It so happened that at the very outset there came an
opportunity for frank speaking. At the close of the
poll when the sheriffs declared the result, Mr. Burke's
colleague made a speech in which among other things
he said that he would serve the interests of Bristol in
parliament and that he would regard any instructions
from his constituents as of coercive authority, submitting



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his will and his judgment to the wishes of the com-
munity. Burke, who had come into the canvass at the
last moment and had made no pledges, said that he
touched with regret on the topic suggested by his friend,
but that since it had been suggested a clear explanation
of his own sentiments on that subject was due. He
added : "Certainly, gentlemen, it ought to be the happi-
ness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest
union, the closest correspondence and the most unre-
served communication yvith his constituents. Their
wishes ought to have great weight with him, their
opinions high respect, their business unremitted atten-
tion. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures,
his satisfactions to theirs; and above all, ever and in all
places to prefer their interests to his own. But his un-
biased opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened
conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man
or to any set of men living. These he does not derive
from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and the
constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for
the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. Your repre-
sentative owes you not his industry only, but his judg-
ment, and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacri-
fices it to your opinion."

This is a sweeping declaration of the obligation of
individual conviction, which is, or ought to be, the basis
of public opinion.
