-that is to say, should they treat it after the manner of the writer of this composition which is now before you, they may lay their account with being dragged forth to be shot without a trial, like the unhappy bookseller of Nuremberg, or with being led in mockery to a court, and after the forms of a judicial investigation are gone through, consigned by the decision of the judges to years of imprisonment.

And yet, gentlemen, there is some excuse for Buonaparte when he acts in this manner. His government, as he well knows, is bottomed in injustice and cruelty. If you search and lay bare its foundation, you must necessarily shake it to its centre,-its safety consists in silence and obscurity! Above all, is it essential to its power that the cruelty of his military system should not be attacked, for on it does he rest his greatness. The writer, therefore, who should treat, in a nervous style, of the rigour of his conscription, could expect nothing but severe punishment. But happily, things in this country are a little different. Our constitution is bottomed in law and in justice, and in the broad and deep foundation of universal liberty! It may, therefore, court inquiry. Our establishments thrive in open day-they even flourish surrounded and assailed by the clamour of faction. Our rulers may continue to discharge their several duties, and to regulate the affairs of the state, while their ears are dinned with tumult. They have nothing to fear from the inquiries of men. Let the public discuss,-so much the better. Even uproar is wholesome in England, while a whisper may be fatal in France!

But you must take it with you, in deciding on the merits of this publication, that it is not upon our military system that the defendant has passed his reflections, it is not our military system that he condemns. His exertions are directed to remove a single flaw which exists on the surface of that system,-a speck of rottenness which mars its beauty, and is

destructive of its strength. Our military system in general, he admires in common with us all; he animadverts upon a taint and not upon its essence; upon a blot which disfigures it, and not upon a part of its structure. He wishes you to remove an excrescence which may be pulled away without loosening the foundation; and the rest will appear the fairer, and remain so much the sounder and more secure.

You are now, gentlemen, to say by your verdict whether the mere reading of this publication,-taking all its parts together,-not casting aside its limitations and qualifications, but taking it as it appears in this paper-you are now to say, whether the mere perusal of it in this shape is likely to produce those effects which have been described by the counsel for the prosecution,-effects which have never yet been produced by the infliction of the punishment itself. This consideration, gentlemen, seems to deserve your very best attention. If you can say aye to this, you will then bring your verdict against the defendant,and not only against him, but against me, his advocate, who have spoken to you much more freely than he has done,—and against those gallant officers who have so ably condemned the practice which he condemns, and against the country which loudly and rightfully demands an attention to its best interests,-and against the stability of the British Constitution.

SPEECH

IN DEFENCE OF

HER MAJESTY QUEEN CAROLINE.

INTRODUCTION.

UNDER the superintendence of counsellors not in office, but probably looking towards it, the Commission to procure evidence against the Queen proceeded at Milan; and there is no occasion to characterize the fruits of its inquiries otherwise than as they have been described in colours which, though they may be strong, are only so because they are strong enough to retain their likeness to the original they represent.

"The Milan Commission proceeded under this superintendence; and as its labours so were their fruits exactly what might have been expected. It is the first impression always arising from any work undertaken by English hands and paid for by English money, that an inexhaustible fund is employed, and with boundless profusion; and a thirst of gold is straightway excited which no extravagance of liberality can slake. The knowledge that a board was sitting to collect evidence against the Queen, immediately gave such testimony a high value in the market of Italian perjury; and happy was the individual who had ever been in her house or admitted to her presence: his fortune was counted to be made. Nor were they who had viewed her mansion, or had only known the arrangements of her villa, without hopes of sharing in the golden prize. To have seen her pass, and noticed who attended her person, was a piece of good luck. In short, nothing, however remotely connected with herself, or her family, or her residence, or her habits, was without its value among