DENNIS' DEBATE ON Mr Dennis order'd to speak his Oration. He apologizes by asserting it was unfinish'd, and likewise relys upon the second part ON LOVAT. of the Second Law, which orders that the Oration be spoke on Tuesday. Mr Burke opposes him and quotes the first part of the Fifth Law which censures those who do not perform what-is charg'd of them, by the Club, on which he is oblig'd to speak the Oration and is order'd to speak the same next Tuesday. Mr Burke reads his Essay on Society1. Mr Dennis moves for thanks to Mr Buck for his Laws, and to Mr Burke for his Essay, which was given accordingly. Mr Buck order'd to read in Milton which he does chusing Satan's speech in the beginning of the Fourth Book2. A thesis disputed on (by the appointment of Mr President) whether Coriolanus or Alcibiades be the greater. Mr Burke speaks in favour of the latter, Mr Dennis answers in favour of the former. Mr Burke replies, Mr Dennis rejoins. Mr Buck recapitulates the whole in a speech to the President, who detirmines in favour of Alcibiades. Mr Burke order'd to make an Oration on the Genoese, and Mr Buck an Essay on Politeness. Tuesday. April 28th, 1747. Prests Speech Mr Dennis President Mr Mohun Mr Burke Secretary Mr Hamilton Mr Hamilton admitted without opposition. Mr Prest opens the Assembly with an Harangue wherein he declares his intention of keeping the Laws, & proposes the business of the night. Mr Burke pursuant to order of the House speaks his Oration to the Genoese3. 1 Burke's first published book was A Vindication of Natural Society. When he was in College he was practising the ironic method in the Club debates (see Minute of 8th June 1747). It is possible that his "Essay on Society" in the Club may have laid the foundation for his subsequent Vindication. 2 Buck's speech from Milton, Paradise Lost, Book IV, c. 31: "O Thou that with surpassing glory crowned, O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; Till pride and worse ambition threw me down, Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King," etc. 3 Burke on the Genoese. The Republic of Genoa played a striking and important part in the War of the Austrian Succession. Allied with Spain and France it suffered severely by the defeat which the Austrian commander Lechtenstein and the King of Sardinia inflicted on it at Piancenza in June 1746. The retreat of the French and Spanish from Italy which followed upon this battle abandoned Genoa to the attacks of the Austrians. An English fleet bombarded the city and the Republic was finally compelled to submit to the Austrian domination. Severe conditions were imposed on her, and an Austrian army of occupation settled down in the City. The inhabitants 9. Dobation Da on Mr. Dennis onderd to peak his oration, He appologize, a forting, it was unfinished and, likewife relys upon the Second part of the second law, which orders that the Oration be spoke Sentry. Mr. Burke opposes him and quake the first part of the fifth Cu which insure those who do not perform what is chory them by the Club; which he is obliged to peak the Oration, and is onderd to Sneak the same next Sous day. Mr. Burke reads his th Buckflay on Friety. Mr. Dennis moves for thanks to M. Bur Burke, for this laws and to Mr. Burke for his stfry, which was given accordingly, Mr. Buck orderd to read in Milton which he does, chusing Satans freech in the beginning. of the fourth book. I thefis disputed on by the appointmen of my dress whether Cricianus ir Alibiades be the greater. In: Burke pears in fiour of the latter, Tennis answers in finur of the former Mr. Burthe replies, Mr. Dennis rejoins. Mr. Buck recapitulates the whole in a speech to the Pres: who determine in favour of Fleibiades. Mr. Burke order? to make an Oration on the Genoese and Mr. Buck an m. Politench. Effay M. Hamilton admitted without opposition: M° We open the res), uch assembly with an Harangue wrouin he declare his intention of hiping he saws & propover the business of the tight_mirke ourvurent to order of the houve prahy his Igation to the Genoeser Mo Buck reade his Layon Patienes. Bunker truck move for thank Buck to each other, thBuch receiver fully for his essay. Burke we liver Bark thanks for the matter of his exration but not for his Delivery of My Prevident for apodos & Critical examination of the pompe Motion 4 is done. Mishi hun fined & end for absence he comesine Cio severely, reporing ended by the President he takes the Buck Burke Mr Buck reads his Essay on Politeness. Burke & Buck move for thanks to each other, wch Buck receives fully for his Essay. Burke receives thanks for the matter of his Oration, but not for his delivery of it1. Mr President proposed a critical examination of the papers Mohunwch is done. Mr Mohun fined & censured for absence. He comes in & is severely reprimanded by the President. He takes the chair while Mr President makes his Oration on Lord Lovat. Voted that Dennis it is the sense of this Assembly that Mr Dennis' Oration is better Dennis than the Lord High Steward's on the same occasion2. Voted that were treated with violence, insolence and barbarity. Oppressive imposts were levied, and outrages constantly took place. A climax was reached when Austrian soldiers harnessed some of the citizens to a captured gun and compelled them to drag it along the streets. Stung to fury by this insult the people rose in insurrection. For five days Genoa was the scene of fierce and continuous street fighting. At length the citizens conquered, drove the garrison from the walls and compelled them to retire from the Republic. Next year the Austrians bent on revenge, renewed their attack, and on 27th March, 1747, just a month before Burke delivered his oration to the Club, they had published a tyrannical and vindictive manifesto proclaiming the Genoese to be rebels, subjecting them to all the penalties of treason and declaring their property wherever found to be confiscate. Under the command of Schulenburg the Austrians besieged Genoa again, and pressed her hard, but the French had thrown a garrison into the City commanded by the Duc de Boufflers, and thus assisted Genoa held her enemies at bay until the combined armies of France and Spain advancing from Nice compelled the Austrians to raise the siege. Next year Genoa was restored to her former position of independence by the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, 18th October, 1748. The material for the debates in the Club on home and foreign politics was evidently supplied to a great extent by Faulkner's Journal, the chief Dublin newspaper of the time. The paper contained full extracts from the London Gazette, and it supplemented the information by passages purporting to be extracts from letters written by persons in the different capitals in Europe. There was a considerable amount of information in the paper at this period relating to the affairs of Genoa. Nor was pamphlet literature wanting to supply material for the Club debates. One is extant published by R. James in Dame Street. 