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HIS ADDRESS TO THE SWEDISH ESTATES OF THE REALM. 241
the great object of your honourable assembly is to pre
vent, with all wisdom and prudence, all discontent and
disaffection which evil-disposed persons may have ex
cited and fomented against the established form of our
laws, and against the contsitution of our government.
For it is easy to discover faults and imperfections as well
in the administration of a state, as in the conduct of an
individual, and in the manner, in which he super
intends his office, and manages his affairs; but if we were
to judge of a kingdom solely according to the imper
fections and faults we might discover either in its
constitution or its administration, it would be exactly like
judging of a citizen from the imperfections and faults
we might discover in his character, leaving out of sight
his virtues and usefulness ; which mode of judgment
would be exceedingly unjust and prejudicial to the
individual in question, and inevitably bring upon him
great and unmerited evil.
"May I be permitted to explain and illustrate more
amply what I have advanced.
" I. Suppose, then, that it were proposed to discover
and divulge all the defects and foibles of a man of good
intentions, and very zealous for the good and prosperity
of his country, by this means his honour would be cer
tainly destroyed, and he would soon be regarded as a
subject unworthy of any other consideration than that of
contempt. But in order to render the subject still more
clear and obvious, I will take for example the Counsellor
of Commerce (M. Nordencrants) , and myself. If all
our weaknesses and errors were scrupulously examined
into, and then placed under the eyes of the public in the
blackest colours in which they could be presented, it is
evident that we should be regarded as black as crows,
although I dare presume to assert, that as to our good
intentions, and our sincere love for our country, we would
not yield to a single individual.
"II. We know that man is naturally inclined to
observe the faults of others, and to divulge them abroad,
and to pass a judgment upon them which is most
injurious to the person in question ; this is agreeable to
M
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