thoughts on the present discontents-第4部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


became　universal；　in　spite　of　the　dead　letter　of　any　laws　or
institutions　whatsoever。

How　it　should　happen　that　any　man　could　be　tempted　to　venture　upon
such　a　project　of　Government；　may　at　first　view　appear　surprising。
But　the　fact　is　that　opportunities　very　inviting　to　such　an　attempt
have　offered；　and　the　scheme　itself　was　not　destitute　of　some
arguments；　not　wholly　unplausible；　to　recommend　it。　　These
opportunities　and　these　arguments；　the　use　that　has　been　made　of
both；　the　plan　for　carrying　this　new　scheme　of　government　into
execution；　and　the　effects　which　it　has　produced；　are　in　my　opinion
worthy　of　our　serious　consideration。

His　Majesty　came　to　the　throne　of　these　kingdoms　with　more
advantages　than　any　of　his　predecessors　since　the　Revolution。
Fourth　in　descent；　and　third　in　succession　of　his　Royal　family；　even
the　zealots　of　hereditary　right；　in　him；　saw　something　to　flatter
their　favourite　prejudices；　and　to　justify　a　transfer　of　their
attachments；　without　a　change　in　their　principles。　　The　person　and
cause　of　the　Pretender　were　become　contemptible；　his　title　disowned
throughout　Europe；　his　party　disbanded　in　England。　　His　Majesty　came
indeed　to　the　inheritance　of　a　mighty　war；　but；　victorious　in　every
part　of　the　globe；　peace　was　always　in　his　power；　not　to　negotiate；
but　to　dictate。　　No　foreign　habitudes　or　attachments　withdrew　him
from　the　cultivation　of　his　power　at　home。　　His　revenue　for　the
Civil　establishment；　fixed　（as　it　was　then　thought）　at　a　large；　but
definite　sum；　was　ample；　without　being　invidious；　his　influence；　by
additions　from　conquest；　by　an　augmentation　of　debt；　by　an　increase
of　military　and　naval　establishment；　much　strengthened　and　extended。
And　coming　to　the　throne　in　the　prime　and　full　vigour　of　youth；　as
from　affection　there　was　a　strong　dislike；　so　from　dread　there
seemed　to　be　a　general　averseness　from　giving　anything　like　offence
to　a　monarch　against　whose　resentment　opposition　could　not　look　for
a　refuge　in　any　sort　of　reversionary　hope。

These　singular　advantages　inspired　his　Majesty　only　with　a　more
ardent　desire　to　preserve　unimpaired　the　spirit　of　that　national
freedom　to　which　he　owed　a　situation　so　full　of　glory。　　But　to
others　it　suggested　sentiments　of　a　very　different　nature。　　They
thought　they　now　beheld　an　opportunity　（by　a　certain　sort　of
statesman　never　long　undiscovered　or　unemployed）　of　drawing　to
themselves；　by　the　aggrandisement　of　a　Court　faction；　a　degree　of
power　which　they　could　never　hope　to　derive　from　natural　influence
or　from　honourable　service；　and　which　it　was　impossible　they　could
hold　with　the　least　security；　whilst　the　system　of　Administration
rested　upon　its　former　bottom。　　In　order　to　facilitate　the　execution
of　their　design；　it　was　necessary　to　make　many　alterations　in
political　arrangement；　and　a　signal　change　in　the　opinions；　habits；
and　connections　of　the　greater　part　of　those　who　at　that　time　acted
in　public。

