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(3)

THE

M QJJ I P O I S E, ^c.

IN all free Governments, the People, upon
every Change in the Adminiftration, ge-
nerally feparate into three Parties.

The firft, and moft numerous, is that of
the giddy Multitude, prone to Mutability,
and fo fond of Novelty, that they always in-
dulge phantaftick Hopes, of great Advantages
to arife from every fucceflive Alteration in
the Miniftry j inconfiderately prefuming, that a
Reformation muft naturally enfue a Revolu*
tion.

The fecond, though of lefs Weight in
Numbers, is of greater Importance in Quality,
from the fuperior Rank and Abilities of the
Partizans, It confifts of the Friends and
Adherents to the lad Adminiflration, with
the feceeding Miniftry at their Head. They
endeavour to avail themfelves of the blbd

A 2 Im»

:,' ;)

(4)

Impetuofity of the former Party, who are
fufceptible of any Imprcirion, and eager to
embrace rhe lafl born Offipring of Ddufion.
Therefcre, by indudrioufly creating ground-
lef*> Oiftrulfs, dilTcminating iiDJufl- Sufpicioits,
nnd fomeniing nnn.uural Jealouiies, they la-
bour to inftigatc the unitable Populace, to
join in thd Clamour of Op;)ofuion.

The third Party, though of n loi^ Eflima-
tion, too often has the lea ft Iniiuerce, It is
formed of fuch, who are prudently con-
duced by the even and fteady Gu^:lance of
unhia/Jed Judgment. Who have Fcrdtude to
exert their own Reafon, and Integrity to
purfue its Diredion. It is the Duty ot thefe,
to keep the Ballance even, between the two
former. '

This Office, the Author of the iEqui-
poiSE prefumes totxercife; and will open it,
by a candid Examination of the Paper called
the Constitution. In the Courfe of
this Difquilition, the Public will judge of his
Impartiality. If an Eagernefs in Favour of
his own Opinion, fhould lead him into an
Error, he will gladly attend to the Docu-
ments of Corrcdionj if an indifcreet Warmth,
in Oppofition to Teeming Injuftice, ftiould
hurry him into an Appearance of Rudenefs,
he will patiently fubmit to the Severity of
Reproof j and he will feel no other Pain,
than that of having deferved it.

, , . " The

.<(

The Constitution, is wrote with
much afedied Moderation, pretended Impar-
tiality, and profeffed Politenefb j but in reality,
is penned with a great deal of elaborate Arti-
ftce, and difguifed Acrimony.

It is preceeded by an Addrefs to a great
M^^, and in the firft Page fur prizes the Rea-
der with an Affertion, that " Jealoufios

even of Prejudice and Partiality will de-
ferve our Attention, and our mofl unju/H"
*^ fiable Apprehenlions for Liberty, will al-
ways demand Refpedt and Reverence from
the Patrons of our political Freedom."
This is indeed a pleafant Way of obviating
all Objedions. For if we are to reverence
fuch unjujiijiable Apprehenfiom, who (liall
dare to dilJDute with this felf eredlcd Idol
of blind Adoration ? But To far from de-
manding Relpe(fl and Reverence from the
Patrons of political . Freedom, they merit
their Contempt and Indignaiion ; for by
r^\ih\g/alfe Alarms, they frequently occafion
real Invaiions of Liberty ; and afford a Pre-
tence of exerting illicit Authority, to repel
unjuft Oppolidon.

The Writer, addreflini!; himfelf to the
great Man, proceeds thus—" You, Sir,
have excluded fome Men moft eminently
capable of ferving their Country. You
have introduced others Into the Adminif-
tration, jjewto Bufmejs^ nor yet diflinguiflied
by, or bdievedio have any fuperior Abilities.

((

We will not be fo rafti in our Negatives, as
the Author is bold in his Affirmatives. Yet
certainly the one, would at lead have as much
Title to Credit with the Reader, as the other ;
where they are equally unfupported by Ar-
guments. But we owe too much Refpecl to
the Public, to folicit their AfTcnt without
oiSering Reafons to their Judgment.

