In the divifion of each feveral Crime, Acting it many ways. Nay, had he power, he would Pour the fweet milk of concord into hell, Uproar the univerfal peace, confound All unity on earth. SHAKESPEARE. LONDON: Printed for J. BEW, No. 28, Pater-nofter Row. MDCCLXXXI. In ADVERTISEMENT. HOULD it be thought that the following Strictures have been written with too much afperity, let the licentious demeanour of the men, who are the objects of their cenfure, towards the Servants of the Public, be candidly confidered. There have been no epithets too opprobrious, no language too grofs and abufive, either for their declamations in Parliament,-for their harangues in their lawless Committees, or for their feditious publications against thofe in whom the powers of the State are vefted. The epithets "corrupt, "treacherous, traitorous, tyrannical, defpotic,' and, as if this world, with all its wickedness, did not afford a quality fufficiently foul, either for their mouths or their pens, they have travelled into the regions below for the word "diabolical." All these, with a multitude of others of the same indelicate and flanderous complexion, have been unreservedly applied to the public Minifters, without even an exception to that person who is the first in virtue as well as dignity in the State; while, on the other hand, thofe exalted characters, which have been thus unjustly loaded with the groffeft abuse, have demeaned themfelves with a decency and respect towards these malicious defamers, to which neither their expreflions nor actions vi ADVERTISEMENT. actions have given them the leaft claim. For abundant proof of these truths, the Reader need only to look into the republican pamphlets and daily papers, which have been impudently publifhed under the walls of the Courts of Justice and the two Houfes of Parliament. Besides, when we fee thefe men not content with having involved their country in mischiefs too great to be defcribed, and which threaten. the freedom and independence of the empire with ruin, ftill perfifting in their schemes; when we fee them, in ftrict imitation of their rebel brethren in America, and in direct violation of the fpirit and established laws of the most excellent of all political inftitutions, rearing up and openly patronizing lawless and feditious Committees, in oppofition to the established Councils of the State-Committees which have not only formed themselves into permanent public bodies, but have already affumed the rights of convening their members at their own pleasure-of fitting on their own adjournments-of taking into their deliberations the general affairs of the nation-entering into feditious refolves respecting those affairs, and openly avowing a defign to change and overturn the establishments of the British State; I fay, when every man who is not blind fees all this, it would be a false delicacy indeed, not to treat them with that honeft plainnefs which is confiftent with truth. L The |