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the adorers of our conftitution, fearful that this their craft was in danger, employed a Burke to pave the way for the hell-hounds of war, with the cry of great is thé conftitutional Diana of England, and a Duke of York to lead on the millitary bands to carnage and death. Every exertion was used to extinguish the light of liberty. The Habeas Corpus act was fufpended, and a violent perfecution commenced, which has also proved fatal to fome of the best friends of this country. Muir, Palmer, Skirving, Geṛrald, ye martyrs of liberty, may the bleffings of heaven attend you! we deplore, we feel your loss; and would gladly put an end to, or alleviate your sufferings; but we alfo are in bondage.

But it has alfo evidently been the defign, to enflave or to exterminate the French nation. Barbarous and horrid as this may appear, it was twice attempted; first by the fword, afterwards by famine; but providence has interfered and averted their devilish defigns.

They have, during the whole of this war, been endeavouring to augment the millitary force of this country, and by violent measures, fubdue that fpirit of liberty and enquiry, that has pervaded the land. Elfe why fo many barracks, in every part of the kingdom; why are fuch horrid abuses of law, as crimping and preffing allowed; why so industriously circulate the idea of a French invafion, when it has fince appeared, that it was only with a view to frighten the people to adopt the meafure of affembling and forming fencible corps; why encrease the militia, &c. &c. Unless it be with an intention of confining the Lion, while they rob him of his claws and teeth;may he fee the net defigned for him, and be rouzed from his le thargy before it is too late.

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To the EDITOR of the PHILANTHROPIST.

CITIZEN,

THE prefent fearcity of wheat, and the high price of bread

in confequence of that fearcity, at present engroffes much of the attention of all ranks of people. Corporate bodies and opulent individuals are ufing great exertions to raife fubfcriptions to relieve the labouring poor, by fupplying them with bread at about one-fourth under the market price; which bread is to be of an inferior quality to that which is usually fold. But that the fwinifh multitude may quietly feed on such bread as their generous benefactors, in their great wisdom, shall think fit to order for them, they, these benevolent beings, declare no other bread shall be used by them or their families. But as the bakers will not be prohibited felling of flour, and as men in the most exhalted fituations are not moft remarkable for speaking the truth-Quere, Whether those who have convenience in their own houfes, will not have bread made of a fuperior quality for their confumption? Should that not be the cafe Will any equality take place, if all perfons in this happy island, living under a wife and well regulated government, eat bread of the fame quality? certainly not. For when we confider our humane rulers (who tell us they know beft what we are in want of) can enjoy every other neceffary of life in its highest perfection, bread to many, if not perhaps to all fo fituated, can be fpared without any inconvenience to their infatiate appetites -but which to the greater body of our fellow-citizens is the chief food they can procure for themselves and numerous families, particularly at the prefent time, when every other neceffary for the sustenance of man is not to be procured but at the most exorbitant prices, fuch prices indeed as almost amount to a prohibition to the journeymen mechanic and labourer partaking thereof. I fhould not be surprised in a short time if fubfcriptions should alfo be made to fupply the labouring poor with meat at a reduced price, (and which I hope will take place)

place) for, what I conceive to be the cause that has ftimulated the raising subscriptions to reduce the price of bread, will also operate to reduce the price of meat-not humanity and fellow feeling-but fearful the extreme diftrefs that fo large a portion of our fellow-citizens were and are fuffering, should irritate them to attempt to revenge their accumulated wrongs-and by fo doing endanger the lives and properties of the avaricious and execrated wretches who have been the cause of plunging this country into the prefent ruinous and deftructive war; by which many of those individuals have amaffed confiderable fortunes, which enables them to live, and, as they really do, in the most unboundest diffipation. I would not wifh it to be understood, that I mean to reprefent every person who may or has subscribed to reduce the price of bread, not to be influenced by humanity.. I am well convinced that it is the fole motive of many to relieve the diftrefs of their fellow citizens. But was it not for the cause I have before affigned, I have no doubt the contributions would bear but a fcanty proportion to what I am inclined to think they will upon the prefent occafion.

