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debate. The King of France is ready to over-run us all, if his conquefts go on.

Sir Richard Temple.] "If the proclamation recalls not thefe forces, he would go as far in a bill in it as may be. Proposes a farther addrefs to the King, " to recall all perfons gone over fince the Holland peace."

. After long debate, "The question being put, Whether a further Address fhould be made to the King, for recall of his fubjects now in the fervice of the French King, the grand Committee thereupon divided; and the Tellers, viz. Sir Trevors Williams and Sir John Hanmer, appointed by the Chairman Sir Charles Harboard, differing in their account of the Yeas and Noes, fome called Tell again,' others Report;' on which great diforder begun; Gentlemen rifing from their places, and mingling in the pit; hot and provoking difcourfes and geftures paffed on both fides, efpecially betwixt Lord Cavendish and Sir John Hanmer. Some faid,, that Lord Cavendifh's fword was half drawn out, but prevented by Mr. Ruffel, who kept clofe to him. Others faid, that Lord Cavendifh fpit in Sir John Hanmer's face; but that was only eagerness of fpeech, and fo fome might accidentally fly from him. But it was vifible to all, that Sir James Smith fetting his arms on his fide, did, in a rude manner, make through the crowd, and joftled several, and came up to the table, where yet more hot difcourfes paffed between him and Lord Cavendish, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Sacheverell, and feveral others; Mr. Stockdale, and fome others, fetting their feet upon the mace, which lay below the table, in the ufual place at grand Committees. This diforder continuing near half an hour, the Standers-by, on the upper benches, expecting very fatal confequences, especially when the young Gallants, as Mr. Thynne, Mr. Newport, and feveral others, leaped over the feats, to join Lord Cavendish. But the Speaker, very opportunely and prudently, rifing from his feat near the bar, in a refolute and flow pace, made his three respects through the crowd, and took the chair. The mace was ftill retained by the faid Gentlemen; but, at laft, being forcibly laid upon the table, all the disorder ceased, and the Gentlemen went to their places. The Speaker, being fat, fpoke to this purpose; That to bring the House into order again, he took the chair, though not according to order.' Some Gentlemen, as Mr. Sacheverell, and others, excepted against his coming into the chair; but the doing it was generally approved, as the only expedient to suppress the diforder. Then

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Sir Thomas Lee.] Moved, that there might be an engagement paffed upon the honour of every Member, ftanding up in

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his place, to proceed no farther in any thing that had happened in the unfortunate diforder at the grand Committee; which was feconded by feveral, and confented to by every Member standing in his place. The House then adjourned to the next day;

when, after a tedious debate, it was

Refolved, That a farther addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, for recalling his fubjects that are in the fervice of the French King"

We may judge, from the tumultuous proceedings of this Committee, that here, as in moft large affemblies, there was more zeal than difcretion. And though the infamous conduct of the Administration, in affording fuccour to our natural rival, deferved the highest indignation, yet it is evident, that the oppofition was carried on without temper, and without decency; and favoured more of perfonal pique than of public patriotifm. But the object against whom their impetuofity feems to have been particularly directed, was the Duke of Lauderdale, who, fince the Commons addrefs for his removal, had been created Earl of Guilford: his Majefty having returned an unfatisfactory answer to their addrefs, pietending, among other things, that fome of the offences alledged against the Duke, were fubfequent to the laft act of general pardon, and that an enquiry into any thing pardoned by that act, might give men caufe to fear their fecurity under the first act of oblivion, the following debate arose."

Sir Kingsmill Lucy.] "We have preffed the King often for the removal of the Duke of Lauderdale, and, for anfwer, we have only had a civil denial. If there be a reafon to cease this profecution, would hear it. If he has expiated his former ill actions, by any thing lately done, it would much prevail with him, by fuch a demeanor to forgive what is paft. He has no reason to think his principles are changed, when he calls thofe that were against the declaration, Deferters of the King." Since the first addrefs for his removal, he has had increase of honour, and a penfion, as if in defiance of us. Believes him dangerous and obnoxious to the Government, and as such a one would have him removed.

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Sir Jofeph Tredenham.3" Should the Duke of Lauderdale be banished, on this addrefs, the late act of parliament would be violated, or at leaft fufpended. Should it be violated, the King may justly fay, he has gone by measures we have given him. Hopes we fhall acquiefce in the King's anfwer, as our progenitors have done before us.

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Mr. Sawyer.] "The long robe have been called for often in this debate, to give their opinion in the difference between an

act of oblivion and grace. In that of oblivion, reproaches fhould ceale, and there is a penalty affixed. Pardon is in the nature of oblivion; for if any man be called a felon, if he be pardoned, an action of late lies upon it. If a man have a particular pardon, though such pardons be good phyfic, yet they are ill food. We have had inftances of words the Duke has spoken; and once the King, in his answer, reminds you of the time, before the pardon Has this, he thinks, by way of admiration Have you nothing else to say?'

Sir Robert Howard.] "Perhaps the Houfe is inflamed by the Duke of Lauderdale's high carriage. The Duke of Buckinging has not carried himfelf at this rate; though your vote was not fo fharp upon him as upon the Duke.-Moves, that in vindication of the honour of the Houfe, upon your re-addrefs, your apprehenfion of the nation may be expreffed-- While fuch a perfon is about the King-and fubmit it to him.

