in itself, was indiscreetly indulged. The English part of the empire became jealous of this bias in the mind of the king; and jealousy at length rose to discontent and complaint. It was not strange that the opposition should have made the most of this temper of the people of England, and that the "North Britons" should have adhered closely to the ministerial party. The society of the Bill of Rights, being an efficient organ of opposition, could not fail of being an object of denunciation by them. In this letter Mr. Lee mentions a curious anecdote, that a speech had been made in England, for Lord Botetourt, to be delivered by him on his arrival in the colony of Virginia, to the House of Burgesses; that this speech had been debated in the King's Privy Council, where Lord Shelburne (always the friend of the colonies) had succeeded in expunging a part of it, requiring from the house of burgesses of that colony, an express acknowledgment of the principle of the declaratory act, which that body had resolutely declared to be unconstitutional.

"My Dear Brother, I hardly thought the distance of the ocean between us was so immense, that not a line from you, or any one else in Virginia, could have reached

Yet so I hitherto unhappily experienced.

May I give you joy, as I do our brother William, who has changed his voyage to India, in the Princess of Wales, into one to the land of matrimony, in the Miss Ludwell. As a warm climate suits not with him, I hope he will find a temperate one in the place of his destination.

The esquire writes me, of your not being any longer a member of the assembly. How immoderately lazy you

are!

I have sent all the political pamphlets worth reading to Richard Henry, which I suppose you will read. We are here in very great confusion, parties run so high. Mr. Wilkes is expelled a third time, and will be re-chosen. The two Irish chairmen condemned to death for a murder at the Brentford election, have been pardoned, on a groundless and venal opinion of ten surgeons, five of

whom were placemen, that the blow did not appear to them to be the cause of the death. So not one person has suffered for that unparalleled outrage.

Several addresses have been obtained, condemning the opposition and flattering the ministry. But they are the fruit of force and fraud, and serve rather to manifest a contrary sense in the people, to that which they convey to the throne. The address of the merchants of London was presented yesterday. The mob rose against it, and shut the city gates, and put the whole cavalcade to flight. The shattered remains escaped to St. James', accompanied by a hearse, representing the murder of Allen. The bells were muffled, and were tolled as the addressers passed along Fleet-street, which leads to the city gate. Neither the form, nor the propriety of this address, were ever submitted to the merchants; but these were determined by Mr. Boehem, Mr. Dingley, and Mr. Muilman; the former a man of reputation and credit as a merchant, the two others of bad characters; the first and last Dutchmen. The merchants had it only in their option to sign it or not to sign it; the placemen, tools, and Scotsmen, chose the former; and their act passes for that of all the merchants. There never was a more infamous transaction. Mr. Molleson, Mr. Guest, and Mr. Buchanan, were among the signers.

The affairs of America received their final discussion last week, in the rejection of the New-York petition. The ministry carry every thing, with an absolute majority. A set of men could hardly be chosen, more despised, here, and in America; but they coincide with the views of court; and while such principles remain there, 'tis of little moment who are in the administration. We have little hope from any change, and seem so little faithful to our own cause, that it is confidently asserted, that more goods than ever have been shipped to America this year. If it be thus, we infamously lay down the only weapons we have; slavery is our due, and it will infallibly be our portion.

The worthy Lord Barrington moved the other day for empowering the officers in America to quarter the sol

diers in private houses. But the ministry being divided upon it, a negative was the fate of his motion.

A number of gentlemen have formed an association under the title of Supporters of the Bill of Rights, which gives no small offence to administration, and to the North Britons, because they patronize subscriptions for Mr. Wilkes, and are determined to pay his debts, and make him independent. The chief of them are St. John, St. Aubin, Sir John Molesworth, Sir Joseph Mawbey, Mr. Sawbridge, Mr. Turner, Mr. Townsend, Mr. Maclean, Mr. Glyn, members of parliament; Sir Cecil Wray, also a member; Lord Viscount Montmerries, Sir Francis Delaval, Sir John Barnard, all of them independent, and except Maclean and Townsend, of very considerable family and fortune. Mr. Sawbridge is a brother of the celebrated Mrs. Macauley. The addresses are principally levelled at this association. I have been at one of their meetings, but my purse is not equal to my inclination to support the Bill of Rights.

