verdict, whether the mere reading of this publication-taking all its parts together-not casting aside its limitations and qualificationsbut taking it as it appears in this paper-you are now to say, whether the mere perusal of it in this shape, is likely to produce those effects which have been described by the counsel for the prosecution-effects which have never yet been produced by the infliction of the punishment itself. This consideration, Gentlemen, seems to deserve your very particular attention. If you can say aye to this, you will then bring your verdict against the Defendant-and not only against him, but against me, his Advocate, who have spoken to you much more freely than he has done and against those gallant officers who have so ably condemned the practice which he condemns-and against the country which loudly demands an attention to its best interests -and against the stability of the British Constitution. EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, ON THE ORDERS IN COUNCIL, JUNE 16th, 1812. NEVER did we stand so high since we were a nation, in point of military character. We have it in abundance, and even to spare. This unhappy and seemingly interminable war, lavish as it has been in treasure, still more profuse of blood, and barren of real advantage, has at least been equally lavish of glory; its feats have not merely sustained the warlike fame of the nation, which would have been much; they have done what seemed barely possible; they have greatly exalted it; they have covered our arms with immortal renown. Then, I say, use this glory, use this proud height on which we now stand, for the purpose of peace and conciliation with America. Let this and its incalculable benefits be the advantage which we reap from the war in Europe; for the fame of that war enables us safely to take it;-and who, I demand, give the most disgraceful counsels-they who tell you we are in military character but of yesterday-we have yet a name to win-we stand on doubtful ground-we dare not do as we list, for fear of being thought afraid--we cannot, without loss of name, stoop to pacify our American kinsmen.-Or I, who say we are a great, a proud, a warlike people—we have fought every where, and conquered wherever we fought-our character is eternally fixed-it stands too firm to be shaken-and on the faith of it we may do towards America, safely for our honour, that which we know our interests require! This perpetual jealousy of America! Good God! I cannot with temper ask on what it rests! It drives me to a passion to think of it. Jealousy of America! I should as soon think of being jealous of the tradesmen who supply me with necessaries, or the clients who entrust their suits to my patronage. Jealousy of America! whose armies are yet at the plough, or making, since your policy has willed it so, awkward (though improving) attempts at the loom-whose assembled navies could not lay siege to an English sloop of war: jealousy of a power which is necessarily peaceful as well as weak, but which, if it had all the ambition of France and her armies to back it, and all the navy of England to boot; nay, had it the lust of conquest which marks your enemy, and your own armies, as well as navies, to gratify it, is placed at so vast a distance as to be perfectly harmless! And this is the nation, of which, for our honour's sake, we are desired to cherish a perpetual jealousy, for the ruin of our best interests! I trust that no such phantom of the brain will scare us from the path of our duty. The advice which I tender is not the same which has at all times been offered to this country. There is one memorable æra in our history, when other uses were made of our triumphs from those which I recommend. By the Treaty of Utrecht, which the execrations of ages have left inadequately censured, we were content to obtain, as the whole price of Ramilies and Blenheim, an additional share of the accursed Slave Trade. I give you other counsels. I would have you employ the glory which you have won at Talavera and Corunna, in restoring your commerce to its lawful, open, honest course; and rescue it from the mean and hateful channels in which it has lately been confined. And if any thoughtless boaster in America, or elsewhere, should vaunt, that you had yielded F |