“Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a think wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.”

“That the commons by being appointed for that purpose, are wither wiser or more worthy of confidence than the frown. But as the same constitution which gives the commons power to check the king by withholding the supplies, gives afterwards the king a power to check the commons by empowering him to reject their other bills, it again supposes that the king is wiser than those whom it has already supposed to be wiser than him. A mere absurdity!”

“Some writers have explained the English situation thus: The king say they, is one, the people another; the peers are a house in behalf of the king, the commons in behalf of the people. But this hath all the distinctions of a house divided against itself and though the expressions be pleasantly arranged, yet when examined they appear idle and ambiguous…”

“Small islands not capable of protecting themselves are the proper object for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet.”