Your governor's speech was drawn up here, and debated in council. Before he went out, Lord Shelburne obtained the expunging of an express requisition from your assembly, of an acknowledgment of the Declaratory Bill. If therefore any such is made, it is on the sole authority of Lord Hillsborough.

My love to all with you, particularly to Mrs. Lee, if yet so constituted. Adieu, &c.

London, March 23d, 1769.

ARTHUR LEE.

CHAPTER II.

Political contentions between the Ministerial and Opposition parties in EnglandThe Lord Mayor of London, Crosby, and Alderman Oliver are committed to the Tower, by order of the Commons-The Society of the Bill of Rights vote their thanks to Crosby and Oliver, and an Address to them-Lee is appointed to draught the Address and prepares it-It is accepted and published-The Address-Its style, &c. It is admired-He is appointed Colonial Agent of Massachusetts, in case of the death or absence of Dr. Franklin-Is retained by the Assembly of that Province to support their Petition to the King, to remove the Governor and Lieut. Governor-Dr. Franklin's trial before the King and Council, respecting the pub lication of certain letters-On the return of Doctor Franklin, he becomes the Agent for the Province-Remains of a history of the Revolution, by Mr. LeeHis services to the Province of Massachusetts, and the generous conduct of its Assembly-He becomes a friend and correspondent of Samuel Adams-The character of their correspondence-Letter of Dr. Rush-Letter on American affairs of Lee, to his brother in Virginia-Anecdote of Lee and Wedderburne-The Petition to the King and the Addresses of the first Congress are sent to Lee, to be presented and published-Letter of Burke on this subject-Anecdotes and letters of Lee respecting the reception of these Papers, by the King and People of England-Letter of the second Congress to Lee and Penn, with another AddressThe case of Mr. Lovell-His letter to Mr. Lee-Their subsequent friendship and correspondence.

DURING the years 1770 and '71, the political contentions between the ministry and the opposition were very violent. This was particularly the case in the city of London. A messenger of the house of commons arrested a printer, a citizen of London, by order of the commons, commanding him to appear at their bar, for having printed some debates of the house which they declared to be a violation of the privileges of parliament. The opposition contended, that no constitutional privilege justified the warrant, under which the messenger had arrested the printer. This incident gave rise to warm discussions in the papers at the time, and many debates in parliament. The messenger of the commons was taken into custody by a constable, who carried him before the lord mayor. The case was heard by the lord mayor, and aldermen Wilkes and Oliver, who discharged the printer,

and signed a commitment of the messenger, for an assault and false imprisonment. This proceeding so exasperated the commons, that they summoned the aldermen to appear at the bar of the house, to answer for their conduct. Wilkes refused to obey the summons; but the lord mayor and alderman Oliver attended, and justified their proceeding. They were committed to the tower for contumacy. Mr. Crosby, the lord mayor, upon hearing the order for his commitment, addressed the speaker in terms of firm and manly remonstrance against this arbitrary step, and concluded with this bold and patriotic declaration :—“ I will through life continue to obey the dictates of honour and conscience; to support, to the utmost of my power, every part of the constitution of this kingdom; and the event I shall always leave to heaven; at all times, ready to meet my fate."

This measure of the commons excited a strong sentiment of indignation throughout the nation. The society of the supporters of the Bill of Rights passed resolutions against the outrage committed upon the lord mayor and the alderman, and voted an address of thanks to these magistrates, warmly approving of their firmness in having resisted the illegal conduct of the commons. Mr. Lee was appointed to write the address, which being adopted, and much admired, was published by the livery of London. It is here inserted, and is taken from his original MS. draught.

"The Members of the Bill of Rights, impressed with the deepest respect and gratitude for the manly support you have given to the law of the land, and the liberties of the nation, in committing a messenger of the house of commons, for an assault on a citizen of London, have deputed us to convey to you their thanks and approbation of your conduct.

When privilege is at variance with the law of the land and the rights of the people, no honest man can hesitate to determine against it. Our ancestors held as a maxim, that he who does not favour liberty, is impious and cruel.*

Mr. Lee has quoted in his MS. the maxim in Latin "Libertati, qui non favet, impius et crudelis judiciundus." Fortescue.-Ld. Coke.