fuch a fate. And yet, if fuccefs be the test of good writing, fome of thefe are intitled to a better place than much abler compofitions. Thomas Bull's

One Pennyworth of Truth was, in the public opinion, worth all the fine fpeeches that were made against it. The popular favour attending this piece gave rife to, and it is hoped will now be an excufe for, the letters and other pieces of the Bull Family to be found in this Collection.

Thefe papers confift of two claffes. The firft are fuch Publications as the Society ordered to be printed, after they had been perused and approved by the Committee. The fecond confists of Tracts that were put to the prefs, without the fpecial direction or approbation of the Committee, by a perfon in whom the Committee confided. This perfon directed his attention principally to provide for the lower class of readers. The style and manner of fome of these papers are, therefore, of a particular fort; and, that there might not be wanting fomething for every tafte, there is added, at the end of each Number, a Ballad. However, among these Tracts there are many papers that might very well be placed in the first class.

It was endeavoured, by fuch Publications as the prefent, to counteract the poifon that had been diffeminated, and to reftore the minds of the People to that tone of good fenfe, which had ever been the characteristic of this country. The fuccefs fully anfwered the expectation; by thefe means falfehood was refuted, fophiftry expofed, and fedition repelled; the peculiar happiness of our Conftitution was difplayed; defigns of pretended Reforms were examined; and the principles of Civil Society were fully opened and explained. The difcuffions upon thefe fubjects not only convinced the deluded and confirmed the wavering, but prefented new lights and fuggefted additional arguments to those who thought

thought they had already ample reafon for fupporting the Establishment under which we live. The value of our Constitution, and the attachment of the People to it, were never before made fo manifeft; and it is trusted, the influence of fo plain a decifion will fecure us, at leaft for the prefent, not only against attacks from the feditious, but against the vifionary fpeculations of well-meaning men, who may do as much harm with their virtues, as the former with all their vices and crimes.

The Society at whofe expence thefe papers were thus printed, have been the object of much public obfervation. They have been applauded, and their example followed, by thofe who fupport the laws and Conftitution; and they have been loaded with imputations by the factious and difaffected. They have feen reafons to be perfectly fatisfied with the notice taken of them by thefe two defcriptions of perfons,

It is a very general opinion, that the declaration of fentiment which refulted from the forming of Affociations throughout the kingdom, faved this Nation at a time when nothing elfe could have faved it. The Society may be proud of the part they took in fo fortunate a meafure. The fuccefs that has attended their endeavours has not been tarnished by any thing unworthy or unequal in their fubfequent conduct. As they oppofed themfelves to the madness of fedition with fpirit, fo they proceeded in their career with firmnefs; and they have borne their fuccefs with moderation.

They affociated on a special occafion, and for a defined purpose; and when that occafion was paffed, and that purpofe was ferved, they fufpended their proceedings. They combined for no private or partial views; not to extol or deprefs any party or any individual; their object was general, and they

a 3

purfued

purfued it on general principles. It was neither to fet up nor pull down; it was only to preferve; an employment free from the heat and malice of perfonal animofities-they could have no enemies but fuch as the law would term offenders.

When a Society has been formed for preferving That which the whole Nation have followed them in declaring they will preferve with their lives, it feems of little moment to afcertain from what perfons fuch a Society originated, unlefs, indeed, it may be from an honourable defire of doing juftice to its authors. But the origin of this Society has been fcrutinized with a very different view. The prefent opportunity may fairly be taken to lay this fpeculation at reft, if reft can be obtained from the unceafing importunity of faction and

party.

It is due to the Society, to the Ministry, and to the Public, to make this declaration-That none of the King's Minifters knew or heard of this Affociation, till they faw the firft advertisement in the public prints. It was planned without their knowledge, and has been conducted to the prefent moment without their aid. It has received no money but fuch as is noticed in the fubfcriptionbooks, which are open to infpection; and there it will be feen, that the Officers of Government contributed little to an undertaking, where they were, however, interested as individuals, not lefs than others of his Majefty's fubjects. So intirely independent has this Society been of Ministerial fupport!

The truth is, there never was a time when all perfons were fo completely independent of the exifting Adminiftration, as that anxious moment. A much more ferious ftruggle prefented itself than whether this or that man fhould be Minifter; it was a question

a question of-Government or no Government. Licentiousness and fedition had got to fuch a head, that treafon and rebellion feemed to be the ftronger fide, where the ambitious might find promotion, and the base find shelter; thofe only who were above mean and perfonal confiderations had the fortitude to ftand on the fide of the Miniftry; they did this, because the Miniftry and the Constitution were at that moment the fame.

Moft certainly, the Minifter had no more to do in the formation of this Affociation, than of the two thoufand and more, that were formed in other parts of the kingdom. They were all of them the voluntary movements of perfons, who thought it a crifis in which the Country fhould declare itself, and ftrengthen the hands of Government, for the prefervation of the King and the Conftitution. When the Nation had thus plainly declared its apprehenfion for our Laws and Liberty, the Government could not do otherwife than concert measures for their prefervation. Hence the calling out of the Militia-the affembling of Parliament-the proceedings against feditious perfons and writings. All thefe meafures have been called for or approved by the Nation, as neceffary for its fafety, both public and private.

It has been alledged, that the alarm in the month of November was raised by the Government, and that there was no juft caufe for it. But every one knows, on the contrary, that the alarm was felt by the People long before it openly appeared to have made any impreffion on the Government; and when the alarm had once prevailed, it feemed clear to every one, that the alarm itfelf of a whole Nation was caufe abundant for measures that were to difpel the apprehenfions of danger.

But the cause of the alarm was well known. It was known, that perfons of a certain defcription had

conceived

conceived hopes of introducing into this country French principles of Liberty and Equality; that Clubs were formed for propagating thefe principles; that Addreffes were prefented to the National Convention, announcing the profpect of a fimilar Revolution in this kingdom; that the perfons presenting thefe Addreffes were applauded and encouraged in their treasonable projects by the Convention; that Emiffaries were paid by France to ftir up fedition, and Engineers fent to affift in military operations; that a revolt was planned for the beginning of December, when the Tower was to have been feized the agents in thefe designs, whether French or English, were likewife known.

While rebellion was thus plotted in concert with France, it is well known what arts were practifed ta foment it at home. The prefs daily produced malevolent writings, in which the Conftitution was calumniated, and every function of Society was attacked; all ranks, but more efpecially the lower, were inflamed by infinuations of grievances; the foldiers and feamen were tempted from their duty; the artifans and labourers were made diffatisfied with their state of honeft induftry; all were inftructed to regard the prefent Establishment as an oppreffion, and excited to follow the example of France in fetting up Equality of Ranks, and Liberty. without any bounds. The promoters of these feditious doctrines took courage from the fuccefsful enterprizes of the Ufurpers in France, and boldly threatened us with the fupport and co-operation of the natural enemy to this country, which had now become the declared enemy to all Governments not formed like its own.

All this was well known; and will any one fay it was not cause for alarm, when it had actually produced fuch an alarm as had never before been felt in this country? The general notoriety of a

fact,