d imitate his
royal example, and show a passion for their native country too; that
they would faithfully stand forth and say, that, as king of this
country, whatever interests may interfere with it, this country is to
be his first, his principal care; that in the act of settlement this
is an express condition. But what sluggish sensations, what foul
hearts must those men have, who, instead of conducting his majesty's
right principles, address themselves to his passions, and misguide his
prejudices? making a voluntary overture of the rights and privileges
of their country, to obtain favour, and secure themselves in power;
misconstruing that as a secondary consideration, which in their own
hearts they know to be the first.

Sir, we have already lost many of those benefits and restrictions
which were obtained for us by the revolution, and the act of
settlement. For God's sake, let us proceed no farther. But if we are
thus to go on, and if, to procure the grace and favour of the crown,
this is to become the flattering measure of every successive
administration,--this country is undone!

Mr. BLADEN then rose up, and spoke to the following purport:--Sir, if
zeal were any security against errour, I should not willingly oppose
the honourable gentleman who has now declared his sentiments; and
declared them with such ardour, as can hardly be produced but by
sincerity; and of whom, therefore, it cannot be doubted, that he has
delivered his real opinion; that he fears from the measures which he
censures, very great calamities; that he thinks the publick
tranquillity in danger; and believes that his duty to his country
obliged him to speak on this occasion with unusual vehemence.

But I am too well acquainted with his candour to imagine, that he
expects his assertions to be any farther regarded than they convince;
or that he desires to debar others from the same freedom of reason
which he has himself used. I shall therefore proceed to examine his
opinion, and to show the reasons by which I am induced to differ from
him.

The arguments upon which he has chiefly insisted, are the danger of
hiring the troops of Hanover in any circumstances, and the impropriety
of hiring them now without the previous approbation of the senate.

The danger of taking into our pay the forces of Hanover, the
contrariety of this conduct to the act of settlement, and the
infraction of our natural privileges, and the violation of our
liberties which is