1747: The Case of the Genovese impartially stated wherein the conduct of the People, the Austrians, and the Piedmontese, during the late convulsion is candidly examined. To which is prefixed a letter from an eye-witness of the Insurrection at Genoa. 1 See ante p. 132. 2 Lord Lovat. After seven days' trial before his Peers, Simon, Lord Lovat, was found guilty of high treason on 19th March, 1747, and executed on Tower Green on the 9th April following. The part that he played in the Rebellion of 1745 was unimportant, but his great age and his dignified conduct and bearing during his trial have elevated him to the position of a national hero in Scotland. The Lord High Steward on the occasion of his trial was Philip Yorke, first Earl Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor 1737-56, one of the greatest jurists of the eighteenth century. In presiding at the State Trials of the rebel Lords, he displayed judicial impartiality. His tone however was neither as dignified nor as magnanimous as the occasion demanded. When as Lord High Steward he put the question to Lord Lovat whether he wished to offer anything further, "Nothing," said Lord Lovat, "except to thank your Lordship for your goodness to me. God bless you all and I bid you an everlasting farewell. We shall not all meet in the same place again, I am sure of that." The theme of the Debate was furnished by Faulkner's Journal of 14-17 April, 1747, in which appears a minute description of Lord Lovat's execution, five days before. Lord Hardwicke's speech is printed in full in the issue 28th April, 1747. Numerous pamphlets exist which were published in Dublin at the same time dealing with all the incidents of the Insurrection and the trials of the rebel chiefs. Dutch Mr Dennis also receive the thanks of this House for his care during his office of Secretary & that business prevented our giving it before. Mr President resumes the Chair, & gives as a subject for argument Conduct of the the Conduct of the Dutch1. Mr Buck speaks against them, says that there are alliances formed on various foundations, of wch those wch have their rise from private interest are the meanest, that when friendship is professed and not executed that there is an end of publick faith, and that nothing can be more base & blameworthy than such a conduct; shews this to be the case of the Dutch & from it & several arguments drawn from their interests concludes that they ought by this House to be condemned. Mr Mohun appointed Mohun's excuse to answer him. He excuses himself through inability, wth difficulty inability. accepted, but that no member shall plead this precedent for the Burke's speech. future. Mr Burke order'd to supply his place, who defends the Dutch, says that there is a wide difference betwixt communities and private men, & that the interest of our country is the best motif for alliance, & that it was equally dangerous to the Dutch whether the Emperor or the French had the ballance, that therefore they did not assist the Austrians with all their force, but kept their engagements to the Allies by sending a body of troops, that they strengthened themselves by trade during the Wars. They knew best their own interests. If the English were so earnest in defending the Barrier 'tis to be supposed that they had some interest in so doing2. Mr Buck 1 Conduct of the Dutch in the War. In January, 1745, Great Britain, the United Provinces, Austria, and Saxony-Poland had entered into a quadruple alliance at Warsaw against their enemies, and especially against Prussia, but the United Provinces were too slow and too timid to do more than discharge with hesitation the absolutely binding terms of their contract. During the years 1745-6 the Austrian Netherlands, deprived of English troops which had been recalled by the Stuart invasion, were easily overrun by the French. The United Provinces had granted subsidies to Maria Theresa, but had refrained from taking direct part in the War, though constantly urged to do so by Great Britain. On 17th April, 1747, however, France decided the matter by herself declaring war against the States General, and pouring troops across the southern frontier. The immediate effect, as in previous invasions of the Netherlands, was a revolution. The aristocratic republicans were overthrown, and the Stadtholdership was restored and made hereditary in the person of William IV of Orange. He became Stadtholder under circumstances similar to those under which in 1672 his great uncle William III had been elevated to that office, and like him he too was allied by marriage with the English Royal Family. The French advanced north in two columns, one took Bergen-op-Zoon, while the other under Maurice of Saxony marched down the Meuse and laid siege to Maastricht. On 2nd July Maurice defeated the Duke of Cumberland at Laufeld, but the war dragged on without any decisive engagement until it was finally brought to a close by the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle in 1748. The comments of the Dublin papers of the day were generally unfavourable to the policy of the Dutch. An example of one of the letters-of supposed Foreign Correspondents-in Faulkner's Journal is headed "A Lying Letter from the Hague." There were numerous similar communications. The Barrier Treaty, between England and Holland, was signed in 1709. By it Holland agreed to recognise the Protestant Succession in England and to make the expulsion of the Pretender a sine qua non of peace with France. In return England guaranteed to Holland a barrier line of strong places including Nieuport, Lille, |