thoughts on the present discontents-µÚ3²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
predecessors¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡an¡¡arbitrary¡¡imposition¡¡is¡¡attempted¡¡upon¡¡the
subject£»¡¡undoubtedly¡¡it¡¡will¡¡not¡¡bear¡¡on¡¡its¡¡forehead¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of
SHIP¡MONEY¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡danger¡¡that¡¡an¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡the¡¡FOREST¡¡LAWS
should¡¡be¡¡the¡¡chosen¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡oppression¡¡in¡¡this¡¡age¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡when¡¡we
hear¡¡any¡¡instance¡¡of¡¡ministerial¡¡rapacity¡¡to¡¡the¡¡prejudice¡¡of¡¡the
rights¡¡of¡¡private¡¡life£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡certainly¡¡not¡¡be¡¡the¡¡exaction¡¡of¡¡two
hundred¡¡pullets£»¡¡from¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡fashion£»¡¡for¡¡leave¡¡to¡¡lie¡¡with¡¡her
own¡¡husband¡£
Every¡¡age¡¡has¡¡its¡¡own¡¡manners£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡politics¡¡dependent¡¡upon¡¡them£»
and¡¡the¡¡same¡¡attempts¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡made¡¡against¡¡a¡¡constitution¡¡fully
formed¡¡and¡¡matured£»¡¡that¡¡were¡¡used¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cradle£»¡¡or
to¡¡resist¡¡its¡¡growth¡¡during¡¡its¡¡infancy¡£
Against¡¡the¡¡being¡¡of¡¡Parliament£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡satisfied£»¡¡no¡¡designs¡¡have
ever¡¡been¡¡entertained¡¡since¡¡the¡¡Revolution¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡one¡¡must¡¡perceive
that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡strongly¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Court¡¡to¡¡have¡¡some¡¡second
cause¡¡interposed¡¡between¡¡the¡¡Ministers¡¡and¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡The
gentlemen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Commons¡¡have¡¡an¡¡interest¡¡equally¡¡strong¡¡in
sustaining¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡that¡¡intermediate¡¡cause¡£¡¡¡¡However¡¡they¡¡may
hire¡¡out¡¡the¡¡usufruct¡¡of¡¡their¡¡voices£»¡¡they¡¡never¡¡will¡¡part¡¡with¡¡the
FEE¡¡AND¡¡INHERITANCE¡£¡¡¡¡Accordingly¡¡those¡¡who¡¡have¡¡been¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most
known¡¡devotion¡¡to¡¡the¡¡will¡¡and¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Court£»¡¡have¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same
time¡¡been¡¡most¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡asserting¡¡a¡¡high¡¡authority¡¡in¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of
Commons¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡who¡¡were¡¡to¡¡use¡¡that¡¡authority£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡it
was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡employed£»¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡never¡¡could¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡too¡¡far¡£
It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡always¡¡the¡¡wish¡¡of¡¡an¡¡unconstitutional¡¡statesman£»¡¡that¡¡a
House¡¡of¡¡Commons¡¡who¡¡are¡¡entirely¡¡dependent¡¡upon¡¡him£»¡¡should¡¡have
every¡¡right¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡entirely¡¡dependent¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡pleasure¡£
It¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡discovered¡¡that¡¡the¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡a¡¡free£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡an
arbitrary¡¡Government£»¡¡were¡¡things¡¡not¡¡altogether¡¡incompatible¡£
The¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Crown£»¡¡almost¡¡dead¡¡and¡¡rotten¡¡as¡¡Prerogative£»¡¡has
grown¡¡up¡¡anew£»¡¡with¡¡much¡¡more¡¡strength£»¡¡and¡¡far¡¡less¡¡odium£»¡¡under
the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Influence¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡influence¡¡which¡¡operated¡¡without¡¡noise
and¡¡without¡¡violence£»¡¡an¡¡influence¡¡which¡¡converted¡¡the¡¡very
antagonist¡¡into¡¡the¡¡instrument¡¡of¡¡power£»¡¡which¡¡contained¡¡in¡¡itself¡¡a
perpetual¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡growth¡¡and¡¡renovation£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡the
distresses¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prosperity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡equally¡¡tended¡¡to
augment£»¡¡was¡¡an¡¡admirable¡¡substitute¡¡for¡¡a¡¡prerogative¡¡that£»¡¡being
