historical chronicle. v 



t rnjiy be now pretty easily attained. France is already so hemmed in on 

 I sides, that if a few frontier places were obtained, which seems likely 

 on to happen, to be strongly garrisoned, and kept as cautionary towns to 

 event them from encroaching on th-* territories of others, they might then • 

 • left to fight each other fairly within their own dominions, and to regii- 

 Ite their own internal government as seemed good unto themselves, without 

 ceiving any disturbance from our interference. Such is the general opinion, 

 id almost the universal wilh of the people of this part of the country. But 

 ere is apartv in this state that has discovered prini-iples so inimical to ourva- 

 able constitution ; and this party of late made such advances, and so boldly 

 jposed the administration of this country, as to occasion a very serious a- 

 im to most well meaning sober men, so as to produce a more general 

 id marked opposition to the viev/softhis party than was ever seen in this 

 lition during our time. The national jealousy of the views of this party still, 

 ith much reason, prevails, and therefore every man is afraid even to whis- 

 ;r his willies for a peace, lest it fliould, by seeming to favour the views of 

 lat party, give it a weight and preponderance in the nation he wiflies it 

 ver to attain. Hitherto every motion tending to recommend conciliato- 



measures to the members of administiatiou have originated with that 

 3rty, and therefore have been unsupported by the nation at large. When 

 •e first heard of the petition fiom Glasgow mentioned in our last chronicle, 

 : was represented as originating with the most respectable members of the 

 jciety at large, without any connection with party, and, as this is well 

 nown to be the genuine opinion of the people at large, it was hoped i; 

 could have that weight with the community in general that its importance 

 eserved. It now appears however that this was not the case. The petition 

 here mentioned is said, on good authority, to have originated with that 

 ame party of which the public at large are so jealous; and subscribers to it 

 lave been obtained, if we are rightly informed, by nearly the same means 

 Ihat were adopted for forwarding the other popular views of the party, on 

 vhich account it meets with opposition from a great majority of the most 

 espectable citizens; and it well, we are afraid, rather tend to finrstrate than 

 accelerate the prayer of the petition. Such ate the circumstances that in 

 ivil society must frequently occur to frustrate even the most salutary pto-' 

 bositions; for, when two evils are to be eschewed, the greater of the two 

 aught ever to be guarded against, ' 



That " mistortunes never come single" is an old adage, which, whatever 

 may be the case in respect to morals, is undoubtedly true in regard to poll 

 |tical arrangements. The violent proceedings of the antimonarchical party 

 above alluded to, produced a counter afsociation, which if not in its turn 

 guarded from excefs, threatens to become equally subversive of that consti- 

 tution which it was avowealy instituted to support. The committees of that 

 society, in imitation of the lepublican party, who laid themselves under 

 contribution to print and dilseminate among the people, gratis, or below 

 cost, writings that favouied the views of the party, begin already with the 

 funds in their hands, to print and publifli in the same manner, writings fa- 

 vourable to the views of these committee men. The public seem not a- 

 ware, that poison may be thus administered to the people on both sides, un- 

 der the name of wholesome food : nor has it been yet adverted to that un- 

 der pretext of supporting the constitution, this institution may be employ- 

 ed as a most effectual engine to augment ministerial power, — a power v/hich 

 though this constitution does acknowledge, ought ever to be watched with 

 greater care, than perhaps any other, because it pofsefses in a peculiar degree 

 tae means of gratifying the willies cf those who distingnilh themselves by 



