 bear away the whole Palm from People grown grey in Politicks?
The young Gentleman, says Mr.
Veer
(the Principal of the Court-Writers) talks wonderfully for One not versed in the Subject of which he treats. The People of
England
are stupidly proud and licentiously ungovernable; they are the most ignorant and yet most obstinate of any People upon Earth; it is only by their being selfish that they become in any Degree manageable; if their Voices were not bought, they would either give them to Persons of their own stupid Cast, unknowing in our Laws or our Constitution, or to Men of an antimonarchal and republican Spirit, who would be perpetually putting Rubs before the Wheels of good Government.
I never knew, till now, Sir, returned
Harry,
that, in order to make People true to their Country and their King, that is, in order to make Men honest, it was necessary to corrupt them. But I have still good Hopes that the Picture, which you have drawn of our Governors, is not altogether a just One.
Governors? cries
Veer,
I spoke not a Word of Governors. You spoke of the People, Sir, says
Harry,
and they, as I take it, are our Governors. The People our Governors! this is the most wonderful and the newest Doctrine that ever I heard, A Doctrine even as old as the Constitution, rejoins
Harry:
They are not only our Governors, but more absolutely so than Any so stiled. His Lordship is the only Man in Company whose Person, in some Instances, is exempt from their Jurisdiction; but his Property remains still subjected to their Decision.
No Law can be made in
Britain
but by the People, in their Proxies. And when those Laws are made, the People are again constituted the Judges thereof on their
Jury-Tribunals,
throughout their respective Shires; as also Judges of Facts and Rights, whether civil or criminal, throughout the Realm.
Thus, their Privilege of making Laws for themselves in PARLIAMENT, and of judging of the said Laws (when made) on JURIES, composes, as it were, a Rudder, whereby the People are admitted (gloriously) to steer the Vessel of their own Common-Wealth.
Would it not be a Pity then that so great a People should be no Other than Such as Mr.
Veer
has described them, a Parcel of ignorant, licentious, selfish, base, venal Prostitutes, unenlightened by Reason and uninfluenced by Conscience?
If they should be reduced, if it is possible, I say, that they should ever be reduced to
