Flat

.—a kind of flash word, describing a person easily imposed on, unsuspecting, credulous. One who suffers himself to be cajoled by words, without looking to works. One who talks of the excellence of our constitution, at the very moment when the constitution is violated in all points; one who has implicit belief in the parliamentary orators who declare “that the people do not pay enough for their happy government,” while they aer taxed at the rate of seventeen shillings in the pound, and who urge as a plea against surrendering the least part of the profits arising from their sinecures and pensions, that in so doing, they would encourage a belief that the government was not worth so much as was paid for it.* Great Britain at this day is the land of Flats.

* Vide Mr. Montague’s speech on Mr. Harrison’s motion for appropriating a part of certain pensions and sinecure places to particular purposes.ߞߞMorning Post, Wednesday, April 9th, 1794.