A Candid Inquiry Into the Nature of Government, and the Right of Representation (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1812 Excerpt: ... A CANDID INQUIRY, &c. CHAP. I. ON THE DECLARATIONS OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN. THE famed and boasted constitution of France is at length finished. The King has sanctioned it with a solemn and deliberate acceptance, and it remains to be proved how far the nation will be benefited by the very extraordinary change in the form of its government. It is not my business or intention to discuss the subject, in the investigation of which so many abler men have employed themselves ' Whether it is practicable to govern so great a nation in the-man ner directed by the new laws? Whether it is the common cause of all monarchs to restore Lewis XVI. to the exercise of i.' f B ' his his former prerogatives, or any part of them? Or whether the powers who are ' said to have united themselves for such ' a purpose, will be likely to succeed in the attempt? are to me alike indifferent, at least they form no part of my present 4 consideration.' I do not, however, think it will be unserviceable to my country, to remark on such particular parts of this boasted code, and the foundations on which it is built, as may be held out as models to the imitation of those lovers of novelty and inno- vation, who are continually declaiming against the present state of our government, and calling aloud for such a reparation of the fabrick of our constitution, as, in the opinion of sober men, may eventually destroy the whole building, and reduce it to an heap of ruins. The pious and worthy Dr. Priestley, the Mem-i bers of the soi-disante Constitutional So ciety, and of the Humane Society in the Old Jewry, perhaps may boast that they are the justi et tenaces who can behold the storm which may overwhelm and destroy that political structure, which has so long been been the pride of Britain ...