inhabitants of
this island. If these be radically and essentially vicious, all that can
be said is that those men are very unhappy to whose fortune or duty it
falls to administer the affairs of this untoward people. I hear it
indeed sometimes asserted that a steady perseverance in the present
measures, and a rigorous punishment of those who oppose them, will in
course of time infallibly put an end to these disorders. But this, in my
opinion, is said without much observation of our present disposition, and
without any knowledge at all of the general nature of mankind. If the
matter of which this nation is composed be so very fermentable as these
gentlemen describe it, leaven never will be wanting to work it up, as
long as discontent, revenge, and ambition have existence in the world.
Particular punishments are the cure for accidental distempers in the
State; they inflame rather than allay those heats which arise from the
settled mismanagement of the Government, or from a natural ill
disposition in the people. It is of the utmost moment not to make
mistakes in the use of strong measures, and firmness is then only a
virtue when it accompanies the most perfect wisdom. In truth,
inconstancy is a sort of natural corrective of folly and ignorance.

I am not one of those who think that the people are never in the wrong.
They have been so, frequently and outrageously, both in other countries
and in this. But I do say that in all disputes between them and their
rulers the presumption is at least upon a par in favour of the people.
Experience may perhaps justify me in going further. When popular
discontents have been very prevalent, it may well be affirmed and
supported that there has been generally something found amiss in the
constitution or in the conduct of Government. The people have no
interest in disorder. When they do wrong, it is their error, and not
their crime. But with the governing part of the State it is far
otherwise. They certainly may act ill by design, as well as by mistake.
"Les revolutions qui arrivent dans les grands etats ne sont point un
effect du hasard, ni du caprice des peuples. Rien ne revolte les grands
d'un royaume comme un Gouvernoment foible et derange. Pour la populace,
ce n'est jamais par envie d'attaquer qu'elle se souleve, mais par
impatience de souffrir." These are the words of a great man, of a
Minister of State, and a zealous assertor of Monarchy. They are applied
to the syste