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into flavery, although no attempt be made ut on them. These and the like obvious reflections mouid, one would thinh, have sorced any peopte
in their senses upon frugal measures. But we are doomed to be undone. Nei ther the pia in rea n of thething, nor the experience of past ages, nor the examples we have besore Our Cyes, can restrain us Dom imitating, not to say surpasting, the mos corrupi and ruined people, in those very potnts of luxury that ruinodihem. Our gam ing, our operas, Our mas Uerades, are, in spite os ourdebis and poverty, hecome the wonder of our neighbours. Is there beany man void os ali thought and common sense, as not to see where this must end, let him but compare what Venice was at the league os Cambres, with what it is at present, and he will be convinced, how trulythose fassa tonable pastimes are calculated to depress and ruin a nation. But nei ther Venice nor Paris, nor any other town in any part of the worid, ever knew such an expensive ruinous solly as our masquerade.
This alone is lassicient to infla me and satis' the severat appetites sorgaming, dresting, intriguing, luxurious eat ing and drinhing. It is a most stillat abridgment, the very quin tessence, the abstraet os ali those sense-lesi vanities, that have ever been the ruin os f is and detestation of wisemen. And ait this under the notion os an elegant entertain ment, hathbeen admitted among us; though it be in truth a contagion of the worsthind. The plague, dreadfui as it is, is an evit os mort duration ; cities have osten recovered and fouris hed after it; but when was it linorim thata people brohen and corrupi by luxury re vered them selvest Not to say. that generat corruption os manners never Dileth to drais after it sonae heavy judgment of War, famine, or pestilence. of this we have a freminstance in one of the mos debauched towns of Europe ', and no bodyknows how soon it may be our own case. This elegant entertainment
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is indeed suspended sor the present, but there re mains se strong a propension towards it, that, is the wisdom os the legislature does not interpose, it Will soon re turn with the additionat temptation of having been Orbidsor a time. It were stupid and barbarous to declaim against keeping up the spirit of the peopte by proper diversions, but then they mould beproper, lach as polisti and improve their minds, or increase the strengiliand activi ty of their hodies , none of whicli ends a re answered by themasquerade, no more than by those Frenes and Italian follies, whicli, toaur sta a me, a re imported and encouraged at a time,' hen the nationought to be too grave sor such tristes. It is not to be belle ved, what influence public diversions have on the spirit and manners of a people. The Greels Wisely sa this, and made a very serious affair of their public sporis. For the fame reason, it will perhaps seem worthy the care of our legislature, to regulate the publicdiversions, by an absolute prohibition of those which have a direct ten dency to corrupi our morais, as weli as by a resormation of the drama ιwhicli, when rightly managed, is such a nobie enteria in ment, and gavethose fine lesioris of morali ty and good sense to the Athenians of old, andio our Britisi gentry a bove a century ago ; but sor these last ninely years, hath enteria ined us, sor the most pari, with lach Wretched things as spoli, instead os improving the iaste and manners of the audience. Those whoare attentive to suci, propositions only, as may fili their pochels, will probably ssight these things as trifles helow the care of the legi sature. But I am fure, ali honest thin king men must lament to see their countryrun head long into ali those luxurious follies, which, it is eu dent, have been fatal to other nations, and wili undoub te illi prove fatal to Us also,
is a timeb st op be nUt put to them Public spirit, that glorious principie of ali that is great and good, is sofar noui being cherimcd or encouraged, that it is become ridiculo us inthis
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rious as weli as sacred. The same atheistical narrow spirit, centring allour cares upon private interest, and contracting ali our liopes with in theenjoyment of this present lise, equalty produceth a neglect of what weo e to God and our country. Tulb hath long since observed, that it ' is impossibie for those, who have no belles of the immortali ty of the Qui or a future state os rewards and punishmenis, to sacrifice their particular interests and passions to the public good, or have a generou S
concern sor posterity,' and our own experience confirmeth the truth of this observation.
