fat extremely uneafy, was thrown afide, and has never fince been affumed. To trace the SECT through all the finuous paths, through all the dark labyrinths of their gloomy policy, would require a much greater fpace than it is poffible to allot to the subject in the narrow compafs of a Preface. Some future opportunity may, probably, be afforded for difcuffing it more at large; but I must now neceffarily confine myself to a few prominent features and general obfervations. The SECT, ever intent on the fame object, think no means that can facilitate its attainment ought to be neglected: Hence, though generally profeffing fentiments of piety and devotion bordering on enthusiasm, and affuming an external appearance of humility and decorum*, they have made no scruple to affo Next flood hypocrify with holy leer, DRYDEN. ciate with a fet of profligates, in principle and in conduct, who fcoff alike at religion and morality, and openly violate all laws human and divine. They have not unfrequently thrust forward these profligates to public view, in the hope that they would be confidered as Principals, when, in fact, they were nothing more than puppets fecretly fet in motion by the SECT. It will eafily be fuppofed that they cherished a mortal hatred a fentiment, by the bye, the most congenial to their bofoms, and ever nourifhed there like the facred fire-against the original founders of thofe Loyal Affociations which I have mentioned before as having contributed, for a while, to damp their fpirits, if not to flacken their zeal. Revenge, the legitimate offspring of malignity and hatred, was accordingly refolved on, but in what manner, and on what individuals to inflict it, was a Question, the folution of which must depend upon circumftances. An event, however, foon occurred, which fixed their wavering minds, on this important point, and afforded them the means of gratification. A Pamphlet was ufhered to the world, under the title of " THOUGHTS ON THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT, addressed to the QUIET GOOD SENSE of the People of England." The title itself fufficed to excite an immediate alarm in the minds of the SECT; they had no objection to Thoughts on the English Government á leur maniére; but the bare idea of calling into play the Quiet Good Senfe of the People, was so contrary to all their notions of appeals to the Nation, was fo immediately deftructive of "The Holy Right of Infurrection," on the due exercise of which all their hopes of fuccefs were founded, that the book inftantaneoufly became an object of their inveterate rage, and determined hoftility. But how was that rage augmented, how was that hoftility increafed, when they heard it whispered abroad that the Author of the work was no other than Mr. Reeves, the very founder of the Loyal Affociations! Nor did the contents of the publication tend, in the fmallest degree, to footh their animofity, or to appease their anger; for, on turning over its pages, they discovered a most hideous portrait, depicted in all its native deformity-in fhort, they faw a ftriking likeness of themselves— quafi in fpeculum;-the whole genealogy drawn with a masterly pencil. This fight excited a mixed sensation in their minds-compounded of Fury and Exultation; -Fury, at the repeated attacks which they had received from the fame quarter, and Exultation at the prospect of revenge which the work in question afforded them. Their first care was to analyze it, and, after a careful feparation of its parts, they flattered themfelves that they had found fome materials which would answer their purpose. But it was impoffible to stand forward, in propriis perfonis, (though there was fomething highly flattering to them, in the idea of appearing as Public Accufers,) for their object would be manifest to the whole world. They, therefore, wifely refolved to have recourfe to one of those characters with which, as I have already remarked, they occafionally affociate, and to render him the Puppet of the Day. Indeed it would have been too ridiculous and too dangerous, for them to have declared themfelves the Champions of the Conftitution in oppofition to one, their hatred to whom had notoriously originated in his defence of that very Conftitution against their inceffant and defperate attacks, both open and concealed. They displayed, it must be acknowledged, infinite fagacity in the choice of an instrument. The man on whom they fixed their eyes could never be fufpected of harbouring any defign, good, bad, or indifferent; he was a kind of non-defcript, who, if he had not, by fome accident or other, been led to enlist himself as a private in the bands of Oppofi |