had long been reprefented by members who were nominated, in fome measure, by the miniftry. Lord Trentham, having vacated his feat in the house, by accepting a place under the crown, again declared himself a candidate; but met with violent oppofition. It was objected to him by fome, that he had been uncommonly active in introducing fome French strollers, who had come over to exhibit plays upon the fuppreffion of our own. This accufation, whether true or falfe, excited numbers against him, who ftyled themselves the independent electors of Westminster, and named Sir George Vandeput, a private gentleman, as his competitor. The oppofition refolved to fupport their candidate at their own expence. They accordingly opened houses of entertainment, folicited votes, and propagated abuse as ufual. At length, the poll being clofed, the majority appeared in favour of lord Trentham. A fcrutiny was demanded by the other fide; it was protracted by the obftinacy of both parties: but this alfo turning out in favour of lord Trentham, the independent electors petitioned the house, complaining of an undue election, and of partiality and injuftice of the high-bailiff of Westminster, who took the poll. To this petition the house paid little regard, but proceeded to examine the high-bailiff as to the caufes that had fo long protracted the election, who laid the blame upon Mr. Crowle, who had acted as councel for the petitioners, as alfo on the honourable Alexander Murray, and one Gibson, an upholsterer. These three perfons were therefore brought to the bar of the boufe. Crowle and Gibfon, after having afked pardon upon their knees, and being reprimanded by the house, were difmiffed. Murray was firft admitted to bail; but, afer fome wit neffes neffes had depofed that he had headed a mob to intimidate the voters, it was voted that he should be committed a clofe prifoner to Newgate; and, to invigorate their measures, that he fhould receive this fentence at the bar of the house on his knees. He accordingly appeared; but, being directed by the speaker to kneel, refused to comply. This refufal threw the whole houfe into a commotion; and it was ordered that he should be committed close prisoner to Newgate, debarred the use of pen, ink, and paper, and that no perfon fhould have accefs to him without permiffion of the house. This imprisonment he underwent, fenfible by the conftitution it could continue no longer than while they continued to fit; and, at the clofe of the feffion, he was conducted from prison to his own house, amidst the acclamations of the people. He now was thought by many entirely free from all farther perfecution: but in this they were mistaken; for at the opening of the enfuing feffions, a motion was made, that Mr. Murray fhould be again committed close prifoner to the Tower. Hitherto it was fuppofed by feveral, that the house of commons had acted with a spirit of resentment; now it was thought that they made an attempt at extending their privileges. Though the delinquent, a perfon of no great confequence in himself, had taken the prudent precaution of retiring from their refentment, yet feveral of the people faw that the house confidered itself rather as a body distinct from the people than the guardians of the people; and, inftead of maintaining the liberties of the fubject in general, had attempted to increase their own. Some thought they faw in this measure the feeds of future aristocracy; that the house of commons conftituted themfelves judges of their own privileges; leges; and that the liberty of every individual in fociety was at the difpofal of a body who profeffed acting chiefly for their own honour. However this may be, another measure was soon after taken, which, in reality, made diftinctions among the people, and laid an unpaffable line between the rich and poor. This was an act for the better preventing clandeftine marriages, and for the more publick folemnization of that ceremony. The grievance complained of, and which this law was to redrefs, was, that the fons and daughters of opulent families were often feduced into marriage, before they had acquired fufficient experience in life to be fenfible of the disparity of fortune in the match. This ftatute therefore enacted, that the bans of marriage should be regularly published three fucceffive Sundays, in the church of the parish where both parties had refided for one month at least before the ceremony: that a marriage which was folemnized without this previous publication, or a licence obtained from the bishop's court, fhould be void, and the perfon who folemnized it fhould be tranfported for feven years. This act was, at that time, thought replete with confequences injurious to fociety; and experience has manifefted fome of them; villains have gone about deceiving ignorant women, under a pretence of marriage, and then have left them without redrefs. The poor were thus rendered utterly incapable of making alliances with the rich; and the wealth of the nation has thus been more liable to accumulation in opulent families. It has been thought to impede that ardour which impels many to marry; and to clog a ceremony of the most infinite advantage to fociety, with procraftination and delay. Some have affirmed, that debaucheries debaucheries and lewdnefs have become more frequent fince the enacting this law; and it is believed that the numbers of the people are upon the decline. This feffion of parliament was alfo diftinguished by another act equally unpopular, and, perhaps, equally injurious to the religion of the community. This was a law for the naturalizing the Jews. The minifters boldly affirmed, that fuch a law would greatly contribute to the advantage of the nation; that it would increase the credit and commerce of the kingdom, and fet a laudable example of political toleration. Many others, however, were of very different fentiments: they faw that greater favour was fhewn by this bill to Jews, than to some other fects profeffing the Christian religion; that an introduction of this people into the kingdom would difgrace the character of the nation, and cool the zeal of the natives, already too lukewarm. However, notwithstanding all'oppofition, this bill was paffed into a law; nor was it till the enfuing feffion of parliament, that it was thought neceffary to be repealed. An act, equally unpopular with the two former, was now alfo paffed, which contained regulations for the better preferving the game. By this none but men already poffeffed of a stated fortune had a privilege of carrying a gun, or deftroying game, though even upon the grounds which he himself rented. This totally damped all that martial fpirit among the lower orders of mankind, by preventing their handling thofe arms which might one day be neceffary to defend their country; and gave the rich the fole enjoyment of a pleasure, which, before, had been confidered as the common privilege of humanity. Such were the laws paffed this feffion; VOL. II. through K through all which a fpirit of ariftocracy was difcerned by fome. The body of the A. D. 1756. rich, no longer fearing oppreffion from the throne, or an infringement of their own liberties, now began to lean heavy upon the poor, and to confider the interests of that useful part of fociety as entirely diftinct from their own. They never omitted, however, their usual addreffes to the throne; and this feffion was remarkable for an addrefs of thanks to his majefty, for maintaining, and rendering permanent, the general tranquillity of Europe, at a time when war was kindling in almost every quarter of the world. LETTER LXIII. F we feek for the origin of the war which now began to threaten univerfal devaftation, we shall find it kindling up in feveral countries, both of Europe, America, and Afia, at one and the fame time. Moft other national contefts have arisen from fome one principal caufe; but this war seems to have been produced by the concurrence of feveral, or it may be confidered as the continuance of the late war, which had not been effectually extinguished by the defective treaty of Aix la Chapelle. In Afia, upon the coaft of Malabar, the English and French had never ccafed hoftilities. The claims of Pruffia and Auftria, upon the territories of Silefia, had never been thoroughly adjufted. The limits of Nova Scotia, inhabited by the Englifh, and bordered upon by the French, were never precisely determined; and, southward, the boun darics |