in CONTEMPT of their choice*" i. e. according to this novel and extraordinary mode of reasoning, in conforming his conduct to the conditions of the national choice, he reigns in actual contempt of their choice. Dr. Price having afferted the abstract right of the people, as exemplified at the revolution, to depofe their governors for misconduct, and frame a government for themselves; Mr. Burke fays, "the people of England utterly disclaim it; they will refift the practical affertion of it with their lives and fortunes." But how the people can, But how the people can, in any given or poffible circumstances, refift their own act, is a paradox. which Mr. Burke attempts not to folve. Certain it is that Dr. Price advanced, in this famous discourse, no other principles than those which Mr. LOCKE had urged a hundred years before in defence of the title of king William and the validity of the revolution government. Amongst innumerable paffages to the fame purpose, a single citation may well fuffice in vindication of a doctrine resting on the immovable foundation of common fenfe. "Though in a conftituted commonwealth," fays that immortal writer, standing upon its own bafis, and acting according to its own nature, that is, acting for the preservation of the community, there can be but one fupreme power, which is the legislative, to which all the rest are and must be subordinate; yet the legislative being only a FIDUCIARY POWER, to act for certain ends, there remains ftill in the people a fupreme power to remove or alter the legislative, when they find the legislative act contrary to the trust reposed in them. For all power given with truft for the attaining an end, being limited by that end, whenever that end is manifeftly neglected or opposed, the truft must neceffarily be forfeited, and the power devolve into the hands of those that gave it, who may place it anew where they shall

66

think

The words of Mr. Burke are literally "the choice of the Revolution Society." But if his majefty reigns in contempt of the choice of one part of the people, he reigns doubtless, by a parity of reason, in contempt of every part.

think beft for their fafety and fecurity. And thus the community perpetually retains a fupreme power of faving themselves from the attempts and defigns even of their legiflators, whenever they fhall be fo foolish or fo wicked. as to lay and carry on defigns against the liberties and properties of the fubject. If they who say this hypothefis lays a foundation for rebellion, mean that it may occafion civil wars or inteftine broils, to tell the people that they are abfolved from obedience when illegal attempts are made upon their liberties and properties, they may as well fay, upon the fame ground, that honest men may not oppose robbers or pirates, because this may occafion disorder or bloodshed. I defire it may be confidered what kind of peace there will be in the world, which is to be maintained only for the benefit of robbers and oppreffors. Polyphemus's den gives us a perfect pattern of fuch a peace; fuch a government, wherein Ulyffes and his companions had nothing to do but quietly to fuffer themselves to be devoured. Are the people to be blamed if they have the fenfe of rational creatures, and can think of things no otherwise than as they find and feel them? And is it not rather their fault, who put things in fuch a posture, that they would not have them thought as they are? But whether the mischief hath oftener begun in the people's wantonnefs or in the rulers' infolence, I leave to impartial hiftory to determine."

From the date of the fatal publication of Mr. Burke, who feemed ambitious to fignalize himfelf by fetting not merely a palace or a temple, but the world itself on fire, the nation was divided into two violent and openly hoftile parties. The tory faction, which had hitherto scarcely dared to whisper their diflike-now, under the fanction of Mr. Burke's authority, became bold and clamorous in their vociferations. And the principles advanced by Mr. Burke, ever grateful to the ear of princes, at once obliterated all paft offences, and placed him in the foremoft rank of favorites and courtiers. This extraordinary production

production gave rife to numberlefs replies, of which by far the most memorable was that written by Thomas Paine, the author of the famous pamphlet ftyled cOMMON SENSE, which by its almoft magical effect on the minds of the people of America, at a moft important crifis, paved the way for the declaration of independency. His prefent work, RIGHTS OF MAN, was written with no less power of intellect and force of language; and made a correfpondent, perhaps an indelible, impreffion upon the public mind. Not content with pointing out and expofing with the most farcastic feverity the abfurdities and mifreprefentations of Mr. Burke-not content with painting in juft and ftriking colors the abuses and corruptions of the exifting government, he with daring and unhallowed hand attacked the principles of the conftitution itself— defcribing it in terms the most indecent as radically vicious and tyrannical; and reprobating the introduction of ariftocracy or monarchy, under whatever modifications, into any form of government, as a flagrant ufurpation and invafion of the unalienable rights of man. "When we furvey," fays this temerarious writer, "the wretched conditions of man under the monarchical and hereditary systems of government, dragged from his home by one power, or driven by another, and impoverished by taxes more than by enemies, it becomes evident that those systems are bad, and that a GENERAL REVOLUTION in the principle and conftruction of governments is neceffary."

