1808.} 
this country ? Certainly not. It is true that 
the form of the constitution remains; but the 
spirit is evaporated, and there is only a Caput 
Mortuum behind. Is the house of Com- 
mong a true representation of the people? Do 
the members go free into the senate? Do 
those who go free into it remain so after- 
wards? There is but one answer to all these 
guestions, 1 might ask further, why do the 
ministry constantly and invariably oppose a 
parliamentary reform? Because it would take 
out of their hands, the means of packing a 
Majority upon every question. Is this a true 
picture of the House of Commons or no? Is 
such a House of Commons competent to the 
great purposes of Legislation, and the secu- 
rity of the lives and properties of the people 
of this island? Let us ascend to the second 
pillar of the Temple of Freedom. What a 
prodigious—_what a monstrous increase of no- 
bility, of the privileges of peerage !—-(What 
a peerage of the present reign!) These are 
fornsing an aristocracy which will not be per- 
ceived, till its influence is too great to be op- 
posed openly. But iet us behold the third 
pillar.—Here IT shall only repeat what has 
been said in the house of commons, that the 
power of the crown was increased, and is daily 
increasing. I presume, to say that all 
kings would be absolute if they could, and 
that the laws were intended to confine thcir 
power within proper limits. And now my 
good sir, what is the British Cosstituticn, 
when we peep at the inside of it ?—-ls it not 
“fa goodly apple rottenat the core ?—At ieast, 
if corruption be rottenness. The system cf 
influence, is the system of corruption. Can 
that be a happy country that is governed by 
the system of corruption?—Can that be a 
prosperous country that is overwhelmed with 
debts and taxes,(the consequences ofthe system 
of corruption) and which raises with difficulty 
the means to pay the interest of the national 
debt? That there are great riches in this op- 
pressed country ts true, but they are in the pos- 
session of indiv.duals, andthe public is poor, is 
in debt, is oppressed. Although I am convinced 
that all these things are indispensable truths, 
yet I believe that any alteration is dangerous, 
especially at this time, when the spirit of re~ 
volution is gone forth into all parts of Europe, 
men’s eyes are opened to perceive the blessings 
of fieedom, and to catch at them. Factious 
men are continually writing pamphlets that 
stimulate men to sedition and revolt. Under 
these circumstances, perhaps, it ¢ is better 
to bear the ills we have, than fly to others 
which we know not of.” On the other hand, 
many people are of opinion, that nothing but 
a parliamentary reform can prevent a revolu- 
tion. I hope not, for the leyellers to bring for- 
warda revolution, is the greatest evil that Bri- 
tain hasto fear; it would renewthe old times of 
anarchy and confusion, which may God forbid ! 
I speak of the revolution in 1688 as you do; [ 
call it glorious, fortunate, and happy 3 but it 
Was incomplete. Then was the time to heve 
ascertained the constitution of Britain, her 
Account of the late Mrs. Clara Reeve. 
601 
rights and liberties, and to have secured them 
to the latest posterity. Smollet, an acknows 
ledged tory, confesses this truth. ¢¢ William 
ascended the throne in consequence of an exe 
press capitulation with the people. Yet on 
this occasion, the zeal of the parliament to- 
wards their deliverer, seems to have overshot 
their attachment te@ their own liberties and 
privileges; or, at least they neglected the 
fairest opportunity that ever occurred, to ree 
trench those prerogatives of the crown to 
which they imputed all the late and former 
calamites of the kingdom.” I think [ have 
advanced nothing for which I cannot produce 
proofs and authorities ; if you should happen 
to think otherwise, consider that you have 
drawn from me these impertinences, by asking 
My opinions on subjects of great importance. 
My father was an Old Whig, from him I have 
learned all that E know, he was my oracle ; 
he used to make me read the parliamentary 
debates while he smoaked his pipe after supe 
per; I gaped and yawned over them at the 
time, but unawares to myself, they fixed my 
principles once and for ever. He made me 
read Rapin’s History of England, the infor- 
Mation it gave, made amends for its dryness, 
I read C2to’s letters by Trenchard and Gore 
don, I read the Greek and Roman Histories, 
and Plutarch’s Lives; all these at an age 
when few people of either sex can read their 
names. ly opinions have never altered since 
I was twenty-one years of age, and now I am 
nearer sixty than fifty. You will find that I 
am no longer to be called Afiss, but will in fu- 
ture address to Mrs. C. Reeve, Ipswich. I 
consider Mr, Burke, and Mr, Paine, as the ex- 
treme points of opposition, 1 think there is 
€qual fallacy in both, with this difference 
however, that Paine believes all that he Says, 
and Burke does not; that he means to de- 
ceive, and throw dast in the eyes of his rea 
ders. I wish and pray for my country’s wel- 
fare and happiness, and would wear out the 
remainder of my eyes and hands to do it ser= 
vice; but I cannot suppose that my feeble 
hand could avail, to storm the torrent of vice, . 
folly, luxury, and corruption. I honour those 
who use their talents for this noble and hoe 
nourable purpose. I wish that you, sir, may 
use your time and talents for this end; and JI 
pray God to give efficacy to your endeavours 
to serve your country. 1 have been all my 
life straitcned in my circumstances, and used 
My pen tO suppost a scanty establishment ; 
yet, i have drawn my pen to the best of my 
knowledge, on the side of truth, virtue, and 
morality, and I have endeavoured to use my 
talents, soas mot to undervalue the gifts of hea= 
ven, nor overrate my own abilities. I have 
not yet read Mrs. Wolstoncrofts Mights of 
Women, but Iam promised them by a friend, 
and 1 will afterwards give you my opinion, if 
you think it worth your attention. Witha 
due sense of the honor you have done ‘me by 
your communications. Lam Sir, your most 
obliged and humdle servant, . 
©. REEveE’ - 
PROVINCIAL 
