The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 10

Samuel Johnson

The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 10 / Parlimentary Debates I

PREFATORY OBSERVATIONS TO THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

The government of this country has long and justly been considered the best among the nations of Europe; and the English people have ever evinced a proportionate desire for information in its proceedings. But in the earlier days of our constitution, we shall find that much jealousy on the part of our rulers debarred the people from access to the national deliberations. Queen Elizabeth, with a sagacity that derived no assurance from the precedents of former times, foresaw the mighty power of the press, as an engine applied to state purposes, and accordingly aroused the spirit of her subjects, by causing the first gazettes to be published in the year of the armada [Footnote: See sir J. Mackintosh's Defence in the Peltier case.]: and D'Ewes's journals of her parliaments contain the earliest reports of parliamentary debates.

The first volume of the commons' journals comprises the debates from the accession of James the first, to the cessation of parliaments under Charles the first. The publication, in 1766, of a member's notes, furnished authentic debates of the session in 1621. Rushworth, in his voluminous collections, presents us with many of the debates during the civil wars. Gray's more regular debates succeeded. From these, until the times that followed the glorious revolution in 1688, we have no reports of parliamentary proceedings, interesting as they must have been, on which we can place any more reliance, than on those of Dr. Johnson, which, we shall presently see, cannot pretend to the character of faithful reports, however deservedly eminent they are as eloquent and energetic compositions. But the revolution was not immediately followed by a liberal diffusion of parliamentary intelligence, for the newspapers of William's reign only give occasionally a detached speech. That sovereign scarcely allowed liberty of speech to the members of parliament themselves, and was fully as tyrannical in disposition as his predecessor on the throne; but, happily for the English nation, he was tied and bound by the strong fetters of law.

The stormy period that ensued on William's death, is somewhat illustrated by Boyer's POLITICAL STATE. The HISTORICAL REGISTERS which appeared on the accession of George the first, may be considered as more faithful depositories of political information than Boyer's partial publication. The spirited opposition to sir Robert Walpole excited an unprecedented anxiety in the nation to learn the internal proceedings of parliament. This wish on the part of constituents to know and scrutinize the conduct of their representatives, which to us appears so reasonable a claim, was regarded in a different light by our ancestors. But the frown of authority in the reign of George the second began to have less power to alarm a people whose minds were undergoing progressive illumination. A general desire was then loudly expressed for parliamentary information, which Cave sought to gratify by the insertion of the debates in the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. The jealousy of the houses, however, subjected that indefatigable man to the practices of stratagem for the accomplishment of his design. He held the office of inspector of franks in the postoffice, which brought him into contact with the officers of both houses of parliament, and afforded him frequent and ready access to many of the members. Cave, availing himself of this advantage, frequented the houses when any debate of public interest was expected, and, along with a friend, posted himself in the gallery of the house of commons, and in some retired station in that of the lords, where, unobserved, they took notes of the several speeches. These notes were afterwards arranged and expanded by Guthrie, the historian, then in the employment of Cave, and presented to the public, monthly, in the Gentleman's Magazine. They first appeared in July, 1736 [Footnote: Gent. Mag. vol. vi.], and were perused with the greatest eagerness. But it was soon intimated to Cave, that the speaker was offended with this freedom, which he regarded in the light of a breach of privilege, and would subject Cave, unless he desisted, to parliamentary censure, or perhaps punishment. To escape this, and likewise to avoid an abridgment of his magazine, Cave had recourse to the following artifice. He opened his magazine for June, 1738, with an article entitled, "Debates in the senate of Magna Lilliputia;" in which he artfully deplores the prohibition that forbids him to present his readers with the consultations of their own representatives, and expresses a hope that they will accept, as a substitute, those of that country which Gulliver had so lately rendered illustrious, and which untimely death had prevented that enterprising traveller from publishing himself. Under this fiction he continued to publish the debates of the British parliament, hiding the names of persons and places by the transposition of letters, in the way of anagram. These he contrived to explain to his readers, by annexing to his volume for 1738, feigned proposals for printing a work, to be called Anagrammata Rediviva. This list, and others from different years, we give in the present edition, though we have rejected the barbarous jargon from the speeches themselves. A contemporary publication, the LONDON MAGAZINE, feigned to give the debates of the Roman senate, and adapted Roman titles to the several speakers. This expedient, as well as Cave's contrivance, sufficed to protect its ingenious authors from parliamentary resentment; as the resolution of the commons was never enforced.

