Thesafetyofthecommonwealthdepended，inthatcriticalconjuncture，onacoalitionofparties，thesenatorianandtheequestrian:
Tullyhadformedit，Catobrokeit。Butifthisgood，forIthinkhewasnotanable，manerredintheparticularrespectsIhaveventuredtomention，hedeservedmostcertainlythegloryheacquiredbythegeneraltenorofhisconduct，andbydedicatingthewholelabourofhislifetotheserviceofhiscountry。Hewouldhavedeservedmoreifhehadpersistedinmaintainingthesamecausetotheend，andwouldhavediedIthinkwithabettergraceatMundathanatUtica。Ifthisbeso，ifCatomaybecensured，severelyindeed，butjustly，forabandoningthecauseofliberty，whichhewouldnothoweversurvive;whatshallwesayofthose，whoembraceitfaintly，pursueitirresolutely，growtiredofitwhentheyhavemuchtohope，andgiveitupwhentheyhavenothingtofear？
MyLord，Ihaveinsistedthemoreonthisdutywhichmenowetotheircountry，becauseIcameoutofEngland，andcontinuestill，stronglyaffectedwithwhatIsawwhenIwasthere。Ourgovernmenthasapproached，nearerthaneverbefore，tothetrueprinciplesofit，sincetheRevolutionofonethousandsixhundredandeightyeight:andtheaccessionofthepresentfamilytothethrone，hasgiventhefairestopportunities，aswellasthejustestreasons，forcompletingtheschemeofliberty，andimprovingittoperfection。Butitseemstome，that，inourseparateworld，asthemeansofassertingandsupportinglibertyareincreased，allconcernforitisdiminished。Ibeheld，whenIwasamongyou，moreabjectservility，inthemannersandbehaviourofparticularmen，thanIeversawinFrance，orthanhasbeenseenthere，Ibelieve，sincethedaysofthatGascon，who，beingturnedoutoftheminister\'sdoor，leapedinagainathiswindow。Astobodiesofmen，IdarechallengeyourLordship，andIamsorryforit，toproduceanyinstancesofresistancetotheunjustdemands，orwantonwillofacourt，thatBritishParliamentshavegiven，comparabletosuchasIamabletocitetothehonouroftheparlementofParis，andthewholebodyofthelawinthatcountry，withinthesamecompassoftime。ThisabjectservilitymayappearjustlythemorewonderfulinBritain，becausethegovernmentofBritainhas，insomesort，theappearanceofanoligarchy。andmonarchyisratherhidbehinditthanshown，ratherweakenedthanstrengthened，ratherimposeduponthanobeyed。
Thewonderthereforeistoobserve，howimaginationandcustom（agiddyfoolandaformalpedant）haverenderedthesecabals，oroligarchies，morerespectedthanmajestyitself。Thatthisshouldhappenincountrieswhereprinces，whohaveabsolutepower，maybetyrantsthemselves，orsubstitutesubordinatetyrants，isnotwonderful。Ithashappenedoften:butthatitshouldhappeninBritain，maybejustlyanobjectofwonder。Inthesecountries，thepeoplehadlostthearmouroftheirconstitution:theywerenakedanddefenceless。
Oursismorecompletethanever。Butthoughwehavepreservedthearmour，wehavelostthespiritofourconstitution:andthereforewebear，fromlittleengrossersofdelegatedpower，whatourfatherswouldnothavesufferedfromtrueproprietorsoftheroyalauthority。Parliamentsarenotonly，whattheyalwayswere，essentialpartsofourconstitution，butessentialpartsofouradministrationtoo。Theydonotclaimtheexecutivepower。No。Buttheexecutivepowercannotbeexercisedwithouttheirannualconcurrence。
Howfewmonths，insteadofyears，haveprincesandministersnow，topasswithoutinspectionandcontrol？Howeasythereforeisitbecometocheckeverygrowingevilinthebud，tochangeeverybadadministration，tokeepsuchfarmersofgovernmentsinawe，tomaintainandrevenge，ifneedbe，theconstitution？Itisbecomesoeasybythepresentformofourgovernment，thatcorruptionalonecouldnotdestroyus。Wemustwantspirit，aswellasvirtue，toperish。Evenableknaveswouldpreservelibertyinsuchcircumstancesasours，andhighwaymenwouldscorntoreceivethewagesanddothedrudgeryofpickpockets。Butallislittle，andlow，andmeanamongus！Farfromhavingthevirtues，wehavenoteventhevicesofgreatmen。Hewhohadprideinsteadofvanity，andambitionbutequaltohisdesireofwealth，couldneverbear，Idonotsaytobetheunderstrappertoanyfarmerofroyalauthority，buttoseepatientlyoneofthem（atbesthisfellow，perhapshisinferiorineveryrespect）lorditoverhim，andtherestofmankind，dissipatingwealth，andtramplingonthelibertiesofhiscountry，withimpunity。Thiscouldnothappen，iftherewastheleastspiritamongus。Butthereisnone。Whatpassesamongusforambition，isanoddmixtureofavariceandvanity。themoderationwehaveseenpractisedispusillanimity，andthephilosophythatsomemenaffectissloth。Henceitcomesthatcorruptionhasspread，andprevails。
Iexpectlittlefromtheprincipalactorsthattreadthestageatpresent。
Theyaredivided，notsomuchasithasseemed，andastheywouldhaveitbelieved，aboutmeasures:thetruedivisionisabouttheirdifferentends。
Whilsttheministerwasnothardpushed，northeprospectofsucceedingtohimnear，theyappearedtohavebutoneend，thereformationofthegovernment。
Thedestructionoftheministerwaspursuedonlyasapreliminary，butofessentialandindispensablenecessitytothatend。Butwhenhisdestructionseemedtoapproach，theobjectofhissuccessioninterposedtothesightofmany，andthereformationofthegovernmentwasnolongertheirpointofview。Theydividedtheskin，atleastintheirthoughts，beforetheyhadtakenthebeast，andthecommonfearofhuntinghimdownforothersmadethemallfaintinthechase。Itwasthis，andthisalone，thathassavedhim，orhasputoffhisevilday。Corruption，somuch，andsojustlycomplainedof，couldnothavedoneitalone。