I 



[ 'I^ ] 



As this is not a memorial for minifters, but a paper addrefled 

 to a philofophical focicty, I may without impropriety remark, 

 that he " who fmote the houfe of Bourbon with one hand, 

 " and in the other wielded the democracy of England," was 

 fuppofed to have had the beft intelligence of any minifter that 

 ever prefided over the Britifh councils. It was this circum- 

 ftance which gave a fecret power to his eloquence over the 

 minds of thofe who knew that his prophetic flrain was the 

 language of political experience, not of ignorant enthufiafm. 

 His words, in a fpeech on the commencement of hoftilities with 

 Spain, were remarkable. 



" I do now pledge myfelf to this honourable houfe for the 

 " truth of what I am going to aflert — that at this very hour 

 " that we are fitting here together, there has been a blow of 

 " hoftility ftruck againft us by our old inveterate enemies in 

 " fome part of the world." 



This predidlion, if it was a predidlion, was almoft immedi- 

 ately verified ; the next poll brought news, that the blow of 

 hoftility had been ftruck at Falkland's Iflands. 



The advantages which by means of Telegraphy would re- 

 fult to commerce muft, both in time of war and peace, be 

 extenfive. In time of war the fafety, I might almoft fay the 

 exiftence, of the commercial world, depends upon the rapidity 

 and the accuracy of its intelligence. The relative fuccefs of 



merchants, 



