nearly bordering upon treason, propagated
without disguise.

The scribbler of this wicked treatise has endeavoured to corrupt the
principles of his majesty's faithful subjects, not only by vilifying
the memory of the late king, whose justice, humanity, and integrity,
are generally reverenced, but by insinuating, likewise, that our
present most gracious sovereign has adopted the same schemes, and
endeavours to aggrandize Hanover at the expense of Britain; that all
the measures that have been taken with regard to the affairs of the
continent, have been contrived with no other view than that of
advancing the interest, enlarging the bounds, and increasing the
riches of the Hanoverian territories; he declares, that Britain has
been steered by the rudder of Hanover, and that the nation will soon
be divided into two more opposite and irreconcilable parties than ever
yet disturbed the publick peace, Britons and Hanoverians.

That he himself, whoever he be, longs for those times of division and
confusion, may be easily believed, and the number of those who have
the same wishes with himself, is, I fear, too great; but I believe
their hopes will not be encouraged, nor their designs promoted in this
house; and that none of those who are intrusted to represent their
country, will suffer themselves to be misled by such wicked
insinuations.

Mr. NUGENT then spoke to this effect:--Sir, I know not for what reason
the honourable gentleman has thought it convenient, to retard the
deliberations of this house, by expatiating upon the falsehood and
malignity of a pamphlet, of which the author is unknown, of which no
man has attempted the vindication, and which, however diligently
dispersed, or however generally credited, appears to have had no great
influence upon the nation, nor to have produced any effects that might
give just occasion to so tragical an outcry, to censures as vehement
and bitter, as if the trumpet of rebellion had been sounded, as if
half the people had taken arms against their governours, as if the
commonwealth was on the brink of dissolution, and armies were in full
march against the metropolis.

This pamphlet, with the rest of the people, I have read; and though I
am far from thinking, that the censure of that honourable gentleman
can make a defence necessary, since, indeed, be has contented himself
with invective instead of argument, and, whatever he may disapprove,
has confuted nothing: and though I have no part