might arise, who would bargain for our li berties; the people will not fail to resume their rights, and exercise themselves, on a great emergency, the power they only lend to their magistrates and governors. The conduct of the Romans was remarkable, and ought to be a warning to us. They expelled the Tarquins almost as unanimously as we did the Stuarts. They boasted of being the only free nation, yet at last became the slaves of one family from generation to generation; and if now and then a faint ray of freedom beamed forth, they soon sunk again into darkness. They had made the most monstrous grants to the sovereign, sibi omnia licere, et in omnes,' that to him all was lawful, and against all:' yet, when Nero grew a monster of tyranny, they ordered him to be punished more majorum-although it is difficult to conceive how, after such a formal surrender of every thing, he could be guilty of any act of injustice or tyranny. Nature remonstrated at first against so shameful a grant, and afterwards commanded the resumption.

"The English at the Revolution not only re covered their liberties, but laid down a plan of perpetuating them to their latest posterity, and expressly circumscribed the power of their princes. They declared on what terms they gave their crown, and under what express limitations it should be worn by all succeeding sovereigns. By this legal tenure it must continue to be held. The English have regularly, since the era of the flight of their last tyrant, manifested in the cause of freedom a constancy, a courage, a firmness more than Roman. Such be their virtues to the latest ages! and may they continue a great and happy people, the patrons of universal liberty, the scourge of tyrants, the refuge of the oppressed; and long hold out to the world, what is truly the boast of rational beings, a mild and free govern ment, just, powerful, independent, commercial, tolerant, generous and brave! These are the true glories of this land of liberty, in the most enlightened age of philosophy. May Englishmen in all future ages possess and hold

2

sacred these invaluable blessings! May every of this great

prince who shall the sceptre

sway

that

and free country have always in mind, other nations can bear slavery, but liberty is the characteristic of Englishmen !'--' Aliæ nationes servitutem pati possunt; populi Anglicani est propria libertas.' "

SUPPLEMENT TO GIBBON.

[AT the request of many of Mr. Wilkes's friends, the following essay, written by Mr. Wilkes, is also subjoined. It was originally entitled The Observer; but he afterwards. changed the name, and called it "A Supplement to the Miscellaneous Works of Mr. Gibbon." He had twenty copies printed by John Nichols, esq. for his particular friends: therefore, as it is in the hands of only a very few gentlemen, those persons who have heard of it, and cannot procure a copy, will not be displeased to find it here.]

THE OBSERVER.

Ipse, ubi tempus erit, omnes in fonte lavabo. VIRGIL.

ΤΟ

EDWARD GIBBON, ESQ.

ONE OF THE LORDS OF TRADE.

SIR,

It is true that you are a very late ministerial convert but your zeal is ardent; and you become so distinguished a figure in the group of placemen and pensioners, that you ought to fix the first attention of The Observer. The Mémoire Justificatif, which you have circu lated with much industry as a favourite performance among your friends, would alone entitle you to this, perhaps, painful pre-emi

nence.

The curiosity of this idle and luxurious capital has of late been highly gratified by the