that
his grey head should secure him from insults; much more is he to be
abhorred, who, as he has advanced in age, has receded from virtue, and
becomes more wicked with less temptation; who prostitutes himself for
money which he cannot enjoy; and spends the remains of his life in the
ruin of his country."--Petitions were presented from the city of London
and county of Gloucester against the bill, as detrimental to the trade
and navigation of the kingdom, by discouraging rather than encouraging
sailors, and destructive to the liberties of the subject; but they
were both rejected as insults upon the house of commons. After very long
debates, maintained on both sides with extraordinary ardour and emotion,
the severe clauses were dropped, and the bill passed with amendments.

DISCONTENTS AGAINST THE MINISTRY.

But the most remarkable incident of this session was an open and
personal attack upon the minister, who was become extremely unpopular
all over the kingdom. The people were now, more than ever, sensible of
the grievous taxes under which they groaned; and saw their burdens daily
increasing. No effectual attempts had as yet been made to annoy the
enemy. Expensive squadrons had been equipped; had made excursions, and
returned without striking a blow. The Spanish fleet had sailed first
from Cadiz, and then from Ferrol, without any interruption from admiral
Haddock, who commanded the British squadron in the Mediterranean, and
who was supposed to be restricted by the instructions he had received
from the ministry, though in fact his want of success was owing to
accident. Admiral Vernon had written from the West Indies to his private
friends, that he was neglected, and in danger of being sacrificed.
Notwithstanding the numerous navy which the nation maintained, the
Spanish privateers made prize of the British merchant ships with
impunity. In violation of treaties, and in contempt of that intimate
connexion which had been so long cultivated between the French and
English ministry, the king of France had ordered the harbour and
fortifications of Dunkirk to be repaired; his fleet had sailed to the
West Indies in conjunction with that of Spain; and the merchants of
England began to tremble for Jamaica; finally, commerce was in a manner
suspended, by the practice of pressing sailors into the service, and
by the embargo which had been laid upon ships in all the ports of Great
Britain and Ireland. These causes of popular dis