The debates contained in the following volumes, commence with the 19th November, 1740, and terminate with the 23d February, 1742-3. The animated attempts that were made to remove sir Robert Walpole from administration, seemed, in Cave's opinion, to call for an abler reporter than Guthrie. Johnson was selected for the task; and his execution of it may well justify the admiration which we have so often avowed for those wonderful powers of mind, which, apparently, bade defiance to all impediments of external fortune.

He was only thirty-two years of age, little acquainted with the world; had never, perhaps, been in either house, and certainly had never conversed with the men whose style and sentiments he took upon himself to imitate. But so well and skilfully did he assume, not merely the sedate and stately dignity of the lords, and the undaunted freedom of the commons, but also the tone of the respective parties, that the public imagined they recognised the individual manner of the different speakers. Voltaire, and other foreigners of distinction, compared British with Greek and Roman eloquence; and ludicrous instances are detailed by Johnson's biographers, of praises awarded to Pulteney or to Pitt, in the presence of the unsuspected author of the orations which had excited such regard [Footnote: See Boswell, and sir John Hawkins.]! For Johnson confessed, that he composed many of the speeches entirely from his own imagination, and all of them from very scanty materials.

This confession he undoubtedly made from his love of truth, and not for the gratification of vanity. When he heard that Smollett was preparing his History of England, he warned him against relying on the debates as authentic; and, on his death-bed, he professed that the recollection of having been engaged in an imposture was painful to him. That this was a refined scrupulosity the most rigid moralist must allow; but, nevertheless, it is matter for congratulation, that the liberality of parliament no longer subjects its reporters to the subterfuges which we have thus briefly attempted to describe. And a comparison of this age and its privileges with the restrictions of former times, may not be without its use, if, by reminding us that we were not always free, it teaches us political contentment, suggests to us the policy of moderation, and enables us to love liberty, and yet be wise.

OXFORD, NOVEMBER, 1825

The List of fictitious Terms used by Cave to disguise the real Names that occur in his Debates.

