The debates contained in the following volumes, commence with the 19th November, 1740, and terminate with the 23d February, 1742-3. The animated attempts that were made to remove sir Robert Walpole from administration, seemed, in Cave’s opinion, to call for an abler reporter than Guthrie. Johnson was selected for the task; and his execution of it may well justify the admiration which we have so often avowed for those wonderful powers of mind, which, apparently, bade defiance to all impediments of external fortune.
He was only thirty-two years of age, little acquainted with the world; had never, perhaps, been in either house, and certainly had never conversed with the men whose style and sentiments he took upon himself to imitate. But so well and skilfully did he assume, not merely the sedate and stately dignity of the lords, and the undaunted freedom of the commons, but also the tone of the respective parties, that the public imagined they recognised the individual manner of the different speakers. Voltaire, and other foreigners of distinction, compared British with Greek and Roman eloquence; and ludicrous instances are detailed by Johnson’s biographers, of praises awarded to Pulteney or to Pitt, in the presence of the unsuspected author of the orations which had excited such regard [Footnote: See Boswell, and sir John Hawkins.]! For Johnson confessed, that he composed many of the speeches entirely from his own imagination, and all of them from very scanty materials.
This confession he undoubtedly made from his love of truth, and not for the gratification of vanity. When he heard that Smollett was preparing his History of England, he warned him against relying on the debates as authentic; and, on his death-bed, he professed that the recollection of having been engaged in an imposture was painful to him. That this was a refined scrupulosity the most rigid moralist must allow; but, nevertheless, it is matter for congratulation, that the liberality of parliament no longer subjects its reporters to the subterfuges which we have thus briefly attempted to describe. And a comparison of this age and its privileges with the restrictions of former times, may not be without its use, if, by reminding us that we were not always free, it teaches us political contentment, suggests to us the policy of moderation, and enables us to love liberty, and yet be wise.
OXFORD, NOVEMBER, 1825.
The List of fictitious Terms used by Cave to disguise the real Names that occur in his Debates.
Abingdon, Ld. ... Adonbing or Plefdrahn
Ambrose, Captain ... Ambreso
Archer ... Arech
Argyle, Duke of ... Agryl
Arthur ... Aruth
Anne ... Nuna
Aston ... Anots
Aylesford, Lord ... Alysfrop
Baltimore, Lord ... Blatirome
Barnard, Sir John ... Branard
Barrington ... Birrongtan
Bath, Earl of ... Baht
Bathurst, Lord ... Brustath
Bedford, Duke of ... Befdort
Berkeley, Lord ... Berelky
Bishop ... Flamen
Bladen, Mr. ... Bledna
Bootle, Mr. ... Butul
Bowles, Mr. ... Bewlos
Bristol, Lord ... Broslit
Bromley, Mr. ... Bormlye