We will not prefume to fay, that none but
the prefent Miniflry, are capable of ferving
their Country, or believed to have any fuperior
abilities. We hope that our learned and in-
genious Nation, affords more Men of diftin-
guiflied Talenrs, than the few who compofe
the fmall Body of the Adminiftration. But wc
will afk the Writer whether the noble Duke

who prcfides at the Treafury Who has

been Viceroy of a neighbouring Kingdom,
and who filled his Station with Honour—
Whether h e is new to Bufinefs, and believed
to have no fuperior Abilities ? We will afk
him, whether the noble Earl who is at the
Head of the Navy^ who from a long Courfe
of Experience and Application, has gained a
perfedt Knowledge of the Nature of our Con-
ftitution, and thelntereft of the Kingdom, of
which he has given frequent and fignal Tefli-
monies in the Senate of Great Britain----^
Whether h e is new to Bufinefs, and believed
to have no fuperior Abilities. We will afk
him, whether a worthy Commoner, who
has given public Marks of Genius and political

Know-

(7)

Knowledge, and who has the Honour to have
had a principal Share in penning that accurate
Reply, in the Memorials relating to the Con-
teds about Nova-Scotia Whether he is

new to Bufinefs, and believed to have no fu-
pcrior Abilities? Wc could continue our
Queries to many other Members in the pre-
fent Adminiftraiion, but we will not tire the
Reader's Attention, nor do further Violence
to the Author's Recolledion.

Perhaps he would infinuate that they arc
ntw to Bufinefs, becaufe they are young ia
Office. But as the great Minifters of State,
are neither immortal in their civil or political
Capacities, it will unfortunately happen, that
Veterans muft be fucceeded by Novices. And
fuch a Succeflion, fo far from being injurious,
has generally proved advantageous to the Public.

Experience demonftrates, that the Condudt
of Statefmen is moft commendable, and moft
beneficial to the Community, while they tot-
ter in the Infancy of Power As they grow
up to Maturity, Time, which increafes their
Knowledge, adds to their Prefumption, en-
larges their J^nfluence, and at Length confirms
them in the Plenitude of Authority. It is
then, ih?*C::"«lidcnce banifhcs Caution, Arro-
gance difdains Admonition, and Ambition
triumphs over Integrity.

Wc will readily allow that being recent in
Office, they may be Strangers to the Forms o^
Bulincls, which they of the niceft Modefly

need

m V"

(8)

need not he afl:am''d to learn from thdir Clerks i
But we will be bold to fay, that they may be
more compf*tent Mafters of F.'j'cntiah^ than
their Predecellorsr, who were ikillcd in all the
Mlnutice of their Hmployrnents.

But if we only conlider the prefent Minif-
try, as Members of the legijlu.lve Body, fure-
ly it would be paying an ill Compliment to
our Reprifcnttifives^ to fuppole tliem new to
political Bufincfs. It were meerly nugatory,
to advance further Arguments, in Contraver-
fion of fuch felf-conhucd AfTeverations.
In the 9th Page, the Writer obferves, that,
while our prefent Calamities were advancing

npon us — Mr. P continued in a Sta-

'• tion that gave him an Influence over the
" Condud of the Miniftcr. His Advice
'* might have animated his Difapprobation,
•' awed him to Mcafiircs more honourable
'* and adv.intageoiis to the Nation."

Thefe R^'tlcdions are natural But the

fuccceding Sentence, which infinuates that
Mr. P— chofe rather to poflefs himfelf in
the Complacency of his Employment is highly
ungenerous. Will the Author prefume to fay
that H E was Complacent in his Employment,
who is known to have advifed, fpoken *, and
voted againft Mcafures which l)e apprehended
to be diihonourable and difadvantugeous to the

Nation,

• Only to mention one Inllance \fr. P ftrenuouf-

Fy oppofed the two Bi others in the Debate relating to the
Trade of the African Company .

(9)

Nation, even while he enjoyed a Port the moft
lucrative under the Governipcnt.

It is evident that he was not frugal of hifi
Advice, nor backward to teftify his Difap-
probation. But he was confcious that nothing
but Defpair of Amendment, would counte-
nance the Violence of Oppofition, and juflify
an Attempt to work the Expulfion of the
Miniftry. He therefore endeavoured rather
to procure a Reformation as a friendly Moni*
tor, than occafion a Revolution as a virulent
Oppofer.

He had ftronger Hopes of Succcfs from
amicable Expedients, as he received repeated
Aflurances of a Change in the Syftem of
Affairs, from a noble Perfon, who, in Juftice
to his own high Charader, might realbnably
be expelled to adhere to his Word, and to be
incapable of debafing his Dignity, by tem-
porizing Evafions.

