Had he not urged the controversy, I
had most probably been a silent man.
Another reason for deferring the remainder of the work was, that Mr.
Burke promised in his first publication to renew the subject at
another opportunity, and to make a comparison of what he called the
English and French Constitutions. I therefore held myself in reserve
for him. He has published two works since, without doing this: which
he certainly would not have omitted, had the comparison been in his
favour.
In his last work, his "Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs," he has
quoted about ten pages from the RIGHTS OF MAN, and having given
himself the trouble of doing this, says he "shall not attempt in the
smallest degree to refute them," meaning the principles therein
contained. I am enough acquainted with Mr. Burke to know that he would
if he could. But instead of contesting them, he immediately after
consoles himself with saying that "he has done his part."- He has
not done his part. He has not performed his promise of a comparison of
constitutions. He started the controversy, he gave the challenge,
and has fled from it; and he is now a case in point with his own
opinion that "the age of chivalry is gone!"
The title, as well as the substance of his last work, his
"Appeal," is his condemnation.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193