of the nation are conftantly taxed without being reprefented, and obliged to obey laws to which they have never affented, it is in the highest degree abfurd to pretend, that the representation is not inadequate, or that a reform is not neceffary. But the minifter is at prefent, it feems, of opinion, that it is not yet the proper time; and we have abundant reafon to believe, that it never will be the proper time, till a great part of the people fhall have spirit and understanding enough to demand, as their undoubted, their unquestionable right, a more just and equal representation in Parliament. Whenever that period shall arrive, the minifter, whoever he be, however reluctantly, will find that it is a proper time. In the mean while, the friends of this great, this important, this neceffary renovation of the conftitution, fhould adopt. every proper measure for effectuating fuch a re à reform; and should never lofe fight of this great object, from a full conviction, that a reform in Parliament is effential to the fecurity, and to the establishment of British freedom. But befides a reform in the representation, the feptennial act, which was originally a flagrant violation of the rights of the people, ought alfo to be repealed. If the elections of members of Parliament were more frequent, the fentiments of the people would undoubtedly be more attended to, both by their reprefentatives, and by the minifter. AMONG other violations of the principles of the conftitution, and of those of juftice and humanity, under which a part of the people of this country fometimes labour, and which it would be highly proper for a new Parliament to take into confideration, one is, the practice of IMPRESSING SEAMEN. This affumed This affumed power, in its own nature, and from the manner in which it is exercifed, is totally repugnant to every idea of liberty and juftice; nor can any principles of national policy be urged, which, when examined, will amount to a justification of this outrage on humanity. Such, indeed, is the enormity of the practice, that it would, I believe, be found, if the matter were fairly and fully inveftigated, that a much greater degree of violence, injuftice, and oppreffion, have been exercised upon British fubjects, in confequence of the prefs-warrants lately iffued by the Lords of the Admiralty, than have been fuffered from the Spaniards by any fubjects of the British government, in those tranfactions which have been expected to give rife to a war between the two nations. If this be the fact, and I believe that an accurate examination would demonftrate it to be fo, fome other mode of manning our navy been navy ought furely to be adopted. It has very dishonourable to preceding Parliaments, that no more attention was paid to those plans, which have been proposed for manning the fleet, without having recourse to the violent and unconstitutional mode of impreffing. But I hope, that the humanity and justice of the prefent Parliament will adopt proper methods for putting a ftop to this moft indefenfible practice. Besides the cruelty with which impreffing is attended, it is well known to be a very expensive service to the nation; and from all the information which I have been able to collect upon the fubject, there is no reason to doubt, but that methods might be adopted, by which the fleet might be better manned, with equal expedition, and probably without more expence to the nation, than by the prefent practice of impreffing. But if fuch methods should be found found more expenfive, the expence ought to be fubmitted to, rather than fuffer a practice to continue, which is an indelible reproach to a free country. In the present fituation of Great Britain, oppreffed with an immenfe debt, and with heavy taxes, almost without number, it certainly should be one of the prime objects of a wife administration, carefully to. avoid all unneceffary wars. I do not mean, that the nation should be tamely insulted, or not affert, on every proper occafion, its just rights; but that wars should not hastily. be engaged in, for queftions of mere punctilio; that, in the management of difputes with foreign nations, fome moderation, fhould be obferved; and that no alliances should be entered into, in Germany or elsewhere, that have a natural tendency to involve us in a continental war. In this view, I confider the late Pruffian treaty as in a C VOL. III. very |