only¡¡the¡¡offspring¡¡of¡¡antiquated¡¡prejudices£»¡¡had¡¡moulded¡¡in¡¡its
original¡¡stamina¡¡irresistible¡¡principles¡¡of¡¡decay¡¡and¡¡dissolution¡£
The¡¡ignorance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bottom¡¡but¡¡for¡¡a¡¡temporary¡¡system£»
the¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡active¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡State¡¡is¡¡a¡¡foundation¡¡perpetual
and¡¡infallible¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡some¡¡circumstances£»¡¡arising£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be
confessed£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡great¡¡degree¡¡from¡¡accident£»¡¡prevented¡¡the¡¡effects¡¡of
this¡¡influence¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡from¡¡breaking¡¡out¡¡in¡¡a¡¡manner¡¡capable
of¡¡exciting¡¡any¡¡serious¡¡apprehensions¡£¡¡¡¡Although¡¡Government¡¡was
strong¡¡and¡¡flourished¡¡exceedingly£»¡¡the¡¡COURT¡¡had¡¡drawn¡¡far¡¡less
advantage¡¡than¡¡one¡¡would¡¡imagine¡¡from¡¡this¡¡great¡¡source¡¡of¡¡power¡£
At¡¡the¡¡Revolution£»¡¡the¡¡Crown£»¡¡deprived£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡the
Revolution¡¡itself£»¡¡of¡¡many¡¡prerogatives£»¡¡was¡¡found¡¡too¡¡weak¡¡to
struggle¡¡against¡¡all¡¡the¡¡difficulties¡¡which¡¡pressed¡¡so¡¡new¡¡and
unsettled¡¡a¡¡Government¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Court¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡therefore¡¡to¡¡delegate
a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡its¡¡powers¡¡to¡¡men¡¡of¡¡such¡¡interest¡¡as¡¡could¡¡support£»¡¡and
of¡¡such¡¡fidelity¡¡as¡¡would¡¡adhere¡¡to£»¡¡its¡¡establishment¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡men
were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡in¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡number¡¡to¡¡a¡¡concurrence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡common
defence¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡connection£»¡¡necessary¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡continued¡¡long¡¡after
convenient£»¡¡and¡¡properly¡¡conducted¡¡might¡¡indeed£»¡¡in¡¡all¡¡situations£»
be¡¡a¡¡useful¡¡instrument¡¡of¡¡Government¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡through¡¡the
intervention¡¡of¡¡men¡¡of¡¡popular¡¡weight¡¡and¡¡character£»¡¡the¡¡people
possessed¡¡a¡¡security¡¡for¡¡their¡¡just¡¡proportion¡¡of¡¡importance¡¡in¡¡the
State¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡as¡¡the¡¡title¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Crown¡¡grew¡¡stronger¡¡by¡¡long
possession£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡constant¡¡increase¡¡of¡¡its¡¡influence£»¡¡these
helps¡¡have¡¡of¡¡late¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡certain¡¡persons¡¡no¡¡better¡¡than
incumbrances¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡powerful¡¡managers¡¡for¡¡Government¡¡were¡¡not
sufficiently¡¡submissive¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡possessors¡¡of
immediate¡¡and¡¡personal¡¡favour£»¡¡sometimes¡¡from¡¡a¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡their
own¡¡strength£»¡¡natural¡¡and¡¡acquired£»¡¡sometimes¡¡from¡¡a¡¡fear¡¡of
offending¡¡their¡¡friends£»¡¡and¡¡weakening¡¡that¡¡lead¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country£»
which¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡a¡¡consideration¡¡independent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Court¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡acted
as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Court¡¡could¡¡receive£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡confer£»¡¡an¡¡obligation¡£
The¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡Government£»¡¡thus¡¡divided¡¡in¡¡appearance¡¡between¡¡the
Court¡¡and¡¡the¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡parties£»¡¡became¡¡in¡¡many¡¡cases¡¡an¡¡accession
rather¡¡to¡¡the¡¡popular¡¡than¡¡to¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡scale£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡part¡¡of¡¡that
influence£»¡¡which¡¡would¡¡otherwise¡¡have¡¡been¡¡possessed¡¡as¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of
mortmain¡¡and¡¡unalienable¡¡domain£»¡¡returned¡¡again¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡ocean
from¡¡whence¡¡it¡¡arose£»¡¡and¡¡circulated¡¡among¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡method
therefore¡¡of¡¡governing¡¡by¡¡men¡¡of¡¡great¡¡natural¡¡interest¡¡or¡¡great
