P7Q2. on Thunderproof’s efsays 813 
rity in parliament for him immediately’after clec- 
tions, was as great, at least, as before. The people, 
therefore, if.they were inimical to him, acted in a 
manner very different from what they did after he 
had forfeited their goed opinion, by coalescing with 
Mr Fox. This is somewhat like a proof that they 
were not inimical to him, as I contend. 
- Another proof is, that on all occasions where greet 
ett! questions were agitated, and addrefses came 
into fafhion, the number of addrefses, from all parts 
of the country, were then invariably much greater in 
favour of the minister’s plan than against it. These 
two circumstances, together, are to me very satis- 
factory proofs that the nation, in general, approved 
of the American war: Many others might be adduced 
were it necefsary ; but these I omit, 2s you do not 
like long papers: Though I think it better to make 
them a little long ata time, than to curtail them by 
substituting afsertions for proofs. 
Thunderproof accuses me also of inconsistency. It 
would seem he reads, as-well as writes, with-some de- 
gree of rapidity. Had he bestowed a little more atten- 
tion, he would have taken notice that. I make a dis- 
‘tinction between the general tendency of his writings, 
which I approved, and particular parts, which I disap- 
proved of. He would also’ have perceived, that it was 
pofsible aman might not approve ofa particularwriting 
on the whole, thoughhe would think it a very great 
blefsing, that no power existed that could prevent the 
publication of that. writing. I afk Mr Thunder- 
_ proof, if there be not many -publications that ifsue 
fcom the prefs every day, which his friends, if 
VOL. ix. RR tT 
