and our minds, fore from the lofs of national glory, might feel every blow of Fortune as a crime in Government. It is impoffible that the cause of this strange diftemper should not fometimes become a subject of difcourfe. It is a compliment due, and which I willingly pay, to those who administer our affairs, to take notice in the first place of their speculation. Our Minifters are of opinion, that the increase of our trade and manufactures, that our growth by colonization and by conqueft, have concurred to accumulate immense wealth in the hands of fome individuals; and this again being difperfed amongst the people, has rendered them univerfally proud, ferocious, and ungovernable; that the infolence of fome from their enormous wealth, and the boldness of others from a guilty poverty, have rendered them capable of the most atrocious attempts; fo that they have trampled upon all fubordination, and violently borne down the unarmed laws of a free Government; barriers too feeble against the fury of a populace fo fierce and licentious as ours. They contend, that no adequate provocation has been given for so spreading a difcontent; our affairs having been conducted throughout with remarkable temper and confummate wisdom. The wicked industry of fome libellers, joined to the intrigues of a few difappointed politicians, have, in their opinion, been able to produce this unnatural ferment in the nation. Nothing indeed can be more unnatural than the present convulfions of this country, if the B 3 above above account be a true one. I confess I fhall affent to it with great reluctance, and only on the compulfion of the cleareft and firmeft proofs; because their account refolves itself into this fhort, but difcouraging propofition, "That we "have a very good Ministry, but that we are a very bad people;" that we fet ourselves to bite the hand that feeds us; that with a malignant infanity we oppofe the measures, and ungratefully vilify the perfons, of those whose fole object is our own peace and profperity. If a few puny libellers, acting under a knot of factious politicians, without virtue, parts, or character (fuch they are conftantly represented by thefe gentlemen), are fufficient to excite this disturbance, very perverse must be the difpofition of that people, amongst whom fuch a difturbance can be excited by fuch means. It is befides no fmall aggravation of the public misfortune, that the disease, on this hypothefis, appears to be without remedy. If the wealth of the nation be the cause of its turbulence, I imagine it is not proposed to introduce poverty, as a conftable to keep the peace. If our dominions abroad are the roots which feed all this rank luxuriance of fedition, it is not intended to cut them off in order to famith the fruit. If our liberty has enfeebled the executive power, there is no defign, I hope, to call in the aid of defpotism, to fill up the deficiencies of law. Whatever may be intended, these things are not yet profeffed. We feem therefore to be driven to abfolute defpair; for we have no other materials to work work upon, but thofe out of which God has been pleased to form the inhabitants of this ifland. If these be radically and effentially vicious, all that can be faid is, that thofe men are very unhappy, to whofe fortune or duty it falls to adminifter the affairs of this untoward people. I hear it indeed fometimes afferted, that a fteady perfeverance in the prefent measures, and a rigorous punishment of those who oppose them, will in courfe of time infallibly put an end to thefe disorders. But this, in my opinion, is faid without much obfervation of our prefent difpofition, and without any knowledge at all of the general nature of mankind. If the matter of which this nation is compofed be so very fermentable as these gentlemen describe it, leaven never will be wanting to work it up, as long as discontent, revenge, and ambition, have existence in the world. Particular punishments are the cure for accidental diftempers in the State; they inflame rather than allay thofe heats which. arife from the fettled mifmanagement of the Government, or from a natural ill difpofition in the people. It is of the utmost moment not to make mistakes in the ufe of ftrong measures; and firmness is then only a virtue when it accompanies the most perfect wisdom. In truth, inconftancy is a fort of natural corrective of folly and ignorance. I am not one of those who think that the people are never in the wrong. They have been fo, frequently and outrageously, both in other countries and in this. But I do say, that in all B 4 disputes disputes between them and their rulers, the prefumption is at least upon a par in favour of the people. Experience may perhaps justify me in going further. Where popular difcontents have been very prevalent; it may well be affirmed and fupported, that there has been generally fomething found amifs in the conftitution, or in the conduct of Government. The people have no interest in diforder. When they do wrong, it is their error, and not their crime. But with the governing part of the State, it is far otherwise. They certainly may act ill by defign, as well as by mistake. "Les revolutions qui arrivent dans les grands etats ne font point "un effect du bazard, ni du caprice des peuples. "Rein ne revolte les grands d'un royaume comme un Gouvernement foible et derangé. "Pour la populace, ce n'est jamais par envie "d'attaquer qu'elle fe fouleve, mais par impatience "de fouffrir." These are the words of a great man; of a Minifter of ftate; and a zealous affertor of Monarchy. They are applied to the fyftem of Favouritifm which was adopted by Henry the Third of France, and to the dreadful confequences it produced. What he fays of revolutions, is equally true of all great difturbances. If this prefumption in favour of the subjects against the trustees of power be not the more probable, I am fure it is the more comfortable fpeculation; because it is more easy to change an administration than to reform a people. Mem, de Sully, vol. I. p. 133. Upon Upon a fuppofition, therefore, that in the opening of the cause the prefumptions ftand equally balanced between the parties, there feems fufficient ground to entitle any person to a fair hearing, who attempts fome other scheme befide that eafy one which is fashionable in some fashionable companies, to account for the prefent discontents. It is not to be argued that we endure no grievance, because our grievances are not of the fame fort with thofe under which we laboured formerly; not precifely those which we bore from the Tudors, or vindicated on the Stuarts. A great change has taken place in the affairs of this country. For in the filent lapfe of events as material alterations have been infenfibly brought about in the policy and character of governments and nations, as those which have been marked by the tumult of public revolutions. It is very rare indeed for men to be wrong in their feelings concerning public mifconduct; as rare to be right in their fpeculation upon · the cause of it. I have conftantly obferved, that the generality of people are fifty years, at least, behind-hand in their politicks. There are but very few, who are capable of comparing and digefting what paffes before their eyes at different times and occafions, fo as to form the whole into a diftinct fyftem. But in books every thing is fettled for them, without the exertion of any confiderable diligence or fagacity. For which reafon men are wife with but little reflection, and good with little felf denial, |