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event may take place； and that millions may be sacrificed for
ever to the temporary safety of thousands。 Our popular
government； perhaps； will render it difficult or dangerous for a
minister to venture on so desperate an expedient； as that of a
voluntary bankruptcy。 And though the house of Lords be altogether
composed of proprietors of land； and the house of Commons
chiefly； and consequently neither of them can be supposed to have
great property in the funds。 Yet the connections of the members
may be so great with the proprietors； as to render them more
tenacious of public faith； than prudence； policy； or even
justice； strictly speaking； requires。 And perhaps too； our
foreign enemies may be so politic as to discover； that our safety
lies in despair； and may not； therefore； show the danger； open
and barefaced； till it be inevitable。 The balance of power in
EUROPE； our grandfathers； our fathers； and we； have all deemed
too unequal to be preserved without our attention and assistance。
But our children； weary of the struggle； and fettered with
incumbrances； may sit down secure； and see their neighbours
oppressed and conquered； till； at last； they themselves and their
creditors lie both at the mercy of the conqueror。 And this may
properly enough be denominated the violent death of our public
credit。
These seem to be the events； which are not very remote； and
which reason foresees as clearly almost as she can do any thing
that lies in the womb of time。 And though the ancients
maintained； that in order to reach the gift of prophecy； a
certain divine fury or madness was requisite； one may safely
affirm； that； in order to deliver such prophecies as these； no
more is necessary； than merely to be in one's senses； free from
the influence of popular madness and delusion。
The End