But when inexcufable Violations of Pro-
mife, fufficiently evinced him of his Inftability,
tlien he juftly concluded that further Confi-
dence would be a Reproach to his Patri(^t
Charadler: Ihen he thought it his Duty to
exert the indignant Spirit of Oppofition to

procure the Removal of a M r from fo

great a Share in political Concerns, who was
fou.id unfaithful to his political Engagements.

This Explanation founded on Circumflanc^s
notorious to every one who pays Attention to
public Tranfadlions, fufiiciently apologizes for

B a

( JO )

I J a Condudl, which needs no other Vindication,
than that of being fairly reprefented. And
ihis Explanation, is happily corroborated by the
fuccceding Obfervaiion of the Author himfelf
^-^ Which conveys an involuntary Reproof,
on his own precipitate injurious Infinuation.

After having drawn the Portrait of the laft

Minifler with a fevere, let others determine,

with how faithful a Pencil, he drops the Di^

greffion, and again addrefTes him (elf to the

great Pcrfonage in the following Words.

|j ** Such was the Minifter, whom till lall

Year you thought it Patriotifm to fupport.

That you declined joining with him in the

late Revolution of our Politicks, is univer-

fally approved. Be (ides all other, your

own private Reafons, you had the Ex-

peiience of a Gentleman who had made an

unfuccelbful Trial of his G — *s Firmnefs to

his Engagements." Here we are told from

the Writer's own Mouth, that the great Man

is not the only one who has experienced the

Fragility of reiterated AfTurances.

In the fubfequent Page, he fays to this
Gentleman, ** You might have been indebted
for an Example of Temper and Modera-
tion. In a wife and boned Convidion qf
the pernicious Effcds of Fadion and Op-
pofition, he declined acc^epting from hjs
Majefty*s Grace and PIcafure, that very
Pow^r, of which, permit me to think, yqvi

'* jiayo

f«

((

f«

'* have violently taken PofTcffion, by Methods
" wholly unknown to our Conftituiiony

Who can this modefl: felf-denying Gentlc-
t\ian be ? What ? Refift His Majefty's Plea-
fure! Decline accepting that Power which
His Majefty gracioully offered ! And fuffcr it
to be fcized by Methods wholly nnknown to
our Conflitution, What ? Leave fupplicating
\{ — -ty in Diftrefs ! * Suffer his Clojh to be
fiormed^ and bis /acred Per fon vie' *edbyone
Jadiious Family /——Excellive Moderation !
tJnkind Defertion ! Ungenerous Pertinacity !

But the Gentleman it feems was apprehen-
five of the Effedlsof Fadion and Oppofition.
Indeed ! And how did his Refulal to comply
with His Majefty^s Pleafure, remove thofe
Apprehenrions ? Could he humbly fuppofe,
himfelf alone to be the hated Ohjed of Oppofi-
tion ? Might he not reafonably conclude that
the Power enjoyed under the free Grant of
the Royal Favour, was more likely to prove
a peaceable Tenure, than that, ufurpcd by
Methods wholly unknown to our Con/iitutionf
Could he fuppofe that fucb Power, fo violent-
ly wrefted, could be quietly maintained ?

Perhaps the cautious Gentleman tliought
he could acquire Honour with more Security^
by heading Oppofiticjn, than by combating a-
gainft it. Pcrnaps the Satisfadlion of per*
plexing a Rival, was, in his Eftimation,
j.referable to that of fcrving his Country;

B 2 Perhaps,

• Vide Constitution, Page zo.

lit

( 12 )

Perhaps, he rather choO^ to fliake three King-
doms by the Page of Fadion, than hold a
fhort-hvcd Pre-eminence in one.

It would hav'2 been kind in the Writer, to
have explained by what Methods unknow?i to

our Conjlitiuior', the S^- y has taken Pofief-

fion of Power. Has he ftolen the S — s ? Did
he come in a rebellious Manner and demand
them with Force and Arms? Indeed the
Writer modedly lays, permit me io thinks you

have violently taken PolTeirion, ^c. To be

fure, no Man can hinder him from thinking ;
but in Juflice to his own Charader it would
have been prudent in hiin to have fupprelTcd
his Thoughts, till he could bring Rcafons to
fupport them. We never heard of any Vio-
lence ufcd by the S — y in obtaining the S — s.
Indeed, if we believe his Enemies, HisM— y
did not I art with them with that Alacrity,
nor beg and p:ay of him to accept them, in
the very conddcending Manner in which he
prefled tlic Gtiuleman, whole Temper and
Ivloderation the Writer lo highly extolls.

