Faction

.—in its primitive sense, signifies mischief, conspiracy, opposition to good and lawful government; likewise, secret cabals, or an open, violent contrast between two unprincipled, restless, rapacious parties, for a monopoly of the spoils of a plundered, exhausted people. In another, that is, in the Ministerial sense, faction is virtue; but a virtue liable to the heaviest penalties and punishments. Associations of citizens peaceably met together for discussing the abuses of Government, and for deliberating on the safest and most effectual method of procuring their reform; an enquiry into the measures of their servants, (the Ministers) and an exercise of those privileges, which Englishmen were taught, by some of these ministers themselves, to believe inherent in their free constitution, are now construed into faction, and thus, the word is possessed of two different significations.

Whether Mr. P-tt’s modern reading, or the ancient construction be the just one, well deserves the serious consideration of our popular societies throughout Great Britain and Ireland, who would act wisely in affording to their heaven-born Minister, a striking specimen of their opinions on the subject.

Perhaps, after all, the most accurate definition of the word faction, is to be found in the coalition between alarmists and courtiers, in defence of R-y-l prerogative, of extravagant sinecures, supernumerary places, and unmerited pensions; as well as of every other species of corrupt influence, against the rights and liberties of mankind;—in the confederation of Kings against the independence of the French Republic, as solemnly ratified by the people, through the organ of representatives, fairly and constitutionally elected by their own free, unbought suffrages.