THE LIBERAL CRITIC, OR MEMOIRS OF HENRY PERCY. CHAP. I. Henry resorts to Bristol, in which city his family resides— Their joy on seeing him-Major Percy, however, regrets the political state of his mind-Points out the impropriety of thinking rulers always in the wrong Lectures Henry on his principles-Argues that the prosperity of England is a proof of the excellence of the Government-Appeal to the opulence of Bristol→ Henry opposes, and retorts in a speech, probably the best in this book. IN requesting the reader's attention to the Third Volume of these Memoirs, I pledge myself to encroach as little as possible upon his patience, or upon his time. My object is neither to deal in declamation, nor to engage in controversy. I shall not suffer an unavailVOL. 111. B ing ing retrospect of Henry's past conduct to usurp the place of a more useful consideration of his immediate pursuits; but refraining from all unprofitable topics, I shall enquire, with deference and candour, into the different vicissitudes of Henry's life, in order to guard others against evils, which all his wisdom, fortitude, and energy, were incapable to avert. I shall not, however, I trust, be thought to deviate from this purpose, if I rapidly pass over the endearments which attended the arrival of Henry in Bristol, and the pride and pleasure with which his parents observed the polish of his manners, and the eloquence of his language, and the dignified deportment of his general character. But I cannot pass over the impression which the CAUSE of Henry's departure from Ireland made on the mind of Major Percy; and, as his conversation on that subject corrected the political enthusiasm of Henry in a considerable degree, it becomes my duty to give the substance of it in this paper. "Among "Among the strange fancies that are constantly engendering themselves in the human mind," said the Major, "few can be more ridiculous in conception, or more remote from truth, than the notion that ministers are tyrants, and that our governors are always in the wrong; that, in the present state of society, and under a government, constituted as ours is, there should be occasional clamour and discontent, is natural enough; and that, in such times, crafty and active demagogues should step forward to stimulate and feed the base and malignant passions of the ignorant and illdisposed, is also no deviation from the expected course of events. But that, on this account, moderate and well meaning men should be prevailed on to entertain fears and doubts about the energy and stability of the laws, is not so palpably apparent. "That war is an evil; that taxes are burdensome; that corruptions are numerous; that governments commit errors; are axioms so plain, that I shall not dispute them with you, Henry. But when I look round, and survey the present afflicting state of the world; when I observe how empires have been convulsed, how governments have been subverted, and how laws and constitutions have been abolished to the annihilation of every vestige of civil and political freedom on the continent of Europe, it does, at first view, appear far beyond the tract of human sagacity to account for those unnatural feelings, which can prompt a wish to shake the stability of the British—the only constitution which has had the strength to withstand the awful shock of this revolutionary hurricane. Beware, Henry! beware, that you are not advocating the cause of a miserable and hateful junto, who can engage in triumphant warfare against the laws, the property, the virtue, the talents, the peaceful industry, the social happiness, the sober judgments, the steady patriotism, the unshaken loyalty, of this great and happy and flourishing country; of a country which even Buonaparte, with all his power, and |