We are apt to think that this Gentleman is
ho Stranger to us, by the Pains which are
taken to place him in a favourable Light, and
to (hade his Motives with falfe Colouring, by
making him decline Power from an honefl:
Convidtion of the pernicious EfFeds of Fac-
tion and Oppofiiion, while it is evident that
he is ftrenuoully grafping at it, by the Exertion
t)f all their baneful Intiuence.
^ If

( 13

)

.. If this Gentleman (hould be one of thofe *
efnimnt Men capable of ferving their Country ^
whom the S — y is faid to have excluded.

Then, who can blame the S y ? His own

Knowledge of Mankind, Ibengthened by
pad Experitnce, mufl: deter him from a Con-
ntdtion with one, who, whatever his Abili-
ties may be, has given no very inviting Proofs
of his Integrity.

At tile Time of Sir Robert Wa^poU^ Refig- I
nation, when he was fucceeded by his Riva?.
Mr. Stanhope, a Pamphlet was publidied,
called the DefeSlion co?jfidered, from whence
1 beg Leave to quote ihe following Sentence.
«~— * A brave Man, if driven to Extremity,
*« would rather employ one, who had been
an open Enemy, than a treacherous Friend i
who has convinced the World, that there
is no Tie capable to hold him ; but that he
is ready to lacrifice every Thing to his In-
tere/i. Ambit wt^ or Revenged As the Paf-
fions ot Mankind are, in all Ages the fame
and will in all Ages produce the fame Effedls,
probably there may be one among us to whom
this Delcription may be adapted ; if there is
let the Application iall on the Charader

known to deferve it. But to return to our

Author.

In the 13th Page, he afk? « Is it pofli-

blc to behold witho'it Aftonifhment that
firli Demand of Power, which oftered

*' Violence

* V'iJe Constitution, Page 3.

((

«c

\ 'I!

1. (

( H )

" Violence to the Ccnftitiition through all \t§
*' Parts J to the Majtfty of our Sovereign, the
•* Dignity of our Nobles, and the Freedom of
our Reprefentatives ? Can we behold with-
out Indignation one whole Family extend-
ing itfeU through all the great Offices of
State, and preliding over every Branch of
the Adminiflration.*'
How ? are all the Members of the Admini--
ftration related to the S— -y ? Surely it muft
be by Adoption then. For certainly very
few of them ftand in a Degree of Kindred to
him by Confanguinity of Blood. The noble

Duke who prefidcs at the T '— — y, — is he

related to him ? The C r of the Exchequer

— is he related to him r The Prefidents at the

Pay-Office- — are ihey related to him ?

Let the Public, to whom the Writer has ap*
pealed, determine, whether he deferves the
Charader ol a faithlid and impartial Hifto-
lian. or — we are indebted to him for the live-
ly Coniraft That of a turbulent^ Jedittoui

Libeller.

But how has the S-— y offered Vio-
lence to the Conftitution in all its Parts?
What? Bccaule he has prevailed on his So-
vereign, to afford him the AfTiftanee of Men,
of whofe Zeal in their Country's Caufe he is
affurcd, and on whofe friendly Attachment
to him, and to each other, he can fecurely de^
pend.

('5) . ,

If this is all, furely the Nation is beholden
to his, call it if you pleafe. Partiality, Wc
fliall not now have Mifcondudt (hifted from
one to another, and while two or three flaare
a Load of Guilt which has almoft crufhed a
flouri(hing Nation, yet each of them afFedt to
appear innocent. The Succefs of political
Operations, depends, in a great Meafure, on a
free unreferved Intercourfe among the feveral
Members of the Adminiftration, and the pro-
per Exertion of their joini Influence j and
how can we exped the Kingdom to profper
while each of them, with Jhamejul Apology^
confeiTes hitiifelf a Stranger to the Negotiations
of the reft ?

But the different Branches of the Adminif-
tration, will n(nii co-operate with amicable,
and we may hope, with happy Concert.
They will confer together with open and
friendly Participation, and will only conceal
their Councils, from their Enemies. Our
Statefmen now, will not run different Ways
blind-folded^ and joftle together, like Nat.
Lee's Gods^ in the Dark^ till they overfet the
Nation, by falling foul of each other.

