t the prevaricating sons of violence give no
relief at all, where at all it can be wanted. They renew their old
fraudulent declaration against confiscations, and then they expressly
exclude all adherents to their ancient lawful government from any
benefit of it: that is to say, they promise that they will secure all
their brother plunderers in their share of the common plunder. The fear
of being robbed by every new succession of robbers, who do not keep even
the faith of that kind of society, absolutely required that they should
give security to the dividends of spoil, else they could not exist a
moment. But it was necessary, in giving security to robbers, that honest
men should be deprived of all hope of restitution; and thus their
interests were made utterly and eternally incompatible. So that it
appears that this boasted security of property is nothing more than a
seal put upon its destruction; this ceasing of confiscation is to secure
the confiscators against the innocent proprietors. That very thing which
is held out to you as your cure is that which makes your malady, and
renders it, if once it happens, utterly incurable. You, my Lord, who
possess a considerable, though not an invidious estate, may be well
assured, that, if, by being engaged, as you assuredly would be, in the
defence of your religion, your king, your order, your laws, and
liberties, that estate should be put under confiscation, the property
would be secured, but in the same manner, at your expense.

But, after all, for what purpose are we told of this reformation in
their principles, and what is the policy of all this softening in ours,
which is to be produced by their example? It is not to soften us to
suffering innocence and virtue, but to mollify us to the crimes and to
the society of robbers and ruffians. But I trust that our countrymen
will not be softened to that kind of crimes and criminals; for, if we
should, our hearts will be hardened to everything which has a claim on
our benevolence. A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of
the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from
cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty are accomplices in it. The
pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancor produces an
indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where
they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate.

There is another piece of policy, not more laudable than this