make his adverfary to answer himself

(Off, off.)

thank

(Prefident. Hear him!) I you, Sir-a certain perfon hoftile to our principles; as we all know, compared the people to an herd of swine— Why? Because," fays he, “ they go as they are driven."-I make use of the fame figure, becaufe, (as every hog-driver will tell you) they go the contrary way to that they are driven (Ha, ha, ha!) therefore let not the allufion offend, but fuffer me to proceed

It is the nature of man to be dependent where he cannot rule, and as all cannot rule, fome must be dependent. The minister is always confidered as the ruler of a country; and thofe who are not ministers, must submit to be governed. There is nothing got by refiftance-fuppose the man in power turned out, fome one elfe, must be put in-let monarchy be deftroyed, fome other government (and a miniftry in courfe) must be efta

blished suppose the most perfect democracy; even then the power of government must be given to a few individuals, and one of these will govern. the government be in a king, an aristocracy, or democracy; ftill whatever go

Whether

verns must be abfolute. The French Directory is as abfolute as the French Monarchy, with this difference in favour of the latter that redrefs of grievances was easier to be obtained.

If then the House of Commons would most probably confift of the fame fort of people as at prefent (where the change was not for the worfe) it is fcarce worth while to be very anxious for another mode of electing reprefentatives-and, from the fame confideration, the minifter need not oppose the wish of the people for a reform (if they really have the wish) fɔör he would find, as it is found at prefent, that the House of Commons will always confist of a few of great abilities, a few

of

C.

of fmall abilities, and the bulk, of middling people-of fome that will fupport, of others that will oppofe him, but the principal part muft always be as they ever have been, perfons more likely to follow than to lead, and whofe hands-I mean, whofe ears, are not always fhut to reason."

The laft fentence being pronounced in rather a fly manner, made the audience conceive fomething of a joke was intended-while, looking at each other, they were puzzling to find it out; the orator defcended foftly from the roftrum, and, in as few steps as poffible, happily escaped into the street.

On

Authors should not exceed common judge

ment.

To the many obftructions in the way

of fame, which I have elsewhere remarked, may be added another, of as much force as any, or perhaps all of them together.

If an author or artist be too clever, he is as far from notice as if he were deficient. The science of fuccefs, is the knowledge of what the world is up to. This Oxford vulgarifm fo well expreffe's my idea, that I shall use it for the prefent purpose.

A genius who is poffeffed of abilities to carry his art far beyond the point to which it has already attained, must be

very

very careful of fhewing these abilities. As the public is not up to the judging of them, they cannot diftinguifh what is above their comprehenfion, from what is beneath their notice. The common effect of this ignorance is, that the author or artift, in order to live, muft let himfelf down to the level of the understanding of those whom Fate has conftituted his judges. If he be not impatient for fame, he ought rather to elevate the public judgement to him, fo that it may be competent to his productions. This conduct he feldom can purfue, and all the good which might be obtained from fuperior abilities, is loft by the deficiency of the public tafte, or the want of refolution (perhaps, want of bread) in the artist.

This may poffibly account for the wretched performances which difgrace our theatres and places of public amusement. The like reafon has been affigned why