I have still greater objections against it, as it is unneceffary. We can now be under no apprehenfions from the partiality of our Sovereign; every person who hears me cannot but fuppofe, that if he thought the prefent occasion proper for nominating a regent, he would have faved us the trouble of this debate; but he knows the inconveniencies that must attend fuch a measure will more than counterbalance any good that may attend its being carried into effect. In the first place let us fuppofe that our Sovereign had actually complied with this measure, and a regent was appointed pursuant to our addrefs; what would it produce? It would certainly be productive of this bad effect, that a perfon would be intrusted, during the life of the Archon, with too great a degree of power, and would thus abridge thole privileges of the crown, which it Thould be our duty as well as intereft to keep facred and entire. In every government there fhould be fome uncontaminated fource of power, capable of doing all the good, and incapable of doing all the harm poffible; but the measure before us would fix two fuch fources which might probably counteract each other, and even by an oppofition of their upright intentions produce involuntary evil. To this Aetius replied in the following manner : fhould be more proper than that nationwhich grants them their fortune, to appoint the proper perfons for the management of it? I hope therefore, Sir, that we will not be brought to give up to any miniftry an object of fuch important concern as the institution of our Princes, and that no private motives fhall prevail, when the univerfal fafety is in view. I am very well convinced how oddly patriotifm and integrity muft found in the prefent age, and under the prefent ministry, so upright as they are, fo free from cabal, and fo ready to obviate every grievance ; yet ftill let us hold to the right, though we fall by it. As the gentleman who spoke laft has made fome fuppofitions, let me, Sir, alfo fuppofe that the fettling the prefent regent was deferred to the laft hour; that the venal and ambitious were gathered round the royal couch; what might we expect to be the consequence? Would not the people be apt to diftruft a grant made in the moments of agony? Would not those times which are in the greatest danger of being turbulent in a commencing reign, have the greatest cause alfo? I have looked through our history for precedents for this measure, and I al most every where find the fenate claiming to themselves the appointment to the guardianship of the minority, and confidering the Sovereign's children as the children of the state. (Here the speaker entered into a long detail from the hiftory of the people in view, by which he endeavoured to shew, that, in all former reigns, whenever the Senate gave up their privilege of appointment, the people were unhappy. He then went on thus :) And now, Sir, fince every argument from history, and every argument from convenience, is ftrongly on this fide of the question, I mult intreat this honourable affembly to confider the importance of the motion before then, and that they will not flightly put a negative upon a measure that feems to me dictated with great judgment, which, if neglected, may be attended with the most fatal confequences; and adopted, can be productive of nothing injurious. I am furprised, Sir, to hear the honourable perfonage who spoke laft affert ing that the Sovereign fhould have the fame right in the appointment of guardians to his children, as a private man hath. A private man may be faid, in fome meafure, to poffefs his own children; the law tacitly fuppofes, that he being the most nearly interested in their welfare, will be most likely to promote it. But it is very different, Sir, with respect to the children of the Sovereign; they may justly be looked upon as the children of the state, and the country fhould confider his offspring as her own. They should confult, Sir, for their fafety in the moft folemn manner, and make their concerns the object of legislative care. Why should not the children of the Sovereign be thought the children of his people; is there any thing more natural to fuppofe? When they are to be portioned out to foreign Princes, who but the nation pays the dowry? And if the Sovereign fhould die, who K 2 An authentic Narrative of the Duel between Lord BYRON and WM. CHAWORTH, efq; in which Mr. Chaworth was run through the Body, and died the ing, with a smile, what Sir Charles Sed- LORD BYRON Mr. Chae Natali, were neighbours in the country, and it was their custom to meet, with other gentlemen of Nottingbamshire, at the Star-and-Garter tavern in Pall-Mall once a month, at what was called the Nottinghamshire club. The meeting, at which the unlucky difpute arofe that produced the duel, was on the 26th of January laft, at which were prefent John Hewett, Efq; who fat as chairman, the hon. Thomas Willoughby, Frederic Montague, John Sherwin, Francis Molineaux, Efqrs; and lord Byron; Wm. Chaworth, George Donfton, Charles Melish, jun. Efqrs; and Sir Robert Bur. dett, who were all the company prefent. Their usual hour of dining was foon