Thefe unjuft and unbecoming Reflexions,
are the more unpardonable in the Author, as
he feems to be thoroughly fenfible of the Re*-
gard due to Decency and good Manners. For
towards the Clofe of his Addrefs, he very
properly, I will own politely, fays * — *' The

** Writer

'^ Vid^CovSTITUTION, Pjgczj.

{ i6 )

" Writer of this Paper will be more adiamed
** of any |:>crfonal Rudenefs, if it fliould efcape
" his Attention, than you can be offended at
•* It. He readily acknowledges your Charac-
** ter above being treated with Petulance or
** Levity, he difclaims all Aftempts to Wit,
** and furely our prcfent national Circum-
*' ftances are ill fuited to Pleafantry/'
• How then dial I we account for the forego-
ing infulting Expreffions, and for the fubfe-
quent indecent Sallies, where he ironically in-
timates that the S y's very Name conveys

a Righ. of Claim to Honours and Employ-
ments. And then makes an idle Allufion to
what he calls a pleafant Miracle in Rabelais ^
whodefcribes P ant agriicl {hzXicxmg his Army
from the Rain with only half his Tongue ;
which this judicious and well bred Writer
calls an emblematic Image of Eloquence ? —
Is there no Petulance, no Levity, no ill-fuited
Pleafiintry, here ? Is this all folid Reafon,
candid Argument, and courtly Complaifance ?
Or is it not rather a fhameful Jnftance, thqit
Man's Condu(5t ill corresponds with his Pro-
f effions ? ...

But this is fmooth Urbanity, to what follows;
when alluding to the Head of the N — y, he
obferves, — " If when Experience and Know-
" ledge in Profeflion have failed in the Defti-
" nation of our Fleets, and the Choice of their
** Commanders ; if a total Inexperience, and
*' an Ignorance that can hardly be fup-

'- -- ' *• poled

I .T,

€

( »7 )

*' pofed to know the Points of the Compafs ;
*' if they can fucceed, let the Winds and

*' Waves be our Pilots." As to the Modo

of Expreflion in this Sentence, it is too grofs to
dwell upon : Let the Author take Shanrae to
himfelf ! As to the Mutter it contains, Proofs
drawn from part: Experience, carry ll:r*onger
Convidion, than all the Force of Arguments ;

therefore, the Coiidudl of the Duke of B d

and the Earl of PF — ^- — ea, will fpare mc
the Trouble of an Anfwer.

In the 2ifl: Page, he forgets himfelf, and
inconfiderately proceeds thus, — " Surely, Sir,
however popular fome Months ago the
Refolution of fending the HeJJians away,
you cannot in earned think it expedient at
prefent when we muft neceflarily fend fo
large a Body of our national Troops to
^w^r/Vtf."— — No 1 Why net ? Where is
the Danger? I appeal to the Author's own
inconteflible Authority to prove that there
can be no Danger : For in the ilth Page,
after having portrayed the laft Minifter, he
iays— ** This Minifter has lelt you a Fleet fu-
*' perior to that of your Enemies, and an Army
** jufficient to repel and engage an ignominious
Invafion at Homey yet Jend our Colonies a
vigorous and effeBual Supply*' — If this be
true, as we are ready to bdieve it is, where-
fore is it inexpedient to fend the HeJJtani
away, when we are provided with fuch a
Defence at Hoine^ and at the fame Time

C furnifiicd

((

( i8 )

furnifhed with fuch Supplies for our Colonies?
This palpable Inconfillence, proves how un-
avoidably Men contradidl: them fc Ives, when
their Language flows from their Pens, initead
of their Hearts.

In the next Page, he afks — *' What is
" there in the z^bilities of Mr. P— to pro-
** mife whid another Gentleman could not
*' have executed ?" For my own Part, I
cannot find the Purport of this invidious
Comparifon, nor can 1 conceive to what End
it fervcs, unlefs it is to betray a Secret con-
cerning that fame Gentleman^ which his Pru-
dence inclines him to conceal, but which his
Refentment forces him to difcover. This
Indifcrction only convinces us that great Men
when they are agitated by Paflion, will ex-
pofe their Jmbeciliiy.

