could fix upon a new scheme, the people fuddenly recovered, and peaceably reftored the old conftitution.

From what I have offered, it will be eafy to decide, whether this late change in the difpofition of the people was a new madness, or a recovery from an old one. Neither do I fee how it can be proved, that fuch a change had in any circumftance the leaft fymptoms of madness, whether my description of it be right, or no. It is agreed, that the trueft way of judging the difpofition of the people in the choice of their reprefentatives is by computing the county elections; and in thefe it is manifeft, that five in fix are entirely for the prefent measures; although the court was fo far from interpofing its credit, that there was no change in the admiralty, not above one or two in the lieutenancy, nor any other methods used to influence elections. The free, unextorted addreffes fent fome time before from every part of the kingdom plainly fhewed, what fort of bent the people had taken, and from what motives. The election of members for this great city, K 4 carried,

carried, contrary to all conjecture, against the united intereft of those two great bodies, the Bank and Eaft India company, was another convincing argument. Befides, the whigs themselves have always confeffed, that the bulk of landed men in England was generally of tories. So that this change must be allowed to be according to the natural genius and difpofition of the people; whether it were just and reasonable in itself, or no.

Notwithstanding all which, you fhall frequently hear the partisans of the late men in power gravely and decifively pronounce, that the present miniftry cannot poffibly ftand. Now they who affirm this, if they believe themselves, muft ground their opinion upon the iniquity of the last being fo far established and deeply rooted, that no endeavours of honeft men will be able to restore things to their former ftate. Or else these reafoners have been fo mifled by twenty years mismanagement, that they have forgot our conftitution, and talk as if our monarchy and revolution began together. But the body of the people is wifer; and by the choice they have made,

fhew

fhew they do understand our conftitution, and would bring it back to the old form; which if the new minifters take care to maintain, they will and ought to ftand; otherwise they may fall like their predeceffors. But I think, we may easily foresee what a parliament, freely chofen, without threatening or corruption, is likely to do, when no man fhall be in any danger to lofe his place by the freedom of his voice.

But, who are thofe advancers of this opinion, that the present ministry cannot hold? It must be either fuch as are afraid to be called to an account, in case it should hold or those, who keep offices, from which others, better qualified, were removed, and may reasonably apprehend to be turned out for worthier men to come into their places; fince perhaps it will be neceffary to make fome changes, that the publick business of the nation may go on or lastly, stock-jobbers, who industriously spread fuch reports, that actions may fall, and their friends buy to advantage.

Yet these hopes, thus freely expreffed, as they are more fincere, fo they are more

fup

N° 24. supportable, than when they appear under the difguife and pretence of fears. Some of these gentlemen are employed to shake their heads in proper companies; to doubt where all this will end; to be in mighty pain for the nation; to fhew how impoffible it is, that the publick credit can be fupported; to pray that all may do well, in whatever hands; but very much to doubt, that the pretender is at the bottom. I know not any thing fo nearely resembling this behaviour, as what I have often seen among the friends of a fick man, whose interest it is that he fhould die. The phyficians proteft they fee no danger, the symptoms are good, the medicines answer expectation; yet ftill they are not to be comforted; they whisper, he is a gone man, it is not poffible he should hold out; he hath perfect death in his face; they never liked his doctor, At laft, the patient recovers, and their joy is as falfe as their grief.

I believe there is no man fo fanguine, who did not apprehend fome ill confequences from the late change; though not in any proportion to the good ones:

but

but it is manifeft, the former have proved much fewer and lighter than were expected, either at home or abroad, by the fears of our friends, or the hopes of our enemies. Thofe remedies, that ftir the humours in' a diseased body, are at first more painful than the malady itself; yet certain death is the confequence of deferring them too long. Actions have fallen, and the loans are faid to come in flowly. But befides that something of this must have been, whether there had been any change, or no: befides that the furprize of every change, for the better as well as the worse, is apt to affect credit for a while; there is a farther reason, which is plain, and scandalous. When the late party was at the helm, thofe, who were called the tories, never put their refentments in balance with the fafety of the nation; but chearfully contributed to the common caufe: now the scene is changed, the fallen party seems to act from very different motives; they have given the word about; they will keep their money, and be paffive; and in this point, ftand upon the fame foot with papifts and nonjurors. What would have be

come