after four, and the rule of the club was, to have a bill and a bottle brought in at Seven. that Bulwell was his; on which Mr. Char worth with fome heat replied, If you want information with respect to Sir Charles Sedley's manors, he lives at Mr. Coopers in Dean-fireet, and, I doubt not, will be ready to give you fatisfaction; and as to myself your lordship knows where to find me, in Berkley-Row; or words to that effect. These words, uttered in a particular manner, could admit of no reply, and at once put an end to that fubject of difcourfe; every gentleman in company fell into chat, with him who fat next him, and nothing more was faid generally till Mr. Chaworth called to fettle the reckoning, as was his general practice, in doing of which Mr. Fynmore, the ma fter of the tavern, obferved him a little flurried; for in marking, he made a small mistake. The book had lines ruled in Till this hour all was jollity and good checks, and against each member prefent humour, but. Mr. Hewett, who was an o was placed, but if absent, 55. was foaft-mafter, happening to start fome con- fet down. verfation about the best method of pre- Byron's name, but Mr. Fynmore obferv He placed 55, againit Lord ferving the game, fetting the laws in being to him that my lord was prefent, he ing for that purpose out of the question, corrected his mistake. In a few minutes the fubject was taken up by Mr. Cha after this, Mr. Chaworth having paid his worth and Lord Byron, who happened to reckoning, went out, and was followed be of different opinions, Mr. Chaworth by Mr. Donfton, who entered into dif infifting on feverity against poachers and courfe with him at the head of the ftairs, unqualified perfons; and Lord Byron de- and Mr. Chaworth aiked him particularly, claring that the way to have moft game if he had attended to the converfation bewas to take no care of it at all. Mr. Hew- tween himself and Lord Byron; and if he rt's opinion was, that the most effectual thought he had been fhort in what he faid way would be to make the game the pro- on the fubject' To which Mr. Donflon perty of the owner of the foil: The de. faid, No; he had rather gone too far bate became general, but was carried on upon fo trifling an occafion, but did not with acrimony only between Lord Byron believe that Lord Byron or the company and Mr. Chaworth; the latter, in con- would think any more about it :' and affirmation of what he had faid, infifting ter a little ordinary difcourfe had paffed, that Sir Charles Sedley and himself had they parted. Mr. Donfton returned to the more game on five acres, than Lord By. company, and Mr. Chaworth turned to ron had on all his manors. Lord Byron, go down ftairs; but just as Mr. Donin answer to this, propofed a bet of 100 ften entered the door, he met Lord Byron guineas, and Mr. Chaworth called for coming out, and they passed, as there pen, ink, and paper, to reduce the wa- was a large fcreen that covered the door, ger to writing, in order to take it up; without knowing each other. but Mr. Sherwin treating it in a jetting ron found Mr. Chaworth fill on Lord Bymanner, as a bet that never could be de- ftairs, and it now remains a doubt whecided, no bet was laid, and the converfa. ther Ld Byron call'd upon Mr. Chaworth, tion went on. Mr. Chaworth faid, that or Mr. Chaworth upon Lord Byron; but were it not for Sir Charles Sedley's care, both went down to the firft landing-place, and his own, Lord Byron would not have having dined upon the fecond floor, and a hare on his eftate; and Lord Byron afk- both called the waiter to fhew an empty the room, room, which a waiter did, and having In a few minutes the affair was deci ded; the bell was rung but by whom is uncertain; the waiter went up, and perceiving what had happened, ran down ftairs frighted, told his mafter the cataftrophe, who ran inftantly up ftairs, and found the two combatants ftanding clofe together; Mr. Charworth had his fword in his left hand, and Lord Byron his in his right; Lord Byron's left hand was round Mr. Chaworth, as Mr. Chaworth's right hand was round Lord Byron's neck, and over his shoulder. He defired Mr. Fynmore to take his sword, and Lord Byron delivered up his at the fame time; one or both, called to him to get fome help immediately, and in a few minutes Mr. Hawkins the furgeon was fent for, who came accordingly. In the mean time Mr. Montague, Mr. Hewett, Mr. Donfton, Mr. Willoughby, Mr. Molyneaux, and Mr. Sherwin had entered the room; the account Mr. Chaworth then gave, was," That he could not live many hours; that he forgave Lord Byron, and hoped the world would; that the affair had paffed in the dark, on ly a fmall tallow candle burning in the room; that Lord Byron asked him, If he meant the converfation on the game to Sir Charles Sedley or to him? To which he replied, If you have any thing to fay, we had better fhut the door; that while he was doing this, Lord Byron bid him draw, and in turning, he faw his lordhip's fword half drawn, on which he whipped out his own, and made the first pafs; the fword being through my lord's waistcoat he thought he had killed him, and asking whether he was not mortally