necessary in the present case. I shall only say, that the noble lords who flatter themselves with the weight of that reflection should remember, that as circumstances alter, things themselves should alter. Formerly, it was not so fashionable either for masters or servants to run in debt, as it is at present. Formerly, we were not that great commercial uation we are at present; nor formerly were merchants and manufacturers members of parliament, as at present, The case is now very different: both merchants and manufacturers are, with great propriety, elected members of the lower house. Commerce having thus got into the legislative body of the kingdom, privilege must be done away. We all know that the very soul and essence of trade are regular payments; and sad experience teaches us, that there are men, who will not make their regular payments without the compulsive power of the laws. The law then ought to be equally open to all. Any exemption to particular men, or particular ranks of men, is, ia a free and commercial country, a solecism of the grossest nature.

But i will not trouble your lordships with arguments for that which is sufficiently evident without any. I shall only say a few words to some noble lords, who foresee much inconvenience from the persons of their servants being liable to be arrested. One noble lord observes, that the coachman of a peer may be arrested, while he is driving his master to the House, and that consequently, he will not be able to attend his duty in parliament. If this were actually to happen, there are so many methods by which the member might still get to the House, that I can hardly think the noble lord is serious in his objection. Another noble peer said, that by this bill one might lose his most valuable and honest servants. This I hold to be a contradiction in terms; for he can neither be a a valuable servant nor an honest man who gets into debt which he is neither able nor willing to pay till compelled by the law If my servant by unforeseen accidents, has got into debt, and I still wish to retain him, I certainly would pay the demand. But upon no principle of liberal legislation whatever, can my servant have a title to set his creditors at defiance, while, for forty shillings only, the honest tradesman may be torn from his family, and locked up in a gao! It is monstrous injustice! Batter myself however, the determination of this day will entirely put an end to all such partial

proceedings for the future, by passing into a law the bill now under your lordships' consideration.

I come now to speak, upon what, indeed, I would have gladly avoided, had I cot been particularly pointed at. for the part i have taken in this bill. It has been said, by a noble lord ou my left hand, that i likewise am running the race of popularity. If the noble lord means by popularity, that applause bestowed by after ages on good and virtuous actions, I have long been struggling in that race: to what purpose, all trying time can alone determine. But if the noble lord means that mushroom popularity, which is raised without merit and lost without a crime, he is much mistaken in his opinion. I defy the noble lord to point out a single action of my life, in which the popularity of the times, ever had the smallest influence on my determinations. I thank God i have a more permanent and steady rule for my conduct, the dictates of my own breast. Those who have foregone that pleasing adviser, and given up their mind to be the slave of every popular impulse, I sincerely pity; 1 pity them still more, if their vanity leads them to mistake the shouts of a mob, for the trumpet of fame. Experience might inform them, that many, who have been saluted with the huzzas of a crowd one day, have received their execra tious the next; and many, who by the popularity of their times. have been held up as spotless patriots, beve, neverthcles, appened upon the bistorian's page, when truth has triun, hed over delusion, the assassins of liberty. Why then the noble lord can think i am ambitious of present popularity, that echo of folly, and shadow of renown, I am at a loss to determine. Besides, I do not know that the bill now before your lordships will be popular: it depends much upon the caprice of the day. It may not be popular to compel people to pay their debts; and, in that case, the present must be a very unpopular bill. It may not be popular neither to take away any of the privileges of parliament; for I very well remember, and many of your lordships may remember, that not long ago, the popular cry was for the extension of privilege; and so far did they carry it at that time, that it was said, the privilege protected members even in criminal actions; nay, such was the power of popular prejudices over weak minds, that the very decisions of some of the courts were tinctured with that doctrine. It was undoubtedly an

abominable doctrine; it was a popular doctrine, and came immediately from those who are called the friends of liberty; how deservedly, time will show. True liberty, in my opinion, can only exist when justice is equally administered to ali; to the king and to the beggar. Where is the justice then, or where is the law that protects a member of parliament more than any other man, from the punishment due to his crimes? The laws of this country allow no place, nor any employment to be a sanctuary for crimes; and who e I have the honor to sit as judge, neither royal favor, nor pop- ular applause, shall ever protect the guilty.

I have now only to beg pardon for having employed so much of your lordships' time; and I am sorry a bill, fraught with so many good consequences, has not met with an abler advocate; but I doubt not your lordships' determination will convince the world that a bill, calculated to contribute so much to the equal distribution of justice as the present, requires with your lordships but very little support.

SECTION V.