Citizen, in confequence of the great rife within a fhort period of all the neceffaries of life, we have been told by many of our virtuous reprefentatives, it was abfolutely neceffary to increase the annual income of his royal highness the Prince of Wales, to tell us which, there was little occafion, as our fellow citizens must before have been well convinced of his prudence and great caution, in not being the cause of the people, on his account, bearing any additional burthen. Notwithftanding which the immenfe debt he has unavoidably contracted, and which no individual can doubt, was neceffarily incur red to fupport the dignity of his exalted station, (the providing for which is one out of the many numerous bleffings arifing from monarchical government) must clearly point out to you the neceffity of the measure. However, if we are continually to be called upon, and I am much afraid we fhali, as other branches of the illuftrious houfe of Brunswick will require us to bear additional burthens to fupport their dignity alfo; as such aids

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muft ftill be fqueezed from the laborious part of our fellow citizens, instead of confoling themselves with the thoughts of a fpeedy period to their prefent fufferings, fo rapidly do they seem increafing, that they must endeavour, if they. do not unanimously determine to combine together, and ufe every legal exertion to put a stop to the mad, fanguinary, and nefarious career, of one of the most diabolical adminiftrations that ever fullied the annals of hiftory-to arm themselves with fortitude, and calmly await the fate attending pufillanimous conduct; to be fwallowed up in the votex of wretchedness.

I would recommend to our fellow-citizens, not to be too hafty to attach themselves to the interefts of individuals most forward to grant them relief at prefent, but weigh well the motives, that has induced them to adopt the measures now taken for their affiftance. I have in the former part of this letter declared to you what my ideas were. If it was the serious intention of the major part of thofe, who would now appear to be fo anxious to give them that affiftance which they are fo justly entitled to; if inftead of affociating to raise contributions for a temporary aid, they would exert themselves to enhance the price of their labour, and thereby enable them to enjoy the fruits of their induftry, which our prefent oppreffive laws deprive them of. The fact is, thefe petty defpots wish to keep them in the moft flavish ftate, a state that their very existence. fhall be dependant on their capricious bounty. However I do fincerely hope the noble exertions made in the cause of liberty in America and France, and the glorious fuccefs attending fuch manly efforts, will infpire my fellow citizens to endeavour to obtain those rights, they have fo long been deprived of, but which they are entitled to. The event of which cannot be doubtful if attempted, with a determined perfeverance.

I remain Fellow Citizen,

Your's fincerely.

J. B..

SONG.

SONG.

BY T. BEST.

On the white Cliffs of Albion Britannia reclin'd,

N

Was feen with a face full of woe;

Commotions much ftronger affected her mind,
Than the turbulent billows below:

Tears flow'd down her cheeks like the fource of a rill,
Bereft was her bofom of reft;

She pour'd forth a figh-the waves became still,
And gave ear to the words fhe exprefs'd:
"With England-Old England! I fear all is o'er,
Peace and plenty alas! now are filed;

With broils and with civil diffentions is tore,
And the poor are depriv'd of their bread:
Yon veffel, which now I behold from afar,
The wild waves may shortly o'erwhelm,
On quickfands may run and destroy ev'ry tar,
If the pilot's untrue at the helm!

Poor country! dear country!-how alter'd and chang'd,
How harrafs'd and forely diftrefs'd!

From your ancestors glorious examples eftrang'd,
Whom Providence fhielded and blefs'd:
But how fhou'd we ever its favours expect,

Or suppose we shall prosper or thrive,
When our great men of state, ev'ry duty neglect,
And at Old England's ruin connive.

Horrid!-horrid the thought!-my poor hofom bleeds,
Fresh torments arife in my breast;
Lo!-adown the gold fky, the fun flowly recedes,

And the world will be fhortly at rest:
But to me the dear bleffing of life was not giv'n,
To live to fee ENGLISHMEN flaves!"-

Then lifting her eyes and her hands up to Heav'n,
She headlong plung'd into the waves.

MR.

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