Society of "The Friends of the People."-Individual or Universal Representation.-Declarations of Sir Philip Francis, 1797. 1st. THAT having been a member of "The Society of the Friends of the People," and having had a share in the conduct of the proceedings, I know of no act, order, resolution, proposition, motion, or proceeding of any kind, in that Society, in favour of individual or universal representation.

2nd. That I am morally certain, that, if any motion to that effect had been proposed, it would have been rejected by a great majority of the whole Society.

3rd. That if it had been possible for such a motion to prevail, I would have quitted the Society, and opposed their proceedings.

4th. That in fact a very different principle of reform, and incompatible with that imputed to us, viz., by extending the right of voting to all householders paying parochial taxes, and stopping there, was unanimously adopted by the Society, on the 9th of April, 1794.

5th. That, on the 30th of May, 1795, the Society unanimously approved of a plan formed by me, on this principle, and recommended. it to the consideration of the public; and that this plan was published in all the newspapers.

6th. That I have, on all occasions, resisted and reprobated, to the utmost of my power, the idea of individual or universal representation, particularly at a meeting of the Society on the 8th of March, 1794; at which I expressly treated it as a dangerous chimera, set up on purpose to delude the lower classes of the people.

That Class of the Community whose Labours and whose Virtues form the Strength and Security of the State.-Extract from a Speech of Mr. Fox, 1795.

3RD NOV. 1795. House of Commons. Debate on the High Price of Corn. Mr. Fox. To protect the industry and to guard the morals of that class of the community, whose labours and whose virtues form the strength and security of the State, is the first duty of a statesman, and the best interest of a nation. Narrow-sighted, indeed, and pernicious, would be the policy of the minister, who sought to draw the sources of his revenue from their dissipation and intemperance, from the relaxation of their habits, and the debasement of their character.

The true Spirit of Commerce which makes a Country great
and powerful.

MAY, 1788. House of Commons. Debate on the Wool Exportation Bill.—Mr. Pulteney said, that whenever a manufacture diffused itself into many hands, it was the uniform custom to raise a cry that the manufacture was lost. The fact was the reverse; the wider the manufacture diffused itself, the greater the national benefit; but, then, undoubtedly the extension was an injury to individuals, as it lessened the size of their profits, and prevented them from acquiring enormous wealth, so early as could be done while a manufacture remained in a few hands. This sort of accumulation and extended rivalship was the true spirit of commerce; it was that which made a country great and powerful, and not the sudden riches accumulated by a few persons who had engaged in particular manufactures. People ought not, therefore, to be alarmed at a clamour raised by interested persons, who, because they could not acquire as much profit as heretofore, were the first to cry out that their branch of manufacture was destroyed. No one accustomed to look into the pamphlets that had at different periods been written, on the subject of trade and manufacture, could be a stranger to these facts.

The House of Commons in the Reign of Charles II.

BEDFORD.

Sir Hum. Winch-Of the Council of Trade of our Plantations, for which 5007. per annum, with a promise of being Privy Councillor.

Mr. Neville-A Court Cully.

BERKS.

Sir Richard Powell-Gentleman of the Horse to the Duchess of York.

Sir Richard Braham-A bankrupt member in pension.

Sir Thomas Higgons-A poor man's son, married the Earl of Bath's sister; sent to Saxony with the Garter.

Sir Thomas Dolman-Flattered with belief of being made Secretary of State.

Richard Aldworth, Esq.-Secretary to the Archbishop of Canterbury; hath a place in the Exchequer; and Commissioner in the Prize Office.

Sir John Bennett-Brother to the Lord Arlington; Postmaster; cheated the poor indigent officers; an Excise and Prize Officer; Lieutenant of the Gentlemen Pensioners' Band, for which he hath a fee of 1607. per annum.

BUCKS.

Sir Richard Temple Under the lash for his State model of Government which the King got from him.

Sir William Drake-Son-in-law to Montague the Queen's Attorney.

CAMBRIDGE.

Sir Thomas Chichley-Master of the Ordnance; Privy Councillor ; Pensioner.

Sir Charles Wheeler-A foot Captain; once flattered with hopes of being Master of the Rolls; now Governor of Nevis; Privy Chamber Man.

William Lord Allington-A Chatham Collector, and a Court Cully laught at by them.

