Si fronti caveat, si timeat rubos,
Armat spina rosas, mella tegunt apes.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A fourth member of this society was an individual, than whom, no one’s name has been more frequently before the public, or accompanied with more general respect, at the same time, with much persecution, and great, though undeserved, odium. Some there were, who, fancying that they saw the vital spirit of genuine liberty, in the principles of the French Revolution, were disposed to palliate enormities, at the bare memory of which, every feeling heart revolts, under the impression that they must ultimately lead to the melioration of man. These individuals reproached our Symposiast with the imputation of spreading unnecessary alarms, from an overweening zeal, and officious interference in political concerns. But this zeal, these apprehensions, and this interference, contributed, in the opinions of the majority of the best and wisest of our countrymen, to the preservation of the country.
However this may be, the active and patriotic spirit exerted on the above occasion, spread universally around, and collected a phalanx, which, from its firmness, was capable of resisting all attack, from its vigilance prevented surprize, and from its consciousness of supporting the good and honest cause of religion and truth, despised and defied the artifices of calumny, and the insinuations of malignity.
The prominent part taken by the gentleman, of whom we are speaking, necessarily pointed him out to the government, as a fit object of their protection and patronage. His abilities and integrity were accordingly soon exercised in situations of confidence and honour. He well merited the distinction, for few have ever been more steady, or more active in discharging the obligations of official duty.
At the same time, these very qualities, added to his former exertions to counteract the fermentation excited by the turbulent and the evil-minded, created to him a numerous and formidable host of adversaries, who, by a thousand means, endeavoured to disturb his repose and interrupt his measures. At length a political pamphlet which he wrote, the admirable distinction of which, was in the first place its loyalty, and in the next, its “plain good sense,” attracted the notice of an eminent member of the Opposition. To this person’s favourite hypothesis concerning liberty and our constitution, the above publication appeared to contain principles of the most dangerous and pernicious hostility. Nor did he rest till, by his persevering activity, his eloquence, and his influence, he procured a prosecution to be instituted against the author.
The result was, however, finally to his honour, and he was acquitted of the enormous offences with which he had been charged.
One incident occurred on the occasion of this memorable trial, which is related in our notes, and which, if the subject of this article should survive to peruse these Recollections, he will probably not forget.
Our Sexagenarian called upon him one morning previous to the trial, when he had before him a list of the persons who were summoned on the jury. He accordingly asked our friend if he knew any thing of the private characters, or political opinions, of any of these individuals. On examining the names, the writer of these notes, fixed on one, to which for reasons that he stated at length, he recommended him to desire his counsel to object.