has intimated his apprehenfions, that the French nation have formed erroneous ideas of the opinions and difpofitions of the people of England, from " certain publica"tions 73," which have appeared in this country; meaning, apparently, the publi cations of the Conftitutional and the Revolution Societies. But, I must confefs, that I have met with no publications that appeared to me fo grofsly to misrepresent the sentiments and difpofitions of the people of England, respecting either the late French Revolution, or our own Revolution in 1688, as Mr. Burke's "Reflections on "the Revolution in France."

It is afferted by Mr. Burke, that the body of the people of England utterly disclaim, and will refift the practical affertion of "with their lives and fortunes," those principles, which Dr. Price has stated

73 Reflections on the Revolution in France, p. 126.

to

to be the principles of the Revolution ; namely, that we have a right to choose "our own governors; to cafhier them for "mifconduct; and to frame a government "for ourselves 74." But I am fo fully convinced, that Mr. Burke's ideas upon this fubject are totally ill founded, that if ever the sense of the inhabitants of this country fhould be taken upon the following quef tions, Whether all legitimate power is, or is not, derived from the people? Whether all thofe, who are invefted with the powers of government, are accountable to the nation for the difcharge of the offices entrusted to them? Whether the people have not a right to dethrone a king for tyranny? and, Whether the people and parliament of England have not alfo a right to adopt that mode of government,

21.

74 Reflections on the Revolution in France, p. 20,

which they conceive to be most conducive to their own advantage? I have no doubt, but that these questions would be answered by the people of England in the affirmative, with a voice that should be heard to the most diftant parts of the kingdom, and that no prince or minifter would dare to contradict.

Mr. BURKE fays, that the present king "holds his crown in contempt of the "choice of the Revolution Society 75." But I hope, that he does not hold it in contempt of the people of England, or of their choice or approbation. Sir William Temple informs us, that Monf. Gourville, who had refided a confiderable time in England, and obferved much of the temper and difpofition of the people, faid to him at Bruffels,' "A King of England, who "will be THE MAN OF HIS PEOPLE, is

75 Reflections on the Revolution in France, p. 19. VOL. III.

L

"the

"the greatest King in the World; but, "if he will be fomething more, by G~,

66

HE IS NOTHING AT ALL

7699

This

fpeech Sir William reported to Charles II. because he knew, he fays, that the king esteemed Monf. Gourville, as having" the "foundest head of any Frenchman he had "ever feen." These fentiments of Monf. Gourville, refpecting the kings of England, Charles did not, however, at firft, feem perfectly to relish; but, after a little confideration, he appeared to acquiefce in them; and, if these sentiments could be acquiefced in, even apparently, by a prince of the house of Stuart, I hope no prince of the house of Hanover will forget, that his family derive their present dignity from the parliament and people of England, and that to secure and establish their rights

76 Temple's Memoirs, part II. p. 33, 34, edit. 1700.

was

was the defign and the end of their elevation.

MR. BURKE appears extremely defirous to represent government as a science involved in very profound mysteries; and, indeed, of all the theories of government which I have met with, that of Mr. Burke seems to be the most abftruse, and the most obfcure. In fupport of such a mysterious representation of the nature of government, he fays, that "The nature of man is in

tricate; the objects of fociety are of "the greatest poffible complexity""." But, however intricate may be the nature of man, however complex the objects of human fociety, there are certain maxims and principles, refpecting government, which are obvious to the most common understandings, whenever a due attention be paid to the fubject. Among these

77 Reflections on the Revolution in France, p. 91.