Brown, Mr. ... Brewon or Buron
Burleigh ... Bruleigh
Burrell, Mr. ... Berrull
Campbell ... Campobell
Carew, Mr. ... Cawar
Carlisle, Earl of ... Carsilel
Carteret, Lord ... Quadrert
Castres, Mons ... Cahstrehs
Cavendish ... Candevish
Charles ... Chorlo
Chesterfield, Earl of ... Castroflet
Cholmondeley, Earl of ... Sholmlug
Churchill ... Chillchurch
Clutterbuck, Mr. ... Cluckerbutt
Cocks ... Cosck
Coke, Mr. ... Quoke
Cooke ... Coeko
Cooper, Mr. ... Quepur
Corbet, Mr. ... Croteb
Cornwall, Mr. ... Carnwoll
Cromwell ... Clewmro
Danes ... Danians
Danvers ... Dranevs
Delawarr, Lord ... Devarlar
Devonshire, Duke of ... Dovenshire
Digby ... Dibgy
Drake, Mr. ... Dekra
Earle, Mr. ... Eral
Edmund ... Emdond
Edward ... Eddraw
Elizabeth ... Ezila
Erskine, Mr. ... Eserkin
Eugene, Prince ... Eunege
Falconberg, Lord ... Flacnobrug
Falkland ... Flakland
Fanshaw, Mr. ... Fashnaw
Fazakerly ... Fakazerly
Fenwick, Mr. ... Finweck
Ferrol ... Ferlor
Fox, Mr. ... Feaux
Francis ... Farncis or Friscan
Gage, Lord ... Gega
George ... Gorgenti
Gibbon, Mr. ... Gibnob
Gloucester, Duke of ... Glustre
Godolphin, Lord ... Golphindo
Gore ... Gero
Gower, Lord ... Gewor
Grenville, Mr. ... Grevillen
Gybbon, Mr. ... Gybnob
Halifax, Lord ... Haxilaf
Haddock, Admiral ... Hockadd
Handasyd, Mr. ... Hasandyd
Harding, Mr. ... Hadringe
Hardwick, Lord ... Hickrad
Harrington ... Hargrinton
Hay, Mr. ... Heagh
Heathcote ... Whethtoc
Henry ... Hynrec
Herbert ... Hertreb
Hervey, Lord ... Heryef
Hessian ... Hyessean
Hind Cotton ... Whind Cotnot
Hindford ... Honfryd
Hinton ... Hwenton
Hobart ... Hobrat
Holdernesse, Lord ... Hodrelness
Hooper ... Horeop
Hosier, Admiral ... Hozeri
Howe ... Hewo
Islay, Lord ... Yasli
Isham ... Ishma
Ilchester ... Itchletser
James ... Jacomo
Jekyl ... Jelyco
Jenkins ... Jenkino
John ... Juan
Joseph ... Josippo
Keene, Mr. ... Knee
Ledbury, Mr. ... Lebdury
Lindsay ... Lisnayd
Litchneld ... Liftchield
Lockwood ... Lodowock
Lombe ... Lebom
Lonsdale, Lord ... Lodsneal
Lovel ... Levol
Lymerick, Lord ... Lyromick
Lyttleton ... Lettyltno
Marlborough, Duke of ... Maurolburgh
Malton, Lord ... Matlon
Manley ... Manly
Mary ... Marya
Montrose, Duke of ... Morontosse
Mordaunt ... Madrount
Morton ... Motron
Newcastle, Duke of ... Nardac secretary
Noel ... Neol
Norris, Admiral ... Nisror
Nugent ... Netgun
Ogle, Admiral ... Oleg
Onslow ... Olswon
Orange ... Organe
Ord, Mr. ... Whord
Orford, Earl of ... Orfrod
Orleans ... Olreans
Ormond, Duke of ... Omrond
Oxford, Earl of ... Odfrox
Oxenden ... Odnexen
Paxton ... Pantox
Pelham, Mr. ... Plemahm
Perry ... Peerur
Peterborough ... Petraborauch
Pitt, Mr. ... Ptit
Plumer, Mr. ... Plurom
Polwarth ... Polgarth
Portland, Duke of ... Poldrand
Powlett ... Powltet or Pletow
Pretender ... Rednetrep
Puffendorf ... Pudenfforf
Pulteney ... Pulnub
Quarendon ... Quenardon
Rainsford ... Rainsfrod
Ramelies ... Ramles
Raymond ... Ramonyd
Robert ... Retrob
Rochester ... Roffen
Saint Aubyn ... St. Aybun
Salisbury ... Sumra
Samuel ... Salvem
Sandwich, Earl of ... Swa
ndich
Sandys, Mr. ... Snadsy
