The Sun.
London, England, 1818-07-16 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN,

OF POLITIC,II, SOCIETY.

sal. 111.
It bas been justly observed, as a reason why tile
many are in all countries governed by the few,
that opinion supersedes force, and eausei an im-
plicit stibmisbion to those who rule; even against

This opinion may be of interest or of right. .11
of interest it is front a conviction that every go•
vernment is for the benefit, and not the injury, of
the people, which is its best security ; it rut right,
it is either from power or property. Power is in-
creased by antiquity, and the attachment that all
nations have for ancient governments and public
justice; but when men act in a faction, they dis-
regard the obligation of !amour and morality, to
serve their party ; or if that faction be formed
on a principle of right, they strew a greater zeal
in defence of equity. Contradictory as this may
seem, it proceeds from the same social disposi-
tion.

An opinion of tight to property prevails in all
governments ; and according to some able authors
it is their foundation, though in a government,
under which there is little or nothing to protect,
such an opinion can have little or no influence.----,
At all events it is the foundation of justice, which
cannot be maintained without government.
Undoubtedly opinions of interest and of right
to property are the basis of all authority in the
few over the many, which may he limited, al-
tered, or qualified in their operation, by seNsh-
ness, affection, or fear; but they can have no ex-
clusive independent influence, though they pie-
suppose those premised, which makes them as it
were the secondary principles of government.
Self-interest toduced men to look fur favour
front friends and acquaintance, but their hopes
could never attend any set of Ministers, if they
had no other title to, or influence over, their opi-
nion. The real title is antecedently established,
in order to raise the expectation of rewards, the
prospect whereof may ao.;ment their authority,
but not produce it, in regard to the public ; and
as to fear from' the fury of a tyrant, it not ex-
cited in us, when his authority is founded in fear
As an individual, his twee cannot reach and
what more he has is drawn from opinion. As to
affection, thought it extend to the virtue of a Prince,
and has great influence, he must antecedently be
invested with a public character, or public esteem
would be of no use to him, nor his virtue have
any weight.
A government may last for ages, though the
balance of power and property be unequal ; as
where an order of men has acqotied it large share
of. the latter, but none in the former. As
kind greatly regard an old government, the public
seldom favours any usurpation of power ; hut
when a constitution allows it to an order of men
who hold large property, they may progressively
enlarge their authority, and- bring power and pro-
perty to an equal balance. This may be seen in
our House of Commons, though its weight in the
scale is not proportioned to the po,ter and
petty of those whom it represents ; and t hough this
House be preferred to the other br.inches ot the
State, there are institoces whet) it has oi,posed the
Crown, and it has not been approved of by the
people; such as tie Tory Commons under King
WILLIAM. If the Members were obliged to do
nothing without receiving instructions from their
Constituents, like Dutch Deputies, it would. be
otherwise, and if all the wealth and power were
thrown into tie scale, the Crown could 'mutter
influence the people, nor resist the over balance
of property. in the electiou of Members it may
influence the collective body, on every new Par-
liament; but if exerted in bringing the people to
every vote, it would soon be exhausted, and no
revenue could support it. Ailvaltelatiou, th
re-
fore, in this particular, would change out Go—
vernment in two, and render it a Republic. The
people in a body, like the Human tribes, are not
fit for government, but when, divided into small
parties, they are under the guidance of reason and
order. Popular force is broken, and the interest
of the public is attended to with method and de-
liberation ; but, not to contemplate any further
form government, which may never be knots
in this kingdom, it is to be hoped that the wis-
dom of our Rulers will improve and protect our
old one, on the principles of our peaceable and
bloodless Revolution in 1688, in supreme contemr
of a rabble passion for dangerousitirppvations.

111ONTESQUIEU.
(To be continued in Sect. IV.)

?LISP PARLIAMENT.

MEMBERS RETURNED.
.Irmagi Count.y—W tn. Richardson, Chas. Brownlow.
iincrich County—Hon. W. H zgibbon, Hon. Mr. Quin.
Dumfriesshire—Admiral Sir W. Johnstone.
Brz, District of BorGug4s—lt. Grant.
Inzn.rnez's Do.—Geo. Cur:;tniog.
,Therdeen Do.—Joseph Hume.
Stirling Do.—.lchn Campbell.
Dunfrics Do.—W. R. K. D 011411.3.
Ste-wartry Nircu.d.bri,,4-la—General James Dunlop.

STATE OF POLLS AT
BreconJitire, July )4.
Wood
771
o: gan
758

Cork, July 10
Hutchinson
Colthurst,
Lougfield
.54