but in robbery, and in all thofe public diforders which make life miferable. Thus would the prefent generation be certainly ruined; that which is to follow could not propose to itself a remedy, but in purfuing the fame arts of peace which had been fo capricioufly abandoned; and the more they profpered in that purfuit, the more they would contribute to reproduce the inequality which had been before condemned and exploded.Where then are the bleflings of this reform, and to what purpofe is mifery to be brought on the prefent generation? It is with grief we fee, in a neighbouring country, that the carrying into practice this wild doctrine of Equality and the Rights of Man, has already produced thefe evils, and others ten thousand times greater. It is not yet publicly known, nor can it enter into the gentle heart of a Briton to conceive, the number of atrocious crimes againft God and man that have been committed in fupport of thefe opinions. Murders and affaffinations have been deliberately planned, and juftified by fome of thefe pretended philofophers, as the means to attain their ends of reform. With all their pretences and promifes, they have proceeded to violate every right, civil and natural, that fhould have been obferved towards their equals; the people, who have only changed their mafters, groan under new tyrannies of which they never heard or dreamed; and are fubjected to the chaftifement of one defperate leader after another. The excelles of thefe ruffian demagogues have no bounds; they have already furpaffed the wildeft phrenzies of fanaticifm, fuperftition, and enthufiafm; plundering and murdering at home, and propagating their opinions by the fword in foreign countries;-imposture, fallacy, falfehood, and bloodfhed!-their philofophy is the idle talk of fchool-boys; and their actions are the favage ferocioufnefs of wild beafts. Such are the new lights and the falfe philofophy of our pretended reformers; and fuch the effects they have produced where alone they have unfortunately been tried. But, however these poor pretences may have impofed on the understandings of men, in a neighbouring country, bred in ignorance, oppreffion, and poverty, they can have no influence on the good fenfe and gravity of Britons, who have been used to the enjoyment of true liberty, and every day feel the bleflings of abundance derived from a productive industry, protected by equal laws, and a free government. It is well known that thofe who are virtuous and honeft have many more means of acquiring eafe and comfort, wealth and diftinction, and in a fuperior degree in this country than in any other;--it is well known that we already poffefs, and have long poffeffed, really and truly that which the pretended reformers would perfuade ignorant people they alone can beftow. It has been the pride of Britons to boaft of their liberty and property; and although thefe vifionary reformers have chofen to fubítitute the notion of equality in the place of the latter, it is trusted there are enough who know too well the value of their property, acquired under the influence of true liberty, to furrender it in exchange for an empty name. It is well know n and and we feel it daily, that we have as much of these pretended new inventions as is neceffary and convenient for a well-ordered fociety. Every one has all the Rights of Man that leave him at liberty to do good to himself and his neighbour, and (what is worth confidering) to protect his perfon and property against open or fecret plunderers. He has as much of equality as one man can poffefs, without diminishing the equality of his neighbour. We are told by our religion (for we have a religion) "that we are to do unto all men as we would that men fhould do unto us;" and this is realized to us by the firm administration of the law; which fuffers no injury to go without a remedy, and affords a remedy equally to the proudeft and the pooreft.-Such are the Rights of Man; fuch the liberty and equality which we have long enjoyed. Under thefe we have lived and profpered, both in public and private, beyond the example of any country; and to maintain them as they are, unimpaired by the fancies of pedant-politicians, or the rude hands of ruffian-levellers, every true Briton ought to fhed his blood. Impreffed with thefe fentiments in favour of our happy establishment, and alarmed by the mifchievous endeavours that are now ufing by wicked men to miflead the uninformed, and to spirit up the difcontented by furnishing them with plaufible topics, tending to the fubverfion of the ftate, and incompatible with all government whatsoever, we do, as private men, unconnected with any party or defcription of perfons at home, taking no concern in the struggles at this moment making abroad, but most seriously anxious to preferve the true liberty, and unexampled profperity we happily enjoy in this kingdom, think it expedient and neceffary to form ourfelves into an Affociation for the purpose of difcouraging, in every way that lies in our power, the progrefs of fuch nefarious defigns as are meditated by the wicked and fenfelefs reformers of the present time; and we do hereby refolve and declare as follows: Ift. That the perfons present at this meeting do become a Society for difcouraging and fuppreffing feditious publications, tending to disturb the peace of this kingdom, and for fupporting a due execution of the laws made for the protection of perfons and property. 