for these surmises: I throw them in your way only for you to improve upon at your leifure; for we have it ever in our power to be making experiments in electricity. And although this fluid is the moft fubtile and active of any that we know, we can command it on all occafions; and I am now fo accustomed to its operations, that I feldom comb my hair, or pull off a ftocking, without obferving them under some form or other. How furprising is it, then, that mankind should have lived and breathed in it for so many thousand years, without almost ever fuppofing that it existed!

The ALARM: The conduct and views of

Opposition delineated.

[By the Dean of Gloucester.]

THE promoters of sedition in a free state have many advantages. The love of liberty predisposes us in favour of those who pretend to be its advocates, The mask of patriotism is easily affumed, and the language of complaint and cenfure readily learned.

The herald of faction will confider all accidental evils as projected. He imputes the natural and neceffary imperfections of a government to the negligence of its rulers. He diminishes fuccefs, and aggravates misfortune. He industriously searches for defects and abuses, that he may embarrass the state by clamouring for their reformation, at a time when public danger demands the heart and hand of every fubject for the common defence.

These are the hackneyed arts of faction in every country, by which too maelectrical apparatus. To this end he desired a young lady to stand on a cake of bees wax, and to comb her fister's hair, who was fitting on a chair before her. Soon after she began to comb, the young lady on the wax was greatly aftonished to find her whole body electrified, darting out sparks of fire a gainst every object that approached her. The hair was extremely electrical, and affected an electrometer at a very great di stance. He charged a metal conductor from it with great cafe: and in the space of a few

minutes collected as much fire immediately from the hair as to kindle common spirits; and by means of a small phial gave many smart shocks to all the company. A full account of these experiments was lately read before the Royal Society. They were made during the time of a very hard froft, and on a strong head of hair, where no powder or pomatum had been used for many months,

ny have been feduced to aid in destroying the common freedom, while they imagined they were extending and con. firming it. - Whether a faction among us have endeavoured to acquire power by the fame arts, thougk at the expence of the peace and fafety of the nation, may easily be determined by every man who has attended to their conduct.

I shall not infift on their having incited the Americans to rebel, by avowing their cause, and declaring that it would be madness and cowardice in them not to refift; on their defeating every attempt of government to conciliate the affections of the colonies, by teaching them to ca

vil at the terms propofed, and styling

them" infidious and treacherous." I will not urge their inconfiftency in pledging themselves that they would refift the independency of America, and con feffing that it would be the duty of every good fubject to withstand it, and yet uniformly continuing their oppofition to all measures for destroying and preventing their independency. These are deeds which, from long habit, they have learned to hear of without a blush, and to practise without remorse. Let us therefore come to transactions more recent. With what transport did they observe the affociations in Ireland! What an harvest of fedition did they triumphantly predict! How induftrious were they in scattering the feeds! But when the minister laid before the House propofitions for the relief of Ireland, these benevolent patriots, fo full of anxiety for their distressed brethren in America and Ireland, these champions of Liberty! preserved a cold neutrality and indifference: An incontestable evidence that they with not the cure of grievances, but to dwell and fatten, like poifonous infects, on the wounds of the body-politic!

The Irish, contrary to the wishes and prophecies of these Patriots of ill omen, accepted the terms with joy, yet whoever reads the papers under the influence of Oppofition, or attends to the harangues of the party, will find, that no art is left untried to prevent the reftoration of harinony, to excite fufpicions, and urge the people of Ireland to new demands. - Curfe on that ambition which can induce men, for the fake of fupplanting their rivals in power and station, to kindle the flames of civil war, and fet every man's hands against his neighbour, at a time when diffenfion must be de

struction

struction! These are undeniable marks of unprincipled ambition, and the facts which fupport them must be known by every man of common obfervation. Yet fuch is the influence of an avowed oppofition to tyranny, fuch the magic of heated declamations on Liberty, that men, with the best intentions, are often perfuaded to follow the false colours of patriotism, and to increase the force of those who are the enemies, not the friends, of Freedom. All governments are defective, all human institutions may be abufed, and the wisest measures miscarry: a factious man will therefore never want materials to inflame the minds of the people with a display of abufes, and plans of reformation. The administration and conftitution of every country, it is true, should be rendered as perfect as poffible, (an object which leads many a good man to fupport a wicked faction): but then it should be confidered, whether the feafon will admit of the bufiness of reformation, and whether the evils to be remedied will justify the danger of the medi cine. It is a part of true wisdom, to at tend first to things which most require and merit its care. It would be abfurd in a pilot to fix his mind on the ornaments of his ship when she was finking in a storm, or to quarrel with his feamen about rank and wages, when the diligence and attention of all would scarcely fave them from shipwreck. Thus in the ftate, a prudent patriot will not think a time of calamity, when the nation is closely preffed by foreign foes and obstinate rebellion, a fit season to create jealoufy and alarm, or to adjust delicate plans of reform, at the risk of public har mony, of clogging the wheels of govern ment, and of wasting the spirit and ftrength of the state in domestic disputes, when they should be employed against ⚫its foreign enemies. These are principles which every man profeffes to hold, and yet the conduct of Opposition has been a direct violation of them. Defeated often in their schemes to attain the confidence of the people, they have at last devised a plan, which, from its popular and feductive appearance, they confidently af fure themselves will be fuccefsful. But Latet anguis in herba. With the plausible pretence of establishing economy, and checking corruption and venality, their scheme is, to combine and affociate the people in all parts of the kingdom, and to form committees of correfpondence,

