A SUBJECT, SO EVERY SUBJECT SHOULD OBEY, AS HE WOULD DESIRE TO BE OBEYED, IF HE WERE A

PRINCE; AND THIS MORAL DUTY OF DOING AS YOU WOULD BE DONE BY, EQUALLY REACHES AND APPLIES TO THE PEASANT AS THE CROWN 2.

SECT. XXI.

THE MOB.

THIS class of men can be brought to act in concert upon no other principles than thofe of a frantic enthufiasm and ungovernable fury; their profound ignorance and deplorable credulity make them proper tools for any man who can inflame their paffions, or alarm their fuperftition; and as they have nothing to lofe by the total diffolution of civil fociety, their rage may be eafily directed against any victim which may be pointed out to them.— They are altogether incapable of forming a rational judgment either upon the principles or the motives of their own condu&t; and whether the object for which they are made to contend, be good or bad, the brutal arm of power is all the affiftance they can afford for its accomplishment.-To fet in motion this inert mass, the eccentric vivacity of a madman is infinitely better calculated than the fober coolness of phlegmatic reafon.They need only to be provoked and irritated, and they

never

never can in any other manner be called into action. In the year 1780, they affembled at London to the number of 60,000, under the direction of Lord GEORGE GORDON, and carrying fire and rapine before them, were upon the point of giving the whole city of London to one undistinguished devaftation and destruction: and this, because the parliament had mitigated the feverity ef a fanguinary and tyrannical law of perfecution against the Roman Catholics.-Should thefe people be taught that they have a right to do every thing, and that the titles of kings and nobles, and the emoluments of public offices, are all ufurpations and robberies committed upon them, I believe it would not be difficult to rouse their paffions, and to prepare them for every work of ruin and deftruction.-But, when they are once put in motion, they foon get beyond all reftraint and controul.— The rights of man, to life, liberty, and property, oppose but a feeble barrier to them; the beauteous face of nature, and the elegant refinements of art, the hoary head of wifdom, and the enchanting fmile of beauty, are all equally liable to become obnoxious to them; and as all their power confifts in DESTRUCTION, whatever meets with their difpleasure must be devoted to ruin.-Could any thing but an imperious, over-ruling neceffity justify any man, or body

body of men, for ufing a weapon like this to operate a revolution in government ?-Such indeed was the fituation of the French National Affembly, when they directed the electric fluid of this popular frenzy against the ancient fabric of their monarchy.-They juftly thought that no price could purchase too dearly the fall of arbitrary power in an individual, but, perhaps, even they were not aware of all the confequences which might follow from committing the existence of the kingdom to the custody of a lawless and defperate rabble.

a

But do the people of England labour under fuch intolerable oppreffion, as would authorife any of their pa triots to employ an arm like this for their relief?-Suppofe fixty thousand men fhould again affemble round Westminster-hall, and with clubs and fire-brands for their fole arguments, fhould compel the parliament to alter the prefent form of government, what would be the PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES? Is it clear that fo large a majority of the people of England have loft all their attachment to their conftitution, as to infure an

a Patriots, fays Sir ROBERT WALPOLE, have a growth like mushrooms. It is but denying a place, or refufing an unreasonable demand, and up starts 4 a patriot.

8

acquiefcence

acquiefcence in the measure throughout the kingdom? Is it certain that one quarter part of the people would obey an act extorted by fuch violence as this?-Would not all friends of the prefent government rather rally round the ftandard of the conftitution, and would not their duty compel them to defend it with their lives and fortunes?—If it should foon appear that they were decidedly the strongest party, would not the infurrection be extinguished in the blood of its leaders?—If the parties fhould prove to be nearly equal, would not the nation be involved in all the horrors of a long and bloody civil war ?—In whatever point of view, the effects of this fcheme are contemplated, they prefent nothing but profpects at which every friend of mankind muft fhudder ".

b Mr. Adams.

SECT.