In　the　first　place；　they　proceeded　gradually；　but　not　slowly；　to
destroy　everything　of　strength　which　did　not　derive　its　principal
nourishment　from　the　immediate　pleasure　of　the　Court。　　The　greatest
weight　of　popular　opinion　and　party　connection　were　then　with　the
Duke　of　Newcastle　and　Mr。　Pitt。　　Neither　of　these　held　his
importance　by　the　NEW　TENURE　of　the　Court；　they　were　not；　therefore；
thought　to　be　so　proper　as　others　for　the　services　which　were
required　by　that　tenure。　　It　happened　very　favourably　for　the　new
system；　that　under　a　forced　coalition　there　rankled　an　incurable
alienation　and　disgust　between　the　parties　which　composed　the
Administration。　　Mr。　Pitt　was　first　attacked。　　Not　satisfied　with
removing　him　from　power；　they　endeavoured　by　various　artifices　to
ruin　his　character。　　The　other　party　seemed　rather　pleased　to　get
rid　of　so　oppressive　a　support；　not　perceiving　that　their　own　fall
was　prepared　by　his；　and　involved　in　it。　　Many　other　reasons
prevented　them　from　daring　to　look　their　true　situation　in　the　face。
To　the　great　Whig　families　it　was　extremely　disagreeable；　and　seemed
almost　unnatural；　to　oppose　the　Administration　of　a　Prince　of　the
House　of　Brunswick。　　Day　after　day　they　hesitated；　and　doubted；　and
lingered；　expecting　that　other　counsels　would　take　place；　and　were
slow　to　be　persuaded　that　all　which　had　been　done　by　the　Cabal　was
the　effect；　not　of　humour；　but　of　system。　　It　was　more　strongly　and
evidently　the　interest　of　the　new　Court　faction　to　get　rid　of　the
great　Whig　connections　than　to　destroy　Mr。　Pitt。　　The　power　of　that
gentleman　was　vast　indeed；　and　merited；　but　it　was　in　a　great　degree
personal；　and　therefore　transient。　　Theirs　was　rooted　in　the
country。　　For；　with　a　good　deal　less　of　popularity；　they　possessed　a
far　more　natural　and　fixed　influence。　　Long　possession　of
Government；　vast　property；　obligations　of　favours　given　and
received；　connection　of　office；　ties　of　blood；　of　alliance；　of
friendship　（things　at　that　time　supposed　of　some　force）；　the　name　of
Whig；　dear　to　the　majority　of　the　people；　the　zeal　early　begun　and
steadily　continued　to　the　Royal　Family；　all　these　together　formed　a
body　of　power　in　the　nation；　which　was　criminal　and　devoted。　　The
great　ruling　principle　of　the　Cabal；　and　that　which　animated　and
harmonised　all　their　proceedings；　how　various　soever　they　may　have
been；　was　to　signify　to　the　world　that　the　Court　would　proceed　upon
its　own　proper　forces　only；　and　that　the　pretence　of　bringing　any
other　into　its　service　was　an　affront　to　it；　and　not　a　support。
Therefore　when　the　chiefs　were　removed；　in　order　to　go　to　the　root；
the　whole　party　was　put　under　a　proscription；　so　general　and　severe
as　to　take　their　hard…earned　bread　from　the　lowest　officers；　in　a
manner　which　had　never　been　known　before；　even　in　general
revolutions。　　But　it　was　thought　necessary　effectually　to　destroy
all　dependencies　but　one；　and　to　show　an　example　of　the　firmness　and
rigour　with　which　the　new　system　was　to　be　supported。

Thus　for　the　time　were　pulled　down；　in　the　persons　of　the　Whig
leaders　and　of　Mr。　Pitt　（in　spite　of　the　services　of　the　one　at　the
accession　of　the　Royal　Family；　and　the　recent　services　of　the　other
in　the　war）；　the　TWO　ONLY　SECURITIES　FOR　THE　IMPORTANCE　OF　THE
PEOPLE：　　POWER　ARISING　FROM　POPULARITY；　AND　POWER　ARISING　FROM
CONNECTION。　　Here　and　there　indeed　a　few　individuals　were　left
standing；　who　gave　security　for　their　total　estrangement　from　the
odious　principles　of　party　connection　and　personal　attachment；　and
it　must　be　confessed　that　most　of　them　have　religiously　kept　their
faith。　　Such　a　change　could　not；　however；　be　made　without　a　mighty
shock　to　Government。

