tendency in all power, save that of knowledge acting by and through knowledge, to injure the mind of him who exercises that power; so much so, that best natures cannot escape the evil of such alliance.  Nor is it less certain that things of soundest quality, issuing through a medium to which they have only an arbitrary relation, are vitiated:  and it is inevitable that there should be a reaescent of unkindly influence to the heart of him from whom the gift, thus unfairly dealt with, proceeded.—­In illustration of these remarks, as connected with the management of States, we need only refer to the Empire of China—­where superior endowments of mind and acquisitions of learning are the sole acknowledged title to offices of great trust; and yet in no country is the government more bigotted or intolerant, or society less progressive.

To prevent misconception; and to silence (at least to throw discredit upon) the clamours of ignorance;—­I have thought proper thus, in some sort, to strike a balance between the claims of men of routine—­and men of original and accomplished minds—­to the management of State affairs in ordinary circumstances.  But ours is not an age of this character:  and,—­after having seen such a long series of misconduct, so many unjustifiable attempts made and sometimes carried into effect, good endeavours frustrated, disinterested wishes thwarted, and benevolent hopes disappointed,—­it is reasonable that we should endeavour to ascertain to what cause these evils are to be ascribed.  I have directed the attention of the Reader to one primary cause:  and can he doubt of its existence, and of the operation which I have attributed to it?

In the course of the last thirty years we have seen two wars waged against Liberty—­the American war, and the war against the French People in the early stages of their Revolution.  In the latter instance the Emigrants and the Continental Powers and the British did, in all their expectations and in every movement of their efforts, manifest a common ignorance—­originating in the same source.  And, for what more especially belongs to ourselves at this time, we may affirm—­that the same presumptuous irreverence of the principles of justice, and blank insensibility to the affections of human nature, which determined the conduct of our government in those two wars against liberty, have continued to accompany its exertions in the present struggle for liberty,—­and have rendered them fruitless.  The British government deems (no doubt), on its own part, that its intentions are good.  It must not deceive itself:  nor must we deceive ourselves.  Intentions—­thoroughly good—­could not mingle with the unblessed actions which we have witnessed.  A disinterested and pure intention is a light that guides as well as cheers, and renders desperate lapses impossible.