that party requires her votary to violate, either expressly or impliedly, the dictates of both ;to affirm what he believes to be falfe; to deny what he knows to be true; to praise what he judges unwife ;-to countenance what he deems reprehenfible. Let him explicitly make known to those with whom he co-operates in political undertakings, that he is an independent friend, who will fupport them in every measure which he fhall think equitable in itfelf, and conducive to the national welfare; not an articled confederate, pledged to concur in proceedings which his judgement or his confcience disapproves. Let him guard with fcrupulous vigilance against rashness in contracting political obligations by a precipitate acceptance of offices or honours. And whenever cool reflection induces him to receive a post of employment, or perfonal promotion, from the leader who difpenfes the favours of the Crown; let him not forget that fincerity requires him not to leave the donor or the public under miftaken ideas of his having engaged to make that return, which prevailing custom may have taught the one regularly to expect, and the other to behold without fur

prise. A difregard of these precautions has made many men criminal, many suspected, and many unhappy. The evil too, though it may be prevented, is frequently incapable of being remedied. The man, who has been. advanced in rank, cannot reduce himself to his ancient level. An office may be refigned; but the character may have been stamped by the mode of obtaining it. The burthen may be fhaken off; but the marks which it has impressed may remain for life.

It is a prevailing complaint, that few Peers who are not invefted with offices, nor candidates for them, are fufficiently fedulous, except on particular occafions, in their attendance at the House of Lords. This circumftance ought to operate as an admonition on each individual member. And the poffeffion of a permanent feat, while it fecures a Nobleman from incurring by neglect the forfeiture of his ftation, will prove on that very account, to a generous mind, an incitement to diligence.

The public functions of a Peer are twofold; thofe of a Legislator, and thofe of a Judge.

Judge. In the former capacity, it is his bufiness to promote the glory of God by endeavouring to promote the true happiness of this Nation, and that of other nations as far as it depends on the conduct of this. In the latter, by an attentive examination of the cafe brought before him, and an impartial adherence to law, or, where law leaves him undirected, to fubftantial justice, in his decifion.

;

In all public measures which have an evident bearing on the happiness of foreigners, regard is to be paid to those principles of juftice and benevolence which ought to be obferved in tranfactions between individuals. In the eye of Christianity, all men are brethren ; in that of upright policy, nations are individuals to each other. The confcientious Legiflator will feel the fame abhorrence of involving Great Britain in a war on any other grounds than thofe of indifpenfable felf-defence, or of affording ftipulated protection to allies, or welcome fuccour to the oppreffed, which would ftrike him at the idea of embruing his own hands, through felf-interestedpess, rancour, or revenge, in the blood of a

fellow.

fellow-fubject. During the course of the moft profperous hoftilities he will at all times be anxious for peace, on any terms which would afford a reasonable compenfation for injuries received, and a reasonable profpect of future fecurity. And if this country fhould be enabled, by the bleffing of Providence on her arms, to reduce the enemy to fubmiffion, he will warn her to liften to the voice of Christian charity; "to do as fhe would be done by, to love her "neighbour as herself," and to relax, as far as prudence will permit, thofe rigid conditions. which strict right may entitle her to impofe. In the confideration of treaties of alliance with other powers, he will steadily refift every clause which apparently may be the means of engaging his own country in the fupport of an unjust war, or in the prosecution of a just war to unreasonable extremities. In difcuffing treaties of commerce, he will not act for GreatBritain on the narrow principles of a tricking agent; but, confcious of his duty to do good to all mankind, he will recommend that mutual communication of advantages which may cement the friendship, and excite and reward the industry, of both the contracting parties.

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parties. He will not promote trade at the expence of morality. He will not confent in behalf of his country to any proposed regulations, in confequence of perceiving that they would enable her to spread her manufactures by fmuggling. In framing laws which relate to the diftant poffeffions of Great Britain, he will confider himself as the common guardian of the mother country and of her dependencies; and bound to confult the welfare of all the inhabitants of the latter, whatever be the hue of their complexions.

In determining, on the grounds which have already been explained, the measures to which he shall direct his principal attention; he will be folicitous to include those in the number which are at once important in themselves, and not likely to be undertaken by others. Of this description are various political investigations, which are attended with much labour and little popularity. He will make it his object to obtain not only the redress of those grievances, and the reform of thofe abuses, which refult from the operation of general principles; but of thofe alfo which originate