"it was matter of juft furprize, that a Bill of "this nature should either have been projected, "or at least promoted, by a gentleman who not

long ago fat amongst them; and who, having "got into the House of Peers, would now shut up "the door after him: That this Bill would not "only be a difcouragement to Virtue and Merit, "but also endanger our excellent Conftitution; "for as there was a due balance between the "three branches of the Legiflature, if any more "weight were thrown into any one of those "branches, it would deftroy that balance, and "confequently fubvert the whole Conftitution: "That the Peers were already poffeffed of many "valuable privileges; and to give them more 66 power and authority by limiting their number, "would in time bring back the Commons into "the ftate of the fervile dependency they were "in, when they wore the badges of the Lords: "That he could not but wonder that the Lords "would fend fuch a Bill to the Commons s; "for how could they expect that the Commons "would give their concurrence to fo injurious "a Law, by which they and their pofterities are

to be excluded from the Peerage? And how "would the Lords receive a Bill by which it "fhould be enacted, That a Baron fhould not be "made a Viscount, nor a Viscount be made an "Earl, and fo on? That, befides all this, that

66 part

" part of the Bill which related to the Peerage "of Scotland, would be a manifeft violation " of the Act of Union on the part of Eng❝land, and a dishonourable breach of truft in "those who reprefented the Scotch Nobility: "That fuch an infringement of the Union "would endanger the entire diffolution of it, by disgusting fo great a number of the Scotch "Peers as should be excluded from fitting in "the British Parliament. For as it was well "known that the Revolution fettlement stood 66 upon the principle of a mutual compact, if "we fhould break firft the Articles of Union, "it would be natural for the Scots to think "themselves thereby freed from all allegiance. "And as for what had been fuggefted, that the "election of the Sixteen Scotch Peers was "no lefs expenfive to the Crown than inju "rious to the Peerage of Scotland, it might be "answered, that the making twenty-five here. "ditary fitting Scotch Peers would ftill increase "the difcontents of the electing Peers, who "thereby would be cut off of a valuable con' fideration for not being chofen." Mr. Aiflabie, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who spoke next, answered a material objection that had been raised against the Bill, viz. "That it was

dangerous to make any innovations in the Con "stitution," and made it appear that "feveral "alter

"alterations had been made in the original Con"ftitution by Magna Charta, the Habeas Corpus "Act, and several other laws,

made for the be

upon the whole,

"nefit of the fubject;" and, was for committing the Bill. He was backed by Mr. Serjeant Pengelly; but they were oppofed by Mr. Smith, who, among other arguments, urged, "That the foundation of this Bill being

wrong and faulty, there was no room for "amendments, and therefore he was against com"mitting it." Mr. Hungerford, who brought up the rear, was of a contrary opinion.

But about a quarter past eight in the evening, the question being put upon the Lord William Powlet's motion, the fame was carried in the negative, by a majority of 269 voices against 177; so that, including the two tellers on each fide, there were 450 Members in the Houfe. After this, the prevailing party moved, and it was refolved by about the fame majority, That the Bill be rejected.

*This day is published, the fecond edition of the MODERATOR, "wherein the Arguments for and against the Peerage Bill are fairly stated. "With fome Reflections upon the whole. Medio tutiffimus. Printed for "J. Roberts, Price 6d." Poft-boy, Nov. 28, 1719. "On Monday next will be published, An Account of the Conduct of "the Minifters with relation to the Peerage Bill. In a Letter to a Friend " in the Country. Serò fapiunt Phryges. Printed for J. Roberts, price 3d.” Poft-boy, Nov. 28, 1719. "On Tuesday next will be published, An Enquiry into the Manner of "creating Peers. Antiquam exquirite Matrem. Virg. Printed for J. Roberts, "price is."

Ibid.

THE SPINSTER,

IN DEFENCE OF

THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES.

N° 1. DECEMBER 19, 1719 *.

Cætera, ni Catia eft, demiffâ vefte tegentis.

HOR. I Sat. ii. 95.

For all the reft is cover'd with the gown.' CREECH.

T

HIS Discourse is written in behalf of the

Needy and Diftreffed, in oppofition to the Wealthy and Powerful; who, I fear, may confpire for their own ends, to leave the afflictions and complaints of their miferable fellow-fubjects and fellow-creatures neglected and unrelieved. I fhall continue it from time to time, during the difpute between the dealers concerned in the Woollen and Callico manufactures.

But though my present opinion is clearly on the fide of the cloathing made for our own Wool, I fhall not be deaf to Callico.

And if any gentlewoman, dating herself at the present writing and time of the year in England, and in Callico, fhall write her thoughts to REBECCA WOOLLPACK, fpinfter, at Mr. Roberts's, in Warwick-lane, post-paid (for the

This Paper was published in 8vo. by J. Roberts, Price 3d. and was intended to have been continued occafionally. Only the First Number of it, however, appeared. See the Notes in p.426..

Woollen

1

Woollen - manufacture cannot at prefent bear postage), fhe fhall have a fair and candid answer.

I write myself SPINSTER, because the laws of my country call me fo; and I think that name, used in all writings and inftruments as the addition and diftinction of a maiden or fingle woman of this ifland, denotes to us, that the general expectation of our lawgivers was, that the industry of female manufacturers would be most laudably employed this way, and therefore they gave the office of the Spinner as a title ta the Gentlewoman.

It might be further urged, that this word intimates that a woman's chief praise confifts in domeftic industry, and in fimplicity, rather than variety of drefs.

In order to come at the true ftate of trade, and the intereft of this ifland, with relation to the habits now worn, I fhall take the modern English lady at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, which is her break of day; and allowing her to twelve for private devotion, fuppose she has called to be dreffed, and from the parcels of her dress, obferving what she wears of English, and what of foreign product, with the prices of each part of her habit, make my inferences accordingly.

None amongst thofe whom we call people of condition can be at home or abroad, vifit or receive vifits, without having feveral dreffes, with

feveral