1 now come to the Recapitulation, where
be tinilhes his Addrefs, to the great Perfonage,
whom he declares he fliould be afliamed to
offend with Rudenefs, in the following polite
and inoffenfive Terms.—*' That it be-
** fpeaks an over- weaning of Vanity, rather
than a Confcioufnefs of Abilities, to refufe
an honourable, and, as it feems to many, a
ncceflary Affiftance : That there is a
Wildnels of Spirit in Ambition, fond of
Projects hazardous, and vaft, and above all
'* human Power to execute : That we have
" Reafon to fear your Succefs in fuch Projcds,
^* if pofTible, would be almoft as formidable

« to

( 19)

** to the Conftitution of your Country, as the
** Conquefts of the public Enemy, fince it
" matters not by whom we are enflavcd.

Here we are afraid the difappointed Gen-
tleman whofe hononrahle and neceffary AJjif^
tance has been refufed^ difcovers himfelf a-
gain. For furely nothing but the Rage of
Difappintment, could didate fuch abfurd,
extravagant, and irritated Suggeftions. But
by what magic Virtue does the Writer pre-

fume to determine that the S y*s Projeds

are hazardous, and above all human Power to
execute ? — When but two Pages before he
fays,—" This Addrefs cannot be fuppofed
" to mean either Blame or Reproach, Sir. top
your Adminiftration, fince nothing has been
done in it, nothing even attempted" --^^
If nothing has been even attempted, how then
can this fagacious and amazing Gentleman
pretend to aflert, that his Projeds are above all
human Power to execute, when it is impofil- i
ble for him to know what Projedls he intends
to purfue ? That there is a Wildnefs of Spirit
in Ambition, we will readily allow, and per-
haps we might be juftified in affirming, that
no great Patriot, no eminent Genius in any
Charadlcr of Life, ever fignalized himfelf with-
out an Infufion of this Spirit. As to the Pof-
iibility of his enllaving his Country, by his
unattemptable Projects, it feems too ludicrous
an Infinuation to require an Anfwer. And
till the Writer demonftrates that the S y

C 2

IS.

I. h

_ 'Mi

< 20 )

is, or is ever likely to be in thofe tempting
Circumftances, which invited the Ufurpation
o[ Oliver Cfomwell^ and other Invaders of
Liberty, one vv^ould be inclined to conclude,
that he only meant to be plealant j if the lerious
Air of fucceeding Repetitions, did not dcrtroy
this favourable Condi udion.

Before we proceed to confider the fecond
Part, we will obferve that a Vein of latent
Malevolence runs through this whole Addrej's,
The Author attempts to give an invidious
Cad to the moft meritorious Qualities. The
great Man's unrivalled Elocution, is an *
uiltercation of fomewhat, too civilly called
Eloquence : His public Difinterelledneji is a "f*
boajied Contempt of Money, Boafted! By
whom ? Indeed his Friends have extolled the
noble Self- Denial ; And every generous Mind
will be zealous to commend, and publi(h,
what defervcs Applaufe. Surely it is flill an
Honour in Britain^ to be eloquent and gene-
rous—And while Eloquence and Generofity
are held in honourable EftimatioUj the Wri-
ter's Endeavour to depreciate thofe excelling
Qualities, will be as unfuccefsful, as it is un-
juft. If he has the leafl Share of real Models
ly, he will blujh at his own Wcaknefs ; if he
has the leafl: Spark oireal Virtue, he will weep
at his own Injuftice,

• Vide Constitution, Page 5,
f Vide Const iTWT ION, Page 5,

( *1 )

We come now to the fecond Part, where
the Author tells us, that, •* he would not
** willingly call Defpotifm Government:
** For that abfolutc Obedience is Slavery ;
«* to compell that Obedience is Tyranny."-—
But it rather appears to us, that Obedience
on one Side, and Dominion on the other,
whether defpotic or limited, comprehend all
the Ellentials of Government, though not of
good Government. That our firft Ideas of
Government, as he fays, fuppofe a Syftem,
may be difputed : And indeed if the Author's
Realbning is juft, they cannot fuppofe a Syf-
tem ; for our firft Ideas of Government are
of the defpotic Kind : But to admit of it—
Perhaps we (hould arrogate too much to our-
felves, to infift that the Government at Con^
ftantinopie is not fyftematical as well as our's.
Indeed their Syftem muft be more fallible,
which depends on the Will of a fingle Pcr-
fon. But though there is not originally any
eftablifhed covenanted Syftem, yet, in the
Courfe even of Defpotilm itfelf, an implied
Syftem arifes, which is fo well known to the
governed, that, whenever that Syftem is
violated. Slaves as they are, they have the
Spirit to deftroy their Tyrants.

