The most greedy and cruel wrecker that ever put up false lights to lure mariners to their destruction will do his best to preserve a ship from going to pieces on the rocks, if he is taken on board of her and made pilot; and so the most profligate Chancellor of the Exchequer most wish that trade may flourish, that the revenue may come in well, and that he may be able to take taxes off instead of putting them on.

The most profligate First Lord of the Admiralty must wish to receive news of a victory like that of the Nile rather than of a mutiny like that at the Nore.

There is, therefore, a limit to the evil which is to be apprehended from the worst ministry that is likely ever to exist in England.

But to the evil of having no ministry, to the evil of having a House of Commons permanently at war with the executive government, there is absolutely no limit.

This was signally proved in 1699 and 1700.