Scarborough, Lord ... Sarkbrugh
Scroop, Mr. ... Screop
Sidney, Lord ... Sedyin
Selwin, Mr. ... Slenwy
Shaftsbury, Lord ... Shyftasbrug
Shippen, Mr. ... Skeiphen
Sloper ... Slerop
Somers ... Sosrem
Somerset ... Sosermet
Southwell ... Suthewoll
Strafford ... Stordraff
Stair ... Stari
Stanislaus ... Stasinlaus
Sundon ... Snodun
Talbot ... Toblat
Thomas ... Tsahom
Thomson, Mr. ... Thosmon
Tracey ... Tryace
Trenchard ... Trachnerd
Trevor, Mr. ... Tervor
Turner ... Truron
Tweedale, Marquis of ... Tewelade
Tyrconnel, Lord ... Trinocleng
Vernon, Admiral ... Venron
Vyner, Mr. ... Vynre or Venry
Wade ... Weda
Wager, Admiral ... Werga
Wakefield ... Wafekeild
Waller, Mr. ... Welral
Walpole, Sir Robert ... Walelop
Walpole, Mr. ... Walelop
Walter, Mr. ... Gusbret
Watkins, Mr. ... Waknits
Wendover ... Wednevro
Westmoreland ... Westromland
William ... Wimgul
Willimot, Mr. ... Guillitom
Winchelsea, Lord ... Wichensale
Winnington, Mr. ... Wintinnong
Wortley, Mr. ... Wolresyt or Werotyl
Wyndham ... Gumdahm
Wynn ... Ooyn
Yonge ... Yegon
The List of fictitious Characters used by Cave to disguise the Places that occur in his Debates.
Almanza ... Almanaz
America ... Columbia
Amsterdam ... Amstredam
Aschaffenburg ... Aschafnefburg
Austria ... Aurista
Barbadoes ... Bardosba
Barcelona ... Bracolena
Brittany ... Brateney
Bavaria ... Baravia
Blenheim ... Blehneim or Blenhem
Bourbon ... Buorbon
Brandenburg ... Brangburden
Bristol ... Broslit
Britain ... Lilliput
Cadiz ... Cazid
Cambridge ... Guntar
Campechy ... Capemchy
Carolina ... Carolana
Carthagena ... Carthanega
Cologne ... Colgone
Commons ... Clinabs
Connecticut ... Contecticnu
Cressy ... Cerlsy
Cuba ... Cabu
Denmark ... Dancram
Dettingen ... Detteneg
Dunkirk ... Donkirk
Dutch ... Belgians
Edinburgh ... Edina
Europe ... Degulia
Flanders ... Flandria
France ... Blefuscu
Georgia ... Gorgentia
Germany ... Allemanu
Gibraltar ... Grablitra
Guastalla ... Gua Stalla
Guernsey ... Guensrey
Hanover ... Hanevro
Haversham ... Havremarsh
Hesse Cassel ... Hyesse Clessa
Hispaniola ... Iberionola
Holland ... Belgia
Hungary ... Hungruland
India ... Idnia
Ireland ... Ierne
Italy ... Itlascu
Jamaica ... Zamengol
Jucatan ... Jutacan
Leghorn ... Lehgron
London ... Mildendo
Madrid ... Mardit
Malplaquet ... Malpalquet
Mardyke ... Mardryke
Martinico ... Marnitico
Mediterranean ... Middle Sea
Minorca ... Minocra
Munster ... Munstru
Muscovy ... Mausqueeta
New York ... Noveborac
Orkney ... Orkyen
Orleans ... Olreans
Ostend ... Odsten
Parma ... Par Ma
Pennsylvania ... Pennvasilia
Poland ... Poldrand
Portugal ... Lusitania
Port Mahon ... Port Mohan
Prussia ... Parushy
Prague ... Praga
Sardinia ... Sadrinia
Schellembourg ... Schemelbourg
Seville ... Sebfule
Sicily ... Cilisy
South Sea ... Pacific Ocean
Spain ... Iberia
Straits ... Narrow Seas
Sweden ... Swecte
Turkey ... Korambec
Utrecht ... Ultralt
Vienna ... Vinena
Virginia ... Vegrinia
Westminster ... Belfaborac
Wolfenbuttle ... Wobentuffle
The List of fictitious Characters used by Cave to disguise the Names of Things that occur in his Debates.
