98 DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. Sept. 28- 



. fale of his valuable, and beautiful eftate of Pierce-field, 

 near Chepflow, fo well known by every traveller of 

 talte, he thus feelingly mentions: "This place, he fays, 

 where I had for many years lived in profperity, refpe£t, 

 and credit, and where, after a right difcharge of the 

 duties of public life, I had fondly ho}>ed to have paf- 

 fed in tranquillity the years that might remain, and 

 have breathed my laft ; — this place was at length forced 

 to fale for 26,100!. for which, at former periods, the 

 diifcrenl funis of 46,000!. 47,000!. 48,000!. and once 

 52,000!. liad been offered ; an event whiclr would have 

 been effectually prevented, had I received only an in- 

 confiderable part of what was then, and (liil is due to 

 me by government." Is the adminiftration of a country 

 wliere fuch things can be done, I aflc, under proper 

 management? — Are the individuals of that nation duly 

 protedlcd in tlieir rights and properties }" Whatheartcan 

 read the following pathetic paflage without being 

 melted into tendernefs, or roufed to indignation ! The 

 man who wrote it is now at his reft. Born down with ca- 

 lamities, lie funic into the peaceful grave, — and we are 

 left to mourn his fate. " My fovereign, fays he, and 

 my country, are welcome to the faithful fervices 

 I liave, in fulfilling the duties of my public fta- 

 tion, performed j yet may the injuftice I have re- 

 ceived, and the fata! confequences of it from the 

 unfeeling, infenfible ftate of all political public clia- 

 lafters, with the oflicial former delays, arifing from 

 temporary neceJfiUes end in me f ? I have known 

 profperity, with the lionours and comforts of ic. 

 I have fuffered advcrfity, witli its train of ne- 

 g!e£ls and mortifications ; I have, however, with 



f And are the neceffities of die ftate, fuch as to filence the claims of 

 juftice ? — Ciirfcd be the occonomy that confifts in defrauding the creditor 

 of his due ! Is it to furnifh money to pay eleliion bills that fuch ftop- 

 pages are made ? Mufc the innocent be facrificed, that favourites may 

 be forced into the national fenatc, againft the will of their conflt- 

 cueins ? 



