1751. The POWER of RICHES. but did not stay to be favoured with any farther condefcenfions. My next experiment was made at the Jevee of a fatefman, who received me with an embrace of tenderneís, that he might with more decency publish my change of fortune to the fycophants about him. After he had enjoyed the triumph of con- A dolence, he turned to a wealthy flockjobber, and left me expofed to the fcorn of thofe, who had lately courted my notice and folicited my interest. I was then fet down at the door of another, who upon my entrance advifed me with great folemnity to think of fome fettled provifion for life. I left him and hurried away to an old friend, who profeffed himself unfufceptible of any impreffons from profperity or misfortune, and begged that he might fee me when he was more at leifure. Of 67 doors at which I knocked, in the first week after appearance in a mourning dress, I was denied admiffion at 47, was fuffered at 13 to wait in the outer room till butinels was dispatched; at 4 was entertained with a few questions about the weather; at one heard the footman rated for bringing my name; and at two was informed in the flow of cafual converfation, how much a man of rank degrades himself by mean company. B 409 think themfelves entitled, by their fuperior prudence, to reproach me if I speak or move without regard to profit. Such, Mr. Rambler, is the power of wealth, that it commands the car of greatnefs and the eye of beauty, gives spirit to the dull, and authority to the timorous, and leaves him from whom it departs, without virtue and without understanding, the fport of caprice, the fcoff of infolence, the flave of meannefs, and the pupil of igno rance. I am, &c. To the AUTHOR of the LONDON SIR, MA ANY fatal accidents having happened to children and ignorant perfc..s, by eating the berries of folanum lethale, or deadly night-fbade, it may be of fervice to the publick to make them acquainted with the plant, of which I fend you a SKETCH, and defire you would publish it in your next Magazine. It is much to be wished it was deftroyed wherever it is found, which is generally in highways er marshes; the ftalks are round and blackish, about fix feet high; the leaves a dark green, amongst which grow the flowers, of a dark, dull, purple colour. The berries are a bright My inclination now led me to try what. reception I fhould find among the ladies, Deen at firft, and turn to a most beautiful but I found that my uncle had carried all my powers of pleafing to the grave. I had formerly been celebrated as a wit, and not perceiving any languor in my imagination, I effayed to revive that gaiety, which had hitherto broken out involuntarily before my fentences were finished. My`re fhining black. I am, SIR, Your moft humble fervant. A Letter from DIOGENES the CYNIC PHILOSOPHER, to the GRECIANS, being a fevere Satire upon them. (See p. 361.) marks were now heard with a Ready To countenance, and if a girl happened to give way to habitual merriment, her forwardness was repreffed with a frown by her mother or her aunt. Wherever I come, I scatter infirmity and dlifeafe; every lady whom I meet in the Mall, is too weary to walk; all whom I entreat to fing, are instantaneously troubled with colds; if I propofe cards, they are afflicted with the head-ach; if I invite them to the gardens, they cannot bear a crowd. F All this, however, might be born ; but there is a class of mortals who think my understanding impaired with my fortune, exalt themselves to the dignity of advice, and whenever we happen to meet, prefume G to prescribe my conduct, regulate my œconomy, and direct my purfuits. Another race, equally impertinent and equally defpicable, are every moment recommending to me an attention to my intereft, and September, 1758 In HE Do, to thofe that call themfelvea Grecians, fends a howl; and tho' he had kept his mouth fhut, yet would they have nevertheless discovered themselves to have been apes in their hearts, and men only in their countenances. You Greeks diffemble all, and know nothing. You make laws for yourselves, yet are always at variance with your neighbours, ever envying those that do ill, rather than imitating fuch as do well. If you see a man better cloathed, richer, or more learned, you prefently have him in abhorrence. a word, you do nothing you ought to do, and on the contrary are ever employ'd in what you fhould avoid. Neither you nor your ancestors have ever spared good men, or punished bad. Wherefore not only I, but nature abhors