Abingdon, Ld. … Adonbing or Plefdrahn

Ambrose, Captain … Ambreso

Archer … Arech

Argyle, Duke of … Agryl

Arthur … Aruth

Anne … Nuna

Aston … Anots

Aylesford, Lord … Alysfrop

Baltimore, Lord … Blatirome

Barnard, Sir John … Branard

Barrington … Birrongtan

Bath, Earl of … Baht

Bathurst, Lord … Brustath

Bedford, Duke of … Befdort

Berkeley, Lord … Berelky

Bishop … Flamen

Bladen, Mr. … Bledna

Bootle, Mr. … Butul

Bowles, Mr. … Bewlos

Bristol, Lord … Broslit

Bromley, Mr. … Bormlye

Brown, Mr. … Brewon or Buron

Burleigh … Bruleigh

Burrell, Mr. … Berrull

Campbell … Campobell

Carew, Mr. … Cawar

Carlisle, Earl of … Carsilel

Carteret, Lord … Quadrert

Castres, Mons … Cahstrehs

Cavendish … Candevish

Charles … Chorlo

Chesterfield, Earl of … Castroflet

Cholmondeley, Earl of … Sholmlug

Churchill … Chillchurch

Clutterbuck, Mr. … Cluckerbutt

Cocks … Cosck

Coke, Mr. … Quoke

Cooke … Coeko

Cooper, Mr. … Quepur

Corbet, Mr. … Croteb

Cornwall, Mr. … Carnwoll

Cromwell … Clewmro

Danes … Danians

Danvers … Dranevs

Delawarr, Lord … Devarlar

Devonshire, Duke of … Dovenshire

Digby … Dibgy

Drake, Mr. … Dekra

Earle, Mr. … Eral

Edmund … Emdond

Edward … Eddraw

Elizabeth … Ezila

Erskine, Mr. … Eserkin

Eugene, Prince … Eunege

Falconberg, Lord … Flacnobrug

Falkland … Flakland

Fanshaw, Mr. … Fashnaw

Fazakerly … Fakazerly

Fenwick, Mr. … Finweck

Ferrol … Ferlor

Fox, Mr. … Feaux

Francis … Farncis or Friscan

Gage, Lord … Gega

George … Gorgenti

Gibbon, Mr. … Gibnob

Gloucester, Duke of … Glustre

Godolphin, Lord … Golphindo

Gore … Gero

Gower, Lord … Gewor

Grenville, Mr. … Grevillen

Gybbon, Mr. … Gybnob

Halifax, Lord … Haxilaf

Haddock, Admiral … Hockadd

Handasyd, Mr. … Hasandyd

Harding, Mr. … Hadringe

Hardwick, Lord … Hickrad

Harrington … Hargrinton

Hay, Mr. … Heagh

Heathcote … Whethtoc

Henry … Hynrec

Herbert … Hertreb

Hervey, Lord … Heryef

Hessian … Hyessean

Hind Cotton … Whind Cotnot

Hindford … Honfryd

Hinton … Hwenton

Hobart … Hobrat

Holdernesse, Lord … Hodrelness

Hooper … Horeop

Hosier, Admiral … Hozeri

Howe … Hewo

Islay, Lord … Yasli

Isham … Ishma

Ilchester … Itchletser

James … Jacomo

Jekyl … Jelyco

Jenkins … Jenkino

John … Juan

Joseph … Josippo

Keene, Mr. … Knee

Ledbury, Mr. … Lebdury

Lindsay … Lisnayd

Litchneld … Liftchield

Lockwood … Lodowock

Lombe … Lebom

Lonsdale, Lord … Lodsneal

Lovel … Levol

Lymerick, Lord … Lyromick

Lyttleton … Lettyltno

Marlborough, Duke of … Maurolburgh

Malton, Lord … Matlon

Manley … Manly

Mary … Marya

Montrose, Duke of … Morontosse

Mordaunt … Madrount

Morton … Motron

Newcastle, Duke of … Nardac secretary

Noel … Neol

Norris, Admiral … Nisror

Nugent … Netgun

Ogle, Admiral … Oleg

Onslow … Olswon

Orange … Organe

Ord, Mr. … Whord

Orford, Earl of … Orfrod

Orleans … Olreans

Ormond, Duke of … Omrond

Oxford, Earl of … Odfrox

Oxenden … Odnexen

Paxton … Pantox

Pelham, Mr. … Plemahm

Perry … Peerur

Peterborough … Petraborauch

Pitt, Mr. … Ptit

Plumer, Mr. … Plurom

Polwarth … Polgarth

Portland, Duke of … Poldrand

Powlett … Powltet or Pletow

Pretender … Rednetrep

Puffendorf … Pudenfforf

Pulteney … Pulnub

