The people saw into the deception, but fine words, promises, and long speeches from Mr. Fox, (who assumed to himself the title of the man of the people), made them forgive, if they could not forget, that very unprincipled act, till at the end of twenty years Mr. Fox got into office again, when he acted something like the king of Israel, who said, "My father ruled you with a rod of iron, but I shall rule you with a rod of scorpions." He doubled the most obnoxious of all the taxes at his first outset. He made an opponent (Lord Grenville) with whom he had long been at variance, and with whom he coalesced, first lord of the treasury, although he was comptroller for life of the expenditure*. This was

both parties were indeed ashamed of the transaction, which they never seriously attempted to defend.

Mr. Wilkes, an orator rather of another sort, but a great maker of promises, though the most flagitious character of the age, was for a time extremely popular. When he got well rewarded by a good place, he however gave over his harangues, laughed at the people, and quietly indulged his private vices, the remainder of a long life. His villany was detected, but it was too late, he had got what he wanted first.

* It is said, that when Mr. Fox went down to the house as minister, in 1806, the following words were found chalked on the body of his carriage, as it stood in Palace-yard

"Great talkers do the least d'ye see.'

either destroying the comptrol, or rendering the office a sinecure. In short, all his acts during his short administration, tended to shew that the opposition eloquence is not any proof of a greater love for the people than ministers have, though it so happens, that the opposition always get credit for those speeches, though on every opportunity for action they shew those who listened to them how far they have been mistaken.

When opposition was in great power towards the close of the American war, the ministers had scarcely time to manage the house of commons, and contrive speeches, so that blunder on blunder was the immediate effect, and failure the ultimate consequence. All our enemies fought and held their tongues: we kept talking, and forgot, under the charm of patriotic speeches, that we were ruining the cause. Mark Antony did not display greater folly when he listened to the queen of Egypt, but he had a far better excuse.

For the good of this nation it is to be hoped that oratory will cease to be considered the essential and chief qualification of a statesman*. Let us debate

* It is since there was a regular opposition that the national debt has been contracted, and that the revenue has risen from three mil

about our internal affairs, and preserve our liberty entire to our last breath, but the best orators in time of war, are those laconic, out of door orators, the Park and Tower guns*, which announce such triumphs as the battle of Leipsic, or the liberty of the low countries.

Lord Harrowby is an able minister, but does not trouble us much with his speeches.

millions to sixty-four millions. Since the reports in parliament were printed full, with the names of the speakers, (about fifty years), our expenditure has far exceeded what it was previously.

* What the French called un orateur en plein vent, at the beginning of the revolution.

B

COLONEL HERRIES.

THE gentleman who first turned the attention of the London merchants to military affairs, by forming a corps called the City Light Horse Volunteers. There probably is not in the world a corps of men of equal wealth and property. There is no distinction between the private man and the officer, except when on duty, and every one is equipped at his own expense, and in the very best manner.

The formation of this corps, composed all of men of fortune, set a good example, and it was followed with zeal and alacrity. As London followed that example, so the rest of the country followed London; and it may fairly be said, that the formation of this corps gave the military turn to the nation which has rendered it so secure at home, and so much respected abroad.

England was termed by the French in the hour of their insolence, a nation of shop-keepers, but it shewed all the world that it was a nation that would keep its shops in defiance of all invaders.

We have seen the national guards of Paris, who

paraded so proudly after the fall of the Bastile, and who thought that all the world trembled before them, men who kept guard while the monarch was murdered on a scaffold, but who lowered their bayonets before the rabble of the Faux Bourg of St. Antoine; but we saw them animated with a very different spirit from the London volun

teers.

In France they armed in order to support rebellion, but in London to support government and the law, and to keep down rebellion. Our conduct has been totally different, and the consequences have been so likewise. The French have been sunk in misery, whilst we have risen higher than at any former period; and much is owing to the display of national spirit in individuals, which gave confidence not only to the citizens but to the regular military. All saw that the commercial men were ready and able to defend their king and their country, and they knew that therefore the king and country would be defended.

In a commercial nation it was a very important point to know the disposition of the leading commercial men. Colonel Herries had the merit of putting this to the proof, and great praise is due to