rom your Heart, and Designs. No Person, I can assure you,
was more assiduous in vindicating your Fame, than the Author of this
Address; and it was not without the utmost Reluctance, that I ever
suffered myself to entertain any Suspicion of the Wisdom or Activity of
your Conduct: But since you have espoused the Cause of the Admiral, now
under Condemnation, with so much Warmth and Solicitude, I fear your
Sentiments are no longer a Doubt, nor your Behaviour altogether capable of
such an honourable Construction as your Friends could wish.

I shall therefore take that Liberty which, as one of your Constituents, I
may claim, of canvassing the Merits of that Transaction in which your
Lordship had a considerable Share; and as I shall endeavour to preserve an
inviolable Regard to Truth, without Partiality or Rancour, I hope you will
esteem these Remonstrances as the Observations of a Friend, solicitous for
your Reputation; and not of an Enemy, exulting in your Adversity. These
are the unanimous Sentiments of your Constituents, who think themselves
so far interested in the Fate of their Representative, as to be honoured
by his Glory, and wounded by his Disgrace; who are more publick-spirited
than to justify an unworthy Member, and more generous than to desert a
faithful Officer, tho' the popular Cry be against him.--The principal
Objections against your Lordship's Conduct, on which I shall now freely
animadvert, are the Part you acted in the _Mediterranean_, and the Defence
you have made at home.

With relation to the first, my Lord, I believe that your Friends and
Enemies both lamented that terrible Oversight in the Administration, which
neglected to prepare so invaluable a Fortress, as _St. Philip_'s, for
every Contingency whatsoever; and, when it was besieged, heartily wished
that that Detachment, which your Lordship commanded, had been stronger for
its Relief. They apprehended that it was not politick, considering the
precarious Events of War, to trust to a small Number, from an ostentatious
Confidence of our Strength, or an ill-judged Frugality, when greater
Forces might have been sent, consistent with our Safety at home.

But it unfortunately happened, that those few on board were all that
_Gibraltar_ could spare. _Minorca_ was exposed to a furious Storm, the
General was brave, and the Garrison sustained the Attack with undaunted
Resolution. But Valour cannot surmount all Difficulties, Courage cannot
stifle the Demands of