rhetorick or example?

To repeat the particular topicks of accusation, and recapitulate the
arguments which have been produced to confute it, would be a tedious and
unnecessary labour; unnecessary, because it is well known that they once
had the power of convincing this house, and that nothing has since
happened to lessen their force, and because many of them now have been
already repeated by the noble lords that have opposed the motion.

To search far backward for past errors, and to take advantage of later
discoveries in censuring the conduct of any minister, is in a high
degree disingenuous and cruel; it is an art which may be easily
practised, of perplexing any question, by connecting distant facts, and
entangling one period of time with another.

The only candid method of inquiry is to recur back to the state of
affairs, as it then appeared, to consider what was openly declared, and
what was kept impenetrably secret, what was discoverable by human
sagacity, and what was beyond the reach of the most piercing politician.

With regard to the Hanover treaty, it is not, my lords, requisite that
we should engage ourselves in a very minute examination; for it was not
only not transacted by the right honourable gentleman whose behaviour is
the subject of this debate, but cannot be proved to have been known by
him till it was formally ratified. If he afterwards approved it either
in the council or the senate, he cannot justly, how destructive or
ridiculous soever that treaty may be thought, be charged with more than
his share of the guilt, the bare guilt of a single vote.

But there is one accusation yet more malicious, an accusation not only
of crimes which this gentleman did not commit, but which have not yet
been committed, an accusation formed by prying into futurity, and
exaggerating misfortunes which are yet to come, and which may probably
be prevented. Well may any man, my lords, think himself in danger, when
he hears himself charged not with high crimes and misdemeanours, not
with accumulative treason, but with misconduct of publick affairs, past,
present, and future.

The only charge against this gentleman, which seems to relate more to
him than to any other man engaged in the administration, is the
continuance of the harbour of Dunkirk, which, says the noble duke, he
must be acquainted with as commissioner of the treasury; but if the
title of first commissioner be denied, if his authority be but the same
wi