Admiral ... Galbet
Baronet ... Hurgolen
Commons ... Clinabs
Duke ... Nardac
Earl ... Cosern
Esquire ... Urg
Gentleman ... Urgolen
High Heels or Tory ... Tramecsan
Knight ... Hurgolet
Legal ... Snilpal
Lord ... Hurgo
Penny ... a Grull
Popery ... Missalsm
Prophet ... Lustrug
Sprug ... a Pound
Squire ... Urg
Viscount ... Comvic
Years ... Moons
REFERENCES TO THE SPEAKERS
Abingdon, Lord,
Archer, Mr. Hy.
Argyle, Duke of,
Attorney General,
Bathurst, Mr.
Baltimore, Lord,
Barnard, Sir John,
Barrington, Mr.
Bedford, Duke of,
Bladen, Mr.
Bowles, Mr.
Brown, Mr.
Burrel, Mr.
Campbell, Mr.
Carew, Mr.
Carlisle, Lord,
Carteret, Lord,
Cholmondeley, Lord,
Clutterbuck, Mr.
Cocks, Mr.
Cornwall, Capt.
Cornwall, Mr.
Cotton, Sir Hind,
Devonshire, Duke of,
Digby, Mr.
Earle, Mr.
Fazakerly, Mr.
Fox, Mr.
Gage, Lord,
Gore, Mr.
Gore, Mr.
Gower, Lord,
Gybbon, Mr.
Halifax, Lord,
Hardwick, Lord,
Harrington, Lord,
Hay, Mr.
Hervey, Lord,
Howe, Mr.
Littleton, Mr.
Lockwood, Mr.
Lord Chancellor,
Lovel, Lord,
Marlborough, Duke of,
Mordaunt, Col.
Newcastle, Duke of,
Norris, Admiral,
Onslow, Mr.
Ord, Mr.
Pelham, Mr.
Pitt, Mr.
Pulteney, Mr.
Quarendon, Lord,
Salisbury, Bishop of,
Sandys, Mr.
Shippen, Mr.
Sloper, Mr.
Southwell, Mr.
Talbot, Lord,
Thompson, Lord,
Tracey, Mr.
Tyrconnel,
Vyner, Mr.
Wade, General,
Wager, Sir Charles,
Waller, Mr.
Walpole, Sir Robert,
Walpole, Mr.
Westmoreland, Lord,
Willimot, Mr.
Winnington, Mr.
Yonge, Sir Wm.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, NOVEMBER 19, 1740.
PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATE, WITH REGARD TO THE BILL
FOR PROHIBITING THE EXPORTATION OF CORN, ETC.
On the first day of the session, his majesty, in his speech from the throne, recommended to parliament to consider
of some good law to prevent the growing mischief of the exportation of corn to foreign countries.
On the fourth day, a bill for preventing, for a limited time, the exportation, etc, was read a first time in the house of commons, and the question put, whether it should be printed, which passed in the negative.
This day the agent for the colonies of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, presented a petition against the said corn bill, which was referred to the committee.
Another petition was also presented by the agent for the colony of Connecticut, in New England, setting forth that the chief trade of that colony arose from supplying other British colonies with corn, so that unless that colony be excepted from the restraints intended by this bill, both that and those which are supplied by it will be reduced to great distress, and praying, therefore, that such exception may be allowed.
The allegations in this petition were confirmed by another, from one of the provinces supplied by the colony of Connecticut.
Another petition was presented by the agent for South Carolina, setting forth, that unless the rice produced in that province were allowed to be exported, the colony must be ruined by the irretrievable loss of their whole trade, as the countries now supplied from thence might easily procure rice from the French settlements, already too much their rivals in trade.
This petition was supported by another, offered at the same time by the merchants of Bristol.
Complete Works of Samuel Johnson Page 196
