Much leſs does he make a vague and indefinite promiſe of obeying the mandates of his conſtituents. He knows the prejudices of faction, and the inconſtancy of the multitude. He would firſt inquire, how the opinion of his conſtituents ſhall be taken. Popular inſtructions are commonly the work, not of the wiſe and ſteady, but the violent and raſh; meetings held for directing repreſentatives are ſeldom attended but by the idle and the diſſolute; and he is not without ſuſpicion, that of his conſtituents, as of other numbers of men, the ſmaller part may often be the wiſer.
He confiders himſelf as deputed to promote the publick good, and to preſerve his conſtituents, with the reſt of his countrymen, not only from being hurt by others, but from hurting themſelves.
The common marks of patriotiſm having been examined, and ſhewn to be ſuch
