OBSERVATIONS

ON

A LATE PUBLICATION,.

INTITULED,

THE PRESENT STATE OF THE NATION.

ARTY divifions, whether on the whole ope

PARTY

rating for good or evil, are things infeparable from free government. This is a truth which, I believe, admits little difpute, having been established by the uniform experience of all ages. The part a good citizen ought to take in thefe divifions, has been a matter of much deeper contro verly. But God forbid, that any controverfy relating to our effential morals fhould admit of no decifion. It appears to me, that this question, like moft of the others which regard our duties in life, is to be determined by our ftation in it. Private men may be wholly neutral, and entirely innocent; but they who are legally invefted with publick truft, or ftand on the high ground of rank and dignity, which is truft implied, can hardly in any cafe remain indifferent, without the certainty of finking into infignificance; and thereby in

effect

effect deferting that poft in which, with the fulleft authority, and for the wifeft purposes, the laws and institutions of their country have fixed them. However, if it be the office of thofe who are thus circumstanced, to take a decided part, it is no less their duty that it should be a fober one. It ought to be circumfcribed by the fame laws of decorum, and balanced by the fame temper, which bound and regulate all the virtues. In a word, we ought to act in party with all the moderation which does not abfolutely enervate that vigour, and quench that fervency of fpirit, without which the best wishes for the publick good muft evaporate in empty fpeculation.

It is probably from fome fuch motives that the friends of a very respectable party in this kingdom have been hitherto filent. For thefe two years paft, from one and the fame quarter of politicks, a continual fire has been kept upon them; fometimes from the unwieldy column of quartos and octavos; fometimes from the light fquadrons of occafional pamphlets and flying fheets. Every month has brought on its periodical calumny. The abufe has taken every fhape. which the ability of the writers could give it; plain invective, clumfy raillery, mifreprefented anecdote*. No method of

* Hiftory of the Minority. Hiftory of the Repeal of the Stamp-act. Confiderations on Trade and Finance. Political Regifter, &c. &c.

vilifying

vilifying the meafures, the abilities, the intentions, or the persons which compofe that body, has been omitted.

On their part nothing was oppofed but patience and character. It was a matter of the inoft ferious and indignant affliction to perions, who thought themselves in confcience bound to oppofe a miniftry, dangerous from its very constitution, as well as its measures, to find themselves, whenever they faced their adverfaries, continually attacked on the rear by a set of men, who pretended to be actuated by motives fimilar to theirs. They faw that the plan long pursued with but too fatal a fuccefs, was to break the ftrength of this kingdom; by frittering down the bodies which compofe it; by fomenting bitter and fanguinary animofities, and by diffolving every tie of focial affection and publick truft. These virtuous men, fuch I am warranted by publick opinion to call them, were refolved rather to endure every thing, than co-operate in that defign. A diverfity of opinion upon almost every principle of politicks had indeed drawn a ftrong line of feparation between them and fome others. However, they were defirous not to ex tend the misfortune by unneceffary bitterness; they wished to prevent a difference of opinion on the commonwealth from feftering into rancorous and incurable hoftility. Accordingly they endea voured that all paft controverfes fhould be for

6

gotten;

gotten; and that enough for the day fhould be the evil thereof. There is however a limit at which forbearance ceafes to be a virtue. Men may tolerate injuries, whilst they are only perfonal to themselves. But it is not the first of vir tues to bear with moderation the indignities that are offered to our country. A piece has at length appeared, from the quarter of all the former attacks, which upon every publick confideration demands an answer. Whilft perfons more equal to this business may be engaged in affairs of greater moment, I hope I fhall be excufed, if, in a few hours of a time not very important, and from fuch materials as I have by me (more than enough however for this purpofe), I undertake to fet the facts and arguments of this wonderful performance in a proper light. I will endeavour to state what this piece is; the purpose for which I take it to have been written; and the effects (fuppofing it should have any effect at all) it must neceffarily produce.

This piece is called, The present State of the Nation. It may be confidered as a fort of digeft of the avowed maxims of a certain political school, the effects of whofe doctrines and practices this country will feel long and feverely. It is made up of a farrago of almost every topick which has been agitated in parliamentary debate, or private converfation, on national affairs, for thefe laft feven

years.