2d. That this Society do ufe its best endeavours occafionally to explain thefe topics of public difcuffion which have been fo perverted by evil-defigning men, and to fhew, by irrefragable proof, that they are not applicable to the ftate of this country; that they can produce no good, and certainly muft produce great evil. 3d. That this Society will receive with great thanks all communications that fall be made to it for the above purposes. 4th. That it be recommended to all thofe who are friends to the established law, and to peaceable fociety, to form themfelves, in their different neighbourhoods, into fimilar focicties for promoting the fame laudable purpofes. 5th. That this fociety do meet at this place, or elsewhere, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 6th. That these confiderations and refolutions be printed in all the public papers, and otherwife circulated into all parts of the of the nation are clearly and de kingdom. By order of the Society. J. MOORE, Secretary. N. B. All letters and communications are requested to be addreffed to the Secretary at this place. Proceedings at a Meeting of the Ward of Cripplegate Without, Dec, 12. At a meeting of the deputy common councilmen, minifters, churchwardens, and other inhabitants of the faid ward, held in the parish-church of St. Giles, without Cripplegate, London, on Wednesday, the 12th day of December, 1792, Mr. Deputy William Staines, in the Chair: N confequence of the prefent ftate of public affairs, we conceive it the duty of every good citizen to stand forth and endeavour to prevent, as much as poffible, whatever machinations may be defigned or contrived by ill-difpofed or difaffected perfons, to the prejudice of our mild and equitable govern ment. Refolved therefore, That the Britifh conftitution, as established at the glorious Revolution of 1688, appears to us better calculated than any other exifting form of government to fecure the liberty, the property, and happiness of the community. Refolved, That we conceive there is fufficient energy in the conflitution of this country to produce a reform of all abufes in government, in a legal and peaceful manner, whenever it fhall appear that the majority of the reprefentatives cidedly agreed as to the existence of fuch abuses. Refolved, That enjoying as we do the bleffings of peace, accompanied with an unexampled extenfion of commerce, and with the cheerful profpect of the gradual alleviation of the public burthens (from the difpofition fhewn by government in the laft feflion of parliament) all attempts to disturb the tranquillity of the nation are unconftitutional and impolitic, and ought to be refifted by every virtuous citizen. thefe fentiments, and actuated by Refolved, That impreffed with a fincere and loyal affection to our prefent moft gracious Sovereign, and the illuftrious houfe of Hanover, the inhabitants of this ward will cheerfully co-operate with the civil magiftrates in the fuppreffion of all feditious or tumultuous proceedings, and in the fupport of our happy conftitution, and the defence of his Majesty's person and government. Refolved, That thefe refolutions be figned by the chairman, and published in all the morning papers, and that they be alfo entered by the ward-clerk in proper books, and left in the queft-houfe this afternoon till four o'clock, and again to-morrow, and every morning this week, from the hours of ten to twelve, that every inhabitant may have an opportunity of fignifying his approbation; and that the deputy, with the common councilmen of this ward, the minifters, church-wardens, overfeers of the poor, and fixteen other inhabitants, to be nominated by this meeting, be appointed a committee for carrying thefe refolutions into ef fect, fet, and that any three or more of ftances, we are now late in affe bling ourselves on this occafion, yet we defire to be understood as not yielding to any of our fellow-citizens in a firm attachment to our excellent conftitution, and a The Reverend Mr. Thomas Towle, juft fenfe of the bleffings we enjoy Mr. Jeremiah Morrell, Mr. Andrew Wright, Mr. John