They gave me this office, not from any confidence in my ability, but from a confidence in the abilities of those who were to assist me, and from a confidence in my zeal,--a quality, my Lords, which oftentimes supplies the want of great abilities.
Burke reflects on the confidence placed in him by others, emphasizing zeal as a valuable quality.
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As he is not to obey us, but we are to obey the law in him, our Constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him, as a servant, in any degree responsible.
Who could doubt but that, at any expense to the state, of which they understood nothing, they must pursue their private interests, which they understood but too well?
Those who are servants in name, as well as in effect, do not like to be told of their situation, their duty, and their obligations.
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