IT is not wonderful that the

great caufe, in which this country is engaged, fhould have roused and engroffed the whole attention of the people. I rather admire the generous fpirit, with which they feel and affert their intereft in this important queftion, than blame them for their indifference about any other. When the conftitution is openly invaded, when the first original right of the people, from which all laws derive their authority, is directly attacked, inferior grievances naturally lofe their force, and VOL. II.

B

are

are fuffered to pafs by without punishment or observation. The present ministry are as fingularly marked by their fortune, as by their crimes. Inftead of atoning for their former conduct by any wife or popular meafure, they have found, in the enormity of one fact, a cover and defence for a series of measures, which must have been fatal to any other adminiftration. I fear we are too remifs in obferving the whole of their proceedings. Struck with the principal figure, we do not fufficiently mark in, what manner: the canvass is filled up. Yet furely it is not a lefs crime, nor lefs fatal in its confequences, to encourage a flagrant breach of the law by a military force, than to make use of the forms of parliament to destroy the conftitution. The miniftry feem determined to give us a choice of difficulties, and, if poffible, to perplex us with the multitude of their offences. The expedient is worthy of the Duke of Grafton. But though he has preferved a gradation and variety in his meafures, we should remember that the principle is uniform. Dictated by the fame fpirit, they deserve the fame attention. The following fact, though of the most alarming na

ture

ture, has not yet been clearly stated to the public, nor have the confequences of it been fufhciently understood. Had I taken it up at an earlier period, I should have been accused of an uncandid, malignant precipitation, as if I watched for an unfair advantage against the miniftry, and would not allow them a reasonable time to do their duty. They now ftand without excufe. Instead of employing the leisure they have had, in a ftrict examination of the offence, and punishing the offenders, they feem to have confidered that indulgence as a fecurity to them, that, with a little time and management, the whole affair might be buried in filence, and utterly forgotten.

* A MAJOR general of the army is arrested by the fheriffs officers for a confiderable debt. He perfuades them to conduct him to the Tilt-yard in St. James's Park, under fome pretence of butinefs, which it imported him to fettle before he was confined. He applies to a ferjeant, not immediately on duty, to affift with some of his companions in favouring his escape. He attempts it. A bustle * Major General Ganfel.

enfues. The bailiffs claim their prifoner. + An officer of the guards, not then on duty,.. takes part in the affair, applies to the lieutenant commanding the Tilt-yard guard, and urges him to turn out his guard to relieve a general officer. The lieutenant declines interfering in perfon, but ftands at a diftance, and fuffers the bufinefs to be done. The officer takes upon himself to order out the guard. In a moment they are in arms, quit their guard, march, refcue the general, and drive away the fheriff's officers, who, in. vain represent their right to the prisoner, and the nature of the arreft. The foldiers firft conduct the general into the guard-room, then escort him to a place of fafety,. with bayyonets fixed, and in all the forms of military triumph. I will not enlarge upon the various circumftances which attended this atrocious proceeding. The personal injury

received by the officers of the law in the exe-cution of their duty, may perhaps be atoned for by fome private compenfation. I confider nothing but the wound, which has been. given to the law itfelf, to which no remedy has been applied, no fatisfaction made..

Lieutenant Dodd. Lieutenant Garth.

Neither