Four Early Pamphlets. William Godwin

in his schemes, do yet, if I may be allowed the expression, tread upon his heels, and are prepared to follow him in all his views, and to glow with all his sentiments.

      Sensible however, that in the first blush of such a scheme, its enemies must necessarily find their advantage in entrenching themselves behind those prejudices, that could not be eradicated in a moment, I was willing to wait for the hour of calmness and deliberation. I resolved cooly to let the first gush of prepossession blow over, and the spring tide of censure exhaust itself. I believed, that such a cause demanded only a fair and candid hearing. I have endeavoured to discharge my part in obtaining for it such a hearing. And I must leave the rest to my readers.

      Among these there probably will be some, who, struck with the force of the arguments I have adduced on the one hand, and entangled in their favourite prejudices on the other, will remain in a kind of suspence; ashamed to retract their former opinions, but too honest to deny all weight and consideration to those I have defended. To these I have one word to say, and with that one word I will conclude. I will suppose you to confess, that appearances, exclusive of the controverted step, are in a thousand instances favourable to the new ministers. They have made the strongest professions, and the largest promises of attachment to the general cause. To professions and promises I do not wish you to trust. I should blush to revive the odious and exploded maxim, not men, but measures. If you cannot place some confidence in the present administration, I advise you, as honest men, to do every thing in your power to drive them from the helm. But you will hardly deny, that all their former conduct has afforded reasons for confidence. You are ready to admit, that, in no instance, but one, have they committed their characters. In that one instance, they have much to say for themselves, and it appears, at least, very possible, that they may have been acted in it, by virtuous and generous principles, even though we should suppose them mistaken. Remember then, that popularity and fame are the very nutriment of virtue. A thirst for fame is not a weakness. It is "the noble mind's distinguishing perfection." If then you would bind administration by tenfold ties to the cause of liberty, do not withdraw from them your approbation till they have forfeited it, by betraying, in one plain and palpable instance, the principles upon which they have formerly acted. I believe they need no new bonds, but are unchangeably fixed in the generous system, with which they commenced. But thus much is certain. If any thing can detach them from this glorious cause; if any thing can cool their ardour for the common weal, there is nothing that has half so great a tendency to effect this, as unmerited obloquy and disgrace.

FINIS*       *       *       *       *

      NEW BOOKS,

      Printed for J. STOCKDALE, opposite Burlington-House, Piccadilly.

      STOCKDALE's NEW COMPANION to the LONDON KALENDAR, and COURT and CITY REGISTER, for the Year 1783; being a List of all the CHANGES in ADMINISTRATION, from the Accession of the present King, in October 1760, to the present Time. To which is perfixed, a List of the late and present HOUSE of COMMONS, shewing the Changes made in the Members of Parliament by the General Election in September 1780, with the Names of the Candidates where the Elections were contested, the Numbers polled, and the Decisions since made by the Select Committees. Also the Dates when each City and Borough first sent Representatives to Parliament, the Right of Election in each Place, and the supposed Number of Voters. To which is added, a complete INDEX of NAMES. Price 1s.

      The LONDON KALENDAR, or COURT and CITY REGISTER, for 1783; including all the new Peers lately created; new Members; Alterations in all the different Departments under Government, in Great-Britain, Ireland, and America; with a complete List of the Sovereigns of Europe; the Presidents of the Congress, from 1774; Presidents and Governors of the American States; and a number of other new lists not to be found in any other Publication. Containing complete Lists of British and Irish Houses of Parliament; Establishments of England, Scotland, Ireland, America, &c. correct Lists of the Peeresses, Baronets, Universities, Seminaries, Hospitals, Charities, Governors, Public-offices; Army, Navy, Collectors at the different Ports, &c.

      This London Kalendar is upon a Plan much more extensive and useful than any other Book of the Kind yet published. Price 2s.

      ==>Be careful to ask for The London Kalendar, printed for J. Stockdale, &c. which may be had bound in the three following different Ways.

      I. With the New Companion to the London Kalendar.

      II. With the Arms of all the Peers of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

      III. With Rider's Sheet Almanack or Book Almanack.

      A DIALOGUE on the ACTUAL STATE of PARLIAMENT. Price 1s.

      The Propriety of Retaining GIBRALTAR impartially considered. Price 1s.

      An ATTEMPT to balance the INCOME and EXPENDITURE of the STATE: With some Reflections on the Nature and Tendency of the late Political Struggles for Power. By JOHN EARL of STAIR. Second Edition. Price 1s.

      THOUGHTS on a REFORM in the Representation of the People in the Commons House of Parliament. Addressed to the Hon. WILLIAM PITT. Price 1s. 6d.

      Inscribed to the SOCIETY for promoting CONSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION.

      The NATURE and EXTENT of SUPREME POWER, in a Letter to the Rev. DAVID WILLIAMS, (Author of Letters on Political Liberty) shewing the ultimate end of Human Power, and a free Government, under God; and in which Mr. Locke's Theory of Government is examined and explained, contrary to the general construction of that great Writer's particular sentiments on the Supremacy of the People. By M. DAWES, Esq. Price 1s.

      INSTRUCTIONS TO A STATESMAN. HUMBLY INSCRIBED TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE EARL TEMPLE

M.DCC.LXXXIVTO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE EARL TEMPLE

      MY LORD,

      The following papers fell into my hands by one of those unaccountable accidents, so frequent in human life, but which in the relation appear almost incredible. I will not however trouble your lordship with the story. If they be worthy of the press, it is of no great consequence to the public how they found their way thither. If they afford your lordship a moment's amusement, amidst the weightier cares incident to your rank and fortune, I have obtained my end.

      I have endeavoured in vain to investigate who was their author, and to whom they were addressed. It should seem, from the internal evidence of the composition, that they were written by a person, who was originally of a low rank or a menial station, but who was distinguished by his lord for those abilities and talents, he imagined he discovered in him. I have learned, by a kind of vague tradition, upon which I can place little dependence, that the noble pupil was the owner of a magnificent château not a hundred miles from your lordship's admired seat in the county of Buckingham. It is said that this nobleman, amidst a thousand curiosities with which his gardens abounded, had the unaccountable whim of placing a kind of artificial hermit in one of its wildest and most solitary recesses. This hermit it seems was celebrated through the whole neighbourhood, for his ingenuity in the carving of tobacco-stoppers, and a variety of other accomplishments. Some of the peasants even mistook him for a conjuror. If I might be allowed in the conjectural licence of an editor, I should be inclined to ascribe the following composition to this celebrated and ingenious solitaire.

      Since however this valuable tract remains without an owner, I thought it could not be so properly addressed to any man as your lordship. I would not however be misunderstood. I do not imagine that the claim this performance has upon the public attention, consists in the value and excellence of it's precepts. On the contrary, I consider it as the darkest and most tremendous scheme for the establishment of despotism that ever was contrived. If the public enter into my sentiments upon the subject, they will consider it as effectually superseding Machiavel's celebrated treatise of The Prince, and exhibiting a more deep-laid and desperate system of tyranny. For my part, I esteem these great and destructive vices of so odious a nature, that they need only be exposed to the general view in order to the being scouted by all. And if, which indeed I cannot possibly believe, there has been any noble lord in this kingdom mean enough to have studied under such a preceptor, I would willingly shame him out of his principles, and hold up to him a glass, which shall convince him how worthy he is of universal contempt and abhorrence.

      The true reason, my lord, for which I have