lOa DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. Sept. 28> 



caufe, our nuthor expelled a fpeedy period to his cala- 

 mities, and was particularly affiduous in fpurringon the 

 minifter to his promifed enquiry ; but, although he be- 

 fieged his lioufe daily, he could never obtain accefs, or 

 even procure a fingle letter in reply, either from him 

 or any oi his fecretaries. In this dilemma Mr Saw- 

 bridg;; read his petition to the houfe, and mentioned a 

 day in which he intended to prefetit it in form ; but, 

 on that very day, we are informed, Mr. Pitt gave 

 affurances that the petitioner fnould be attended to at 

 the treafury, and that he might depend upon d'lfpatch ; in 

 confequence of which the ill-fated petition was once 

 more withdrawn. 



After an interval fufficient to afford ample room for 

 inveftigation and enquiry, Mr. S. wrote another letter 

 to Mr. Pitt, ftating his urgent necefhties, and affirming 

 that he had not the means oi fuhftjling longer, as he had 

 hitherto fupported himfelf by felling ex^ery little thing of 

 value that he had, and now had not any thing more to fell. 



" Let me then, Sir," continues he, " implore you 

 by every thing you hold dear, to prcferve him from the 

 effeBs of defbc.lr ; a perfon, v.ho, fince he is driven to 

 egotife, holds himfelf up as a man of worth and honour; 

 who has never merited any thing of his king and coun- 

 try fo much as favour and rewaid ; who has ever been 

 ready to prove this, and to remove wrong impreffions, 

 if any charge had becrt openly made againft him, and 

 he could have obtained the fatisfadtion of being called 

 upon for a defence. — And permit him to add, that his 

 feelings, ivere he not a father, would have inclined him 

 rather to have pcrifhedj than to be importunate in this 

 language *." 



* Id not this language improper ? "Why froiild a man fubjedl him- 

 felf to fcrious evils to avoid deir.anding what is juftly his due from any 

 perfon ? I have never been abie to conceive a good reafon why a man 

 fliouid not demand, vvith equal pcremptotinefs, the debts due to him 

 by the public, that he would be b.amcable in not demanding from an 

 individual. If there is greater difficulty in forcing puymcnt from go- 

 vernment, which it would fccni there is, theft di;l;;u'.tits ought certainly 

 to be removed. 