that by their joint force, and opposition to government, they may effect a change of administration, or raise a confederacy which shall dictate to the legiflature, and exercise supreme power in the state. This plan is disclosed to the public in the General Advertiser of Monday, Jan. 10. 1780, a paper notoriously under the direction of the faction, and I beg the attention of every reader to the extract as follows.

"The intention of calling together.. the nobility, gentry, clergy, &c. of the different counties, at this important crifis, is not to carry on the old force of petitioning for what we know a corrupt ministry will never grant, nor for the purpose of trufting to the obstinacy of an unfeeling k- for redress, but for the express purpose of redressing themselves. And to effect this great and conftitutional end, committees are elected by the unanimous voice of the people, to whom they delegate full power and authority to adopt whatever measures they may deem effectual for the falvation of this country, for the re establishment of public liberty, annual parliaments, and an equal representation of the people; and particularly to ftop the rapid progress of venality and corruption, by striking off unneceffary placemen and proftitüted penfioners; and if these bleflings cannot be obtained from parliament, to form a national convention or congress, from the several counties, with the full powers enforce fuch regulations as they may deem necessary for the welfare and existence of this country."

to

-A

To give a fanction and colourable pretence for afsociations, one of the leaders of Oppofition, in a letter to the York committee *, fays, "The legislature itfelf, under that baneful influence, is fo far degraded in the public confidence, as to be esleemed little better than the perfonal property of the minister for the time being, and transferable to any fucceffor." gain, "The attention of the whole body of constituents throughout the kingdom to the present state of public concerns, and their interpofition in a conftitutional way, is now become a matter of the highest and most important neceffity." One of the fame party †, of fuperior rank and influence, also represents, that "he has a thorough conviction of the neceffity that the fenfe of the people should be • Vid. Hartley's Letter to the York com & Duke of Richmond's Letter.

mittee.

taken

taken on the condition of their distracted affairs." He accordingly summons them to meet, " in order to confider what steps it may be expedient for the county to take on the present critical fituation of public affairs."

But as men who are lovers of their country would not be easily led into a measure fubversive of all legal govern ment, associations are required with the plaufible pretence of effecting a plan of economy, cutting off all useless pensions, and curtailing all extravagant salaries : A confummation devoutly to be wished! But by what methods do they propose to effect it? Not by submitting the subject to the free deliberation and wisdom of parliament; for that is unnecessary, as the Marquis of Rockingham and Mr Burke had announced their intentions of making motions for this purpose immediately after the holidays; but by intimidating the legislature into the measure by powerful combinations :- A measure fubverfive of the constitution, destructive of liberty, and ruinous to the state. Parliament would thus become the mere regifter of the edicts of committees, and the sovereignty be transferred from the fenate-house to private cabals and selfcreated affemblies. The anarchy and confufion would then ensue which the legislature was conftituted to prevent: for to remedy the uncertainty, delays, and tumult, of popular affemblies, the legislative power was vested in parliament. But if parliament be bound to confirm and execute the decrees of popular assemblies, its deliberations are use less, and it becomes a mere vox et præterea nihil.

Let it not to be faid, that the object of the present associations is laudable, and they therefore merit the support of every good citizen; for if committees are to be the ultimate judges of the proprie ty and neceffity of public meafures, whatever they pronounce to be such will be as binding as their present resolves, the authority being the fame, and parliament equally excluded from a right of diffenting.

For instance, should the committees who infift on the present reform, adopt the sentiments of Lord George Gordon and the Proteftant associations, and refolve with them, that the act granting relief to Papifts is fubverfive of our civil and religious liberties, the legislature must comply with their demands in this, as much as in the former cafe, as they

will rest on the fame authority. Or should they proceed on the work of reformation, and insist on a triennial parliament, or the abolition of the privilege of boroughs to fend members, they will be equally juftifiable. Who fees not that the exercise of fuch a power will be fubverfive of the constitution? Who will be able to say to such combinations, "So far you shall go and no farther ?" The advances of sedition are gradual; but when it has once acquired the ascendency, no barriers can stop its career. The factious will never want pretences to retain and exercise their power, and the work of reformation will go on till the conftitution and all legal government are refined away.

