and profufion the difpofition to provide for friends, at the public expense, by the erection of new Boards, and other devices of that kind. Such jobbing, under the pretext of Reform-fuch long-drawn and forward fpeculations, will not fuit the tranfitory existence of a Ministry of paffage. Vitæ fumma brevis fpem hos vetat inchoare longam Jam te premet nos, fabulæque manes. The recollection, that their political diffolution may be near at hand, will produce a ferious and fober temper, which will allay the youthful fervour and hey-day of newly acquired power, and lead them to think of making an edifying and Chriftian exit-of figning their last Will and Teftament, and bequeathing a legacy of economy, retrenchment, ufeful regulations, good works, good laws, good example to their country. At the fame time, fuch a reprefentation must be useful to Ministry; it will ferve to account for any indifpofition they may fhew towards providing for their retainers-it may be ufeful for relieving them from much importunity and folicitation, by repreffing the eagernefs of expectants, who now befiege their Levees; by fhewing them hat places are of lefs value, than, at firft fight, may appear; and may prove only the means of taking them out of their proper element, to fall with greater ruin, from fudden and unufed eminence and opulence, Cum puer audace cæpit gaudere Volatu, Altius egit iter : OVI. But, I find that I have exceeded the bounds ufually allowed to Pamphlets. It is high time to release the Reader, and repofe myself. Many topics yet remain untouched they may, perhaps, be the subject of a future publication. * See Cobbet's Political Regifter, May 17th-27th. FINIS, INTO THE STATE OF THE NATION, AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION. « In hujus modi re tantoque bello, maximæ curæ est, ut quæ copiis et opibus tenere vix possumus, ea mansuetudine et continentiâ nostrâ, sociorum fidelitate teneamus.' FOURTH EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS. CIC. EPIST. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES AND ORME, PICCADILLY. AN INQUIRY, INTRODUCTION. SINCE the constitution of this country acquired its present form, and public business came to be transacted regularly in the great council of the nation, it has been customary in all important junctures, for our representatives to undertake a general investigation of the state of our affairs. The method of conducting this examination has varied at different periods. Sometimes a motion for inquiry has been B |