ceffor; and, as others may think themselves injured by fuch a partial preference, the throne is as tottering as the fucceffion is arbitrary. Witnefs the hiftory of the oriental nations.

In elective kingdoms, corruption, violence, and bribery precede the coronation: bloodshed and mifery are the confequences. Poland is no more, because there have been many candidates, but no heir to the throne. Her liberum veto, or charter of unbounded liberty to oppose the king, has aided Pruffia and Auftria in rivetting her chains. Here we know our king from his cradle. The object of our homage depends not on the caprice of a father, nor on the ambition of the nobles. It is determined by the law. As our king never dies, we are expofed to not revolutions by the choice of a fucceffor. "The "order of fucceflion is, in monarchies, founded "on the welfare of the ftate: it is not fixed for

4

the reigning family; but because it is the in"tereft of the ftate, that it fhould have a reign

ing family."

ART.

Montefquieu, Efprit des Loix, vol. II. page 192

"HEREBY utterly abjuring any allegiance "or obedience unto the perfon taking upon "himself the ftyle and title of Prince of "Wales in the life-time of his father, and

who, fince his death, is faid to have af"fumed the style and title of King of Great "Britain and Ireland, by the name of Charles

the third, and to any other perfon claiming "or pretending a right to the crown of thefe "realms."

The proofs of this article may be feen in the explanation of the firft. "It is impoffible to "ferve two mafters." Allegiance is due to the reigning fovereign, and from the earliest times, to him alone. In whofe name is juftice adminiftered?"In the name of George the third." In whofe name are we protected from the midnight robber? "In the name of George the "third," &c. &c.

Now, fir, I muft entreat your patience. You know, that in all parliamentary debates on the oppreflive operation of the penal laws, the Stuarts are the greateft obftacle in the Catho-. lics way to a legal indulgence. They are confidered by fome of the illuftrious members, as

the

the polar ftar by which we expect to fteer one day into a haven of fafety and deliverance; whilst we ourselves look on them as planets of a malific influence.

66

"Aut,Sirius ardor,

"Ille fitim morbofque ferens mortalibus ægris, Nafcitur, et lævo contriftat lumine Cœlum." VIRGIL.

To ftate the cafe, and difabuse gentlemen, amiable and humane in all other refpects, but, unluckily for our intereft, too fufpicious of a foreign attachment, which we absolutely disclaim, let us view the Stuarts in three refpects: first, With regard to the obligations they have conferred on us: 2dly, With regard to what we expect from them: 3dly, With regard to their claims to the crown of England, in quality of defcendants of its ancient and rightful kings. If there be no incentive to gratitude on our part, no right to our allegiance on theirs,the bonds of attachment are diffolved, and the great panegyrifts of our love for the Stuart line, reduced to the alternative of adopting the unreasonable whim of the poet :

"Amo te, Zabede, fed nefcio dicere quare." "I love you, Charles, but I know not why."

or perfuading themselves, that love is kindled

by

by the flames of tyranny and oppreffion. The firft is abfurd; the fecond unnatural.

Firft, As to our obligations to this inaufpicious family, History can inform you, that James the firft fignalized his generofity in our favour, by giving, under the fineffe of laws, fix counties in Ulfter to Scotch planters. Hume attempts to juftify his countryman by the following fhift: "He gave them arts and manufac

tures in exchange." The cruel Ahab wast more generous: he offered real money for Naboth's vineyard. Grateful fouls! blefs your benefactor: he improved your minds at the expence of your bodies; and, like your preachers in Lent, famifbed your flesh to fatten your Spirit.

Charles the first ran the fame courfe with his father. No end of feizures, inquifitions, and regal plunder. Shamed at laft into defiftance by the Irish parliament, an artful stratagem is devifed, equally calculated to answer the ends of rapacity, and exculpate the monarch.

The Earl of Strafford is named vicegerent and takes the blame upon himself; the king thanks him for his feasonable advice; and Ireland fees Tiberius and Sejanus revived in the perfons of Charles and his favourite. In thefe

two

1

two reigns pursuits were not extended to goods and chattels alone. The fword of tyranny reached to confcience itself. Spiritual fupremacy, and religious uniformity, were inforced with fuch rigour, that according to Borlafe, fome of the clergy used to bang themselves. A farcaftic remark! the falfity whereof, was more owing to their conftancy, than to the lenity of the Stuarts. Charles the Second, who according to lord Lyttelton, could have become as defpotic a prince as any in Europe, fets up a fham court of claims to fave the appearance of juftice. He confirms Cromwell's grants to the adventurers, who followed the banners of that regicide, tinctured with the blood of the royal martyr, obliges his enemies by the facrifice of his defenders, confents to the special exception of Irish Catholics from the general act of indemnity, refuses the least aflistance to Lord R, who fold his eftate to fupport him. during his exile, and gives his fanction to a ridiculous law, declaring it high treafon to call the king a Papist. Of all the tranfgreffors of this law, he himself was the most signal, whereas he was confeffed and anointed by a Benedictine monk; and the magistrates must have been very remifs that did not hang him for contravening fuch an important decree, prohibiting to fufpect for religion, a king who practifed none.

" Nec