1772,
and petitions from the people were sent to the king and the two houses
of parliament, for the repeal of what they believed to be unjust and
pernicious laws upon the subject of religious liberty. Several clergymen
of the established church prayed to be liberated from their obligation
to subscribe to the "Thirty-nine Articles." But it was urged, in
opposition to the petitions, that government had an undoubted right to
establish and maintain such a system of instruction as the ministers
thereof deemed most suitable for the public benefit. But expedience and
right are as far asunder, in truth, as is the distance from pole to
pole. The policy of the state required some _new source_ from whence to
draw means for the _secret_ measures needful for prolonging the
existence of its privacy; and it was therefore deemed expedient to keep
politics and religion as close together as possible, by enforcing the
strictest obedience of all demands made upon the clergy, in such forms
and at such times as should best accord with the political system of the
queen. In consequence of which, the petitions were rejected by a
majority of 217 boroughmongers against 71 real representatives of the
people!
An act, passed this session, for "Making more effectual provisions to
guard the descendants of the late king, George the Second, from marrying
without the approbation of his majesty, his heirs, and successors, first
had and obtained," was strenuously opposed by the liberal party in every
stage of its progress through both houses. It was generally _supposed_
to have had its origin in the marriage contracted but a few months
before by the Duke of Cumberland with Mrs. Horton, relict of Colonel
Horton, and daughter of Lord Irnham; and also in a private, though
long-suspected, marriage of the Duke of Gloucester to the
Countess-dowager of Waldegrave, which the duke at this time openly
avowed. But were there not _other_ reasons which operated on the mind
of the _queen_ (for the poor king was only a passive instrument in her
power) to force this bill into a law? Had she not an eye to her
husband's former alliance with the quakeress, and the Duke of York's
marriage in Italy? The latter was even more dangerous to her peace than
the former; for the duke had married a descendant of the STUARTS!
Lord Chatham made many representations to the king and queen of the
improper and injudicious state of the penal laws. He cited an instance
of unanswerable disproportion; namely, that, on the 14th of July, two
persons were publicly whipped round Covent Garden market, in accordance
with the sentence passed upon them; but mark the difference of the
crimes for which they were so punished: one was for stealing a bunch of
radishes; the other, for debauching his own niece! In vain, however, did
this friend of humanity represent the unwise, unjust, and inconsistent
tenour of such laws. The king was anxious to alter them immediately; but
the queen was decided in her opinion, that they ought to be left
entirely to the pleasure and opinion of the _judges_, well knowing
_they_ would not disobey her will upon any point of law, or equity, _so
called_. Thus did the nation languish under the tyrannical usurpation of
a _German_ princess, whose disposition and talents were much better
calculated to give laws to the brute creation than to interfere with
_English_ jurisprudence!
In November of this year, it was announced that the _king_ earnestly
desired parliament should take into consideration the state of the East
India Company. But the king was ignorant of the subject; though it was
true, the _queen_ desired it; because she received vast emoluments from
the various situations _purchased_ by individuals under the denomination
of cadets, &c. Of course, her majesty's will was tantamount to law.
The Earl of Chatham resolved once more to speak to the queen upon the
state of things, and had an audience for that purpose. As an honest man,
he very warmly advocated the cause of the nation, and represented the
people to be in a high state of excitement, adding, that "if they be
repelled, they must be repelled by force!" And to whom ought an unhappy
suffering people to have had recourse but to the throne, whose power
sanctioned the means used to drain their purses? The queen, however, was
still unbending; she not only inveighed against the candour and
sentiments of the earl, but requested she might not again be _troubled_
by him upon _such subjects_! Before retiring, Lord Chatham said, "Your
majesty must excuse me if I say, the liberty of the subject is the
surest protection to the monarch, and if the prince _protects the
guilty, instead of punishing them, time will convince him, that he has
judged erroneously, and acted imprudently_."
The earl retired; but "his labouring breast knew not peace," and he
resolved, for the last time, to see the king in private. An interview
was requested, and as readily granted. "Well, well," said the king, "I
hope no bad news?" "No bad news, your majesty; but I wish to submit to
your opinion a few questions." "Quite right, quite right," said the
king, "tell me all." The earl did so, and, after his faithful appeal to
the king, concluded by saying, "My sovereign will excuse me, but I can
no longer be a party to the deceptions pawned upon the people, as I am,
and consider myself to be, amenable to God and my conscience!" Would
that England had possessed a few more such patriots!
This year will ever be memorable in history as the commencement of that
partition of Poland, between three contiguous powers,--Russia, Austria,
and Prussia,--which has served as an example and apology for all those
shameful violations of public right and justice that have stained the
modern annals of Europe. The unfortunate Poles appealed in vain to Great
Britain, France, and Spain, and the States-general of Holland, on the
atrocious perfidy and injustice of these proceedings. After some
unavailable remonstrances, the diet was compelled, at the point of the
bayonet, to sign a treaty for the formal cession of the several
districts which the three usurpers had fixed upon and guaranteed to each
other. The partitioning _legitimates_ also _generously_ made a present
of an _aristocratic_ constitution to the suffering Poles.