Mr. Bennet.] "It is faid abroad, that the way to have preferment, is to be under the difpleafure of this Houfe. It is ftrange that one Scotchman fhould stand in the way of the House of Commons, that have given fo many millions of money.Hopes that our addrefs will be penned with that modesty that the King will grant it.

Serjeant Jones.] "As to the words spoken by the Duke, they are very ill; but he takes them to be pardoned by the act; and that act must be broken, if you proceed farther in this addrefs. The differences fpoken of, between an act of pardon and oblivion, are rather nominal than real. He would fay nothing of his own head or authority, but out of Lord Hobart's Reports. In his Pleas, one called the Plaintiff Thief;' the Defendant did confefs he ftole a horfe, but had his pardon for it. It was judged, that the Plaintiff stood right to all intents and purposes, because the Defendent had broke the act of oblivion. It is faid, we have addreffed twice-Sees no reafon why we should do it a third time. If the King fhould fay, I know nothing of cause for removal of the Duke, yet I do remove him for those words, he knows not how it can confift with your juftice-God fays, his mercy is over all his works. If we have not a confidence in the King's mercy, he knows not whether we can have confidence in any thing."

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[A farther addrefs was ordered to be prefented, 136 to 116.]

We find that in this debate, the Lawyers were particularly tender of his Grace, for reafons which are very obvious. Their chicanery, however, could not prevail against the just indignation of the Houfe: and we cannot but admire the perfeverance

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of thefe Patriots, in offering repeated addreffes, after the King had fo ftrongly expreffed his difinclination to favour their de fires. But the Miniftry as yet were but young in the art of managing the Houfe: or, rather, in truth, there was not yet pasture enough in the hands of the Administration, for the herd of venality to graze upon.

Several efforts about this time were made to fecure the Independence of Parliament; and, in a Committee of Privileges,

it was

Refolved, "That if any perfon or perfons hereafter to be elected, &c. fhall, by himself, or any other in his behalf, or at his charge, at any time before the day of his election, give any perfon or perfons, having a voice in any fuch election, any meat or drink, exceeding in their true value five pounds in the whole, in any place or places, but in his own dwelling-house or habitation, being the ufual place of his abode for twelve months laft paft, or fhall, before fuch election be made and declared, make any other present, gift or reward, or any promise, obligation, or engagement to do the fame, &c. every fuch entertainment, prefent, &c. is and fhall be a fufficient ground to make every fuch election void."

When we confider that the Representatives had, but a little while before, received wages from their Constituents, and had ftill a right to demand them, Corruption must have made hafty ftrides to render this Refolution neceffary: a refolution highly laudable in itself, and which, if duly executed, would effectually check venality, and prevent those scenes of riot, intoxication, and debauchery, which are a scandal to government, and a reproach to humanity.

Among the many extraordinary bills offered in this feffion, we cannot omit taking notice of the following, which probably meant much more than the promoters expreffed.

"Mr. Mallet profferred to bring in a bill to repeal the act of King James, entitled, "Felony to marry a second husband, or wife, the former being living."

Mr. Waller.] "There are fome things that ought not to be named, even amongst the Gentiles. But is forry to read, that our Saviour was fon of a virgin who had but one husband, and that fuch a thing as this fhould be reported to be difcourfed of within our doors. We cannot do such a thing as this. Let the Gentleman that would bring it in, tell him, whether his dovehoufe is not better ftored, where one cock has but one hen, than his yard, where one cock has many hens. (Mallet, in opening

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the bill, pretended it was for peopling the nation, and preventing the promifcuous ufe of women) It is fuch an abominable bill, that it is not fit to be retained.

Sir Lionel Jenkins.] Saying it was against the canons and decretals of the Church.

Mr. Mallet.]" Said he knew no canons nor decretals it was againft, but thofe of Rome, with which Jenkins was better acquainted than himself.

Sir Thomas Lee.] "The best question to this purpose is, to read the order of the day."

We are very cautious of hazarding our fentiments on so nice, a fubject; but we will be bold to fay, that it may be imputed to our ineffectual provifions refpecting matrimony, that polygamy, though prohibited by law, is fo much practised in fact.

In a grand Committee of Grievances, the House took into farther confideration, the growing greatnefs of France, which produced the following curious and interesting debate.

Sir William Coventry.] "As for Grievances,' he is not very forward to present any. But there is one, above all, that concerns us all to think of. Confider the posture we are in, in relation to France, the greatest grievance that can be to the nation. In respect of France and Popery, all other things are but trifles. Popery may be here without France; but it is impoffible that France fhould be here without Popery. Four or five years fince, we had a notion of France's greatnefs, but we see the thing not better. We fee how prevalent it is. Though the Bishops of Munfter and Cologne were once for him, and are now fallen off, yet he alone can contend with all Europe. If he had the talent to move affections, he would not go about it, but will urge this by reafons. The end and purpofe of France's conquefts, is not for trade. The whole bent of France (a ftiring people) is, to confider what next thing he will undertake, if he get reft again. Having almoft swallowed Flanders, will he not begin again? He kept not Holland, because Germany would not endure it. Probably, he will employ his conqueft to provoke the islands, the continent not enduring him. If once France get peace, nothing is so feazible and practicable as England; and he can never mafter Holland without first maftering us. Would now confider, though there is a bill for recalling the forces out of France, that that is no plaifter for this fore. If Flanders be fwallowed up, there is nothing betwixt us and France. Some Gentlemen may flatter theinfelves, that Holland will be their next concern, which was loft poffibly be

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