el.

"Then I lay down this for my next position, that _no private
man can take upon him to write concerning the government at
all_; for _what has any private man to do with the
government_, if his interest be not stirred or shaken? It is
the business of the government to manage matters relating to
the government; it _is the business of subjects to mind only
their own properties and interests_. If my interest is not
shaken, _what have I to do with matters of government_? They
are not within my sphere. If the government does come to
shake my particular interest, the law is open for me, and I
may redress myself by law; and when I intrude myself into
other men's business that does not concern my particular
interest, I am a libeller.

"These I have laid down for plain propositions; now, then,
let us consider further, whether, if I will take upon me to
contradict the government, any specious pretence that I
shall put upon it, shall dress it up in another form and
give it a better denomination? And truly I think it is the
worse, because it comes in a better dress; for by that rule,
every man that can put on a good vizard, may be as
mischievous as he will, to the government at the bottom, so
that, whether it be in the form of a supplication, or an
address, or a petition, if it be what it ought not to be,
let us call it by its true name, and give it its right
denomination--it is a libel."

"The government here has published such a declaration as
this that has been read, relating to matters of government;
and _shall_, or ought _anybody_ to come and _impeach that as
illegal, which the government has done_? Truly, in my
opinion, I do not think he should, or ought; for by this
rule may every act of the government be shaken, when there
is not a parliament _de facto_ sitting.

"When the house of lords and commons are in being, it is a
proper way of applying to the king; there is all the
openness in the world for those that are members of
parliament, to make what addresses they please to the
government, for the rectifying, altering, regulating, and
making of what law they please; but if every private man
shall come and interpose his advice, I think there can never
be an end of advising the government.

"_We are not to measure