For any one to desert the interest of his country, and turn renegado,
either out of fear, or any prospect of advantage, is so notoriously vile
and low, that it is no wonder if the man, who is detected in it, is for
ever ashamed to see the sun, and to show himself in the eyes of those
whose cause he has betrayed. Yet, as there is scarce any vice, even to
be imagined, but there may be found men who have been guilty of it,
perhaps there have been as many criminals in the case before us, as in
any one particular besides, notwithstanding the aggravation and
extraordinary degree of its baseness. We cannot help reflecting upon it
with horror: but, as truly detestable as this vice is, and must be
acknowledged to be, by all mankind, so far are those that practise it
from being treated with a just resentment by the rest of mankind, that
by the kind reception they afterwards meet with, they rather seem to be
encouraged and applauded, than despised and discountenanced, for it.