The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-05-16 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

IV LORD MILTON.

--rr..r.

LETTER t.

MY Lono—Re neither affronted nor alarmed at
the novelty of this address; it comes from one
who, though distrustful of aristocratical influence,
yet hailed with transport your just triumph over
that worse than Indian war-whoop of persecuting
bigotry—of bigotry embodied in a contemptible
factions and seconded by all the wealth of, all the
LAscaLets. Had you tesembled the unhappy
spawn of young nobility, who lose their days in
dreaming over the profligate dissipation of their
nights, I should not have so misemployed my
time, nor so insulted .your understanding, as to
have intruded on the sanctity of an asylum; which
I acknowledge and abhor. The Peer, who by
systematic education has ran the gauntlet of vice
and folly, and . who has matured to ripeness the
seeds of native genius, till his groom declines the
disgraceful emulation, and the black-leg shrinks
from the contamination of his presence, deserves
nut to be rescued by his coronet from the silent
contempt to which his character is entitled. Such
examples contradict their essence, and prove sa-
lutary warnings ; whilst satire is unfelt by him,
whose Intellect cannot comprehend its force, and
rebuke changes its nature, when the wretch
glories in his shame.—Such men I shall nut
follow to the tavern or the bagnio. With
other feelings I tarn to the name of Mu..
TON. The laudable industry with which you
. have resolved to dedicate the first fruits. of youth
to your country's service, has not been lost upon
the public ; nor were we slow in discovering that
the hereditary virtues of an illustrious familjOhave
been transplanted into your bosom with undimi-
nished vigour. This satisfaction I enjoy in corn.
molt with every Englishman : and human nature I
rejoices in the knowledge, that as far as domestic
happiness can requite goodness, you are already
in possession of full reward. Such is the early
lesson which your Lordship will do well ever to
hold in sacred remembrance, that virtue brings
along with her an immediate remuneration. May
you never experience the inseparable consequences
of vice I When the line it drawn so strong by the
hand of nature, where mutt we Once the foun.
fain of unity dereliction from every duty ?
Where lies the cause of that short-sighted prosti.
-lotion, which discolours the page of history, and
blackens the character of the present tones ?
Were this corruption confined among the lowest
of our species, or to the worst of ages—did it
not penetrate the closet of the scholar, and disc
temper the projects of th 6 statesman, -we might
more readily answer *question, in which we should
be less coucerned. I sball leave, however, to
others, the investigation of a cause so disgreceful
to our nature; and surely' my assistance is not
needed to poiut out the general effects so ruinous
to this realm. 'Every improvement on the free.
dom and purity of our Constitution will aquas n
more generous spirit through the various orders,
and dignify a more perfect morality among the
people. This is a consummation devoutly to be
wished for by the patriot and the Christian ; but
Such as men moving in the same circle with your
`Lordship must determine whether we are to ex-
pect. This cluing, would strengthen the hands of
rank, property, talent, and virtue. It would
elevate the pulse of popular feeling, ennoble the
soul of national character, and cement in invio.
fable brotherhood the artificial classes of comma.
nity. Some change must come. Fearful too is
the alternative ; for when a mighty machine is
put in motion) I know the difficulty of re.
;elating its operations, and the peril of its
Slightest eccentricities. When argument has been
sneered out of &Alum by a jest, and reason put to
rout by a regiment, I can ill complain of those,
who, in the turbulent hour of summary justice,
slight that wise moderation, which the example of
their opponents has taught them to neglect, and
plc.ce it, the seat of judgment those passions, which
have so industriously been intiametlegaiust their
cause. Yet if a change clothed In such distress.
lug colours is finally enforced ; if the bond of
our emancipationis written in tears of blood, amid
shrieks of etiolation, on whom does the weight of
vengeance press? Surely upon those who have
shut their ears against the still small voice of truth,
against the high-minded remonstrances of an in-
jured, insetted nation—against every generous tip.
r• justice, faith and independence. The
