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and prejudices of his fubjeifls will admit ; but he will perceive, at the 

 fame time, the grand importance of pleafing his people, and keeping 

 them in good humour. He will therefore make many facrifices of his 

 own opinion, and better judgment, to obtain this advantage, and con- 

 ciliate their affeftions. A wife ruler will perceive, that if lie can gain 

 the affeftions of the people, the tatk of governing them will be eafy ; 

 and that all the wheels of the ftate machine, will go on fmoothly, 

 without any friftion ; and it will be a point of good policy, to pro- 

 cure this advantage, at any reafonable expence. The government of a 

 ftate, therefore, will not attempt, if it be prudent, what is pofitively, 

 and abfolutely, the bed, but will adapt itfelf, to the prejudices of 

 the people ; it is to govern, according to the circumftances and temper 

 of the times. Where, for inftance, the manufafturing part of the peo- 

 ple, are fo numerous, as to make a great part of the population of 

 the ftate, they will be able to raife a cry, and to call the attention of 

 government to their wants and willies, in a tone of voice not to be 

 contemned. We know how that wife minifter. Sir Robert Walpole, 

 abandoned his excife fyftem, in deference to the public fentiment, con- 

 vinced, as he was, of its excellence, in theory. He faw and felt, that 

 abftraft fyftems of perfeftion, obftinately purfued, in oppofition, to 

 what is praftical, and prafticable, will even do more harm than good. 

 I might enlarge very much on this topic ; but, what has been already 

 faid, may lead us to examine, the folidity of the impofing and fpe- 

 cious remark, that, " What is prudent in the conduft of every private 

 " family, can fcarce be folly in that of a great kingdom." 



( Y y 2 ) Sect, 



