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A Charge given to the Grand Jury of the Hundreds of Kirton and Skirbeck, in the parts of Holland, In the County Of Lincoln at Epiphany-Sessions, held at Boston, 14th January 1793. concerning the standard measure of corn; and concerning seditious publications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2009

Extract

Gentlemen of the Grand jury: IT was my design, a short time since, to address you this day on a subject of a nature altogether peaceful and agreeable: I mean, the reformation so much and so long wanted, and now likely to prevail universally, in the practice of MEASURING CORN. But I must speak to you concisely on this subject, that I may hasten to one of incomparably greater importance.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1992

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page 461 note 1 At the time of speaking these words (14th January, 1793) there remained one great step in this race of crimes. And that step, alas, was taken SEVEN DAYS AFTER.

I do not hear that any amongst the ENGLISH APOLOGISTS FOR THE FRENCH, IN ANY PLACE, has failed to express his abhorrence of this barbarous, iniquitous, and cowardly act.

Of all the maxims which licentiousness has lately taught, this (which seems to be adopted in France) is the most horribly licentious: - that murder for liberty is no crime. I once hoped, that if perfect liberty could be procured to the whole world by the murder of one innocent man, few Englishmen would be found who would not decline the glorious and immortal work. But I have shuddered to hear some of them coolly say,-That the first of the late French Revolutions was accomplished with as little unnecessary bloodshed as possible. A little murder! and liberty cheap at such a price! These principles have produced in France their proper fruits. God forbid they should thrive in a British soil! Alas! when man has learned to dip his hands in the blood of man, no beast of prey seems to be so dreadfully ferocious as he is.