ting an opinion, when
it is not the drift of the author to overturn the doubt. Otherwise, the
doubt is never stated as the author's own, nor left, as here it is,
unanswered. Indeed, the mode of stating the most decided opinions in the
form of questions is so little uncommon, particularly since the
excellent queries of the excellent Berkeley, that it became for a good
while a fashionable mode of composition.

Here, then, the author of the Fourth Week of October is ready for the
worst, and would strike the bargain of peace on these conditions. I must
leave it to you and to every considerate man to reflect upon the effect
of this on any Continental alliances, present or future, and whether it
would be possible (if this book was thought of the least authority)
that its maxims with regard to our political interest must not naturally
push them to be beforehand with us in the fraternity with Regicide, and
thus not only strip us of any steady alliance at present, but leave us
without any of that communion of interest which could produce alliances
in future. Indeed, with these maxims, we should be well divided from the
world.

Notwithstanding this new kind of barrier and security that is found
against her ambition in her conquests, yet in the very same paragraph he
admits, that, "for the _present_, at least, it is subversive of the
balance of power." This, I confess, is not a direct contradiction,
because the benefits which he promises himself from it, according to his
hypothesis, are future and more remote.

So disposed is this author to peace, that, having laid a comfortable
foundation for our security in the greatness of her empire, he has
another in reserve, if that should fail, upon quite a contrary ground:
that is, a speculation of her crumbling to pieces, and being thrown into
a number of little separate republics. After paying the tribute of
humanity to those who will be ruined by all these changes, on the whole
he is of opinion that "the change might be compatible with general
tranquillity, and with the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous
commerce among nations." Whether France be great or small, firm and
entire or dissipated and divided, all is well, provided we can have
peace with her.

But without entering into speculations about her dismemberment, whilst
she is adding great nations to her empire, is it, then, quite so certain
that the dissipation of France into such a cluster of petty republics
would be