I have always heard, I have always read, that foreign nations, and all this part of the world, have admir'd and envy'd the constitution of this Government. For not to speak of the King's power, here is a House of Lords to advise him on all important occafions, about peace or war; about all things that may concern the nation, the care of which is very much entrusted to your Lordships. But yet because your Lordships cannot be fo converfant with the generality of the people, nor fo constantly in the country as is necessary for that purpose, here is a House of Commons also chofen by the very people themselves, newly come from among them, or fhould be fo, to represent boldly all their grievances, to express the true mind of the nation, and to dispose of their money, at least so far as to begin all bills of that nature; and if I am not mistaken, the very writ for elections fent down to the Sheriffs, does impower them to chufe. What? Their Representatives. Now, my Lords, I beseech you to confider the meaning of the word Reprefentative: Is it to do any thing contrary to their mind? It would be abfurd to propose it; and yet how can it be otherwife, if they, after their being chofen, change their dependency, en

gage

gage themselves in employments plainly inconfiftent with that great truft repofed in them. And that I will take the liberty to demonftrate to your Lordships they now do, at least according to my humble opinion.

I will inftance firft in the leaft and lowest incapacity they must be under, who fo take employments.

YOUR Lordships know but too well what a general carcleffness there appears every day more and more in the publick business : If fo, how is it likely that men fhould be as diligent in their duty in Parliament as that business requires, where employments, and a great deal of other bufinefs, fhall take up both their minds and their time?

BUT then in fome cafes 'tis worfe; as in Commands of the army, and other employments of that kind, when they must have a divided duty: For it does admirably become an officer to fit voting away money in the House of Commons, while his foldiers are perhaps taking it away at their quarters, for want of his prefence to restrain them, and of better difcipline among them; nay, perhaps his troop or regiment may be in fome action abroad, and he must either have the fhame of being abfent from them VOL. II.

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at

at fuch a time, or from that House, where he is entrusted with all our Liberties. Το this I have heard but one objection by a noble Lord, That if this act fhould pafs, the King is not allow'd to make a captain or a colonel, without difabling him to fit in Parliament, by fuch a commiflion.

TRULY, if a captain has only deferv'd to be advanced for exposing himself in Parliament, I think the nation would have no great lofs in the King's letting alone fuch a preferment.

BUT, my Lords, there is another fort of incapacity yet worse than this; I mean that of Parliament-men's having fuch places in the Exchequer, as the very profit of them depends on the money given to the King in Parliament. Would any of your Lordfhips fend and entrust a man to make a bargain for you, whofe very intereft fhall be to make you give as much as he can poflìbly?

Ir puts me in mind of a Farce, where an actor holds a dialogue with himself, speaking first in one tone, and then answering himself in another.

REALLY, my Lords, this is no Farce; for it's no laughing-matter to undo a nation :

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But 'tis altogether as unnatural for a member of Parliament to ask first in the King's name for fuch a fort of a fupply, give an account from him how much is needful towards the paying fuch an army, or such a fleet, and then immediately give, by his ready vote, what he had before ask'd by his mafter's order. Ecfides, my Lords, there is fuch a neceffity now for long Seflions of Parliament, and the very privileges belonging to members are of fo great extent; that it would be a little hard and unequal to other gentlemen, that they fhould have all the Places too, as well was the Privileges.

ALL the objections that have been made, may be reduced to these :

FIRST 'tis told us, That 'tis a disrespect to the King, if his fervants or officers be excluded.

To this, I defire it may be confider'd, That 'tis in this cafe, as when a tenant fends up any body to treat for him; would any of your Lordships think it a disrespect, nay would the King himself think it any, if the tenant would not wholly refer himself to one of your own fervants, or the King's commiflioners in the cafe of the crown? And if he chufes rather fome plain honeft friend of his own, to fupply his abfence here; will any

blame fuch a proceeding, or think it unmannerly?

BESIDES, your Lordships know even this Act admits them to be chofen, notwithstanding their employments; provided the Electors know it firft, and are not deceived in their choice.

ALL we would prevent, is, that a good rich corporation fhould not chuse to entrust with all their liberties, a plain honest country neighbour, and find him within fix months changed into a preferred, cunning courtier; who fhall tie them to their choice, though he is no more the fame man than if he were turn'd Papist; which by the law, as it stands already, puts an incapacity upon him.

ANOTHER objection is, That this act may, by its confequence, prolong this Parliament; which they allow would be a very great grievance; and yet fuppofe the King capable of putting it upon us: I have too much refpect for him to admit of this; but I am glad however that 'tis objected by Privy-counsellors in favour; who confequently, I hope, will never advise a thing, which they now exclaim against as so great a grievance.

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