you. Before you marry you are hypocrites, and afterwards y rants. You are equally cruel to enemies and friends. Some you punish for small crimes, and let others efcape for greater. You hang, burn, poifon and torture, yet Fit all 410 DIOGENES's Letter to the Grecians. all without reafon. Whether is it the fame thing, O madmen! to kill, and to torment? Is not the rack a double death, and why should that be apply'd for a fingle crime? Likewife from the dead we can expect no benefit; but if we pardon, the very worst of the living may at one time or other be ferviceable to us. You Grecians inftru& the unlearned in mufick to divert you, and take no notice of the learned, who would be of much greater afe to you. Is it because you abound in knowing men that you fo defpife them? If fo, iffue out an edit to banish them, that you may the more freely proceed in your wickednefs. In folemn festivals you both gormandize, get drunk, and grow mad in the forum, and publick schools. Then it is that you'rail at the Dog, as you call him, but he takes little or no notice of ye. You would kill him, but he is below your reach. I have known a poor man ftarve a distemper, which in the rich would have endangered life, by being continually nourished. Whilft ye lie upon your beds of down, your minds grow hardened. If ye were wife, ye would practife the temperance of Socrates, and rather hang yourfelves than chufe to die of a luxurious difeafe. But it is most impoffible you should alter your ill courfe of life. Your obftinacy will not let you be free from it, tho' it were otherwife in your power to make your A B Sept. of the committee of fupply, of Jan. 29. This refolution was moved for in the committee of supply, Jan. 25, by the lord Barrington, and as by this refolution there were 2000 of our feamen then in pay to be reduced, it was ftrenuously opposed, which occafioned a long debate, whether the number of feamen to be employed for the enfuing year should be 10000 or but 8000. In this debate the principal speakers for 8000 were, the lord Barrington, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Secretary at war; and the principal speakers for 10000 were Mr. Nugent, Mr. Ofwald, Mr. Cooke, admiral Vernon, Mr. Potter, the earl of Egmont, Mr. W. Pitt, Mr. H. Bathurst, Sir John Rufhout, and Mr. alderman Janffen. And two numbers being thus propofed, the first question was of courfe put upon the leffer number, upon which all thofe that were for 10000 voted upon the negative fide, in order to come at the next queftion for 10000; but upon a divifion the yeas were 167, the noes but 107, which fixt the number at 8000. This refolution being reported the 29th, a motion was made for recommitting it, whereupon a new debate enfued, in which the principal speakers were Mr. Nugent, Mr. W. Pitt, admiral Vernon, Mr. Lyttleton, Mr. G. Greenville, general Oglethorpe, Mr. Beckford and the earl of Eg felves fo. Ye will still continue your de Dont, for recommitting; and the lord Bar bauched banquets, and when in the height A Summary of the most important Affairs in TH F HO' the refolutions of the two com- G mittees, of fupply and ways and means, were, upon report, approved of by the house, yet feveral of them met with oppofition, both in the committee and upon the report, particularly the first refolution rington, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Danvers Ofborn, Mr. Legge, Mr. Hampden, admiral Knowles, and Mr. Secretary at war against recommitting; and upon putting the queftion it was carried in the negative, and the refolution of the committee agreed to. The firft refolution of Feb. 5, was likewife opposed both in the committee, and upon the report, in which the principal fpeakers for the number of troops proposed were Mr. Secretary at war, the lord Hillfborough, Sir Thomas Grey Egerton, general Mordaunt, Mr. C. Yorke, and the lord advocate of Scotland. But the number propofed was at laft agreed to both in the committee on the 4th, and by the house upon the report on Feb. 5. Alfo the firft refolution of Feb. 11 occafioned a long debate in the committee on the 8th, in which the principal speakers for the number of troops propofed were Mr. Secretary at war, admiral Knowles, Mr. Legge and Mr. Chancellor of the Exche quer; and Mr. Nugent, admiral Vernon, Sir John Hynd Cotton, the earl of Egmont, Sir Francis Dashwood, the lord Limerick, and Sir John Rufhout against it. The fecond refolution of the fame day was likewife contefted upon the report, by the earl of