HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
nation into blood and confusion, for 
the sake of establishing the systems 
of government with which they 
were enamoured. 
Mr. Wyndham seconded Mr, 
Burke, observing that when reforms 
were proposed, grievances ought 
also to be justly weighed; and if 
the remedy appeared worse than 
the disease, it ought, in common 
prudence, to be rejected. 
Mr. Sheridan, among other argu- 
ments for reform, noticed that 
about seventy peerages had been 
conferred upon individuals, who 
had not a single meritorious deed 
to shew for the service of their 
country; and for no other abilities 
but that of returning members to 
Parliament for the boroughs in 
their possession, The minister, he 
said, ought not to forget how zea- 
lous he had formerly appeared for 
reform : no causes had since inter- 
vened to justify bis change of con- 
duct ; and the public had still a 
right to expect he would gratify the 
desires of the majority, by acting 
consistently withthe promise he had 
once made to promote a parliamen- 
tary reformation. 
In the mean time the violence 
of the respective parties in Parlia- 
ment, and the fervour which was 
expressed by the friends of oppesi- 
tion in all parts of the realm, in- 
duced the ministry to exert them- 
selves, in order, if possible, to reduce 
these latter to silence. Various 
publications had gone forth, not 
only adverse to ministry, but pro- 
fessing hostility to the government 
itself. It was for that reason 
thought necessary to publish a pro- 
clamation against seditious writings 
and associations, enjoining the ma- 
gistrates to oppose and suppress 
them by all legal means, and ex- 
[165 
horting the people to obedience 
and submission to government. 
The public was greatly divided 
in its opinion on this measure. 
Some warmly approved it, as a 
timely exertion of authority in a 
turbulent season, replete with dan- 
ger to the peace of the nation and 
the constitution of the state; and 
indispensably requisite to contain 
within limits that effervescent spirit 
which was daily manifesting itself 
in all classes, and threatening to 
subvert the external order of 
things. 
Those who disapproved of the 
proclamation, alleged that it was 
calculated only to shew the impor- 
tance of government; which, in- 
stead of using such means of enforc- 
ing its authority, ought to have pro- 
secuted the authors of such publica- 
tions as were evidently seditious, 
and to have opposed by sound ar- 
guments those that were worded in 
such a manner as to obviate the 
danger of a prosecution. 
The celebrated composition of 
Mr. Thomas Payne was visibly the 
object at which the proclamation 
chiefly pointed; but far from pre- 
venting it from being read, the sale 
became more extensive and rapid 
than ever. It was circulated with 
the utmost speed and _ success 
through every part of the three 
kingdoms, and made an incredible 
numbers of prosclytesto the maxims 
which it contained: and these were 
at the same time uncommonly ac- 
tive in propagating them. 
On the 25th of May an address 
being moved to the King, in con- 
sequence of the proclamation, ex- 
tracts from that publication were 
presented to the House, tending to 
shew its. enmity to kingly govern- 
ment, and that it was written with 
[M] 3 a pro- 
