rone's pretending that he had TEN votes in the Houfe of Commons; for which deception the British miniftry have feverely cenfured Lord Town/bend. A PEOPLE long enflaved are thereby rendered wholly unacquainted with the means neceffary for their defence and prefervation; Rome upon the expulfion of the Tarquins, as yet entire in its virtue, was able not only to affert, but to maintain its liberty; in vain were the fucceeding tyrants deftroyed, the fpirit of liberty was loft by their being fo long accustomed to live under. oppreffion; and not a patriot left, who entertained a thought of restoring the commonwealth when any nation comes to this degree of dege, neracy it is incapable of liberty, and at best, can only shift from one tyranny to another; and thould a CATO or another LUCAS arife to impose freedom on his fellow citizens, it would, upon their death, vanish like a dream; the recalling the dormant fpirit of liberty, the fupporting what little is left of the conftitution, the expulfion of certain offenders, the laying our reiterated grievances before the throne, the fixing of the timorous, the prevention of ignominious jobbs by bafer compromises; are all reserved for your Grace, in whofe hands the fate of this injured country now remains. I ́SHALL conclude this letter, with affuring your Grace, that it is wrote by a fincere and steady friend to you and the conftitution; and the writer is convinced, it will have a fair and candid confideration; the danger is preffing, and your Grace can make your aid as expeditious. In a few pofts I fhall address another letter to your Grace, in the mean time remain By the reports spread abroad, it is faid that your Grace, like a friend to your country, called on Lord Shannon to support this hinking nation, and that you find he has made his terms of bartering his interest for the precarious hopes of fucceeding to the employment at at prefent held by the Earl of Belvidere; your Grace has now found him like his father's fon, deferting that caufe, he for a time maintained; neither your Grace or the public can ever trust him more. Tyrone and Shannon will be proper names to convey the idea of treachery and corruption to fucceeding ages; the wisdom of the latter fomewhat exceeds that of the former, who could barely keep his eftate, by being a thirtyfixth part of a degree above the capacity of the late Lord ELY. The court feems to be fure of fuccefs in all its meafures; they carried the altered revenue-bill, which partly establishes the new board, contrary to the repeated declarations of the houfe; they will carry the vote of credit, and at length annihilate every good act done this feffions. It may be in the body politic as it is in the body natural, when one member becomes rotten, the reft are not found. Since Shannon has plainly deserted the cause of liberty, try his relation Mr. Ponsonby, call on him to affift your worthy fquadron before this fession closes; already fufpicions gain ground; no manly refolutions have been propofed by him fince the recefs, he appears every day in the house, but he does not appear with his quondam phalanx. I am convinced no terms have as yet been made with him, therefore feize the lucky moment, and call on him for his ufual powerful friends to fupport your noble fon and your country; country; which country now calls for your affiftance. I gave your Grace this alarm fome weeks ago; obfervation has verified my fufpicions. There are, probably feveral things of moment to come on before this feffion is over. A call of the houfe is appointed for Monday next, on which day, Sir Edward Newenham has declared, he intended to enquire into the cause of several bills being dropped in the privy council. There is a vote of credit to be demanded to pay thofe mercenaries, who have not as yet receiv ed their wages; there is an address to be moved for to return thanks for the many injuries this kingdom has received under the auspices of Lord Town/bend's adminiftration. The eyes of the public are waiting with impatience to fee. those generous patriots that are able and willing to defend this nation: Your Grace ftands foremost on the lift of real patriots; your actions have always coincided with your words. Call upon Mr. Ponsonby, and demand his hearty affistance; if he refuses to collect his friends, rank him with Shannon and Tyrone, par nobile fratrum; he is not as yet doubted, but your Grace's admonition will oblige him to appear in his proper colours; a wavering friend is a latent enemy. In the few remaining days of this feffions many oppreffive acts may be done; it is of abfolute and immediate neceffity that your Grace should exert your powerful influence. If it should happen happen that you fail therein, you will remain recorded to pofterity, as having exerted your utmost efforts to oppofe the enslaving of your country. I AM a citizen that have twice fupported the intereft of the city, by fupporting the election of the Marquis of Kildare; we are in the greateft dread, that by the falling off of Lord Shannon, that every good act done in the House of Commons this feffion-will either-be repealed.or rendered useless, by an ADDRESS. I am, my Lord, Your Grace's and the public's friend, BRUTUS LETTER |