that his fate will be a warning to others not to undertake that which they are unable to perform.

Our law reports prefent to us two trials, in which a character, remarkable in this country for the licentioufuefs of his mode of writing, has met with a fate fimilar to that he had experienced in another country. Mr. Cobbett has diftinguished himself by an outrageous zeal for every party which he has chosen to fupport in politics, and his opponents were always treated with the utmoft degree of afperity. In America, he was fined for a libel; and the language he ufed upon that occation, as allò his treatment of Dr. Priettley, live in the memory of thofe who are accustomed to read his political writings. During Mr. P.tt's former admin.tration, he was fuppofed to have been brought over from America, as the fittelt perfon to worry all thofe who were jacobins, democrats, or whom it was ufeful to treat as belonging to thole parties: and under the title of Peter Porcupine, he must be confelfed to have exercised his talents in a manner that could not fail of receiving the utmoft praises of his employers. England had not been accustomed to this mode of writing; its author feemed to have picked it up in the wilds of America; and, not having been accustomed to the habits of civilifed life, he cut and flashed in every direction, and was never content till he had torn off the fcalp with his tomahawk.

A milder administration did not ftand in need of such support, nor did it fear his powers. He was permitted for a long time to vomit forth his rage, and to fpit out his venom unreftrained. It was not difficult for him to fill his pages, for a great quantity of virulence was eally transferred from his anti-jacobinical effutions to the new objects of his averfion. His language, bowever, was not fo favourably received in Ireland, and, in confequence, two actions were brought against him, the one for a libel on Lord Hardwick, Lord Redefdale, Mr. Juftice Ofborne, and Mr. Marfden; the other for a libel on Mr. Plunkett. In both actions he was found guilty. In the latter, five hundred pounds damages were awarded; for the former, he waits the fentence of the court. The character given of the defendant feems to remove the propriety of attributing malice to him

against his Majesty's government, and the defire of exciting the liege fubjects of the King to hatred and dillike of his rule. Indeed, all his writings tend to confirm the opinion of the steadieft loyalty in him, however he may have been led to break through the laws of good order and government, in his attacks on perfons entrusted with the adminiftration of the public affairs. But the fingularity of the condemnation of fuch a perfon for a libel, who for fo long a time feemed to poffefs the privi lege of faying what he pleafed, and who was fo remarkably hitter against those who dared to write or Ipeak in fupport of their own opinions, was accompanied by a fingular speech, faid to have been uttered by the Lord Chief Juftice in his charge to the jury.

The report of the trial is now before us, given by the defendant; and in this report the Chief Justice, after allowing to a British fubject the right to exhibit the folly or imbecility of the members of the government", is made to utter these words. "But, gentlemen, we must confine ourselves within limits. If in fo doing, individual feelings are violated, there the line of interdiction begins, and the offence be comes the fubject of penal vifitation.” We must attribute these words to the error of the reporter, for it cannot be imagined that they could proceed from the bench. What! muft not the villainy of fuch an atrocious wretch as Lord Chief Justice Jeffries be mentioned, because his individual feelings would be violated? Muft the conduct of the Duke of Alva be passed over in filence, because he would be in a rage when it was mentioned to him? May we not praise the integrity, the honour, the humanity of the brave Cornwallis, becaufe in doing this we attack the feelings of thofe men who connived at or encouraged thofe horrors in Ireland, which in future hiftory will excite as ftrong indignation as thofe of Alva, in the Low Countries? We are perfuaded, that individual feelings will never be made the standard of an Englifh jury: the defendant has his feelings as well as the plaintiff, and they may be the most praiseworthy. Should a General boaft of having feverely flog ged a man to extort confeffion, and then to have hanged him, it may violate his feelings to hear that he deferves to be hanged himself; but the man is not a libeller who thus ex

preffes the juft fentiments of an honest and virtuous indignation.

It may be thought rather below our fubject to go from courts of law to the haunts of what is called fashionable life; but the fingularity of the circumftance may render the introduction of it into this place not entirely unac⚫eptable.

The elevation of the fovereign of France to an imperial throne excited a fenfation in that little world of triflers, whofe contemptible occupations fill in fo difgufting a manner feveral of our public papers. A rich trader determined to make it the fubject of a farce, with which the ennui of a crowd of above a thousand perfons, after a repast between two and three in the morning, was if poffible to be diverted. The farce was entitled, The Emperor of the Gulls; and the wretched triflers were all alive, in expectation of the ribaldry and folly that were to accompany a mock coronation. This puny attempt at wit was, however, properly difpleafing to high authority; and the trader was requested to omit this part of his intended amufements. Negotiations upon negotiations were requifite to arrange fuch an important affair. The farce was too delicious a morfel to be given up. Invafion of the people's rights was talked of, and fubmillion to influence could not be acknowledged. Fortunately an if was found out, which prevented the dignity of the hoft from being compromifed. If you burlefque the new Emperor in this manner, he may retort the compliment in a serious manner upon the English now in his power in France. The probability of this confequence was acknowledged; the farce was dropt; the fashionables met; fine dreffes, fine eating, fine drinking, fine crowding, occupied their thoughts from eleven at night till about four in the morning, when an afs-race was proclaimed, and thefe unfortunate animals with their riders compenfated for the abfence of wit and humour from this numerous affembly. It is fortunate for these parties that they are held at those hours, when the better part of mankind are recruiting their strength in repofe; for the infipidity of them is inconceivable to those who live at a distance, and read only in the papers a fplendid account of thefe fcenes of fathionable diftraction. Not a bngle fair could be kept up in the country, if the rustics

