IOs 
EP IP ORES IN DST aN 
fent my letter along with the requifition to the gentlemen of 
his neighborhood, that they might not miftake the terms on 
which they were to fign. I came to the meeting in a full re- 
liance on the faith of my countrymen: but the dean of St. 4/aph, 
burning after the glory of chairman of a committee, and 
backed by friends he brought with him, propofed a committee, 
and carried his point. 
I pip intend to deliver the following fpeech, but my fpirits 
‘failed me. 
« Berne totally unufed to fpeak in public, I beg leave, in 
faultering words, to lay before you the motives which induced 
me to promote this meeting. 
“« Tue diftreffes of the times are too evident to admit of con- 
tradiction. To have recourfe to any legal method of alleviating 
our fufferings is extremely natural. The only one which pre- 
{ents itfelf is, “by petition to the high court of parliament,’ a pri- 
vilege preferved to us by the Bitzi of R1GHTs, and which can 
never be exerted with more propriety than at prefent, provided 
refpect and moderation attend it. 
“Tr is faid by an able fpeaker on the fide of oppofition, 
that 300,000]. may be annually faved by retrenching the 
emoluments of offices, and abolifhing the long train of ufelefs 
placemen and penfioners.’ As I make no doubt but this gen- 
tleman can fupport his affertion, let me ebferve, that the above 
fum will, at the rate of five per cent. pay the intereft of more 
than fix millions of money; and of courfe, in the next year, 
eafe the all-fupporting landlord and tenant from a burden equal 
0 that fum. 
“© Tis alone, in the neceffitous ftate of our country (which 
frona 
