330 Additional Tax for the Current Service. 
once appeared romantic and impracticable, are really carried 
into execution. Opportunity makes the philosopher, the po- 
litician, the soldier, and the good subject, as well as the 
knave ; nor do we know our own strength till we are put 
to the trial. It is a great point gained to know what is right to 
be done : but I grant it is not enough to be in the right, unlefs 
we are fo in time ; and that the execution of good proje&s re- 
quires greater abilities than the planning them. Whiirt men are 
governed fo much by fancy and opinion, and make themfelves 
the Haves of their favorite paflions, it is impofiible to reafon 
them into adting right ; yet the power of persuasion is great, 
and a judicious mixture of it, joined to motives of interest, I 
mean intereft derived from conflderations of public good, fome- 
times operate in a wonderful manner. 
Our prelent fltuation mod undoubtedly requires great skill 
and vigilance : we have need of able heads, and adlive hands. 
Our misfortunes often arife from national pride : in the height of 
our enjoyments, we do not difcover danger ’till it is at our very 
doors, or we treat it as a ministerial bugbear. And as with 
regard to moral duties, we forget the uncertainty of life, 
fo in a political view of things, we do not conlider that li- 
berty, wealth, and power, are precarious things, and fubjedt to 
many changes and revolutions. 
Nations as well as individuals in general, are vain, and 
flatterers of themfelves ; and from hence it arifes, that amongfl: 
the former very few conceive a true idea of their own num- 
bers, 
