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right; and we should have seen an usurper upon your throne, who would have wholly changed the "constitution of this empire, both civil and sacred; "and, although that empress died in a most opportune season, yet the peaceable entrance of your majesty's father, was effected by a continual series of miracles. "The truth of this appears, by that unnatural re"bellion which the Yortes raised, without the least "provocation, in the first year of the late emperor's

reign; which may be sufficient to convince your majesty, that every soul of that denomination, was, is, and will be for ever, a favourer of the pretender, "a mortal enemy to your illustrious family, and an "introducer of new gods into the empire. Upon "this foundation was built the whole conduct of our "affairs and since a great majority of the kingdom, "was at that time reckoned to favour the Yortes

faction, who, in the regular course of elections, "must certainly have been chosen members of the "senate then to be convoked; it was necessary, by "the force of money, to influence elections in such a "manner, that your majesty's father might have a "sufficient number, to weigh down the scale on his "side, and thereby carry on those measures, which "could only secure him and his family in the posses"sion of the empire. To support this original plan, "I came into the service; but, the members of the "senate knowing themselves every day more neces

'sary, upon the choosing of a new senate, I found "the charges to increase; and that after they were "chosen, they insisted upon an increase of their pen"sions; because they well knew, that the work could "not be carried on without them: and I was more "general in my donatives, because I thought it was

"more for the honour of the crown, that every vote "should pass without a division; and that when a "debate was proposed, it should immediately be "quashed by putting the question.

"SIR, The date of the present senate is expired, " and your imperial majesty is now to convoke a new one; which, I confess, will be somewhat more expensive than the last, because the Yortes, from "your favourable reception, have begun to reassume a spirit, whereof the country had some intelligence; " and we know, the majority of the people, without proper management, would be still in that fatal "interest. However, I dare undertake, with the "charge only of four hundred thousand sprangs*, "to return as great a majority of senators of the true stamp, as your majesty can desire. As to the "sums of money paid in foreign courts, I hope, in "some years, to ease the nation of them, when we "and our neighbours come to a good understanding. However, I will be bold to say, they are cheaper than a war, where your majesty is to be a principal.

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"The pensions indeed to senators and other per"sons, must needs increase, from the restiveness. "of some, and scrupulous nature of others; and "the new members, who are unpractised, must have "better encouragement. However, I dare under"take to bring the eventual charge within eight "hundred thousand sprangs. But, to make this

easy, there shall be new funds raised, of which "I have several schemes ready, without taxing bread "or flesh, which shall be reserved to more pressing "occasions.

About a million sterling.

"Your

"Your majesty knows, it is the laudable custom of "all Eastern princes, to leave the whole management "of affairs, both civil and military, to their visirs.

"The appointments for your family and private purse, shall exceed those of your predecessors: you "shall be at no trouble; farther than to appear some"times in council, and leave the rest to me: you "shall hear no clamour or complaints: your senate "shall, upon occasion, declare you the best of princes, "the father of your country, the arbiter of Asia, "the defender of the oppressed, and the delight of "mankind.

"SIR, Hear not those who would, most falsely, impiously, and maliciously, insinuate that your government can be carried on, without that wholesome necessary expedient, of sharing the publick revenue " with your faithful deserving senators. This, I know, my enemies are pleased to call bribery and corrup"tion. Be it so: but I insist, that without this "bribery and corruption, the wheels of government "will not turn; or at least will be apt to take fire, "like other wheels, unless they be greased at proper "times. If an angel from Heaven should descend, "to govern this empire, upon any other scheme "than what our enemies call corruption, he must "return from whence he came, and leave the work ❝ undone.

"SIR, It is well known we are a trading nation, and "consequently cannot thrive in a bargain, where nothing is to be gained. The poor electors, who "run from their shops or the plough, for the ser"vice of their country; are they not to be considered "for their labour and their loyalty? The candidates, "who, with the hazard of their persons, the loss

"of their characters, and the ruin of their fortunes, "are preferred to the senate, in a country where they "are strangers, before the very lords of the soil; "are they not to be rewarded for their zeal to "your majesty's service, and qualified to live in your metropolis, as becomes the lustre of their " stations?

"SIR, If I have given great numbers of the most "profitable employments, among my own relations "and nearest allies, it was not out of any partiality; "but because I know them best, and can best depend

upon them. I have been at the pains to mould and "cultivate their opinions. Abler heads might pro"bably have been found; but they would not be "equally under my direction. A huntsman who has "the absolute command of his dogs, will hunt more "effectually, than with a better pack, to whose manner and cry he is a stranger.

"SIR, Upon the whole, I will appeal to all those "who best knew your royal father, whether that "blessed monarch had ever one anxious thought for "the publick, or disappointment, or uneasiness, or "want of money for all his occasions, during the time of my administration? And how happy the

people confessed themselves to be, under such a "king, I leave to their own numerous addresses; "which all politicians will allow, to be the most in"fallible proof, how any nation stands affected to "their sovereign."

Lelop-Aw, having ended his speech, and struck his forehead thrice against the table, as the custom is in Japan, sat down with great complacency of mind, and much applause of his adherents, as might

be

be observed by their countenances and their whispers. But the emperor's behaviour was remarkable; for, during the whole harangue, he appeared equally attentive and uneasy. After a short pause, his majesty commanded that some other counsellor should deliver his thoughts, either to confirm or object against what had been spoken by Lelop-Aw.