AT a moment like the present, when wilful mis­representations are industriously spread by the partizans of ar [...]ary power, and the advocates of passive obedie [...]ce and Court-G [...]vernment; we think it incumbent upon us to declare to the world our principles, and the motives of our conduct.

We rejoice at the glorious event of the French Revol [...]tion.

If it be asked—What is the French Revolution to us?

We answer (as has been already answered in ano­ther place^*) It it much.—Much to us as men: Much to us as Englishmen.

As men, we rejoice in the freedom of twenty five millions of our fellow m [...]n. We rejoice in the pros­pect, which such a magnificent example opens to the world. We congratulate the French nation for ha­ving laid the axe to the root of tyranny, and for erecting Government on the sacred HEREDITARY Rights of MAN.—Rights, which appertain to ALL, and not to a yo [...]e more than to another. We know of [...]o human authority, superior to that of a whole nation: a [...]d we profess and proclaim it as our prin­ciple that every nation has at all times, an inherent, indefeasible right to constitute and establish such Go­vernment for itself as best accords with its disposi­tion, interest and happiness.

[Page 3]As Englishmen, we also rejoice, because we are immediately interested in the French Revolution.

Without enquiring into the justice, on either side of the reproachful charges of intrigue and ambition, which the English and French Court have constant­ly made on each other, we confine ourselves to this observation:—That if the Court of France only was in fault, and the numerous wars which have distres­ed both countries are chargeable to her alone, that Court now exists no longer; and the cause and the consequence must cease together. The French, therefore, by the Revolution they have made, have conquered for us as well as for themselves; if it be true, that their Court only was in fault and ours never.

On this state of the case, the French Revolution concerns us immediately: We are oppressed with a heavy National debt, a burthen of taxes, and an expensive administration of Government; beyond those of any people in the world. We have also a very numerous poor: and we hold, that the moral obligation of providing for old age, helpless infancy and poverty, is far superior to that of supplying the invented wants of courtly extravagance, ambition and intrigue.

We believe there is no instance to be produced, but in England, of seven millions of inhabitants, which make but little more than one million of families, paying yearly SEVENTEEN MILIONS of taxes.

As it has always been held out by all administra­tions, that the restless ambition of the Court of France rendered this expence necessary to us for our own defence: we consequently rejoice as men deeply interested in the French Revolution: for that Cour [...] [Page 4]as we have already said exists no longer; and con­sequently the same enormous expences need not continue to us.

Thus rejoicing, as we sincerely do, both as men and Englishmen, as lovers of universal peace and freedom, and as friends to our own national prospe­rity and a reduction of our public expences: we cannot but express our astonishment, that any part, or any Members of our own Government, should re­probate the extinction of that very power in France, or wish to see it restored, to whose influence they formerly attributed (whilst they appeared to lament) the enormous increase of our own burthens and tax­es. What then, Are they sorry that the pretence for new oppressive taxes, and the occasion for continu­ing many old taxes, will be at an end?—If so, and if it is the policy of Courts and Court Government to prefer enemies to friends, and a system of war to that of peace, as affording more pretences for Pla­ces, Offices, Pensions, Revenue and Taxation, it is high time for the people of every nation to look with circumspection to their own interest.

Those who pay the expence, and, not those who participate in the emoluments arising from it, are the persons immediately interested in enquiries of this kind. We are a part of that National body, on whom this annual expence of seventeen millions falls; and we consider the present opportunity of the French Revolution, as a most happy one for lessening the enormous load, under which this nation groans. If this be not done, we shall then have reason to con­clude, that the cry of intrigue and ambition against other Courts is no more than the common cant of all Courts.

[Page 5]We think it also necessary to express our astonish­ment, that a Government desirous of being called FREE, should prefer connexions with the most des­potic and arbitary powers in Europe. We know of none more deserving this description, than those of Turkey and Prussia, and the whole combination of German despots.—Separated as we happily are by nature from the tumults of the Continent we repro­bate all systems and intrigues which sacrifice (and that too at a great expence) the blessings of our natural si­tuation. —Such systoms cannot have a national origin.

If we are asked, What Government is?—We hold it to be nothing more than a NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and we hold that to be the best, which secures to eve­ry man his rights, and promotes the greatest quantity of happiness with the least expence.

We live to improve, or we live in vain; and therefore we admit of no maxims of government or policy, on the mere score of antiquity, or other men's authority, the Old Whigs, or the New.

We will exercise the reason with which we are en­dued, or we possess it unworthily. As reason is gi­ven at all times, it is for the purpose of being used at all times.

Among the blessings which the French Revolution has produced to that nation, we enumerate the abo­lition of the feudal system of injustice and tyranny, on the 4th. of August, 1789. Beneath the feudal system all Europe has long groaned, and from it En­gland is not yet free. Game-laws, borough-tenures and tyrannical monopolies of numerous kinds still remain amongst us: but rejoicing as we sincerely do, in the freedom of others, till we shall happily accom­plish [Page 6]our own, we intended to commemorate this prelude to the universal extirpation of the feudal system, by meeting on the anniversary of that day, (the 4th, of August) at the Crown and Anchor. From this meeting we were prevented by the inter­ference of certain unnamed and sculking persons with the Master of the Tavern, who informed us that on their representations he could not receive us.—Let those who live by, or countenance feudal oppressions take the reproach of this ineffectual meanness and cowardice to themselves. They cannot stifle the pub­lic declaration of our honest, open, and avowed opinions.

These are our principles, and these our sentiments. They embrace the interest and happiness of the great body of the nation of which we are a part. As to riots and tumults, let those answer for them, who by wilful misrepresentations endeav [...]ur to excite and promote them; or, who seek to stun the sense of the nation, and lose the great cause of public good, in the outrages of a misinformed mob. We take our ground on principles that require no such riotous aid. We have nothing to apprehend from the poor; for we are pleading their cause. And we fear not proud oppression; for we have Truth on our side.

We say, and we repeat it; that the French Revo­lution opens to the world an opportunity, in which all good citizens must rejoice; that of promoting the general happiness of Man. And that it, more­over, offers to this country in particular an oppor­tunity of reducing our enormous Taxes.

These are our objects, and we will pursue them.