Egmont, Mr. Nugent, Dr, Lee, Mr. 1751. Summary of the laft Seffion of Parliament. Mr. Potter and Mr. H. Bathurst, who fpoke against it; and by Mr. Secretary at war, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, lord George Sackville, Sir William Yonge, and the lord Barrington; but at last the question for recommitting was carried in the negative by 20; to 88, and the refolution was then agreed to. And lastly, the first refolution of Feb. 25, was ftrenuously debated in the committee on the 22d, in which debate the principal fpeakers were Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lyttleton, Mr. Solicitor-general, and Mr. W. Pitt for the refolution; and Mr. Martin, colonel Haldane, and the earl of Egmont against it. And it was again debated upon the report, when it was oppofed by the lord Limerick, Mr. H. Bathurft, Mr. Martin, Mr. Vyner, the earl of Egmont, Mr. Prowfe, and Mr. G. Greenville ; and fupported by Mr. C. Yorke, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. W. Pitt; but at laft was agreed to by 197 to 74. A 411 amendment, that regimental courts-martjal should have the fame power to adminifter an oath to the witnesses, and that the above oath should be taken by regimental as well as general courts martial; but this being oppofed, it occafioned a debate, in which the amendment was fupported by Sir Henry Arefkine, admiral Vernon, Mr. Fazakerly, Mr. T. Pirt, colonel G. Townfhend, Mr, H. Bathurst, and Mr. Joddrel; and it was oppofed by Mr. Secretary at war, Mr. W. Pitt, admiral Knowles, colonel Conway, lord George Sackville, lord Hillsborough, and Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer. At laft the question being put, it was carried in the negative by B 137 to 74. On the 26th, the houfe being again in a committee on this bill, another long debate enfued, whether a revifion of the fentence of a court-martial should ever be allowed, that is to fay, whether the commander in chief, after the court-martial has paffed fentence of acquittal or condemnation, and is feparated, and the fentence reported to him, which it is not fometimes for days after, fhould have it in his power to order them to meet again, and confider, whether they ought not to alter their fentence. The giving of fuch a power was opposed by colonel Leighton, Dr. Lee. Mr. Fazakerly, Mr. Ofwald, the earl of Egmont, admiral Vernon, Mr. Nugent ; and it was D pleaded for by Mr. Secretary at war, colonel Conway, Mr. W. Pitt, the lord Hillsborough, the lord advocate, Mr. C. York, and the lord Barrington. At last, upon the queftion's being put, it was carried for admitting of one revifion by 137 to 74. There was alfo laft feffion fome debate C upon the 2d refolution of the committee of ways and means, of Feb. 18, which in the faid committee, on the 15th, was oppofed by general Oglethorpe, Sir John Hynd Cotton, Mr. T. Pitt, Mr. M. Robinson, and Mr. Vyner; and fupported by Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. So licitor-general, and Mr. Nugent; but it was agreed to, both in the committee, and upon the report, without any divifion. As to the other refolutions of this committee, they were all agreed to without any debate, and bills, or claufes in bills, ordered upon every one of them, which were accordingly brought in and paffed into laws; therefore we are now to give an account of fome of the most remarkable bills, not relating to the publick revenue, that were last feffion brought in and paffed into laws. The first of thefe, in order of time, was the now annual bill, commonly called the mutiny bill, which was ordered, Feb. 8, and prefented, the 11th, by Mr. Thomas Gore. Next day it was read a fecond time, and committed to a committee of the whole houfe; and on the 19th the house having refolved itfelf into the faid committee, when they came to the claufes for enabling general courts-martial to administer an oath to the witneffes at any trial, and for obliging the officers present at any general court-martial, to take the following oath, viz. You shall well and truly try and determine, according to your evidence of the matter now before you, between our fovereign lord the king's majefty, and the prifoner to be tried. The earl of Egmont proposed by way of E F G Thefe were the chief debates on occafion of this bill, which paffed both houses, and received the royal affent by commiffion, March 22. And the only other bill of this kind we think neceffary to take notice of here, is that now commonly called the regency bill; which was