ut the identical persons who, by
their society, their instruction, their example, their encouragement,
have drawn this man into the very faults which have furnished the Cabal
with a pretence for his persecution, loaded with every kind of favour,
honour, and distinction, which a Court can bestow? Add but the crime of
servility (the _foedum crimem servitutis_) to every other crime, and the
whole mass is immediately transmuted into virtue, and becomes the just
subject of reward and honour. When therefore I reflect upon this method
pursued by the Cabal in distributing rewards and punishments, I must
conclude that Mr. Wilkes is the object of persecution, not on account of
what he has done in common with others who are the objects of reward, but
for that in which he differs from many of them: that he is pursued for
the spirited dispositions which are blended with his vices; for his
unconquerable firmness, for his resolute, indefatigable, strenuous
resistance against oppression.

In this case, therefore, it was not the man that was to be punished, nor
his faults that were to be discountenanced. Opposition to acts of power
was to be marked by a kind of civil proscription. The popularity which
should arise from such an opposition was to be shown unable to protect
it. The qualities by which court is made to the people, were to render
every fault inexpiable, and every error irretrievable. The qualities by
which court is made to power, were to cover and to sanctify everything.
He that will have a sure and honourable seat, in the House of Commons,
must take care how he adventures to cultivate popular qualities;
otherwise he may, remember the old maxim, _Breves et infaustos populi
Romani amores_. If, therefore, a pursuit of popularity expose a man to
greater dangers than a disposition to servility, the principle which is
the life and soul of popular elections will perish out of the
Constitution.

It behoves the people of England to consider how the House of Commons
under the operation of these examples must of necessity be constituted.
On the side of the Court will be, all honours, offices, emoluments; every
sort of personal gratification to avarice or vanity; and, what is of more
moment to most gentlemen, the means of growing, by innumerable petty
services to individuals, into a spreading interest in their country. On
the other hand, let us suppose a person unconnected with the Court, and
in opposition to its system. For h