48 THOUGHTS ON THE CAUSE OF when by far the majority, and much the better part, will fcem for a while as it were annihilated by the quiet in which their virtue and mode- ration incline them to enjoy the bleffings of Government. Befides that the opinion of the meer vulgar is a mikrable rule even with regard to themlelves, on account of their violence and inftabihty. So that if you were to gratify them in their humour to-day, that verv gratification would be a ground of their dilTatisfadion on the next. Now as all thefe rules of public opinion are to be collected with great difficulty, and to be applied with equal uncertainty as to the eftecft, what better can a King of England do, than to employ fuch men as he finds to have views and inclinations moft conformable to his own; who are leaft infefted with pride and felf-will, and who are leafl: moved by fuch popular humours as are perpetually traverfing his dcfigns, and difturbing his fervice j trufting that, when he means no ill to his people, he will be fupported in his appointments, whether he choofes to keep or to change, as his private iudgement or his pleafure leads him? He will find a fure relburce in the real weight and influence of the Crown, when it is not fuffered to become an inftrument in the hands of a fadion. I will not pretend to fay that there is nothing at all in this mode of reafoning; becaufe 1 will not afiert, that there is no difficulty in the art of Government. Undoubtedly the very beft Adminillration muft encounter a great deal of oppofition; and the very worfc will find more fupport THE PRESENT DISCONTENTS. ^9 fupport than it deferves. Sufficient appearances will never be wanting to thofe who have a mind to deceive themfelves. It Is a fallacy in conftant ufe with thofe v/ho would level all things, and confound right with wrong, to infift upon the inconveniencics which are attached to every choice, without taking into coniidcration the different weight and confequence of thofe inconveniencieSi The queftion is not concern- ing ahfohite difcontent or perfeB fatisfad:ion in Government J neither of which can be pure and unmixed at any time, or upon any fyflem. The controverfy is about that degree of good humour in the people, which may poffibly be attained, and ouglit certainly to be looked fof.- While fome politicians may be v/aitlng to know whether the fenfe of every individual be againd: them, accurately diftinguidiing the vulgar from the better fort, drawing lines between the en- terprizes of a faction and the effcrts of a peo- ple, they may chance to fee the Govcn-nment, which they are fo nicely weighing, and divid- ing, and diiunguiihing, tumble to the ground in the midft of their wile deliberation. Prudent men, when fo great an object as the fecurity of Government, or even its peace, is at fcake^ will not run the rifque of a deciiion which may be fatal to it. They who can read the political fky will fee an hurricane in a cloud no bigger than an hand at the very edge of the horizon, and Vv'ill run into the firll harbour. No lines can be laid down for civil or political u'ifiom. They are a matter incaoable of exad: definition.
'E But 50 THOUGHTS ON THE CAUSE OF But, ^though no man can draw a ft roke between the confines of day and night, yet light and darknefs are upon the whole tolerably diftinguifh- able. Nor will it be impoflible for a Prince to find out luch a mode of Government, and fuch perfons to adminifter it, as will give a great degree of content to his people; without any curious and anxious refearch for that abftrad-, univerfal, perfeft harmony, which while he is feeking, he abandons thofe means of ordinary tranquillity which are in his power without any refearch at all.
It i= not more the duty than it is the intereft of a Prince, to aim at giving tranquillity to his Government. But thofe who advife him may have an intereft in diforder and confufion. If the opinion of the people is againft them, they will naturally wiQi that it fhould have no pre- valence. Here it is that the people muft on their part (hew themfelves fenfible of their own value. Their whole importance, in the firft inftance, and aftervv^ards their whole freedom, is at ftake. Their freedom cannot long furvive their iniportance. Here it is that the natural ftrength of the kingdom, the great peers, the leading landed gentlemen, the opulent merchants and manufadurers, the fubftantial yeomanry muft interpofe, to refcue their Prince, them- felves, and their pofterity.
We are at prefent at ilfue upon this point. We are in the great crifisof this contention; and the part which men take one way or other, will ferve to difcriminate their characters ana their prin-' cipleSc I I jfcilT rr^^^^^^yrsfit^^ ^»W.R TTT; >x-i«r>i': v^^ai ^M*/l M-^A^