are acquitted : Parliament stands condemn.
ed. The sword (dl but last week from King
CRARLIVI'S MONO : this would be an omen to the
superstitious; nor is it unnatural, that Ministers
who scorn argument, should place truth in portents.
But elm! they deny us the miserable. costsolatioo
of finding a shield against the odiousness of their
prineiplo in the weakness of their understandings.
Solf.love enlists under its banners their inherent
,womanish imbecility. Id there was nothing an.
Seasonable its an eepecentioo, thit one who al.
warp stalks behind the rotten mask of precedent,
would hue remembered, how in human Wins
the same causes ever lead on the same effects, et
bests is a free people, tyrannY generates resistaail.:
leilwence is now mightier than ever was Kemp-
tive : also since its secret form codeeels it from the
knowledge of the good and careless, at the same
time that it lends the crafty' a specious pre,
text of denying .its existence, or ftiavowing
its danger, never was there an easier instrument
of governing, more starching in lts means,,
'more deadly in its end. Thosgb nisi Parliament
in arbitrary assumption of power or corruption its
Its-tese, should far out.herod that of CHARLIM, yqt
what prudent STUART *would resist it ? Their en.
croachments are his own. •
It is a mournful tax upon our• fallen nature—a
' bitter satire on the pride of matt, that our best
works are more or less imperfect. Moreover, from 1
those never ceasing revolutions which all things?
around is' undergo, our booted establislituents,
decay. Information daily circulating wider, pro-
pagates every failing. Ought not then jealous
vigilance to be quickened intoangry suspicion, w hen
,our Rulers refuse to repair the breaches madeby time,
and the insidious treachery of domestic banditti.—
Is there an assembly so hardy or so ignorant, as
to stand forward in oppemitieWto the progress of
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geoeial illumination. idopposition to those Moe.
berating Alterations, which should keep pace with
the altered eircumstancei of the times, in opposi-
tion to the maxim, " That must break, which
will not bend ?" Our present system fetters the
franchisements of the people; it undermines not
only the majestic simplicity of virtue, but that
consciousness of honour which alone is a sure
foundation of individual respectability or national
security. Integrity and policy.are by the decree
of Providence united : and it Is not in the little
chicanery of man to break a bond so holy. Narrow
itoleed is the basis, on which au ephemeral Minister
will build, who perstiades the Country Gentlemen
that bribery and drunkenness are inseparable from
elections, that Government is identified with cur.
ruptioo, and society incapable of preservation,
unless by the nourishment of vice. It reflects lit.
tie efedit un the morality of our Court to triumph
in their discovery. For my part, my feelings
would never acknowledge the truth of so startling
a proposition, if my, judgment were entangled by
subtle sophistries ; our can I understand the end
proposed by such monstrous conclusions, unless it
be to unite good men id an aversion to Elections,
Government, and Society itself. However, the
field is too wide for one excursion : even volumes
would be qo better than waste paper, if you cannot
read in the fate of England her prefent condition.—
if your own reflections speak not mere toyour be-
,
nom than I dare tell. But pray, myLord, forget not
that the path can no longer be lost through igno.
ranee or mistake. Where error is, it must be wilful.
This it the awful moment of calm decision—the
birth of happiness or woe to millions ; for we
tremble on the pivot of fearful uncertainty t we
stand on the edge of difficulties unparalleled, of
dangers inconeeipable. In squabbling for places,
the colossal power, and more gigantic ambition of
France seem -both to be forgotten : Ministers.
have only. leisure to harass -England with their
meddling insolence, and insult Ireland by studied
contempt. Yet their neglect is kindness, coin.
pared with the fatal assiduity of their 'protec-
tion. What, however, skill we say to suck an
Administration, when- France, backed by all
Europe, stands threatening at our very doors?
Internal commotion is not necessary to prevent
stagnation. Even the incredulous may sooth their
complacent bosoms with this grateful persuasion,
that neither PERCEVAL nor Le GRAND NAPOLSON
is in fault, if we slumber at our posts, or die of
ennui through want of employment.
A YORKSHIREMAN.
PARTIES IN 104RL1IMENT.