Christmas Chat / or, Observations on the late change at court, on the different characters of the ins and outs; and on the present state of publick affairs.

by Anonymous

Sir John. Mr. Broadbottom, call not that Severity, which is the Result of Friendship. I judge of Mr. Blunt by myself, who, because I esteem you, fear you may be imposed upon in the Step you have lately taken. You could not but see that the Court made to you, was the Effect rather of Necessity than Choice. You must not be the Man of Penetration I take you for, unless you saw that you would be an unwelcome Guest at C—t, and an unwelcome Companion to those who invited you thither. In such Circumstances, I should expect that you, and those whom you have selected among your Party to accompany you, wou’d insist upon such Terms for your Country, as would endear you to your Countrymen.

Broad. But, Sir John, would it become us to insist on Terms, when none were exacted from us?

Sir John. It not only would become you to insist on such Terms as would be of public Utility, but it was absolutely necessary you shou’d, if you would maintain your Character and serve your Country. You New Comers are but a few, if compared to those you are ingrafted on. They may, and probably will out-argue, or rather out-vote you, whenever you shall presume to oppose their Measures; and should you persist in your Opposition, they will thrust you from the Barn for your Contumacy. Such will be the best of your Case.

Smooth. Best do you call it? Pray, Sir John, what do you call the Worst of their Case?

Sir John. To quit their own Principles, and take up those of the old Standards. In that Case they might think to mend their own private Fortunes, but would most certainly ruin their Country, and of course would lose all Credit with their Countrymen.

Broad. But is it impossible for Men of different Principles to meet each other half Way, and agree in such Essentials as may promote the general Good of the Community?

Sir John. He who meets an Opponent half way, recedes from his own Principles, and embraces in part at least, those of his Antagonist. Now if your Principles were sound, and those of the old Standards unsound, as we must believe from your constant Opposition for the Time past; how can you depart from yours, without embracing unsound Principles? No, Sir, I protest against half-way Meetings between a Majority in Power, and a few, who, I’m afraid, grasp too eagerly at a Shred, or rather Shadow of that Power. The Magnet is with the greater Number; pray Heaven, it attracts not the smaller to it!

Broad. Why so desponding, Sir John, you who were won’t to be the firmest Prop of our Party Hopes?

Sir John. To be very serious, Mr. Broadbottom, I apprehend we are in a wretched Situation; and I see but one Means, by which we may hope to better our Condition. But I foresee that we sha’n’t have the Wisdom or Virtue to pursue that only Way. Notwithstanding the Groupe of Ills we labour under; notwithstanding our Necks are sore gall’d with the Yoke, I fear, should the Time of procuring ourselves Ease ever offer, Corruption will prevail, and Avarice will chuse the Continuance of our Woe. If we would expect such a thorough Change of Measures as the Nation seem to wish for and require, can we hope for it from the present Patch-work mingling of Hands?

The taking Gentlemen into the Administration, who have distinguished themselves by their Zeal for the Interests of their Country, is not, I fear, designed to ease the People, but to bring those Gentlemen to bear a Share of the public Hatred and Infamy, which the late M—rs have incurr’d by the most flagitious Measures. This must cause an irreparable Breach between the Public and those now rever’d and beloved Patriots; a Policy by which the Projectors think, perhaps, they leave the Flocks without Shepherds, and may at Pleasure then prey upon the Folds. But let me warn these Politicians, that it is not always safe to leave an injur’d, oppress’d, exasperated People without Leaders on whose Probity they may depend. On the other hand, let me warn our Patriots, that as a Snare may have been laid for them, it is their Business to take care they are not taken in it. They have been the Hopes as well as Darlings of their Country, and it should be their Study at this critical Juncture not to give Room for suspecting their Virtue. In short, they should avoid becoming themselves the Curse of their Country, or countenancing those that have been so for many Years.