wounded, Lord Byron while he was Speaking shortened his fword, and ftabbed him in the belly. When Mr. Hawkins, the furgeon, came in, he found Mr. Chaworth fitting by the fire, with the lower part of his waistcoat open, his thirt bloody, and his hand upon his belly; he was very earnest to know if he thought him in immediate danger; and being anfwered in the affirmative, he defired his uncle Leving might be fent for, that he might fettle his private affairs; and in the mean time, gave 261 Mr. Hawkins a particular detail of what had paffed. He faid, "that Lord Byron and he entered the room together, Lord Byron leading the way; that his lordship in walking forwards, faid fomething relapropofed faftening the door; that on turntive to the former difpute, on which he ing himself round from this act, he perceived his lordship with the fword either drawn, or nearly fo; on which he inftantly drew his own, and made a thrust at him, which he thought had wounded or killed him; that then perceiving his lordship shorten his fword to return the thruft, he thought to have parry'd it with his left hand, at which he looked twice, imagining he had cut it in the attempt; that he felt the fword enter his body, and go deep through his back; that he struggled, and being the ftronger man, difcern as under an apprehenfion of having armed his lordship, and expreffed a conmortally wounded him; that Lord Byran replied by faying something to the that he hoped now he would allow Jike effect adding, at the fame time, him to be as brave a man as any in the kingdom pained and diftreffed as Mr. Chaworth Mr. Hawkins adds, that then was, and under the immediate danger of death, he had repeated what he had heard he had declared to his friends before, that he had rather be in his prefent fituation, than live under the misfortune of having killed another person.' ftronger, and he was then removed to his After a little while he feemed to grow own houfe, where Mr. Adair, another furgeon, Mr. Man, an apothecary, and Dr. Addington, his physician, came to the affiftance of Mr. Hawkins, but no relieţ could be given him; he continued feufis ble, however, till the time of his death, and Mr. Levinz being now come, Mr. Partington, an attorney, was fent for to make his will, for which he gave him very fenfible and diftinct inftructions: And while Mr. Partington was employed in request, the fame account which he had this business, he gave Mr. Leving at his before given to Mr. Hawkins, lamenting, at the fame time, his own folly in fighting in the dark, an expreffion that certainly conveyed no imputation on Lord Byron, and implied no more than this, that by fighting with a dim light he had given up the advantage of his own fuperiority in fwordfinanihip, and had been led was run through the Body, and died the next Day. L ORD BYRON and Mr. Chaworth were neighbours in the country, and it was their custom to meet, with other gentlemen of Nottingbamshire, at the Star-and-Garter tavern in Pall-Mall once a month, at what was called the Nottinghamshire club. The meeting, at which the unlucky difpute arofe that produced the duel, was on the 26th of January laft, at which were prefent John Hewett, Efq; who fat as chairman, the hon. Thomas Willoughby, Frederic Montague, John Sherwin, Francis Molineaux, Efqrs; and lord Byron; Wm. Chaworth, George Donfton, Charles Melish, jun. Efqrs; and Sir Robert Bur. dett, who were all the company prefent... Their ufual hour of dining was foon after four, and the rule of the club was, to have a bill and a bottle brought in at feven. ing, with a smile, what Sir Charles Sedley's manors were! was answered by Mr. Chaworth, Nuttall and Bulwell. Lord Byron did not difpute Nuttall, but added, that Bulwell was his; on which Mr. Cha worth with fome heat replied, If you want information with respect to Sir Charles Sedley's manors, he lives at Mr. Coopers in Dean-freet, and, I doubt not, will be ready to give you fatisfaction; and as to myself your loidfhip knows where to find me, in Berkley-Row; or words to that effect. These words, uttered in a particular manner, could admit of no reply, and at once put an end to that fubject of difcourfe; every gentlenian in company fell into chat, with him who fat next him, and nothing more was faid generally till Mr. Chaworth called to fettle the reckoning, as was his general practice, in doing of which Mr. Fynmore, the ma fter of the tavern, obferved him a little flurried; for in marking, he made a small mistake. The book had lines ruled in checks, and against each member prefent an o was placed, but if abfent, 55. was fet down. He placed 5s, againit Lord Byron's name, but Mr. Fynmore obferv 'Till this hour all was jollity and good humour, but Mr. Hewett, who was toaft-mafter, happening to start fome converfation about the beft method of preferving the game, fetting the laws in being to him that my lord was present, he ing for that purpofe out of the question, the fubject was taken up by Mr. Cha worth and Lord Byron, who happened to be of different opinions, Mr. Chaworth infifting on feverity against poachers and unqualified perfons; and Lord Byron declaring that the