AN ADDRESS TO YOUNG PERSONS,

You

I INTEND, in this address, to shew you the importance of beginning early to give serious attention to your conduct. As soon as you are capable of reflection, you must perceive that there is a right and a wrong, in human actions. see, that those who are born with the same advantages of fortune, are not equally prosperous in the course of life.While some of them, by wise and steady conduct, attain distinction in the world, and pass their days with comfort and honor; others, of the same rank, by mean and vicious behavior, forfeit the advantages of their birth, involve themselves in much misery, and end in being a disgrace to their friends, and a burden on society. Early, then, may you learn, that it is not on the external condition in which you find your selves placed, but on the part which you are to act, that welfare or unhappiness, your honor or infamy, depends.Now, when beginning to act that part, what can be of greater moment, than to regulate your plan of conduct with the most serious attention before you have yet committed any fatal or irretrievable errors? If, instead of exerting reflection for

your

this valuable purpose, you deliver yourselves up, at so crit ical a time to sloth and pleasure; if you refuse to listen to any counsellor but humor, or to attend to any pursuit except that of amusement; if you allow yourselves to float loose and careless on the tide of life, ready to receive any direction which the current of fashion may chance to give you; what can you expect to follow from such beginnings? While so many around you are undergoing the sad consequences of a like indiscretion, for what reason shall not those consequences extend to you? Shall you attain success without that preparation, and escape dangers without that precaution, which is required of others? Shall happiness grow up to you, of its own accord, and solicit your acceptance, when to the rest of mankind, it is the fruit of long cultivation, and the acquisition of labor and care? Deceive not yourselves with such arrogant hopes. Whatever be your rank, Providence will not for your sake, reverse its established order. The author of your being hath enjoined you to "take heed to your ways; to ponder the paths of your feet; to remember your Creator in the days of your youth." He hath decreed, that they only" who seek after wisdom, shall find it ; that fools shall be afflicted, because of their transgressions; and that whoever refuseth instruction, shall destroy his own soul." By listening to these admonitions, and tempering the vivacity of youth with a proper mixture of serious thought, you may ensure cheerfulness for the rest of life; but by delivering yourselves up at present to giddiness and levity, you lay the foundation of lasting heaviness of heart.

When you look forward to those plans of life, which either your circumstances have suggested, or your friends have proposed, you will not hesitate to acknowledge, that in order to pursue them with advantage, some previous discipline is requisite. Be assured, that whatever is to be your profession, no education is more necessary to your success, than the acquirement of virtuous dispositions and habitsThis is the universal preparation for every character and every station in life. Bad as the world is, respect is always paid to virtue. In the usual course of human affairs, it will be found, that a plain understanding, joined with acknow ledged worth, contributes more to prosperity, than the brightest parts without probity or honor. Whether science or business, or public life be your aim, virtue still enters for a

principal share into all those great departments of society. It is connected with eminence, in every liberal art; with reputation, in every branch of fair and useful business; with distinction, in every public station. The vigor which it gives the mind, and the weight which it adds to character; the generous sentiments which it breathes; the undaunted spirit which it inspires; the ardor of diligence which it quickeus; the freedom which it procures from peruicious and dishonorable avocations; are the foundations of all that is highly honorable, or greatly successful among men.

Whatever ornamental or engaging endowments you now possess, virtue is a necessary requisite, in order to their shining with proper lustre. Feeble are the attractions of the fairest form, if it be suspected that nothing within corresponds to the pleasing appearance without. Short are the triumphs of wit, when it is supposed to be the vehicle of malice. By whatever means you at first attract the attention, you can hold the esteem, and secure the hearts of others, only by amiable dispositions, and the accomplishments of the mind. These are the qualities whose influence will last, when the lustre of all that which once sparkled and dazzled has passed away

Let not then the season of youth be barren of improvements, so essential to your future felicity and honor. Now is the seed time of life; and "according to what you sow, you shall reap. Your character is now, under Divine assistance, of your own forming; your fate is, in some measure, put into your own hands. Your nature is as yet pliant and soft. Habits have not established their dominion. Prejudices have not preoccupied your understanding. The world has not had time to contract and debase your affections. All your powers are more vigorous, disembarrassed, and free, than they will be at any future period. Whatever impulse you now give to your desires and passions, the direction is likely to continue. It will form the channel in which your life is to run nay, it may determine its everlasting issue. Consider then the employment of this important period, as the highest trust which shall ever be committed to you; as in a great measure, decisive of your happiness, in time, and in eternity. As in the succession of the seasons, each, by the invariable laws of nature, affects the production of what is next in course; so, in human life, ev