Jackson, Mr. J. B. Cole, M. J. Budgen, Refolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the deputy and common councilmen, for their zeal and attention to the duties of their office, in calling this meeting. Signed by order of the meeting. WILLIAM STAINES, Chairman. [There were likewife meetings of all the other wards in the city.] Refolutions agreed to at a Meeting of the Parish of Saint George, Hanover Square. The Rev. Dr. H. F. Curteney, Refolved, HAT although, from TH VOL. XXXIV. under it. That as we hold ourselves bound in duty and gratitude, at all times, to aflift in endeavouring to fupport and maintain that conftitution, fo we now think ourselves more efpecially called upon by the peculiar and critical fituation of the times, to declare that we will, all and each of us in our refpective stations, collectively and individually, contribute every affiftance in our power to the due execution of the laws, the maintenance of civil order and government, and the immediate fuppreffion of all riots and tumults, under what pretence foever they may be excited; to difcountenance all illegal meetings, and all feditious and inflammatory writings, calculated to miflead and feduce the people from their allegiance, and render them blind to their true intereft. That thefe refolutions be entered in a book to be provided for that purpofe, and to be left at the boardroom in Mount-street, to receive the fignatures of fuch inhabitants as fhall approve thereof. That a diftinct book be kept for the fubfcription of fuch fums of money as different perfons may choofe to advance, toward the expences of carrying the purposes of this meeting into execution; it not being at all expected that those who fign the refolutions fhould thereby pledge themfelves to advance any money, but be left entirely to their option in that refpect. And it is requefied that no perfon would fuh fubfcribe more than two guineas, nor less than two fhillings and fixpence. That, for the better carrying into execution the above purposes, a committee be formed, confifting of the rector, churchwardens, fidefmen, and overfeers for the time being, together with any number of other perfons not exceeding fifty, who fhall meet from time to time, to take fuch measures as fhall be judged neceffary. That any nine of the faid committee be a quorum empowered to act. Refolved, That the unanimous thanks of this meeting be given to the Reverend Dr. Courteney, for the zeal and candour which he has exhibited on the prefent occafion, by propofing refolutions which appear to be fo perfectly well-calculated for procuring the peace and fecurity of the inhabitants of the parish of St. George, HanoverSquare. By order of the meeting. H. COURTENEY, Chairman. [All the parithes in the metropolis, as well as in the vicinity, and almost all parts of the kingdom, held fimilar meetings.] Refolves of the Convention of Burgeffes relative to the Scottish Royal Burghss in Convention, Edinburgh, July 26. Mr. Grahame, of Gartmore, in the Chair. Refolved TH HAT the con-unanimously, vention of burgetles, met for the purpofe of obtaining from the wifdom and guftice of the British legiflature a reform in the internal government of the royal burghs of Scotland, think it their duty at this time, to declare that they entertain the most loyal attachment to their moft gracious Sovereign and his illuftrious family, the deepeft fenfe of the fuperior excellence of the British conftitution, and the moft firm and inflexible determination to maintain for ever the principles on which it is established, and to defend it from every innovation by which it may, in the flighteft degree, be hurt or injured.That in planning and promoting a reform in the internal government of the royal burghs of Scotland, the burgeffes confider themfelves as having acted in strict conformity to the principles they have thus avowed. Every fyftem of political government, fupreme or fubordinate, is liable to decay and abufe, and can only be effectually preferved by a wife and temperate correction of thofe defects which time, corruption, or improper deviations from original principles, have introduced. The conftitution has wifely placed the power of remedying thefe evils in the hands of the legiflature, and the burgeffes confider thofe as the best friends of the conftitution, who, in a temperate and refpectful manner, lay before parliament the abuses which they belong, and humbly which prevail in the department to fuggeft the conftitutional means that occur to them, as the most likely to remedy the exifting grievances, to reftore fuch part of our happy conftitution to its original purity and vigour, and to prevent the deftructive confequences that muft infallibly refult from the corruption or failure even of the smallcft member of the great machine of govern. |