acquired¡¡consideration£»¡¡was¡¡viewed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very¡¡invidious¡¡light¡¡by¡¡the
true¡¡lovers¡¡of¡¡absolute¡¡monarchy¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡despotism¡¡to
abhor¡¡power¡¡held¡¡by¡¡any¡¡means¡¡but¡¡its¡¡own¡¡momentary¡¡pleasure£»¡¡and¡¡to
annihilate¡¡all¡¡intermediate¡¡situations¡¡between¡¡boundless¡¡strength¡¡on
its¡¡own¡¡part£»¡¡and¡¡total¡¡debility¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡£
To¡¡get¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡all¡¡this¡¡intermediate¡¡and¡¡independent¡¡importance£»¡¡and
TO¡¡SECURE¡¡TO¡¡THE¡¡COURT¡¡THE¡¡UNLIMITED¡¡AND¡¡UNCONTROLLED¡¡USE¡¡OF¡¡ITS¡¡OWN
VAST¡¡INFLUENCE£»¡¡UNDER¡¡THE¡¡SOLE¡¡DIRECTION¡¡OF¡¡ITS¡¡OWN¡¡PRIVATE¡¡FAVOUR£»
has¡¡for¡¡some¡¡years¡¡past¡¡been¡¡the¡¡great¡¡object¡¡of¡¡policy¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡this
were¡¡compassed£»¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Crown¡¡must¡¡of¡¡course¡¡produce
all¡¡the¡¡effects¡¡which¡¡the¡¡most¡¡sanguine¡¡partisans¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Court¡¡could
possibly¡¡desire¡£¡¡¡¡Government¡¡might¡¡then¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡without¡¡any
concurrence¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡without¡¡any¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the
dignity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greater£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡the¡¡affections¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡sorts¡£¡¡¡¡A
new¡¡project¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡devised¡¡by¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡set¡¡of¡¡intriguing
men£»¡¡totally¡¡different¡¡from¡¡the¡¡system¡¡of¡¡Administration¡¡which¡¡had
prevailed¡¡since¡¡the¡¡accession¡¡of¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Brunswick¡£¡¡¡¡This
project£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡heard£»¡¡was¡¡first¡¡conceived¡¡by¡¡some¡¡persons¡¡in¡¡the
Court¡¡of¡¡Frederick£»¡¡Prince¡¡of¡¡Wales¡£
The¡¡earliest¡¡attempt¡¡in¡¡the¡¡execution¡¡of¡¡this¡¡design¡¡was¡¡to¡¡set¡¡up
for¡¡Minister¡¡a¡¡person£»¡¡in¡¡rank¡¡indeed¡¡respectable£»¡¡and¡¡very¡¡ample¡¡in
fortune£»¡¡but¡¡who£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡this¡¡vast¡¡and¡¡sudden¡¡elevation£»
was¡¡little¡¡known¡¡or¡¡considered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡him¡¡the¡¡whole
nation¡¡was¡¡to¡¡yield¡¡an¡¡immediate¡¡and¡¡implicit¡¡submission¡£¡¡¡¡But
whether¡¡it¡¡was¡¡from¡¡want¡¡of¡¡firmness¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡up¡¡against¡¡the¡¡first
opposition£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡things¡¡were¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡fully¡¡ripened£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡this
method¡¡was¡¡not¡¡found¡¡the¡¡most¡¡eligible£»¡¡that¡¡idea¡¡was¡¡soon
abandoned¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡instrumental¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡project¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little
altered£»¡¡to¡¡accommodate¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡things¡¡more
gradually¡¡and¡¡more¡¡surely¡¡to¡¡the¡¡one¡¡great¡¡end¡¡proposed¡£
The¡¡first¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reformed¡¡plan¡¡was¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡A¡¡LINE¡¡WHICH¡¡SHOULD
SEPARATE¡¡THE¡¡COURT¡¡FROM¡¡THE¡¡MINISTRY¡£¡¡¡¡Hitherto¡¡these¡¡names¡¡had¡¡been
looked¡¡upon¡¡as¡¡synonymous£»¡¡but£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡future£»¡¡Court¡¡and
Administration¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡as¡¡things¡¡totally¡¡distinct¡£¡¡¡¡By
this¡¡operation£»¡¡two¡¡systems¡¡of¡¡Administration¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡formed£º
one¡¡which¡¡should¡¡be¡¡in¡¡the¡¡real¡¡secret¡¡and¡¡confidence£»¡¡the¡¡other
merely¡¡ostensible£»¡¡to¡¡perform¡¡the¡¡official¡¡and¡¡executory¡¡duties¡¡of
Government¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡were¡¡alone¡¡to¡¡be¡¡responsible£»¡¡whilst¡¡the
real¡¡advisers£»¡¡who¡¡enjoyed¡¡all¡¡the¡¡power£»¡¡were¡¡effectually¡¡removed
from¡¡all¡¡the¡¡danger¡£
Secondly£»¡¡A¡¡PARTY¡¡UNDER¡¡THESE¡¡LEADERS¡¡WAS¡¡TO¡¡BE¡¡FORMED¡¡IN¡¡FAVOUR¡¡OF
THE¡¡COURT¡¡AGAINST¡¡THE¡¡MINISTRY£º¡¡¡¡this¡¡party¡¡was¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡large
share¡¡in¡¡the¡¡emoluments¡¡of¡¡Government£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡it¡¡totally
