I wish it

have spoken against the motion I have submitted to you. were in my power to enter into it more fully; for I should have liked to have expofed the miferable fhifts, which Ministers are reduced to, in the hope of averting the juft refentment of an injured people for a few months longer. The time cannot be very diftant, when they muft feel the effects of it. My Lords, the noble Secretary of State, inftead of anfwering arguments, is obliged to resort, as ufual, to perfonalities. Inftead of proving his merit or his innocence, he endeavours to identify himself with the two Houfes of Parliament, to unite the country in his caufe, and to involve it in his fate. He has had recourse to his natural talent for misrepresentation. I truft, however, the facts and arguments, which I have fubmitted to your confideration, will remain in your memory as they were ftated by myfelf, and not as they have been represented by the Secretary of State. I must confefs that, if I had wanted any additional reafon for abfenting myfelf, what has happened this night . would have furnished me with it. For as long as I remain here,

I perceive, I fhall enable Ministers to elude the discussion of public measures, by diverting your attention towards my conduct, and to that of the perfons, with whom I have the happiness to act. My Lords, the question now before you relates to the conduct of Minifters. The fubject, that ought to employ your thoughts, is the ftate of the country; and to the confideration of these subjects I fhall leave you. I fhould be forry to amufe or delude the people by ufclefs debates in this Houfe. If they will fteadily fix their eyes on the meafures of Minifters, without regard to afperfions thrown on this or that individual, I believe they will fee the neceffity of reforting to other councils. My Lords, in the course of the debate, many calumnious infinuations have been thrown out. That the Secretary of State fhould thus attack me does not surprise me; for I am accustomed to it: but that other Lords, whose character for honour and independence I have no right to question, fhould bring forward fuch accufations, that they should charge me with that, which in their hearts they cannot believe to be true, I muft confefs aftonifhes me. My Lords, among other charges it has been faid, that I have, in bringing forward the fubject of Parliamentary Reform, reforted to intrigue and management, and that I have formed a myfterious and ænigmatical connection with the Correfponding Society-a fociety who, we are told, are friends to the French, and traitors to their country. I know not, my Lords, whether you approve or whether you will cenfure me, whether it will create furprize, or whether you will think it the most natural

course for me to purfue; but to fuch charges I fhall make no anfwer. There are many, my Lords, who in their earliest infancy imbibe true principles of honour; as they grow up it is inftilled into their minds, and in their riper years it is brought to maturity. They, I am fure, would deem it inconfiftent with that honour to refort to intrigue and management in any cafe. To form a mysterious and ænigmatical connection with any set of men, they would hold to be disgraceful. I entertain no fear of their fufpicions. For it is the peculiar characteristic of true honour, never to suspect without foundation. There are others, who may think themselves justified in reforting to fuch practices. By them I may indeed be fufpected; for they will ever judge of others by themselves. To the opinions of fuch perfons I feel perfectly indifferent. I feel perfectly indifferent, because I am full of confidence, that from their infinuations I fhall not fuffer in the eftimation of any man, whofe good opinion I should be anxious to preserve.

THE END OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME.