178 
Natural Society, the latter were per- 
feétly free from it. Under this idea, 
about a twelvemonth fince, I wrote the 
following fhort Preface toa re- publica- 
tion of a {mall impreffion of this tract, 
which, Mr. Editor, is very much at vour 
fervice. . va Vai 54d bt oh 
PREFACE TO MR. BURKE'S 
“VINDICATION, &C. 
‘© THE defign in. reprinting Mr. Burke’s 
moft ingenious and elequent ¢ Viadication of 
Natural Society,” 
aweful feafon of hoftility, in their own ianguin- 
ary colours, the wide-extended confequences 
ef that ambition which has raged in the breafts 
-ef heroes and of kings, with fuch deftructive 
and ungovernable fury; of that ambition, whofe 
malignant influence, YET alive and vigorous, 
has exifted from the remoteft periods of anti- 
guity—from the very birth of time; and whofe 
infinuating poifon has pervaded the obfcureft 
corners of the creation, and blighted the faireft 
ef its productions. 
¢* ft is a matter very unimportant to the 
public, whether Mr. Burke, in the following 
little tract, intended, under the mafk of irony, 
a ferious and deep-concerted attack on political 
fociety ; or whether his defign really was, what 
in his preface he profefies, ‘to thow, that 
without the exertion of any confiderable forces, 
the fame engines which were employed for the 
deftru€tion of religion, might be employed, 
with équal fuccefs, for the fubverfion of govern- 
sient Without the exertion of any confi Gderable 
forces indeed! But the forces which Mr 
Burke has brought into the field on this occa- 
fion, appear to be far too confiderabie, far too 
numerous and powerful, to have been intended 
for a mere military review ; they wear much - 
too warlike an afpect for any mock engagement 5 
had any of the allies laid fiege to a fort in our’ 
poffeffion, and battered its walls and ramparts 
with their cannon, we fhould fcarcely have 
given credit to their veracity, and have felt 
fatisned with being told—that it was only a 
jet d’ efprit—an amufement—fimply the play 
of a few pov-guns, to try the ftreneth of their 
powder betore they engaged an enemy. 
‘¢ But it is a matter of very ferious impor 
ance, as it fugeeas reflections ek a melanc! aon 
and humiliatin ig nature, to confider, that a man 
who once could form fo tremendous a calcula- 
tion of human flaughter committed in the field 
ef battle ; that a man who once could feel the 
agonizing horrors which attend on war, a 
feeling could. Gefcribe them with fo rich a 
miafterly a pencil; that aman who once oe 
fpéak with honeft deteftation and abnorrence 
on the grovelling train of fycophants who fur- 
sound a court; that a man who once concen- 
trated the brilliancy of his talents to throw 
luftre onthe caufe of liberty; I fay, it is a fub- 
jet for very ferious reflection, that {uch a man, 
now fhaking off thofe virtuous patriotic prin- 
ciples—-which hung, alas! too loofely around 
him; now bluthing at the remembrance of his 
mee humanity, fhould HIMSELF contribute 
to {well this m‘ghty fea of flaughter ; that HE 
Pre ace to Mr. B he S: Vindication 
is to difplay, during this ~ 
* 
{ Sept 
thouta add to the horrors which himfelf és : 
plored; that ne fhould turn the fyéophaat 
which himfelf detefted; that ne fhould deface 
the beauties of that caufe which himfelf affited 
to adorn—this is, indeed, an aweful and imports 
ant leffon! This teaches us of how tranfitory 2 
nature is the zeal of patriots! This teaches us: 
the weaknefs and inconfifiency of man ! 
‘© Flad Mr. Burke apoftatized in fome earlier 
period of his life; had he enlifted under the 
minifierial banners in his youthful. day Sy and 
yielded to the allurements which wealth and 
power held out to-him for the indulgence of 
fome extravagant or luxurious propenfities, we 
might, pethaps, have made {me allowance for 
his weakneis; in lamenting his defection, we 
ght have pitied him, and “felt. perhaps, fome 
difpofition towards forgivereis; but if ever 
under fuch circumftances of firong enticement, 
he mutt have forfeited every pretenfion to re- 
fpeftability, every claim to confidence ; if ever. 
then we muft have regarded him with an un- 
favourable and fufpicious- eye, * how much is 
he now to be abhorred, who, as he has advanced 
in age, has receded from virtue, and become 
more wicked with lefs temptation; who pro- 
fitutes himfelf for money which he cannot 
enjoy, and fpends the remains of his life in the 
ruin of his country* ?? Such abhorrence Mr. 
Burke has too much reafon to apprehend; and 
he whofe autumnal age would have fecured him 
veneration, and whofe talents, yet in their vernal 
vigour, would have encircled him with ad- 
miration and celebrity, muft now, alas! exclaim, 
with the miferable Macbeth, 
I have liv'd long enough: my way of life 
Is fall’n into the fear, the yeilow leaf: ” 
And that which fhould accompany old age, - 
As honour, love, obedience, troop of Ani 
I muft not look to have !”” 
ee 
To the Easter of the Mentoly Magazine. 
STR, 
i the year 1655, two years after 
Cliver Cromwell was inftalled pro- 
tector, the epifcopalian, prefbyterian, 
and independent minifters began to enter . 
into friendly me for brotherly 
council and advice. Mr. BaxTer drew 
up the articles of concord; they were 
reviied by archbifhop. UsHer, and 
adepted by feveral counties. Devon- 
fhire was divided into feven diftriéts ; in 
each of which a quarterly meeting was 
held of the minifters-of the three deno- 
minations, and an annual. affembly of alk 
the minifilers in each divifion. At their 
fecond annual meeting, an addrefs, was: 
agreed to be prefented to-Cromwell,. 
which I tranfcribe from the minutes for 
infertion m your ufetul Repofitory, as 
it may ferve to throw light on the tem- 
per and ieee of the times. 

ae 
os Quo Sel gam one of ie date Kind 
Chatham's Speeches, 
Thefe 

. 
~ 
