The National Register.
London, England, 1809-08-13 00:00:00

310

Letters ? And what do you suppose, Sir, were the feelings
of the people of England at the threat ►►hick this infamous
scrawl bolds out to prevent Mrs. ChrAMYE publishing at.
Letter from Major Donn to you ?

That such conduct is contemptible and dastardly, no man
of character %ill deny ; and that it betrays the fears and
folly of the writer, is equally obvious. But what is of
more importance to the public, it was certainly intender;
to prevent Mrs. CLARKE from giving it to the world, and
was written to intimidate her. This, Sir, is a proposi.
Lion of meridian clearness. It is so consonant to our rea-
son, so obvious to our common sense, and indeed so per-
fectly self-evident, that the mind its its natural state of
aptitude to discern truth cannot den) its assent. it was my
intention to have made you the channel of some further
communications with Sir RICHARD PHILLIPS ; but even in
meanness and profligacy there are degrees which entitle pre-
eminence, and at present, Mr. WARDIeri you are the more
eminent character. Besides, I feel myself called upon to
notice the attempts which are making by your friends, the
Rear:tiers, to agitate and disturb the peace of the nation, by
visionary schemes, not to say illegal attempts. The public ,
mind is first disturbed by exaggerated accounts of abuses.
which either do not exist at all, or if they do exist., arc not
ealculatedlo produce the mischievous effects attributed to
them, amid may certainly be remedied without any infringe-
ment of the Constitution. A reference upon every trifling
occasion to the origioai magazine of power in the people
can only lead to the subversion of all regular government,
the violation of property, and the substitution of anarchy
and confusion in the place of order and decency. Prudent
men are called ei)on to examine, with great cantion, every
sten that may lead to such consequences.—The power of
the people, a hen brought. into action, or cxelied II the.
enthusiasm of religion or politics, is so irresistible ; its ex-
plosion is so vieteet, that although it be necessary that
such a power exist somewhere, yet it ought certainly to
be der sited in security, and, like a magazine of gun-
powder, only such small portions of it distributed to the
garrison as may be necessary for the defence of the fortress
in which -it 'is lodged. should we think if even
common soldier were to insist upon a right to enter and
take such parts as he thought proper, to employ them
according to his own pleasure ? ‘that should we think of
the man who ads :sed the soldiers, that, as the defence of
the place depended upon their strength and valour, they
should seize upon the arms and aie;nunition, and make
their own terms with their commanding officers? DO voe
think he would not deserve to be shot—ignoni;nieen4 '
shot, fur his preeumption ?—Metaphysical claims of rights
on behalf of the people, which they never did, nor can
enjoy, bat to their destruction ; inflammatory speeches,
calculated to snake every rank in society dissatisfied
with their situation, and with their riders ; associa-
tions to overawe and controul the deliberations of the
representatives of the people, under the pretence of
the expressed wishes of their constituents: all these arc
circumstances which, however they may please you
and your associates, make honest and good men tremble.
An affected regard for humanity 'and justice, a sacred
attention to the civil and religious rights of the people,
end thu sullsort of the principles of the Constitution, V, hich •
they are endeavouring. to undermine and- destroy, ;nave
uniformly been the pretences of suck as have sought to