did not bring to it more wit, good hu mour, pleafantry, exercife, and diverfion, than is to be met with in thefe n'ghtly labours, which high life, unhappily for itfelf, miftakes for pleasures.

But the whole of what is called high life is not to be involved in thefe cenfures. Many families of the first refpectability in the country have, too high a fenfe of their real dignity to lower themfelves by the prevailing levelling notions of fathion." The fashionables, as the new papers term them, are a fort of mongrel breed, poffeffing a few of real birth, and from whom better things might be expected than to defire to be talked of in the contemptible lift, which is every morning laid on our breakfast tables, of thofe who have been crowded together on the preceding night, and with whofe names the public would never have been acquainted, but from this fort of diftinction which each aims to give the other. The real clafs of high life, who grace the fplendour of a court, and with whofe prefence at fuch a place the public is gratified, felt their aunual pleature diminished in the absence of their fovereign from the circle in which he has been accustomed to receive their congratulations. After so fevere an illness, they were anxious to rejoice with him on his recovery, as well as on his birth-day, and every one went with the moft fanguine expectation that their withes would be gratified. The court was crowded, but that was wanting which alone could enliven it. A gloom was fpread over the whole, when it was known that his Majefty could not be prefent, and the fenation vibrated through the whole kingdom.

The subject continues to be of that delicate nature, that it is difficult to fpeak of it in those terms which fhall be free from offence. The duty to our fovereign compels us to be anxious that nothing has or fhould be done which is not compatible with his interefts and dignity: but when we fee that much public bufinefs is delayed, and that an important change has taken place in the administration, attended with many very extraordinarycircumftances, we cannot but partici pate in the general feeling, and lament that fomething is not done to give ease to every loyal fubject. The state of the unhappy perfons now under condemnation of death is of a very pe

culiar nature. Several have been refpited; but the usual method does not feem to have been complied with, and it is not eafy to account for or to jufti fy a departure from the general rule. We fhould apprehend, that it is the duty of the law officer to report to his Majelly all the perfons who are under fentence of death, and that it refis with him to extend or not his royal mercy; but to fuit that report to any circumftances which may appear expedient, does not fall within the privileges of any fubject.

The House of Commons continues to be much agitated. The mode in which the prefent minifter feized his office has excited univerfal difguft; and the little that he has done to prove himself worthy of his fituation renders his ambition the more contemptible. The nation, he pretended, was in the utmost danger, and he ttept forward to fave it. The national defence bill is produced, and, according to the old fable, the mountain was in labour, and out comes a moufe. The ball in itfelf is too trifling to merit much notice, but it ferved to fhew the ftrength of the contending parties. There were various divifions upon it on different evenings. On the first, in favour of the minifter, were two hundred and twenty-one, and against him one hundred and eighty-one, leaving him a majority of only forty; a majority, it is remarkable, the fame as Mr. Addington had when he thought it his duty to refign his fituation. In the next divifion, the minifter increased his majority by ten votes, having on his fide two hundred and nineteen, and against him one hundred and fixty-nine. The next division left him in a minority, for there were fixty-three only on his fide, and fixty-nine against him; but this arofe from the divition taking place at an earlier hour than was expected. Scouts were fent out in every direction, and feveral members got up and spoke against time; that is, they talked as long as they could find words, and thus gave time for a fresh acceffion of troops; and, on the divifion, the minifter had again the fuperiority; for in his favour were two hundred and fourteen, and against him one hundred and eighty-fix. As his majority was fo much diminifhed, the oppofition retreated from the field in great spirits, and both aides prepared for a more vigorous conslict on Monday, the 18th, when, after

a very fevere debate, the Houfe divided at four in the morning, the minifter having in his favour two hundred and fixty-five; the oppofition two hundred and twenty-three. The language wed by Mr. Pitt agreed with the ufual hauteur of his character; and it was reprobated with great juftice by Mr. Fox, as the molt indecent and difrefpectful to ♣ British Houfe of Commons that he had ever heard. Mr. Pitt declared, that, if the bill was thrown out, be thould be forry at the lofs of a good measure; "but you will not," he added, " be the nearer getting rid of me." The next night proved that the minister's victory was complete; for the oppofition left him in full poffeffion of the field of battle, and the bill was read the third time without a divifion. Thus, in France, Buonaparte is become an emperor, and at home Pitt has made hintelf maire du paluis.

