ng himself with all the toil, the dexterity, the management,
the intrigue, in favour of a family of strangers, with
which ambitious men labour for the aggrandizement of
their own. Ten millions of men in a way of being freed
gradually, and therefore safely to themselves and the State,
not from civil or political chains, which, bad as they are,
only fetter the mind, but from substantial personal bondage.
Inhabitants of cities, before without privileges,
placed in the consideration which belongs to that improved
and connecting situation of social life. One of the most
proud, numerous, and fierce bodies of nobility and gentry
ever known in the world, arranged only in the foremost
rank of free and generous citizens. Not one man incurred
loss, or suffered degradation. All, from the King to the
day-labourer, were improved in their condition. Everything
was kept in its place and order, but in that place and
order everything was bettered. To add to this happy
wonder (this unheard-of conjunction of wisdom and fortune)
not one drop of blood was spilled; no treachery;
no outrage; no system of slander more cruel than the
sword; no studied insults on religion, morals, or manners;
no spoil; no confiscation; no citizen beggared; none imprisoned;
none exiled: the whole was effected with a
policy, a discretion, an unanimity and secrecy, such as have
never been before known on any occasion; but such
wonderful conduct was reserved for this glorious conspiracy
in favour of the true and genuine rights and interests
of men. Happy people, if they know how to proceed
as they have begun! Happy prince, worthy to begin
with splendour, or to close with glory, a race of patriots and
of kings: and to leave

A name, which ev'ry wind to heav'n would bear,
Which men to speak, and angels joy to hear.
To finish all. This great good, as in the instant it is, contains in
it the seeds of all further improvement, and may be considered as in a
regular progress, because founded on similar principles, towards the
stable excellence of a British constitution.

Here was a matter for congratulation and for festive
remembrance through ages. Here moralists and divines
might indeed relax in their temperance, to exhilarate their
humanity.

Such, Mr. Sheridan said, was the description which the right
honourable gentleman gave to that revolution. Was it to be supposed
that he would afterwards