[1] It was observed the S[peake]r was remarkable civil to the new
Att[o]rn[e]y G[e]n[e]r[a]l, as supposed upon his succeeding to that great
object of his wishes, which leaves Sir F[letche]r some chance of a Chief
Justiceship and a Peerage.
[2] Exempli gratiâ, for whether it is his Lordship’s Speech, or Lord J.
C[a]v[e]nd[i]sh’s, or Sir W. M[e]r[e]dith’s, or Sir G. Y[ou]ng’s, &c. the
subject matter and stile, with a few exceptions, is of course much the
same.
[3] Here Mr. B[a]mb[e]r G[a]sc[oy]ne headed the dinner troop, which
followed him with great precipitation—at the same time departed Sir John
Irw[i]n and Mr. S[e]lw[y]n, with his Honour Mr. Br[u]d[e]n[e]ll, of whom
great enquiries were made, respecting the present arrangements of the
Opera.—Nor were there wanting many cries for the question.
[4] Here Sir GR[E]Y C[OO]P[E]R caught at a pen, and began to take notes.
[5] Probably, from supposing the first origin of their connection to
have arisen (at least on the part of Dr. Franklyn) from a philosophical
rather than a political curiosity. And certainly, no two projectors in
Science were ever more strikingly contrasted: the one, like a modern
Prometheus, collecting fire from vapour to inflame the terrestrial mass
by its pernicious infusion: the other employing his magic _plates_ to
freeze its ardour and quench its malignity.—Happy for this country,
if these professors had shifted their pursuits! as the former, could
his inclinations have been propitious to the peace of mankind, might
then have become a powerfull _Extinguisher_, while the other, however
malignant his intentions, must always have been acknowledged an
_innocent_ Incendiary.
[6] The Editor was furnished with copies of this speech from the Printers
of the respective News Papers, many weeks ago.
[7] Gentlemen were here desired by the Sp[ea]k[e]r to take their seats,
and the Serjeant to clear the bar—places! places! was repeated with great
vehemence.
[8] As the Noble Lord was almost the only Speaker on the side of
Administration, the Editor felt it the duty of impartiality, after giving
so many excellent speeches on the opposite side, to collect this with
particular accuracy, which he was the better enabled to do, from the
deliberate manner of its being delivered, and the respectful attention
with which it was received.
[9] Here Lord N[o]rth took up Sir G[re]y C[oo]p[e]r’s notes.
[10] Whilst Mr. St[anle]y was speaking, Mr. B[yn]g was making numerical
criticisms on the state of the House, which Mr. R[o]b[i]ns[o]n had done
before, with his usual assiduity; and had taken his place at the door
accordingly.
[11] N.B. G[enera]l C[onwa]y is Governor of it.—Query, Whether he had not
better be there at this dangerous crisis?