Quarendon … Quenardon

Rainsford … Rainsfrod

Ramelies … Ramles

Raymond … Ramonyd

Robert … Retrob

Rochester … Roffen

Saint Aubyn … St. Aybun

Salisbury … Sumra

Samuel … Salvem

Sandwich, Earl of … Swandich

Sandys, Mr. … Snadsy

Scarborough, Lord … Sarkbrugh

Scroop, Mr. … Screop

Sidney, Lord … Sedyin

Selwin, Mr. … Slenwy

Shaftsbury, Lord … Shyftasbrug

Shippen, Mr. … Skeiphen

Sloper … Slerop

Somers … Sosrem

Somerset … Sosermet

Southwell … Suthewoll

Strafford … Stordraff

Stair … Stari

Stanislaus … Stasinlaus

Sundon … Snodun

Talbot … Toblat

Thomas … Tsahom

Thomson, Mr. … Thosmon

Tracey … Tryace

Trenchard … Trachnerd

Trevor, Mr. … Tervor

Turner … Truron

Tweedale, Marquis of … Tewelade

Tyrconnel, Lord … Trinocleng

Vernon, Admiral … Venron

Vyner, Mr. … Vynre or Venry

Wade … Weda

Wager, Admiral … Werga

Wakefield … Wafekeild

Waller, Mr. … Welral

Walpole, Sir Robert … Walelop

Walpole, Mr. … Walelop

Walter, Mr. … Gusbret

Watkins, Mr. … Waknits

Wendover … Wednevro

Westmoreland … Westromland

William … Wimgul

Willimot, Mr. … Guillitom

Winchelsea, Lord … Wichensale

Winnington, Mr. … Wintinnong

Wortley, Mr. … Wolresyt or Werotyl

Wyndham … Gumdahm

Wynn … Ooyn

Yonge … Yegon

The List of fictitious Characters used by Cave to disguise the Places that occur in his Debates.

Almanza … Almanaz

America … Columbia

Amsterdam … Amstredam

Aschaffenburg … Aschafnefburg

Austria … Aurista

Barbadoes … Bardosba

Barcelona … Bracolena

Brittany … Brateney

Bavaria … Baravia

Blenheim … Blehneim or Blenhem

Bourbon … Buorbon

Brandenburg … Brangburden

Bristol … Broslit

Britain … Lilliput

Cadiz … Cazid

Cambridge … Guntar

Campechy … Capemchy

Carolina … Carolana

Carthagena … Carthanega

Cologne … Colgone

Commons … Clinabs

Connecticut … Contecticnu

Cressy … Cerlsy

Cuba … Cabu

Denmark … Dancram

Dettingen … Detteneg

Dunkirk … Donkirk

Dutch … Belgians

Edinburgh … Edina

Europe … Degulia

Flanders … Flandria

France … Blefuscu

Georgia … Gorgentia

Germany … Allemanu

Gibraltar … Grablitra

Guastalla … Gua Stalla

Guernsey … Guensrey

Hanover … Hanevro

Haversham … Havremarsh

Hesse Cassel … Hyesse Clessa

Hispaniola … Iberionola

Holland … Belgia

Hungary … Hungruland

India … Idnia

Ireland … Ierne

Italy … Itlascu

Jamaica … Zamengol

Jucatan … Jutacan

Leghorn … Lehgron

London … Mildendo

Madrid … Mardit

Malplaquet … Malpalquet

Mardyke … Mardryke

Martinico … Marnitico

Mediterranean … Middle Sea

Minorca … Minocra

Munster … Munstru

Muscovy … Mausqueeta

New York … Noveborac

Orkney … Orkyen

Orleans … Olreans

Ostend … Odsten

Parma … Par Ma

Pennsylvania … Pennvasilia

Poland … Poldrand

Portugal … Lusitania

Port Mahon … Port Mohan

Prussia … Parushy

Prague … Praga

Sardinia … Sadrinia

Schellembourg … Schemelbourg

Seville … Sebfule

Sicily … Cilisy

South Sea … Pacific Ocean

Spain … Iberia

Straits … Narrow Seas

Sweden … Swecte

Turkey … Korambec

Utrecht … Ultralt

Vienna … Vinena

Virginia … Vegrinia

Westminster … Belfaborac

Wolfenbuttle … Wobentuffle

The List of fictitious Characters used by Cave to disguise the Names of Things that occur in his Debates.

