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Shelburne act upon that occasion?—Sir, with the discernment of a man fitted by nature and art to be a minister, he declared, 'he did not doubt, but government itself was at the bottom of the riot;' and he stated an instance to illustrate his conjecture.
He naturally concluded the riot could never have grown into such an alarming magnitude, unless it had the countenance of administration. Had that noble Lord been minister, no judge would have been obliged to torture statutes, or hang fifteen ragamuffins upon a single indictment. Sir, there was a mode of suppression more obvious—a punishment more convenient—Not a good citizen will hesitate to confess, that, to vindicate the national order, ten thousand men should have fallen, as the victims of that violence; and I am forward to assert, that the inertness of the army upon that occasion will be an eternal stain upon the free government of this country.
The Earl of Shelburne was justified in suspecting that administration. To discredit a minister is proverbial. There are times and circumstances which forbad a confidence in any man. Ne Catoni quidem credendum. I will not trust even Mr. Fox upon this occasion, said Sir
