THE CHRONICLE. 
declarations from the city of Lon- 
don.—In appealing to the avowed 
opinions of men of established re- 
putation, or of distinguished tank 
in.their country, we do not mean 
to strengthen the reason, or enforce 
the necessity of the. measure. we 
propose, so muchas to obviate ail 
personal imputations, which the 
enemies of the cause will be ready 
to throw upon, those who support 
it. It is not.that, on our. own, ac- 
count, we dread the effect, or regard 
the impression, which such imputa- 
tions, may produce; but we. think 
it material to the credit and success 
of our proceedings, to, shew. that 
we.are not aiming at. reforms un- 
thought of by wise and. virtuous 
men: that our opinions, neither 
possess the advantage,nor are liable 
to. the, objection of novelty ; and 
' that we cannot be accused or sus- 
pected of factious purposes or dan- 
gerous. designs, without extending 
the same accusation or suspicion to 
the motives of men whose situation 
and.property, independent of their 
character, principles, and abilities, 
have given them a most important 
stake in the peace and good go- 
vernment of the kingdom. 
Convinced by ourown reflections, 
by experience, and by authority, that 
the thing we propose, to do is fit to 
ne, we have, with equal deli- 
beration, weighed the reasons that 
may recommend or, be objected to 
the present time, as the most or 
least proper for bringing it forward. 
On. this point, we have no address 
to make to the determined enemies 
of areform of every kind, ‘Their 
objection, whether valid.or not, is 
to the substance of the measure, and 
ot be abated by circumstances, 
lo those who concur generally in 
the principle, but who may be in- 
2 
79 
clined, by particular reasons, to de- 
fer the attempt, we seriously wish 
to submit the, following considera- 
tions :— That admitting this to bea 
season of general tranquillity in the 
country, it is, on that account, the 
more, proper for temperate reflec- 
tion and prudent exertions, to ac- 
complish any necessary improve 
ment; it is, the time when practi- 
cal measures for that purpose are 
most likely to be adopted with dis- 
cretion, and pursued with modera- 
tion. If we are persuaded to wait 
for other times, of a different com- 
plexion, for times of public comr 
plaint, or general. discontent, we 
shall then be told, that general re- 
medies are not fit to be proposed in 
the moment of particular disorder, 
and that it is our duty to wait for 
the return of quiet days, unless we 
mean, to. create or increase. confu- 
sion in the country. ‘The result of 
this dilemma, if it be. suffered to 
presail, is pure and absolute inacti- 
vity, at present, and for ever. On 
the other hand, if it be true, as we 
are convinced it is, that, in this ge- 
neral appearance of tranquillity, 
there is some mixture of discontent, 
as well as. of strong.and well-ground- 
ed opinion, on the subject of abuses 
in the government and corruptions 
of the constitution, we wish it to be 
considered bf men, whose judgment 
has been formed or enlightened by 
experience, and whose. actions are 
most likely to be directed,by pru- 
dence, whether, in taking proper 
measures to remove the cause and 
objects of such discontent of opi- 
nion, the choice of the time be not 
a material part of the measure; and 
whether the earliest time that can 
be taken, for preventing the in- 
crease of an existing evil, be not the 
safest and the best ? ; 
The 
