concern by which we all seem to be agitated is, that the King must
not be vexed in his old age. We have a great respect for the King;
and wish him all the happiness compatible with the happiness of his
people. But these are not times to pay foolish compliments to
kings, or the sons of kings, or to anybody else; this journal (the
Edinburgh Review) has always preserved its character for courage and
honesty; and it shall do so to the last. If the people of this
country are solely occupied in considering what is personally
agreeable to the King, without considering what is for his permanent
good, and for the safety of his dominions; if all public men,
quitting the common vulgar scramble for emolument, do not concur in
conciliating the people of Ireland; if the unfounded alarms, and the
comparatively trifling interests of the clergy, are to supersede the
great question of freedom or slavery, it does appear to us quite
impossible that so mean and so foolish a people can escape that
destruction which is ready to burst upon them--a destruction so
imminent that it can only be averted by arming all in our defence
who would evidently be sharers in our ruin--and by such a change of
system as may save us from the hazard of being ruined by the
ignorance and cowardice of any general, by the bigotry or the
ambition of any minister, or by the well-meaning scruples of any
human being, let his dignity be what it may. These minor and
domestic dangers we must endeavour firmly and temperately to avert
as we best can; but at all hazards we must keep out the destroyer
from among us, or perish like wise and brave men in the attempt.



IRELAND AND ENGLAND