A letter from a Member of Parliament for a borough in the West, to a noble Lord in his neighbourhood there, concerning the Excise-Bill, and the manner and causes of losing it / [M. M].

  • M. M.
Date:
1733
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter from a Member of Parliament for a borough in the West, to a noble Lord in his neighbourhood there, concerning the Excise-Bill, and the manner and causes of losing it / [M. M]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/34 (page 22)
    [ «] all Liberty whatfoever, Civil and Re¬ ligious. But fuch is the Power of Par¬ ty, which teaches Men not to reafon but to rage. The Cry then was againjl Liberty, Tumults were raifed, and Public Authority flighted and defy’d, in Defence of (PaJJive Obedience. The Cry now is for Liberty, and fuch Com¬ binations and Riots are raifed, and fuch Violence is pradtifed, as are threa¬ tening and fatal-to Liberty. If Crowds direft the Legiflature, and Laws are made or dropt by Force or Fear, what becomes of Liberty ? But thus good Words are ever profaned, and wrefted to cover and recommend unrighteous Doings. They are the worft Enemies to Li¬ berty, who turn it into JVantonnefs; and the beginning of Slavery is qften Licentioufnefs. Liberty is a Sacred Thing, the great Ornament and Blel- fing of Human Society, which with¬ out it is a Gaol, or State of Bondage ; and it is degraded and defiled when it is made the Cant and Sport of fierce and unruly Multitudes, who, however tenderly protected, kindly uled* i /