may, and ought to be prevented; and the repeal of the law in queftion I conceive to be a most obvious, neceffary and indifpenfable means for the accomplishment of that purpofe." Notwithstanding the admiration excited by this fudden burft of eloquence, and the ability with which the motion of repeal was fupported by various other speakers, it was negatived on the divifion, though not by the accustomed ministerial majority, the numbers being 247 against 184.

The duke of Bolton and lord Cobham being about this time arbitrarily divefted of their military commiffions, on account of their parliamentary oppofition to the measures of the court, a very dangerous-the more dangerous, indeed, because a very plaufible-motion was made by lord Morpeth, eldest son of the earl of Carlisle, for leave to bring in a bill for securing the constitution, by preventing the removal of officers not above the rank of colonels, otherwise than by judgment of a court-martial, or by an address of either house of parliament. The court, alarmed in the highest degree by this motion, exerted the whole force of ministerial ability and eloquence in the house of commons, in order to defeat it. It was ftrongly urged, "that the great danger to be guarded against in all armies, is the 'raising them to a state of independency. The most important of all restraints on the military in this country, is the prerogative vested in the crown, of difplacing officers on suspicion, or even at pleasure. But should this power once be transferred to the army, a time may come, nor may the period be far diftant, when the whole of our conftitution shall be at its mercy. At prefent the army itself depends upon the king and parliament for its very duration and existence. But give the officers a permanent interest in their commiflions, by the adoption of a measure which would convert them as it were into freeholds, and the king and parliament would foon find themselves dependent upon the army. By this bill a door would be opened for the uncon❤ trolled and uncontrollable commiffion of every fpecies of military

N 2

military license and oppreffion. And should à reduction of the army at any future period be determined upon, is it to be imagined that thefe military chieftains, with fwords in their hands, would contentedly lay them down, and retire to their respective homes, at the requifition of the civil power? No: They would exclaim, where are our accufers? we are by law amenable to our own courts martial only, and to them alone will we fubmit. The minifter remarked, that the two moblemen lately removed were fucceeded by others the duke of Argyle and lord Pembroke-in no refpect inferior. And fhould the motion pass into a law, the government of England would have an irresistible tendency to a stratocracy, or a military constitution. Suppofing," said this fagacious ftatefman, "the charges fo often urged by the zealous partisans of this motion against a late celebrated general, to be well-founded-that he cherished views of ambition, contrary to the spirit of the conftitution—that he aspired to perpetuate his authority, and to rise above all control, by obtaining a commiffion conftituting him general for life, how would the existence of a law, fuch as is now recommended, have facilitated the fuccefs of thofe daring projects? and how would fuch a motion have been received by the gentlemen who now urge it as equitable and wife, had it been brought forward under the auspices of the duke of Marlborough? and what should induce us to believe that measure to be now beneficial, which would then have been univerfally reprobated as pernicious and unconstitutional?" The queftion, being put, was carried in the negative, without a divifion. A far more reasonable and moderate motion was then made by Mr. Sandys, "for presenting an humble address to his majefty, that he would be graciously pleafed to inform the house by whofe advice it was that his majesty was pleased to discharge his grace Charles duke of Bolton, and the right honorable lord vifcount Cobham, from the regiments lately under their com mand, and what offences were alleged against them as the

occafion

Dccafion of their difmiffion." All the arguments being now on the other fide, the minifter contented himself with calling for the question; and on a divifion the motion was negatived, by a majority of 252 against 193.

The very fame day on which lord Morpeth made his famous motion in the houfe of commons, the duke of Marlborough prefented a bill of fimilar import to the houfe of lords. The debate which enfued was rendered memorable by the eloquent fpeeches of the lords Chesterfield and Scarborough-the former in fupport, the latter in oppofition to the bill. Thefe two noblemen, who ranked amongst the most distinguished ornaments of the English court, had long maintained a mutual and inviolable friendship. To the accomplishments of the courtier, lord Scarborough joined the ardor of patriotism and the enthusiasm of virtue, He might with propriety be regarded as the FALKLAND Of the age and the great qualities he poffeffed, were unfortu nately clouded by the fame dark tinge of melancholy. Such was his high fenfe of honor, that thinking it neceffary to take a decided part in oppofition to the bill in question, he previously refigned his place of master of the horse, lest, by an injurious imputation, he should be fuppofed actuated by any interested motive. Not fatisfied with the negative put upon the motion for the fecond reading of the bill, he urged the rejection of it by the houfe, which was agreed to without a divifion.*

In

"When I confefs there is who feels for fame,

And melts to goodness, need I SCARBOROUGH name?"

