his gallant Countrymen, and infamously retreated
to_ Gibraltar, _while our Enemies were seizing an undefended Garrison, and
triumphing in those Seas which never acknowledged any but a_ British
_Sovereign before_. When we repose such an important Trust in the Hands of
a Commander, the least Neglect in the Discharge of it is a Crime of the
most aggravated Nature. What can make us a Recompence for what we have
lost? not all the Spoils of Plunder, nor the Profits of illicit Trade. The
Forfeiture of that immense Fortune he has accumulated would be no Amends;
and the Sacrifice of that Life he did not rashly expose to Danger, would
be too small an Atonement of our Wrongs. Did we not hone so memorable an
Example would do Justice to our Name, and prevent the same sad Misconduct
from ever being transacted any more.

If there be any Weight in these Observations, Mr. _Byng_ has been treated
with no cruel Severity to which he was not intitled; and whoever exert
themselves as Patrons and Defenders of his Cause, cannot hope to be exempt
from the unsparing Censures of the Publick.--Your Lordship's Evidence has
not been the least remarkable: You have befriended him in open Court; and
in private Conversation you have not scrupled to express your favourable
Opinion of his Conduct, in Opposition to the general Belief of his
Country.--Whatever Principles you may have declared in the latter Case, I
shall not charge you with; but your Depositions, as an Evidence, are
subject to every one's Examination; and these, I presume, are far from
making his Character appear in a more agreeable Point of View than it was
placed in before. If your Lordship could have discovered one Reason why
Mr. _Byng_'s Ship was prevented from bearing down upon the Enemy with all
Expedition; why he was kept back so long, that one of our own Ships, which
did not sail so well as the _Ramillies_, was able to get betwixt him and
the Enemy, and was in great Danger therefore of receiving her Fire--you
would have alledged an Argument in his Defence more material and
important, than a thousand Encomiums on his Calmness and Presence of Mind.
Facts are the only solid Tests of Truth, and the only Proofs which are
liable to no Ambiguity: And if we appeal to these, may we not suppose that
every Contingency that furnished a Pretence for Trifling and Delay, was
gladly embraced.----What Appearance is there of the least Ardour to
engage, or the smallest Attention to improve any favourable