SPEECH, &c.

I

MR. SPEAKER,

RISE, in acquittal of my engagement to the.

house, in obedience to the ftrong and just requifition of my conftituents, and, I am perfuaded, in conformity to the unanimous wifhes of the whole nation, to fubmit to the wisdom of parliament, "A plan of reform in the conftitution of "feveral parts of the publick œconomy."

I have endeavoured, that this plan fhould include in its execution, a confiderable reduction of improper expence; that, it should effect a converfion of unprofitable titles into a productive estate; that, it fhould lead to, and indeed almoft compel, a provident administration of such fums of publick money as muft remain under difcretionary trusts; that, it should render the incurring debts on the civil establishment (which muft ultimately affect national ftrength and national credit) fo very difficult, as to become next to impracticable.

But what, I confefs, was uppermoft with me, what I bent the whole force of my mind to, was the reduction of that corrupt influence, which is

itself the perennial spring of all prodigality, and of all disorder; which loads us, more than millions of debt; which takes away vigour from our arms, wisdom from our councils, and every shadow of authority and credit from the most venerable parts of our conftitution.

Sir, I affure you, very folemnly, and with a very clear confcience, that nothing in the world has led me to fuch an undertaking, but my zeal for the honour of this houfe, and the fettled, habitual, fyftematick affection I bear to the caufe, and to the principles of government.

of

I enter perfectly into the nature and confequences,

my attempt; and I advance to it with a tremor that shakes me to the inmoft fibre of my frame. I feel, that I engage in a business, in itself moft ungracious, totally wide of the course of prudent conduct; and I really think, the most completely adverse that can be imagined to the natural turn and temper of my own mind. I know, that all parfimony is of a quality approaching to unkindnefs; and that (on fome perfon or other) every reform muft operate as a fort of punishment. InIdeed the whole clafs of the fevere and restrictive virtues, are at a market almost too high for humanity. What is worfe, there are very few of those virtues which are not capable of being imitated, and even outdone in many of their most striking effects, by the worft of vices. Malignity and envy

will carve much more deeply, and finifh much more sharply, in the work of retrenchment, than frugality and providence. I do not, therefore, wonder, that gentlemen have kept away from fuch a task, as well from good-nature as from prudence. Private feeling might, indeed, be overborne by legislative reason; and a man of a longfighted and strong-nerved humanity, might bring himself, not fo much to confider from whom he takes a fuperfluous enjoyment, as for whom in the end he may preferve the abfolute neceffaries of life.

But it is much more eafy to reconcile this meafure to humanity, than to bring it to any agreement with prudence. I do not mean that little, selfish, pitiful, baftard thing, which fometimes goes by the name of a family in which it is not legitimate, and to which it is a difgrace;-I mean even that publick and enlarged prudence, which, apprehensive of being disabled from rendering acceptable fervices to the world, with-holds itself from thofe that are invidious. Gentlemen who are, with me, verging towards the decline of life, and are apt to form their ideas of kings from kings of former times, might dread the anger of a reigning prince ;-they who are more provident of the future, or by being young are more interefted in it, might tremble at the refentment of the fucceffor; they might fee a long, dull, dreary, unvaried visto of defpair and exclufion, for half a

century,

century, before them. This is no pleasant profpect at the outfet of a political journey.

Besides this, Sir, the private enemies to be made in all attempts of this kind are innumerable; and their enmity will be the more bitter, and the moré dangerous too, because a fenfe of dignity will oblige them to conceal the caufe of their refentment. Very few men of great families and extenfive connexions, but will feel the fmart of a cutting reform, in fome close relation, fome bofom friend, fome pleafant acquaintance, fome dear protected dependant. Emolument is taken from fome; patronage from others; objects of purfuit from all. Men, forced into an involuntary independence, will abhor the authors of a blessing which in their eyes has fo very near a refemblance to a curfe. When officers are removed, and the offices remain, you may fet the gratitude of fome against the anger of others; you may oppofe the friends you oblige against the enemies you provoke. But fervices of the present fort create no attachments. The individual good felt in a publick benefit, is comparatively fo finall, comes round through fuch an involved labyrinth of intricate and tedious revolutions; whilft a prefent perfonal detriment is fo heavy, where it falls, and fo instant in its operation, that the cold commendation of a publick advantage never was, and never will be, a match for the quick fenfibility of a private lofs: and you

may