Oldalképek
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

PRINTED FOR J. DODSLEY, IN PALL-MALL.

M.DCC.XCI.

IT may not be unnecessary to inform the Reader, that the following Reflections had their origin in a correspondence between the Author and a very young gentleman at Paris, who did him the honour of defiring his opinion upon the important transactions, which then, and iver since, have fo much occupied the attention of all men. An answer was written some time in the month of October 1789; but it was kept back upon prudential considerations. That letter is alluded to in the beginning of the following sheets. It has been since forwarded to the person to whom it was addressed. The reasons for the delay in fending it were assigned in a short letter to the fame gentleman. This produced on his part a new and preffing application for the Author's fentiments.

The Author began a second and more full difcuffion on the subject. This he had some thoughts of publishing early in the last spring; but the matter gaining upon him, he found that what he had undertaken not only far exceeded the measure of a letter, but that its importance required rather a more detailed confideration than at that time he had any leifure to bestow upon it. However, having thrown down his first thoughts in the form of a letter, and indeed when be sat down to write, having intended it for a private letter, be found it difficult to change the form of address, when his fentiment's had grown into a greater extent, and had received another direction. A different plan, he is sensible, might be more favourable to a commodious division and diftribution of his matter.

DEAR

DEAR SIR,

OU

Y

are pleased to call again, and with some earneftness, for my thoughts on the late proceedings in France. I will not give you reason to imagine, that I think my sentiments of fuch value as to wish myself to be folicited about them. They are of too little consequence to be very anxiously either communicated or withheld. It was from attention to you, and to you only, that I hefitated at the time, when you first defired to receive them. In the first letter I had the honour to write to you, and which at length I fend, I wrote neither for nor from any description of men; nor shall I in this. My errors, if any, are my own. My reputation alone is to answer for them.

You fee, Sir, by the long letter I have tranfmitted to you, that, though I do most heartily wish that France may be animated by a spirit of rational

B

« ElőzőTovább »