In the fubfequent Pages the Author difplays
a Profufion of hiftorical Learning. He tells
us what Forms of Government moft nearly
refembled that of Great-Britain. He expa-
tiates on the Ufurpatian of Oliver Cromwell^

and

(

1^
If

'^\ !

M i
1

If!' '
Li

{ 2a )

and concludes that it was owing to feme
Defedl in the Formation of our Conftitution.
He then proceeds with great Caution to point
out where that Defeat lies, in the following
Terms — " Let me be permitted to fny, that
** there enters too much of the democratical
" into our Form of Government." Indeed !
If then there is too much of democratical in
our Government, if the Prevalence of popular
Power is to be dreaded, why will the Author
add to its Influence, by appealing to the
Paflions of the Multitude in an inflamed
Harangue, and endeavouring to miflead their
giddy Apprehenfions by malicious Intimations,
and fallacious Reafonings ?

I hope I fliall be juftified in ufing the
foregoing warm Expreflions, by quoting the
following Sentence. " If then in any future
Period of our Hiflory an Orator fliould arife
in the H of C precipitate

and impetuous in his Ambition j bold to
imagine, and defperate to ad ; an Enemy
to the Adminiftration, and not a Friend to
the Conftitution ; if fuch an Orator fliould
arifc, where is the Man who Ihall prefume
to afllire us, that our Liberties are not in

Danger?" Upon what Foundation,

can the Author, who himlclf confeflrs that ^
nothing has been done, notbi?2g even attempted^
pretend to fay, that the great Man is defperate
to a^ ? As to his being an Enemy to the
Adminiflration every one, who is a Lover

( 23 )

of his Country, muft have been a Foe t.> the
the lafi. But why not a Friend to the Cr.i-
ilitution ? Would it not have been candid to
have fupprefled thefe Reflexions, till Fadls
might authorife the bold Infinuations ? But
perhaps theCe iibelhm Contrafts were adopted
to delude the Judgment by the Beauty of
Antithefis. Such a culpable Attempt to im-
pofe upon weak Underilandings by Sound
and Sophiflry, is a deplorable Inftance, that
Envy and Aniniofity triumph over Senfe and
Honour.

But he purfues the Violence of Invedtivc,
and draws to a nearer and more perfonal
Jlluftration. *' If this Orator (fays he) fhould
arife in a Period of national Diftrefs, Gfr.
— The Subjects upon which he exerts his
fatal Eloquence are of all others moll fuited
to awaken and engage our Attention, to
impell, to irritate, to inflame Apprehenfions
of exorbitant Power in the Crown ; the
Abufes of Prerogative, ^^.— Which even
in the confufed unconnedted Speeches of
Cromwell could infatuate our People to
** believe and be enflaved."

Were not the Subjed too ferious, one might
fmile to hear a Man defcribing all the fatal
JBfFcdts of Eloquence, and at the fame Time
employing all the Eloquence he is Mafter of,
to impelly to irritate^ to inflame. But to
what Purpofe is all his pompous Decla-
iflation ? Why is Oliver Cromwell mentioned

1'
I

( 24 )

fb often ? I am forry to undeiTtand the Rea-»
fon ! Becaufe I am blocked to find one of my
own Species capable of afperfing Patriotifm
by the moft odious and defamatory Endea-
vours. But their Abfurdity is an Antidote
again ft their Malignity. For where is the
Analogy between thofe Days and the prefent
Times? Has our facred Sovereign attempted
to ftretch the Prerogative ? Are his Subjcds
dillatisfied with his Government ? Is the
S y General of our Forces ? Certainly no-
thing but the Fury of Refcntment could
tranfport the Writer fo far beyond the Limits
of Reafon and Humanity.

He proceeds to demonftrate the Danger of
a preponderating Democracy, and lells us,
" That the Roman Tiibuncs eftablifhed to
** preferve the Plebeians from the Oppreflion
** of the Senators foon aiTumcd the whole
" Power of the Re^^ublic." What does this
prove ? What juft Comparifon can be made
between the Roman Tribunes, and our Re-
prefentativcs ? The Roman Tribunes were by
Law held to be facrofanBi^ and had the
Power of intcrpofing in fenatorial Debates, by
the fingle Word xioto. But Reprefentatives,
however refpedtable and auguft, derive no
Authority from being efteemed facred ; nor
can one among thi-m make his IntercefftOy by
uttering his lordly voto. The Roman Tri-
bufies, at their firft Inftitution were but two
in Number, The Plebeia?ii had a Dcfire to

increafe

■

(25)

incre^fc them, which the Patrieians at firft
oppofed, but they foon difcovered their Error,
and by p udently permitting them to add to
their Number, they diminifhed their Autho-
rity. But our Reprefentatives confifts of a
happy Medium ; they are neither (0 numerous
to iwcll into a popular AfTembly, nor fo few
as to endanger the Concurrence of the whole
Body, in a fatal Defign on public Liberty.

