Page images
PDF
EPUB

himself, to put such an interpretation on any word he had said. He had been upon his guard at the time-he was aware of the use that might have been made of his name, and this consideration had suggested the necessity of caution.-Political caution he considered as no less necessary in public life than political courage--he had always thought and felt so, and never had this sentiment been impressed upon his mind with a more tremendous conviction, than at the period he was alluding to.

After concluding his defence of the conduct of the Directory, and of his own consistency in approving it, Mr. Fox entered into the discussion of a very delicate point. "Since I am upon the subject of the Mutiny," said Mr. Fox, (" and I give it that name without meaning to con"nect with it any idea of criminality or reproach, but ❝ merely for the sake of a distinction, which we may here"after have occasion for, between Civil and Military In"surrection); I am naturally led to take notice of a dif"ference of opinion between myself and an Hon. Friend "with whom I have long acted; that Gentleman thought "it his duty to declare in Parliament that he disliked "Mutinies ;-now, for my part, I like them-And for "this plain reason, because in every Mutiny, as it arises, "I see the possibility, at least, of the accomplishment of "our great ultimate object-a change of System. But "if I should be - as I trust I ever shall be―The last

man to discourage a Mutiny on practical grounds, still "less should I object to it on principles of pure theory. "What does a Mutiny prove? If it proves any thing, it

[ocr errors]

proves this; That the principles of Liberty in the hu"man mind are inextinguishable. You must either go"vern in conformity with the will of the mass of the (6 People, and of the individuals composing that mass, or "you

" you must employ force-there is no alternative-while "the individual is left at liberty to make his own Laws, " and when he is permitted to repeal them as he finds oc"casion-in such a case I am unable to conceive how it is possible that, under any circumstances, he should be "tempted to disobey them.

But no,' says the Government, this will not answer our purpose-we will strip you of this privilege-we 'will go a step farther-we will not even permit you to 'make your own Laws. Even this will not satisfy usyou are a single insulated being, and we have you in ' our power-we will fetter you with laws and precedents -we will bind you down with usages and statutes ' which were enacted before you were born?'" What "must be the state of things where such a system is "established? where it is acted upon without disguise? " where it is openly defended and avowed? what is to be "expected, but that which we daily witness in this "Country? a state of sullen, ill-dissembled discontent! "This discontent displays itself in actions which are in the "natural expression of such a sentiment. Now mark how "all this follows-Government, instead of removing the "discontent, can see no remedy but in coercion; but how ❝is coercion to be obtained? Why, by the very means "which have occasioned the discontent-by a still grosser "violation of individual liberty: they take a number of “individuals, and when they have subjected them to a "Military Discipline, they flatter themselves that they "can employ them as a means for suppressing discontent " in others. But what is the necessary consequence of all "this?-The spirit of Freedom, which they are endea"vouring to keep down, explodes first in that body in "which it had been comprest, with the greatest violence, "The

[ocr errors]

H 2

"The Military System is blown to pieces; and the "whole ill-constructed scaffolding is brought down in "ruin upon the heads of its architects.

"I sincerely hope," said Mr. Fox, " that no such ex"plosion may take place to the destruction of a Constitu"tion which I venerate?-but Ministers have already "made the first step in this vicious circle of Politics."The original defect was undoubtedly to be found in "the Constitution itself, even as it existed in better "times. These defects were the natural subject of a "peaceable and salutary Reform.-But what have Mini"sters done? Instead of reforming the Constitution, "by removing the abuse, they have exaggerated the abuse "till they have destroyed the Constitution: by their two "last infamous Bills, they have put the finishing stroke "to our Liberties-they have taken away from every "Englishman his NATURAL INDIVIDUAL COMPETENCE "IN MATTERS OF LEGISLATION."

Mr. Fox here concluded a very animated and impressive Speech, by recommending to his auditors, that they should immediately strike a blow for the destruction of the present system: as a pledge of his earnest wishes for the accomplishment of this object, he would give them a toast, "REWBELL, and a free Representation!"

We have no hesitation in declaring our opinion, that this Speech was one of the best that Mr. Fox ever delivered it abounds in all those characteristic traits which distinguish and elevate the tone of that Gentleman's eloquence, above that of all his rivals and opponents. The references to MACHIAVEL and ADAM SMITH, evinced the extraordinary facility which he possesses, of drawing an unforeseen inference from some acknowledged truth; that ardent deprecation of the all-violent and repressive

I

measures,

measures, with the irrefragable demonstration of the absurdity and inutility of coercion in every possible caseall these, and above all, the spirited and undaunted appeal to his own past life and conduct, were in Mr. Fox's very best manner. We have only to regret, that while we do justice to his sentiments, and general stile of argument, it is impossible for us, in a Report of this kind, to give our Readers any idea of the language in which those sentiments were conveyed.—(We must here conclude our Extract; THE EXAMINER of Monday next will contain the Speeches of Mr. ERSKINE, &c. &c. which we shall likewise take the liberty of borrowing from the Morning Chronicle of the same date.)

[blocks in formation]

ACCOUNT of SHIPS and VESSELS belonging to FRANCE, SPAIN, and HOLLAND, which have been taken,
burnt, or destroyed, since the Commencement of the War, distinguishing each Year, and also distinguishing the
Number of Guns in the Ships so taken, burnt, or destroyed, in each Year.

[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][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][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][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][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][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][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][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][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]
« PreviousContinue »