bis kingdom was not of this world, if the same evil being were to make them the same offer. The temporalities and splendors of the church triumphant endear it to them; but, if it continued in its primitive state, or in the condition in which it was when poor fishermen were its bishops, they would soon side, in religious matters, with the miscreant philosophers of France..... But while mitres and stalls may be made highly subservient to the views of a minister, and the promoters of arbitrary power and principles, they honor the church, though they know nothing of Christ; they stickle for the bench, though they abandon the creed. An ally, like the church, possessed of great power, must be cherished; though the very persons who wish to avail themselves of that power, would be the first, if that power were in real danger, to question its rights, and to accelerate its subversion.

There is one circumstance in the conduct of the Tory friends to absolute sway truly alarming to the champions of liberty. They are always inclined, on the smallest tumult, to call in the military. They would depreciate the civil powers, and break the constable's staff to introduce the bayonet. In their opinion, the best executive powers of government are a party of dragoons. They are therefore constantly sounding

alarms, and aggravating every petty disturbance into a riot or rebellion. They are not for parleying with the manyheaded monster; they scorn lenient measures; and while their own persons are in perfect safety, boldly command the military to fire. What is the life or the limb of a poor man, in their opinion? Not so much as the life or limb of a favorite pointer or race-horse. They are always eager to augment the army. They would build barracks in every part of the country, and be glad to see a free country over-run, like some of the enslaved nations of the continent, from east to west, from north to south, with men armed to overawe the saucy advocates of charters, privileges, rights and reformations.

Against principles so dangerous in public life, and odious in private, every friend to his king and country, every lover of his fellow-creatures, every competent judge of those manners, which sweeten the intercourse of man with man, will shew a determined opposition. But how shall he shew it with effect? By RIDICULE. Nothing lowers the pride from which such principles proceed, so much as general contempt and derision. The insolence of petty despots in private life should be laughed at by an Aristophanes, while it is rebuked by a Cato.

SECTION XIV.

The despotic Spirit inclined to avail itself of Spies, Informers, false Witnesses, pretended Conspiracies, and self-interested Associations affecting Patriotism*.

It is not unfair to infer the existence T of similar principles from similarity of conduct. In that black page of history which disgraces human nature; I mean the records of the Roman emperors, in the decline of Roman virtue; we read that spies and informers were considered as necessary functionaries of government; that they became favorites at court, and were encouraged by rewards due only to exemplary patriotism and public service. There have been periods also in the history of England, when spies, informers, false wit nesses, and pretended plots, were deemed lawful and useful expedients by the rulers

*Sub Tiberio Cafare fuit accufandi frequens et pæne publica rabies, quæ omni civili bello gravius tegatam civitatem confecit. Excipiebatur EBRIORUM fermo, fimplicitas JOCANTIUM.'

SENECA de Benef.

Under Tiberius Cæfar, the rage of accufing or informing was fo common, as to harrafs the peaceful Citizens more than a civil war. The words of drunken men and the unguarded jokes of the thoughtlefs, were taken down, and handed to the Emperor.

of the state. In testimony of this asser tion, we need only call to mind the pretended Popish plot, with all its villainous circumstances, in the reign of Charles the Second; a reign in many parts of it resembling the times of the Roman Tiberius. But at whatever period spies, informers, false witnesses, and pretended plots are adopted by men in power, to strengthen themselves in office, and destroy virtuous opposition, there is reason to fear in spite of all professions of the contrary, that the tyrannic spirit of the degenerate Cæsars waits but for opportunities to display itself in acts of Neronian atrocity. Power is deficient; but inclination is equally hostile to the mass of mankind, denominated the People, whom some politicians scarcely condescend to acknowledge as possessed of any political

existence.

The employment of spies and informers is a virtual declaration of hostilities against the people. It argues a want of confidence in them. It argues a fear and jealousy of them. It argues a desire to destroy them by ambuscade. It is, in civil government, what stratagems are in a state of war. It tends also to excite retaliation.

A ministry must be sadly corrupt, and unworthy the confidence either of king or people, which can so far degrade itself as

to require the assistance of the vilest of the human race. Such are the whole race of spies, sycophants, (I use the word in its proper sense), informers, and false witnesses. So great is the unfortunate corruption of human nature, that men have been always found to execute the most infamous offices, when a government has thought proper to seek their co-operation. Extreme poverty, united with extreme profligacy of conduct, and a total destitution of moral and religious principle, prepare men for the most nefarious deeds which tyrants can meditate. For tyrants only, the robbers and murderers of men, be such miscreants reserved. Tacitus has called them INSTRUMENTA REGNI, the implements of government, when government falls into hands which are skilled in the use of no better; into the hands of Neros and Caligulas. May the minister of a free country, who has recourse to such tools, be himself the first to feel their destroying edge!

Seneca, in the quotation at the head of this section, has handed down a circumstance, in the reign of Tiberius, which must cause every man, who has a just regard for the comforts of free intercourse and conversation, to shudder at the prospect of being governed by a system supported by spies and informers. He tells us, that the convivial merriment of friends assembled over a

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