ating all the circumstances of the reign,
every one of which is more or less a melancholy proof of the truth of
what I have advanced, let us consider the language of the Court but a few
years ago, concerning most of the persons now in the external
Administration: let me ask, whether any enemy to the personal feelings of
the Sovereign, could possibly contrive a keener instrument of
mortification, and degradation of all dignity, than almost every part and
member of the present arrangement? Nor, in the whole course of our
history, has any compliance with the will of the people ever been known
to extort from any Prince a greater contradiction to all his own declared
affections and dislikes, than that which is now adopted, in direct
opposition to every thing the people approve and desire.

An opinion prevails, that greatness has been more than once advised to
submit to certain condescensions towards individuals, which have been
denied to the entreaties of a nation. For the meanest and most dependent
instrument of this system knows, that there are hours when its existence
may depend upon his adherence to it; and he takes his advantage
accordingly. Indeed it is a law of nature, that whoever is necessary to
what we have made our object, is sure, in some way, or in some time or
other, to become our master. All this however is submitted to, in order
to avoid that monstrous evil of governing in concurrence with the opinion
of the people. For it seems to be laid down as a maxim, that a King has
some sort of interest in giving uneasiness to his subjects: that all who
are pleasing to them, are to be of course disagreeable to him: that as
soon as the persons who are odious at Court are known to be odious to the
people, it is snatched at as a lucky occasion of showering down upon them
all kinds of emoluments and honours. None are considered as well-wishers
to the Crown, but those who advised to some unpopular course of action;
none capable of serving it, but those who are obliged to call at every
instant upon all its power for the safety of their lives. None are
supposed to be fit priests in the temple of Government, but the persons
who are compelled to fly into it for sanctuary. Such is the effect of
this refined project; such is ever the result of all the contrivances
which are used to free men from the servitude of their reason, and from
the necessity of ordering their affairs according to their evident
interests. These cont