IV.

THE REMINISCENT'S ESSAY ON HOUSES OF INDUSTRY -MR. PITT'S BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF THE POOR.

THE Reminiscent must now introduce himself to his readers.

He first appeared before the public, in an anonymous Essay on Houses of Industry,-one of the many well-meant, but unavailing attempts, which were made during the last century, to ameliorate the condition of the poor. The county of Norfolk, which had been long split into a court and a country party, was divided in opinion on the probable utility of the scheme. It was advocated by the former, and a difference of sentiment prevailed among the latter. Sir Harbord Harbord, afterwards advanced to a peerage under the title of Baron Suffield, and Mr. Chad, afterwards created a baronet,--the friend of the Reminiscent through life,--opposed it: Mr. Potter, the translator of Eschylus, wrote a pamphlet in recommendation of it; to this, the Reminiscent, at the request of Sir Harbord Harbord and Mr. Chad, replied by the essay, which he has mentioned. It had some circulation in the county, but very little beyond it. The writer has not seen it within the last forty years, and has even forgotten its title. He thinks it was published in 1773.

The success of the plan appeared to him problematical:--he recollects that he then began to entertain an opinion, which now seems general, that, in the whole system of the poor laws, there is something radically, but incurably wrong. A gentleman, on whose authority he can depend, told him, that Mr. Pitt, being on a visit in Essex, descanted with great satisfaction, on the prosperous state of the country, and particularly, on the comfortable condition of the poor. His host let the discourse drop; but contrived that, on the following day, Mr. Pitt should walk into the adjoining town of Halsted. It presented a spectacle of the utmost poverty and wretchedness :-he surveyed it for some time in wonder and silence; and then declared that he had no conception that England presented, in any part of it, such a scene: he made a liberal donation to its distressed inhabitants, and soon afterwards brought into parliament a bill for the relief of the poor.-Nothing can show the unmanageable nature of the subject more than the fate of this bill: a slight discussion of it discovered its absolute impracticability;-yet Mr. Pitt possessed talents of uncommon magnitude, and had every assistance in forming and arranging the bill, which the experience and ingenuity of others could supply.

V.

THE REMINISCENT'S ESSAY ON IMPRESSING SEAMEN -EARL OF SANDWICH.

THE writer's next publication, was a pamphlet of somewhat greater consequence, intituled,-An " ESSAY ON THE LEGALITY OF IMPRESSING SEA"MEN" it was more favourably received, and went through two editions. It introduced the writer to the acquaintance of the earl of Sandwich, then the first lord of the admiralty: some pages in the second edition were written by his lordship. It first appeared in the year 1778.-It was occasioned by attempts, which were made, at that time, to persuade the public, that the practice of impressing was contrary both to the law and constitution of Great Britain. This notion was particularly patronized by the honourable Temple Luttrell, an active member of the opposition. Ministers were afraid of the consequences, and lord North desired the late Mr. Thomas Astle, the keeper of the records in the Tower, -a gentleman singularly respected and loved,to procure a publication in its defence. He proposed it to the Reminiscent: this gave rise to the pamphlet we have mentioned: it was much read, and was even said to settle the question.

The principal arguments and authorities which it contained, were taken from the speech of sir Michael Foster, (formerly recorder of Bristol, and

afterwards deservedly advanced to be one of the judges of the court of King's Bench), in the case of Alexander Broadfoot, indicted for the murder of a sailor who was one of a party that endeavoured to impress him. Some additional facts and arguments are adduced in the Reminiscent's pamphlet ; but, on a recent perusal of it, he found them so few, that, particularly as the subject has long ceased to be a topic of discussion, he would not give it a place in the general collection of his works.

The pamphlet was dedicated to lord Rosslyn, at this time, his majesty's solicitor-general, and procured for the Reminiscent repeated instances of the good-will of that distinguished person. The publíc did not do his lordship justice his dereliction of the whigs, to whom he had originally attached himself, in his political career, excited a prejudice against him, from which he never recovered. But his talents, his munificence, his steadiness in friendship, and his literary endowments, it is impossible to deny the Reminiscent found him on every occasion a warm and an active friend.

VI.

THE SPEECH OF THE LATE EARL OF SANDWICH, IN DEFENCE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL.

Lord Erskine's First Speech.

IT has been mentioned, that his essay on the legality of impressing Seamen, introduced the writer to the earl of Sandwich. In 1779, a captain Baillie published a work, which severely reflected on his lordship's administration of GREENWICH HOSPITAL ; it accused him of neglect and corruption, and of conferring almost all places of rank and emolument in the hospital on land-men; and thus making its patronage subservient to his lordship's Huntingdonshire politics. His lordship moved, in the court of King's Bench, for a criminal information against the captain. Mr. Erskine defended him it was the first time that he advocated a cause in any court of justice; and never did a first speech elevate an advocate, so instantly, into eminence; he retained it until, at the close of his forensic career, he was advanced to the office of chancellor.

The eloquence of this remarkable man, was an era at the bar. His addresses to juries have not been equalled; they alike captivated their uuderstandings, their imaginations, and their passions. He often rose to the highest oratory; but it was always simple; and even in his sublimest flights, there was