To　reconcile　the　minds　of　the　people　to　all　these　movements；
principles　correspondent　to　them　had　been　preached　up　with　great
zeal。　　Every　one　must　remember　that　the　Cabal　set　out　with　the　most
astonishing　prudery；　both　moral　and　political。　　Those　who　in　a　few
months　after　soused　over　head　and　ears　into　the　deepest　and　dirtiest
pits　of　corruption；　cried　out　violently　against　the　indirect
practices　in　the　electing　and　managing　of　Parliaments；　which　had
formerly　prevailed。　　This　marvellous　abhorrence　which　the　Court　had
suddenly　taken　to　all　influence；　was　not　only　circulated　in
conversation　through　the　kingdom；　but　pompously　announced　to　the
public；　with　many　other　extraordinary　things；　in　a　pamphlet　which
had　all　the　appearance　of　a　manifesto　preparatory　to　some
considerable　enterprise。　　Throughout；　it　was　a　satire；　though　in
terms　managed　and　decent　enough；　on　the　politics　of　the　former
reign。　　It　was　indeed　written　with　no　small　art　and　address。

In　this　piece　appeared　the　first　dawning　of　the　new　system；　there
first　appeared　the　idea　（then　only　in　speculation）　of　SEPARATING　THE
COURT　FROM　THE　ADMINISTRATION；　of　carrying　everything　from　national
connection　to　personal　regards；　and　of　forming　a　regular　party　for
that　purpose；　under　the　name　of　KING'S　MEN。

To　recommend　this　system　to　the　people；　a　perspective　view　of　the
Court；　gorgeously　painted；　and　finely　illuminated　from　within；　was
exhibited　to　the　gaping　multitude。　　Party　was　to　be　totally　done
away；　with　all　its　evil　works。　　Corruption　was　to　be　cast　down　from
Court；　as　Ate　was　from　heaven。　　Power　was　thenceforward　to　be　the
chosen　residence　of　public　spirit；　and　no　one　was　to　be　supposed
under　any　sinister　influence；　except　those　who　had　the　misfortune　to
be　in　disgrace　at　Court；　which　was　to　stand　in　lieu　of　all　vices　and
all　corruptions。　　A　scheme　of　perfection　to　be　realised　in　a
Monarchy；　far　beyond　the　visionary　Republic　of　Plato。　　The　whole
scenery　was　exactly　disposed　to　captivate　those　good　souls；　whose
credulous　morality　is　so　invaluable　a　treasure　to　crafty
politicians。　　Indeed；　there　was　wherewithal　to　charm　everybody；
except　those　few　who　are　not　much　pleased　with　professions　of
supernatural　virtue；　who　know　of　what　stuff　such　professions　are
made；　for　what　purposes　they　are　designed；　and　in　what　they　are　sure
constantly　to　end。　　Many　innocent　gentlemen；　who　had　been　talking
prose　all　their　lives　without　knowing　anything　of　the　matter；　began
at　last　to　open　their　eyes　upon　their　own　merits；　and　to　attribute
their　not　having　been　Lords　of　the　Treasury　and　Lords　of　Trade　many
years　before　merely　to　the　prevalence　of　party；　and　to　the
Ministerial　power；　which　had　frustrated　the　good　intentions　of　the
Court　in　favour　of　their　abilities。　　Now　was　the　time　to　unlock　the
sealed　fountain　of　Royal　bounty；　which　had　been　infamously
monopolised　and　huckstered；　and　to　let　it　flow　at　large　upon　the
whole　people。　　The　time　was　come　to　restore　Royalty　to　its　original
splendour。　　Mettre　le　Roy　hors　de　page；　became　a　sort　of　watchword。
And　it　was　constantly　in　the　mouths　of　all　the　runners　of　the　Court；
that　nothing　could　preserve　the　balance　of　the　constitution　from
being　overturned　by　the　rabble；　or　by　a　faction　of　the　nobility；　but
to　free　the　Sovereign　effectually　from　that　Ministerial　tyranny
under　which　the　Royal　dignity　had　been　oppressed　in　the　person　of
his　Majesty's　grandfather。

These　were　some　of　the　many　artifices　used　to　reconcile　the　people
to　the　great　change　which　was　made　in　the　persons　who　composed　the
M