Page:Thoughts on a French invasion.pdf/16

 16            The Bishop of Llandaff's Article

confirm the observation. If Ireland so far listens to her resentment (however it has originated) against this kingdom: if (he so far indulges her chagrin against her own legislature, as to seek for redress by throwing her- self into the arms of France she will be undone, her freedom will be lost, she will be sunk in the scale of nations; instead of flourishing under the protection of a sister that loves her, she will be fettered as a slave to the feet of the greatest despot that ever afflicted human kind—to the feet of the French democracy.

Let the malcontents of every nation of Europe look at Holland, and at Belgium. Holland was an hive of bees; her sons flew on the wings of the wind to every corner of the globe, and returned laden with the sweets of every climate. Belgium was a garden of herbs, the oxen were strong to labour, the fields were thickly covered with the abundance of the harvest— unhappy Dutchmen! You will still toil, but not for your own comfort; you will still collect honey, but not for yourselves; France will seize the hive as often as your industry shall have filled it. Ill judging Bel gians! you will no longer eat in security the fruits of your own grounds, France will find occasion, or will make occasion, to participate largely in your riches; it will be more truly said of yourselves than of your oxen, ,"you plough the fields, but not for your own “profit!”

France threatens us with the payment of what she calls a debt of indemnification ; and the longer we resist her efforts to subdue us, the larger she says this debt will become: and she tells us, that all Europe knows that this debt must be paid one time or other. And does she think that this flourish will frighten us? It ought, to move our contempt, it ought to fire us with indignation, and, above all, it ought to instruct every man amongst us what we may expect, if thro’ supineness, cowardice, or division, we, suffer her mad attempt to prove successful. She may not murder or carry into slavery the inhabitants of the land; but under the pretence of indemnification, she will demand millions upon tens of millions; she will beggar every man,