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