Mean while the sudden affluence occasioned by trade,
forced open all the sluices of luxury and overflowed the land
with every species of profligacy and corruption; a total pravity
of manners would ensue, and this must be attended with bankruptcy
and ruin. He observed of the parliament, that the practice of
buying boroughs, and canvassing for votes, was an avowed system
of venality, already established on the ruins of principle,
integrity, faith, and good order, in consequence of which the
elected and the elector, and, in short, the whole body of the
people, were equally and universally contaminated and corrupted.
He affirmed, that of a parliament thus constituted, the crown
would always have influence enough to secure a great majority in
its dependence, from the great number of posts, places, and
pensions it had to bestow; that such a parliament would (as it
had already done) lengthen the term of its sitting and authority,
whenever the prince should think it for his interest to continue
the representatives, for, without doubt, they had the same right
to protect their authority ad infinitum, as they had to extend it
from three to seven years.
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