' ; 
3992. ‘on the coal duties'in Scotland. 308 
have not beén accustomed to investigations of this nature, 
ought to be slow in adopting opinions, and cautious in 
deciding upon them; seeing they may so readily be in- 
duced, from a partial view of the subject, to judge erro- 
neously *, 
/ 
* Tho’ I have always avoided to enter on party politics in this mif- 
cellany, and of late have waved political diicuffions of all forts, with 
more than ordinary care, in hopes that the natural good fenfe of the 
people of this country would bring them to fee the futility of thofe 
crude notions refpecting government which have been fo induftrioufly 
diffeminated among them ; but finding that thefe doctrines have’ been 
carried much farther than tlYere was reafon to apprehend, and that 
open attempts begin to be avowed towards fapping the foundations of 
our happy conftitution, I think myfelf called on openly to avow myfelf 
a defender of that conftitution, under the protecting influence of which, 
this nation enjoys a degree of profperity, and its inhabitants a perfonal 
fafety and political freedom, that never was equalled in any part of the 
world ; and which, if once deranged, there is too much reafon ta fear 
might never be recovered again. 
_ No perfon who has read my writings will fufpect that I am likely to 
become the blind panegyrift of any minifter, or the fteady partizan of 
his opponents. With the profperity or adverfity of any party, or the 
coming in or going out of office of any man, I take no concern; and 
I cannot but {mile when I hear the moral charaéter and immaculate 
principles of any of thefe perfons, held up to view as objects of admi- 
ration to the multitude. If the prefervation of this, or any other na- 
tion, depended on the virtue of its Minifters, it would foon be at an 
end. The excellence of our. conftitution confifts in its power of refift- 
ing even the influence of vice, and in preferving the rights of men, in 
fpite of the corruption of courtiers, or the venality of the people ; for 
the laft, I am afraid, is at leaft equal to that of the firft; and ought to 
be guarded againft with equal care. It is this univerfal protection our 
conititution affords, equally againft the vices of thofe of high ad of 
low ftation, which forms the difcriminating feature that diftinguifhes. 
it from all others that ever did exift ; and which [, as a real friend of 
the people, and a protector of thofe who know not how te protect 
themifelves, fhall endeavour to preferve from every inconfiderate inno- 
vation. 
_ It has become of late the fafhionable cry that all power ought to be 
entrufted with the people; as if we were not acquainted with the 
miferable effects that have refulted from this kind of government, in 
every State that exceeded the fize of a good parifh, or poflefied the 
means of acquiring wealth, where it has been tried, from the beginning 
of the world till the prefent time. 
Others cry loud for a reform in parliament, If by a reform is meant 
fuch an alteration, either in the laws, or the mode of eleétion, as a 
change in the circumftances of the country fhal] have rendered necef- 
