\ 
ior) a on the coal duties in Scotland. Deo. 26. 
The second is, that since the tax may be light and easy 
to one part of the community, while it is severe and op- 
prefsive to another part of it; and since it will always 
happen that wherever its prefsure is light-it will be a pro- 
fary, I can underftand the meaning of it, and approve the principle. 
Sach alterations have in fa& been made, from time to time, in every 
age; and it is by that means our con{ftitution has gradually attained 
the perfection it poffeffes; and, by a continuance of the fame practice, 
can alone preferve it But when they talk of bringing back the confts 
tution to its original flate, or purity, 1 then fee that the perfons who ufe 
that language, either do not themfelves underftand what they fay, or 
they mean to impofe upon thofe to whom they fpeak. Every perfon 
in the leaft acquainted with the hiftory of our contftitution, knows, that 
it was originally a moft licentious ariftocracy, in which the Nobles, 
then called Barons, were every thing, and the people nothing ; if the 
moft abject flaves deferve that name. Gradually the crown became the 
protector of the people, and “emancipated them from that miferable 
ftate of political thraldom under which they had fo long groaned. ‘The 
monarch and the people, by mutually fupporting cach other, at length 
became a counterpoife to the turbulent nobles, and infolent prelates ; 
and, by a feries of gradual and judicious innovations, crufhed their en- 
ormous power, and reared up that conftitution of which we now fo 
juftly boaft. Thofe therefore who talk of bringing back the conflitution te 
its original purity know not what they fay gor they mean, by thefe 
plaufible words, to impofe upon the iguorant multitude. 
Others talk of aradical reform ef parliament, which fhall be calcu- 
lated to guard againft a@l/ corruption in time to come. Such a change 
would be a defirable reform indeed! but how is it to be done? This 
they pretend to think would be effectually done, if the rights of elec= 
tion were extended to allthe people. ‘There are, I believe, in this king~ 
» dom at the prefent moment, many well-meaning honeft men, who feri~ 
oully believe, that, if this regulation were adopted, almoft every po- 
litical evil that can diftrefs a State, would be inftantly removed. I, 
however, who have for many years paft been attentive to the opera- 
tion of Jaws, have fo often feen, that the effect that refulted from cer- 
tain regulations has heen exceedingly different from what was expected, 
that I have acquired a degree of diffidence with regard to any great 
alteration in government, that cannot be eafily removed. What might 
be all the political confequences of fuch a great alteration, neither I, 
nor any other perfon, can at prefent forefee; but that the effeéts would 
be very different from what the favourers of this plan feem to expect, 
requires little political acumen to perceive. I thal] endeavour to point 
ent a few of them. 
Let us fuppofe for a moment that the right of electing members of 
parliament fhould be lodged in,the heads of families, univerfally, through, 
out the whole of Britain; as this {ems to be as natural a mode of re_ 