This pamphlet unfortunately appearing at a time when a large proportion of the community, and those the most zealously attached to liberty, were from caufes already specified in a state of great irritation and difcontent; and the book, notwithstanding its abfurd and mifchievous political pofitions, being written in a style and manner which "came home to men's business and bofoms," innumerable converts were made to its general system, and infinite pains were taken to circulate it amongst the body of the

people.

people*. Political affociations were alfo inftituted in every part of the kingdom, profeffing to have in view the reform of the constitution, but which with too much reafon were fufpected really to aim at its fubverfion. Such were the lamentable confequences refulting from the rafhnefs and folly of Mr. Burke-whofe boafted panacea operated upon the body-politic as a moft deadly poison; and which ferved to prove that learning, parts, and eloquence may fubfift in the highest perfection, without being accompanied with a fingle particle of wisdom.

The new parliament affembled on the 25th of November, 1790. In his opening fpeech, the king fignified "his fatisfaction that the differences with Spain were brought to an amicable termination. He obferved, that

fince

* A few detached quotations from this famous publication may ferve as fpecimens, to gratify curiofity, of the wonder-working power with which it cannot be denied to have been written. "The countries of the old world have been long harraffed by the quarrels and intrigues of their governments. Age after age has rolled away for no other purpofe than to behold their wretchedness. Invention is continually exercifed to furnish new pretences for revenue and taxation. It watches profperity as its prey. All monarchical governments are military. War is their trade, and plunder their object--wearied with human butchery, they sit down to reft, and call it peace.-If we would delineate human nature with a bafeness of heart and hypocrify of countenance that reflection would fhudder at, and humanity difown, it is kings, courts, and cabinets, that muft fit for the portrait. War is the pharo-table of governments, and nations the dupes of the game.-Government on the old fyftem is an af fumption of power for the aggrandizement of itfelf-on the new, a delegation of power for the common benefit of fociety. Monarchy is the mafter-fraud which fhelters all others. By admitting a participation of the fpoil, it makes itfelf friends; and when it ceafes to do this, it will ceafe to be the idol of courtiers. There is a morning of reafon rifing upon man on the fubject of government, that has not appeared before. The trade of courts is beginning to be understood; and the affectation of mystery, with all the artificial forcery by which they impofed upon mankind, is on the decline. It has received its death-wound; and though it may linger, it will expire. No question has arisen within the records of history that preffes with the importance of the prefent. It is not whether this or that party shall be in or out, or whig or tory, or high or low church fhall prevail; but whether man fhall inherit his rights, and univerfal civilization fhall take place. When it shall be faid in any country in the world, my poor are happy, neither ignorance nor diftrefs is to be found amongst them-my gaols are empty of prisoners, my ftreets of beg gars-the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppreffive-the rational world is my friend, because I am the friend of its happiness-when these things can be faid, then may that country boast its constitution and government."

fince the last feffion of parliament a foundation had been laid for a pacification between Auftria and the Portethat a separate peace had actually taken place between Ruffia and Sweden: but that the war between Ruffia and the Porte ftill continued. The principles on which I have hitherto acted," faid the monarch, " will make me always defirous of employing the weight and influence of this country in contributing to the restoration of general tranquillity."

The terms of the convention with Spain were approved and ratified in both houfes by great majorities--but not unanimoufly. For the papers and documents relative to the negotiation being partially with-held, Mr. Grey moved an adjournment, declaring, "that without them it was impoffible to know whether the late difputes were owing to the restless ambition and unjust claims of Spain, or to the rafhness, prefumption and ignorance of his majefty's minifters." In the upper houfe, the marquis of Landfdowne expreffed his "determination not to join in a vote of approbation of the conduct of minifters, who had permitted a fet of unknown adventurers to fit out ships with fine names, and under Portuguese colors and papers to break through a system regarding Spanish America, which had been fanctioned by the policy of Europe for more than 200 years."

To defray the expence of the armament, Mr. Pitt, with the laudable resolution to fuffer no permanent increase of debt, proposed various temporary taxes, which would discharge the incumbrance in four years-with the affiftance of five hundred thousand pounds, which he had it in contemplation to take from the unclaimed dividends lying in the bank of England, the amount of which he estimated at fix hundred and fixty thousand pounds. This latter propofition excited a just alarm in all the great chartered companies, and in the commercial and mercantile world in general. It was ftrongly and ably opposed in the house by Mr. Fox, Mr. Thornton a bank director,

and