end to them. The difcontent of the people was converted into defpair. Preventive remedies were either not thought of in time, or were not propofed until it was too late to apply them with effect. The fubverfion of the ancient govern ment enfued. The inference from this comparifon is at once fo pow. erful and fo obvious, that we know not by what argument to illuftrate or enforce it. We mean to avert for ever from our country the calamities infeparable from fuch convulfions. If there be, as it is faid, in any part of this kingdom, a difpofition to promote confufion, or even to arrive at improvement by unconftitutional and irregular courfes, we hold ourselves as ftrictly pledged to refift that difpofition, wherever it may appear, as to purfue our objects by unexceptionable methods. If, on the contrary, it be true that the mafs of the people are fatisfied with the prefent ftate of things, or indifferent about it; if they approve of the reprefentation as it ftands, the form of election, and the duration of the truft; or if, condemning these things, they are determined, from indolence or defpair, not to attempt to correct them, then indeed the efforts of individuals may be ineffectual, but they cannot be injurious to the peace of the community. If the fpirit of the conftitution be dead in the hearts of the people, no human industry can revive it. To affirm that extenfive mifchief may be done by a statement of facts or arguments which make no general impreffion on the public mind, is a propofition that contradicts itself, and requires no other refutation. We truft it

VOL. XXXIV.

will be proved by experiment, that thefe inconfiftent affertions are equally unfounded, and that the people of this country are no more difpofed to fubmit to abuses without complaint, than to look for redrefs in any proceedings repugnant to the laws, or unwarranted by the conftitution. Between anarchy and defpotifin, fpeaking for ourfelves, we have no choice to make; we have no preference to give. We neither admit the neceffity, nor can we endure the idea of reforting to either of these extremities as a refuge from the other. The courfe we are determined to purfue, is equally diftant from both.

Finally, we affert, that it must be blindnefs not to fee, and treachery not to acknowledge.

That "the inftruments of power are not perhaps fo open and avowed as they formerly were, and therefore are the lefs liable to jealous and invidious reflections; but they are not the weaker upon that account. In fhort, our national. debts and taxes have, in their natural confequences, thrown fuch a weight of power into the executive fcale of government, as we cannot think was intended by our patriot ancestors, who glorioufly ftruggled for the abolition of the then formidable parts of the prerogative, and by an unaccountable want of forefight, established this fyftem in their ftead." Our general object is to recover and preferve the true balance of the conftitution.

These are the principles of our Affociation, and, on our fteady adherence to them, we look with juft confidence to the approbation and fupport of the people in the profe

the utmost of our ability. Not a fingle propofition, not one fentence, not even a word in the Declaration and Addrefs, which we have fubmitted to the public, has been pointed out as liable to an objection of any kind. We do believe that the minds of men are every day more and more enlightened on the fubject of the conftitution and government of their country, as well as more attentive to it, than in former times :--that difpofition has not been created by any efforts of ours :-we are of opinion, that it exifts very generally through this kingdom. Is it ufeful to difcourage, is it poffible to fupprefs it? We earneftly recommend it to thofe who with well to the peace of the kingdom, to confider ferioufly, whether, under the acknowledged exiftence of abuses, a declared refiftance to every proposal for amendment may not, in the event, prove favourable to the views of men whofe principles are deftructive of all good government, and wholly irreconcileable with the object of our Affociation.-Before the motion, to which one of our members, in compliance with the request of the Society, has pledged himfelf, can be made, we hope the fenfe of the country will be diftinctly expreffed. If, after having done every thing in our power to obtain the reform, whith we think wanting, the country thall appear to be fatisfied with the prefent itate of reprefentation, we midt and shall fubmit: if, on the contrary, the propriety of our meafures fhall appear to be generally felt and acknowledged, we fhall hold ourselves bound to ufe every legal and conftitutional means of effecting a timely and temperate reform; the only

which were attributed to, or fuppofed to be connected with, the imperfect and corrupted state of the reprefentation of the people in parliament. We do not admit that the immediate non-existence of grievances, which the acknowledged corruption of the inftitution is at all times equally capable of producing, is any objection against taking fecurities to prevent the return of fuch grievances. But we pofitively affirm, that, in fact, a cafe has lately occurred, which, on the very principles of the objection, eftablishes the neceffity of a reform in the construction of the Houfe of Commons. We mean the late armament intended to act against Ruffia, which might have involved the nation in a moft impolitic and ruinous war; and to which a large majority of the Houfe of Commons gave their fupport, in direct contradiction to the real interefts, and to the acknowledged fenfe of the people. With refpect to the mode of our proceeding, we conceive, that the objections urged againft it ought to have been as precife, as fpecific, as the reafons we have affigned in fupport of it. Inftead of comparing the principles, we profefs with thofe of the conftitution; instead of canvaffing the terms of our declaration, and proving a contradiction between our profeffions and our conduct, it is thought fit to load us with a loofe, unfupported, general charge, expreffed in the language of reproach, not of argument; of uniting with certain bodies of men, whofe principles and practice, as far as they appear to be fuch as they are reprefented, we have not only difclaimed in the frongeft terms, but have declared, that we are determined to refift to

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one which we can propofe, and the only one to which we will give our concurrence. Whenever that object is obtained, our Affociation is at an end-we go no farther. The people then will poffefs a more perfect organ to exprefs their fentiments, and a power to correct thofe abufes, which we call fubordinate, and which we believe to proceed principally from the prefent depraved flate of the reprefentation of the people in parliament.

Refolved, That the above refolutions, propofed by the Committee, be agreed to, and adopted by the Society, and that the Committee be inftructed to publish the same. Signed by order of the Committee. WILLIAM BAKER, M. P. Chairman.

London.

"Gentlemen,

"It is with infinite pleasure we have read and confidered your ad

drefs and declaration from your ge neral meeting on the 26th of April laft. The principles therein fet forth by fo large a body of the most refpectable and worthy characters, are fufficient teftimony and confirmation to us, that fo honourable a Society, by fignalizing themselves in fupport of the laudable and general caufe of the community, will render themfeives moft truly worthy of that high and benevolent appellation by which they are already known to us, The Friends of the People.

"Your fentiments, your motives, and your plan of obtaining a reform of the abufes of government are perfectly in unifon with our ideas: it is our bufinefs (to which we have always confined our endeavours) to inftruct the people in a temperate and peaceable manner in the neceffity of fuch a reform as you point out; but have never yet attempted to adopt or point out any particular mode of obtaining it, further than you will obferve by the inclofed, believing that in due time, men of more refpectable characters and greater abilities would ftep forward. To fuch we have always had an eye, and upon fuch we have ever meant to rely for our government, and the adoption of the moft eligible plan of a more free and equal reprefentation in the Houfe of Commons, and the removal of the great abufes and impofitions by measures altogether inadequate to the intereft and welfare of the nation in general, and to the mechanical and laborious part of the community in particular.

"It is therefore with the higheft degree of fatisfaction that we behold fucha refpectable body ftepping forward in fo laudable, so juft, and fo good a caufe. You have our warm