way to have moft game was to take no care of it at all. Mr. Hewti's opinion was, that the mott effectual way would be to make the game the property of the owner of the foil; The debate became general, but was carried on with acrimony only between Lord Byron and Mr. Charworth; the latter, in confirmation of what he had faid, inilting that Sir Charles Sedley and himself had more game on five acres, than Lord By. ron had on all his manors. Lord Byron, in anfwer to this, propofed a bet of 100 guineas, and Mr. Chaworth called for pen, ink, and paper, to reduce the wager to writing, in order to take it up; but Mr. Sherwin treating it in a jefting manner, as a bet that never could be decided, no bet was laid, and the converfa. tion went on. Mr. Chaworth faid, that were it not for Sir Charles Sedley's care, and his own, Lord Byron would not have a hare on his eftate; and Lord Byron afk corrected his mistake. In a few minutes after this, Mr. Chaworth having paid his reckoning, went out, and was followed by Mr. Donfton, who entered into dif courfe with him at the head of the stairs, and Mr. Chaworth alked him particularly, if he had attended to the converfation between himself and Lord Byron; and if he thought he had been fort in what he faid on the fubject' To which Mr. Donflon faid, No; he had rather gone too far upon fo trifling an occafion, but did not believe that Lord Byron or the company would think any more about it :' and after a little ordinary difcourfe had paffed, they parted. Mr. Donfton returned to the company, and Mr. Chaworth turned to go down ftairs; but just as Mr. Donon entered the door, he met Lord Byron coming out, and they paffed, as there was a large fcreen that covered the door, without knowing each other. Lord Byron found Mr. Chaworth still on the ftairs, and it now remains a doubt whether Ld Byron call'd upon Mr. Chaworth, or Mr. Chaworth upon Lord Byron; but both went down to the firft landing-place, having dined upon the fecond floor, and both called the waiter to fhew an empty room, Narrative of a late Duel. room, which a waiter did, and having In a few minutes the affair was deci ded; the bell was rung but by whom is uncertain; the waiter went up, and perceiving what had happened, ran down ftairs frighted, told his after the cataftrophe, who ran instantly up stairs, and found the two combatants ftanding clofe together; Mr. Charworth had his fword in his left hand, and Lord Byron his in his right; Lord Byron's left hand was round Mr. Chaworth, as Mr. Chaworth's right hand was round Lord Byron's neck, and over his shoulder. He defired Mr. Fyrmore to take his sword, and Lord Byron delivered up his at the fame time; one or both, called to him to get fome help immediately, and in a few minutes Mr. Hawkins the furgeon was fent for, who came accordingly. In the mean time Mr. Montague, Mr. When Mr. Hawkins, the furgeon, 261 Mr. Hawkins a particular detail of what had paffed. He faid, "that Lord Byron and he entered the room together, Lord Byron leading the way; that his lordship in walking forwards, faid something rela propofed faftening the door; that on turntive to the former difpute, on which he ing himself round from this act, he perceived his lordship with the fword either drawn, or nearly fo; on which he inftantly drew his own, and made a thruft at him, which he thought had wounded or killed him; that then perceiving his lordfhip fhorten his fword to return the thruft, he thought to have parry'd it with his left hand, at which he looked twice, imagining he had cut it in the attempt; that he felt the fword enter his body, and go deep through his back; that he ftruggled, and being the ftronger man, disarmed his lordship, and expreffed a concern as under an apprehenfion of having mortally wounded him; that Lord Byron replied by faying fomething to the that he hoped now he would allow like effect adding, at the fame time, him to be as brave a man as any in the kingdom pained and diftreffed as Mr. Chaworth Mr. Hawkins adds, that then was, and under the immediate danger of death, he had repeated what he had heard he had declared to his friends before, that he had rather be in his prefent fituation, than live under the misfortune of having killed another perfon.' ftronger, and he was then removed to his After a little while he feemed to grow own houfe, where Mr. Adair, another furgeon, Mr. Man, an apothecary, and Dr. Addington, his physician, came to the affiftance of Mr. Hawkins, but no relief could be given him; he continued feufible, however, till the time of his death, and Mr. Leving being now come, Mr. Partington, an attorney, was fent for to make his will, for which he gave him very fenfible and diftinct inftructions: And while Mr. Partington was employed in request, the fame account which he had this business, he gave Mr. Leving at his before given to Mr. Hawkins, lamenting, at the fame time, his own folly in fighting in the dark, an expreflion that certainly conveyed no imputation on Lord Byron, and implied no more that by fighting with a dim light he had than this, given up the advantage of his own fuperiority in fwordfinanthip, and had been |