1796] 
is colleéting, in the interior of the globe, 
materials for a future explofion. 
In the beginning of July, Mr. Pitt found 
himfelf under the neceffity of applying to 
the Bank, for the fum of 200,0001. to dif- 
charge a part of the arrears of the civil lift, 
which had become enormoufly great, and 
the creditors extremely urgent. It was faid 
oa-this occafion, that the minifer agted 
under the immediate commands of his 
majeity. 
Soon after the returns had been made 
of the members eleéted to ferve in the new 
parliament, they were prorogued ull the 
rath of Auguft, by royal proclamation. 
On the 3a of June, the election of the 
fixteen peers of Scotland took place. 
While the clerks were calling over the 
union roll of. peerage, the earl of Lauder- 
dale tendered a prote{t, importing, that. 
the clerks of feflion, officiating at this elec- 
tion, fall not receive the vores of any peer 
of Scotland, created a peer of Great Bri- 
tain fince the union, and not having in his 
perfon an Englifh peerage creatled before 
that period. He affigned asa reafon, that 
it is inconfiftent with every principle of 
reprefentation, that a peer of Scotland, fir- 
ting in the parliament of Great britain by 
virtue of a peerage granted fince: the 
union, fhould alfo elect a peer to repre- 
fent him. This proteft was levelled atthe 
two earlsof Moray and Kinnoul; the latter . 
declared, that, upon a former occafion, he 
had coincided in opinion with the noble 
protefter; but that the fubfequent deci- 
fion of the houfe of lords upon that fub- 
ject, had induced him to yield to the better 
judgment of that auguft aflembly. 
When the eleétion roll was made up, it 
appeared, that the earl of Lauderdale was 
not among the elected: his lordfhip then 
tendered a proteft againft the legality of 
the title or the earl of Errol. The ground 
of this proteft was, that the earldom of 
Errol, from its original creation, was a 
male fee, as appears from a charter under 
the great feal of James the Fifth, dated 
the 13th of December, 1541, to George 
Hay, as heir maleto William, carl of Er- 
rol, of the eftate and heritable office of the 
conftabulary, upon the narrative that the 
king was defirous that the family honours, 
and heritable office of the conftabulary, 
fhould remain and continue, ‘ heredibus 
mafculis cum cognominibus de Hay in 
omnibus temporibus futuris, prout fuerunt 
in temporibus elapfis.”’ 
The conduét of lord Sempill, on this 
occafion, was fpirited and independent. 
When his vote was called, he openly de- 
clared, “ that he had ever difapproved of 
Public Affairs... Great ea. 
499 
the war in which this country was now 
unfortunately engaged ; that the fyftem of 
internal government was, in his opinion, 
fubverfive of liberty, as the war was de- 
ftructive of our commerce; and that he 
feared, if it were much longer continued, 
ic would not fuffer even the forms of the 
conftitution to remain. ‘‘I therefore,” faid 
he, “ cannot vote confiftently for any peer. 
who has not oppofed, to the utmoft of 
his power, the war and the fyfem of 
terror.” His lordfhip then vored for the 
earl of Lauderdale only. 
On the firft of July, Daniel Tfaac Katon 
was tried. for publifhing a feditious libel, 
called the Political Dictionary. The attor- 
ney-general, in his opening fpeech, ad- 
mitted the great importance and beneficial. 
confequences of the liberty of the prefs, 
and, therefore, would not afk the verdiét of — 
the jury if they could think the prefent 
publication was diffeminated as a bona fide, 
though erroneous, difqufition on the con- 
{iitution and government of this country. 
It ftruck him, on the contrary, as a violent 
incitement to {edition, which aimed not to 
difcufs the principles of the conftitution, 
or the conduct of the government, but to’) 
overthrow the conftitution, and every efia- 
bliihment it contained. He then read the 
exceptionable parts charged in the indict 
ment, viz. the definitions and explana- 
tions of the following words, ‘* Crown,’ 
eo King, © Monayehi,’ “Royatey, 7 
“© Guillotine,” * Dies non fafii.” 
James Walth and -—-— Pander proved’ 
the purchaie of the book in queftion at the 
defendant’s houfe. It was bought of Mirs.: 
Iwaton. Mr. Vaughan, counfel for the de- 
fendant, made a long and energetic fpeech: 
in favour of his clhent : among other argu- 
ments, he contended, that if all books 
which contain cbfervations unfavourable ta- 
monarchy were to be profcribed, they inuft 
begin with the claflics; they muft then at- 
tack Milton, Hooker, Sydney, Harrington, 
Marvel, Hume, &c. He then alluded to’ 
the cafe of Mr. Reeves, and recommended 
the jury to give a fimilar verdi&t in the’ 
prefent cafe. He hoped, alfo, that they 
would proteét the defendant from his dif- 
treffed flate, as the lower claffes of the peo- 
ple bad been of late rather hardly dealt by. 
After the attorney-general had made a 
fhort reply, ‘ord Kenyon gave his charge 
to the jury, in the courfe of which he took 
an opportunity of obferving, that he with- 
ed the affertion of the counfel for the de- 
fendant, that tbe lower orders of the people 
bad been. hardly dealt by, nad not been 
made, becaufe he was fure the people them- 
felves did not think fo. Vhe jury retired 
38a , for 

