THAT thofe counsellors betray his confidence, who hide from him his real intereft; which is to conform ftrictly to the original contract with the people, that made him a King; to enter into no treaties at the expence of Britain, but fuch as this nation can avail herself upon, for the defence of her trade, navigation, and dominions; and explain to his Majefty the little dependance there can be on treaties with potentates, who regard our intereft no longer than they are kept in good humour with our money, and are always ready to treat with the best-bidder. Lay before him the impoffibility of our maintaining fubfidiary alliances, whether we confider the immenfe charge they are of to the nation, or their contradictory ftipulations. Make him fenfible of the decay of our commercial intereft, as well as power on the ocean; for want of fpirit to infift upon the privileges of our merchants, and dignity of the British flag, confirmed by ancient treaties: and remonftrate against the imbecility of a my, which submits to the modern ftratagem of carrying naval stores, ammunition, and provifions to the enemy, under convoy of our pretended friends.

CAN it be imagined, that a King, when faithfully informed that his best security is in the affections of his fubjects, and that every measure, which tends to diminish that mutual confidence neceffary to support him against the common enemy, is fowing the tares of difcontent and jealoufy; will ever oppofe the most falutary

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means of defence by a general militia, a law to impower the people to defend their King and themselves, or what they both by duty and intereft are called upon to do in cafes of emergency; or prefer the unconstitutional establishment of a standing military power, and the most expenfive, and hazardous introduction of foreign forces, in preference to the ancient, equitable, eafy, and natural method, by which this nation has hitherto despised the most powerful invaders? had fuch a law been now in force, it is very clear that Britain would have saved, in this year only, not less than two millions of money! And certainly a nation armed in its own defence; efpecially fuch a nation, as hath always carried victory on the point of its fword; when permitted to fight its own battles; must have deterred France from taking the advantage of us difarmed, and obliged, on every alarm of an invafion, to depend on auxiliaries from the heart of Germany, or from the borders of Siberia or Tartary; whofe embarkation alone is fo expenfive, that by driving us to fuch a measure, the enemy, without ftriking a blow, exhaufts our treasure, and renders us incapable of oppofing their attempts and encroachments on the remote parts of the British dominions.

No doubt but his Majefty is properly affected with the loffes of the crown and of his fubjects in America and Europe. But this cannot really appear to the fatisfaction of the fubject, till C 2

there

there is an enquiry, not only into the conduct of the officers employed, but into the measures taken for their prevention. The fending of Braddock, without providing another general to take the command in case of his death, was an overfight productive of many evils: the conferring the chief command and management of the American war (with the appointment of a Duke of Marlborough) on a gentleman, who by his profeffion in the law, could not be expected adequate to the neceffary knowledge in military operations, against an enemy remarkable for their martial fkill, is an inftance of very bad economy in the difpofal of the public money, and of a fhameful neglect or imprudence in thofe, who committed the principal feat of our prefent quarrel to the conduct of one, who, (tho very capable of civil employments) had never before, as I am told, appeared in a military capacity.

THE lofs of Minorca is certainly, in a great mea fure, to be afcribed to the conduct of Mr. Byng. But is his blood the ONLY fatisfaction the nation is to expect? will it not be as neceffary to enquire, why the fleet fent for the relief of Mahon, was put under the command of a man, whose character, in the late war, was not very agreeable to our good ally the King of Sardi'nia?' Was he ordered to bombard Genoa? did he perform the fervice? why did he not? was he afraid of the fmell of gunpowder, or did he love the touch of gold? a man with imputations upon him, was the laft that should

have been commiffioned for a fervice, which required the utmost courage and fidelity; and whofe failure would ruin our trade in those feas. If it be true, that he was fent too late; or with too weak a force: or with fuch instructions, as left the relief of Mahon, as a matter of indifference: for all these excuses are made in favour of the delinquent: does not common juf tice to the prifoner, as well as to the public, de mand of that m-r, who delayed his failing orders till the enemy had landed and strengthened himself with all his force at Minorca. Why he kept the fleet at Portsmouth, after it was ordered to fea? fhould not the minifter, who' had it in his power to fend a force fuperior to that of the enemy, and was acquainted with the ftrength of the French fleet, be accountable, for rifking the dignity of the British flag, and the intereft of the nation, by abridging our na val power? and at all adventures his inftructions ought to appear; for, it would be cruel to take away a man's life, for not doing what he had neither ftrength nor pofitive orders to execute: and if thefe inftructions were as equivocal, or defective, or unintelligible, as it is reported those were, fent to General Fowlke governor of Gibraltar; there could be little trouble in finding out the incapacity, or t-ch-y of thofe, who had the direction of that important and unfuccessful expedition.

Mr. MONITOR! these are some of those things, which your fellow-fubjects think they

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have a right to mention before the King, and to expect a speedy juftice on the delinquents, whoever they be and as righteous lips are the delight of Kings: as nothing is here intended to mislead or to fpirit up discontent against his Majesty or his family; and nothing, but what, upon the ftricteft examination will eftablish his throne in righteousness; there is the greatest probability, that if these reach the throne, they, who have brought the nation into the prefent diftrefs, will meet with their due punishment: the nation be restored to its natural state of defence: and fuch measures purfued as to regain our credit and intereft amongst our natural allies, and force our enemies to fubmit to the terms of a glorious and lasting peace.

P

As I think every artist, whofe labours tend to the welfare of mankind, entitled to encouragement, it is with the greatest pleasure, that I communicate the following piece of information to my readers.

This is to acquaint the PUBLIC, That there is juft arrived in Town from BERLIN, A famous POLITICAL OCULIST, Who undertakes to perform the following most furprifing Cures upon the PEOPLE of ENG

-LAND, viz.

HE engages, by the most gentle and safe

ope

ration, to remove the films of prejudice and ignorance, so effectually, from the eyes of the

well