Admiral … Galbet

Baronet … Hurgolen

Commons … Clinabs

Duke … Nardac

Earl … Cosern

Esquire … Urg

Gentleman … Urgolen

High Heels or Tory … Tramecsan

Knight … Hurgolet

Legal … Snilpal

Lord … Hurgo

Penny … a Grull

Popery … Missalsm

Prophet … Lustrug

Sprug … a Pound

Squire … Urg

Viscount … Comvic

Years … Moons

REFERENCES TO THE SPEAKERS

Abingdon, Lord,

Archer, Mr. Hy.

Argyle, Duke of,

Attorney General,

Bathurst, Mr.

Baltimore, Lord,

Barnard, Sir John,

Barrington, Mr.

Bedford, Duke of,

Bladen, Mr.

Bowles, Mr.

Brown, Mr.

Burrel, Mr.

Campbell, Mr.

Carew, Mr.

Carlisle, Lord,

Carteret, Lord,

Cholmondeley, Lord,

Clutterbuck, Mr.

Cocks, Mr.

Cornwall, Capt.

Cornwall, Mr.

Cotton, Sir Hind,

Devonshire, Duke of,

Digby, Mr.

Earle, Mr.

Fazakerly, Mr.

Fox, Mr.

Gage, Lord,

Gore, Mr.

Gore, Mr.

Gower, Lord,

Gybbon, Mr.

Halifax, Lord,

Hardwick, Lord,

Harrington, Lord,

Hay, Mr.

Hervey, Lord,

Howe, Mr.

Littleton, Mr.

Lockwood, Mr.

Lord Chancellor,

Lovel, Lord,

Marlborough, Duke of,

Mordaunt, Col.

Newcastle, Duke of,

Norris, Admiral,

Onslow, Mr.

Ord, Mr.

Pelham, Mr.

Pitt, Mr.

Pulteney, Mr.

Quarendon, Lord,

Salisbury, Bishop of,

Sandys, Mr.

Shippen, Mr.

Sloper, Mr.

Southwell, Mr.

Talbot, Lord,

Thompson, Lord,

Tracey, Mr.

Tyrconnel,

Vyner, Mr.

Wade, General,

Wager, Sir Charles,

Waller, Mr.

Walpole, Sir Robert,

Walpole, Mr.

Westmoreland, Lord,

Willimot, Mr.

Winnington, Mr.

Yonge, Sir Wm.

DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS, NOVEMBER 19, 1740

PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATE, WITH REGARD TO THE BILL FOR PROHIBITING THE EXPORTATION OF CORN, ETC

On the first day of the session, his majesty, in his speech from the throne, recommended to parliament to consider of some good law to prevent the growing mischief of the exportation of corn to foreign countries.

On the fourth day, a bill for preventing, for a limited time, the exportation, etc, was read a first time in the house of commons, and the question put, whether it should be printed, which passed in the negative.

This day the agent for the colonies of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, presented a petition against the said corn bill, which was referred to the committee.

Another petition was also presented by the agent for the colony of Connecticut, in New England, setting forth that the chief trade of that colony arose from supplying other British colonies with corn, so that unless that colony be excepted from the restraints intended by this bill, both that and those which are supplied by it will be reduced to great distress, and praying, therefore, that such exception may be allowed.

The allegations in this petition were confirmed by another, from one of the provinces supplied by the colony of Connecticut.

Another petition was presented by the agent for South Carolina, setting forth, that unless the rice produced in that province were allowed to be exported, the colony must be ruined by the irretrievable loss of their whole trade, as the countries now supplied from thence might easily procure rice from the French settlements, already too much their rivals in trade.

This petition was supported by another, offered at the same time by the merchants of Bristol.

A petition was likewise presented by the agent for the sugar islands, in which it was alleged, that if no provisions be imported thither from Britain, they must, in one month, suffer the extremities of famine.

