he lowest class may easily feel that they
are more miserable this year than the last, and may inquire and discover
the reason of the aggravation of their misery; they may know that the
army is increased, or our trade diminished; that the taxes are heavier,
and penal laws become more grievous.

Nor is it less easy for them to discover that these calamities are not
brought upon them by the immediate hand of heaven, or the irresistible
force of natural causes; that their towns are not ruined by an invasion,
nor their trade confined by a pestilence; they may then easily collect,
that they are only unhappy by the misconduct of their governours; they
may assign their infelicity to that cause, as the only remaining cause
that is adequate to the effect.

If it be granted, my lords, that they may be mistaken in their
reasoning, it must be owned, that they are not mistaken without
probabilities on their side: it is probable that the ministry must
injure the publick interest when it decays without any other visible
cause; it is still more probable, when it appears that among those whose
station enables them to enter into national inquiries, every man imputes
his calamities to the minister, who is not visibly dependent on his
favour. It becomes more probable, yet, when it appears that it is the
great business of the minister to multiply dependencies, to list
accomplices, and to corrupt his judges.

At least, my lords, if it be granted, which, surely, cannot be denied,
that the people may be sensible of their own miseries, it is their part
to declare their sufferings, and to apply to this house for relief, and
it is our business to discover the authors of them, and bring them to
punishment.

That the people are very loud and importunate in their complaints, is
daily evident; nor is it less apparent, that their complaints are just;
if, therefore, their miseries must have an author, let the defenders of
this gentleman point out the man whom they may more properly accuse.

But, my lords, nothing is more evident, than that the crimes and the
criminal are equally known, that there is one man predominant in his
majesty's councils, and that it has long been the practice of that man
at once to oppress and ridicule the people, to plunder them, and set
them at defiance.

Nothing is more known than that this man pretends to a superiour
knowledge, and exerts a superiour power in the management of the publick
revenues, and that they have