The Kentucky Gazette

An Extract from Shenstone's Essay On POLITICS,

PERHAPS men of the most different sects and parties very frequently think the Same; only vary in their phrase and language. At least, if one examines their first principles, which very often coincide, it were a point of prudence, as well as candour, to consider the rest as nothing more than different modes of expressing the same meaning.

A courtier's dependent is a beggar's dog.

If national reflections are unjust, because there are good men in all nations are not national wars upon much the same footing?

A government is inexcusable for employing foolish ministers; because they may examine a man's head, though they cannot his heart.

I fancy, the proper means of encreasing the love to our native country, is to reside some time in a foreign one.

The love of popularity seems little else than the love of being beloved; and is only blameable when a person aims at the affections of a people by means in appearance honest. but in their end pernicious and destructive.

There ought, no doubt, to be heroes in society as well as butchers, and who knows but the necessity of butchers (inflaming and stimulating the passions with animal food) might at first occasion the necessity of heroes? Butchers I believe were prior.

The whole system of a courtly behaviour seems included in the power of making general favors appear particular ones.

A man of remarkable genius may afford to pass by a piece of wit. if it happens to border on abuse. A little genius is obliged to catch at every witticism indiscriminately,

Indolence is a kind of centripetal force.

It seems idle to rail at ambition merely because it is a boundless passion: or rather is not this circumstance an argument in its favor? If one would be employed or amused through life, should we not make choice of a passion that will keep one long in play.

A sportsman of vivacity will make choice of that game which will prolong his diversion. A fox that will support the chace till night, is better game than a rabbit, that will not afford him half an hours entertainment.

The submission of Prince Hal to the civil magistrate that committed him, was more to his honor than all the conquests of Henry the Fifth in France.

The most animated social pleasure, that I can conceive, may be perhaps, felt by a general after a successful engagement, or in it; I mean by such commanders as have souls equal to their occupation. This however seems paradoxical and requires some explanation.

Resistance to the reigning powers is justifiable, upon a conviction that their government is inconsistent with the good of the subject; that our interposition tends to establish better measures; and this without a probability of occasioning evils that may over balance them. But these considerations must never be separated.

People are, perhaps, more vicious in towns, because they have fewer natural objects there to employ their attention.--or admiration; likewise because one vicious character tends to encourage and keep another in countenance However it be. excluding accidental circumstances. I believe the largest cities are the most vicious of all others.

Laws are generally found to be nets of such a texture, as the little creep through, the great break through, and the middle sized are alone entangled in it.

Though I have no sort of inclination to vindicate the late rebellion, yet I am led by candor to make some distinction between the immorality of its abettors, and the illegality of their offence. My lord Hardwick, in his condemnation speech, remarks, with great propriety, that the laws of all nations have adjudged rebellion to be. the worst of crimes. And in regard to civil societies, I believe there are none but mad men will dispute it But surely with regard to conscience erroneous judgments and ill grounded