All these petitions were referred to the committee for the bill.

A printed paper was also delivered to the members, entitled, 'considerations on the embargo,' which enumerated many dangerous consequences likely to be produced by an embargo on provisions, and suggested that it was no better than a wicked scheme for private profit, with other reflections, for which the paper was deemed a libel, and the author committed to prison.

The bill being read in the committee, produced the following memorable debate.

Mr. PULTNEY spoke to this effect:—Sir, after all the attention which has been bestowed upon the bill now before us, I cannot yet conceive it such as can benefit the nation, or such as will not produce far greater inconveniencies than those which it is intended to obviate, and therefore, as those inconveniencies may be prevented by other means, I cannot but declare that I am far from approving it.

Our ancestors, sir, have always thought it the great business of this house to watch against the encroachments of the prerogative, and to prevent an increase of the power of the minister; and the commons have always been considered as more faithful to their trust, and more properly the representatives of the people, in proportion as they have considered this great end with more attention, and prosecuted it with more invariable resolution. If we inquire into the different degrees of reputation, which the several assemblies of commons have obtained, and consider why some are remembered with reverence and gratitude, and others never mentioned but with detestation and contempt, we shall always find that their conduct, with regard to this single point, has produced their renown or their infamy. Those are always, by the general suffrage of mankind, applauded as the patterns of their country, who have struggled with the influence of the crown, and those condemned as traitors, who have either promoted it by unreasonable grants, or seen it increase by slow degrees, without resistance.

It has not, indeed, sir, been always the practice of ministers to make open demands of larger powers, and avow, without disguise, their designs of extending their authority; such proposals would, in former times, have produced no consequences but that of awakening the vigilance of the senate, of raising suspicions against all their proceedings, and of embarrassing the crown with petitions, addresses, and impeachments.

They were under a necessity, in those times, of promoting their schemes; those schemes which scarcely any ministry has forborne to adopt, by more secret and artful and silent methods, by methods of diverting the attention of the publick to other objects, and of making invisible approaches to the point in view, while they seemed to direct all their endeavours to different purposes.

But such, sir, have been the proofs of implicit confidence, which the administration has received from this assembly, that it is now common to demand unlimited powers, and to expect confidence without restriction, to require an immediate possession of our estates by a vote of credit, or the sole direction of our trade by an act for prohibiting, during their pleasure, the exportation of the produce of our lands.

Upon what instances of uncommon merit, of regard to the publick prosperity, unknown in former times, or of discernment superior to that of their most celebrated predecessors, the present ministers found their new claims to submission and to trust, I am, indeed, at a loss to discover; for, however mankind may have determined concerning the integrity of those by whom the late memorable convention was transacted, defended, and confirmed, I know not that their wisdom has yet appeared by any incontestable or manifest evidence, which may set their abilities above question, and fix their reputation for policy out of the reach of censure and inquiries.

The only act, sir, by which it can be discovered that they have any degree of penetration proportionate to their employments, is the embargo lately laid upon provisions in Ireland, by which our enemies have been timely hindered from furnishing themselves, from our dominions, with necessaries for their armies and their navies, and our fellow-subjects have been restrained from exposing themselves to the miseries of famine, by yielding to the temptation of present profit; a temptation generally so powerful as to prevail over any distant interest.

But as nothing is more contrary to my natural disposition, or more unworthy of a member of this house, than flattery, I cannot affirm that I ascribe this useful expedient wholly to the sagacity or the caution of the ministry, nor can I attribute all the happy effects produced by it to their benign solicitude for the publick welfare.

I am inclined to believe that this step was advised by those who were prompted to consider its importance by motives more prevalent than that of publick spirit, and that the desire of profit which has so often dictated pernicious measures, has, for once, produced, in return, an expedient just and beneficial; and it has, for once, luckily fallen out, that some of the friends of the administration have discovered that the publick interest was combined with their own.