The movement made among us, my countrymen of Westmoreland, was preceded, announced, and prepared, by such Agitators, disseminating falsehoods and misrepresentations, equally mischievous, whether they proceeded from wilful malice or presumptuous ignorance.  Take warning in time.  Be not persuaded to unite with them who, whether they intend you injury or not, cannot but prove your enemies.  Let not your’s be the first County in England, which, since the days of Wilkes, and after the dreadful example of France, has given countenance to principles congenial to the vice, profligacy, and half-knowledge of Westminster; but which formerly were unheard of among us, or known only to be detested.  Places, Pensions, and formidable things, if you like! but far better these, with our King and Constitution, with our quiet fire-sides and flourishing fields, than proscription and confiscation, without them!  Long wars, and their unavoidable accompaniment, heavy taxes—­both these evils are liable to intemperate exaggeration; but, be they what they may, would there be less of war and lighter taxes, as so many grumblers loudly preach, and too many submissive spirits fondly believe, if the House of Commons were altered into one of more popular frame, with more frequent opportunities given of changing the persons sent thither?  A reference to the twenty years which succeeded the Revolution, may suffice to shew the fallacy of such expectations.  Parliaments were then triennial, and democratic principles fashionable even among the Servants of the Crown.  Yet, during that space of time, wars were almost incessant; and never were burthens imposed so far above the apparent ability of the Nation to support them.  Having adverted to the warlike measures of those reigns merely to support my argument, I cannot forbear to applaud the high-spirited Englishmen of that age.  Our forefathers were tried, as we have been tried—­and their virtue did not sink under the duties which the decrees of Providence imposed upon it.  They triumphed, though less signally than we have done;—­following their example, let us now cultivate fortitude, encourage hope and chearful industry; and give way to enterprise.  So will prosperity return.  The stream, which has been checked, will flow with recruited vigour—­and, when another century shall have passed away, the ambition of France will be as little formidable to our then-existing Posterity as it is now to us.  But the lessons of History must be studied;—­they teach us that, under every form of civil polity, war will contrive to lift up its head, and most pertinaciously in those States where the People have most sway.  When I recur to these admonitions, it is to entreat that the discontented would exercise their understandings, rather than consult their passions; first separating real from mistaken grievances, and then endeavouring to ascertain (which cannot be done with a glance of the mind) how much is fairly attributable to the Government;