Sir _John_. He who meets an Opponent half way, recedes from his own Principles, and embraces in part at least, those of his Antagonist. Now if your _Principles_ were _sound_, and those of the _old Standards unsound_, as we must believe from your constant Opposition for the Time past; how can you depart from yours, without embracing _unsound_ Principles? No, Sir, I protest against half-way Meetings between a Majority in _Power_, and a few, who, I’m afraid, grasp too eagerly at a Shred, or rather Shadow of that _Power_. The _Magnet_ is with the greater Number; pray Heaven, it attracts not the smaller to it! _Broad_. Why so desponding, Sir _John_, you who were won’t to be the firmest Prop of our Party Hopes? Sir _John_. To be very serious, Mr. _Broadbottom_, I apprehend we are in a wretched Situation; and I see but one Means, by which we may hope to better our Condition. But I foresee that we sha’n’t have the Wisdom or Virtue to pursue that only Way. Notwithstanding the Groupe of Ills we labour under; notwithstanding our Necks are sore gall’d with the Yoke, I fear, should the Time of procuring ourselves Ease ever offer, Corruption will prevail, and _Avarice_ will chuse the Continuance of our Woe. If we would expect such a thorough Change of Measures as the Nation seem to wish for and require, can we hope for it from the present Patch-work mingling of Hands? The taking Gentlemen into the Administration, who have distinguished themselves by their Zeal for the Interests of their Country, is not, I fear, designed to ease the People, but to bring those Gentlemen to bear a Share of the public Hatred and Infamy, which the late M—rs have incurr’d by the most flagitious Measures. This must cause an irreparable Breach between the Public and those now rever’d and beloved Patriots; a Policy by which the Projectors think, perhaps, they leave the Flocks without Shepherds, and may at Pleasure then prey upon the Folds. But let me warn these Politicians, that it is not always safe to leave an injur’d, oppress’d, exasperated People without Leaders on whose Probity they may depend. On the other hand, let me warn our Patriots, that as a Snare may have been laid for them, it is their Business to take care they are not taken in it. They have been the Hopes as well as Darlings of their Country, and it should be their Study at this critical Juncture not to give Room for suspecting their Virtue. In short, they should avoid becoming themselves the Curse of their Country, or countenancing those that have been so for many Years.