EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT.

A

W

E believe there is no need of an apology to the publick for offering to them any genuine fpeeches of Mr. Burke: the two contained in this publication undoubtedly are fo. The general approbation they met with (as we hear) from all parties at Bristol, perfuades us that a good edition of them will not be unacceptable in London; which we own to be the inducement, and we hope is a juftification, of our offering it.

We do not presume to defcant on the merit of thefe Speeches; but as it is no less new, than honourable, to find a popular candidate, at a popu lar election, daring to avow his diffent to certain points that have been confidered as very popular objects, and maintaining himself on the manly confidence of his own opinion; fo, we must say, that it does great credit to the people of England, as it proves to the world, that, to insure their confidence, it is not neceffary to flatter them, or to affect a fubferviency to their paffions or their prejudices.

It may be neceffary to premise, that at the opening of the poll the candidates were Lord Clare, B 2

Mr.

Mr. Brickdale, the two laft members; and Mr. Cruger, a confiderable merchant at Briftol. On the fecond day of the poll Lord Clare declined; and a confiderable body of gentlemen, who had wished that the city of Bristol fhould, at this critical feafon, be represented by fome gentleman of tried abilities and known commercial knowledge, immediately put Mr. Burke in nomination. Some of them fet off exprefs for London to apprise that gentleman of this event; but he was gone to Malton in Yorkshire. The fpirit and active zeal of these gentlemen followed him to Malton. They arrived there just after Mr. Burke's election for that place, and invited him to Bristol.

Mr. Burke, as he tell us in his firft Speech, acquainted his conftituents with the honourable offer that was made him; and, with their confent, he immediately set off for Bristol on the Tuesday at fix in the evening; he arrived at Bristol at half past two in the afternoon on Thursday the 13th of October, being the fixth day of the poll.

He drove directly to the mayor's houfe, who not being at home, he proceeded to the Guildhall, where he afcended the huftings, and having faluted the electors, the fheriffs, and the two candidates, he repofed himself for a few minutes, and then addreffed the electors in a fpeech which was received with great and univerfal applaufe and approbation.

MR.

(5)

MR. BURKE's SPEECH

ΑΤ

HIS ARRIVAL AT BRISTOL,

GENTLEMEN,

AM come hither to folicit in person, that fa

voured to procure for me, by the moft obliging, and to me the most honourable, exertions.

I have fo high an opinion of the great truft which you have to confer on this occafion; and, by long experience, so just a diffidence in my abilities, to fill it in a manner adequate even to my own ideas, that I fhould never have ventured of myself to intrude into that awful fituation. But fince I am called upon by the defire of several refpectable fellow-fubjects, as I have done at other times, I give up my fears to their wishes. Whatever my other deficiencies may be, I do not know what it is to be wanting to my friends.

I am not fond of attempting to raise publick expectations by great promifes. At this time, there is much caufe to confider, and very little to pre

fume. We seem to be approaching to a great crifis in our affairs, which calls for the whole wisdom of the wisest among us, without being able to affure ourselves, that any wisdom can preferve us from many and great inconveniencies. You know I fpeak of our unhappy conteft with America. I confefs, it is a matter on which I look down as from a precipice. It is difficult in itself, and it is rendered more intricate by a great variety of plans of conduct. I do not mean to enter into them. I will not fufpect a want of good intention in framing them. But however pure the intentions of their authors may have been, we all know that the event has been unfortunate. The means of recovering our affairs are not obvious. So many great queftions of commerce, of finance, of conftitution, and of policy, are involved in this American deliberation, that I dare engage for nothing, but that I fhall give it, without any predilection to former opinions, or any finister bias whatsoever, the most honeft and impartial confideration of which I am capable. The publick has a full right to it; and this great city, a main pillar in the commercial intereft of Great Britain, must totter on its base by the slightest mistake with regard to our American measures.

Thus much, however, I think it not amifs to lay before you; That I am not, I hope, apt to take up or lay down my opinions lightly. I have held,

and

and ever shall maintain, to the best of my power, unimpaired and undiminished, the juft, wife, and neceffary conftitutional fuperiority of Great Britain. This is neceffary for America, as well as for us. I never mean to depart from it. Whatever may be loft by it, I avow it. The forfeiture even of your favour, if by fuch a declaration I could forfeit it, though the firft object of my ambition, never will make me disguise my sentiments on this fubject.

But, I have ever had a clear opinion, and have ever held a conftant correfpondent conduct, that this fuperiority is confiftent with all the liberties a fober and spirited American ought to defire. I never mean to put any colonist, or any human creature, in a fituation, not becoming a free-man. To reconcile British fuperiority with American liberty fhall be my great object, as far as my little faculties extend. I am far from thinking that both, even yet, may not be preserved.

When I first devoted myself to the publick fervice, I confidered how I fhould render myself fit for it; and this I did by endeavouring to discover what it was, that gave this country the rank it holds in the world. I found that our profperity and dignity arofe principally, if not folely, from two fources; our conftitution and commerce. Both these I have spared no ftudy to understand, and no endeavour to fupport.