The progress of innovation in the reign of the unhappy Charles is too striking to be forgotten. The power that was at first employed to remove real grievances, soon became unmanageable by those who had excited and directed it, and at laft destroyed the constitution, and the liberties of the people. The fame arts kindled the rebellion in America, fuppreffed all constitutional authority, and effected its independence. Committees of the people were at first chosen to instruct their representatives in the provincial afsemblies, and an exemption from parliamentary taxation was their highest claim. Associations, and committees of correspondence, were then formed, to keep up an union in the different colonies. A congress of deputies from each was the next measure. The congress, supported by the multitude, foon affumed exclusive legislation, and the provincial affemblies became useless. The people were then led on from claim to claim, till the curtain was drawn, and independency proclaimed.

Such instances will make every lover of order, and good government, cautious how he concurs in erecting an unconstitutional power in the state, which may overturn its liberties, or at least endanger its safety. For if associations of men adverse to the measures of government, and under the influence of Opposition, continue to be formed, to correspond, and increase in strength, men of different sentiments will find it necessary to associate also. Committee thus will be raised against committee, and the state be enfeebled by discord, at a time when unanimity is effential to the common safety.

And

The

And furely the urgency and importance of the cafe did not demand movements of this extraordinary and dangerous nature. No proof has been given, that the present parliament is less free and independent than any former one. The people have the same power as hereto fore, of chufing their own representatives, and discarding those whom they dare not truft. The salaries and perquifites of office are such as were enjoyed by the men who now complain of their exorbitance, and by those who carried us so gloriously through the last war. civil lift is no higher than parliament last year judged it reasonable and liberal to make it: A just and honourable act, when we confider the happy increase of the Royal household, and his Majesty's generofity in furrendering the hereditary revenues of the crown, (which amounted to 800,0001. per annum, in the reign of George II. sometimes to a million), in order that they might be made part of the finking fund for the discharge of the national debt. No instances have been produced of an improper expenditure; and we have the greatest reason to expect the contrary, from a prince, who gave so illuftrious a proof of his attachment to liberty, and impartial justice, by making the judges independent [23.159.]. There seems therefore to be no fufficient cause for such violent and extraordinary measures, especially as the subject was before parliament, t, - the proper affembly for the difcuffion of fuch que

stions.

But there is much ground to suppose, aat public good was not the aim of the fnen who projected this plan; but, their uniform wish, to embarrass government, and acquire power. Why else were these schemes of frugality neglected when they held the helm? Why did they not then begin the work of reformation? Why have they chosen a time for this Susiness when all the wisdom and unaniImty of the state are requisite for our de fence against foreign foes? - when delay, distraction of councils, and civil difcord, may be our utter ruin?

I am far from denying, that many men of the stricteft integrity, and with the noblest intentions, have concurred in the measure. They will foon be called upon to proceed a step farther, either to fall upon a plan to enforce their petition, or, fiould it be granted, to co-operate in leme new reformation. Let them, then, VOL. LIL,

Account of a wild man in the Pyrenees. Monfieur Le Roy, the French King's engineer, employed in drawing mafts from the Pyrenees, says, that in the year 1774, a savage, or wild man, was discovered by the shepherds who fed their flocks in the neighbourhood of the forest of Yuary. This man, who inhabited the rocks that lay near the forests, was very tall, covered with hair, like a bear; nimble as the Hifars; of a gay humour, and, in all appearance, of a mild character, as he neither did, nor seemed to intend harm to any body. He often visited the cottages, without ever attempting to carry off any thing. He had no knowledge of bread, milk, or cheese. His greatest amusement was to see the sheep running, and to scatter them; and he teftified his pleasure at this fight by loud fits of laughter; but never attempted to hurt them. When the shepherds let loose their dogs after him, he fled with the swiftness of a racer, and never allowed the dogs to come near him. One morning he came to the cottage of some workmen; and one of them endeavouring to get near him, and eatch him by the leg, he laughed heartily, and then made his efcape. He seemed to be about thirty years of age. As the foreft in question is very extenfive, and has a communication with the vast woods that belong to the Spanish territories, it is natural to suppose, that this folitary, but chearful being, had been loft in his infancy, and had fubfifted on fruits and herbs. [11.404.]

[How wild men are produced in the immense forests on the continent, has hitherto escaped the vigilance of naturalists; but that there are fuch, the prefent instance, added to that of the wild man brought over from the forefts of Germany as a present to K. George 1. confirm. Gent. Mag.]

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