The French Constitution

endeavour, with candour, to convince me of my mistakes, MY FRIEND.

Should any one

honour me with public notice, I hope, however engaged in the common concerns of life, to be able, as I am

fure I shall be willing, to defend or to give up any thing that I have written. This is nothing more than my duty. When a man prefumes to addrefs the public, and at the fame time declares his determination not to reply to any thing that may faid to him, fuch a declaration might be confidered as an unpardonable infult, were it not a fort of acknowledgment of the weakness of the writer, or of the weakness of his caufe; probably of both.

I should be very unhappy, if what I have now

their Should

pens

any

faid, fhould be confidered as throwing down the gauntlet, or challenging any one to meet me in the unpleasant, though fometimes unavoidable field of controversy. I therefore declare, that if any one thinks proper to attack me, it must be upon my own ground. I am not refponfible for the opinions of other writers, who may have taken in defence of the French Revolution. perfon therefore charge me with being a republican, or an enemy to our EXCELLENT CONSTITUTION: Should he infinuate that my defign is to fap the foundations of religion, or government; or to introduce anarchy and confufion in this kingdom: Should he take up the last desperate weapons of a desperate cause, perfonal calumny and abuse; he may reft affured, that fuch conduct will only excite in me the filent emotions of contempt, or rather of

Should what is called our profperous fituation, be still more prosperous; Should France have yet new diftreffes to fuffer; these principles will remain the fame. They are, I am perfuaded, the principles of eternal truth and justice

"If these fail;

"The pillar'd firmament is rottennefs, "And earth's base built on ftubble."

There are, I know, perfons of a different opinion; and who imagine that the felicity of an individual, and of a nation, depend principally on riches, without enquiring by what means thofe riches are acquired, or in what manner they are improved. If any person who is rivetted to fuch an opinion, should take up this book, I think it but fair to tell him, he may almost as well lay it down again; as there is little in it to afford him either fatisfaction or conviction. But, as the friend of that man, I cannot help earnestly perfuading him feriously to reflect; whether, while his mind is under the influence of fuch a fentiment, he deferves to be called either a BRITON, or a CHRISTIAN; or whether he is not the enemy of Liberty, of Truth, of Virtue, of Goodnefs, of GOD HIMSELF!

I am fearful that feveral of my fentiments, as well as the manner in which I have expreffed them, may not be agreeable to fome perfons I cordially efteem. I muft, therefore, request them not only to read, but to pause, to reflect with impartiality, before they cenfure. I trust I poffefs a mind open to conviction, and that I fhall efteem the man who will

PREFACE.

ALTHOUH the Table of Contents, and the Introductory Obfervations to the following Work, will inform the Reader of my defign; yet, in order to prevent mistakes, I think it neceffary to premise a few prefatory remarks.

Since the major part of this work was printed, several of my observations have received additional confirmation, by the proceedings of the House of Commons, during the prefent feffion. But there is one thing which requires a little explanation, in order to obviate what may be thought a contradiction. I have in one or two places mentioned "our "increasing taxes." The practice of government for fifteen years paft, warranted me in using such an expreffion. At laft, after nine years peace, it appears that the people of this country, have the prospect of fome trifling diminution of their burdens. The ingenuity, induftry, and spirit of our manufacturers and merchants; the measures of government to make the taxes productive ;-Thefe, with many accidental and temporary circumstances, have confpired to render our revenue flourishing beyond expectation. But I beg leave to add, that the main principles of this work, are not to be shaken, either by temporary profperity or adversity.