know I speak truth, take this letter; when you have read it, tear off
the seal, fold it up, and give it to your favourite Dutch mastiff that
sits by the fire; he will swallow it, Sir, like a buttered toast: in
three hours four minutes after he has taken it, he will attempt to bite
off his own tongue, and half an hour after burst asunder in twenty
pieces. Blood! blood! blood! So no more at present from, {85} Sir,
your most obedient, most devoted humble servant to command, till death."

You may easily imagine the consternation into which this letter threw
the whole good-natured family. The poor man to whom it was addressed
was the more surprised, as not knowing how he could merit such
inveterate malice. All the friends of the family were convened; it was
universally agreed that it was a most terrible affair, and that the
government should be solicited to offer a reward and a pardon: a fellow
of this kind would go on poisoning family after family; and it was
impossible to say where the destruction would end. In pursuance of
these determinations, the government was applied to; strict search was
made after the incendiary, but all in vain. At last, therefore, they
recollected that the experiment was not yet tried upon the dog; the
Dutch mastiff was brought up, and placed in the midst of the friends
and relations; the seal was torn off, the packet folded up with care,
and soon they found, to the great surprise of all--that the dog would
not eat the letter. Adieu.

(_Citizen of the World_.)

EDMUND BURKE 1729-1797

DECAY OF THE PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY

We may amuse ourselves with talking as much as we please of the virtue
of middle or humble life; that is, we may place our confidence in the
virtue of those who {86} have never been tried. But if the persons who
are continually emerging out of that sphere be no better than those
whom birth has placed above it, what hopes are there in the remainder
of the body, which is to furnish the perpetual succession of the state?
All who have ever written on government are unanimous that among a
people generally corrupt liberty cannot long exist. And indeed how is
it possible? When those who are to make the laws, to guard, to
enforce, or to obey them, are by a tacit confederacy of manners
indisposed to the spirit of all generous and noble institutions.

I am aware that the age is not what we all wish. But I am sure that
the only means of checking its precipitate degene