42] 
ous epithets. So universal was the 
detestation of the principles con- 
tained in this performance, that it 
was judged requisite, in order to ap- 
pease the public, formally to vote it 
a libel on the constitution, and to 
direct theattorney-general to prose- 
cutethe author. But so weak and 
faint was the prosecution, in the 
opinion of the public, that they 
stigmatised the prosecutors, as acting 
knowingly under the control of 
directors, who certainly would not 
suffer so valuable an instrument of 
their designs to suffer an injury for 
having acquitted himself so much to 
their satisfaction. 
On the twenty-fifth of Novem- 
ber, a motion was made, by Mr. 
Curwen, to postpone, one weck, the 
discussion of the two bills, Hespoke, 
with marked vehemence, against the 
bill for preventing seditious meet- 
ings, as tending, in its infallible ef- 
fects, to change the whole consti- 
tution. It was only in popular meet- 
ings, he observed, that the real 
sentiments of the people could be 
manifested; and these sentiments, 
thus freely expressed, bad hitherto, 
though affectedly slighted by minis- 
ters, proved an effectual restraint 
on their power, and stemmed that 
torrent of corruption with which 
they endeavoured to overwhelm all 
resistance totheir measures. Were 
this strongest, and almost only re- 
maining, bulwark of the constitu- 
tion to be demolished, all opposi- 
tion must fall with it, both within, 
as well as without, the house ; as 
the commons, when no longer sup- 
perted, by the concurring voice of 
the people, would quickly experi- 
ence a diminution of!their own con- 
sequence, which, they must be con- 
scious, rested entirely on the con- 
sequesice of the people. Were these 
to be silenced, how could their re- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
presentatives consistently pretend 
to deliver the opinion of their con- 
stituents? ‘The influence of the 
crown had, of late years, over- 
weighed all the importance of the 
democratic part of the constitutian, 
by depriving it of so alarming a pro- 
portion of its property, and annex- 
ing it to the aristocracy, through 
the creation of sucha number ef 
peers. If the remaining friends to 
the democracy valued its existence, 
and considered it as the only solid 
foundation of liberty, a truth not to 
be denied, they would rally around, 
it, withant delay, and exert their 
whole strength to preserve it from 
the ruin with which it was now 
menaced, more obviously, and more 
dangerously, than ever. 
In the course of the memorable 
speech, which he made on this day, 
Mr. Curwen took occasion to bring 
to the recollection of the house an 
expression that had fallen, two days 
before, from Mr. Windham, inade. 
bate on the bill for securing the 
king’s person against popular in- 
sults. This gentleman, in answer 
ing aspeech of Mr. Fox, had given 
him to understand,in explicit terms, 
that ministers were determined to 
exert a vigour beyond the law. So 
singular an expression did not fail 
to strike the whole house with asto- 
nishment. By the enemies to mini- 
stry, it was construed into an inad-— 
vertent avowal, that they were re- 
solved to pay no regard to the laws 
in the execution of their projects, 
and would destroy ‘such as stood in 
their way; and it was, in fact, 
blamed by both sides of the house, 
as equally imprudent and intem~ 
erale, 
Mr. Curwen’ sanimadversions, 01 on 
these words of Mr, Windham, were 
extremely spirited and severe. He 
rebuked him, forcibly, for presum- 
ing 