CHESTER.

Thomas Chomley-A Court Cully.

CORNWALL.

Sir Jonathan Trelawny-A private forsworne Cheate in the Prize Office, with the profit of which he bought the place of the Comptroller to the Duke of York; of the King's Privy Chamber.

Sir John Coryton-Guilty with Trelawny. Hath a patent for Lights.

Sir Richard Edgcomb-Cullyed to marry the Halcyon bulk-breaking Sandwich's daughter.

Sir Charles Harbord-First a poor Solicitor; now his Majesty's Surveyor-General, and a Commissioner for the sale of the Fee-farm

Rents.

Bernard Grenville-Eldest, query, brother to the Earl of Bath; had 30007. given him to fetch him out of prison.

Silas Titus-Once a rebel, now Groom of the Bedchamber.

John Arundall-Whose father is the Excise farmer of Cornwall; and hath received very great gifts.

Sir William Godolphin-Farmer of the Tin Mines and Governor of Scilly Island.

Sidney Godolphin-A pimping Groom of the Bedchamber.

Sir William Godolphin-Secretary to the Lord Arlington resident in Spain.

Sir Robert Atkins-Farmer of the Law Tax, the Queen's Solicitor. John Trelawny-His Majesty's Carrier; now and then has a snip out of the Tax.

Charles Trevanion-Indebted to the King 7001., being a Receiver-General.

Henry Seymour-A Groom of the Bedchamber; Comptroller of the Customs of London; Master of the Hamper Office; besides has got in Boones 3000l.

John Birch-an old Rumper, who formerly bought nails at Bristol, where they were cheap, and carried them into the West to sell at Exeter and other places; but marrying a rich widow got into the House; and is now Commissioner in all Excises, and is one of the Council of Trade.

Matthew Wren-Secretary to his Highness, formerly to his father-in-law.

Lord Hawly-A Captain of a troop of horse; of the Bedchamber to his Highness; Serjeant Buffoon; Commissioner for sale of the Fee-farm Rents.

Arthur Spry-A Commissioner of Prizes, and a private pensioner. Sir Cyrill Wich-A Sixth Clerk, and brother-in-law to the Lord of Bath.

CUMBERLAND.

Sir Philip Howard-Captain of the Horse Guards to the Queen. Christopher Musgrave-A Captain of foot and of the Wardrobe.

DEVON.

Sir James Smith-Major of the King's Company, and farmer of the Excise of Devon.

Sir Thomas Clifford-The grandson of a poor Devonshire Vicar; Treasurer of the Household; one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury; Bribemaster-General.

Sir Gilbert Talbot-The King's Jeweller; a great cheat at bowls and cards; not born to a shilling.

Sir John Northcott-An old Roundhead; now the Lord of Bath's Cully.

Sir Nicholas Slanning-Cup-bearer to the Queen, and son-in-law to Sir George Carteret.

Sir Courtney Poole-The first mover for Chimney Money, for which he had the Court thanks, but no snip.

Peter Prideaux-A secret pensioner of 2001. per annum, and his daily food.

W. Harbord-Under Surveyor, and a Court contriver to cheat the King of his lands; and Commissioner for the sale of the Fee-farm Rents.

Sir John Maynard-The King's Serjeant, for which and his pardon he paid 10,000l.

Henry Ford-So much in debt he cannot help taking his Bribe and promise of Employment.

DORSET.

Sir John Shaw-First a vintner's poor boy; afterwards a Customer that cheated the nation of 100,0007.

Sir Winston Churchill-A pimp to his own daughter; one of the Green Cloth and Commissioner for Irish Claims.

Bullen Reymes-An Officer in the Wardrobe; a Commissioner in the Prizes; a Furnisher of stores for the Navy, besides great Boones.

Anthony Ashly-Son to the Lord that looks on both sides and one wry, who is the great Bribe-taker, and has got and cheated 150,000Z.

ESSEX.

Sir Harb. Grimston-Master of the Rolls.

Thomas King-A poor beggarly fellow who sold his voice to the Treasurer for 501. Bribe.

Sir Capall Luckin-Son-in-law to the Master of the Rolls.

GLOUCESTER.

Sir Bayn. Throgmorton-Who has 300l. per annum in land given

him.