! View Britain herself as a sheep without a shepherd! And lastly
view America, for her virtue bleeding and for her liberty weltering in
her blood!

LORD RELIGION. Such hath, and ever will be the fate of kings, who only
listen to the voice of pleasure, thrown in their way by the sirens of
administration, which never fail to swallow them up like quicksand--like
a serpent, who charms and fascinates, bewitches and enchants with his
eye the unwary bird; witness the fatal catastrophe of Rehoboam, who
rejected the counsel of the wise and experienced, and gave up all to the
advice and guidance of young, unskilful and wicked counsellors. Had he
listen'd to you, my Lord, had he followed your advice, all, all would
have gone well--Under your auspicious administration Britain
flourished, but ever since has been on the decline and patriotism, like
religion, scarcely now more than a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

LORD WISDOM. My counsel has been rejected--my conciliatory plan thrown
under the table, and treated with contempt; the experience of gray hairs
called the superannuated notions of old age--my bodily infirmities--my
tottering frame--my crazy carcase, worn out in the service of my
country, and even my very crutches, have been made the subject of their
ridicule.

LORD JUSTICE. Gratitude, like religion and patriotism, are about taking
their flight, and the law of the land stands on tip-toe; the
constitution, that admirable fabric, that work of ages, the envy of the
world, is deflower'd indeed, and made to commit a rape upon her own body,
by the avaricious frowns of her own father, who is bound to protect her,
not to destroy.--Her pillars are thrown down, her capitals broke, her
pedestals demolish'd, and her foundation nearly destroy'd.--Lord
Paramount and his wretched adviser Mocklaw baffle all our efforts.--The
statutes of the land superseded by royal proclamations and dispensing
powers, &c., &c., the bloody knife to be held to the throats of the
Americans, and force them to submit to slav'ry.--Administration have
commenced bloody tyrants, and those that should protect the subject are
become their executioners; yet will I dispute with them inch by inch,
while there's a statute book left in the land. Come forth, thou grand
deceiver! I challenge thee to come forth!

LORD WISDOM. Our friends must bestir themselves once more, perhaps we
may yet turn the scale.--If the voice of religion, wisdom and justice
should fail, le