The apathy of the public is fill its From the expeprevailing feature. rience of the past, it clearly forefees the evils to which it is to be exposed. An increased taxation, and a diminished œconomy, are the natural confequences of the late change; and, what is more to be feared, the acrimony of party, which by the kind and unaffuming manners of the late minifter had been fo much mitigated, will now again probably be re newed. To this afflicting view of public affairs every loyal fubject adds his apprehenfions for his Sovereign's health, which may be much injured by the weight and perturbation of public bufinefs; and at a time when the agitated fpirits required calmnefs and repofe, the struggles for pre-eminence in his councils feem to attach that degree of indecorum to the parties most interested in them, which was thrown upon the enquiries into his Majefty's late indif polition.

Among the queftions that have agitated parliament, one of the most interefting is this indifpofition, which may lead to fome extraordinary and unforeseen confequences. It was 0pened on the 27th of February by Sir Robert Lawley, who addreffed the Houfe in a very impreflive manner; calling its attention to a subject of the deepest intereft to the country. The public has, fince the 14th of this mouth, been in poffeffion of the melancholy information, that his Majefty has been confined by a dangerous and doubtful illness. Phyficians have been appointed

to give daily reports; and therefore parliament has a right to expect an explicit communication. The illness muft be confidered as of a very fevere nature, and no hopes are held out of its Speedy termination. It is my duty, then, as a member of parliament, to require from minifters this explicit information, and according to the tenor of their answer I thall be guided in grounding upon it a specific motion, or in moving the House to adjourn.

The minifter replied, that the communication required could not, in the opinion of his Majefty's confidential ministers, answer any good purpose, and that any proceeding founded on fuch communication would be inconfiftent with their duty to the King, to parliament, and to the country; indecent in the prefent circumftances, and therefore utterly unwarrantable.

Upon this, Sir R. Lawley addreffed the chair in thefe few words: "Sir, I move that this Houfe do now adjourn;" and Mr. Fox arote, and declared that he fhould efteem himself deficient in duty to the principles of the conftitution, if he acquiefced in the anfwer juft given. The public hitherto knows nothing of the King's illness but by certain reports published by authority, and nothing like information has been communicated to the Houfe. When it is demanded, it is declared to be unneceffary, indecent; and this in the opinion of the King's confidential fervants; that is, perfons not known to the conftitution. There are perfons more frequently in the King's prefence, but they are nothing more thau privy counfellors, and cannot claim a fuperior diftinction; and when the Sovereign is from any cause incapable of difcharging his functions, these perfons, defcribed as confidential fervants, are nothing more than ordinary privy counsellors.

In what fituation does the Houfe then stand? Certain persons, of whom the House know nothing, feel it their duty to give no information on a most important fubject; and add, that to require it is improper and indecent. May we not ask, whether this opinion is founded on knowledge of the prefent ftate of his Majefty's health or profpect of recovery? No! not a fingle tittle of information is to be granted. Has government communicated any information on the probable duration of the illness? No! the House is left in total VOL. I.

darkness. If a communication had been made, the House might pause on the measures to be taken; or, if it had not been fatisfactory, might have deliberated on the proper steps to be taken: but a communication is, in my views of the fubjećt, abfolutely neceffary.

In the reports given already contra diction prevails; yet it is evident that a recovery must be gradual. What may be the decifion of the House on a com munication I do not wish to anticipate; but I muft protest against the doctrine of any perfons pretending to determine when the parliament is to exercise its undoubted privilege. Not very lately, the Lord Lieutenants were informed of the danger impending over the country, and no circumftances have occurred to leffen thofe apprehenfions. What would be the ftate of the country, if an invafion fhould take place when the royal functions are fufpended? Other points, of a conftitutional nature, require the adoption of fome measure to supply the place of this fufpenfion.

But perhaps I may be told of the refponfibility attached to minifters. It will be a poor fort of confolation to think of their refponibility when the nation is brought to the brink of ruin. What is the limit to which this confidence required by minifters is to be carried? Implicit confidence may go on from day to day, and in the fame manner the danger which menaces the country may be repeated. Let, however, the conduct of minifters be what it may, we have a duty to perform to the country, and nothing ought to be wanting on our part to contribute to its general honour, independence, and fafety.

The minifter premifed his reply by declaring, that in ufing the term confidential fervants," he employed an expreffion long ufed and well understood in the Houte; that he did not mean to infinuate that they were freed from the gravest sensibility; nor, that he did not difpute the right of the Houfe to determine on the fteps to be taken on the fufpenfion of the royal functions. “I affirm, however," he faid, "that there is no unworthy with on the part of minifters to conceal any information which, confiftently with duty, can be difclofed. If we abftain from communication, it is from a fincere conviction that it could not tend to any good purpofe, and, in the prefent circumftances, ought particularly to be avoided,

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