Almost a generation before Washington, Henry, and Jefferson were even born, two Englishmen, concealing their identities with the honored ancient name of Cato, wrote newspaper articles condemning tyranny and advancing principles of liberty that immensely influenced American colonists. The Englishmen were John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon. Their prototype was Cato the Younger (95-46 b.c.), the implacable foe of Julius Caesar and a champion of liberty and republican principles.
PUBLISHING HISTORY OF CATO'S LETTERS xi
EDITOR'S NOTE xiv A NOTE ON THE DATES OF CATO'S LETTERS xvi
A NOTE ON THE NOTES xvii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xviii
INTRODUCTION xx
Dedication 1
Preface 11
VOLUME ONE OF THE SIXTH EDITION
NO. 1. Reasons to prove that we are in no Danger of losing Gibraltar. 37
NO. 2. The fatal Effects of the South?Sea Scheme, and the Necessity of punishing the Directors. 40
NO. 3. The pestilent Conduct of the South?Sea Directors, with the reasonable Prospect of publick Justice. 43
NO. 4. Against false Methods of restoring publick Credit. 47
NO. 5. A further Call for Vengeance upon the South?Sea Plunderers; with a Caution against false Patriots. 51
NO. 6. How easily the People are bubbled by Deceivers. Further Cautions against deceitful Remedies for the publick Sufferings from the wicked Execution of the South?Sea Scheme. 55
NO. 7. Further Cautions about new Schemes for publick Redress. 59
NO. 8. The Arts of able guilty Ministers to save themselves. The wise and popular Conduct of Queen Elizabeth towards publick Harpies; with the Application. 63
NO. 9. Against the projected Union of the Three Great Companies; and against remitting to the South?Sea Company any Part of their Debt to the Publick. 68
NO. 10. The Iniquity of late and new Projects about the South?Sea considered. How fatally they affect the Publick. 75
NO. 11. The Justice and Necessity of punishing great Crimes, though committed against no subsisting Law of the State. 87
NO. 12. Of Treason: All Treasons not to be found in Statutes. The Right of the Legislature to declare Treasons. 93
NO. 13. The Arts of misleading the People by Sounds. 99
NO. 14. The unhappy State of despotick Princes, compared with the happier Lot of such as rule by settled Laws. How the latter, by abusing their Trust, may forfeit their Crown. 104
NO. 15. Of Freedom of Speech; That the same is inseparable from publick Liberty. 110
NO. 16. The Leaders of Parties, their usual Views. Advice to all Parties to be no longer misled. 117
NO. 17. What Measures are actually taken by wicked and desperate Ministers to ruin and enslave their Country. 123
NO. 18. The terrible Tendency of publick Corruption to ruin a State, exemplified in that of Rome, and applied to our own. 128
NO. 19. The Force of popular Affection and Antipathy to particular Men.How powerfully it operates, and how far to be regarded. 133
NO. 20. Of publick Justice, how necessary to the Security and Well?being of a State, and how destructive the Neglect of it to the British Nation. Signal Instances of this. 138
NO. 21. A Letter from John Ketch, Esq. asserting his Right to the Necks of the overgrown Brokers. 148
NO. 22. The Judgment of the People generally sound, where not misled. With the Importance and Probability of bringing over Mr. Knight. 156
NO. 23. A memorable Letter from Brutus to Cicero, with an explanatory introduction. 164
NO. 24. Of the natural Honesty of the People, and their reasonable Demands. How important it is to every Government to consult their Affections and Interest. 174
NO. 25. Considerations on the destructive Spirit of arbitrary Power. With the Blessings of Liberty, and our own Constitution. 179
NO. 26. The sad Effects of general Corruption, quoted from AlgernonSidney, Esq. 188
NO. 27. General Corruption, how ominous to the Publick, and how discouraging to every virtuous Man. With its fatal Progress whenever encouraged. 194
NO. 28. A Defence of Cato against his Defamers. 201
NO. 29. Reflections occasioned by an Order of Council for suppressing certain impious Clubs that were never discovered. 207
NO. 30. An excellent Letter from Brutus to Atticus; with an explanatory Introduction. 214
NO. 31. Considerations on the Weakness and Inconsistencies of human Nature. 221
NO. 32. Reflections upon Libelling. 228
NO. 33. Cautions against the Encroachments of Power. 234