-Common Sense, Part I.

Englishmen considered rotten boroughs the only rotten part of the
constitution, but Common Sense and Junius both considered that the
disease had extended from the extremities to the heart. Junius says:

"As to cutting away the rotten boroughs, I am as much offended as
any man at seeing so many of them under the direct influence of
the crown, or at the disposal of private persons. Yet, I own I
have both doubts and apprehensions in regard to the remedy you
propose.... When all your instruments of amputation are prepared,
when the unhappy patient lies bound at your feet, without the
possibility of resistance, by what infallible rule will you direct
the operation? When you propose to cut away the rotten parts, _can
you tell us what parts are perfectly sound_? Are there any
certain limits, in fact or theory, to inform you at what point you
must stop--at what point the mortification ends? To a man [Mr.
Wilkes] so capable of observation and reflection as you are, it is
unnecessary to say all that might be said upon the subject.
Besides that, I approve highly of Lord Chatham's idea of infusing
a portion of new health into the constitution, to enable it to
bear its infirmities--a brilliant expression, and full of
intrinsic wisdom."--Last Letter of Junius.

_Common Sense._

"To say that the constitution of England is a
union of three powers, reciprocally checking each
other, is farcical; either the words have no
meaning, or they are flat contradictions. To say
that the commons is a check upon the king
presupposes two things:

_"First._--That the king is not to be trusted
without being looked after; or, in other words,
that a thirst for absolute power is the natural
_disease_ of monarchy.

_"Secondly._--That the commons, by being appointed
for that purpose, are either wiser, or more worthy
of confidence than the crown."

_Junius._

"The three branches of the legislature seem to
treat their separate rights and interests as the
Roman triumvirs did their friends--they
reciprocally sacrifice them to the animosities of
each other, and establish a detestable union among
themselves upon the ruin of the laws and the
liberty of the commonwealth."--Let. 39.

"There is something exceedingly ri