30652 SPEECH O F EDMUND BURKE, Esq. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE On presenting to the House of Commons (On the 11th of February, 1780) A PLAN FOR THE BETTER SECURITY OF AND THE OECONOMICAL REFORMATION OF THE LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. DODSLEY, IN PALL-MALL. M.DCC.LXXX. SPEECH, &c. I Mr. SPEAKER, Rife, in acquittal of my engagement to the houfe, in obedience to the ftrong and just requifition of my conftituents, and, I am perfuaded, in conformity to the unanimous wifhes of the whole nation, to fubmit to the wifdom of parliament, A plan of reform in the constitution of feveral parts of the public economy." I have endeavoured, that this plan fhould include in its execution, a confiderable reduction of improper expence; that, it should effect a converfion of unprofitable titles into a productive eftate; that, it fhould lead to, and indeed almoft compel, a provident adminiftration of fuch fums of public money as muft remain under difcretionary trufts; that, it fhould render the incurring debts on the civil eftablishment (which must ultimately affect national ftrength and national credit) fo very difficult, as to become next to impracticable. But what, I confefs, was uppermoft with me,' what I bent the whole force of my mind to, was B the the reduction of that corrupt influence, which is itfelf the perennial spring of all prodigality, and of all diforder; which loads us, more than millions of debt; which takes away vigour from our arms, wisdom from our councils, and every fhadow of authority and credit from the moft venerable parts of our conftitution. Sir, I affure you, very folemnly, and with a very clear confcience, that nothing in the world has led me to fuch an undertaking, but my zeal for the honour of this house, and the fettled, habitual, fyftematic affection I bear to the cause, and to the principles of government. I enter perfectly into the nature and confequences of my attempt; and I advance to it with a tremor that fhakes me to the inmoft fibre of my frame. I feel, that I engage in a bufinefs, in itself moft ungracious, totally wide of the courfe of prudent conduct; and I really think, the most compleatly adverfe that can be imagined, to the natural turn and temper of my own mind. I know, that all parfimony is of a quality approaching to unkindnefs; and that (on fome perfon or other) every reform muft operate as a fort of punishment. Indeed the whole clafs of the fevere and reftrictive virtues, are at a market almoft too high for humanity. What is worse, there are very few of thofe virtues which are not capable of being imitated, and even outdone in many of their most striking effects, by the worft of vices. Malignity and envy will carve much more deeply, and finish much more fharply, in the work of retrenchment, than frugality amd providence. I do not, therefore, wonder that gentlemen have kept away from fuch a task, as well from good nature as from prudence. Private feeling might, indeed, be overborne by legislative reafon; and a man of a long-fighted and ftrong-nerved. 2 humanity, humanity, might bring himself, not fo much to confider from whom he takes a fuperfluous enjoyment, as for whom in the end he may preferve the abfolute neceffaries of life. But it is much more eafy to reconcile this measure to humanity, than to bring it to any agreement with prudence. I do not mean that little, felfish, pitiful, baftard thing, which fometimes goes by the name of a family in which it is not legitimate, and to which it is a difgrace;-I mean even that public and enlarged prudence, which, apprehenfive of being difabled from rendering acceptable fervices to the world, withholds itself from thofe that are invidious. - Gen tlemen who are, with me, verging towards the decline of life, and are apt to form their ideas of kings from kings of former times, might dread the anger of a reigning prince; they who are more provident of the future, or by being young are more interested in it, might tremble at the refentment of the fucceffor; they might fee a long, dull, dreary, unvaried vifto of defpair and exclufion, for half a century, before them. This is no pleafant profpect at the outfet of a political journey. Befides this, Sir, the private enemies to be made in all attempts of this kind, are innumerable; and their enmity will be the more bitter, and the more dangerous too, because a fenfe of dignity will oblige them to conceal the cause of their refentment. Very few men of great families and extenfive connections, but will feel the fmart of a cutting reform, in fome close relation, fome bofom friend, fome pleasant acquaintance, fome dear protected dependant. Emolument is taken from fome; patronage from others; objects of purfuit from all. Men, forced into an involuntary independence, will abhor the authors of a bleffing which in their eyes has fo very near a refemblance to a curfe. When officers are removed, |