In order there re to recover a sense of public spirit, it is to be wimed that men were first assected with a true sense of religion; pro aris S focis,having ever been the great motive to courage and perseverance in apublic cause. It would likewise be a very useful poticy, and warranted by the example of the wisest governmenis, to mahe the natural love os fame and reputation subservient to promoting that nobie principie. Triumphalarches, columns, statues, inscriptions, and the like monuments of publicservices, have in former times been found great incentives to virtve and
magnanimity, and would probably have the same effects on Engli Zmen whicli they have had on Greeis and Romans. And perhaps, a pillar of in-famy would be found a proper and exemplary punishment in Cases of signat public villany, where the lose of sortune, liberty, or lise, a re not
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towariis the public, and in place thereos to erect a monument of the crime, and criminal described, in the blachest mannen we have nothing of this fori, that I know, but that whicli is common ly called themonument, whicli in the last age Was erected for an assair no way more atroci ous than the modern unexam pled attempt of men easy in their fortunes, and unprovolied by hardiu ips of any sori, in cool blood, and with opera eyes to ruin their native country. This fact wili never be sor-gotten, and it were to be wished that with it the public detestation thereos may be transmitted to posteri ty, which would in some mea re vindicate the hono ur of the present, and be a useful lesson to future ages. Those nobie aris of architecture, sculpture, and painting, do not onlyadorn the public, but have also an influence on the minds and manners of men, fit ling them with great ideas, and spiriting them up to an emulation of worthy actions. For this cause they were culti valed and encou-raged by the Greel cities, who vied with each other in bullding and adorning their temples, theatres, porticos, and the like public works, at thesi me time that they discouraged private luxury ; the very reVerse of our
To propose the bullding a parti ament house, couris of justice, royalpatace, and other public edifices, sui table to the digni ty of the nation, and adorning them with patri tings and statues, which may transmit me morabie things and persons to posteri ty, would probably be laughed at asa va in affair, of great expence, and litile use to the public , and it musthe owned, we have reduced ourselves to such stratis, that any propositionos expence sui teth ill with our present circumstances. But how proper
ever this proposal may be sor the times, yet it comes se properly into adis course of public spirit, that I could not but say something of it. Andat another time it Will not stem un rea nable, is we consider that it is no
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more than the wisest nations have done hesore us, that it would 1pirit up neW aris, employ many handS, Leep the money circulating at home, and lastly, that it would be a notabie instance os public 1pirit, as weli as amotive to it. The same nobie principie may be also encouraged by erecting an academy of ingenious men, Whose employment ii Nould be to compile thchistory of Great-Britata, to mahe discourses proper to inspire men witha geat for the public, and celebrate the memory of those who have been ornaments to the nation, or done it eminent service. Not to mentionthat this Would improve our langu age, and amuse seme busy spirits of the age; Whicli perhaps, would be no ill poticy. This is not without example, sor to say nothing of the Franch academy, Whicli is prostituted to meaner purposes, it hath been the customos the Venetian senate, to appotnt one of their order to continue the hi Diory of the republic. This was introduced in thc flourishing state of that people, and is stili in force. We fati s hori of other nations in the number of good historians, though no nation in Chri flendom hath producedgreater evenis, or more WOrthy to be recorded. The Athenian senate appotnted orators to commemorate annually, those who died in defenco of their country, whicli solemnity was performed at the monuments erected in honour of them by the public; and the panegyries, composed by Isocrates and Pericles, as weli as many passages in Tullν, inform us with What plealare the ancient orators used to ex patiate in prat se of their
Concord and union among ourselves is rather to bd hoped sor, as an effect os public spirit, than proposed as a means to promote it. Candid,
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as to ruin the public for the salie of a party. Now I have saltentu ponthe mention of our parties, Ι shali heg leave to infert a re mark or two,sor the service both of whig and tory, without entering into their respective meriis. First, it is impossibie sor ei ther party to ruin the other, Without involving themselves and their posteri ty in the fame ruin. Secondiy,
it is very seasible sor ei ther party to get the better of the other, is theycould firsi get the bet ter of them selves ; and instead os indulging the lit-tle womanissa pastions of obstinacy, resent ment, and revenge, Readilypromote the true interest of their country, in those great clear potnts of pie ty, industry, sobriely of manners, and an honest regard for posteri ty;whicli, ali men os sense agree, a re essentiat to public happinest. There would be semet hing so great and good in this conduct, as must necessarilyo verbear ali calum ny and opposition. But that men mould act rea na-bly, is rather to be Wis hed than hoped. I am weli a are, that to talli os public spirit, and the means os retriev-ing it, must, to narrow sordid minds, bc matter of jest and ridicule, howconformabie ste ver it he to right reason, and the maxims of antiquity. Though one would thin k, the most seisista men might see it was their interest to encour age a spirit in others, by whicli they, to be lare, mustbe gainers. Yet suci, is the corruption and sol ly of the present age, thata public spirit is treat ed like ignorance of the worid, and want of sense; and ali the respect is pald to cunning men, who ben d and wrest the public intercst to their own private en iis, that in other times liath heenthought due to those who were generous enough to sacrifice their private interest to that of their country.