Surely a more daring Infult was never
offered to a H— of C— -— than to fuppofe *,
" that they may bring with them the Paflions,
Interefts and Prejudices of their Confti-
tuents 5 and that Eloquence muft have
choien its Party with very little Judgment,
if it cannot influence the Paffions of a Mul-
titude." — That they ought to bring the
Jnterefls of their Conftituents with them, is
undeniable ; but to intimate that they may
be loaded with their Paffions and Prejudices,
and influenced by Eloquence, like a Multitude,
is furely the Extravagance of Licentioulhefe^
Do the Advantages of Birth and Education^
make no Difference between our Reprefenta-
tives, and the Populace ? Are they to be
deluded by fpecious Harangues; No! There
are too many Members pf found Judgment
among them, tooppofe the Prevalence of fijch
Delufion. Eloquence muft be enforced by
Reafon, to gain the Attention of a Bfltijb
ocnaie. 1 ij »>(».• • «.. t

D The

((

JLVidcCoNSTiTyxiflN. Pape ^q.

Liiii

(26)

The Author draws to a Conclufion by re-
commending Diffidence. I willingly join with
him in the Recommendation. But Diffidence
has its proper Bounds : Which the judicious,
impartial, and unprejudiced alone can difccrn.
1 am Icnfible that Profeffions of Impartiality,
will avail me little with the PuMick. Their
Judgment, not my Declarations, will deter-
mine my Charadter. With Regard to the
great Perfonagc, whom 1 have endeavoured to
refcue from the foul Hands of Calumny and
Defamation, 1 will not venture to fay that he
will remedy all our Evils, heal all our Suffer-
ings, and reftore the Nation to Honour and
Frofpcrity. If his Morals and Abilities weighed
againft the Capacity and Integrity of his
Predeceffors, fhould be found to preponderate,
yet I will not from thence alone, rartily con-
clude that his future Conduct will correfpond
with his prefent Charadrer.

The bell Difpofitions have been corrupted
by Power. Jugurtha a Volunteer under
Scipio in Numantiay and Jugartha^ King of
Numidia was the fame Man, under very
different Charadlers. Therefore we ought
not only to confider what Qualifications are
neceffary for the Exercife of Power, but exa-
mine alio by what Means fuch Power was
acquired, and the Method of Acquiiition may
dirtdus to judge of the Probability of any fu-
ture Abufcs of Auihoritv.

( *7 )

If a Minifter ihould glide fmoothly into
Office, affifted by powerful Conncdtions, and
fupported by an exteniive Influence over de-
pendant B— ghs, however eminently qualified
and well-difpofed, he may appear at the Time
of his Promotion, yet it is much to be feared,
left the Intoxication of Superiority fliould
deprave his Nature ; and the Security of
offending, liould tempt him to an Abufe of
Power.

If on the contrary, inftead of being pro-
moted by the factious Cabal of great and
powerful Partiz ns, he fhould be advanced at
the unanimous Defirc of a diftreffed People,
folely influenced by their Confidence in his
experienced Virtues — If, it (hould be publicly
allowed, that the Hand which inverted him
with Authority, moved with Reludlance, then
he may fay with Marius *, All my Hopes
are in myfelf-, my own good Condudf and
Integrity mud Jupport me^ Jor I can have no
other Dependance,

Therefore, as he cannot rely on partial
Protedion again ft Abufes of Power, we may
reafonahly cxpedt that hii Adminiftration will
be fuccefsful, which can only be fuftained by
Wifdom and Virtue : And to entertain any
Diflruft oihii future Behaviour, would rather
be an Indication of inexcufable Prejudice, than
of juftifiable Diffidence,

• Mi hi /pes Omnes in Memttfita ; quas nectjje eft et Virtute,
ft Innocentia tutari : Nam aha infirma/unt» Sal lust.

AT-