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Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents

Edmund Burke

Language:
English
Status:
Complete work
Authorship:
Written by the author
Condition of the text:
No scanning noise detected (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand)
Extent:
~16,200 words · 77 passages
Cite this work
  • APAEdmund Burke. (n.d.). Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents. Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/edmund-burke/thoughts-on-the-cause-of-the-present-discontents
  • MLAEdmund Burke. Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/edmund-burke/thoughts-on-the-cause-of-the-present-discontents.
  • ChicagoEdmund Burke. Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/edmund-burke/thoughts-on-the-cause-of-the-present-discontents.

Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.

What it is about

Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents (1770).

Context and history

The text that invented the modern defence of political parties. Until then 'faction' was an insult; Burke argues that a body of men united on principle is necessary to good government, and that the alternative is the court operating in the shadows.

Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.

How it begins
but not (lowly, to deftroy every thing of ftrength which did not derive it:^ principal nourifliment from the immediate pleafure of the Court. The greatell weight of popular opinion and party connexion were then with the Dukeof Newcaftle and Mr. Pitt, Neither of thefc held their importance by the neiu tenure of the Court ; they ivere not therefore thought to be fo proper as others for the fervices which were required by that tenure. It happened very favourably for the new fyftem, that under a forced coalition there rankled an incurable alienation and difguft between the parties which compofed the Adminiftration. Mr. Pitt was firrt attacked. Not fatisfied with removing him from power, they endeavoured by various artifices to ruin his charader. The other party feemed rather pleafed to get rid of fo oppreffive a liipportj not perceiving, that their own fall was prepared by his, and involved in it. Many other reafons prevented them from daring to look their true fituation in the face. To the great Whig families it was extremely difagreeable, and feemed almoll unnatural, to oppofe the Adminiftration of a Prince of the Houfe of Brunt'wick. Day alter day they hefitated, and doubted, and lingered, cxpeding

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