Such practices and suci, maxims as these must necessarily ruin a sate. But is the contrary ssa ould prevali, we may hope to se e men in po eri reser the public Malth, and securi ty to their own, and men os moneymake Dee gisis, or lend it without interest to their country. I his, ho strange
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strange and increditae foe ver it may seem to us, hath been osten done in other states. And the natural Engli temper considered, together withthe force of example, no one can teli ho far a propolat sor a Dee gistmay go among the monted men, When set on ot by the legislature, and encouraged by the example of two or three men os figure, who have thespirit to do a generous thing, and the undemanding to se e it is every private man's interest to suppori that of the public. Is they who have their sortunes in money mould malle a voluntarygist, the public would be eased, and at the fame time maintain iis credit. Nor is a generous love of their country the only motive that should induce them to this. Common equi ty requires, that ali subjects shouldequat ly mare the public burthen. And common sense s hews, that tho who a re foremost in the danger, mouid not be the most hachward in contributing to prevent it. Besore I leave this subject, I cannot but talie notice of that most in-famous practice of bribery, than whicli nothing can be more opposite topublic spirit, since every one who tali es a bribe pia in ly owns, that he prefers his private interest to that os his country. This corruption is be- come a nationat crime, having infected the lowest as Heli as tho highestamong us, and is se generat and notorious, that, as it cannot be malched
This calis to mi 1ad another national guili, which we posse se in a very eminent degree , there being no nation under the sun , where solemnperjury is se common, or Where there are suci, temptations to it. Themaking men Mear so osten in their own cases, and where they have an interest to conceat the truth, fiath gradu atly wore off that awful respectwhich was Once thought due to an appeal to Almighty God inso much, that men now-a-days brcali their fasi and a custom-hou se oath with the
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fame peace of mind. It is a poticy peculiar to us, the obliging men toperjure or be tray them selves, and hath had no one good effeci, hut many very ill ones. Sure Ι am, that other nations, without the hundredili partos our sivearing, contrive to do their business, at least as weli as we do. And perhaps our legislature Will thin k it proper to sollow their example For Whatever me alares a re talien, se long as we lie under fuch a load ofguili, as national perjury and national bribery, it is impossibie we can
This poor nation hath sorely smar ted of late, and to ease the presentsinari, a sudden remedy sas is usual in such cases) hath been thought of
But we must be are not to mistahe an anodyne for a cure. Where thevita is a re to uched, and the whole masi of humours vitia ted, it is not
The South-sea assair, horu sensi ble Qever, is not the original evit, orthe great urce of our missortunes, it is but the natural estect of those principies, whicli sor many years have been propagated with great industry. And as a marp distemper, by rectat ming a man irom intemper ance, may prolong his lise, se it is not impossibie but this public calamity that lies se heavy on the nation may prevent iis ruin. It would Certa inly prove the greatest of blesiings, is it mould mahe ali honest menof one party; is it mould put religion and virtve in counte nance, restorca sense of public spirit, and convince men it is a dangerous folly to Pursue private aims in opposition to the good of their country, is it1hould turn our thoughis fio m gousenage and stock obbing, to industryand frugal methods of lila: in fine, is it mould revive and inflam e that nutive spark of Brit worth and honour which hath too long lain smo' thered and oppressed.
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itate of our affairs in a particular instance, ventu red to publisii the fore-going generat hinis, Whicli as they have been thrown together nom a geat for the public good, se I heartily wim they may be regarded netther more nor tess, than as they are fitted to promote that end. Though it must be owned, that litile can be hoped is we consider thecorrupi degenerate age we live in. I know it is an old folly to maliepeevisti complaints of the times, and charge the common Dilures of human nature on a particular age. One may neverthelesi Venture to amrm,
that the present hath brought sortii new and portentous Villantes, not tobe paralleled in our own or any other history. We have been long preparing for seme great catastrophe. Vice and villany have by degrees grown reputable among us ; our infideis have passed sor fine gentiemen, and our venat traiiors for men os sense, who knew the worid. We have made a jest os public spirit, and cancelled ali respect for Whatever ourlaws and religion repute sacred. The old Englim modesty is qui te wornossi and instead of blum ing sor our crimes, we are ama med only of piety and virtve. In mori, other nations have been wiclicd, but we arethe first who have been wiched upon principie. The truth is, our symptoms are so bad, that notwithstandisag ali thecare and vigilance of the legislature, it is to be feared the final period ofour state approaches. Strong constitutions, whether politic or naturat, do not stet light disorders. Eui, when they a re sensi bly affected, thedistem per is for the most pari violent and of an ill prognostic. Free go-vern ments like our own were planted by the Goths in most paris of Europe; and though we ali linow what they are come io, yet we stem diseposed rather to follow their example, than to profit by it. Whether
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Whether it be in the order of things, that civit states, mould have, lihenatural producis, their severat periods of growth, perfection, and decay ;or whether it be an esseet, as seems more probabie, of human solly, thatas industry produces wealth, se wealth mould produce vice, and vice
God grant the time he not near, when men mali say, this istand was once inhabited by a religious, brave, sincere people, of plain uncorrupt
manners, respecting inbred worth rather than tities and appea rances,' assertors of liberty, lovers of their country, jealous of their own righis, and un illing to infringe the rights of others; improvers of learning and usesul aris, enemies to luxury, tender of other men's lives, and prodigal of their own; inferior in nothing to the old Greus or Romans, and superior to each of those peopte in the persections of the other. Such were our ancestors during their rise and greatnest; but they de- generaled, grew servile salterors of men in power, adopted epicurean notions, hecame venal, corrupi, injurious, whicli drew upon them the hatred of God and man, and occasioned their sinat ruin.'