inno. Timoleon to the Editor. 3^3—* 



transactions In France have made me suspend the farther 

 prosecution of that subject for the present. 



I fear these alarming Incidents will not tend to make 

 it a favourite subject with the people of Britain at this 



time. 



I will be candid, and frankly own, that they have made 

 a strong imprefsion on my own mind: they have excited 

 doubts about the propriety of adopting certain modes of 

 conduct tb.t did not appear liable to objection before •, 

 and till these doubts (hall be removed I have thought pro- 

 per to suspend my remarks. 



I never was disposed to allow the suggestions of reason 

 alone, unaided by experience, to have that weight which 

 tome others gladly have done j but the awful transactions 

 now before our eyes, have inspired a respect in me for 

 practices that have been sanctioned by experience that I 

 did not formerly feel. I even feel a sort of dread at 

 touching the parts of our establlfhment that appear to be 

 evidently faulty, lest the fabric may be so deranged as to 

 go to ruin :— and from my own feelings I judge of others. 

 I am induced to believe that the cause of freedom has 

 received a deeper wound by the late transactions 

 in France Uian it could have received from any other 

 quarter. The tide of popular prejudice, without doubt, 

 lan too high among a great many individuals, even In Bri- 

 tain, In favour of democratlcal principles ; and one object 

 of our afsociation was to moderate that ardour. These 

 transactions have given It a sudden check, and there is 

 now reason to fear that the tide may take an opposite run-, 

 and If It (hould rise as high In support of the crown 

 against the people, as it has already done on the opposite 

 side who can say what may be the consequences ? I have 

 thought that the writings of Paine and his afsociates had 

 too rapid a circulation here •, and I now prepare ipyself 

 for an Inundation of writings of an opposite tendency, 



