could fink under it. "Let the public creditors be ever fo clamorous, the intereft of millions muft ever prevail over that of thoufands." To Mr. Bofwell (who had thoughts of getting into Parliament) he said, "You are entering upon a transaction which requires much prudence. You must endeavour to oppofe without exafperating; to practise temporary hoftility, without producing enemies for life.— This is, perhaps, hard to be done; yet it has been done by many, and seems most likely to be effected by oppofing merely upon general principles, without defcending to perfonal or particular cenfures or objections. One thing I muft enjoin you, which is feldom obferved in the conduct of elections. I muft entreat you to be fcrupulous in the ufe of ftrong liquors.One night's drunkenness may defeat the labours of forty days well employed. Be firm, but not clamorous; be active, but not malicious; and you may form fuch an intereft, as may not only exalt yourself, but dignify your family." Lord Newhaven and Johnfon carried on an argument for fome time, concerning the Middlefex election. Johnfon faid, "Parliament may be confidered as bound by law, as a man is bound where there is nobody to tie the knot, As it is clear that the House of Commons may expel, and expel again and again, why not allow of the power to incapacitate for that parliament, rather than have a perpetual contest kept up between Parliament and the People."-Lord Newhaven took the oppofite fide, but refpectfully faid, "I speak with great deference to you, Dr. Johnfon, I fpeak to be inftructed." This had its full effect on the Doctor. He bowed his head almost as low as the table to a compli menting nobleman; and called out, My Lord, my Lord, I do not defire all this ceremony; let us tell our minds to one another quietly." After the debate was over, he said, "I have got lights on the subject to-day which I had not before." This was a great deal from him, efpecially as he had written a pamphlet upon it. 66 He obferved, "The Houfe of Commons was originally not a privilege of the people, but a check for the crown on the Houfe of Lords. I remember Henry the Eighth wanted them to do fomething they hefitated in the morning, but did it in the afternoon. He told them, 'It is well you did; or half your heads fhould have been upon Temple Bar.' But the House of Commons is now no longer under the power of the crown, and therefore must be bribed."He added, "I have no delight in talking of public affairs." Mr. Mr. B. was once engaged as Counsel at the Bar of the Houfe of Commons to oppofe a roadbill in the county of Stirling, and asked Johnfon what mode he would advife him to follow in addreffing fuch an audience.-7. "Why, Sir, you must provide yourself with a good deal of extraneous matter, which you are to produce occafionally, fo as to fill up the time the time; for you muft confider, that they do not listen much.— If you begin with the firength of your caufe, it may be loft before they begin to liften. When you catch a moment of attention, prefs the me- rits of the queftion upon them." He said, as to one point of the merits, that he thought "it would be a wrong thing to deprive the small landholders of the privilege of affeffing themfelves for making and repairing the high roads; it was destroying fo much liberty, without a good reason, which was always a bad thing." When Mr. B. mentioned this.obfervation next day to Mr. Wilkes, he pleafantly faid, "What! does he talk of liberty? Liberty is as ridiculous in his mouth as Religion in mine." Mr. Wilkes's advice, as to the best mode of speaking at the bar of the Houfe of Commons, was not more respectful towards the Senate, than that of Dr. Johnfon. "Be as impudent as you can, as merry as you can, and say whatever comes uppermoft. Jack Lee is the best heard there of any any Counfel; and he is the most impudent dog, and always abufing us." Mr. Bofwell cenfured the coarfe invectives which were become fashionable in the House of Commons, and faid, that if members of parliament must attack each other perfonally in the heat of debate, it fhould be done more genteelly.-7. "No, Sir; that would be much worse. Abufe is not fo dangerous when there is no vehicle of wit or delicacy, no fubtle conveyance. The diffe rence between coarfe and refined abufe is as the difference between being bruifed by a club, and wounded by a poisoned arrow. This pofition is elegantly expreffed by Dr. Young. • As the foft plume gives swiftness to the dart, A gentleman obferved to a Member of Parliament, "Mr. E. I don't mean to flatter, but when pofterity reads one of your speeches in Parliament, it will be difficult to believe that you took fo much pains, knowing with certainty that it could produce no effect, that not one vote would be gained by it."-E. “ Waving your compliment to me, I fhall fay in general, that it is very well worth while for a man to take pains to speak well in parliament. A man who has vanity speaks to display his talents; and if a man fpeaks well, he gradually establishes a certain certain reputation and confequence in the general opinion, which fooner or later will have its political reward. Befides, though not one vote is gained, a good speech has its effect.— Though an act which has been ably oppofed paffes into a law, yet in its progrefs it is modelled, it is foftened in fuch a manner, that we fee plainly the minifter has been told, that the members attached to him are fo fenfible of its injuftice or abfurdity from what they have heard, that it must be altered."-JOHNSON. "And, Sir, there is a gratification of pride.Though we cannot out-vote them we will outargue them. They fhall not do wrong without its being fhewn both to themselves and to the world."-E. "The Houfe of Commons is a mixed body (I except the minority, which I hold to be pure [fmiling]; but I take the whole House). It is a mafs by no means pure; but neither is it wholly corrupt, though there is a large proportion of corruption in it. There are many members who generally go with the minifter, who will not go all lengths. There are many honest well-meaning country gentlemen who are in parliament only to keep up the confequence of their families. Upon moft of thefe a good speech will have influence."-7. "We are all more or lefs governed by intereft. But interest will not make us do every thing. In a cafe |