infinitely short of my service, if I succeeded in my attempt. To
say the truth, the public never act more wisely than when they
act most liberally in the distribution of their rewards; and here
the good they receive is often more to be considered than the
motive from which they receive it. Example alone is the end of
all public punishments and rewards. Laws never inflict disgrace
in resentment, nor confer honor from gratitude. "For it is very
hard, my lord," said a convicted felon at the bar to the late
excellent judge Burnet, "to hang a poor man for stealing a
horse." "You are not to be hanged sir," answered my ever-honored
and beloved friend, "for stealing a horse, but you are to be
hanged that horses may not be stolen." In like manner it might
have been said to the late duke of Marlborough, when the
parliament was so deservedly liberal to him, after the battle of
Blenheim, "You receive not these honors and bounties on account
of a victory past, but that other victories may be obtained."

I was now, in the opinion of all men, dying of a complication of
disorders; and, were I desirous of playing the advocate, I have
an occasion fair enough; but I disdain such an attempt. I relate
facts plainly and simply as they are; and let the world draw from
them what conclusions they please, taking with them the following
facts for their instruction: the one is, that the proclamation
offering one hundred pounds for the apprehending felons for
certain felonies committed in certain places, which I prevented
from being revived, had formerly cost the government several
thousand pounds within a single year. Secondly, that all such
proclamations, instead of curing the evil, had actually increased
it; had multiplied the number of robberies; had propagated the
worst and wickedest of perjuries; had laid snares for youth and