Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents

Edmund Burke

Language:

English

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Complete work

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Written by the author

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Clean text

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~16,200 words · 77 passages

Hoc vero occultum, inteftinum, domefticum malum, non modo non exiftit, verum etiam opprimit, antequam perfpicere atque explorare potueris. Cic. THE THIRD EDITION. LONDON, Priflted fgr J, DODSLEY, in Paj^vMall, THO U GH T S O N THE CAUSE f OFTHEPRESENT DISCONTENTS- IT is an undertaking of fome degree of de-* licacy to examine into the caufe of public diforders. If a man happens not to fucceed in fuch an enquiry, he will be thought weak and vilionary j if he touches the true grievance, there is a danger that he may come near to perfons of weight and confequence, who will rather be exafperated at the difcovery of their errors, than thankful for the occafion of correding them. If he fliould be obliged to blame the favourites of the people, he will be conlidered as the tool of powers if he cenfures thofe in power, he will B be be looked on as an inflrument of fa£lion. But in all exertions of duty fomething is to be hazarded. In cafes of tumult and diforder, our law has inverted every man, in fome fort, with the authority of a magiftrate. When the affairs of the nation are diftradted, private people are, by the fpirit of that law, j unified in rtepping a little out of their ordinary fphere. They enjoy a privilege, of fomewhat more dignity and effedf, than that of idle lamentation over the calamities of their country. They may look into them narrowly; they may reafon upon them liberally ; and if they Ihould be fo fortunate as to difcover the true fourceof the mifchief, and to fuggeft any probable method of removing it, though they may difpleafe the rulers for the dny, they are certainly of fervice to the caufe of Government. Government is deeply interefted in every thing which, even through the medium of fome temporary uneafinefs, may tend

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