The reader has perceived, from the last lines of this curious state-paper, how well the National Assembly has copied its union of the profession of universal peace with the practice of murder and confusion, and the blast of the trumpet of sedition in all nations.  He will in the following constitutional paper observe how well, in their enigmatical style, like the Assembly and their abettors, the old philosophers proscribe all hereditary distinction, and bestow it only on virtue and wisdom, according to their estimation of both.  Yet these people are supposed never to have heard of “the rights of man”!

JACK MYLNER.

“Jakke Mylner asket help to turne his mylne aright.

    “He hath grounden smal smal,
     The Kings sone of heven he schal pay for alle.

Loke thy mylne go a rygt, with the fours sayles, and the post stande in steadfastnesse.

    “With rygt and with mygt,
     With skyl and with wylle,
     Lat mygt helpe rygt,
     And skyl go before wille,
     And rygt before mygt: 
     Than goth oure mylne aryght. 
     And if mygt go before ryght,
     And wylle before skylle;
     Than is oure mylne mys a dygt.”

JACK CARTER understood perfectly the doctrine of looking to the end, with an indifference to the means, and the probability of much good arising from great evil.

“Jakke Carter pryes yowe alle that ye make a gode ende of that ye hane begunnen, and doth wele and ay bettur and bettur:  for at the even men heryth the day. For if the ende be wele, than is alle wele. Lat Peres the Plowman my brother duelle at home and dygt us corne, and I will go with yowe and helpe that y may to dygte youre mete and youre drynke, that ye none fayle:  lokke that Hobbe robbyoure be wele chastysed for lesyng of youre grace:  for ye have gret nede to take God with yowe in alle yours dedes.  For nowe is tyme to be war.”

[24] See the wise remark on this subject in the Defence of Rights of Man, circulated by the societies.

[25] The primary assemblies.

A

LETTER

TO

A PEER OF IRELAND

ON THE

PENAL LAWS AGAINST IRISH CATHOLICS,

PREVIOUS TO

THE LATE REPEAL OF A PART THEREOF IN THE SESSION OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT, HELD A.D. 1782.

CHARLES STREET, LONDON, Feb. 21, 1782

My Lord,—­I am obliged to your Lordship for your communication of the heads of Mr. Gardiner’s bill.  I had received it, in an earlier stage of its progress, from Mr. Braughall; and I am still in that gentleman’s debt, as I have not made him the proper return for the favor he has done me.  Business, to which I was more immediately called, and in which my sentiments had the weight of one vote, occupied me every moment since I received his letter.  This first morning which I can call my own I give with great cheerfulness to the subject on which your Lordship has done me the honor of desiring my opinion.