POPE.

The character of this nobleman has been delineated by lord Chesterfield, with the glowing pencil of fenfibility and affection. According to this finifked portrait-confirmed indeed by the general voice of his cotempora ries-lord Scarborough poffeffed in the highest degree, the air, manners, and address of a man of quality—politeness with case, and dignity withsut pride. He had the advantage of a fine perfon; and when cheerful, the

most

In the fame feffion a very important bill, which had at various times been propofed and rejected, was revived by Mr. Sandys, entitled, "A bill for fecuring the freedom of parliament, by limiting the number of officers, civil and military, in the house of commons." In oppofition to this bill, the minifter contended, "that the conftitution was already fufficiently fecured, by the provifion which orders a re-election when a member accepts of a place; that to difable any gentleman or citizen from fitting in parliament merely because he has the honor to ferve the crown, was really taking from the people their inherent right of choofing fuch representatives as they deemed beft qualified to exercise the functions of their delegation, and that the ftate would be divided by it into factions, those acting under the executive power not coalefcing with, but constitut ing a formidable phalanx against those who composed the legiflative; and that it argued an hoftile diftruft of the crown not compatible with the genius of the constitution." The motion was, however, in itself plaufible and popular, and it received additional weight from the near approach of a diffolution of parliament, so that on the question of commitment

nost engaging countenance imaginable. His knowledge, claffical and hiftorical, was very extensive; and it was accompanied with a just and deli cate tafte. In his common expenses he was liberal; but in his charities and bounties his generosity was unlimited. In parliament, though not an ambitious or florid speaker, truth and virtue, which never want and seldom wear ornaments, feemed only to borrow his voice. He was a true conftitutional, and yet practicable patriot: a fincere lover and a zealous affertor of the natural, the civil, and the religious rights of his country. Though bred in camps and courts, his moral character was so unsullied, that what a celebrated historian formerly said of SCIPIO, might, almost without any allowance for the imperfections of humanity, be applied to him: "Nil noo laudandum aut dixit, aut fecit, aut fenfit."" This small tribute of praise," fays the noble writer, “I owe to the memory of the best man I ever knew

the dearest friend Lever had. If he had any enemies-for I protekt i new ones they could only be fuch as were weary of always hearing des the Juft.'

mitment it was negatived by a majority of 39 voices only in a houfe of 426 members.

Although a very large addition to the naval force of the nation had, in the early part of the feffion, been unanimoufly voted, on the 28th of March, a prorogation being now almost daily expected, a message was delivered by fir Robert Walpole from the crown, acknowledging the zeal and affection fhewn by the parliament, and defiring that his majesty might be enabled, during the recefs or interval of parliaments, to make good fuch engagements with foreign powers as honor, juftice, and prudence may call upon him to fulfil or contract, and fuch augmentation of his forces by fea and land as might be neceffary for the honor and defence of his kingdoms, and as the exigency of affairs may. require, the war on the Continent ftill unhappily continuing." On this occafion all the patriotic ardor was again awakened, and the impolicy, the folly, and the danger of entrusting fuch dictatorial powers in the hands of the monarch, were exposed with all the energy of truth and eloquence. Mr. Shippen in particular diftinguished himself by a fpeech worthy of the English CATO. He faid, "that when the addrefs was moved in reply to his majesty's fpeech at the commencement of the feffion, he had expreffed his fears and fufpicions, from certain expreffions in both, that a vote of credit was in contemplation; but he had then been affured that there was not the leaft ground even to imagine so improbable a thing, although we were now told that, from his majesty's manner of expreffing himself upon that occafion, every gentleman in the house must have expected a demand of this nature- -a demand for no lefs than a total furrender of all the rights of parliament; for we are now called upon to give the king a power of railing what money he pleases, and alfo what military force he pleases, which are the rights on which all other rights depend; and all this without any neceffity, or even any plaufible reafon alleged to us. Is invasion by a foreign enemy

to