separate¡¡from£»¡¡and¡¡independent¡¡of£»¡¡ostensible¡¡Administration¡£
The¡¡third¡¡point£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡scheme
ultimately¡¡depended£»¡¡was¡¡TO¡¡BRING¡¡PARLIAMENT¡¡TO¡¡AN¡¡ACQUIESCENCE¡¡IN
THIS¡¡PROJECT¡£¡¡¡¡Parliament¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡to¡¡be¡¡taught¡¡by¡¡degrees¡¡a
total¡¡indifference¡¡to¡¡the¡¡persons£»¡¡rank£»¡¡influence£»¡¡abilities£»
connections£»¡¡and¡¡character¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ministers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Crown¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡means
of¡¡a¡¡discipline£»¡¡on¡¡which¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡say¡¡more¡¡hereafter£»¡¡that¡¡body¡¡was
to¡¡be¡¡habituated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡most¡¡opposite¡¡interests£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡most
discordant¡¡politics¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡connections¡¡and¡¡dependencies¡¡among
subjects¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡entirely¡¡dissolved¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡hitherto¡¡business¡¡had
gone¡¡through¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡Whigs¡¡or¡¡Tories£»¡¡men¡¡of¡¡talents
to¡¡conciliate¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡engage¡¡their¡¡confidence£»¡¡now¡¡the
method¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡altered£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡lead¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡given¡¡to¡¡men¡¡of¡¡no
sort¡¡of¡¡consideration¡¡or¡¡credit¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡want¡¡of
natural¡¡importance¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡their¡¡very¡¡title¡¡to¡¡delegated¡¡power¡£
Members¡¡of¡¡parliament¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hardened¡¡into¡¡an¡¡insensibility¡¡to
pride¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡to¡¡duty¡£¡¡¡¡Those¡¡high¡¡and¡¡haughty¡¡sentiments£»¡¡which
are¡¡the¡¡great¡¡support¡¡of¡¡independence£»¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡let¡¡down
gradually¡£¡¡¡¡Point¡¡of¡¡honour¡¡and¡¡precedence¡¡were¡¡no¡¡more¡¡to¡¡be
regarded¡¡in¡¡Parliamentary¡¡decorum¡¡than¡¡in¡¡a¡¡Turkish¡¡army¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡to
be¡¡avowed£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡constitutional¡¡maxim£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡King¡¡might¡¡appoint
one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡footmen£»¡¡or¡¡one¡¡of¡¡your¡¡footmen£»¡¡for¡¡Minister£»¡¡and¡¡that
he¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡followed¡¡as¡¡the¡¡first
name¡¡for¡¡rank¡¡or¡¡wisdom¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nation¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡Parliament¡¡was¡¡to¡¡look
on£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡perfectly¡¡unconcerned¡¡while¡¡a¡¡cabal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡closet¡¡and
back¡stairs¡¡was¡¡substituted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡place¡¡of¡¡a¡¡national
Administration¡£
With¡¡such¡¡a¡¡degree¡¡of¡¡acquiescence£»¡¡any¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡any¡¡Court¡¡might
well¡¡be¡¡deemed¡¡thoroughly¡¡secure¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡capital¡¡objects£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡much
the¡¡most¡¡flattering¡¡characteristics¡¡of¡¡arbitrary¡¡power£»¡¡would¡¡be
obtained¡£¡¡¡¡Everything¡¡would¡¡be¡¡drawn¡¡from¡¡its¡¡holdings¡¡in¡¡the
country¡¡to¡¡the¡¡personal¡¡favour¡¡and¡¡inclination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prince¡£¡¡¡¡This
favour¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡introduction¡¡to¡¡power£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡only¡¡tenure
by¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡held£º¡¡¡¡so¡¡that¡¡no¡¡person¡¡looking¡¡towards
another£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡looking¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡Court£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡but
that¡¡the¡¡motive¡¡which¡¡solely¡¡influenced¡¡every¡¡man's¡¡hopes¡¡must¡¡come
in¡¡time¡¡to¡¡govern¡¡every¡¡man's¡¡conduct£»¡¡till¡¡at¡¡last¡¡the¡¡servility
became¡¡universal£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡letter¡¡of¡¡any¡¡laws¡¡or
institutions¡¡whatsoever¡£