000 1.; and in 1777 and 1778, upwards of 10,000,000l.-Befides this, what were the number of troops that were to be sustained? There was at prefent in England, for the defence only of the island, 100,000 men voted by parliament. The establishment in Ireland was about 15,000. The number, as deduced from parliamentary accounts, at prefent said to exift in America and the Western islands, 75,000; in all, upwards of 190,000 men in the pay of this country. As to the navy alfo, it was known that there were 85,000 men juft voted there; fo that, adding thereto the lift of 190,000, and including also the armies kept up by the East-India company, and the volunteer affociations of Ireland, to the amount of 40,000 men, which might in fome fort be faid to live upon this country, the total refult would arife to between 2 and 300,000 men.-To these confiderations it was to be added, that the nations with whom we had to contend were more than triple our fuperiors in the number of inhabitants. France and Spain alone exceeded us fo much, excluding the acceffion of the inferior powers on the borders of the Mediter

PARLIAMENT. [41.662. 706.] ON the 7th of December 1779, the Duke of Richmond rofe in the Houfe of Lords, and faid, that the prefent ftate of public concerns had filled him with the greatest anxiety, and his moft ferious thoughts had been employed in the formation of fome expedient that might prevent the total completion, or at leaft produce fome mitigation, of the national calamities. There were but two practicable methods of effecting this great end, namely, ftrict and rigid œconomy through all the departments of the state, and a difpofition in his Majefty to select the wifeft and ableft men the kingdom could produce for the future management of the helm. The feries of misfortunes which had occurred during the progrefs of the prefent war, was fuch as exceeded all conception, and even outstretched the power of his recollection fo far as to deprive him of the ability of forming any kind of juft and regular inventory of them. When two nations were at war, the mode of judgement which they would certainly adopt, would undoubtedly be this. What is the power of the enemy with whom I have to contend? What is the prefent ftrength of my adverfary? and, What the refources? Comparing then the capacity of the foe, with their own ability, they would be each able to decide with precifion concerning the eligibility of a farther profecution of hoftilities. If this maxim of political difcretion were applied by us to our prefent circumftances, how fhould we feel or think concerning a continuance of the war? France had been able to carry on the war hitherto without the impofition of one extraordinary duty; even the war-tax had not yet been applied. No larger a fum than 1,700,000l. had been raised laft year for the fupport of the war; and he was well apprised, that not more than 2,000,000l. would be wanting, or was intended to be required, for the neceffities of this. But how did they procure thofe fums? Not as in England, where the intereft was to be defrayed by new taxes; but without funding it at all, or without reducing their fubjects to the diftrefs of discharging intereft. The intereft was to be paid from favings from the King's reveDues, and no part of the inconvenience generally attending war either had, or was likely to arife to the people of that

ranean,

ranean, as Naples, &c. and Portugal, whofe interpofition against us was every day to be expected. There were but two methods, as he had previously obferved, if this war was to be perfevered in; and thofe were, œconomy, and a felection of the wifeft heads into all the departments of administration. The tate he had given of our finances fufficiently demonftrated the neceffity of the former, and the experience of paft times had often evinced the excellent effects arifing, even in the most desperate emergencies, from the latter.

His Grace difclaimed any perfonal intention in the motion he fhould propofe; one main purport of which was, he faid, to procure a reduction of the civil lift, which was now by a late grant of parlia. ment [39. 297, 8.1 increased to the enormous fum of 900,000l. He declared he did not with to abridge his Majefty of a. ny part of his ftate and fplendour, or any of his perfonal enjoyments; but, in matters of great national importance, he thought it was always proper that the example fhould be fet by the crown. After a great variety of arguments in fupport of the neceffity of commencing to reform, and to œconomise; and that not partially, but on a broad, general, and univerfal plan, his Grace concluded his fpeech with moving,

"That an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, to befeech his Majefty to reflect on the manifold diftreffes and difficulties in which this kingdom is involved, too deeply felt to ftand in need of enumeration.

To reprefent, that amidst the many and various matters that require refor. mation, and muft undergo correction be. fore this country can rife fuperior to its powerful enemies, the wafte of public treafure requires inftant remedy; that profufion is not vigour; and that it is become indifpenfably neceffary to adopt that true economy, which, by reforming all ufelefs expences, creates confi. dence in government, gives energy to its exertions, and provides the means for their continuance.

Humbly to fubmit to his Majefty, that a confiderable reduction of his Majefty's civil lift would be an example well-becoming his Majesty's paternal affection for his people, and his own dignity; would not fail of diffufing its influence through every department of the ftate; and would add true luftre to his crown from the

grateful feelings of a diftreffed people.

