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Should what is called our profperous fituation, be ftill more profperous; Should France have yet new diftreffes to fuffer; these principles will remain the fame. They are, I am perfuaded, the principles of eternal truth and justice:

"If these fail;

"The pillar'd firmament is rottenness,
"And earth's base built on stubble."

There are, I know, perfons of a different opinion; and who imagine that the felicity of an individual, and of a nation, depend principally on riches, without enquiring by what means those riches are acquired, or in what manner they are improved. If any person who is rivetted to fuch an opinion, fhould take up this book, I think it but fair to tell him, he may almoft as well lay it down again; as there is little in it to afford him either fatisfaction or conviction. But, as the friend of that man, I cannot help earnestly perfuading him ferioufly to reflect; whether, while his mind is under the influence of fuch a fentiment, he deferves to be called either a BRITON, or a CHRISTIAN; or whether he is not the enemy of Liberty, of Truth, of Virtuc, of Goodness, of GOD HIMSELF!

I am fearful that feveral of my fentiments, as well as the manner in which I have expreffed them, may not be agreeable to fome perfons I cordially efteem. I muft, therefore, requeft them not only to read, but to paufe, to reflect with impartiality, before they cenfure. I truft I poffefs a mind open to conviction, and that I fhall efteem the man who will endeavour

endeavour, with candour, to convince me of my mistakes, MY FRIEND. Should any one honour me with public notice, I hope, however engaged in the common concerns of life, to be able, as I am fure I fhall be willing, to defend or to give up any thing that I have written. This is nothing more than my duty. When a man prefumes to addrefs the public, and at the fame time declares his determination not to reply to any thing that may be faid to him, fuch a declaration might be confidered as an unpardonable infult, were it not a fort of acknowledgment of the weaknefs of the writer, or of the weakness of his caufe; probably of both.

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I should be very unhappy, if what I have now faid, fhould be confidered as throwing down the gauntlet, or challenging any one to meet me in the unpleasant, though fometimes unavoidable field of controverfy. I therefore declare, that if any one thinks proper to attack me, it must be upon my own ground. I am not refponfible for the opinions of other writers, who may have taken up their pens in defence of the French Revolution. Should any perfon therefore charge me with being a republican, or an enemy to our EXCELLENT CONSTITUTION: Should he infinuate that my defign is to fap the foundations of religion, or government; or to introduce anarchy and confufion in this kingdom: Should he take up the laft defperate weapons of a defperate caufe, perfonal calumny and abufe; he may rest affured, that fuch conduct will only excite in me the filent emotions of contempt, or rather of pity.

pity. My time is too valuable; my difpofition is

too placid; and though I cannot boast, yet I hope

I have within me too much of the natural dignity,

the fterling nobility of human nature, ftill more

ennobled by Chriftianity, to permit me to ftoop to

take up those despicable weapons which are never

reforted to but as the laft refource of vanquished

argument; or to engage in the horrid fray of rail-

ing for railing.

As to the style of this work-But here I would

be entirely filent, was I not confcious that every
one of my readers will too foon perceive fuch im-
perfections, as to pronounce me deficient in that
respect I owe the public, if I neglected to offer
fome apology. My hope is, that as my pretenfions
are humble, candour will affociate with criticism,
to prevent her from being fevere. This perform-
ance is nothing more than the honeft language of a
plain man, engaged in a good caufe, and feeling
its importance. If I have been fo happy as to ren-
der myself well understood, and above all, fhould
what I have written awaken any of my countrymen
to a proper confideration of those interests which
moft materially concern them, my ambition will
be gratified, and I fhall feel that fatisfaction which
nothing can ever take away.

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