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quently proves a fatiguing and laborious office, though an office in which much parliamentary and much general knowledge may be acquired; thofe Members in particular who are young and robuft ought to make a point of undertaking it. Active and impartial attention in examining witneffes on fuch occafions, and a perfect freedom from the influence of private attachment or diflike, as well as of political confiderations in forming a decifion, are duties of fo obvious a nature, whether enforced in each individual cafe by oath or not, that it seems unnecessary to dwell upon them.

As the Houfe of Commons claims to itself the exclusive management of the public purse, the right of originating and fixing all pecuniary impositions to be levied on the subject, and of withholding from Government the customary supplies (a control wifely vested in the Popular Representatives, in order that they may be enabled in great emergencies to fecure compliance with the general sense of the People); the proper mode of exerting this power becomes one of the first confiderations which ought to occupy the mind of

an individual Member. It is a keen and tempered weapon, by which the Houfe of Commons, when thielded by the concurrence of the Nation, may ultimately bring the other branches of the Legislature to its own terms. But it ought never to be exercised in any degree for the mere purpose of impeding the measures of Government, and of advancing a particular party to power; nor of gratifying unreasonable jealoufies entertained against the Houfe of Lords or the Crown; nor of infringing on the rights respectively affigned to them by the Conftitution. It is fitly employed in lopping off redundant expences, needlefs offices, and unmerited penfions; and in promoting, by the rigorous establishment of economy in every department of the State, the virtue and happiness of Great Britain, and the peace and tranquillity of the world.

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CHAP. VII.

ON THE DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFI CERS OF GOVERNMENT.

THE appellation of Executive Officers may

be given to all perfons poffeffed of offices inftituted for the national fervice, and paid out of the national purfe. These public functionaries are of various profeffions, and of various ranks. Our concern in the present chapter is with those who, occupying the highest posts in the civil department of the State, may be regarded as the depofitaries, under the Crown, of the political power of Government.

As it is not my design to enter into a detail of the circumftances which difcriminate the authority, jurisdiction and employment of one Member of the Cabinet from those of another; the confufion which would attend the mention of several perfons at once will apparently be best avoided by couching the subsequent obfervations

fervations in general terms. Though some of thefe obfervations may have, particular reference to a Prime Minister, they will commonlybe applicable to his colleagues; and the application will be too obvious to require to be pointedly made or illustrated.

The motives and views which fhould guide the determination of a confcientious man, with respect to accepting an executive employment, with respect to the performance of its duties, and with respect to refigning it, will be fucceffively confidered.

I. A good man, who has an official fituation in profpect, will diligently occupy himself in the preparatory cultivation and improvement of his understanding, principles, and difpofitions. He will exert himself to acquire by ftudy, by meditation, by an observance of men and manners, that enlargement of his intellectual powers and capacities, that knowledge and experience, that prefence of mind, those habits and virtues, of which he is likely to ftand in need. He will be guided in his purfuits by an especial regard to the functions of

the

the poft which more particularly opens to his view; and the higher that poft is, the more will he extend his attention beyond its immediate limits; the more industriously will he strive to qualify himself to turn to the account of the Public the influence which it may afford him over other departments of the State; and the more closely will he observe at home the operation of those general causes which have contributed in other times, and in other countries, to the growth or to the decline of the morals and the ftrength of Empires.

The public welfare is the object of official inftitutions. It is an object to which a good man will pay ftedfast attention in determining the course which he should adopt, when pro motion throws open her gates before him. He will not accept an office, unless he is perfuaded that in point of talents, of information, of diligence, of health, he is competent to fulfil the duties of it to the fatisfaction and benefit of his country. In making the estimate, he will beware of over-rating the amount or mifconceiv ing the nature of his own abilities; and of affixing an undue value to wealth, power, ho

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nours,