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220 GRATTAN. that it had not been taken away by the law of Poynings; but that it was an infamous perversion of that statute, by which the constitution had suffered : the other was the establishment of a constitutional military force, in super addition to a standing army. The only idea that ever occurred to England, or any free country of Europe, I adopted, namely, that of a constitutional militia. At that time the idea of a volunteer force had not arisen; there fore, I adopted the idea which at that time appeared to be best. The third great object I took up as neces sary for this country, was a law for limiting the duration of parliaments; these were the three great, salutary, and noble objects, worthy of the enlarged mind of an enlarged country. I pursued them with ardour, I do not deny it; but I did not pursue them with intemperance. I am sure I did not appear to the public to do so; they gave my exertions many flattering testimonies of their approba tion. There is another proof that I was not intemperate; I was successful: intemperance and miscarriage are apt to go together, but temperance and success are associated by nature. This is my plain history with regard to that period. The clumsiness of virulence, of invective, may require to be sheathed in a brilliancy of diction, but plain truth and plain sense are best delivered in plain terms. I now come to that period in which Lord Harcourt governed, and which is stigmatised by the word venal. I say Lord Harcourt, for in my consideration of his administration, I will include that of Lord Townshend. If every man who accepts an offer is venal, and an apostate, I certainly cannot acquit myself of the charge, nor is it necessary. I should have so many associates in the crime, if ever there was a crime in what multitudes would defend. I am sensible multitudes and majorities would not be want ing to defend that. But I say, either it is a crime, or it is not ; if it be a crime universally, l e t i t b e a crime uni versally ascribed. But, Sir, I say i t i s not fair, that one set o f men should b e treated b y that honourable member a s great friends and lovers o f their country, notwith