FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80  
81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   >>   >|  
elf for a few minutes, and then addressed the electors in a speech which was received with great and universal applause and approbation. SPEECH AT HIS ARRIVAL AT BRISTOL. Gentlemen,--I am come hither to solicit in person that favor which my friends have hitherto endeavored to procure for me, by the most obliging, and to me the most honorable exertions. I have so high an opinion of the great trust which you have to confer on this occasion, and, by long experience, so just a diffidence in my abilities to fill it in a manner adequate even to my own ideas, that I should never have ventured of myself to intrude into that awful situation. But since I am called upon by the desire of several respectable fellow subjects, as I have done at other times, I give up my fears to their wishes. Whatever my other deficiencies may be, I do not know what it is to be wanting to my friends. I am not fond of attempting to raise public expectations by great promises. At this time, there is much cause to consider, and very little to presume. We seem to be approaching to a great crisis in our affairs, which calls for the whole wisdom of the wisest among us, without being able to assure ourselves that any wisdom can preserve us from many and great inconveniences. You know I speak of our unhappy contest with America. I confess, it is a matter on which I look down as from a precipice. It is difficult in itself, and it is rendered more intricate by a great variety of plans of conduct. I do not mean to enter into them. I will not suspect a want of good intention in framing them. But however pure the intentions of their authors may have been, we all know that the event has been unfortunate. The means of recovering our affairs are not obvious. So many great questions of commerce, of finance, of constitution, and of policy are involved in this American deliberation, that I dare engage for nothing, but that I shall give it, without any predilection to former opinions, or any sinister bias whatsoever, the most honest and impartial consideration of which I am capable. The public has a full right to it; and this great city, a main pillar in the commercial interest of Great Britain, must totter on its base by the slightest mistake with regard to our American measures. Thus much, however, I think it not amiss to lay before you,--that I am not, I hope, apt to take up or lay down my opinions lightly. I have held, and ever shall maintain,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80  
81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

opinions

 

public

 

wisdom

 

American

 

affairs

 
friends
 

unhappy

 

authors

 

intentions

 
America

matter

 
intricate
 

variety

 

rendered

 

precipice

 

difficult

 

conduct

 

contest

 

intention

 

suspect


confess

 

framing

 

deliberation

 

totter

 

slightest

 

Britain

 

pillar

 

commercial

 

interest

 

mistake


regard

 
lightly
 

maintain

 

measures

 

constitution

 
finance
 

policy

 

involved

 

commerce

 

questions


unfortunate

 

recovering

 

obvious

 

engage

 

honest

 

whatsoever

 
impartial
 

consideration

 

capable

 

sinister