282

to induce us to make the trial it will diminish animosity abroad,and it will lessen discontent at home.

The French are animated to madness against this nation. Ienquire not into the cause; the fact is certain: but when theyhear that we are ready to treat with them, they will know thatthe calamities which they suffer are not of our creating, and ifthe overture is rejected, the people of Great Britain will knowthat the burdens which they sustain are unavoidable. Butthere will be a want of firmness in changing our system. Aperseverance, My Lords, in measures originally wrong, is notmagnanimity, but obstinacy; a perseverance in measures ori-ginally right, s but which circumstances have rendered probablyunattainable, is not a mark of wisdom but of folly. It was amistaken idea of the dignity of firmness which lost America tothis country ; it was the same mistaken idea of the dignity offirmness, in not attending to the just complaints of the people,which has broken the golden pillars of the church, and tumbledinto ruins the throne of France . Let us grow wise from ourown experience, and from observing the misfortunes of others.

“ But shall we suffer the bloody tyrants of the Convention,and their no less bloody associates in every province, town, andvillage of France , to escape unpunished? I like not harsh lan-guage on any occasion ; it tends only to widen differences : butthose men are not answerable for their conduct to us; theirown nation are their judges ; nor will they escape unpunished,though they fall not by the axe of the executioner; to thejustice of God we commit them; or rather, as becomes pec-cable men to say, to his infinite mercy we commend them;