To affure his Majefty, that this House will readily concur in promoting fo defireable a purport; and any one of its members will chearfully fubmit to fuch reduction of emolument, in any office he may hold, as his Majefty in his royal wifdom may think proper to make."

Lord Stormont perfectly agreed with the Noble Duke in all his premises, but totally diffented from the juftice or expediency of his conclufion. He was well aware, that œconomy, the most rigid œconomy, was strictly neceffary through all the branches of government: but, ftrongly as he was difpofed towards the practice of economy, he never could think fuch a commencement in the obfervation of it as the Noble Duke had recommended, either honourable or politic.-For what inference would not other nations, and the enemy particularly, deduce from our having recourfe even to his Majefty's household expences? Would they not think we were at the last edge of diftrefs? and might they not be ftimulated into unthought of exertions from that confideration?-for that would be the time, they would naturally fuppose, to crufh us totally; and that he very well knew was the ambitious aim of the prefent treacherous and formidable confederacy.-What alfo would be the effect of this proceeding upon the people? Defpair, the only thing wanting to complete the lift of our misfortunes, would be the neceffary refult of the Noble Duke's expedient; and therefore that expedient was, in his opinion, a meafure of all others the most carefully to be avoided.-Concerning what the Noble Duke had faid refpecting the refources of this country, compared with those of our enemies, he had only to observe, that he did not think that that comparifon proved any thing: the arguments deduced from it had no application, admitting all the calculations in which thefe arguments were involved to be in all refpects fair and accurate; for the queftion at prefent was, Shall we perfevere in a war entered into on the moft honourable grounds, or fhall we fubmit to a difgraceful peace? The latter meafure was reprobated by every body: what then was the other alternative?Why, to profecute the war.-That be ing admitted, any representation of the inferiority of our finance was unnece C 2.

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fary, and improper, as carrying with it an intimation of which our enemies might avail themselves, and tending to introduce despair into the minds of the people of England. He would therefore vote against the motion in queftion. Lord Bathurst acquiefced in the neceffity for ftrict œconomy, but that it fhould commence with more important objects, and not begin where the confequence of it, as to the faving, must be trifling, and the effect of it, as to the people, extremely dangerous. All that could be faved in the article of revenue would be but like a drop to an ocean; while the same spirit of care and inveftigation exercifed differently, might be attended with the most falutary effects to the kingdom.

Lord Effingham contended, that the motion was highly neceffary; and men'tioned as a grievance which called for reformation, the immenfe income of the paymafter of the forces, who was railing a princely fortune, which increased in proportion as the public diftreffes increafed. His Lordship spoke of a tax, the coft of collecting which was 47 per cent.; and declared, that the coft of collecting the excife (which was boafted of as the cheapest and best-managed collection of all others) one year, coft as much as would have paid and cloathed all the army voted that year, which happened to be 17,000 only.

The Marquis of Rockingham contended for the motion on conftitutional grounds. Our political fyftem, he faid, required reform, and in this inftance particularly; that the influence of the crown was too extenfive; on that account, therefore, he would vote for the motion, as it had the excellent tendency of checking that dangerous influence, which he prefaged, if not corrected, would be the caufe of this country's ruin. He mentioned, that Q. Anne had once given 100,000l. to affift her fubjects in carrying on a war different in its effects from this, and the inftance alfo of K. George II. who gave 700,000l. more from his private treasure and revenue for the relief of his fubjects in the profecution of a troublesome war.

Lord Dartmouth thought the motion might be termed a perfonal reflection on his Majefty's conduct.

Lords Manchefter, Abingdon, and Grafton, fpoke for the motion.

Lord Townshend thought the motion

ought to be voted for the general good; faid, it was only agreeing to do that now, which they muft of neceffity do next year, at fartheft. He faid, he did not mean to join Oppofition, or affift men of that description; but he did not regard the prefent as a party-motion, and therefore fhould vote for it.

The Lord Chancellor faid, he was perfectly ready to acknowledge, that the motion carried in it no fort of perfonal accufation of his Majefty, and that the Noble Duke had not the moft diftant intention of cafting a reflection on the King for his conduct in the disbursement and application of that part of his revenue which was properly denominated the civil lift. His Lordship called the attention of the House to the motion in all its parts- [Lord Shelburne anfwered to the diftinct points ftated by the Lord Chancellor. We fubjoin to each point the answer made to it.]

Chancellor. The first paragraph ftated was, that “his Majesty was beseeched to reflect on the distresses and difficulties in which this kingdom is involved, too deeply felt to stand in need of enumeration." His Lordship afsked, Who knew of thefe diftreffes? What investigation of their Lordships, as a House of Parliament, were they the refult of?

