and become a Republic! We fhould foon become fubordinate to them, and perhaps, like Savoy, form a new Departinent of the Country which we have fo often made to tremble-We fhould, like the Brabanters, be deprived of our corn, and be made to exchange our filver and "gold for French affignats-We should have the honour of paying contributions to French armies, and taxes to the National Convention. But happily we know that our confequence and our independence are infeparable from our Conftitution and monarchical form of Government. As a Monarchy, we have rifen to be the first State in Europe-We poffefs, thanks to our wife and brave ancestors, the beft Conftitution in the world-We will preferve it-and if ever it should be abused, which is not very likely, We will find our own remedy in the fenfe, fpirit, and moderation of Britons, rather than in the example of Frenchmen.

Sai. Would I could meet with one of thofe French rafcals who endeavour to make a dif turbance in this country, egad I'd rub him well down with a good English oaken trowel: I'd foon make him wish to be toafting his frogs again at home.

Far. The chastisement would be just; but what fay you to thofe degenerate Englishmen who join with them in pursuit of the fame object?

Sai. Nay, now you are trying to get to windward of me; but it won't do I'll never

believe

believe that any of

my Countrymen can act fo, though I dare fay there are fad fellows among

them too."

Far. Well, I don't wish to put you out of conceit with your countrymen, though your Friend here might probably be able to support what I have faid. But there is no doubt that the French are as defirous as ever of reducing our power and confequence, of ftealing our commerce, and of giving the death-blow to our national independence and our naval fuperiority. They are the fame artful and defigning People they ever were; and, in their Revolutions, they exhibit the faine treachery and perfidy, the fame fickleness and levity which ever marked their character. But they have also shewn themselves) actuated by a brutal and fanguinary difpofition, and capable of the most barbarous and favage cruelty, fuch as muft inspire the mind of every Englishman with horror. We are a humane and at generous People, and have, thank Heaven, an infuperable averfion to Blood, unless when for our Honour we shed or lofe it gallantly in the field. During all our popular commotions we never loft fight of Humanity; and even in the dreadful year 1780 the Mob did not hurt the hair of any man's head. But the French cannot be turbulent without being. bloodthirty-while they have Liberty in their Mouths their Hands are engaged in Slaughter; their Tree of Liberty cannot thrive, unless

the

the Soil be drenched with Blood. It becomes, therefore, every Englishman to fay, "From French Liberty the good Lord deliver us !"

Man. I am as much fhocked as you can be at the horrid maffacres lately committed in France, and I believe that Englishmen are incapable of fuch barbarities. But I cannot conceive how the little paffage of fea between Dover and Calais can make fuch a difference in difpofition between one people and another.

Far. There are a variety of causes which operate in forming the difpofition of a people, and perhaps none more than the Conftitution and Form of Government under which they live. Thus the English Character has acquired a vigour and a manliness from the Conftitution. The confequence which every Englishman feels to belong to him as fuch, and the fenfe he entertains of the value of thofe important rights and privileges which he enjoys as his birthright, endue him with firmnefs and magnanimity, and infpire him with a fenfe of honour, and a dread of difgrace; while his difpofition, formed under the mild and genial influence of legal, orderly, and falutary Freedom, is as open, humane, and generous, as it is bold and brave. Every fpecies of cruelty is repugnant to his nature; he is as ready to forgive and to fuccour as to fight and he will no more hurt or even infult a van

quifhed

quifhed foe, than he will yield the palm of victory while he has ftrength to dispute it. Nor is there a People in the world fo diftinguished. for their benevolent bounty as the English. Munificence and Charity are here difplayed beyond all example and without oftentation; and Woe, which, by the laws of Nature, is ever attendant upon the condition of Humanity, is fure among us to attract pity and relief. Thus may it be faid, that to live under the Laws and Government of this Country, tends to refine and improve Human Nature itself, and to cultivate the growth of its nobleft virtues.-In like manner do the principles of the Conftitution favour the fuccefs of honeft induftry and of ufeful enterprize. Where do we find Commerce and Manufactures flourish as in this Country; where are the Labourer, the Artizan, or the Mechanic, fo certain of employment? Where is Diligence fo fure of Succefs, and Merit of a Recompence? And to what is this owing, but to the foitering hand of the Constitution, which bestows Liberty and Security as an univerfal boon upon all; infpiring thereby confidence and fatisfaction; and encouraging, while it protects, the Labours of the Hand, the Exertions of the Mind, and the various Efforts of useful Industry.

Sai, I hope, Brother, by this time you are fatisfied, elfe I cannot imagine what the devil you would have, And as for TOM PAINE, or any other lying lubberly rafcal who tries to

put

put Englishmen out of conceit with their Country, and to ftir up fuch a happy People to mutiny, he deferves death a thousand times more than a robber or even a pirate,

Far. Such wretches deferve both execration and punishment; but I fancy they fuffer very feverely in the disappointment of their hopes, It is no fmall mortification to them to fee that univerfal attachment to the Constitution, and that ardent and enthufiaftic loyalty to the King, which a grateful and affectionate, a fenfible, a free, and a happy people difplay with fuch zeal and fervor. Thefe fentiments and feelings existed before; they are indeed infeparable from the heart of every true Briton; but they have heen called forth, at the prefent moment, into fuch loud and univerfal acclamations, by the daring and mischievous attempts of wicked Incendiaries who fought to excite Infurrection and Rebellion. The people faw themfelves infulted, vilified, and menaced. They have joined their hands and raifed their voice. even to Heaven, to vindicate their honour from the foul afperfion of difloyalty, and to teftify their regard for those rights for which their ancestors ftruggled and bled. The British Lion is roused, and fhews himself determined to defend the Throne and the Constitution from all foes both within and without, and woe to those who dare provoke his vengeance.

Sai