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 236 GRATTAN. on this very subject of trade, bring on the people, and you did, with great prudence and moderation, on another occasion, check a certain description of the people, and you are now called upon by consistency to defend the people. Thus mediating between extremes, you will preserve this island long, and preserve her with a certain degree of renown. Thus faithful to the constitution of the country, you will command and ensure her tranquillity; for our best authority with the people i s , protection afforded against the ministers o f the crown. I t i s not public clamour but public injury that should alarm you; your high ground o f expostulation with your fellow-sub jects has been your services; the free trade you have given the merchant, and the free constitution you have given the island! Make your third great effort; preserve them, and with them preserve unaltered your own calm sense o f pub l i c right, the dignity o f the parliament, the majesty o f the people, and the powers o f the island! Keep them unsul lied, uncovenanted, uncircumscribed, and unstipendiary 1 These paths are the paths t o glory; and, l e t me add, these ways are the ways o f peace: s o shall the prosperity o f your country, though without a tongue t o thank you, yet laden with the blessings o f constitution and o f commerce, bear attestation t o your services, and wait o n your progress with involuntary praise!” > On the 6th o f March, 1786, o n Mr. Forbes's motion that the present application, and amount o f pensions o n the civil establishment, were a grievance t o the nation, and demanded redress, Mr. Grattan closed the speech which h e made o n the occasion, b y asserting, that, “if h e should vote that pensions were not a grievance, h e should vote a n impudent, a n insolent, and a public lie.” . On the same day Mr. Grattan exclaimed, “When gen tlemen say, that the new charge for pensions i s small, l e t me assure them, they need not b e alarmed; the charge will b e much greater; for unless your interposition should deter, what else i s there t o check i t ? Will public poverty? No. New taxes? No. Gratitude for those taxes: No.