occafioned by the following written meffage fent by his ma jefty to both houfes, April 26, GEORGE R. H IS majefty, having it entirely at heart to fecure the future welfare and bappinefs of his people, has maturely confidered, that nothing can conduce fo much (under the protection of divine Providence) to the prefervation of the protestant fucceffion in his royal family, and the support of the religion, laws, and liberties of thefe kingdoms (which have been always most dear to him) as the making proper provi❤ fions for the care and tuition of the perfon of his fucceffor, and for the regular adminiftration of the government, in cafe fuch Fifa fucceffor 412 Summary of the laft Seffion of Parliament. fucceffor fhould be of tender years; by Upon this, both houfes agreed, nem. con. to the following addrefs, viz. Moft gracious Sovereign, WE, your majesty's most dutiful and Sept. time, your majefty has pointed cut to us a generous concern to provide for the continuance of that happinefs (as far as human forefight can do) after God fhall have deprived us of the ineftimable bleffing of your immediate care. In return for this pater nal goodne's, permit us to affure your majefty, that we will lofe no time, in taking into our confiderat on the weighty affair laid before us in your message. We are truly fenfible of the high and eminent qualities of her royal highness, the princefs dowager of Wales; and we look upon what your majesty has been graciously pleafed to propofe to our confideration, as the result of your wisdom, and tender conB cern for your royal family, and the interests of thefe kingdoms; and we fhall have the moft dutiful regard to what your majesty has been pleafed fo wifely to recommend. In our deliberations on this important fubject, we shall think it our duty, as well as our effential intereft, to have the strictest and most zealous attention to the prefervaCtion of the pr teftant fucceffion, as fettled by law, in your royal family; the nume rous hopeful branches whereof, formed by your inftruction, and led by your example, we look upon as fo many pledges of the fecurity of our religious and civil rights to future generations. loyal fubjects, the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons in parliament affembled, approach your royal throne, with hearts filled, at the fame time, with the deepest sense of gratitude to your majefty, and with the most ferious and anxi. D ous concern for the future weliare of our country. May it please the divine Providence to grant your majefty fuch confirmed health, and length of days, as may render thofe provifions, which your wifdom hath fuggested to us on that occafion, unneceffary in the event; that we may very long enjoy the benefits of your gracious government; and your majefty the dutiful and affectionate returns of a moft obliged, loyal, and grateful people. To return your majefty our thanks for your most gracious meffage, falls infinitely fhort of thofe fentiments, with which the fubject of it infpires us. It excites in us the most fenfible feeling of all those bleffings, which we have enjoyed, during your au- E picious and glorious reign; of the mildness and benignity of your government; and of that conftant protection, which your majefty has always extended to our religion, laws and liberties; which you have demonftrated by your conduct, as well as declared by your royal words, to be most dear to you. Happy would it be for all your faith-in cafe the crown fhould defcend to any of ful fubjects, if heaven in mercy to thefe Not content with being the great inftrument of our happiness, during your own Which addrefs was next day presented by both houses, and his majesty returned a most gracious answer, which fee in our Magazine for April last, p. 188. In pursuance of this.meffage and address, the duke of Newcastle prefented to the houfe of lords, May 7, a bill to provide for the administration of the government, the child en of his late royal highness the prince of Wales, being under the age of 18 years, and for the care and guardianship of their perfons; which bill was then read a Arft time, ordered to be read a fecond time the next day, and the lords to be summoned. Accordingly it was next day read a fecond time, and committed for Friday the 10th, and the lords to be again fummoned to attend. In the mean time a meffage was delivered from his majesty, recommending to their confideration the fettlement of fuch a council of regency as now ftands established by the act; and on the |