Shelburne. If the Noble Lord was ignorant of that fact, he was the only man in the kingdom who was yet to learn it. Our calamities had rendered this country, what a Noble Earl had early in the debate very properly thrown out, the pity of all the world. So earneft, however, was he to get the Noble and Learned Lord's vote, that he would undertake the whole paragraph fhould be left out, if that would remove his feruples.

Ch. The next paragraph ftated, that the wafte of public treasure required inftant remedy." This was an affertion of fome importance, and not furely to be hazarded on mere fpeculation. If the fact were fo, the department of go. vernment ought surely to be pointed out in which the wafte of the public treasure lay; otherwife the charge was unjust, because it applied to all public offices alike; and that being the cafe, he fubmitted it to the Houfe, how far it was juft, and becoming their dignity,, to vote an addrefs, which contained a general and undefined charge against the King & fervants, which no one Lord had been

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able to bring home to the door of any one of thofe perfons fo accused.

Sh. There again the Noble and Learned Lord was the only ignorant man in the kingdom. It was a fact which had been admitted by all fides of the Houfe. No body, excepting only the Noble and Learned Lord, had attempted even to doubt it. Still, however, fo anxious was he to fatisfy him, that he would undertake that whole paragraph fhould likewife be croffed out.

and would have to search into a variety of offices and of perquifites, that had no immediate reference to the civil lift or the court. In short, he declared he faw no probability of their Lordships being able to go through fo immenfe and difficult a bufinefs, with fufficient effect to remedy the evil.

Sh. The motion would be confined to the request to his Majefty to become an example of œconomy, by a reduction of his civil lift, and the affurance that they, as Lords of Parliament, would follow the example, and thus begin what the Noble Marquis had so properly termed a conftitutional reformation, without which this country could not be faved. With regard to the objection, That there was no fpecific request as to the quantum of the civil lift to be redu ced, he did not defire to curtail his Majefty of any one of his enjoyments. There were, however, feveral heads of expenditure of the civil lift, which loudly called for a reform. The money paid for foreign embaffies was enormously fwelled indeed. In the reign of K. William (an æra fo glorious, that every man who loved his country regarded it with admiration) the expence of foreign embaffies was about 43,000l. and now they were fwelled to the extravagant fum of upwards of 90,000l. Ambaffadors then did their duty; fecretaries of ftate did their duty; they understood each other. Secret-fervice money was another branch of expenditure which called for immediate reformation; because, at prefent, the fums wafted under this head were enormous, and it was obvious minifters were totally without intelligence, and that their admirals and generals, one and all, complained of the frivoloufnefs, the uncertainty, and the wretchednefs of the information they generally received from them.

Ch. The remainder of the motion contained two propofitions; one "adviling his Majefty to make a confiderable reduction of his civil lift; "the other "affuring his Majefty, that every member of that Houfe would chearfully fubmit to fuch reduction of emolument in any office he may hold, as his Majefty, in his royal wisdom, might think proper to make." The first of thefe propofitions, even were it practicable to make any reduction in the civil lift, ftrewed fach difficulties in the way of its execution, that it was impoffible for any minifter to advise his Majefty upon the fubject. It ftated a confiderable reduction. Was a moiety of the civil lift the conderable part alluded to? Were two thirds of it? Was one third of it? for to each Would the word be equally applicable. Again, if the motion were carried, it could not enforce the advice. It was no act of parliament. His Majesty's civil lift was eftablished at its prefent amount by act of parliament. Befides, what part of the civil lift was the reduction defired by the motion to be made in Their Lordships all knew, that many different eftablishments were provided for out of the revenue of the civil , with the payment of which his Majefty had no more perfonal connection or interference than their Lordships. With regard to the laft propofition, how was that to be carried into execution? He fuppofed, by the affurance it contained, "that the Houfe would readily concur in promoting fo defireable a purLord Shelburne declared, if the Noble pofe," it was meant, that his Majefty Lord thought he had alluded to the fehould understand, they were willing to cret-fervice money that had paffed thro' follow up the addrefs by proceeding to his hands, upon his honour he did not ; pas an act, authorifing the purpofes now for he knew not what the fum was, alarowed. But how would their Lord. though he had heard it was very confithips come at the true fource of each derable. He faid further, that he had fpecies of official emolument? mutt go through lately received a letter, defiring him to an inquiry of a very litten to fome information from a perfon deep and intricate fort, into the origin who offered to disclose to him all the feof all the exchequer places and profits, crets of the Noble Lord's embaffy, and

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Lord Stormont defired the Earl to explain what he meant by the large fums of the public money that he had received.

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