l-l eulogium on the-'tntnister. March 2^. 



If therefore a minister, regardlefs of the trouble, and the 

 multiplied harafsments to which it must subject him, (hall 

 set himself, at any time, seriously to inquire into the nature 

 of certain long establiflied abuses, which seem to retard 

 the prosperity of the country, with a view to correct them, 

 he will then deserve, and ought to obtain a very high de- 

 gree of praise. Should his exertions to give the relief 

 he aims at prove even unsuccefsful, his merit will not be 



the lefs : 



^ For he 



That does the best, his circumstance allows, 

 Does well, acts nobly, angels could no more. 

 If unsuccefsful in these efforts, a generous mind would e- 

 venbe disposed to bestow the greater degree of applause, be- 

 cause the minister would, in that case, have had a great 

 deal of trouble, and would have incurred much private ob- 

 loquy, without having the satisfaction of procuring that 

 benefit to the public he aimed at. 



On these principles, I feel great pleasure in having it in 

 - my power to bestow the most unequivocal applause on the 

 -minister of the present day, for his unwearied attention t» 

 a businefs of the greatest importance to this country, in 

 which, I have good authority for saying, he has been seri- 

 ously engaged for a considerable time past. The object 

 that is in view is the greatest that can ever claim the at- 

 tention of any minister, no lefs than the Increasing the ge- 

 neral wealth and prosperity of the whole kingdom, and 

 consequently augmenting the amount of the national reve- 

 nue, which must ever keep pace with it, to an astonifhing 

 degree. But at the same time it is a matter of so much intri- 

 cacy tc get a thorough view of the benefits to be derived 

 from the measure intended, as to presuppose that a minister 

 is pofsefsed of no common talents, ever to be able so far to 

 see these, as to become interested in the discufsion j and 

 the reform, if any fliall ever take place, will so much affect 

 -the private interest of many individuals; who have long 



