The Works Volume Ñ. 12; Together With His Life, And Notes On His Life Of The Poets. Debates In Parliament ; 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1787 Excerpt: ...and what was at sirst only whispered by malice or prejudice in the ears of ignorance or credulity, is adopted by common same, and echoed back from the people to the senate. I have hitherto, my Lords, consined myself to the consideration of one single article of this complicated charge, because it appears to me to be the only part of it necessary to be examined; for if once it be acknowledged that the asfairs of the nation are transacted not by the minister but the administration, by the council in which every man that Gts there has an equal voice and equal authority, the hlame or praise of all the measures must be transserred from him to the council, and every man that has advised or concurred in them, will deserve the same censure or the same applause; as it is unjust to punish one man for the crimes of another, it is unjust to chuse one man put for punishment from among many others equally guilty. But I doubt not, my Lords, when all those measures are equitably considered, there will be no punistiment to be dreaded, because neither negligence nor treachery will be discovered. For, my Lords, Vvith, regard to the treaty of Vienna, let us suppose our ministers deceived by ignorant or corrupt intelligence, let us admit that they were cautious where there was no danger, and neglected some opportunities, which, if they had received better information, they plight have improved (e, he advantage and, security of the nation. What What have they done even under all these disadvantageous suppositions, but followed the lights which they judged most clear, and by which they hoped to be conducted to honour and to sasety? Policy, my Lords, is very disserent from prescience, the utmost that can be attained is probability, and that for the most part in a low degree. It is...